_hear
me_. Danae was won with a golden shower, when she could not be gotten
with all the entreaties of Jupiter: I tell you, sir, the string of a
woman's heart reacheth to the pulse of her hand; and let a man rub
that with gold, and 't is hard but she will prove his heart's gold.
Montanus is young, a great clause in fancy's court; Montanus is
virtuous, the richest argument that love yields; and yet knowing all
these perfections, I praise them and wonder at them, loving the
qualities, but not affecting the person, because the destinies have
set down a contrary censure. Yet Venus, to add revenge, hath given me
wine of the same grape, a sip of the same sauce, and firing me with
the like passion, hath crossed me with as ill a penance; for I am in
love with a shepherd's swain, as coy to me as I am cruel to Montanus,
as peremptory in disdain as I was perverse in desire; and that is,"
quoth she, "Aliena's page, young Ganymede."

Gerismond, desirous to prosecute the end of these passions, called in
Ganymede, who, knowing the case, came in graced with such a blush, as
beautified the crystal of his face with a ruddy brightness. The king
noting well the physnomy of Ganymede, began by his favors to call to
mind the face of his Rosalynde, and with that fetched a deep sigh.
Rosader, that was passing familiar with Gerismond, demanded of him why
he sighed so sore.

"Because Rosader," quoth he, "the favor of Ganymede puts me in mind of
Rosalynde."

At this word Rosader sighed so deeply, as though his heart would have
burst.

"And what's the matter," quoth Gerismond, "that you quite me with such
a sigh?"

"Pardon me, sir," quoth Rosader, "because I love none but Rosalynde."

"And upon that condition," quoth Gerismond, "that Rosalynde were here,
I would this day make up a marriage betwixt her and thee."

At this Aliena turned her head and smiled upon Ganymede, and she could
scarce keep countenance. Yet she salved all with secrecy; and
Gerismond, to drive away his dumps, questioned with Ganymede, what the
reason was he regarded not Phoebe's love, seeing she was as fair as
the wanton that brought Troy to ruin. Ganymede mildly answered:

"If I should affect the fair Phoebe, I should offer poor Montanus
great wrong to win that from him in a moment, that he hath labored for
so many months. Yet have I promised to the beautiful shepherdess to
wed myself never to woman except unto her; but with this promise, that
if I can by reason sup