t fair, on
her I fed mine eye, but as charily as the bee, that as soon as she
hath sucked honey from the rose, flies straight to the next marigold.
Living thus at mine own list, I wondered at such as were in love, and
when I read their passions, I took them only for poems that flowed
from the quickness of the wit, not the sorrows of the heart. But now,
fair nymph, since I became a forester, Love hath taught me such a
lesson that I must confess his deity and dignity, and say as there is
nothing so precious as beauty, so there is nothing more piercing than
fancy. For since first I arrived at this place, and mine eye took a
curious survey of your excellence, I have been so fettered with your
beauty and virtue, as, sweet Aliena, Saladyne without further
circumstance loves Aliena. I could paint out my desires with long
ambages[1]; but seeing in many words lies mistrust, and that truth is
ever naked, let this suffice for a country wooing, Saladyne loves
Aliena, and none but Aliena."

[Footnote 1: indirect modes of speech.]

Although these words were most heavenly harmony in the ears of the
shepherdess, yet to seem coy at the first courting, and to disdain
love howsoever she desired love, she made this reply:

"Ah, Saladyne, though I seem simple, yet I am more subtle than to
swallow the hook because it hath a painted bait: as men are wily so
women are wary, especially if they have that wit by others' harms to
beware. Do we not know, Saladyne, men's tongues are like Mercury's
pipe, that can enchant Argus with an hundred eyes, and their words as
prejudicial as the charms of Circes, that transform men into monsters.
If such Sirens sing, we poor women had need stop our ears, lest in
hearing we prove so foolish hardy as to believe them, and so perish in
trusting much and suspecting little. Saladyne, _piscator ictus sapit_,
he that hath been once poisoned and afterwards fears not to bowse[1]
of every potion, is worthy to suffer double penance. Give me leave
then to mistrust, though I do not condemn. Saladyne is now in love
with Aliena, he a gentleman of great parentage, she a shepherdess of
mean parents; he honorable and she poor? Can love consist of
contrarieties? Will the falcon perch with the kestrel[2], the lion
harbor with the wolf? Will Venus join robes and rags together, or can
there be a sympathy between a king and a beggar? Then, Saladyne, how
can I believe thee that love should unite our thoughts, when fortune
hath set