IT was in the time that the earth begins to put on her new aparrel against the approch of her louer , and that the Sun running a most euen course 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 , & setting first down in his darkened countenance a dolefull copie of what he would speake : O my Claius , saide hee , 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 only this dutie of vs , but for it will haue vs forget our selues . I pray you when we were amid our flocke , and that of other shepheardes some were running after their sheep strayed beyond their boundes , 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 ensigne of a sheepish squadron , some with more leasure inuenting new games of exercising their bodies and 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 wee last ( alas that the word last should so long last ) did graze 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 wool 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 ? Well then , Remembraunce commaunded , we obeyed , and here we find , 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 helpe 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 , warre readie to fal down thy selfe . There she sate , vouchsafing my cloake ( then most gorgeous ) vnder her : at yonder rising of the ground shee turned her selfe , looking backe toward her woonted abode , and because of her parting bearing much sorrow in her eyes , the lightsomnes wherof had yet so natural a cherefulnesse , as it made euen sorrow seeme to smile ; at that turning shee spake to vs all , opening the cherrie of her lips , and 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 shee put her foote into the boate , at that instant as it were diuiding her heauenly beautie , betweene the Earth and the Sea . But when she was imbarked , did you not marke how the windes whistled , and the seas daunst for ioy , how the sailes did swell with pride , and all because they had Vrania ? O Vrania , blessed be thou Vrania , the sweetest fairnesse and fairest sweetnesse : with that word 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 cal 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 we can misse such fancies , when we 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 ioy 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 lowe 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 braunches , 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 coms 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 be matched with the flocke of vnspeakeable vertues laid vp delightfully in that best builded folde . But in deede as we can better consider the sunnes beautie , by marking how he guildes these waters , and mountaines then 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 ( beeing silly ignorant shepheards ) raise vp our thoughts aboue the ordinary leuell of the worlde , so as great clearkes doe 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 two 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 frindship between riuals , and beautie taught the beholders chastitie ? He was going on with his praises , but Strephon bad him stay , and looke : and so they both perceaued a thinge 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 bee ; 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 frendes 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 be but a beere to carrie him a land to his Sepulchre . So drew they vp a young man of so goodly shape , and well pleasing fauour , that one would thinke 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 come out of his mouth , they layd him vpon some of their garments , and fell to rub and chafe him , till they brought him to recouer both breath the seruant , and 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 founde not onely life , but strength of life in him . They therefore continued on their charitable office , vntill ( his spirits being well returned , ) he ( 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 destruction ? therewithall hee offered wilfully to cast himselfe againe into the sea : a strange sight to the shepheards , to whom it seemed , that beefore being in apparance dead had yet saued his life , and now comming to his life , should be a cause to procure his death ; but they ranne vnto him , and pulling him backe , ( then to feeble for them ) by force stickled that vnnaturall fray . I pray you ( said he ) honest men , what such right haue you in me , as not to suffer me to doe with my selfe what I list ? and what pollicie haue you to bestowe a benefite where it is counted an iniury ? They hearing him speake in Greeke ( which was their naturall language ) became the more tender hearted towards him ; and considering by his calling and looking , that the losse of some deare friend was great cause of his sorrow ; tolde 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 cōforted by his own proof , who had lately escaped as apparant danger as any might be . No , no ( said he ) it is not for me to attend so high a blissefullnes : but since you take care of me I pray you find meās that some Bark may be prouided , that will go out of the hauen , that if it be possible wee maye find the bodie farre farre too precious a food 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 , and hauing agreeed 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 and his friend rather to committe themselues to the cold mercie of the sea , than 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 bee met withall . They steared therefore as neere thether-ward as they cold : but when they came so neere as their eies were ful masters of the obiect , they saw a sight ful 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 than 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 thinges were a number of dead bodies , which likewise did not only testifie both elements violence , but that the chiefe violence was growen of humane inhumanitie : for their bodies were full of grisly wounds , and their bloud had ( as it were ) filled the wrinckles of the seas visage : which it seemed the sea woulde not wash away , that it might witnes it is not alwaies his fault , when wee condemne his cruletie . 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 the water .

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 hee were a man ) bearing shew of about 18. yeares of age , who sate ( as on horseback ) hauing nothing vpon him but his shirt , which beeing wrought with blew silke and golde ; had a kinde of resemblance to the sea : on which the sun ( then neare his Westerne home ) did shote some of his beames . His haire ( which the young men of Greece vsed to weare very long ) was stirred vp and downe with the wind , which seemed to haue a sporte 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 and 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 , and their amasement such 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 saw , though he were almost as much rauished with ioy , as they with astonishment , he lept to the Mariner , and tooke the corde 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 do 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 ; when one of the saylers discried a Galley which came with sayles and oares directlie in the chase of them ; and streight perceaued it was a wel knowne Pirate , who hunted not only for goodes but for bodies of men , which he imployed eyther to be his Galley slaues , or to sell at the best market . Which when the Maister vnderstoode , he commaunded forthwith to set on al the canuasse they could , and flie homeward , leauing in that sort poore Pyrocles so neere to be reskewed . But what did not Musidorus saye ? what did hee not offer to perswade them to venture the fight ? But feare stāding at the gates of their eares , put backe all perswasions : so that he had nothing wherewith to accompanie Pyrocles , but his eyes ; nor to succour him , but his wishes . Therefore praying for him , and casting a long looke that way , he saw the Galley leaue the pursuite of them , and turne to take vp the spoiles of the other wracke : and lastly he might well see them lift vp the yong man ; and alas ( saide hee to himselfe ) deere Pyrocles shall that bodie of thine be enchained ? shal those victorious hāds of thine be cōmaunded to base offices ? shal 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 euil as vnworthy seruitude ? But that opinion soone ceased when he sawe the gallie setting vpon an other shippe , 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 he 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 being as ful of sorrow for beyng vnable to doe any thing , as voide of counsel 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 he knew not where to finde them .

Now sir ( saide they ) thus for our selues it is . We are in profession but shepheards , and in this countrie of Laconia little better then straungers , and therefore neither in skill , nor abilitie of power greatly to stead you . But what wee can present vnto you is this : Arcadia , of which countrie we are , is but a little way hence ; and euen vpon the next confines there dwelleth a Gentleman , by name Kalander , 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 onely in his owne Arcadia but in all these countries of Peloponnesus : & ( 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 sweete to his eare as deserued thanks . To him we wil bring you , and there you may recouer againe your health , without which you cannot bee able to make any diligent search for your friend : and therefore you must labour for it . Besides , we are sure the comfort of curtesie , and ease of wise counsell shall not be wanting .

Musidorus ( who besides he was meerly vnacquainted in the countrie had his wits astonished with sorrow ) gaue easie consent to that , from which hee sawe no reason to disagree : and therefore ( defraying the Mariners with a ring bestowed vpon them ) they tooke their iourney together through Laconia ; Claius and Strephon by course carying his chest for him , Musidorus only bearing in his countenance euident markes of a sorowful-mind supported with a weake bodie , which they perceiuing , and knowing that the violence of sorow is not at the first to be striuen withall : ( being like a mighty beast , soner tamed with following , than ouerthrowen by withstanding ) they gaue way vnto it for that day and 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 owne and other folks misfortunes . Which speeches , though they had not a liuely entrāce to his sences shut vp in sorow , yet like one halfe a sleepe he tooke hold of much of the matters spoken vnto him , so as a man may say , ere sorow was a ware , they made his thoughts beare away somthing els besid his own sorow , which wrought so in him , that at lēgth he grew content to marke their speeches , then to maruell at such wit in shepheardes , after to like their company , and lastly to vouchsafe conference : so that the third day after , in the time that the morning did strow roses and 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 , and rising from vnder a tree ( which that night had bine their pauilion ) they went on their iorney , which by and by welcomed Musidorus eyes ( wearied with the wasted soile of Laconia ) with delightfull prospects . There were hilles which garnished their proud heights with stately trees : humble valleis , whose base estate seemed comforted with refreshing of siluer riuers : medowes , enameld with all sortes of eypleasing floures : thickets , which being lined with most pleasant shade , were witnessed so too by the cheerefull disposition of many wel-tuned birds : ech pasture stored with sheep feeding with sober security , while the prety lambes with bleting oratory craued the dams comfort : here a shepheards boy piping , as though he should neuer be olde : there a yong shepherdesse knitting , and withall singing , and it seemed that her voice comforted her hands to worke , and 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 , and yet not so far off as that it barred mutuall 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 countreyes be these we passe through , which are so diuers in shewe , the one wanting no store , th' other hauing no store but of want .

The country ( answered Claius ) where you were cast a shore , and 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 and 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 founde 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 .

But this countrie ( where now you set your foot ) is Arcadia : & euen hard by is the house of Kalander whether we lead you : this country being thus decked with peace , & ( the child 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 saide Musidorus , made you venter to leaue this sweet life , and put your selfe in yonder vnpleasant and dangerous realme ? Guarded with pouertie ( answered Strephon ) and 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 darkenes : geue vs leaue to know somthing of you , and of the yong 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 agrement betwene Pyrocles & him to alter their names ) answered , that he called himselfe Palladius , and his friend Daiphantus ; but till I haue him againe ( saide 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 brought him to the house : about which they might see ( with fitte consideration both of the ayre , the prospect , & the nature of the ground ) all such necessarie additions to a greate house , as might well shewe , Kalander knewe that prouision is the foundation of hospitalitie , and thrift the fewel 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 ; eache place handsome without curiositie , and homely without lothsomnes : not so dainty as not to be trode on , nor yet slubbered vp with good felowshippe : all more lasting than beautifull , but that the consideration of the exceeding lastingnesse made the eye beleeue it was exceeding beautifull . The seruants not so many in number , as cleanlie in apparel , & seruiceable in behauiour , testifiing 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 wellcome the shepheards , as men , who though they were poore , their maister greatly fauoured : & vnderstanding by them , that the young man with thē was to be much accounted of , for that they had sene tokens of more than commō greatnes , how so euer now eclipsed with fortune : He ranne to his maister who came presentlie foorth , and pleasantly welcomming the shepheardes but especially applying him to Musidorus , Strephon priuately tolde him all what he knew of him , and particularly that he found this stranger was loath to be knowen .

Noe saide Kalander ( speaking alowd ) I am no herald to enquire of mens pedegrees , it sufficeth me if I know their vertues : which ( if this young mans face bee not a false witnes ) doe better apparrell his minde , then you haue done his body . While he was thus speaking , there came a boy in shew like a Marchants 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 guest and smiled at the matter ) & 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 , and obligation he accounted himself tied in vnto them : and therfore , they deliuering his chest vnto him , he opened it , and would haue presented them with two very rich Iewels , but they absolutelie refused thē , telling him that they were more then enough rewarded in the knowing of him , and without harkening vnto a replie ( like men whose hartes disdained all desires but one ) gate speedely away , as if the letter had brought wings to make them flie . But by that sight 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 , hee deliuered the chest to Kalander ; which was full of most precious stones , gorgeously and cunningly set in diuerse manners , desiring him hee would keep those trifles , and if he died , he would bestow so much of it as was needfull , to finde out and redeeme a yong man , naming himselfe Daiphantus , as then in the handes of Laconia pirates .

But Kalander seeing him faint more and more , with carefull speede conueyed him to the most commodious lodging in his house : where beeing 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 sixe weeks 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 he omit nothing which hee thought might eyther profite or gratifie Palladius .

For hauing found in him ( besides his bodily giftes beyond the degree of Admiration ) by daily discourses which he delighted him selfe to haue with him , a mind of most excellent composition ( a pearcing wit quite voide of ostentation , high erected thoughts seated in a hart of courtesie , an eloquence as sweet 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 and twenty yeares ) the good olde man was euē enamoured with a fatherly loue towards him ; or rather became his seruaunt by the bondes such vertue laid vpon him ; once he acknowledged him selfe so to be , by the badge of diligent attendance .

But Palladius hauing gotten his health , and onely staying there to bee in place , where he might heare answere of the shippes set foorth , Kalander one after noone led him abroad to a well arayed ground he had behind his house , which hee thought to shew him before his going , as the place himself more thē in any other delighted . the backside of the house was neither field , gardē , nor orchard ; or rather it was both field garden , and orchard : for as soone as the descending of the stayres had deliuered them downe , they came into a place cunningly set with trees of the moste tastpleasing fruites : but scarcelie they had taken that into their consideration , but that they were suddainely stept into a delicate greene , of each side of the greene a thicket , and behinde the thickets againe newe beddes of flowers , which beeing vnder the trees , the trees were to them a Pauilion , and they to the trees a mosaicall 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 afaire ponde , 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 blewe veines of the marble were framed in fitte places , to set foorth the beautifull veines of her bodie . At her brest shee had her babe AEneas , who seemed ( hauing begun to sucke ) to leaue that , to looke vpon her fayre eyes , which smiled at the babes follie , meane while the breast runing . Hard by was a house of pleasure built for a Sommer retiring place , whether Kalander leading him , he found a square roome full of delightfull pictures , made by the moste excellent workeman of Greece . There was Diana when Acteon sawe her bathing , in whose cheekes the painter had set such a colour , as was mixt betweene shame and disdaine : and one of her foolish Nymphes , who weeping , and with all 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 onely 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 ; and more excellent would haue bene deemed , but that there stood betwene 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 all 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 shee was , that bearing shewe 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 contained 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 : and that he would also haue drawne her eldest sister , esteemed her match for beautie , in her shepheardish attire ; but that the rude clowne 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 secresie , and therfore 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 : neither will I doo it like a niggardly answerer , going no further than 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 meanes is deliuered vnto me : knowing so much in you ( though not long acquainted ) that I shal find your eares faithfull treasurers . So then sitting downe in two chaires , and sometimes casting his eye to the picture , hee thus spake .

This countrie Arcadia among all the prouinces of Greece , hath euer beene had in singular reputation : partly for the sweetnesse of the ayre , and other naturall benefites , but principally for the well tempered minds of the people , who ( finding that the shining title of glorie so much affected by other natiōs , 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 neighbours 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 liuès in rauening , that their posteritie should long after saie , they had done so . Euen the Muses seeme to approue their good determination , by chosing this countrie for their cheife repairing place , and 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 .