wouldest giue it me to the intent to knowe vs one from another. But yet bicause I know it is not sufficient for such a purpose, I will take it, bicause it shall not serue thee to that end that thou pretendest, when as Delicius shall carrie it as often as my selfe; for by carying it, and not carying it, thou maiest not knowe which of vs is Delicius: whereby thou maiest cleerely perceiue if his life be deere vnto me or no? Gorphorost was amazed at the great loue that Parthenius did beare Delicius, but beleeued it was not so great in deeds, as in words he shewed it: wherefore he answered him thus. Behold Parthenius, I haue warned thee nowe for the great friendship that is confir∣med between vs: for surely I make more account of thee, then thou thinkest, bicause thou art onely he, by whose meanes I finde with imparting my greefe vnto thee, some ease in these my extreme paines. But if with this intent thou wilt take the Sheepehooke of me, I am not content to giue it thee, nor for the woorth of it (for I would giue thee more then this) but bicause none of my things shoulde come to Delicius hands. Of one thing thou maiest be ascertained, that loue hath taught me how to know him, and then thou shalt see, how my despised counsell shall auaile to serue him more, then his owne deceitfull opinion. With this Parthenius came away very sorrowfull and full of melancholike thoughts, not knowing what was best to bee done in such a case. On the one side, he sawe it was dangerous for Delicius to be there; on the other, he knew it was impossible for him to absent himself from me. He conceiued by that which he found in himselfe, the irrepugnable force of Cupid, and considered (by that he knew too well) the vnbrideled furie of cruell Gorphorost. But if they were desirous to kill him, they thought it impossible, vnlesse it were by treason, which rather then they would haue done, they woulde first haue lost a thousand liues. That very euening at Sunne set, all wee sower sitting vnder a leasie Sallow tree, fierce Gorphorost came out of his caue, and by and by was on the top of a high rocke, that hung ouer the riuer, right ouer against that place, where I threw my selfe into it, when I fled from him. Who after hee had sit downe a little while, and laid his scrip by his side, and his Pine tree betweene his legges that ser∣ued him for his Sheepehooke, staffe, and weapon, he tooke a Flute out of his scrip, made of a hundred Baggepipes, ioyned togither with waxe. Putting it to his mouth and blowing it strongly to cleere it of filth within, the hils resounded againe, the ri∣uers ranne backe, the wilde beasts and fish were stroken in a feare, and the forrests and woods thereabouts began to tremble. And a little after that, he began to sing the most amorous song of me that euer you heard, which I promise you had pleased me well, if he had not made so cruell an ende of it. For with cruell comparisons, borrowed of the fieldes and Shepherds, he strangely praised my beautie, and made me (on the contrarie) most cruell, by offering mee such things afterwardes as hee thought fittest to win me most of all vnto him. But to see howe he prooued himselfe faire being so fierce, it is a pleasant iest. By that which most of all thou louest, saide Seluagia, I pray thee faire Stela recite it, if thou dost remember it, which if it like not (perhaps) these Gentlemen (a thing different from their estate) shall woonderfullie delight vs, if they will do vs so much pleasure to lend vs a little patience to heare it, bicause it is fittest (thou saiest) for countrey Shepherds. No (saide Lord Felix and Felismena) but she shall do vs as great a pleasure, to see what so fierce a Shepherd could saie, louing this faire damsell so much, whom she hated more. How can I de∣nie your requests, saide Stela, being so brauely coniured? Giue therefore attentiue eare, for I promise you it will please you well.
