haue not beene asunder, discoursing of hate, obliuion, and disdaine. And so I am verie certaine, that Felicia made them come to her Court to marrie them togither, being both of one minde, and their conditions being so semblable one to the other. For though he be but a Shepherd, and she a noble Ladie, Felicia yet by her superna∣turall powers can giue him valour, force, riches, and wisedome, which is the truest nobilitie of all the rest. And Arethea following on her speech, turning to Marce∣lius, she said thus vnto him. By this (Shepherd) thou seest how thy ioy is in hazard to fall to anothers lot; defer not therefore the time, bicause if thou commest be∣times, thou maist preuent Syrenus of his match. But when Diana heard these words, she felt the greatest griefe that might be, and had shewed it by teares and outcries, if bashfulnes and modestie had not beene an impediment to it. Marcelius suffered the like paine for the same cause, and was so tormented with it, that he thought to haue dyed for verie anguish of minde. So that on knife wounded Marcelius and Dianas hart, & one iealousie molested their soules: Marcelius feared Alcidas marriage with Syrenus; and Diana the marriage of Syrenus with Alcida. The faire Nymph knew Marcelius & Diana very well, & those that were with them, but she disembled it very cūningly, as Felicia had told her how, telling Marcelius first a true tale, to giue him an vnexpected ioy; & after a fained matter, to kindle his desire, & Dianas more; & also bi∣cause by these bitter news, the gladnes that they afterwards receiued, might be grea∣ter & more sweet. Being now come to a broad & most faire Court, which was before the palace gate, they saw a reuerēd old Lady cōming out of it, apparelled with a long gowne of black veluet, hauing a vaile on her head of white tynsell which hung down ouer her shoulders, being accompanied with three most faire Nymphes, represen∣ting a most venerable and diuine Sybill. This Ladie was Felicia, and her Nymphes were Dorida, Cynthia, and Polydora. When Arethea was come before her Ladie and Mistresse (but first telling her company that she was Felicia) she kneeled downe and kissed her hands, and so did all the rest. Felicia seemed to be verie glad of their com∣ming, and with a merie countenance said vnto them. Woorthie Gentlemen, Lady, and famous Shepherds, although the ioy that I haue of your comming is great, yet the same that you shall reape by my sight hereafter shall be no whit lesse. But bicause you are somewhat wearie with your iourney, go and take your rest, and forget your griefes, bicause you cannot want the first in my house, and the second with my great knowledge shall be soone amended. They all humbly thanked her, shewing them∣selues verie glad of their louing entertainment, and at last Felicia left them. Shee made Polydorus & Clenarda to stay there, saying, that she had to talke with them; and the rest being guided by Arethea, went to a chamber in the rich Palace, where they were seasted that night, and serued with all things needfull for their rest. This house was so sumptuous and magnificent, and so full of all kinde of stately riches, & of cu∣rious and costly gardens, that there was not any other comparable vnto it. But I will not trouble my selfe in making any particular recount of the beautie and riches of it, since that was declared at large in the first part of this worke. I will onely tell how Marcelius, Diana, and Ismenia, were lodged in two chambers in the Palace, han∣ged all about with rich Tapistrie, curiously wrought with gold and siluer, lodgings vnacquainted to simple Shepherds. They were there entertayned with a daintie and plenteous supper, serued with plate of gold and cristall, and when they went to sleep layde in stately beds, whose bodies yet (though with trauell & paine they were not a little wearied) with the softnes & sweetnes of them, & with the hope also that Felicia had giuen them, were inuited to a sweet & reposed sleepe. On the other side Felicia
