me (Nymph) bicause her tenderfoote might not be harmed by some sharpe thorne or flintie stone, thinking she woulde haue moderated her flight, I followed with a slowe pace, entreating her still to staie; and telling her, that since the swiftest Does I ouerran, and tooke in a short race, she might not then thinke therein to go beyond me. And this I was desirous to tell thee, to request thee (gentle Nymph) to holde mee excused and blameles to her. By dooing whereof, I promise thee to keepe thy waters euer cleere, and vndefiled: And bicause she may vnderstand howe much it greeues me, that I haue offended her, I will purge me of this errour in my caue, without comming once out of it, vntill this newe Moone shall haue runne out her full course. When he had spoken these words, he went his waies, & the Nymph refusing to harken to my cries, and to Parthenius his pitifull requestes, diued downe againe into the waters. Which thing (if it did not greeue vs both) I leaue heerafter to your iudgements: Seeing therefore how bootelesse it was to call her, Parthenius turning to me (for I had first called the Nymph) saide. Brother, what wouldest thou haue with her? How is it possible (saide I) but that I must call her, since she hath in her custodie that power of beautie, that wholly possesseth my conquered hart. I came foorth (deere brother) to seeke out my lost Father, and haue met with her, that hath found my soule. Wo is me, that know not what shall become of me. And from hencefoorth now thou maiest go seeke out thy deere parents, which leaue (sweete friend) I woulde not giue thee (for the Gods knowe how much thy de∣parture greeues me) but onely to content and please thee: for heere will I staie, vn∣till I know what the immortall Gods will determine with me. Scarce coulde my louing brother stande vpon his feete, when from mine owne mouth he heard that I was enamoured of the faire damsell, bicause he had also no lesse then my selfe (as by a strange chance I afterwards knew it) yeelded vp to her his loue and libertie. But bi∣cause it was either my good or ill happe to manifest my passion first, Parthenius dis∣sembled his, in lieu that I might carie the guerdon away. So that on the oneside, he was very glad, that one thing offred it selfe, whereby I might receiue the first fruits of his true friendship; and was sorrie on the other, to see that his greefe was remedi∣lesse. Which perfect function of amitie I would in very truth haue no lesse perfor∣med towards him, if he had first opened his loue of her vnto me, as afterwards I did, though yet for all this I must remaine his debtor. But bicause I might not perceiue the great good turne he did me, and he by disclosing it haue lost the merite thereof, he did not onely dissemble it right-out, but by words and demonstration made as if no such matter had beene: And albeit he striued with himselfe not to loue Stela, yet was he not able to performe it, but (as I saie) hidde it in such sort, that it might not be perceiued. Whereupon to that which I had saide, he answered thus. The Gods neuer suffer me to profite nor pleasure my selfe with such a leaue, deere brother. For thou art my father & mother, & to forsake thee, I meane not to seeke them out: Let them pardon me whosoeuer they be, for since they left me in my infancy, & perhaps without iust occasion, it shal be no part of impietie for me to denie them in their old age, being warranted by so iust an excuse. Many other friendly speeches passed be∣tweene vs both, & that wheron we concluded was this: To go to the next town, bi∣cause itwas late, & there by som other course (if at the least some happie meanes did obuiate our desires) to informe vs what that Damsell was, & thereupon to aduise vs what was best to be done. Comming therefore neere vnto a little towne, not farre from that place, we espied this reuerend old Parisiles, almost in the very same robes that he now weares, who turned his eies on euerie side, to see if he might perceiue
