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By Root 20801 0

accompanied with the sweete voice of my Don Felix The great joy that I felt in hearing him cannot be imagined, for (me thought) I heard him nowe, as in that happie and passed time of our loves. But after the deceit of this imagination was discovered, seeing with mine eies, and hearing with mine eares, that this musicke was bestowed upon another, and not on me, God knowes what a bitter death it was unto my soule: and with a greevous sigh, that caried almost my life away with it, I asked mine host if he knew what the ladie was for whose sake the musicke was made! He answered me, that he could not imagine on whom it was bestowed, bicause in that streete dwelled manie noble and faire ladies. And when I saw he could not satisfie my request, I bent mine eares againe to heare my Don Felix, who now, to the tune of a delicate harpe, whereon he sweetely plaied, began to sing this sonnet following:—

A Sonnet.

My painefull yeeres impartiall Love was spending

In vaine and booteles hopes my life appaying,

And cruell Fortune to the world bewraying

Strange samples of my teares that have no ending.

Time, everie thing to truth at last commending,

Leaves of my steps such markes, that now betraying,

And all deceitfull trusts shall be decaying,

And none have cause to plaine of his offending.

Shee, whom I lov'd to my obliged power,

That in her sweetest love to me discovers

Which never yet I knew (those heavenly pleasures),

And I do saie, exclaiming every hower,

Do not you see what makes you wise,

O lovers ? Love, Fortune, Time, and my faire mystresse treasures.

The sonnet being ended, they paused awhile, playing on fower lutes togither, and on a paire of virginals, with such

heavenly melodie, that the whole worlde (I thinke) could not affoord sweeter musick to the eare nor delight to any minde, not subject to the panges of such predominant greefe and sorrow as mine was. But then fower voices, passing well tuned and set togither, began to sing this song following:—

A Song.

That sweetest harme I doe not blame,

First caused by thy fairest eies,

But greeve, bicause too late I came,

To know my fault, and to be wise.

I never knew a worser kinde of life,

To live in feare, from boldnesse still to cease:

Nor, woorse then this, to live in such a strife,

Whether of bothe to speake, or holde my peace ?

And so the harme I do not blame,

Caused by thee or thy faire eics;

But that to see how late I came,

To know my fault, and to be wise.

I ever more did feare that I should knowe

Some secret things, and doubtful] in their kinde,

Bicause the surest things doe ever goe

Most contrarie unto my wish and minde.

And yet by knowing of the same

There is no hurt; but it denies

My remedie, since late I came,

To knowe my fault, and to be wise.

When this song was ended, they began to sound divers sorts of instruments, and voices most excellently agreeing togither, and with such sweetnes that they could not chuse but delight any very much who were so farre from it as I. About dawning of the day the musicke ended, and I did what I could to espie out iny Dm Felix, but the darknes of the night was mine enimie therein. And seeing now that they were gone, I went to bed againe, where I bewailed my great mishap, knowing that he whom most of al I loved, had so unwoorthily forgotten me, whereof his music was too manifest a witnes. And when it was time, I arose, and without any other consideration, went straight to the Princesse her pallace, where (I thought) I might see that which I so greatly desired, determining to call my selfe Valerius, if any (perhaps) did aske my name. Coinming therefore to a faire broad court before the pallace gate, I viewed the windowes and galleries, where I sawe such store of blazing beauties, and gallant ladies, that I am not able now to recount, nor then to do any more but woonder at their graces, their gorgeous attyre, their jewels, their brave fashions of apparell, and ornaments wherewith they were so richly set out. Up and downe this place, before the windowes, roade many lords and brave gentlemen