Montemayor's Diana

Page 330

Home  /  Facsimile  /  Page 330

Previous Page Next Page

deeds (though lately) shall be rewarded by the highest, assuring thy selfe that the deferring thereof shall more augment the requitall: For otherwise if good deeds were not requited by some waies, we might haue iust occasion to complaine of his diuine power: I say by some meanes, as touching that he hath promised vs, bicause otherwise he oweth vs nothing, but we are rather perpetually obliged to his diuine essence, not onely that he hath made vs rationall creatures (the highest estate in na∣ture) when it lies in his celestiall power to fashion vs to that, which is accounted the lowest & most seruile in the world: vnto the likenes whereof though he might haue made vs, who was besides no lesse able to leaue vs without being, which is the grea∣test infelicitie, next after eternall damnation. But leauing this aside, as well bicause larger time then that we haue, were necessarie for it; as also bicause the place doth not require it, I will (according to this) tell thee in briefe, that heere in this house thou hast made an end of thy great iourney, finding in the same that which thou couldst not find in so manie countries. Here shall thy trauels end, and all the trou∣bles of these Gentlemen, and with greater prosperitie you shall returne to your de∣sired heauen. Here you shall shortly see how many of you wander vp and downe like banished men, and more then you thinke of. In conclusion, in a few daies thou shalt see in this Temple of chaste Diana thy louing Lord and Ladie, and thy deer Aunt. Placindus, at so ioyfull newes, breaking off so sweete a speech, and not knowing how to requte her, prostrate vpon the ground, kissed her hands. Felicia tooke him vp againe, saying. It is therefore needfull for thee (as a thing that concernes thy Lord and Ladie) to tell the beginning of their banishment, and the cause of thy long tra∣uell, to two faire Nymphes and a reuerend old man, whom thou shalt finde atten∣ding thy comming in a great broad court before the Palace hall. Placindus to obey the sage Felicias commaund, without any answer went to the place, where she ap∣pointed him. She that now had caused Lord Felix, Felismena, Syluanus, and Seluagia, Danteus and Duarda, and the Nymphes to be all togither whiles she was speaking to Placindus, being gone to them, said. Follow you me all. None then refusing, went after her, and came where Placindus, Stela, and Crimine were iust at that time that Pla∣cindus began to tell his discourse. To whom Felicia said. Because thou maist not want an auditorie for so noble a tale, behold my selfe that comes with my companie to take part of it: Wherefore let vs all sit downe, and thou Placindus without any more courtesies, do that, which I did of late request thee.

The end of the sixth booke.

The seuenth Booke of the second Part of Diana of George of Montemayor.

THey were all now silent and set downe in order, when Placindus, being place in the middes, began thus to say.
Of the descent and famous pedegree of Eolus king of Aeolia, (whom afterwards they called the God of the windes, and of whom that countrey tooke the name) sprung out two illustrous houses. Of the one a most mightie man called Sagastes was cheefe: The other a vertuous yoong Gentleman called Di∣steus, made most famous; who, though in possessions and reuenewes he was not

Previous Page Next Page