in company of her three Nymphes, and of Polydorus and Clenarda (telling them by the way, that they should say nothing of Marcelius, Dianas, and Ismenias comming thither) went to a most pleasant garden, where they sawe Eugerius passing the time away with his daughter Alcida. Don Felix and Felismena, Syrenus, Syluanus, and Seluagia, Arsileus and Belisa, and another Shepherd were sitting togither a pretie way off them about a fountaine. Alcida had yet on the same pastorall weedes, that she came apparelled with that day to the pallace, but she was presently knowne by her brother and sister. The ioy that the brother and two sisters had to see them∣selues altogither, and the gladnes that the father had to see himselfe and them so well and happely met, moreouer the great affection wherwith they embraced each other, the louing talke that passed betweene them, and the sundry questions that they asked of one another, cannot be with words nor writing declared. Alcida was rapt with ioy to see her brother and sister; but was gladder to see Polydorus, then Clenarda, for the great presumption that she had, that Marcelius went away with her, leauing her in the desolate Iland all alone. But Felicia purposing to cleere all these mistes & errours, & to make an end of so many hard fortunes, spake thus vnto them. Though Fortune hath neuer so much (faire Alcida) by many kindes of iniu∣ries shewed herselfe thy mortall enimie, yet thou canst nor denie, but that with this content, that thou now enioyest, thou art fully reuenged of all her wrongs. And bi∣cause the false imagination and deceit, wherein thou hast liued hitherto, hating (without cause) thy louing Marcelius, if thou liuest still in it, is enough to alter thy hart, and to giue him much sorrow and greefe; it shall be therefore very needfull for thee to shake off this cōceit & iniurious fuspicion out of thy mind. That which thou thinkest of Marcelius, is cleane contrarie, bicause it was not his fault when hee left thee in the Iland, but the deceite of a vile traytour and of Fortune, who now to sa∣tisfie the iniurie that she hath done thee, hath brought thee hither vnto me, which thou shalt finde to be as true as my mouth (neuer accustomed to faine and lie) hath plainly and sincerely told thee. Thy sister Clenarda can make a large report vnto thee of all that hath passed about this matter, harken to her, and beleeue her words, bicause I sweare vnto thee, that all that she shall tell thee, is most true. Then Clenar∣da began to tell the whole matter & how it hapned, purging Marcelius and herselfe, and reciting at large the treason and villany of Sartofano, and all the rest, as you haue heard before. Which when Alcida heard, she thought herselfe very well satisfied, and then the long hatred, which she bare to Marcelius, went out of her hart with the deceit, the onely occasion of it. And then the smothered loue, and hidden fire began to reuiue in her brest, being cleerely ridde of her old suspicion, as also by the opera∣tion of those charming words that Felicia made in her soule, and being in that mind, she said vnto Felicia. Mine errour I acknowledge (most honorable and sage Ladie) and the great benefite that you haue done me, by deliuering me from it. But if I loue now Marcelius (the miste of vniust suspect being driuen from mine eies) and he be∣ing absent as he is indeed, I shal neuer the more for this happines attaine to the top of that ioy which I hope for at thy hands; but shall rather be afflicted with so great greefe of minde, that to remedie the same, I shall stand in neede of newe fauours at thy gracious handes. It is a good token of loue (answered Felicia againe) to take thought for the absence of the beloued, but let not this greeue thy minde, for I will be carefull for thy contentment: Now hath the Sunne hidden his beames, and it is good time to take some rest. Goe therefore with thy father and sister to repose thy selfe, bicause we will to morrow take order for these affaires. When she had thus
