Ladies, Shepherds and Shepherdesses were: The first that she saw there, were Mar∣celius, Don Felix, Felismena, Syluanus, Seluagia, Diana, and Ismenia, sitting in one of the corners of that little square meadow neere vnto the great gate, as is aforesaide. When they sawe the reuerend Lady comming towards them, they all rose vp, and kissed those hands, in which they had placed their cheefest hope and remedies. She courteously saluted them againe, making a signe vnto them that they shoulde all follow her, which most willingly they did. Felicia attended on by this amorous traine, crossing euery part of this great and pleasant garden, came at the last to the other part of it to the fountaine, where Eugerius, Polydorus, Alcida, Clenarda, Syrenus, Arsileus, Belisa, & Montanus were. They all rose vp, in honor of the sage Matron. And when Alcida espied Marcelius, Syrenus Diana, and Montanus Ismenta, they were all astonished at the sight one of another, and verily thought they were in a dreame, standing like enchaunted persons, and not beleeuing their owne eies. The wise La∣die commanding them all to sit downe againe, and shewing by her countenance that she was to entreat of important affaires, sat her downe in the middes of them all, in a chaire of Iuorie, grauen with gold and precious stones, and spake in this sort. Nowe is the hower come (renowned and faire assemblie) wherein with my hands I meane to giue you all your long desired and happie contentment: for by diuers strange meanes, and vntroden waies I haue made you come to my Palace for no other intent and purpose. Since you are heere therefore altogither wel met, where the matters and meanes of your happie loue and life to come must be deter∣mined, my desire is that you would follow my will, and obey my commands herein. Thou art Alcida, by the true testimonie and report of thy sister Clenarda, cleerelie deliuered from the suspicion of thy deceiued imagination. And I knew well enough that, after thou hadst forsaken that cruell disdaine, the absence of thy Marcelius did not a little greeue thee. Come hither therefore, and offer thy selfe vnto him, for this absence shall not be long, which hath rather beene so short, that at that time when thou complainedst to me of it, Marcelius was in my pallace. Nowe thou hast him heere before thee, as firme and stedfast in his first loue, that, if it pleased thee, and thy Father, brother and sister, he would thinke himselfe the happiest man aliue, to solemnize this desired marriage long since betrothed. The which besides that it must needes cause great ioy and gladnes, being betweene such principall and noble personages, shall make it more perfect and absolute, by reason of Felismena his sisters presence, whom Marcelius after many yeeres past, hath happely found out in my Palace. Thou Montanus by Sylueria herselfe, that betraied thee, art rid from thy erronious opinion. After which time thou didst weep continually for the losse of thy faithfull wife Ismenia, who now is come to liue & die in thine armes, and to comfort all thy sorrowes, after that thorow out all Spaine, with many a wearie iourney, and many dangers, and troubles she hath sought thee out. But now last of all it resteth to remedie thy paines (faire Diana) before which time I meane to aduertise thee of that which Syrenus and some of these Shepherds doe know by Alcidas report, al∣though it will be but a sorrowfull tale in thine eares, and a grieuous corosie to thy pitifull hart. Thy husband Delius (faire Shepherdesse) as it pleased the inexorable destinies, hath ended the course of his life. For the losse whereof I know well (Di∣ana) that thou hast great cause to lament, but yet in the end all men are bound to pay this tribute to Nature, and that which is so common a thing, ought not ex∣tremely to grieue any one. Weepe not (faire Diana) for thou breakest my hart a∣sunder in seeing thee powre forth such dolorous teares, drie vp thine eies, comfort
