ABSTRACT

The Two Gentlemen of Verona fighting against one. And although he defended himself valiantly, by shewing his approved strength and courage, yet the three knights gave him so much to do, that he was faine to help himselfe by all the force and pollicie he could. They fought on foote, for their horses were tied to little trees, that grew thereabout. And now by this time, the knight that fought all alone and defended himselfe, had laid one of them at his feete with a blowe of his good sword, which ended his life. But the other two that were very strong and valiant, redoubled their force and blowes so thicke on him, that he looked for no other thing then death. The Shepherdesse Felismena seeing the knight in so great danger, and if she did not speedily helpe him, that he could not escape with life, was not afraide to put hers in jeopardy by doing that which in such a case she thought, she was bound to performe: wherefore putting a sharpe headed arrowe into her howe, shee saide unto them: Keepe out knights, for it is not beseeming men that make account of this name and honour, to take advantage of their enimies with so great oddes. And ayming at the sight of one of their helmets, she burst it with such force, that the arrow running into his eies, came out of the other side of his head, so that he fell downe dead to the ground. When the distressed knight sa we two of his enimies dead, he ran upon the third with such force as if he had but then begun the combat; but Felismena helped him out of more trouble, by putting another arrow into her bow, the which transpiercing his armour, she left under his left pap, and so justly smot his hart, that this knight also followed his two companions. When the Shepherds and the knight beheld what Felismena had done, and how at two shootes she had killed two such valiant knights, they were all in great wonder. The knight therefore taking off his helmet, and comming unto her saide: How am I able (faire Shepherdesse) to requite so great a benefite and good turne as I have received at thy hands this day, but by acknowledging this debt for ever in my gratefull minde. When Felismena beheld the knights face, and knew him, her sences were so troubled, that being in such a traunce she could scarce speake, but comming to herselfe againe, she answered him:

Ah my Don Felix, this is not the first debt, wherein thou art bound unto me. And I cannot believe, that thou wilt acknowledge this (as thou saiest) no more then thou hast done greater then this before. Beholde to what a time and ende my fortune and thy forgetnesse hath brought me, that she that was woont to be served of thee in the Citie with Tilt and Tourneyes, and honoured with many other things, whereby thou didst deceive me, (or I suffered my selfe to be deceived) doth nowe wander uppe and downe, exiled from her

DianaEnamorada nativecountreyandlibertie,forusingthusthineowne.Ifthis bringstheenotintotheknowledgeofthatwhichthouowestme, rememberhowonewholeyeereIservedtheeasthyPageinthe PrincesseCesarinasCourt:andhowIwasasolicitoragainstmyselfe, withoutdiscoveringmyselfe,ormythoughtsuntothee,butonely toprocurethyremedie,andtohelpethegriefe,whichthinemade theefeele.HowmanytimesdidIgettheefavoursfromthyMistress Celiatothegreatcostofmytearesandgreefes:allwhichaccountbut smallDonFelixinrespectofthosedangers(hadtheybeeneunsufficient)whereinIwouldhavespentmylifeforredresseofthypaines, whichthyinjuriousloveaffoordedthee.Andunlessethouartweary ofthegreatlove,thatIhavebornethee,considerandweighwith thyselfethestrangeeffects,whichtheforceoflovehathcausedme topasse.Iwentoutofmynativecountrey,andcametoservethee, tolamenttheillthatthoudidstsuffer,totakeuponmetheinjuries anddisgracesthatIreceivedtherein;andtogivetheeanycontent, Icarednottoleadthemostbitterandpainefulllife,thateverwoman lived.InthehabiteofatenderanddaintieLadieIlovedtheemore thenthoucanstimagine,andinthehabiteofabasepageIserved thee(athingmorecontrarietomyrestandreputationthenImeane nowtoreherse)andyetnowinthehabiteofapooreandsimple ShepherdesseIcametodotheethissmallservice.Whatremaines thenmoreformetodo,buttosacrificemylifetothylovelesse soule,ifwiththesameyetIcouldgivetheemorecontent-andifin lieutherofthouwouldestbutremember,howmuchIhaveloved, anddoyetlovethee!herehastthouthyswordinthyhand;let nonethereforebutthyselferevengetheoffencethatIhavedone thee.WhentheKnightheardFelismena'swords,andknewthemall tobeastrueashewasdisloyall,hishartbythisstrangeandsudden accidentrecoveredsomeforceagainetoseewhatgreatinjuriehe haddoneher,sothatthethoughtthereof,andtheplenteouseffusion ofbloodthatissuedoutofhiswoundes,madehimlikeadeadman falldowneinaswouneatfaireFelismenasfeete.Whowithgreatcare, andno!essefeare,layinghisheadinherlap,withshowersofteares thatrainedfromhereiesupontheKnightspalevisage,beganthus tolament:WhatmeanesthiscruellFortune?Istheperiodofmy lifecomejustwiththelastendeofmyDonFelixhisdaies?Ahmy DonFelix(thecauseofallmypaine)iftheplenteousteares,which forthysakeIhavenowshed,arenotsufficient;andthesewhichI nowdistilluponthylovelycheekes,toofewetomaketheecometo thyselfeagaine,whatremedieshallthismiserablesoulehaveto prevent,thatthisbitterjoybyseeingthee,turnenottooccasion ofutterdespaire.AhmyDonFelix,Awakemylove,ifthoudostbut

The Two Gentlemen of Verona sleepe, or beest in a traunce, although I would not woonder if thou dost not, since never anything that I could do, prevailed with thee to frame my least content. And in these and other lamentations was faire Felismena plunged, whom the Portugall Shepherdesses with their teares and poor supplies endeavoured to incourage, when on the sudden they saw a faire Nymphe comming over the stony causey that lead the way into the Ilande, with a golden bottel in one hand, and a silver one in the other, whom Felismena knowing by and by, saide unto her: Ah Doria, could any come at this time to succour me, but thou faire Nymph? Come hither then, and thou shalt see the cause of al my troubles, the substance of my sighs, and the object of my thoughts, lying in the greatest danger of death that may be. In like occurrents (saide Doria) vertue and a good hart most tak"e place. Recall it then (faire Felismena) and revive thy daunted spirits, trouble not thy selfe any more, for nowe is the ende of thy sorrowes, and the beginning of thy contentment come. And speaking these wordes, she besprinkled his face with a certaine odoriferous water. which she brought in the silver bottle, whereby he came to his memorie againe, and then saide unto him: If thou wilt recover thy life, Sir Knight, and give it her that hath passed such an ill one for thy sake, drinke of the water in this bottle: The which Don Felix taking in his hande, drunke a good draught, and resting upon it a little, founde himselfe so whole of his wounds, which the three knights had givC'Il him, and of that which the love of Celia had made in his brest, that now he felt the paine no more, which either of them had caused in him, then if he had never had them. And in this sort he began to rekindle the old love, that he bore to Felismena, the which (he thought) was never more zealous then now. Whereupon sitting downe upon the greene grasse, hee tooke his l.;ady and Shepherdesse by the hands, and kissing them manic times saide thus unto her. How small account would I make of my life (my deerest Felismena) for cancelling that great bond, wherein (with more then life) I am for ever bound unto thee: for since I enjoy it by thy meanes, I thinke it no more then righte, to restore thee that, which is thine owne .... What words are sufficient to excuse the faults, that I have committed against thy faith, and firmest love, and loyaltie? ... Truth is, that I loved Celia well, and forgot thee, but in such sort that thy wisedome and beautie did ever slide out of my minde ..•.