THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE COVNTESSE OF PEMBROKES [ 10] ARCADIA.
THE almightie wisedome euermore delighting to shewe the world, that by vnlikeliest meanes greatest matters may come [ 15] to conclusion: that humane reason may be the more hum∣bled, and more willinglie geue place to diuine prouidence: as at the first it brought in Damaetas to play a part in this royall pageant, so hauing continued him still an actor, now that all things were growne ripe for an end, made his folly the instru∣ment [ 20] of reuealing that, which far greater cunning had sought to conceale. For so it fell out that Damaetas hauing spent the whole day in breaking vp the cumbersome worke of the pastor Dorus, and feeling in all his labour no paine so much, as that his hungrie hopes receiued any stay, hauing with the price of much sweate and wearinesse gotten vp the huge stone, which he thought should haue [ 25] such a golden lining, the good man in the great bed that stone had made, founde nothing but these two verses, written vpon a broad piece of velume:
Who hath his hire, hath well his labour plast: Earth thou didst seeke, and store of earth thou has••.
What an inward discountenance it was to maister Damaetas, to finde his hope of [ 30] wealth turned to poore verses, for which he neuer cared much, nothing can de∣scribe, but either the feeling in ones selfe the state of such a minde Damaetas had, or at least the bethinking what was Midas fancie, when after the great pride he con∣ceiued to be made Iudge betweene Gods, he was rewarded with the ornament of an Asses eares. Yet the deepe apprehension he had receiued of such riches, could [ 35] not so sodainlie loose the coullor that had so throughlie died his thicke braine, but that he turned and tossed the poore bowels of the innocent earth, till the comming on of the night, and the tediousnes of his frutelesse labor made him content rather to exercise his discontentation at home then there. But forced he was (his horse being otherwise burthened with digging instruments) to returne, as he came, most [ 40] part of the way on foote: with such grudging lamentations as a nobler minde would (but more noblie) make for the losse of his mistresse. For so farre had he fed his foolish soule with the expectation of that which he reputed felicitie, that he no lesse accompted himselfe miserable, then if he had falne from such an e∣state his fancie had embraced. So then home againe went Damaetas, punished [ 45] in conceite, as in conceite he had erred, till he founde himselfe there from a fancied losse falne to essentiall miserie. For entring into his house three houres