Page 300

cast him into a darke caue, to the mouth whereof he rouled a great peece of a rocke insteed of a doore, as afterwards we knew it. Crimine with that content and sorrow as you may imagine, knowing Delicius was gone, and seeing Parthenius car∣ried away in that sort, came to our mansions to bring me newes of what had passed, and to tell me what she had resolued to do. When she came into our withdrawing chamber, she found me almost breathles: for I was reuoluing in my thoughts what had happened to me concerning both my loues. When I saw her, I rose vp from my bed, where I had laid me downe, and going towards her (my breast bathed in teares, and my haire torne with my handes) I cast mine armes about her necke, not able to speake a word, but gaue a sorrowfull sigh, which I fetcht out from the profoundest part of my amorous soule. Crimine with a little more force then I had, holding fast by me, as well as she could, came to the bed, and there fell downe with me vpon it, where we lay a good while without speaking or moouing. We were not seene in these trances of the other Nymphes, bicause they were most of them gone to solace themselues along the riuer banks. After a little time therefore, as I began againe to rent my clothes that couered my breast, marking my tender flesh with my hard nailes, Crimine, awaked as it were out of a dreame, helde my pitilesse (or rather more pitifull) hands. To whom at last I said. Let my hands alone, Crimine, for they do no more then they are bound to do. For thinking perhaps to be pitifull, be not in lieu thereof so cruell vnto me. Let them pull out my hart to be openly knowen, for that hitherto it hath beene euer secret. O Stela, O Parthenius, O Delicius. Hearken to me, said Crimine, if thou wilt haue me lighten thy greefes, and augment mine owne passion. Parthenius is safe by my meanes, and Delicius lost for thy sake. Dost thou affirme that to be true, said I. Is Delicius dead? Lost, I haue said, not dead, said Crimine? for what dost thou call lost, saide I? To me (answered she) for thy sake, bicause to leaue Parthenius to thee, he hath taken that iourney in hand, which Par∣thenius was about to do, to seeke out his parents. Then somewhat appeased, I asked her farther, how she knew it, which she told me in order as it was; affirming after∣wards how she had resolued to follow Delicius. Hast thou such courage, said I, as that thou darest alone take vpon thee such a dangerous iourney. I will not goe alone, said she, for loue shall accompanie me which is afraide of nothing. Being stung with the pricke of iealousie, and not able to suffer, that she should goe alone with one whom I loued more then my selfe, I said. Since thou hast so good a defence with thee, I will also accompany thee. But let vs first (I beseech thee) endeuour to know, what is become of Parthenius; for if he be dead, I will not liue, nor come before Deli∣cius with such vnfortunate newes, being assured that whosoeuer shall first aduertise him thereof, shall giue him no lesse then death. Whom we should rather informe (as soone as might be) if he were prisoner, to seeke out some meanes to deliuer him from thence, which counsell we thought was the best. We remained therefore in this determination, and such was our good hap, that walking the second day vp and downe the riuer bankes, at the narrowest place of it there came a strong and lustie Shepherdesse with a sling in her hand, and being right ouer against vs, did fling ouer to our side a certaine thing like a round ball, and then running away as fast as shee could, got her into the Iland before her. We not coniecturing what that might meane, and desirous to know what it was, went to take it vp, that ran trendling in the meadow before vs. When we had it into our hands, we saw it was a peece of linnen tyed vp fast togither, and within it a round stone, which we thought was put in, least with the lightnes of the linnen, it had fallen into the riuer. This peece of linnen was