who she was. O let him proceede Lord Felix (saide Doria) for me thinkes I am en∣during all this while the paines and feare, wherein this faire Nymph was, vntill I see her free from the hands of this monstrous beast: wherefore as thou louest thy selfe, good Shepherd, make haste, (if it be true at the least) that she escaped from him. Then saide Delicius. Nowe had the cruell Gorphorost blowen vp faire Stelas haire with his firie foming breath, when she, looking pale for feare to see him so nigh her, and her-selfe in so apparant danger, encouraged her fainting spirits (well-nie ouercome by the violent paines of her swift course) and got a little againe before him; wherewith being (happily) come to the riuers side, where it yeeldes his run∣ning streames into the sea, she saide. Yee sacred Nymphes, if it be true that you haue any power in your waters, forsake not (I beseech you) a distressed virgine, long since deuoted to the puritie of chaste Diana, since you are so great friends to her, whom I haue euer honored from my hart. When she had thus said, she threw her-selfe into the riuer; and after her, fierce Gorphorost without feare, lept in, where he had beene in great danger of drowning, if he had had lesse strength to wrestle with the furie of the swift streame, or knowne as little, by swimming, to haue helpt himselfe. The vgly Shepheard when he saw himselfe o••he other side of the riuer, shaking off the water from him, like to the dirtie swine when they come out of their wallowed puddles, and lifting vp his eies to heauen, in a loude and me∣nacing manner began thus to exclaime. O yee partiall Gods (if there be any, be∣sides mine owne will and appetite) yee vniust Gods enuiers of my good, howe would I peece-meale rent you, if I had you in my hands, to teach you not to meddle any more in my matters. And thou Neptune, who aboue the rest art termed to haue an absolute and sole power ouer the waters, cast out from thy habitations that, which of right belongs to me; otherwise in these caues and dens I will euery day dis∣quiet thee and thy companie, turning these huge and steepie hils into thy waters. As he was vttring these proud words, we came to the riuer, where we sawe a goodly Nymph put out her yellow head, and spake these wordes against Gorphorost. Thou huge and monstrous beast, that, in dishonour of the immortall Gods art vomiting out blasphemies, hurtful to thy selfe, and not offensiue to them, harke what I wil say vnto thee. Thou hast now incensed all the Gods so much against thee, that (were it not to reserue thee for som greater torments) they would presently afflict thee with due punishment. Trouble not thus our waters, since the vtmost of thy power is so little able to profite thy selfe, vnlesse thou wilt also make vs thy principall enimies, and purchase our ill wils; which (thinke not) shall be small, since we haue her in our custodie, whom thou vnwoorthily callest thy Goddesse: We keepe her, but not for thee, who by the fates is allotted to another. She remaineth in our pallaces with∣out any harme, for it was not reason she should for thy fault, suffer any at all. And with this get thee hence, hopelesse for euer to see her in thy power, in whose behalse the Gods were neuer so vniust, as to combine two such vnequall persons togither. To this Gorphorost answered thus. The threatnings of these, whom vainely thou termest Gods, and Goddesses (sweete Nymph, the happie gardienne of my sa∣cred Goddesse) I little account of, who neuer yet acknowledged subiection to any other, but to her, who (as thou saiest) remaineth now in your dwelling places. And her iustly do I confesse to be mine onely Goddesse, and therfore feare her more then all the rest. And it greeues me, if she thinkes I went about to hurt her, to whom (I confesse) I neuer intended any such matter. For if I ranne after her, it was bicause she fledde from me, and would not staie to harken to my iust complaints. And be∣leeue
