not a little sorrowfull (as you may gesse) for Stelas departure, and full of imaginati∣ons for that which we heard by the Nymphes diuining song, being then ignorant, and doubting whether the contents thereof were ment by vs or not. All which paines, greefes, and troubles threatned therein, and many more faine woulde wee haue suffred, in lieu that faire Stela had beene the cause of them. With these and ma∣ny other considerations reuolued in our mindes, we determined to stay there, to see if the Nymphes (taking faire Stela with them) came sometimes foorth to solace themselues amongst those greene and pleasant forrests: where we staied not long before our desires had part of their contentment; for euen the next day about that hower when Tytan equally viewed all our Hemisphere, and certaine daies after came out many faire Nymphes, to passe away the heate amongst those coole and fresh shades, though their happie sallies (happie by faire Stelas company) did little auaile vs, since euery time that we made offer to come out of the woode towardes them, with fearefull flight they ranne backe againe to their acquainted riuer. Par∣thenius therefore seeing the small occasion that was offered vs to talke with them, saide vnto me. With this beginning (deere brother) wee must not continue on our commenced purpose, which is not onely an open impediment to the good successe of our determination, but a manifest occasion to molest thy Mistresse, and a let to the Nymphes from their wonted pastime and delight. What remedie then (said I) shall we vse, or what dost thou aduise vs to do, for I cannot by any meanes depart from hence with safetie of my life. As I will not counsell thee thereunto saide Par∣thenius, so the immortall Gods forbid that we go from hence, before we finde out some good meanes, whereby these Nymphes (their coynesse laide aside) may admit vs into their sweete company. If there be any remedie for this (saide I) then all my sorrowes, and sorrowful life shal be (I hope) both eased and ended; but alas my greefe will not giue me leaue to conceiue it so. And if there be any (said Parthenius) it is but onely one. Thou knowest well my deere brother, by all those times that wee haue seene them comming hither, how they do lesse disdaine the simplicitie and plainnes of countrey Shepherds, then the suspicious companie of cunning courtiers, and that their turall baggepipe is more delightsome to their eares, then the enticing and wanton Lute of the others. The which dulie considered, it shall be better for vs (in my opinion) by leauing of these costly habits, to cladde our selues in homelie Shepherds weedes; which probable inuention being put in practise, may happely prooue more fortunate vnto vs, then any other course that we may well thinke of. His counsell, which was foorthwith put in execution, liked me so well, that we left of our accustomed apparell, and put on this which you see, not consenting that garments (whom nature made so like) should put any difference betweene vs. And so likewise we forgot not our sheepehookes, and scrips, and whatsoeuer else belon∣ged to a Shepherds calling. But as for sheepe, we bought none, before we knewe how well this deuise answered our deseignes, the which, time, and occasions after∣wards would aduise vs best to do: for we agreed to say, that we left them behinde, in custodie of our Swaynes, and that we came before to seeke out the best pasture for them. We had also fidles, and pipes, whereon we soone learned to play, bicause we could plaie on the Fluet, and Vials and other musicall instruments. With this new habite we passed away certain daies, in singing & playing many sundrie things: Al which felout so fit to our desires, that not once, but a manie times, the Nymphes kept vs company, bringing Stela that faire and shining Staire many times amongst them, by whose golden light the course of our grieuous life was then, and is yet most
