| Previous Page | Next Page |
yet you shall see and heare said Felicia, of many other proofes of their mutuall loue. With these, and many other speeches Lord Felix, Felismena, Syluanus, and Seluagia passed that time meerely away, while Felicia staied them there: Parisiles, Stela, and Crimine with a meane content, for the hope they had of their remedies to come.
But it shall not be amisse, that, leauing these Gentlemen heere, we go on with the three Shepherds, which went where Diana was, if you will, that we beginne to helpe Syrenus, who now with his potion that Felicia had giuen him, began to feele a tendernes of loue, entring in by the passage of the late passed obliuion, and a certain discontentment of Firmius and Faustus loues, that followed the same. Whereupon Syrenus, musing with himselfe, saide to Partheus. By that yoong Shepherdesse, which hath so great power ouer thee (bicause with some thing we may lighten the wearines of our way) I pray thee tell this yoong Shepherd and me something (if thouknowest) of that, which passed betweene Faustus, and Firmius with Diana. Al∣though it must be to mine owne greefe (said Partheus) bicause I shall reduce to my memorie a part of the troubles, which so great a friend of mine as Firmius is, passed, yet (to pleasure you heerein) it lies not in my power (gentle Shepherdes) not to obey you.
Hauing intelligence from the place, where he was, that in the fieldes of Leon my Firmius had made his abode, I went (leauing on a sudden the presence of my soue∣raigne Shepherdesse for certaine daies) to visite him, and the very same daie I came thither, found him sitting vnder the shade of a high Sicamour, in companie of the faire Shepherdesse Diana. To whom, bicause she had not beene well at ease, by reason of a conceit she tooke in leesing a paper that Firmius had giuen her, he song this Sonnet.
But it shall not be amisse, that, leauing these Gentlemen heere, we go on with the three Shepherds, which went where Diana was, if you will, that we beginne to helpe Syrenus, who now with his potion that Felicia had giuen him, began to feele a tendernes of loue, entring in by the passage of the late passed obliuion, and a certain discontentment of Firmius and Faustus loues, that followed the same. Whereupon Syrenus, musing with himselfe, saide to Partheus. By that yoong Shepherdesse, which hath so great power ouer thee (bicause with some thing we may lighten the wearines of our way) I pray thee tell this yoong Shepherd and me something (if thouknowest) of that, which passed betweene Faustus, and Firmius with Diana. Al∣though it must be to mine owne greefe (said Partheus) bicause I shall reduce to my memorie a part of the troubles, which so great a friend of mine as Firmius is, passed, yet (to pleasure you heerein) it lies not in my power (gentle Shepherdes) not to obey you.
Hauing intelligence from the place, where he was, that in the fieldes of Leon my Firmius had made his abode, I went (leauing on a sudden the presence of my soue∣raigne Shepherdesse for certaine daies) to visite him, and the very same daie I came thither, found him sitting vnder the shade of a high Sicamour, in companie of the faire Shepherdesse Diana. To whom, bicause she had not beene well at ease, by reason of a conceit she tooke in leesing a paper that Firmius had giuen her, he song this Sonnet.
IF that a small occasion had the power,
To make thee leese thy rosie hew and colour,
Diana, say, how fals it out this hower,
That all my woes to pitie make thee duller?
Hath now a little peece of paper made thee
So milde, and gentle in so short a morrow,
And cannot yet my greatest loue perswade thee,
To make thee take compassion of my sorrow?
How of my selfe am I my selfe ashamed,
That thou shouldst reckon of so short a writing,
Which cannot iudge, nor vnder stand thy graces?
And yet thou wilt not bend thee to requiting
Of that, that’s written in my hart inflamed,
And which hath alwaies suffred thy disgraces.
I, that behinde other trees hard by, was harkening vnto him, would not inter∣rupt their pleasant conuersation with my abrupt presence: but there wanted not a meanes, that immediately hindred the same. For Faustus going vp and downe to seeke Diana (for now he knew she was gone to the field) by chance he light vpon the place, where they were; who with the greefe he had to see her so fortunate in beau∣tie, as vnfortunate by marriage, came singing this old dittie.
| Previous Page | Next Page |