the cavaliers crack their lances with more courage: many deeds of knighthood that day were performed, and many prizes were given according to their several deserts: at last when the tournament ceased, the wrestling began; and the Norman presented himself as a challenger against all comers; but he looked like Hercules when he advanced himself against Acheloüs, so that the fury of his countenance amazed all that durst attempt to encounter with him in any deed of activity: till at last a lusty Franklin of the country came with two tall men that were his sons, of good lineaments and comely personage: the eldest of these, doing his obeisance to the king, entered the list and presented himself to the Norman, who straight coapt with him, and as a man that would triumph in the glory of his strength, roused himself with such fury, that not only he gave him the fall, but killed him with the weight of his corpulent personage: which the younger brother seeing, leapt presently into the place, and thirsty after the revenge, assailed the Norman with such valour, that at the first encounter he brought him to his knees; which repulsed so the Norman, that recovering himself, fear of disgrace doubling his strength, he stepped so sternly to the young Franklin, that taking him up in his arms he threw him against the ground so violently, that he broke his neck, and so ended his days with his brother. At this unlooked for massacre, the people murmured, and were all in a deep passion of pity. But the Franklin, father unto these, never changed his countenance; but as a man of a courageous resolution, took up the bodies of his sons without any show of outward discontent. All this while stood Rosader and saw this tragedy; who, noting the undoubted virtue of the Franklin's mind, alighted off from his horse, and presently sat down on the grass, and commanded his boy to pull off his boots, making him ready to try the strength of this champion. Being furnished as he would, he clapped the Franklin on the shoulder and said thus: "Bold yeoman, whose sons have ended the term of their years with honour, for that I see thou scornest fortune with patience, and twhartest the injury of fate with 'content, in brooking the death of thy sons; stand awhile and either see me make a third in their tragedy, or else revenge their fall with an honourable triumph. The Franklin, seeing so goodly a gentleman to give him such courteous comfort, gave him hearty thanks, with promise to pray for his happy success. With that, Rosader vailed bonnet to the king, and lightly leapt within the lists, where, noting more the company than the combatant, he

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cast his eye upon the troop of ladies that glistered there like the stars of heaven, but at last Love, willing to make him as amorous as he was valiant, presented him with the sight of Rosalynde, whose admirable beauty so inveigled the eye of Rosader that, forgetting himself, he stood and fed his looks on the favour of Rosalynde's face, which she perceiving, blushed: which was such a doubling of her beauteous excellence, that the bashful red of Aurora at the sight of unacquainted Phaeton was not half so glorious. The Norman, seeing this young gentleman fettered in the looks of the ladies, drave him out of his memento with a shake by the shoulder: Rosader looking back with an angry frown, as if he had been awakened from some pleasant dream, discovered to all, by the fury of his countenance, that he was a man of some high thoughts. But when they all noted his youth, and the sweetness of his visage, with a general applause of favours, they grieved that so goodly a young man should venture in so base an action; but seeing it were to his dishonour to hinder him from his enterprize, they wished him to be graced with the palm of victory. After Rosader was thus called out of his memento by the Norman, he roughly clapt to him with so fierce an encounter, that they both fell to the ground, and with the violence of the fall were forced to breathe; in which space the Norman called to mind by all tokens, that this was he whom Sadadyne had appointed him to kill; which conjecture made him stretch every limb, and try every sinew, that working his death, he might recover the gold which so bountifully was promised him. On the contrary part, Rosader while he breathed was not idle, but still cast his eye upon Rosalynde, who to encourage him with a favour, lent him such an amorous look, as might have made the most coward desperate; which glance of Rosalynde so fired the passionate desires of Rosader, that turning to the Norman he ran upon him and braved him with a strong encounter; the Norman received him as valiantly, that there was a sore combat, hard to judge on whose side fortune would be prodigal. At last Rosader, calling to mind the beauty of his new mistress, the fame of his father's honours, and the disgrace that should fall to his house by his misfortune, roused himself and threw the Norman against the ground, falling upon his chest with so willing a weight, that the Norman yielded Nature her due, and Rosader the victory. The death of this champion, as it highly contented the Franklin as a man satisfied with revenge, so it drew the king and all the peers into a great admiration, that so young

years and so beautiful a personage, should contain such martial excellence: but when they knew him to be the youngest son of Sir John of Bordeaux, the king rose from his seat and embraced him, and the peers entreated him with all favourable courtesy, commending both his valour and his virtues, wishing him to go forward in such haughty deeds, that he might attain to the glory of his father's honourable fortunes. As the king and lords graced him with embracing, so the ladies favoured him with their looks, especially Rosalynde, whom the beauty and valour of Rosader had already touched; but she accounted love a toy, and fancy a momentary passion, that as it was taken in with a gaze, might be shaken off with a wink; and therefore feared not to dally in the flame, and to make Rosader know she affected him, took from her neck a jewel, and sent it by a page to the young gentleman. The prize that Venus gave to Paris was not half so pleasing to the Trojan, as this gem was to Rosader; for if fortune had sworn to make him sole monarch of the world, he would rather have refused such dignity, than have lost the jewel sent him by Rosalynde.

(From Rosalynde.)

EVENING AND MORNING IN ARDEN

WITH that they (Ganymede and Aliena) put their sheep into the cotes, and went home to her friend Corydon's cottage, Aliena as merry as might be, that she was thus in the company of her Rosalynde: but she, poor soul, that had love her lode-star, and her thoughts set on fire with the flame of fancy, could take no rest, but being alone began to consider what passionate penance poor Rosader was enjoined to by love and fortune that at last she fell into this humour with herself. (Rosalynde passionate alone.) Ah Rosalynde, how the fates have set down in their synod to make thee unhappy: for when fortune hath done her worst, then love comes in to begin a new tragedy; she seeks to lodge her son in thine eyes, and to kindle her fires in thy bosom. Beware fond girl, he is an unruly guest to harbour; for cutting in by intreats, he will not be thrust out by force, and her fires are fed with such fuel, as no water is able to quench. Seest thou not how Venus seeks to wrap thee in her labyrinth, wherein is pleasure at the entrance, but within, sorrows, cares, and discontent she is a siren, stop thine ears at her melody; and a

basilisk, shut thine eyes, and gaze not at her lest thou perish. Thou art now placed in the country content, where are heavenly thoughts, and mean desires: in those lawns where thy flocks feed Diana haunts be as her nymphs, chaste, and enemy to love; for there is no greater honour to a maid, than to account of fancy as a mortal foe to their sex. Daphne, that bonny wench, was not turned into a bay tree, as the poets feign; but, for her chastity, her fame was immortal, resembling the laurel that is ever-green. Follow thou her steps, Rosalynde, and the rather, for that thou art an exile, and banished from the court; whose distress, as it is appeased with patience, so it would be renewed with amorous passions. Have mind on thy fore-passed fortunes, fear the worst, and entangle not thyself with present fancies; lest loving in haste thou repent thee at leisure. Ah, but yet, Rosalynde, it is Rosader that courts thee; one, who as he is beautiful, so he is virtuous, and harboureth in his mind as many good qualities, as his face is shadowed with gracious favours: and therefore Rosalynde stoop to love, lest being either too coy, or too cruel, Venus wax wroth, and plague thee with the reward of disdain.

Rosalynde thus passionate, was wakened from her dumps by Aliena, who said it was time to go to bed. Corydon swore that was true, for Charles' wain was risen in the north. Whereupon each taking leave of other, went to their rest all, but the poor Rosalynde, who was so full of passions that she could not possess any content. Well, leaving her to her broken slumbers, expect what was performed by them the next morning.

The sun was no sooner stepped from the bed of Aurora, but Aliena was wakened by Ganymede, who restless all night had tossed in her passions, saying it was then time to go to the field to unfold their sheep. Aliena (that spied where the hare was by the hounds, and could see day at a little hole) thought to be pleasant with her Ganymede, and therefore replied thus: "What, wanton? the sun is but new up, and as yet Iris' riches lie folded in the bosom of Flora, Phœbus hath not dried up the pearled dew, and so long Corydon hath taught me, it is not fit to lead the sheep abroad, lest, the dew being unwholesome, they get the rot : but now see I the old proverb true, he is in haste whom the devil drives, and where love pricks forward, there is no worse death than delay. Ah, my good page, is there fancy in thine eye, and passions in thy heart? What, hast thou wrapped love in thy looks? and set all thy thoughts on fire by affection? I tell thee,

it is a flame as hard to be quenched as that of Etna. But Nature must have her course, women's eyes have faculty attractive like the jet, and retentive like the diamond: they dally in the delight of fair objects, till gazing on the panther's beautiful skin, repenting experience tell them he hath a devouring paunch.' "Come on " (quoth Ganymede) "this sermon of yours is but a subtilty to lie still abed, because either you think the morning cold, or else, I being gone, you would steal a nap: this shift carries no palm, and therefore up and away. And, for love, let me alone, I'll whip him away with nettles, and set disdain as a charm to withstand his forces and therefore look you to yourself, be not too bold, for Venus can make you bend ; nor too coy, for Cupid hath a piercing dart, that will make you cry peccavi.” "And that is it" (quoth Aliena) "that hath raised you so early this morning." And with that she slipped on her petticoat, and start up: and as soon as she had made her ready, and taken her breakfast, away go these two with their bag and bottles to the field, in more pleasant content of mind, than ever they were in the court of Torismond.

(From the Same.)