Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/16

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 lightſomneſſe whereof had yet ſo naturall 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 ſhe ſaw the teares ſpringing in them, as if ſhee 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 joy, how the ſailes did ſwell with pride, & 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 ſight of this place doth call membrance? 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 things, ſo thoſe things ſerue as places to call to memorie more excellent matters. No, no, let vs thinke with conſideration, and conſider with acknowledging, & acknowledge with admiration, & admire with loue, and loue with ioy in the midſt of all woes: let vs in ſuch ſort thinke, I ſay, that our poore eyes were ſo inriched as to behold, & 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 praiſed in her, is her beautie. Certainly as her eye-lids are more pleaſant to behold, then two white kiddes climbing vp a faire tree, and browſing on his trendreſt branches, and yet are nothing, compared to the day-ſhining ſtarres contained in them; and as her breath is more ſweete then a gentle South-weſt wind, which comes creeping ouer flowrie fields and ſhadowed waters in the extreame heate of ſommer, 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 ſtubble after clouers graſſe) is to be matched with the flocke of vnſpeakeable vertues, laid vp delightfully in that beſt builded fold. But in deed 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 (being ſilly ignorant ſhepheards) raiſe vp our thoughts aboue the ordinary leuell of the world, ſo as great clearks doe not diſdaine our conference? hath not the deſire to ſeeme worthie in her eyes, made vs when others were ſleeping, to ſit viewing the courſe of heauens? when others were running at baſe, to runne ouer learned writings? when other marke their ſheepe, we to marke our ſelues? hath not ſhe throwne reaſon vpon our deſires, and, as it were giuen eyes vnto Cupid? hath in any, but in her, loue-fellowſhip maintainedfriendſhip