Page 236

And weeping, where my cleerest light is hid,
There wretched man my life I meane to rid.

By this lamentation, whereunto we gaue an attentiue eare, we vnderstood the cause of his complaint, That the Woodman belike had told him, how Stela, flying from Gorphorost, had cast her selfe into the riuer, but not that which afterwardes succceded. We were no lesse glad to heare the newes, of that we so much desired to knowe, as to giue him good tidings, whom it behooued vs to make as much be∣holding to vs as we could, for seruing our owne turnes. But as we were now deter∣mined to goe and talke with him, my brother said. Let vs stay, for if this be Father to thy new Mistresse, it is not best that he should now knowe vs, when we our selues knowe not what we haue to doe, nor how our matters (not yet well commenced) will fall out. And since he saide he will goe to the riuer, there to be the minister of his owne death, I thinke it best for vs to follow him, and demanding what he seekes, and whither he goes, to tell him what hath passed; which I also thinke best to be done, when it is somewhat darke, bicause speaking to him then, he may not knowe vs another time, whereas (if it might afterwards auaile vs) by knowing vs to be the same men that brought him these good newes, we shall not want meanes to tell him that at our owne pleasure. We thought this to be good counsell, and did there∣fore put it so well in practise, that the good olde man being thereby comforted vp a little, went backe againe, and in requitall of these good newes, offered me, that was the teller of them, his lodging that night. Which courtesie of his with thankes repaying, I made an excuse that I had some busines another way, and bad him fare∣well, wherewith I went backe againe to Parthenius, and the olde man homeward to his house. The next morning (for there we passed away the same night) we went to the place where Stela had cast her selfe into the riuer, attending there her comming foorth; and being come foorth, to see, if we might talke with her. But before we came, we espied the virgins olde Father walking vp and downe along the riuer bankes: And going neerer vnto him, to see if he offered to cast himselfe into the riuer, we sawe, how wearie of walking he sat him downe, and then with as lowde a voice as his greefe would giue him leaue, heard him in this sort singing to his dee∣rest daughter.