seems he cares but litle for the iniury of the weather. They all agreed to stay for him: who not tarrying long from comming out of the wood, where his way lay, & seeing so many togither, maruelled much, and left of his singing. But they woondred more when he came nigh them, to behold his strange kind of habit. For he had on the skin of a beast called Hiena, tied about his middle with a great wreath of leaues like to Bryony, or the white vine, which runs winding about the bodies of trees like a snake. On his head he ware a Laurell crowne, & in his hand, in steed of his sheepehook, he caried a great bough of a figge tree. All which when they had well marked, they said vnto him. Tell vs, iolly Shepherd, is this thy common wearing? No, said he, but as I nowe vse to weare this or some such like, as the qualitie of the time shall counsell me, arming my selfe euer against the iniuries of it. And therefore I clad me thus, as at this present you see me, bicause I would not be smitten with the furious lightning, not thūderclap, which the vertue of any one of these doth maruellously resist, & ma∣nie other things that came not so soone to my hands. We are glad to know it, saide they; but bicause the rigour of this day warnes vs to put our selues vnder couert, do vs this pleasure (Shepherd) to come in with vs here to Dianas temple. The good re∣port & fame of this house, & your noble company shal carie me in, although in such a time as this, by the aduise of a cunning and expert Shepherd that dwels amongst vs, it is not safe to be in statelie and high buildings. Why so, saide Lord Felix? Bi∣cause he saide (answered the Shepherd) that the thunderclap as it comes not right down but circularwise, encounters with that which is highest, & therfore alights for the most part on high places, as vpon towers & castles: Whereas on the contrarie, if there be any in the field, (vnlesse it smite vpon his bodie) it can do no harme; but he, that in high and loftie houses lodgeth (though the thunderclap smite him not) may be killed or wounded with the stones, timber, or some other thing that may fall from thence. And may also be burned or choaked with the smoke of the fire, that is kindled in the wood, all which by experience haue beene often seene. But bicause of good will you inuite me, to do that which you request me, I will go in, although I was determined to lay me downe and sleepe, if I had found out some fit place for the purpose, bicause the thunderclap spareth those (they say) that are asleepe. Thou wilt liue too long said Seluagia, since with so many defences thou dost arme thy self. Heereof thou maiest be ascertained, said the Shepherd, for there is not any, who de∣sires his life and health more then I do. So me thinkes, said Seluagia, and the cause of it must be, that thou art not in loue. Naie, rather the contrarie (said the Shepherd) which my song did euen now speake of. Dost thou loue then saide Seluagia? I loue said he with the greatest blisse and ioy as thou hast euer heard of. Not onely heard, but seene said Seluegia. For they are before thee. And this do I say, said he. And I that, said she. Leaue of these speeches said Lord Felix, and let vs go in. And do vs so much pleasure, good Shepherd, to tell vs by the way if thou beest in loue. I am (said he). Are these loues thine own, said Lord Felix? They are mine (said he) & none others. I say not so, said Lord Felix, but if they be properly of thee thy selfe. I haue not so many good parts, said the Shepherd, to be enamoured of my selfe: and yet there is not any (I thinke) that loues me, as much as I do my selfe. But leauing this aside, I loue, as much as possiblie I may, a most faire yoong Shepherdesse. Thy loue is not perfect said Lord Felix, bicause thou saiest, there is none whom thou louest as much as thy selfe. Why doth this hinder it (said the Shepherd,) that it is not per∣fect? Why not, said Lord Felix? Then by this I vnderstand (said the Shepherd) that there is none that loues in this degree: But rather beleeue the contrarie, saide Lord
