ABSTRACT
TheTwoGentlemenofVerona yellowandwhite.Mountedhecameuponafairedapplegraie Jennet,witharichfurnitureofblew,embroderedwithgoldeand seedepearle.WhenIsawehiminthisrichequipage,Iwassoamazed athissight,thathowextremelymysenceswereravishedwithsudden joyeIamnotable(faireNymphes)totellyou.Truthitis,thatI couldnotbutshedsometearesforjoyandgreefe,whichhissight didmakemefeele,but,fearingtobenotedbythestandersby,for thattimeIdriedthemup.ButasDonFelix(beingnowcometothe pallacegate)wasdismounted,andgoneupapaireofstairesinto thechamberofpresence,Iwenttohismen,wheretheywereattendinghisreturne;andseeingFabius,whomIhadseenebeforeamongst them,Itookehimaside,andsaideuntohim,Myfriend,Iprayyou tellmewhatLordthisis,whichdidbutevennowalightfromhis Jennet,for(methinkes)heisverylikeonewhomIhaveseenebefore inanotherfarrecountrey.Fabiusthenansweredmethus:Artthou suchanoviceinthecourtthatthouknowestnotDonFelix?Itell theethereisnotanyLord,knight,orgentlemanbetterknowneinit thanhe.Nodoubtofthat(saideI),butIwilltelltheewhatanovice Iam,andhowsmallatimeIhavebeeneinthecourt,foryesterday wasthefirstthateverIcametoit.Naiethen,Icannotblamethee (saideFabius)ifthouknowesthimnot.Knowe,then,thatthis gentlemaniscalledDonFelix,borneinVandalia,andhathhis chiefesthouseintheantientcittieofSoldina,andisremainingin thiscourtaboutcertaineaffairesofhisfathersandhisowne.ButI prayyoutellme(saidI)whyhegiveshisliveriesofthesecolours? Ifthecausewerenotsomanifest,Iwouldeconcealeit(saideFabius), butsincethereisnotanythatknowesitnot,andcanstnotcometo anyinthiscourtwhocannottelltheethereasonwhy,Ithinkeby tellingtheeitIdonomorethenincourtesieIamboundtodo. Thoumustthereforeunderstand,thathelovesandservesaLadie heereinthisCitienamedCelia,andthereforewearesandgivesfor hisliverieanazureblew,whichisthecolouroftheskie,andwhite andyellow,whicharethecoloursofhisLadyandMistresse.When Iheardthesewords,imagine(faireNymphes)inwhataplightIwas; butdissemblingmymishapandgriefe,Iansweredhim:ThisLadie certesisgreatlybeholdingtohim,bicausehethinkesnotenough, bywearinghercolours,toshewhowwillingheistoserveher,unlessealsohebearehernameinhisliverie;whereuponIgesseshe cannotbutbeveryfaireandamiable.Sheisnolesse,indeede,(saide Fabius)althoughtheotherwhomhelovedandservedinourowne countreyinbeautiefarreexcelledthis,andlovedandfavouredhim moretheneverthisdid.Butthismischievousabsencedothviolate anddissolvethosethingeswhichmenthinketobemoststrongand
Diana Enamorada 239 firme. At these wordes (faire Nymphes) was I faine to come to some composition with my teares, which, if I had not stopped from issuing foorth, Fabius could not have chosen but suspected, by the alteration of my countenance, that all was not well with me. And then the Page did aske me, what countreyman I was, my name and of what calling and condition I was: whom I answered, that my countrey where I was borne was Vandalia, my name Valerius, and till that time served no Master. Then by this reckoning (saide he) we are both countrey-men, and may be both fellowes in one house if thou wilt; for Don Felix my Master commanded me long since to seeke him out a Page. Therefore if thou wilt serve him, say so. As for meate, drinke, and apparell, and a couple of shillings to play away, thou shalt never want; besides pretie wenches, which are not daintie in our streete, as faire and amorous as Queenes, of which there is not anie that will not die for the love of so proper a youth as thou art. And to tell thee in secret (because, perhaps, we may be fellowes), I know where an old Cannons maide is, a gallant fine girle, whom if thou canst but finde in thy hart to love and serve as I do, thou shalt never want at her hands fine hand-kerchers, peeces of bacon, and now and then wine of S. MarQ!n. When I heard this, I could not choose but laugh, to see how naturally the unhappie Page played his part by depainting foorth their properties in their lively colours. And because I thought nothing more commodious for my rest, and for the enjoying of my desire, then to follow Fabius his counsel, I answered him, thus: In truth, I determined to serve none; but now, since fortune hath offered me so good a service, and at such a time, when I am constrained to ~ake this course of life, I shall not do amisse if I frame myselfe to the service of some Lord or Gentleman in this Court, but especially of your Master, because he seemes to be a woorthy Gentleman, and such an one that makes more reckoning of his servants then an other. Ha, thou knowest him not so well as I (said Fabius); for I promise thee, by the faith of a Gentleman (for I am one indeede, for my father comes of the Cachopines of Laredo), that my Master Don Felix is the best natured Gentleman that ever thou knewest in thy life, and one who useth his Pages better then any other. And were it not for those troublesome loves, which makes us runne up and downe more, and sleepe lesse, then we woulde, there were not such a Master in the whole worlde againe. In the end (faire Nymphes) Fabius spake to his Master, Don Felix, as soone as he was come foorth, in my behalfe, who commanded me the same night to come to him at his lodging. Thither I went, and he entertained me for his Page, making the most of me in the worlde; where, being but a few daies with him, I sawe the messages, letters, and
