IT was in the time argument key no. 1 that the earth begins to put on her new aparrel against the approch of her louer , and that the Sun running a most euēcourse becums an indifferent arbiter betweene the night and the day ; when the hopelesse shepheard Strephon was come to the sandes , which lie against the Island of Cithera ; where viewing the place with a heauy kinde of delight , and sometimes casting his eyes to the Ileward , he called his friendly riuall , the pastor Claius vnto him , and fetting first downe in his darkened countenance a dolefull copie of what he would speake : O my Claius , said he , hether we are now come to pay the rent , for which we are so called vnto by ouer-busie Remembrance , Remembrance , restlesse Remembrance , which claymes not onely this dutie of vs , but for it will haue vs forget our selues . I pray you when wee were amid our flocke , and that of other shepeheardes some were running after their sheep strayed beyond their bounds , some delighting their eyes with seeing them nibble vpon the short and sweete grasse , some medicining their sicke ewes , some setting a bell for an enfigne of a sheepish squadron , some with more leasure inuenting new games of exercising their bodies & sporting their wits : did Remembrance graunt vs any holiday , eyther for pastime or deuotion , nay either for necessary foode or naturall rest ? but that still it forced our thoughts to worke vpon this place , where we last ( alas that the word last should so long last ) did gaze our eyes vpon her euer florishing beautie : did it not still crie within vs ? Ah you base minded wretches , are your thoughts so deeply bemired in the trade of ordinary worldlings , as for respect of gaine some paultry wooll may yeeld you , to let so much time passe without knowing perfectly her estate , especially in so troublesome a season ? to leaue that shore vnsaluted , from whence you may see to the Island where she dwelleth ? to leaue those steps vnkissed wherein Vrania printed the farewell of all beautie ? Wel then , Remembraunce commaunded , we obeyed , and here we finde , that as our remembrance came euer cloathed vnto vs in the forme of this place , so this place giues newe heate to the feauer of our languishing remembrance . Yonder my Claius , Vrania lighted , the verie horse ( me thought ) bewayled to be so disburdned : and as for thee , poore Claius , when thou wentst to help her downe , I saw reuerence and desire so deuide thee , that thou didst at one instant both blushe and quake , and in stead of bearing her , weart ready to fall downe thy selfe . There shee sate , vouchsafing my cloake ( then most gorgeous ) vnder her : at yonder rising of the ground she turned her selfe , looking backe toward her woonted abode , and because of her parting bearing much sorrow in hir eyes , the lightsomnes whereof had yet so naturall a cherefulnesse , as it made euen sorrow seeme to smile ; at that turning she spake vnto vs all , opening the cherrie of hir lips , & Lord how greedily mine eares did feed vpon the sweete words she vttered ? And here she laide her hand ouer thine eyes , when shee saw the teares springing in them , as if she would conceale them from other , and yet her selfe feele some of thy sorrow : But woe is me , yonder , yonder , did she put her foote into the boate , at that instant as it were deuiding her heauenly beautie , betweene the Earth and the Sea . But when she was imbarked , did you not marke how the windes whistled , & the seas daunst for ioy , how the failes did swel with pride , and all because they had Vrania ? O Vrania , blessed be thou Vrania , the sweetest fairenesse and fairest sweetnesse : with that worde his voice brake so with sobbing , that he could say no further ; and Claius thus answered . Alas my Strephon ( said he ) what needes this skore to recken vp onely our losses ? What doubt is there , but that the light of this place doth call our thoughtes to appeare at the court of affection , held by that racking steward , Remembrance ? Aswell may sheepe forget to feare when they spie woolues , as wee can misse such fancies , when wee see any place made happie by her treading . Who can choose that saw her but thinke where she stayed , where she walkt , where she turned , where she spoke ? But what is all this ? truely no more , but as this place serued vs to thinke of those thinges , so those thinges serue as places to call to memorie more excellent matters . No , no , let vs thinke with consideration , and consider with acknowledging , and acknowledge with admiration , and admire with loue , and loue with joy in the midst of all woes : let vs in such sorte thinke , I say , that our poore eyes were so inriched as to behold , and our low hearts so exalted as to loue , a maide , who is such , that as the greatest thing the world can shewe , is her beautie , so the least thing that may be praysed in her , is her beautie . Certainely as her eye-lids are more pleasant to behold , then two white kiddes climing vp a faire tree , and browsing on his tendrest brauches , and yet are nothing , compared to the day-shining starres contayned in them ; and as her breath is more sweete then a gentle South-west wind , which comes creeping ouer flowrie fieldes and shaddowed waters in the extreeme heate of summer , and yet is nothing , compared to the hony flowing speach that breath doth carrie : no more all that our eyes can see of her ( though when they haue seene her , what else they shall euer see is but drie stuble after clouers grasse ) is to bee matched with the flocke of vnspeakeable vertues laid vp delightfully in that best builded folde . But in deede as wee can better consider the sunnes beautie , by marking how he guildes these waters , and mountaines them by looking vpon his owne face , too glorious for our weake eyes : so it may be our conceits ( not able to beare her sun-stayning excellencie ) will better way it by her workes vpon some meaner subiect employed . And alas , who can better witnesse that then we , whose experience is grounded vpon feeling ? hath not the onely loue of her made vs ( being silly ignorant shepheards ) raise vp our thoughts aboue the ordinary leuell of the worlde , so as great clearkes do not disdaine our conference ? hath not the desire to seeme worthie in her eyes made vs when others were sleeping , to sit vewing the course of heauens ? when others were running at base , to runne ouer learned writings ? when other marke their sheepe , we to marke our selues ? hath not shee throwne reason vpon our desires , and , as it were giuen eyes vnto Cupid ? hath in any , but in her , loue-fellowship maintained friendship betweene riuals , and beautie taught the beholders chastitie ? He was going on with his praises , but Strephon bad him stay , & looke : & so they both perceaued a thing which floted drawing nearer and nearer to the banke ; but rather by the fauourable working of the Sea , then by any selfe industrie . They doubted a while what it should be ; till it was cast vp euen hard before them : at which time they fully saw that it was a man : Wherupon running for pitie sake vnto him , they found his hands ( as it should appeare , constanter frends to his life then his memorie ) fast griping vpon the edge of a square small coffer , which lay all vnder his breast : els in him selfe no shew of life , so as the boord seemed to bee but a beere to carry him a land to his Sepulchre . So drew they vp a young man of so goodly shape , and well pleasing fauour , that one would think death had in him a louely countenance ; and , that though he were naked , nakednes was to him an apparrell . That sight increased their compassion , and their compassion called vp their care ; so that lifting his feete aboue his head , making a great deale of salt water to come out of his mouth , they layd him vpon some of their garments , and fell to rub and chase him , till they brought him to recouer both breath the seruant , & warmth the companion of liuing . At length , opening his eyes , he gaue a great groane , ( a dolefull note but a pleasaunt dittie ) for by that , they found not onely life , but strength of life in him . They therefore continued on their charitable office , vntil ( his spirits being well returned , ) hee ( without so much as thanking them for their paines ) gate vp , and looking round about to the vttermost lymittes of his sight , and crying vpon the name of Pyrocles , nor seeing nor hearing cause of comfort : what ( said he ) and shall Musidorus liue after Pyrocles ? argument key no. 2 therewithall hee offered wilfully to cast destruction & himselfe againe into the sea : a strange sight to the shepheards ; to whom it seemed , that before being in apparance dead had yet saued his life , and now comming to his life , shoulde be a cause to procure his death ; but they ranne vnto him , and pulling him backe , ( then too feeble for them ) by force stickled that vnnatural fray . I pray you ( said he ) honest men , what such right haue you in me , as not to suffer me to doe with my self what I list ? and what pollicie haue you to bestow a benefite where it is counted an iniury ? They hearing him speake in Greek ( which was their naturall language ) became the more tender hearted towards him ; and considering by his calling and looking , that the losse ofsome deare friend was great cause of his sorow ; told him they were poore men that were bound by course of humanitie to preuent so great a mischiefe ; and that they wisht him , if opinion of some bodies perishing bred such desperate anguish in him , that he should be comforted by his owne proofe , who had lately escaped as apparant danger as any might be . No , no ( said hee ) it is not for me to attend so high a blissefulnesse : but since you take care of mee , I pray you finde meanes that some Barke may be prouided , that will goe out of the hauen , that if it be possible we may finde the body farre farre too precious a foode for fishes : and for the hire ( said he ) I haue within this casket , of value sufficient to content them . Claius presently went to a Fisherman , & hauing agreed with him , and prouided some apparrell for the naked stranger , he imbarked , and the Shepheards with him : and were no sooner gone beyond the mouth of the hauen , but that some way into the sea they might discerne ( as it were ) a stayne of the waters colour , and by times some sparkes and smoke mounting thereout . But the young man no sooner saw it , but that beating his brest , he cried , that there was the beginning of his ruine , intreating them to bend their course as neere vnto it as they could : telling , how that smoake was but a small relique of a great fire , which had driuen both him & his friend rather to committee themselues to the cold mercie of the sea , then to abide the hote crueltie of the fire : and that therefore , though they both had abandoned the ship , that he was ( if any where ) in that course to be met withall . They steared therefore as neere thetherward as they could : but when they came so neere as their eies were ful masters of the object , they saw a sight full of piteous strangenes : a ship , or rather the carkas of the shippe , or rather some few bones of the carkas , hulling there , part broken , part burned , part drowned : death hauing vsed more then one dart to that destruction . About it floted great store of very rich thinges , and many chestes which might promise no lesse . And amidst the precious things were a number of dead bodies , which likewise did not onely testifie both elements violence , but that the chiefe violence was growen of humane inhumanitie : for their bodies were ful of grisly wounds , & their bloud had ( as it were ) filled the wrinekles of the seas visage : which it seemed the sea woulde not wash away , that it might witnes it is not alwaies his fault , when we condemne his crueltie : in summe , a defeate , where the conquered kept both field and spoile : a shipwrack without storme or ill footing : and a wast of fire in the midst of water .

argument key no. 3 But a litle way off they saw the mast , whose proude height now lay along ; like a widdow hauing lost her make of whom she held her honor : but vpon the mast they saw a yong man ( at least if he were a man ) bearing shew of about 18. yeares of age , who fate ( as on hors-back ) hauing nothing vpon him but his shirt , which being wrought with blew silk & gold ; had a kind of resemblance to the sea : on which the sun ( then neare his Westerne home ) did shoote some of his beames . His haire ( which the young men of Greece vsed to weare very long ) was stirred vp & down with the wind , which seemed to haue a sport to play with it , as the sea had to kisse his feet ; himselfe full of admirable beautie , set foorth by the strangenes both of his seate & gesture : for , holding his head vp full of vnmoued maiestie , he held a sworde aloft with his faire arme , which often he waued about his crowne as though he would threaten the world in that extremitie . But the fishermen , when they came so neere him , that it was time to throwe out a rope , by which hold they might draw him , their simplicity bred such amasement , & their amasement such a superstition , that ( assuredly thinking it was some God begotten betweene Neptune and Venus , that had made all this terrible slaughter ) as they went vnder sayle by him , held vp their hands , and made their prayers . Which when Musidorus sawe , though he were almost as much rauished with ioy , as they with astonishment , he lept to the Mariner , and tooke the rope out of his hande and ( saying , doest thou liue , and arte well ? who answered , thou canst tell best , since most of my well beyng standes in thee , ) threwe it out , but alreadie the shippe was past beyond Pyrocles : and therefore Musidorus could doo no more but perswade the Mariners to cast about againe , assuring them that hee was but a man , although of most diuine excellencies , and promising great rewardes for their paine .

And now they were alreadie come vpon the staies ; argument key no. 4 when one of the saylers descried a Galley which came with sayles and oares directlie in the chase of them ; and streight perceaued it was a well knowne Pirate , who hunted not onely for goodes but for bodies of menne , which hee imployed eyther to bee his Galley slaues , or to sell at the best market . Which when the Maister vnderstood , he commaunded forthwith to set on all the canuasse they could , and flie homeward , leauing in that sort poore Pyrocles so neere to be reskewed . But what did not Musidorus say ? what did he not offer to perswade them to venture the fight ? But feare standing at the gates of their eares , put back all perswasions : so that hee had nothing to accompanie Pyrocles , but his eyes ; nor to succour him , but his wishes . Therefore praying for him , and casting a long look that way he saw the Galley leaue the pursuite of them , & turne to take vp the spoiles of the other wrack : and lastly he might well see them list vp the yong man ; and alas ( said he to himselfe ) deere Pyrocles shall that bodie of thine be enchayned ? shall those victorious handes of thine be commaunded to base offices ? shall vertue become a slaue to those that be slaues to viciousnes ? Alas , better had it bene thou hadst ended nobly thy noble daies : what death is so euill as vnworthy seruitude ? But that opinion soone ceased when he saw the gallie setting vpon an other ship , which held long and strong fight with her : for then he began a fresh to feare the life of his friende , and to wish well to the Pirates whome before he hated , least in their ruyne hee might perish . But the fishermen made such speed into the hauen , that they absented his eyes from beholding the issue : where being entred , he could procure neither them nor any other as then to put themselues into the sea : so that beyng as full of sorrow for being vnable to doe anything , as voide of counsell how to doe anything , besides , that sicknesse grew something vpon him , the honest shepheards Strephon and Claius ( who being themselues true friends , did the more perfectly iudge the iustnesse of his sorrowe ) aduise him , that he should mitigate somwhat of his woe , since he had gotten an amendment in fortune , being come from assured persuasion of his death , to haue no cause to dispaire of his life : as one that had lamented the death of his sheepe , should after know they were but strayed , would receiue pleasure though readily hee knew not where to finde them .

NOw sir ( saide they ) thus for our selues it is . Wee are in profession argument key no. 1 but shepheards , and in this countrie of Laconia little better then strangers , and therefore neither in skill , nor habilitie of power greatly to stead you . But what we can present vnto you is this : Arcadia , of which countrie wee are , is but a little way hence , and euen vpon the next confines .

There dwelleth a Gentleman , by name Kalander , argument key no. 5 who vouchsafeth much fauour vnto vs : A man who for his hospitalitie is so much haunted , that no newes sturre , but comes to his eares ; for his vpright dealing so beloued of his neighbours , that he hath many euer readie to doe him their vttermost seruice , and by the great good will our Prince beares him , may soone obtaine the vse of his name and credit , which hath a principall swaie , not only in his owne Arcadia but in al these countries of Peloponnesus : and ( which is worth all ) all these things giue him not so much power , as his nature giues him will to benefit : so that it seemes no Musicke is so sweet to his eare as deserued thankes . To him we will bring you , & there you may recouer againe your helth , without which you cannot be able to make any diligent search for your friend : and therefore but in that respect , you must labour for it . Besides , we are sure the confort of curtesie , & ease of wise counsell shall not be wanting .

argument key no. 2 Musidorus ( who besides he was meerly vnacquainted in the countries had his wits astonished with sorow ) gaue easie consent to that , from which he saw no reason to disagree : & therefore ( defraying the Mariners with a ring bestowed vpon them ) they tooke their iourney together through Laconia ; Clauis & Strephon by course carying his chest for him , Musidorus only bearing in his countenan e euident marks of a sorowfulmind supported with a weak bodie , which they perceiuing , & knowing that the violence of sorow is not at the first to be striuen withal : ( being like a mighty beast , soner tamed with folowing , than ouerthrowen by withstanding ) they gaue way vnto it for that day & the next ; neuer troubling him , either with asking questions , or finding fault with his melancholie , but rather fitting to his dolor dolorous discourses of their own & other folks misfortunes . Which speeches , thogh they had not a liuely entrance to his sences shut vp in sorow , yet like one half asleep , he toke hold of much of the matters spoken vnto him , so as a man may say , ere sorow was aware , they made his thoughts beare away something els beside his own sorow , which wrought so in him , that at length he grew content to mark their speeches , then to maruel at such wit in shepheardes , after to like their company , & lastly to vouchsafe conference : so that the 3 day after , in the time that the morning did strow roses & violets in the heauenly floore against the comming of the Sun , the nightingales ( striuing one with the other which coulde in most dainty variety recount their wrong-caused sorow ) made them put of their sleep , & rising from vnder a tree ( which that night had bin their pauilion ) they went on their iorney , which by & by welcomed Musidorus eyes ( wearied with the wasted soile of Laconia ) with delightfull prospects . There were hilles argument key no. 4 which garnished their proud heights with stately treēs : humble valleis , whose base estate semed conforted with refreshing of filuer riuers : medows , enameld with al sorts of ey-pleasing floures : thickets , which being lined with most pleasant shade , were witnessed so to by the chereful deposition of many wel-tuned birds : each pasture stored with sheep feeding with fober security , while the prety lambs with bleting oratory craued the dams confort : here a shepheards boy piping , as though he should neuer be old : there a yong shepherdesse knitting , and withall singing , & it seemed that her voice conforted her hands to work , & her hands kept time to her voices musick . As for the houses of the country ( for many houses came vnder their eye ) they were all scattered , no two being one by th' other , & yet not so far off as that it barred mutual succour : a shew , as it were , of an accompanable solitarines , & of a ciuil wildnes . I pray you ( said Musidorus , then first vnsealing his long silent lips ) what countries be these we passe through , which are so diuers in shew , the one wanting no store , th' other hauing no store but of want .

The country ( answered Claius ) where you were cast a argument key no. 3 shore , & now are past through , is Laconia , not so poore by the barrennes of the soyle ( though in it selfe not passing fertill ) as by a ciuill warre , which being these two yeares within the bowels of that estate , betweene the gentlemen & the peasants ( by them named Helots ) hath in this sorte as it were disfigured the face of nature , and made it so vnhospitall as now you haue found it : the townes neither of the one side nor the other , willingly opening their gates to strangers , nor strangers willingly entring for feare of being mistaken .

argument key no. 4 But this countrie ( where now you set your foote ) is Arcadia : and euen harde by is the house of Kalander whether we lead you : this countrie being thus decked with peace , and ( the childe of peace ) good husbandrie . These houses you see so scattered are of men , as we two are , that liue vpon the commoditie of their sheepe : and therefore in the diuision of the Arcadian estate are termed shepheards ; a happie people , wanting litle , because they desire not much . What cause then , said Musidorus , made you venter to leaue this sweete life , and put your selfe in yonder vnpleasant and dangerous realme ? Garded with pouertie ( answered Strephon ) & guided with loue : But now ( said Claius ) since it hath pleased you to aske any thing of vs whose basenes is such as the very knowledge is darknes : geue vs leaue to know somthing of you , & of the young man you so much lament , that at least we may be the better instructed to enforme Kalander , and he the better know how to proportion his entertainment . Musidorus ( according to the agreement betweene Pyrocles and him to alter their names ) answered , that he called himself Palladius , and his friend Daiphantus ; but till I haue him againe ( said he ) I am in deed nothing : and therefore my storie is of nothing , his entertainement ( since so good a man he is ) cannot be so lowe as I account my estate : and in summe , the summe of all his curtesie may be to helpe me by some meanes to seeke my frend .

They perceiued he was not willing to open himselfe further , and therefore without further questioning argument key no. 6 brought him to the house : about which they might see ( with fitte consideration both of the ayre , the prospect , and the nature of the ground ) all such necessaire additions to a great house , as might well shewe , Kalander knew that prouision is the foundation of hospitalitie , and thrist the fewell of magnificence . The house it selfe was built of faire and strong stone , not affecting so much any extraordinarie kinde of finenes , as an honorable representing of a firme statelines . The lightes , doores and staires , rather directed to the vse of the guest , then to the eye of the Artificer : and yet as the one cheefly heeded , so the other not neglected ; each place handsome without curiositie , and homely without lothsomnes : not so daintie as not to be trode on , nor yet slubberd vp with good felowshippe : all more lasting then beautifull , but that the consideration of the exceeding lastingneffe made the eye beleeue it was exceeding beautifull . The seruants not so many in number , as cleanlie in apparell , and feruiceable in behauiour , testifying euen in their countenaunces , that their maister tooke aswell care to be serued , as of them that did serue . One of them was forth-with readie to welcome the shepheards ; as men , who though they were poore , their maister greatly fauoured : and vnderstanding by them ; that the young man with them was to be much accounted of , for that they had seene tokens of more then common greatnes , how so euernow eclipsed with fortune : He ranne to his master , who came presentlie foorth , and pleasantly welcomming the shepheardes , but especially applying him to Musidorus , Strephon priuately told him all what he knew of him , and particularly that hee found this stranger was loath to be knowen .

No said Kalander ( speaking alowd ) I am no herald argument key no. 7 to enquire of mens pedegrees , it sufficeth me if I know their vertues : which ( if this young mans face be not a false witnes ) doe better apparrell his minde , then you haue done his body . While hee was speaking , there came a boy in shew like a Merchants prentice , who taking Strephon by the sleeue , deliuered him a letter , written ioyntly both to him and Claius from Vrania : which they no sooner had read , but that with short leaue-taking of Kalander ( who quickly ghest and smiled at the matter ) and once againe ( though hastely ) recommending the yong man vnto him , they went away , leauing Musidorus euen lothe to part with them , for the good conuersation he had of them , & obligation he accounted himselfe tied in vnto them : and therefore , they deliuering his chest vnto him , he opened it , and would haue presented them with two very rich iewels , but they absolutelie refused them , telling him they were more then enough rewarded in the knowing of him , and without herkening vnto a replie ( like men whose harts disdained all desires but one ) gate speedely away , as if the letter had brought wings to make them flie . But by that fight Kalander soone iudged that his guest was of no meane calling ; and therefore the more respectfullie entertaining him , Musidorus found his sicknes ( which the fight , the sea , and late trauell had layd vpon him ) grow greatly : so that fearing some suddaine accident , he deliuered the chest to Kalander ; which was full of most pretious stones , gorgeously & cunningly set in diuerse manners , desiring him he would keep those trisles , and if he died , he would bestow so much of it as was needfull , to finde out and redeeme a young man , naming himselfe Daiphantus , as then in the handes of Laconia pirates .

But Kalander seeing him saint more and more , with argument key no. 8 carefull speede conueyed him to the most commodious lodging in his house : where being possest with an extreeme burning feuer , he continued some while with no great hope of life : but youth at length got the victorie of sicknesse , so that in six weekes the excellencie of his returned beautie was a credible embassadour of his health ; to the great ioy of Kalander : who , as in this time he had by certaine friendes of his that dwelt neare the Sea in Messenia , set foorth a shippe and a galley to seeke and succour Daiphantus : so at home did hee omit nothing which he thought might eyther prosite or gratifie Palladius .

For hauing found in him ( besides his bodily giftes argument key no. 9 beyond the degree of Admiration ) by dayly discourses which he delighted him selfe to haue with him , a mind of most excellent composition ( a pearcing witte quite voide of oftentation , high erected thoughts seated in a harte of courtesie , an eloquence as sweete in the vttering , as slowe to come to the vttering , a behauiour so noble , as gaue a maiestie to aduersitie : and all in a man whose age could not be aboue one & twenty yeares . ) The good old man was euen enamoured with a fatherly loue towards him ; or rather became his seruaunt by the bondes such vertue laid vpon him ; once hee acknowledged him selfe so to be , by the badge of diligent attendance .

BVt Palladius hauing gotten his health , and onely staying there to be in place , where he might heare answere of the shippes set foorth , Kalander one afternoone led him abroad to a welarayed ground he had behind his house , which hee thought to shewe him before his going , as the place him selfe more then in any other delighted : the backeside of the house was neyther field , garden , nor orchard ; or rather it was both fielde , garden , and orcharde : for as soone as the descending of the stayres had deliuered them downe , they came into a place cunninglie set with trees of the moste tastpleasing fruites : but scatcelie they had taken that into their confideration , but that they were suddainely stept into a delicate greene , of each side of the greene a thicket bend , behinde the thickets againe newe beddes of flowers , which being vnder the trees , the trees were to them a Pauilion , and they to the trees a mosaical floore : so that it seemed that arte therein would needes be delightfull by counterfaiting his enemie error , and making order in confusion .

In the middest of all the place , was a faire ponde , argument key no. 1 whose shaking christall was a perfect mirrour to all the other beauties , so that it bare shewe of two gardens ; one in deede , the other in shaddowes : and in one of the thickets was a fine fountaine made thus . A naked Venus of white marble , wherein the grauer had vsed such cunning , that the naturall blew veines of the marble were framed in fitte places , to set foorth the beautifull veines of her bodie . At her brest she had her babe AEneas , who seemed ( hauing begun to sucke ) to leaue that , to looke vpon her sayre eyes , which smiled at the babes follie , the meane while the breast running . Hard by was a house of pleasure builte for a Sommer retiring place , whether Kalander leading him , he found a square roome full of delightfull pictures , made by the most excellent workeman of Greece . There was Diana when Actaeon sawe her bathing , in whose cheekes the painter had set such a colour , as was mixt betweene shame & disdaine : & one of her foolish Nymphes , who weeping , and withal lowring , one might see the workman meant to set forth teares of anger . In another table was Atalanta ; the posture of whose lims was so liuelie expressed , that if the eyes were the only iudges , as they be the onely seers , one would haue sworne the very picture had runne . Besides many mo , as of Helena , Omphale , Iole : but in none of them all beautie seemed to speake so much as in a large table , which contained a comely old man , with a lady of midle age , but of excellent beautie ; & more excellent would haue bene deemed , but that there stood betweene them a yong maid , whose wonderfulnesse tooke away all beautie from her , but that , which it might seeme shee gaue her backe againe by her very shadow . And such difference being knowne that it did in deed counterfeit a person liuing , was there betweene her and al the other , though Goddesses , that it seemd the skill of the painter bestowed on the other new beautie , but that the beautie of her bestowed new skill of the painter . Though he thought inquisitiuenes an vncomely guest , he could not choose but aske who she was , that bearing shew of one being in deed , could with natural gifts go beyond the reach of inuention . Kalander answered , that it was made by Philoclea , the yonger daughter of his prince , who also with his wife were conteined in that Table : the painter meaning to represent the present condition of the young Ladie , who stood watched by an ouer-curious eye of her parents : & that he would also haue drawne her eldest sister , estemed her match for beautie , in her shepheardish attire ; but that the rude clown her gardian would not suffer it : nether durst he aske leaue of the Prince for feare of suspition . Palladius perceaued that the matter was wrapt vp in some secrefie , and therefore would for modestie demaund no further : but yet his countenance could not but with dumme Eloquence desire it : Which Kalander perceauing , well said he , my deere guest , I know your minde , and I will satisfie it : neyther will I doo it like a niggardly answerer , going no further then the boundes of the question , but I will discouer vnto you , aswell that wherein my knowledge is common with others , as that which by extraordinarie means is deliuered vnto me : knowing so much in you , though not long acquainted , that I shall find your eares faithfull treasurers . So then sitting downe in two chaires , and sometimes casting his eye to the picture , he thus spake .

This countrie Arcadia among all the prouinces of argument key no. 2 Greece , hath euer beene had in singular reputation : partly for the sweetnesse of the ayre , and other natural benefies , but principally for the well tempered minds of the people , who ( finding that the shining title of glorie so much affected by other nations , doth in deed helpe little to the happinesse of life ) are the onely people , which as by their Iustice and prouidence geue neither cause nor hope to their neyghbours to annoy them , so are they not sturred with false praise to trouble others quiet , thinking it a small reward for the wasting of their owne liues in rauening , that their posteritie should long after faie , they had done so . Euen the Muses seeme to approue their good determination , by chosing this countrie for their chiefe repairing place , & by bestowing their perfections so largely here , that the very shepheards haue their fancies lifted to so high conceits , as the learned of other nations are content both to borrow their names , and imitate their cunning .

Here dwelleth , and raigneth this Prince ( whose picture argument key no. 3 you see ) by name Basilius , a Prince of sufficient skill to gouerne so quiet a countrie , where the good minds of the former princes had set down good lawes , and the well bringing vp of the people doth serue as a most sure bond to hold them . But to be plaine with you , he excels in nothing so much , as in the zealous loue of his people , wherein he doth not only passe al his owne fore-goers , but as I thinke al the princes liuing . Wherof the cause is , that though he exceed not in the vertues which get admiration ; as depth of wisdome , height of courage and largenesse of magnificence , yet is hee notable in those whiche stirre affection , as trueth of worde , meekenesse , courtefie , mercifulnesse , and liberalitie .

argument key no. 4 He being already well striken in yeares , maried a young princes , named Gynecia , daughter to the king of Cyprus , of notable beautie , as by her picture you see : a woman of great wit , and in truth of more princely vertues , then her husband : of most vnspotted chastitie , but of so working a minde , and so vehement spirits , as a man may say , it was happie shee tooke a good course : for otherwise it would haue beene terrible .