Montemayor's Diana

Page 208

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She would not leaue to put her chaste intent
In practise, and Dianas grace to serue.
And saying, it was true her father spake.
And said, if that she had such cause to vaunt
That she was rich, and faire, and nobly borne:
That it was tenfold deerer vnto her
To be accounted chaste of euerie one.
And that her chiefest honour did consist
In honest, pure, and vndefiled life.
Now therefore as the virgine did not know
(Bicause her minde was soon vertue bent)
What thing loue was, nor due of marriage rites,
To hunt it was her onely ioy, and sport.
Then hither came this gallant Nymph to chase,
Where proud Apollo went by chaunce to hunt:
Not thinking to finde out so farie a game.
Bicause his breast, free from the thoughts of loue,
Was onely bent in thinking of his spoile.
He was so glad and did triumphe so much
Within himselfe, that he did neuer thinke
Of any thing but this, till (to his harme)
He cast his wandring eies vnto the place,

Where he did spie faire Daphne in her chace.

The good old man Parisiles went prosecuting his historie, carrying all his hearers with him verie silent, by reason that the substance thereof (as also the stile wherewith he told it) delighted them verie much, when they perceiued the sage Fe∣licia comming with Crimine, and the vnknowen Shepherd towardes them, whose comming made not Stela a little glad, for she lent but a small eare to the tale, bicause the Shepherd was not in her companie. But Parisiles turning his head, and seeing Felicia, said. Behold how it fals out true, which I feared: my tale shall breake off till another day, when we will haue fitter time and place for it, wherein nothing shall be lost hauing made so good a beginning. By no meanes (saide Doria) will I consent hereunto. The like did all affirme with one voice. Then came Felicia, and as they were rising to do her honour, they saw the Shepherd that came with her, to be the fairest, most gracious, and goodliest youth of person, as euer they beheld before. His weedes were of gray cloth, to signifie by that colour his troubles and griefes. All along the border of his coate, and sleeues, went three ribons or laces of sundry co∣lours, two of them on either side, of Lion tawney and Oliue greene, to signifie by the first his sorrow, and by the second his torment. That in the mids of his sorrow and torment was his hope. Other things did the Shepherd weare, worthie himselfe, and to be marked. But Parisiles did hinder them, bicause Crimine returned now cleane, and washed at Felicias request, whom now he also knew, and therefore with a loud voice, with casting vp his eies to heauen, he said. And is it true (O Iupiter) which with mine eies I here behold? O sweete Nymph; my friend and mistresse. Is it pos∣sible thou art here? If I had knowen my deere daughter had gone in thy company, I would haue somewhat moderated my griefe for her absence. And being come to her, with reuerence he louingly embraced her. But both of them desiring earnestly
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