CHAP. I. How the Emperour Nero sent to demand the daughters of Camillo for his Concubines , and what happened thereupon .

IN the famous City of Mantua , at that time that Nero ( whose cruelty hath made the world to admire his manners ) was Emperor of Rome , dwelt an old Knight named Camillo , no lesse adorned with vertue then favoured of fortune : who being about thréescore and ten years old , was forced to lead a single life , his wife Paulina paying nature her due . This Camillo being thus dispossessed of his most wel-beloved Lady , with no lesse grief bewailed her death , then with pleasure he injoyed her presence whilest she yet lived . But time the medicine of all sorrow diminished his grief , the sooner by means of the unspeakable pleasure which he took in viewing the perfections of his son Perierio , and his two daughters Euphilia and Perina ; which Gentlewomen for their singular vertues and extream beauty , were of the Citizens of Mantua worthily termed the sepulchres and tombs of their mother Paulinas graces and perfections , all Mantua judging that all the gifts both of fortune , nature , & the mind , wherewith Paulina was indued in her life time , were buried and intombed in her two daughters : neither was Perierio lesse famous in respect of vertuous conditions then his sisters , he being adorned with most excellent qualities , and inferiour to no man both in perfection of body and subtilty of wit .

Thus Camillo rejoycing that he was the father of such children , therein thinking himself to be most happy , lived with as great contentment as any man might do . But Fortune ( whose favors are but seldome continuall ) grudging at his felicity , intended to try whether he could as patiently suffer adversity in his latter years , as he being younger had vertuously behaved himself in prosperity .

For Nero the Emperour , being informed of his wicked companions , in whose flattery he took pleasure , that Camillo had two daughters in beauty surpassing natures cunning , and in perfection of body resembling the Goddesse Venus , incontinently sent a Letter unto old Camillo , by two of his Noblemen , being written after this manner .

Nero Governour of the world , to Camillo .

FRiend Camillo , ( for so much I account thee to be , in that thou art my subject . ) These are to give you notice , how that the rare beauty of thy two daughters Euphilia and Perina , being bewrayed unto the world by the report of fame , and made known unto me by the relation of my noble-men , I judged them too worthy to be joyned in marriage to any man of lower estate then a King . And therefore I command thee to send both thy daughters to the Court , where neither the one nor the other shall be Empresse , but both of them the Paramours and Concubines of an Emperour .

Farewell .

This letter was with all spéed by the said said Noblemen delivered unto Camillo , who unclosing the same , and breaking us the seal , soon read that which was sufficient to break his heart in pieces , and work his death , had not his destinies reserved him to defend his daughters honesty , and frée themfrom the tyrants outragious lust , through his sage counsel , and politick deliberation . So that having read the Letters , after he had something meditated upon the contents thereof , he gave the Noblemen answer , that for as much as hee being a widower could not live being separated from his two daughters and his sonne Perierio , he would with his sonne accompany them to the Court , there doing his Majesty such service as it might please him to command , expecting the day of his departure out of this world , leaving not his daughters onely but his son also at his Majesties pleasure . But to the end that he might take order for the preparation of his journey , and provide such necessaries as were expedient for him , his son and his daughters , he desired them to obtain of his Majesty but the space of one moneth , which expired , he would without all doubt be at the Court with his children . The Noblemen finding old Camillo so ready to pleasure Nero the Emperour , promised him to do what they might , and so departed . But Camillo calling his son Perierio , with his daughters Euphilia and Perina to him sending a world of tears from his eyes , which distilling along his pale chéeks streamed on his silver hairs , and fetching a long sigh from the innermost part his heart said unto them .

Ah Perierio , ah Euphilia , ah Perina , ah my loving children , in whose prosperity consisteth all my hope , yea in whose felicity my life is harboured , insomuch , that through the increase of your honourable vertues , I have inlarged the term of my life ; and now séeing that Fate or Fortune doth threaten your dishonour , I doubt not but that I shall be overcome by grief to end my aged days , and with a tragical and mournfull death shut up all those happy and blessed hours which the Gods have hitherto granted me . Ye have heard the Tyrants will , ye know his lust , and likewise ye are not ignorant , what shame , what infamy , what dishonour that would be , not onely to you two , Euphilia and Perina , but also unto me , unto your Brother , yea unto all the line and stock of our race and kindred . What answer I have made the Noble-men , is not unknown to any of you . But as I do not mean to be found as good as my word in the least point of all that which I have promised them ; so I am of opinion that ye cannot beléeve otherwise , but that my tongue spake further then it had command from my heart , and that my lips pronounced that which was not in my breast concluded . But loving children , where Lust is a Lord , & Ryot ruleth , equity and justice is expelled : and where a Tyrant governeth , all is Law that he doth like . Wherefore fearing lest contradiction and denial might be cause of our disgrace , I stuffed the Tyrants Messengers with such a pleasing and soothing answer . But to be short , know , loving children , that I had rather that we should all agrée to die one death , then to condiscend unto the Tyrants outragious and lividinous desire .

Perierio having heard his Fathers noble resolution wondering that such courage harboured in his breast , he being a man of such an aged life , considering that old men are commonly deprived of natural heat , and so become cold , fearfull , and void of all heroical vertues ; amazed therefore at his fathers vertue , and rejoycing that he was the son of such a father , answered him in this mander . Father , the extream sorrow which I conceived by reason of Nero his hainous intent to disgrace us with the spot of infamy , in demanding my sisters to deflower them , and make a prey of their chastities , no doubt had smothered my heart and stopped my sences , not suffering me to utter one word , had not the joy which your noble vertue and valiant courage worketh in me , gotten the superiority , and freed me from the excessive injury of sorrow . Therefore if it would please the Gods to be so gracious unto us , that we might escape the imminent ruine and fall of our honour , I for my part am ready to resign not onely my liberty , but also my life , and with ransome of the cruellest death that man may excogitate , redéem the honour of our linage and progeny .

Perierio had no sooner declared his readinesse in agréeing to his fathers resolved will , but Euphilia ( though by grief commanded to kéep silence ) uttered forth these words .

Father , the Tyrant can rule the body , but not the mind , he may threaten us shame , dishonour , and disgrace , but shall not be able to accomplish or execute the least of his menaces Cowards fear the threatnings of those that would flye , were they threatned : but where courage displayeth his Ensigns no menaces may approach . And therefore let the Tyrant do what he can ; for his power is not sufficient to dishonour our kindred by threatning us disgrace , for that we neither fear him , nor all his torments . For death , which the Gods have appointed , a fearfull token to most men to warn them to leave their worldly pleasures , and to resign their vital breath is unto us a most swéet and pleasant object , and yéeldeth us comfort , being the onely mean by which we may escape infamy and shame . Death therefore shall frée us from the Tyrants intended villany , and redéem our kindred from disgrace .

Perina , glad that her sister concluded so well to her liking , said .

Father , séeing then that ( as my sister hath well declared ) death must be our redéemer , I beséech you not to torment your old age with anxietie and grief for us ; and you brother , though we die , may passe your youth in pleasing rest . And therefore let my sister and me care for this matter , which toucheth us onely , and fear not that by means of our cowardise ye shall reap any dishonour . And séeing that of two evils the least must be chosen , and the greatest avoided , let me perswade you to look to your selves , and avoid the Tyrants anger , which ye are sure to incur , if you resist his will , and obey not his command , accomplishing your promise made unto his Messengers . Wherefore Father send us , and wring your self from Fortunes wrong : consider your age , which requireth rest : take your delight , comfort your self with the presence of my brother Perierio , in viewing whose vertues and perfections you may easily forget us , though we were Goodesses and not mortal maids . So shall both yo● and my brother escape danger , and my sister and I g●in honour and renown . For we fear not the Tyrant ; he may tyr●nize where he can , for our hearts ( which will never yeeld to vice ) are of too noble a disposition to be conquered by him that i● overcome by his own lusts and lividinous affections . To be short know that neither the Tyrant nor all his menaces shall be able to conquer us , séeing that we have death tied at our gi●dles , which shall in spight of all the Tyrants of the world ransome us from dishonour .

Old Camillo séeing that his son and both his daughters were endued with such an haughtie and valiant mind , as a man that had forgotten all occasion of sorrow , with a pleasant countenance replied .

Most haughtie Euphilia , and couyagious Perina , I have followed your counsels , and as you see put off all sorrow : Now therefore attentively hear my counsel , and prepare your selves to put it in execution . My intent is such , that if ye die , your brother and I will not live till morn ; let us therefore disguise our selves , and to morrow morning depart from Mantua before day . The Gods will favour us , and deliver us from Nero his hands séeing that we ( as our consciences witnesse ) to free their sacred constitutions from violence , have left our possessions , lands , castle and substance , committing our selves to fortunes mercy , which is meer cruelty . But if our flight be so unhappie that we be overtaken by the Tyrant , then , as we hoped all to live can we all but die : and seeing we cannot live the one without the other , let us all live together , or all die together . These hoarie hairs of mine , are messengers of death , and warn me to prepare my self for the grave : but your golden locks , and the glory of your youth forbiddeth death to approach , and shall then ye be ready to die , and I that stand with one foot in my grave flie from him whom I cannot over-run ? No no , loving children . I seek not to live but to have you live , and therefore yeeld to my request , and live with me , if ye will not have me die with you ,

CHAP. II. How Camillo , with his Son Perierio , and his two daughters , Euphilia and Perina , fled out of Mantua into Spain , to escape the fury of the Tyrant Nero , where they became shepheards : Also how Perierio became enamoured on a strange Lady ,

EUphilia and Perina , hearing that their Father was so desirous to abādon all his livings for their cause , fell down on their knees before his féet , and prayed him to command them to do whatsoever he pleased , and they would be most readie to execute his pleasure . Camillo therefore taking them up by the hand , willed them to prepare themselves to depart from Mantua with him and Perierio the next morning , taking their best Iewels with them , and all their readie Gold . Camillo cloathed himself like a Shepheard , and Perierio ( lest his father should be known ) played the Barber , and shaved his beard clean off to the chin : and apparelled himself like a Butchers boy , Euphilia and Perina , ( whose beauty and favour was such as could not but be known ) scarce able all night to imagine how they might disguise themselves in such manner that they might passe unknown , at last concluded to cloath themselves like Market-women , and séeing the wind blew something strongly , they thereby took occasion to muffle their faces with their handkerchiffs , as if they had the toothach . Thus the old shepheard , young butcher , and muffled Market-women , were so cunningly disguised that no man thought so much as to dream , that they should be Sir Camillo , with his son and his daughters . So that they passed not onely through the City but the Country also , unknown to any man . Neither did they rest untill they were so far from Mantua that they thought themselves to be out of danger . Yet they durst not stay in any place of Italy , for fear least search being made after them , they might fall into the tyrants hands : and therefore travelled on daily till they came into Spain , and there in a solitary place where no kind of people but shepheards did resort they built a pretty house , and bought a flock of shéep , determining to live shepheards untill such time as the Gods and their fortune would suffer them to return to their countrey .

These shepheards had not dwelt in their new built house the space of six moneths or thereabout , but they had perfectly learned to understand and speak the Castilian tongue , insomuch that the same language was as easie unto them as their own . For there being but little difference betwixt the Italian and Spanish tongues ( which are of near affinity , ) and these noble shepheards being wonderfull witty and ingenious , it could not be but that they should in short space apply their Italian tongue to the pronunciation of the Spanish words . For al the shepheards that in those quarters dwelled , as they did marvell at the supernaturall beauty of these strange shepheards , so did they think it a miracle that they had in so short a time learned to talk with the Spanish shepheards , and that so eloquently and with such a grace , that many took pleasure to talk with them , and few departed from them without bearing away that which was sufficient to instruct them in their own language . In so much that divers of them being more curious then others , when they went to talk with the new shepheards , carried paper books with them to note up such phrases as Perierio and his sisters used in their talk . Besides the Castilian tongue , they had also learned to play upon all such rurall and pastorall instruments as were by the shepheards of that quarter used . On which instruments Perierio played with such dexterity , that the inhabitants thereabouts thought that Orpheus had been raised from hell to fill the air with the agréeing noise of his instrument , and to delight the shepheards of that Country with his pleasant notes . Euphilia and Perina , not much inferiour unto Perierio in that quality , yet far his superiours in singing a part in musick , by reason that their voices were clearer then his , when they sung unto their brothers instrument , moved the other shepheards to wonder at their celestiall melody , and become so hereticall , that they thought Perierio to be some God , and his sisters two Goddesses , supposing it a thing impossible that mortall creatures should be indued with such heavenly and immortall conditions . But whatsoever they were thought to be , they were so beloved of all the Spanish shepheards , that no man thought himself happy that had not perfect friendship & alliance with them . Yea if the least injury in the world had been offered to Perierio , his aged father , or his beautifull sisters , they were all ready to revenge it , not as a private quarrel , but as some common and publick wrong done to the whole Country , and all the inhabitants thereof .

Old Camil●o , therefore séeing that he and his children were so beloved of all the Country , and taking great delight in the swéetnesse of the air of that climat , began to build farms and to purchase land , so that fortune favouring him , he became in short time wealthy and rich , and of great credit . Perierio his son , took great delight in hunting and fowling , often committing his flock to his sisters care , who kept both his shéep and their own with such diligence , that all men marked that they were not carelesse , but painful and industrious Yea they won such favour and commendation in every mans eye , as their beauty was not onely praised in the Country , but also spoken of in Cities farre from them . And yet was their submisse modesty such , that although their praise dayly increased , yet they nothing puffed up with pride , humbled themselves , and scorned not to kéep company with the basest swain in all the Country . Every day they went forth with their flocks to the field , defending their faces from the heat of the Sun , with no other scarf or vale then a garland made of sundry kinds of flowers , that attire becomming them so bravely , that they seemed to be daughters unto the Goddesse Flora for their exquisite beauty , marching with their shéep through the pleasant Downs and green fields , more like to some heavenly Nymphs then mortall women . If it chanced there were a meeting of all the Farmers daughters , then were they ( I mean Euphilia and Perina ) bid thither as the mistresses and chiefest of the feast : Perierio their brother , likewise missed no feast nor game , being invited by the richest and chiefest farmers sons ; whereof many became sutors unto his sisters , and many of their sisters enamoured of his beautifull and comely disposition , wished themselves married unto him . But he delighting more in tuning his pastorall Harp , rejoyced his companions with a round or twain , whilest that others courted their mistresses , not so much because hee would not debase himself to love a shepheardesse , as for that he shunned so Lordly a Master as Cupid , estéeming his liberty and freedome from fancy , the onely cause of all his joy and pleasure . But fortune who thitherto had favoured both Perierio and his sisters , began to withdraw her lovely looks from them , and in lieu of a smiling countenance , intended to shew them a lowring face and frowning forehead For not long after , it chanced upon a pleasant morning betimes before Phoebus golden lines had gréeted the Southern plains , that Perierio haunting his accustomed hunt in a passing pleasant wood , not far from the place where his sisters fed their flocks , ( having left his shéep unto their kéeping as he was wont to do ) espied a brave damosell , her beauty being comparable to the colour that Venus face is dyed withall ; sitting on a hillock , and resting her head on her hand . At the sight whereof , Perierio greatly amazed , retired behind a bush , where he not séen , might perfectly both sée her , and hear what she said : for he marked by her countenance that she was in a melancholy mood , and vexed with extraordinary grief . Her words were these being expressed with a lamentable voice , moving the very trées and bushes to yéeld tears .

Ah Fortune , as often as Phoebus appeareth in the woods , as often as he riseth in his Eastern glory , and as often as his penetrating rayes warn me to leave my restlesse rest , and harnesse my self to my endlesse toil , and never ceasing labour ; so often thou doest renue my grief and multiply my sorrows . What , Fortune , hast thou made all other women so happy through my mishap , that to make me an instance of the miserablest wight that liveth , thou hast delivered all others from their miseries , to throw them all on me ? O most injust doom ! O most cruell Goddesse ! Though by reason of the excéeding injustice , thou deservest to be crossed out of the catalogue of divine powers . And therewith she rose from the hillock , and looking round about which way she might take , she espied Perierio behind the bush coming towards her , which she marking , staied unill he came near her and saluting him with a most gratious countenance , said . Shepheard ( for so much thy apparell betokeneth , though thy beauty be such , as maketh me to mistrust if , and think that thou art but a counterfeit shepheard ) pardon me if I be too bold in demanding thy name and country ; which if it may please thee to tell me , thou shalt bind me to owe thee a good turn . Perierio ( whose heart was pierced with Cupids shaft , and on suddain made captive to that Lord whose service he so shunned ) so gazed on this Lady ( for she was no lesse , as you shall hereafter learn ) in whose beauty all his desire rested that he could scarce speak one word ; at last , plucking up his spirits , answered . Madam ( for your exquisite perfections and stately countenance deserves no lesse ) where no offence is committed , pardon is craved but in vain ; I am an Italian born ; called Perierio , the happiest man that ever was named , if occasion were presented wherein I might do any service acceptable vnto you Madam , I thank thée Perierio ( replied the young Lady ) for this thy undeserved curtesie ; and seeing I am not able at this time to make thee any recompence . I can but pray the Gods to grant thee thy hearts desire . And with that shooting into the midst of the woods she was out of Perierios sight , before he thought she was departed . For when she heard by his name and Country , that he was not the man she doubted of , and gathering by his countenance , that he was suddenly strook in love of her , least he should become troublesome and importunate unto her , hasted thence , supposing that she being out of sight should also be out of the shepheards mind ; and that by ●eason of her absence he should recover his liberty and freedome which her presence had caused him to loose . But alasse , where she thought by her departure to ease his grief contrarily she increased his passions . For he séeing that the sum of his conceived pleasures were fled , and she missing , in whose golden locks his soul was intangled , began to cry out with a loud and pittyfull voyce . My soul , my soul , whither art thou fled ? Why hast thou left my body , séeing that thou being separated from me , I may not live ? Ah poor Perierio wretched Perierio ! Die : die miserable Perierio . Ah cruell Gods , that have alotted me a life worse than death and a body without soul . Ah discurteous Lady , and is this the gratefulnesse you wished to shew me , as a due recompence for my readinesse in doing you pleasure ? Is this the thankfulnesse you talked of Is this the good turn you should owe me ? To steal away my heart , and carry my soul with thee , imprisoned in the snares of thy alluring looks ; leaving my body breathlesse , and so giving me sufficient occasion to accuse them both of theft and murther , considering that thou hast robbed me of my soul , and thereby deprived me of life . For now have I no life of mine own but live onely in thée Ah unhappy man that live , and know not where I live , for I live in that body which is in place as far unknown unto me , as that body ●t self . So that I live in a body I know not what , which unknown body is in a place , I know not where . Forgive me Cupid divine power and mighty God , I confesse to have offended in contemning and neglecting thy puissance : Which my contempt , thou hast punished with a pain the like never heard of before . The dart penetrated into the very inmost part of my heart and forced me to yéeld to love . Séeing then I love and am inroled in the scrowl of those that follow thy bands , as a true and valerous Captain lead me to the knowledge of that which I love . For I doubt nut but that thou which hast had the puissance to make me love , and that so strangely ; art likewise able to make me know whom I love . Thus Perierio after that he had with many sighs and tears bewailed the losse of his former fréedome , began at length to consider , that the accustomed hour of his returning to dinner was past , and therfore least his father should marvell at his long absence , and by reason thereof fall into suspition , least some mischance had befallen him ( for old men are always carefull of their children , and as often as they be out of sight , so often do they déem them to be lost ) he more like a shadow then a man crossed the nearest way homewards . Where he found his aged father sléeping , for the heavinesse he was in by reason of Perierios absence , rocked him a sleep : but as soon as he heard Perierio , he awaked , and then they fell closely to their chear , though Perierios mind ran more on his unknown mistresse then his present meat .

Whilest that these two were at dinner , Euphilia and Perina , to shunne the extream heat of Phoebus , mounted in his Meridian pride , went with their sheep towards the Wood side , to take the advantage of the high trees which yeelded a most pleasant shadow : Where they sitting together began to take their Oaten Pipes and sing . Euphilia began in this manner .

Whilest Thaetons sage fire his scorching beams On th' earth doth cast and move the sacred crue , Of Nymphs most chaste to seek the silver streams ; Therein to bath their hands of Christall hue : My Pipe shall move the air with her sound To send down drops and wet the scorched ground . Perina . Whilest bright Apollo in his highest seat , With fiery lines doth burn the tender grasse : My notes shall pierce the skies and Iove intreat , To bid the winds represse their furious blasts . That sweetly breathing on us in the field , The glittering leaves a pleasant noise may yeeld . Euphilia . The chirping birds now do moiest the air , And to the clouds complain of summers heat : The hunter ceaseth to pursue the hare , And fowls do leave their prey for fainting sweat . Now therefore shall my voice the skies ascend , To move the Gods this harmfull heat to mend . Perina . Now do the simple sheep to shadow flie , The Traveller by Cinthia's light is lead : To shun the rays which sparkling down the skie , Proceed from fiery Phoebus golden head . My Pipe shall therefore to the clouds complain , Resolving them in showers of wished rain .

What an excellent matter is it ( said Euphilia ) sister Perina , that we here leading this Country life , and being separated from the noise and tempestuous uproars and broyls which commonly are raised in the proud Courts of Princes , should injoy such extream pleasure as we do in these pleasant groves , sometimes being in the shadow , sometimes sitting on the banks of the delectable River , and sometimes walking in the dark groves , where we both fence our faces from Phoebus injury , and delight our ears with the naturall Musick of the singing birds . I promise you truly ( quoth Perina ) I am of opinion that the noise which the wind maketh among the trées , doth delight and recreate the hearts of men , more then the fond noise of some people when there is a great assembly . For there the greatest pleasure , is meer grief : proud Majesty and highnesse , nothing else but vanity ; feasts and games nothing but troubles and tempests ; honour and renown , nothing but blind errours ; and most commonly we find , that among them that delight in that kind of life , words and thoughts are different , the tongue pronouncing otherwise then the heart meaneth . But here ( said Euphilia ) ambition layeth not her bait , neither hath avarice or covetousnesse any place here . The people doth not here aspire to honours nor sue for dignities : but men live free from passions and perturbations in al virtue and simplicity . Here reigneth little or no malice , but all things are ruled by justice . Neither doth the simple shepheard ( quoth Perina ) séek out new parts of the world nor adventure into strange Countries , committing himself neither to the cruell furious winds , nor unmercifull waves , to enlarge his treasure , or augment his riches . And yet he liveth as contentedly with that little which he hath , as he that doth abound in rich possessions and great revenues .

CHAP. III. How Marcelio came to the house of Camillo , and of the strange advenutres that befell him in his love ro Alcida .

AS Euphilia and her sister were thus discoursing , they séemed to hear the voice of some distressed person , and Euphilia arising , espied a shepheard resting his back against the trunk of a trée ; but she hoping to gather the sum of his grief by the sense of his complaint , steeped immediately applying her ear to the shepheards words , which were not unlike to these .

Ah love , thou canst not invent any worse torment then I feel nor thou fortune canst be more variable and inconstant , then thou art unto me . And it is impossible to find a heart so bereft of all hope , and yet so content in suffering pain , as mine whereof love is the onely cause ; which upholdeth my languishing breath , to the end that I may indure the grief which continually vexeth me , But when shall my tears and life take end ? when shall my torment cease ? when shall my sighs bring forth my heart with them .

And therewith he took his way straight towards the place where Euphilia and Perina sate . Whither he arrived so sorrowfull , so weary , and so grieved , that it seemed that fortune pittying his case , had purposely sent him to that place to comfort him and asswage his dolours , n●t onely vp means of the clear water which did spring out of the foun● in whither the shepheards accustomed to lead their sheep to drink : but also by reason of the pleasantnesse of the place the shadow of the trees , and exceeding beauty of these two noble shepheards . In so much that all these things caused him to think that he had received some solace , though the importance of that which he sought , and the desire he had to find the same , gave him no leisure to rest in that place . Yet was he , being a stranger so curtuously entertained by the two sisters , that he deemed himself not a little happy to have lighted on such company , Wherefore he being intreated by them to go with them to their lodging , to eat something , and to refresh himself with such dainties as their country manner afforded , could not but grant their request , and so followed them unto their fathers house . Where he was received of aged Camillo and his son , not as a stranger , but as one that had been of their near kindred and affinity . For they marking his singular beauty and perfection of body his excellent grace in speaking , his sharp wit ; and his comely , behaviour , thought him worthy of all the curtesie they could imagine to shew him . Supper being done , old Camillo took his leave of the strange shepheard , and went to his rest . But Perierio and his sisters keeping the shepheard company , led him into the Orchard to take the evening air , after that Phoebus had shut up his light in the Western parts . And Euphilia desirous to know what sinister chance had brought the shepheard into such a Chaos of cares and world of sorrows , began thus to be inquisitive of his fortune .

Gentle shepheard , séeing that the night is no time to travell and you are so tired that you are like to fall in great danger of some sore disease , unlesse you look to your self and rest your weary limbs , I heartily pray thou to stay with us this night , and you shall have no worse bed then where my brother lieth on , nor worse bed-fellow then himself . And for as much as the pleasantnesse of this cool air is such , that it inticeth and provoketh us to recreate our selves therein : if that you will whilest we expect the coming of the dark night , unfold the cause of this your wandring journey unto us , and make us pertakers of your evill and adverse fortune , we shall think us to be greatly beholding unto you . The shepheard would not be long intreated by such excellent persons , but walking with them in a pleasant arbour of Eglentine , began to discourse after this manner .

Gentle shepheards , the manifold benefits which it hath pleased you to heap on me being a meer stranger , unworthy by my deserts of the least courtesie in the world , bind me to yéeld to whatsoever you can demand of me , as far as my simple power stretcheth , And therefore although my evill be of such nature that it cannot be communicated unto all kinds of persons , yet the opinion which I conceive of your deserts , and the valor which your beauty bewrayeth , constraineth me to make an open rehearsall of all my forepast life , if I may term that life which I would willingly counterpoise and change with death . Know therefore gentle shepheards that I am called Marcelio , and that my vocation and estate is far contrary to that which my co●t ●heweth . I was born at Soldine , the principall and chief Cit● of the Province of Vandalia , and my parents were of great authority abounding in wealth & riches ; I have béen brought up even from my childhood in the Court of the Lusitan King , where I was much made of , and dearly beloved , not of the principal Peers onely , but also of the King himself . Insomuch that he would not suffer me to part from his Court , until that time that he had comitted his Garisons in the borders of Affrick unto my charge . Where I remained a long time chief and general Governour of all the Cities and For tresses which the King there hath ; keeping my residence in the City of Cente , where my misfortune and adversity took beginning . There was in the same City a certain Knight named Eugerio , who was by the King honoured with the charge and government of the City . This Knight had a son called Polydor , most valiant and couragious in all extremities ; and two daughters called Alcida and Clenarde , exceeding all the Gentlewomen of their Country in beauty . Clenarde was indued with singular dexterity in handling her bow , but Alcida , who was the eldest surpassed her in beauty . Who hath so enamoured my heart , that she hath been the cause of this hopelesse and desperate life which you see me lead , and of the cruel death which I call and wi●h for every hour . Her father was so carefull and dainty of her , that he would scarce allow her at any time to absent her self from his presence , which hindred me that I could not let her know the affection which I bore her . But neverthelesse as often as I saw her I signified and bewraied my pain unto her by means of my passionate looks , and the sighs which proceeded from my heart without the consent of my will . At length I found occasion to write unto her and therefore unwilling to neglect such wished opportunity , I sent her a letter the contents whereof were such .

Ma●celio unto Alcida .

MAdam , your honesty and grave countenance , your modesty and wisedome , your wit , and great judgement , and thousand other virtues with which you are most happily indued besides the incomparable beauty which increaseth your renown in all parts of the world , have so intangled my thoughts in the consider●ion thereof that I have been forced to collocate , and place the sum of my felicity in meditating the rare gifts both of body and mind , by which it hath pleased the Gods to make your Ladyship famous . But when I consider mine own unworthinesse , and perpend the great difference , which is between such excellency and my self , such is the dispair which possesseth my heart , that I suffer incredible torment . Yet the force of your beauty constraineth me to judge my self happy , in that I suffer pain for so worthy a Lady as your self . So that I feel singular joy and gladnesse in my evil , and receive an extream glory in enduring grief . Pain unto me is a pastime ; to weep , a pleasure ; to sigh , a solace ; grief , health ; which doth raise the fury of torment in me , though therein I enjoy a blessed content . All this do I suffer for you Madam ; it is your beauty and virtue which causeth me to be tormented with such contrary passions . And therefore pity an unfortunate lover , who offereth you his own ●●fe , and who desireth not that his evill may be redressed , but onely wisheth that it may be known .

This was the Letter which I wrote unto my Lady , which if it had been so well ●eaned as it was fortunate . I would be loth to change my ●bility with the eloquent stile of Tully . The Letter being secretly conveyed into the hands of Alcida , at the first caused her to be offended with my boldnesse , but at last marking the sincerity of my love , and the constancy wherewith I not onely remained stedfast , but also patiently indured he● s●●rnfull answers and disdainfull looks , her heart was altered , and she moved to reward my love with a pleasant countenance . So that when my luck was to see her , I easily e●pted the ●lteration of her former frowardnesse . For her very eys did warn me to be of good chear , and I might plainly see grace ●e●ted in her forehead . After which time I b●gan openly to shew my self to be her superior , oftentime justing , turneying , and writing verses poems , and many such other things for her service , remaining in this pain the space of certain years . Which being expired , Eugerio thought me worthy to be his son in law , and by means of some of the chiefest personages of the City he offered me his daughter Alcida in marriage . And it was amongst us agreed , that our wedding should be kept in the City of Lisbone , to the end the King of Portugal might be present at the same . Whereupon we dispatched a Post in all haste to advertise the King of this marriage , & to intreat his Majesty that we commending our charge unto faithfull and trusty persons , might come thither to celebrate our mariage the. The rumor of which marriage was incontinently sperad through all the City and the neighbour places thereof and caused such a general joy and applause in all men , as so beautifull a Lady as Alcida , and so faithfull a lover as my self deserved . Vntill that time it séemeth that I was very happy . But fortune that favoured me so highly , afterward cast me down headlong into the depth of these miseries , in which I find my self presently , Know therefore that after my unfortunate marriage was concluded on , and the Kings license granted , Eugerio being a widower , his son Polidor , his daughters Alcida and Clenarde , and unhappy Marcelio , who unfoldeth his mishap unto you , having committed our charge to loyall persons , we embarked at the Haven of Centa , to sail to the noble City of Lisbone , there to celebrate our marriage , as I have before said . The content and pleasure which we conceived of our wished desires , in such manner blinded us , that regarding neither the unmercifull waves nor the boisterous winds , and commending our vessel to fortune , the patronesse of inconstancy , we went to sea in the worst and dangerousest time of the year , not considering or perpending the inconveniencies that at such times are ordinary . But very shortly thereafter , fortune chastised our temerity and fond rashne : for before night had covered Neptunes face with the curtain of darknesse , the Master of the ship discovered certain tokens of tempests to come . Soon after began the thick and obscure clouds to cover the skies , the angry waves began to murmur , the winds blow variably . Whereupon the master of the ship with a fearful and troubled countenance uttered these words . Ah sorrowfull and fearfull tokens ! Ah infortunate bark ! What ill luck and miserable adventure is prepared for thée , if the Gods here shew not their deity !

He had no sooner ended these words , but a certain boistreus and furious blast so launced on the mainsail , and in such manner whirled into the body of the whole ship , that at that instant she was in such danger , that he who held the stern was forced to abandon the government thereof , and so the ship following the mighty fury wherewith she was led , & went whither the wind and waves did drive her . The tempest increased more and more and became greater and greater ; the furious waves covered with white fome began to augment their anger and to rage more then before . There might we sée a massie rain falling from the element , intermingled with lightening and fearfull thunder . There might we also hear a terrible noise and shaking of the sail yard , the mast , the lines , cords , cables , and tackling of the ship . There might we also hear the lamentable voice both of the passengers and Mariners , which caused us to fear excéedingly . The winds beset the ship on all sides , and the waves battered it in such manner , that the very strongest and best nailed parts thereof burst in pieces . The proud sea sometimes lifted us up to the firmament , and suddenly she carried us down even unto the bottome ; yea and ( that which was wonderfull ) the waves in such manner parted asunder , that we might plainly sée the sand & gravel in the bottome of the sea . The men and women that were in the ship lamenting and bewailing their infortunate end , some fetched heavy and grievous sighs from the bottome of their hearts ; some offered pittifull vows , others yéelded fountains of tears out of their eys . The master of the ship not knowing what to do against such raging fortune , his cunning being overcome by the fiercenesse and perseverance of the tempest , could no longer conduire le timon .

He knew not the nature nor off-spring of the winds , and in one instant commanded and ordained a thousand different matters . The Mariners troubled and vexed by reason of the agony and perplexity of their present death , could not execute their charge and by reason of the noise and cries of the passengers , could not understand what the master prescribed them , calling as loud as he could for his life . Some of them turned the sail yard ; others hales the sale cord ; others striked the top-sail ; others came to mend the sprit sail ; others to save the misen sail ; others did take of the bonnet and inlargement of the main-sail ; others were occupied with knitting the broken liues together ; others looked to the hinder deck tail and castle of the ship ; others to the fore deck ; others to the hatches ; others voided the sea into the sea , casting the water out of the ship . To be short every man did what in him lay to defend and save the miserable vessel from inevitable shipwrack . But all their diligence served to no end , their vows and tears helped not to appease angry and fierce Neptune ; but the night approached more and more , and the wind and tempest increased marvellously . When the dark night was fallen , the tempest being nothing asswaged , Bugerio hoping for no remedy , with a terrible countenance , representing the very picture of fate and despair , his eys being cast on his son , his daughters , and me his son in law , gave us sufficiently to understand by the heavinesse of his looks , what grief he ●uffered for the death which was prepared for us . Insomuch th●t his care and grief did as much hurt , as our own misfortune . T●● p●or old m●n invironed with sorrow , spake in this order with a lamentable voice the tears running down his f●ce

Ah changeable Fortune , enemy of humane welfare hast thou reserved such a wofull disaster for my old days ? Oh how happy are they that die in bloudy battels amidst their enemies in their youth , to the end that never attaining to their l●tter age , they f●ll not into d●nger to bewail the pittifull adventurse & de●th of their loving children ! oh wonderful mishap ! oh sorrowful successe ! who ever ended his life with such grief as my self ? For whereas I thought to comfort my self at the time of my de●th in leaving children in the world , to conserve and kéep the memory and remembrance of my linage and kindred , now I am constrained necessarily to die with those that ought to celebrate my funerals . O loving and dear children who would have thought that my life and yours , should have finished at one self same time and instant ? Who would have thought that our lives should have taken their and through one and the self-same misfortune ? I would willingly comfort you my dear children ; but what solace can a sorrowfull father give , whose heart is pestered with so much grief , und who himself is void of all consolation .

Comfort your selves my children , arm your hearts with patience , leave all grief and sorrow unto me , to the end that I dying may suffer as many deaths as ye all must endure .

This , old Eugerio uttered with so many sighs and sobs that he could scarce with much ado speak , embracing us all one after another to take his leave and bid us farewell , before the hour of eminent shipwrack was come . It would be a great enterprise , and difficult matter for me presently to recount what tears Aloda wept , and what grief I suffered for her sake , and therefore I will onely tell you one thing that nothing so much grieved me as that my life ( which I had offered for her service ) could not take end without her death . In the mean time our forlorn ship driven with the force of the angry waves and furious winds ( which blew so marvellous strongly ) flying all night though the streight of Gilbatan , more swiftly then we wished or served our turn the next day went astray , I know not how many leagues into the large Mediterrean sea .

Where after that we had long wandred hither and thither , the force of the wind and waves driving us up and down for the space of that dry and night , the next morning the tempest séemed to be something asswaged , and the rufull waves abating their courage , Neptune spread a pleasant calm over the sea ; wherewith we were not a little cheared .

But fortune not contented to have heaped such a world of calamities upon us , would also take her pleasure in mocking us in the midst of miseries . For on the suddain the wished calm was turned into a worse and greater extream tempest then before : which brought us into such extreamity , that we hoped not for one hour of life . At last one side of the ship being strooken with a great raging whirlwind , the other side lay flat upon the water , and was in danger to sink presently .

When I saw the manifest danger , I began to ungird my sword , to the end it might not hinder me , and imbracing Alcida , I leaped with her into the ship boat . Clenarde being a light and nimble Gentlewoman , following us did the same , not leaving behind her bow and arrows , for that she estéemed more of that than of some great and precious treasure . Polidor thrusting his father forwards , thought to have done as much , and to have leaped into the boat as we had done ; but the ship-Master , with another Marriner , leaped in before them : And as Polidor with his aged father thought to have followed , the boat was separated from the ship by reason of a mighty wave which was driven by the wind betwixt the ship and the boat , so that they were forced to remain in the ship : the sight whereof in short time we lost , and never since heard any news of her . But I am of opinion , that ( all doubt removed ) she was swallowed up by Neptunes greedy waves , or that crossing overthwart the Sea , she perished miserably on the coast of Spain .