Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/28

followed the wiſe (as I take it) counſell of Philanax. For hauing left the ſterne of his gouernment, with much amazement to the people, among whom many ſtraunge bruits are receiued for currant, and with ſome apparance of danger in reſpect of the valiant Amphialus his nephew, & much enuying the ambitious number of the Nobilitie againſt Philanax, to ſee Philanax ſo aduanced, though (to ſpeake ſimplie) he deſerue more then as many of vs as there be in Arcadia: the Prince hiſelfe hath hidden his head, in ſuch ſort as I told you, not ſticking plainely to confeſſe, that he means not (while he breathes) that his daughters ſhal haue any husband, but keepe them thus ſolitary with him: where he giues no other body leaue to viſite him at any time but a certaine Prieſt, who being excellent in poetrie, he makes him write out ſuch things as he beſt likes, he being no leſſe delightfull in conuerſation, then needfull for deuotion, and about twenty ſpecified ſhepheards, in whom (ſome for exerciſes, and ſome for Eglogs) he taken greater recreation.

And now you know as much as my ſelfe: wherein if I haue held you ouer long, lay hardly the fault vpon my olde age, which in the verie diſpoſition of it is talkatiue: whether it be (ſaid he ſmiling) that nature loues to exerciſe that part moſt, which is leaſt decayed, and that is our tongue: or, that knowledge being the onlie thing whereof we poore olde men can brag, we cannot make it knowne but by vtterance: or, that mankind by all meanes ſeeking to eternize himſelfe ſo much the more, as he is neare his end, doth it not onely by the children that come of him, but by ſpeeches and writings recommended to the memorie of hearers & readers. And yet thus much I will ſay for my ſelfe, that I haue not laid theſe matters, either ſo openly or largely to anie as to your ſelfe: ſo much (if I much faile not) do I ſee in you, which makes me both loue and truſt you. Neuer may he be old, anſwered Palladius, that doth not reuerence that age, whoſe heauineſſe, if it waie downe the frayle and fleſhlie ballance, it as much lifts vp the noble and ſpirituall part; and well might you haue alleaged another reaſon, that their wiſedome makes them willing to profite others. And that haue I receiued of you, neuer to be forgotten, but with vngratefulneſſe. But among many ſtrange conceits you told me, which haue ſhewed effects in your Prince, truly euen the laſt, that he ſhould conceiue ſuch pleaſure in ſhepheards diſcourſes, would not ſeeme the leaſt vnto me, ſauing that you told me at the firſt, that this countrie is notable in thoſe wits, and that indeed my ſelfe hauing bene brought not only to this place, but to my life by Strephon and Claius, in their conference found wits as might better become ſuch ſhepheards as Homer ſpeaks of, that be gouernours of peoples, then ſuch Senators who hold their Councel in a ſheep cote. For them two (ſaid Kalander) eſpecially Claius, they are beyond the reſt by ſo much, as learning commonly doth adde to nature: for, hauing neglected their wealth in reſpect of their knowledge, they haue not ſo much impaired the meaner, as they bettered the better. Which all notwithſtanding, it is a ſport to heare how they impute to loue, which hath indued their thoughts (ſay they) with ſuch a ſtrength.

But certainly all the people of this countrie from high to lowe, is giuen to thoſe ſports of the wit, ſo as you would wonder to heare how ſoone euen children will begin to verſifie. Once, ordinarie it is amongſt the meaneſt ſort, to make ſongs and dialogues in meeter, either loue whetting their braine, or long peace hauing begun it; example and emulation amending it. Not ſo much, but the Clowne Dametas will ſtumble ſometimes vpon ſome ſongs that might become a better braine: but no ſort of people ſo excellent in that kind as the paſtors; for their liuing ſtandingbut