AFTER so many strange cruelties , inflicted vpon the wretched Shepheard A RCAS , by vnpitifull Fortune , in the end , he found himself all alone , in the middest of a most fearefull desart , being a place , agreeable to his griefe , and not a little fit for his sharpe and stinging miserie . Horror , in steed of light , made there her abode , neither did any other comfortable Beame of pleasure shine there , then such as ioylesse solitarines draweth from pining sorrow . No cheerfull Sunne in this place vsed to cast forth his gladsome raies , it being the ordinarie abiding of the blacke daughters of fatall death . The chiefest riches , the poore Shepheard found there , was Bushes , Thornes , Brambles , and Briers , hard flintie Rocks , and huge senselesse stones . No other creatures entertained he for his Guests , but brute Beastes , withdrawing himselfe from the companie of men , as if they had bin diuels . Thousands of Rocks , of which , some being eaten with time , other some blasted with lightning , and some set out with sharpe pointed Thornes , kept him as a Bulwarke , safe on the one side , and the periurde waters of the changing Sea , growing white with stormie Billows , preseru'd him secure on the other . There sometimes was the melancolike abode of still sleepe , there the resting place of pale death , and there the lodge of such Spirits , as like vacabonds , wandred vp and downe the world , being worthily punished by the great and iust Gods . Many gastly Caues , were ( there ) to be found , but so horrible were they , as the onely sight of them brought trembling feare to the mindes , and sudden amazement to the eyes of such as should behold them . No running Fountaine was there that gaue forth cristall water ; no shadowing groue , to keepe men from parching heate ; nor any greene coolie grasse with faire coloured flowers , to delight the sences : onely in this vncoth wildernesse , did soiourne such sad , and old angrie men , as by there nightly Charmes forced the Spirites of the earth to obey their wills and to be at their command . In steede of Nightingale and Lark , was there found the Scritching Owle and night Rauen , with such other dismall Birdes , whose flight , nature , and crie , did serue for sinister prophesies vnto the miserable Inhabitants thereof . All thrise wofull and lamentable dwelling , in comparison of the ioyfull woods of Arcadia , the first witnesses of the chast Loues of this disastred Shepheard : and yet fortunate inough for him , seeing , that he being depriued of all his wisht for hopes , soughtby many pittilesse Accidents , to ende his loathed life . Those faire and goodly troupes of Shepheards , and Shepheardesses , which were wont heretofore to be a comfort vnto him , were now most pittifully taken from his sight . There the learned Iul●tta was not to be found , neither there could his deare friend Philas be heard of , who , with others were wont most sweetly to record and sing of their ouerhard fortunes in their loyall Loues . O poore Shepheard , if solitarines may bring to the male-contented , any delight at all , no doubt but then , thou doest participate with the same ; for amongst millions of sauadge beastes , thou liuest alone ; amongst thousands of gastly rocks , and amongst infinites of desarts , without any cleare light , or cheareful Sunne : And yet the sharpe feeling of his inward griefes , ouercame and drowned the sad apprehension of this solitarie seate : A Similie . no otherwise , then great and desperate mischances , slake , and quench those that are little : or as most violent diseases , hinder the feeling of such as are lesse vnrecouerable . Not smally fortunate did he thinke himselfe , to haue found this vnluckie R●ceptakle , making vnto himselfe a false ioy of that sower Subiect , which was the ca●se of heause sorrow vnto others . And herein might he witnesse full well , that in respect of the ●ll that happeneth in Loue , all other euils are right pleasures , and that , that onely torment , brought with it a certaine sure knowledge of misfortunes vnto men . O how easie a matter is it to resist all worldly troubles , and to passe through the pikes of the same But how hard or rather impossible a thing is it , to vanquish and ouercome loue ? A Sentence . Of all the fanites that wise men commit , none is more excusable , then such as Loue forceth then , to doe . Who was more learned then Plato , who more inditiall then Aristotle , who more godly then Da●ad , who more wise then Salomon , and who more strong then Sampson ? Surely none : and yet neuer haue any bin more ouercome by loue , then they , of which Tirants slau●sh yoke , this poore Shepheard also had felt the heauie burthen . His rare constancie bare patiently the losse of his goods , tooke gently his banishment from his countrie , endured quietly the crueltie of time , and brooked wisely , the iniuries of the enuious ; but vnto this Loue , it yeelded quickly , and as it were without constraint . Thrise blessed was he , in that be knew how to make choise of so beautious and rare Subiects , but yet quadruple vnfortunate , for that he could not reape the sweete fruites of the same in this world . A Sentence . The remembrance of things lost , is forgotten through length of time , the paine of deadliest sicknesses , is appeased by Phisicke , and the deepest conceited sorrow , weareth away with often sighing ; but alas , his loue was alwaies liuing , without ende , and without truce , as a substance euerlasting . Too , too cruell was that star , that shonne at his birth , but farre more remorslesse , the care and griefe of his continuall vexed life . And in respect of him , happie are all other whatsoeuer , who are tormented with the losse of their kinde friends , deare countrie , louing families and acquaintance , all which though they be much grieuous to support and suffer , yet are they not to be compared in rigor , vnto the least passion of Loue ; for the Soule findeth in them , some one comfort or other , and the bodie some ease of griefe , or ( at the least ) an ende of all : but in the pangs of Loue , neither the one nor the other are euer out of trouble . Wretched then is the man that leueth , therefore , wretched this Shepheard , and yet more happie then such contented persons , who liue alwaies fearing death : whereas , the approach of the same , was the onely hauen and heauen of his vnhappines , Such , and so great was the extremities of his woes , as it hindred him , to marke or conceiue the fearefulnes of this desart , & to apprehend the horror of so frightfull a dwelling . He thinketh of nothing lesse , then of the horriblenes of the same . Such condemned Soules , as are drawne vnto the place of execution , dreame not of any thing else , then of the bitter death they goe to suffer . Euen so , sought not he any other iourney in this wildernesse , then such as his passion led him on to take , his eyes not being employed in any office at all , whilest he himselfe seemed to be both deafe , blinde , and dumme . O sage and prudent Poets , who to expresse the nature and effects of Loue most properly , faine Louers to haue bin changed into insensible shapes : for certainely , they are but Stones , Trees , and Rocks , in their actions and behauiour , although they retaine and keepe with them a humane shape . A long time did this miserable Shepheard walke thus , without knowing which way he went , vntill at the last for verie wearines , he was forced to rest himselfe at the foote of a mightie high Rocke . There , being set vpon the ground , his armes a crosse , his eyes lifted vp , his lips close shut together , leaning his head vpon the stone , which hung on the one side , he seemed as if he had bin another very Rocke ; for , as a Rocke , so were his gestures , moue-lesse , his spirits gone , and all the partes of his bodie without force and vigor . And to say the truth indeede , how could he once stirre , if his Soule being the life of his bodie , was as then absent , and at that time retired into the bosome of his faire Mistris ? Thus sat he senselesse a great while , with a heauie setled countenance , vntill at last , looking downe lowe with his eyes , he espied certaine verses to be carued most curiously within the Rocke , which made him resemble the Hunter , A Similie . who dispairing of his Prey , and hauing ( as it were ) quite forgotten the same , vpon the soden spieth his game , which forceth him to begin a fresh the pursuite thereof , and so followeth the chase againe . O how great power hath our desire ouer our Soules , that it is of force presently to reuiue our senses , to awaken our thoughts , to plucke vp our Spirits , and to change and alter our countenances ! The great longing he had to reade that large writing , awaked him out of his dreame , recalled home his former wits , & brought him again to be a right man . He turned his eyes too and fro , busying himsefe , about the reading of those lines , but little pleasure conceiued he of the same , because he could not vnderstand them , by reason they were carued in letters of Arabia , which made him fret and fume ; Not vnlike vnto one , who seeking to passe ouer a Riuer , A Comparison . cannot find the lowest and shallow est place through which he might wade most safest ; so as , being in great coller against Nature , he burst out into these speeches . Ah cruell Stepdame , when wilt thou be glutted with the miseries of mortall men ? At too high a rate doest thou sell that little aduantage and benefit , which they haue ouer other liuing creatures . To what ende serues it them to be more perfect then beastes , if this perfection , taketh from them their most desired rest ? and what profit is it for one to be rich , if that treasure of his , engendreth trauaile , and care , which most cruelly weareth away his life ? Farre happier by ods are the bruite beastes , for ignorance taketh away from them the apprehension of misfortunes , the thought of riches , and the sorrow that is incident vnto this life : whereas the minde of man , is tossed too and fro , not onely with vnquietnes of such things as are present , but also for such as are before passed , and are yet to come : yea ( and that in such strange wise , as man is thought to be still miserable , excepting onely , in that small time , wherein he is freed and released from those mortall cares and knawing Corsiues . Alack , A Similie . alack , as with the tree , the rinde groweth , and sprowteth vp , the one not being able to continue without the other ; so with Man , is carefulnes ingendred , which as a most vnfortunate euill Angell , followeth him in all his actions he taketh in hand . Who is he , that euer hath bin liuing without the feeling of griefe or sorrow , or without the tast of vexation and vnquietnes ? The mornings houre frameth and plotteth one miserie or other against the euening , as the extreame rage of ardent heate maketh a storme , or tempest , which halleth fire and water together . For one tast of pleasure which he enioyeth , a thousand desires of death seaze on his spirits , to the ende he might quench all his heauie disasters , by such a speedie meanes : for more happier are senselesse creatures , then they , whose bodies are onely put to trauaile , and not their mindes at all : and in respect of the vnfortunate plagues of this life , a thrise blessed companion is death , who ought to be counted a remedie and helpe , rather then any paine , or trouble . And therefore thrise happie indeede , are you most valiant Spirits , who of your owne braue courages , haue dared to shorten by violence the miseries of your loathed liues , thereby to abridge and cut off the multitude of sorrowes belonging vnto the same . Vnkinde Nature , what gifts doest thou prodigally bestowe vpon man , but bitter wailings and salt teares ? No sooner are we borne , but teares come forth with vs , following vs in all the course of our liues , and not leauing vs vntill our latest death . Of earth doest thou frame our bodies , and to earth doest thou turne the same againe ; And yet alas , not before thou hast made vs to take the aslay of many miserable calamities . Neither hast thou made rightly perfect any one man , there being alwaies in his life , one fault , or another ; for seldome or neuer find we an excellent and quick Spirit , in a well shaped and comely bodie , nor an exquisite well made bodie to containe in the same a rare and admirable minde . But it is no wonder at all , that those , who are thy Subiects , children , and vassals , want their perfection , when thou thine owne selfe , A Similie . hast failed and doest come behind of the same . Hardly can the people of a cruell king , be brought to be gentle and milde , and as hardly can men thy creatures attaine to come to be perfect , when thou thy selfe , on whom they depend , art naturally full of defects and wants . I pray thee tell me , what charges had it bin vnto thee , if thou hadst giuen vnto euery one an insight and skill in forraigne languages ? and why doest thou depriue so many mindes desirous of knowledge in all things , for want of vnderstanding strange tongues , in which thou giuest a plaine testimome , either of thine owne imperfection , or else of thy ouermuch crueltie ? if thou art imperfect , then can nothing , that is faire , excellent , or perfect , be found amongst vs : for of the seedes of thistles , can neuer corne spring : and if thou be cruell , then miserable is the estate of man , to be gouerned and subiugated vnder the yoke of such a bloudie and inhumane Stepmother . Both which vices ( I doubt not ) but abound in thee ; Certainly thou art imperfect , rendring so many bodies emptie and voyd of all perfection , as Monsters , fashioned without forme ; And cruell thou art , making men more wretched , or rather farreworse , then rude and sauadge beastes . Thus exclaimed the poore Pilgrime , mad for anger that he could not vnderstand that strange writing . And as a small matter of losse bringeth more dammage vnto him , who commeth from going about a farre greater , whilst the same is a doing , and feeleth the crosse thereof , to be more then if the said little mischance had hapned whilst he was in prosperitie ; So this pettie despite galled the Shepheard more , by reason he was as than plunged in a bottomles pit of discontentments , them if it had chaunced when he had liued most at ease and pleasure . But now , as he was laying himselfe downe to make his praiers vnto the morning sleepe , to charme and close vp his eyes and trauaile for a while , he might perceiue on the sudden a certaine aged man , standing hard behind him . This good old Father , had a long beard , as white as snowe , his haire of his head was hoarie and graie , his forehead wrinkled , his face furrowed , his eyes sunke in his head , his lippes great and blacke , his eye-browes thicke as bristles , his hands riueled , and nothing but skinne and bone , his apparell a beares case , his feete bare and naked , hauing in his right hand a staffe , and in his left a booke . The complaint of the Shepheard had , he heard , and he being one that was assisted and holpen by the benefit of Nature , in the charmes and enchantments which he vsed , was not a little moued to heare her so sharpely blamed . Whereupon he resolued to take her cause in hand , and as a friendly counseller to pleade in her behalfe , insomuch as without once saluting or greeting the discontented Arcas , in a friendly manner he thus began to answere him . Alas poore silly soule , to what ende doest thou shew thy selfe to be like vnto the fire , that burneth that that nourisheth her , or to the viper that knaweth her mother in pieces , or to the vngratefull churle , that murdereth his best benefactor ? Darest thou so impudently speake against her , that is the Mother , the Queene , and the Nurse of all things ? Most mortall enemie of the Gods , who acknowledge her for their vaiuersall Mother , whom thou blamest , with so great blasphemie . Who giueth their essence and Being , vnto liuing creatures , but she ? who maketh them to liue , and moue but she ? Should not this great obscure Caos , ( but for her ) turne againe into his confused forme , & the Elements be confusedly mingled one with another ? Who hath giuen Soule and life vnto man , but she ? When the expert Physition hath done all he can to the vttermost of his Art , to heale the sicke patients ; if he then casteth away his medicine , and refuseth wilfully his owne health , is it the Doctors fault if he be taken away by death ? If thou hast receiued both a soule and sufficient vigor and force of Nature , and for default of vsing the same wisely , ill fortune hath seazed and taken hold vpon thee : canst thou iustly lay the cause of thy mishap vpon Nature ? O foole as thou art , know thou , that our Spirits and our bodies haue receiued all perfection that may be , and the very best of euery vertue that is in any other liuing creature , A Sentence . is bestowed vpon vs . Vnto a wise man nothing is vnpossible , neither can the stars themselues preuaile ought against him . But if he will needes lose himselfe , if he will imploy his good gifts , against his owne selfe , as the surious man , who woundeth his heart with his ownesword , can the blame thereof be attributed vnto Nature ? That vassall that hath receiued all good and kinde entertainement and vsage of his Lord , and yet afterward will faile of his duetic , A Similie . doth he bring his Maister to be guiltie of his offence , or can he make him to be the Author of this his so grosse tollie ? I think not . If so , why hast thou then suffered thy selfe so foolishly to be deceiued , cheated , and depriued of that force , and vertue , that Nature hath lent thee , laying vpon her , all the blame for the losse of the same ? Thou affirmest that man is miserable , and therefore little beholding vnto Nature , but vpon what Foundation , vpon what Rocke , or vpon what sure ground canst thou proue her to be the cause of his miserie ? Doth he want any thing that is conuenient and fit for him ? hath he not the forme and shape of the Gods ? Is not his Soule diuine ? and doth it not participate with wisedome , knowledge , and vnderstanding ? and if thou wilt not allow , Wisedome , Knowledge , and Science , to be in the number of the best things , then dost thou deface euery vertue , and by this meanes thou makest men , to be no better then brute and senselesse beastes . But knowledge ( saiest thou ) bringeth vnto man , care , and vexation of mind , which like a worme , eateth and knaweth him continually , and ( yet ) doth the same vnderstanding , make him to approach nigh vnto the Gods , bringing him to be farre more perfect , then when he knew nothing . O what an vnspeakable ioy doth he conceiue in his soule , when he is once able to attaine vnto the discouerie of those admirable effects of God ? being able through his knowledge to preuent such mischiefes as are at hand , and to deliuer others from present shipwracks of imminent misfortunes ? Thou addest , that these things encrease and ingender sad thoughts in his minde : but what paine , what griefe , what molestation , or trouble , is there found ( be it neuer so sharpe & stinging ) which can once counteruaile , or compare , with the ambrosiall sweetnes of that renowned glory , which that man swalloweth downe along time , who rightly and perfectly doth but iudge & conceiue of celestiall actions , & by his prudencie & skill , maketh himselfe most profitable and necessarie vnto his common-wealth ? All those other bad conceites , passe and vanish away , as a sudden storme , but most durable and for euerlasting , is that glory , which man buildeth and establisheth vpon the rockie ground of neuer failing vertue . Great Hercules , ( as now , An example . ) feeleth no more the paine of all those hugie labors which he once endured in this world , for that is dead and gone , but his glorious renowne , his worthy name and fame endureth still , and shall for euermore . But thou castest thine eyes , vpon such things onely as are present , which are flitting and not durable , fortifying thy complaint vpon a vaine and light shadow , without bethinking thee once of that substance of Eternitie , that is to come hereafter . A Sentence . True glorie is neuer gotten but by great labour and trauaile ; and vertue best shineth through deadliest dangers , as the Sunne showeth clearest , amongst the darkest cloudes . Hadst thou but any high courage in thee , or wert thou brauely pricked forward with the spur of honour , thou wouldst neuer regard so much as thou dost this present time , but wouldst rather haue respect to what is like to come hereafter ; for right wretched is he , that with his dying body encloseth and burieth his name , his glory , and all his exploytes , all within one obscure tombe . Blame not Nature then , who hath made man perfect in all parts and compliments , and hath giuen him the direct meanes to enter into the right way which leadeth him vnto the place of Eternitie . And if thou canst not vnderstand these Ar●bique letters , the fault is thine owne , and not Natures , who hath giuen thee a mind to conceiue , and a tongue , to learne to practise and speake . But there is no reason , that without labour and taking of paine , we should come to purchase our desires , since through this trauaile , the perfection of Nature is the better knowne , producing many faire effects within our soules , first formed and inuented by her , which without industrie would remaine quite extinguisht , and of no force , not vnlike vnto senselesse stones . The Shepheard wakened with this biting discourse , began to take heart at grasse , replying vpon the old man in this sort . Whatsoeuer thou art , that shewest thy selfe so charitable and deuout , in thy deuoyre and dutie towards Nature , christning her with the name of perfect ; I must needes tell thee , thou art wonderfull wide from the truth , and not a little deceiued in this matter ; For if such perfection were found in her ( as thou speakest ) why then doth she not make euery man perfect alike ? whereas ( quite contrarie ) from some , she taketh away their health , through long and strange Maladies , which by her owne name , are tearmed naturall ; from others , she curtalleth and loppeth off their best members , whereby they growe deformed and misshapen ; some others she abridgeth , and taketh away from them their right wits , and senses , making them become innocents , and fooles ; and from others againe , she withdraweth her liberall hand of plentie , forcing them to liue in great want and beggerie . Now what perfection is here found in these so diuers contrarie effects ? for of that thing which is perfect , nothing can proceede but what is perfect , like vnto it selfe ; As it happeneth amongst Lions & Lionesses , which alwaies resemble one another : but from Nature , diuers effects doe happen vnperfect , and therefore is not she her selfe perfect . Now , badly ( quoth the old man ) herein doe you conclude , for both Nature her selfe is perfect , and so are her workes also . Perfect are her workes , in that she doth distribute vnto euery one , that which she knoweth to be most necessarie for him . Some doth she cause to be sicke , to the ende she may smoother and kill the force and power of such vices , as they haue ouer greedily swallowed downe . From others she taketh away their right wits and memorie , to make them forget the conceit and thought of high and aspiring designes , and to bring them to thinke of base and lowe matters ; vpon the conseruation of which , dependeth the estate and safetie of their Superious : and from others , she keepeth backe her treasures , to the ende she might acquaint them with the ordinarie labour and tillage of the earth ; which rendereth a most sacred and diume testimonie of her perfection , without which , the most worthiest Spirits , addicted wholly vnto glory , should be constrained to forsake and yeelde their bodies vnto death , as being famished for want of sustenance : and as her perfection is exquisite , so is her puissance incomprehensible , and the effects of the same most admirable ; so as who solloweth her steps alwaies orderly , shall neuer grosely erre , nor offend shamefully . And yet ( replied the Shepheard ) diuers that haue offended , erring through Nature , haue by Art much amended their defects : whereas neuer hath there bin knonwe any one that hath bin found to be perfect , through the benefit of Nature : As we see the Sages & wise men , ( that liued heretofore in the olde world , ) spent many yeares to correct , by knowledge and experience , the defaults of lame Nature . But that knowledge ( answered the old man ) proceeded from the selfe same Nature , in such wise , as she is not to be blamed at all for the same , nor to be thought any thing the more vnperfect for it ; seeing that as she was the cause of that ill , so she brought a remedie for the same ; and that so holesome a one , as the wound being once cured , A Similie . the whole body euer after was the better , being cleare purged of all his defects . Not vnlike vnto the body of man , which being purified , through a comfortable potion , is not onely freed of that disease which as then infected him , but euer after is the better in health for that holesome Phisicke . We see that sometimes the Surgion maketh incision , and cutteth off flesh , to the ende the whole body may be the more healthfull and sound : so this experieece which Nature hath bestowed vpon man , is so perfect and necessarie , as he may iudge himselfe to be right happie , to haue found some such small defect of Nature in himselfe , since they haue bin of force to learne him how to helpe himselfe , and how to vse this excellent knowledge vnto his great aduantage , which not onely cleanseth him from his faults present , but from such likewise as are to come hereafter . What is that you said ( answered Arcas ) as though there be not many faults and imperfections of Nature , and those of so high a qualitie , as no experience nor skill , be it neuer so great , can euer amend them , or once be able to doe good of them : how many incurable diseases are there that no Phisicke can helpe them ? and how many cruell and desperate inconueniences , that no Art can withstand them ? No , no : Nature her selfe can neuer deliuer vnto man any one knowledge sufficient , ( no , although we would graunt that wisedome proceeded from her , as it doth not ) which were of force and power enough to amend and correct her owne faults , and imperfections . I will demaund but this one question of you , whether you thinke there be any naturall prudence , or foresight strong enough , to helpe that sicknes which proceedeth from Loue ? and whether Louers haue not good reason , iustly to complaine of Nature , who without any succour or helpe , halleth thenso cruelly vnto such inexpiable miseries ? Nay then ( quoth the old man ) if you come to encounter against me , with the power of Loue , I must needs haue the field , and yeeld the prize vnto you . For I my selfe , although I haue drawne thousands of treasures from Nature , all which are sufficient proofes of her beautifulnes , of her power & vertue ; yet could I neuer find by her meanes any remedie against this incurable disease . Incurable , may I call it , since it hath made me to abandon the world , to liue this solitarie kinde of life , whereby I might beguile my vnsupportable paines , and so ( in the ende ) finde death the onely right Soueraigne cordiall and helpe to ease and ende this hellish disease . And if the selfesame accident , hath brought thee hither to be a companion vnto me in my miseries : I shall be very willing to discourse vnto thee , the disastred aduentures of my Loue ; and as gladly euery way to vnderstand the haplesse course of thine owne . It is the onely thing I most desire ( replied Arcas ) although I doubt shrodely , that the memorie of my bitter troubles , will hardly afford me free vtterance of speech , to recite and repeate at full , the discourse of mine infinite misfortunes ; and , I feare me , least the sadde remembrance of my renewed griefes , will interrupt and breake the slender threed of my feeble voice . But before I begin , let me intreat you to expound and to enterpret vnto me , these Arabique verses , & the substance of the same . Withall my hart answered the old man , but first let vs take our places for our more ease , vnder the shade of this coolie rocke , that the faire coloured greene of these sight pleasing odoriferous hearbes , may be partakers of so lamentable an Historie . Whereupon , the old man ( with Arcas ) sat him downe , where he thought fittest for himselfe , when hauing now alreadie cast his eyes vpon the Caracters , readie to report them in the French language ) a sad accent of a heauie voice , caused him ( on the soden ) to stop , & be silent : not vnlike that Marchant , who trauailing on the way to goe his voyage , A Comparison . sodenly turneth backe , leauing his companie , with whome ( before ) he had iournied , being giuen by the way as he passed to vnderstand , of the too too vntimely death of his deare & louing Spouse . This voice rauished the soules of both our Pilgrimes , reuiuing a fresh memorie of their loues within their hearts , tooke away from them all other thoughs , the better to make them dreame of their passions , and brought them into their former estates of their Loues , in which they were at the first . And this following , was the Song , which that sweete breast breathed forth most sweetely , accompanied with thousands of deepe and profound sighes .

Thus sung the troubled Nimph Orithia , amorous of the foresaid ARCAS ; who passing on her way , sweetly held on her dulcet tune : but she being gone , the old man once more began to report what he before intended , reaccounting this Historie following .