Felix, for heere thou seest some, who woulde gladly hazard their heades for them whom they loue. This is an easie thing, saide the Shepherd, to saie it. And easier said Lord Felix to do it. I promise you sir, saide the Shepherd, if death knocked at your dore, and if it were in your election to go with it your selfe, or to sende your loue, that it might be seene what I say. But rather that which I affirme, saide Lord Felix. I thinke it a hard matter, saide the Shepherd. With these demands and an∣swers they came to the Temple, where they rested themselues, and feasted that new guest, who was well entertained of the sage Felicia, bicause she knew him woorthie of it. After they had made an end of their great dinner, all of them requested him to sing the song, that he came singing when he left it off at their sight. He saide, he was well content, and glad if they woulde lende an eare vnto it, not for his voice, which was not woorth it, but for the matter which deserued any good whatsoeuer: But requesting, that some instrument might play to him, bicause his song might be the better set foorth, Doria by Felicias command, tooke a Harpe, and tuning it to the highest note that he would sing, the rest being all attentiue to him, he began thus.
LOuers, record my memorie, and name,
For one that is more happie then the rest:
And solemnize my conquest, and my fame,
which I haue got in being onely blest:
Extoll my glorie to the loftie sunne,
Which with this famous triumph I haue wonne,
To be the happiest man, that hath beene borne,
Of all, that haue to loue allegeance sworne.
What louer yet was found vnto this howre
(Though in his loue most fauour’d he had beene)
Of greefe that had not tasted yet some sowre,
And had not felt some paine, and sorrowes seene?
Or who hath with such sweete his loue endured,
(Though of his Mistresse he were most assured,
And though she loued him with truest hart)
That felt not yet a little iealous smart?
Amongst all these, I onely am exempted
From sorrowes, troubles, from mishaps, and paines:
With both handes full I liue in ioies contented:
And more if I did tell, yet more remaines:
Secure I am, that in my happy brest
Vile iealousie shall neuer build her nest:
And that I may with greefe be neuer paid,
A strong and firme foundation I haue laid.
Nothing in all the world shall breake this chaine
(If cruell death doth spare me with her dart)
And yet if loue in sepulcher remaine,
Death shall not there dissolue it in my hart:
See then how that most strong it needes must be,
