The love and armes of the Greeke princes. Or, The romant of the romants. Written in French by Monsieur Verdere, and translated for the Right Honourable, Philip, Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery, Lord Chamberlaine to his Majesty

CHAP. XIII. Clarisel turns shepherd: his contentment, and the jealousie of Cesander.

IN the mean time Clarisel being returned home publish∣ed his good fortune before Orizenna, who seeing him in so pleasing a humor, gave order to make him up in∣stantly a caslock and hole of white fustian tied toge∣ther with cornation ribands; provided the next day a flock of sheep for him, put a very curious sheephook in his hand, a scrip at his side, and giving him a boy of fifteen yeers of age to tend his sheep, whilest he entertained his shepherdesse, she sent him to a Farmer (unto whom she had communicated the secret with a charge not to disclose it to any body living) beseeching love to render his intentions prosperous. As soon as he was in the field, he reflected on himself, and considering the habit he was in, it see∣med to accuse him of imprudence and weaknes, wherfore he said: O God! How great is the imbecility of man, and how justly are Lovers condemn∣ed, who renounce their own wills, for to give themselves over to their pas∣sions? Doubtles I am now subject to the mockeries of the wise, and though I may find some excuse in the example of an infinity of great personages, who have erred like my self, yet can I not hinder the jeering of those which are more advised, and that will say with reason too, how I should rather draw instruction from the misery of others, then imitate them in their faults: Howbeit if I consider the recompence which I am to attend from my design, I cannot be charged with folly, nor guilty of blame; but I may maintain before all the world, that the beauties of so accomplished a shep∣herdesse, may extenuate this act of mine. I must pursue my course then, not stand upon such weak considerations, and yeeld more to mine own satisfa∣ction, then to the opinion of those that are fools, and think themselves wise. Thus intertaining himself with a world of thoughts, he arrived at the plea∣sant meadows of Bellombre, where extreamly desirous to find his shepher∣desse, he looked round about, and not seeing her appear, he was strangely

troubled, not knowing whither to go, when he heard a rebeck, the sound whereof came from out certain E••ms which he perceived on the left hand, whence he conjectured that Miralinda might be there, and that some amo∣rous shepherd courted her in that maner. Driving on his flock then within a little while he came to those trees, at the foot wherof he saw his shepher∣desse with another, nothing neer so fair, and two shepheards upon their knees, who seemed to implore her pity. His goodly presence, and the grace wherewithall he saluted this company, fastened every ones eies upon him; but Miralinda knowing him, arose contrary to her custome, and giving him an amorous look, asked him what occasion brought him thither. That is not to be questioned, answered he, since it is most sure that I come as others do to sigh out my passions, and to tell you that you never saw shepherd before that adores you with more respect then my self. She hath more cause to re∣compence my services, answered one, then to hear you make these protesta∣tions; but I beleeve you will reap no more benefit by them then I have done by my complaints. If the defect of your merit and the judgement of this shepherdesse, answered Clarisel, have given you no part in her favour, you must not think, shepherd, that others are as unhappy as your self; the condition of our service obligeth a woman, and when our actions are dispo∣sed to please her, we are to expect an acknowledgement of them. If I can∣not constrain her to love me, I will be contented with the sight of her; and if my presence offend her, you shall see me continually upon these banks singing my misfortune, and her beauty: behold, shepherd, how I will ac∣commodate my desires to hers, accusing my self without rendring her cul∣pable: and if I receive any thing from so great an obedience, I will beleeve it proceedeth rather from her goodnesse, then mine own merit, otherwise I will say that I am justly punished for having been too daring. How now, shepherd, said Miralinda, is any man so light as you are, thus freely to disco∣ver his thoughts? I never saw you till now, and will you already have eve∣ry one to know that you love me? Yes without doubt, answered Clarisel, and if I should use lesse freedome, I should not have so much affection. Is it likely that I should be heer for your service, and it not be known? my de∣signs would then be without honour, and my ambition without glory; I can no more forbear, beauteous shepherdesse, to publish my captivity, then to suffer; and if you be displeased with it, I will hold my peace, and think to profit more by my silence, then by my speech. Shepherd, answered Miralinda, reaching him her hand for to make him sit down by her, I do not purpose to forbid you to speak, and what I said was but to let you know that I love a man that is discreet, howbeit let us leave this discourse, and tell me from whence you are come, whither you go, and what accident brought you to this place. Your beauty which is so famed over all, answered he, hath made me to forsake the banks of Seine, with a resolution never to aban∣d••n this Country without you, or at the least till I see you ingaged under the power of some shepherd, which is the reason why I crave your leave to deliver my passions as love shall make me feel them. I will not refuse to speak unto you, answered she, but never be importunate, if you hope for a∣ny part in my favour. O God! said the shepherd who had not spoken yet, what cause have I to complain? I have served you these two yeers with all the fidelity that can be imagined, and yet you have never done me the grace which now you have shewed unto this shepherd, who is but newly arrived:

for advising him to live according to your humor, you seem to take care of his content. Ah! that I were permitted to let him see, even at this instant, how unworthy he is of so great a bl••sse, I would throw him at the first bout, and by his fall conserve unto my self that good which I think is belonging unto me. Miralinda not being able to forbear laughing at this shepherds anger, that seemed to be extreamly jealous, cast her eie upon Clarisel, who conceiving he was bound to answer him, said unto him rising up: Foolish shepherd, I would it were as easie for me to obtain some part in the good grace of Miralinda, as to throw thee; nevertheles I will not wrastle with thee but upon condition, that the weakest shall yeeld his pretensions to the victor. I am content, said Celidon, so was this shepherd named, and I wish that the meads may want pasture for my ••••ocks, if I do not make these fair sh••pherdesses laugh at thy cost. Then seazing on Clarisel he gave him two or three rough twitches, which made him give back a step, but Clarisel ta∣king good hold on the wings of his dublet, flung him all along on the ground, and gave him such a cruell fall, that every one thought he had been dead; whereupon the other shepherd, of whom we have spoken before, ran instantly to succour him, howbeit Celidon being risen with pain, told him that he felt no hurt, and that in regard he was not fallen but by accident, he was not resolved to quit Miralinda, whom he would make judge of their difference; but she laughed so heartily that she could not utter a word; at length seeing her self constrained to speak, she agreed them so, that each of them should remain in his hopes. After that time Clarisel was ordinarily present in the places where Miralinda fed her flock; sometimes alone, som∣times with a number of shepherds, who oftentimes accorded their rebocks and hoboys together, for to make the length of the daies seem lesse tedious to this shepherdesse, who loving none but the handsome shepherd (so Cla∣risel was called) cared only for his conversation, and avoided as much as she could the rest; to the end she might not be importuned by their usuall com∣plaints; so that if she were obliged by the way of civility to see them, it was very coldly, being unwilling to give her Clarisel any cause of suspition, who in the mean while graved upon the bark of all the trees (under whose sha∣dows they met) the name of his beautifull shepherdesse, little regarding the solicitations of his rivals, as unworthy of his jealousie. Having past some time in this maner, alwaies accompanying Miralinda at the fountains, at the rivers side, in the woods and in the meadows, oftentimes taking the care of grazing her flocks, every one perceived that Clarisel was beloved of this cruell one, before inexorable to any shepheard whatsoever; so that jealou∣sie putting them often into choler, some new match at wrastling was every day seen, wherein Clarisel shewed himself so accomplished, that all the Country gave way unto him, each one judging him worthy of the fortune he enjoied, Cesander only excepted, who openly declared himself his ene∣my, sought all maner of occasions to annoy him, and delivered a thousand lies to Miralinda, thinking to divert her from loving him; but she very well knowing whereunto it tended, and the fidelity of Clarisel would give no ear to him, and daily made demonstration of some new passion for her shep∣herd, which so vexed Cesander that he resolved to run into the uttermost of extreams, as you shall see by and by.