he that was
wounded with Achilles' lance be cured but with the same truncheon,[1]
so Apollo was fain to cry out that love was only eased with love, and
fancy healed by no medicine but favor. Phoebus had herbs to heal all
hurts but this passion; Circes had charms for all chances but for
affection, and Mercury subtle reasons to refel all griefs but love.
Persuasions are bootless, reason lends no remedy, counsel no comfort,
to such whom fancy hath made resolute; and therefore though Phoebe
loves Ganymede, yet Montanus must honor none but Phoebe."

[Footnote 1: spear.]

"Then," quoth Ganymede, "may I rightly term thee a despairing lover,
that livest without joy, and lovest without hope: but what shall I do,
Montanus, to pleasure thee? Shall I despise Phoebe, as she disdains
thee?"

"Oh," quoth Montanus, "that were to renew my griefs, and double my
sorrows; for the sight of her discontent were the censure[1] of my
death. Alas, Ganymede! though I perish in my thoughts, let not her die
in her desires. Of all passions, love is most impatient: then let not
so fair a creature as Phoebe sink under the burden of so deep a
distress. Being lovesick, she is proved heartsick, and all for the
beauty of Ganymede. Thy proportion hath entangled her affection, and
she is snared in the beauty of thy excellence. Then, sith she loves
thee so dear, mislike not her deadly. Be thou paramour to such a
paragon: she hath beauty to content thine eye, and flocks to enrich
thy store. Thou canst not wish for more than thou shalt win by her;
for she is beautiful, virtuous and wealthy, three deep persuasions to
make love frolic."

[Footnote 1: sentence.]

Aliena seeing Montanus cut it against the hair, and plead that
Ganymede ought to love Phoebe, when his only life was the love of
Phoebe, answered him thus:

"Why, Montanus, dost thou further this motion, seeing if Ganymede
marry Phoebe thy market is clean marred?"

"Ah, mistress," quoth he, "so hath love taught me to honor Phoebe,
that I would prejudice my life to pleasure her, and die in despair
rather than she should perish for want. It shall suffice me to see her
contented, and to feed mine eye on her favor. If she marry, though it
be my martyrdom, yet if she be pleased I will brook it with patience,
and triumph in mine own stars to see her desires satisfied. Therefore,
if Ganymede be as courteous as he is beautiful, let him show his
virtues in redressing Phoebe's miseries." And this Montan