33

MONTANUS' SECOND SONNET

499When the Dog,
Full of rage,
With his ireful eyes
Frowns amidst the skies,
The shepherd, to assuage
The fury of the heat,
Himself doth safely seat
By a fount
Full of fair,
Where a gentle breath,
Mounting from beneath,
Tempereth the air.
There his flocks
Drink their fill,
And with ease repose,
Whilst sweet sleep doth close
Eyes from toilsome ill.500But I burn
Without rest.
No defensive power
Shields from Phoebe's lour;
Sorrow is my best.501Gentle Love,
Lour no more!
If thou wilt invade
In the secret shade,
Labor not so sore.502I myself
And my flocks,
They their love to please,
I myself to ease,
Both leave the shady oaks,
Content to burn in fire,
Sith Love doth so desire.503 Et florida pungunt.

504Gerismond, seeing the pithy vein of those sonnets, began to make further inquiry what he was. Whereupon Rosader discoursed unto him the love of Montanus to Phoebe, his great loyalty and her deep cruelty, and how in revenge the gods had made the curious nymph amorous of young Ganymede. Upon this discourse the King was desirous to see Phoebe, who, being brought before Gerismond by Rosader, shadowed the beauty of her face with such a vermilion teinture, that the King's eyes began to dazzle at the purity of her excellence. After Gerismond had fed his looks awhile upon her fair, he questioned with her why she rewarded Montanus' love with so little regard, seeing his deserts were many and his passions extreme. Phoebe, to make reply to the King's demand, answered thus:

505"Love, sir, is chary in his laws, and whatsoever he sets down for justice, be it never so unjust, the sentence cannot be reversed. Women's fancies lend favors not ever by desert, but as they are enforced by their desires; for fancy is tied to the wings of fate, and what the stars decree stands for an infallible doom. I know Montanus is wise, and women's ears are greatly delighted with wit, as hardly escaping the charm of a pleasant tongue, as Ulysses the melody of the Sirens. Montanus is beautiful, and women's eyes are snared in the excellence of objects, as desirous to feed their looks with a fair face as the bee to suck on a sweet flower. Montanus is wealthy, and an ounce of give me persuades a woman more than a pound of 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."

506Gerismond, 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 Rosalind, and with that fetched a deep sigh. Rosader, that was passing familiar with Gerismond, demanded of him why he sighed so sore.

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

508At this word Rosader sighed so deeply as though his heart would have burst.

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

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

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

512At 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:

513"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 suppress Phoebe's love towards me, she shall like of none but of Montanus."

514"To that," quoth Phoebe, "I stand; for my love is so far beyond reason as will admit no persuasion of reason."

515"For justice," quoth he, "I appeal to Gerismond."

516"And to his censure will I stand," quoth Phoebe.

517"And in your victory," quoth Montanus, "stands the hazard of my fortunes; for if Ganymede go away with conquest, Montanus is in conceit love's monarch; if Phoebe win, then am I in effect most miserable."

518"We will see this controversy," quoth Gerismond, "and then we will to church. Therefore, Ganymede, let us hear your argument."

519"Nay, pardon my absence a while," quoth she, "and you shall see one in store."

520In went Ganymede and dressed herself in woman's attire, having on a gown of green, with kirtle of rich sendal so quaint that she seemed Diana triumphing in the forest; upon her head she wore a chaplet of roses, which gave her such a grace that she looked like Flora perked in the pride of all her flowers. Thus attired came Rosalind in and presented herself at her father's feet, with her eyes full of tears, craving his blessing and discoursing unto him all her fortunes, how she was banished by Torismond, and how ever since she lived in that country disguised.

521Gerismond, seeing his daughter, rose from his seat and fell upon her neck, uttering the passions of his joy in watery plaints, driven into such an ecstasy of content that he could not utter one word. At this sight, if Rosader was both amazed and joyful, I refer myself to the judgment of such as have experience in love, seeing his Rosalind before his face whom so long and deeply he had affected. At last Gerismond recovered his spirits, and in most fatherly terms entertained his daughter Rosalind, after many questions demanding of her what had passed between her and Rosader?

522"So much, sir," quoth she, "as there wants nothing but your grace to make up the marriage."

523"Why, then," quoth Gerismond, "Rosader, take her. She is thine, and let this day solemnize both thy brother's and thy nuptials." Rosader, beyond measure content, humbly thanked the King and embraced his Rosalind, who, turning to Phoebe, demanded if she had shown sufficient reason to suppress the force of her loves.

524"Yea," quoth Phoebe, "and so great a persuasive that, please it you, madam, and Aliena to give us leave, Montanus and I will make this day the third couple in marriage."

525She had no sooner spake this word but Montanus threw away his garland of willow, his bottle, where was painted despair, and cast his sonnets in the fire, showing himself as frolic as Paris when he handseled his love with Helena. At this Gerismond and the rest smiled and concluded that Montanus and Phoebe should keep their wedding with the two brethren. Aliena, seeing Saladin stand in a dump, to wake him from his dream began thus:

526"Why, how now, my Saladin, all amort? What, melancholy, man, at the day of marriage? Perchance thou art sorrowful to think on thy brother's high fortunes and thine own base desires to choose so mean a shepherdess. Cheer up thy heart, man, for this day thou shalt be married to the daughter of a king. For know, Saladin, I am not Aliena, but Alinda, the daughter of thy mortal enemy Torismond."

527At this all the company was amazed, especially Gerismond, who, rising up, took Alinda in his arms, and said to Rosalind: "Is this that fair Alinda, famous for so many virtues, that forsook her father's court to live with thee exiled in the country?"

528"The same," quoth Rosalind.

529"Then," quoth Gerismond, turning to Saladin, "jolly forester, be frolic, for thy fortunes are great and thy desires excellent. Thou hast got a princess as famous for her perfection as exceeding in proportion."

530"And she hath with her beauty won," quoth Saladin, "an humble servant, as full of faith as she of amiable favor."

531While everyone was amazed with these comical events, Corydon came skipping in and told them that the priest was at church and tarried for their coming. With that, Gerismond led the way and the rest followed, where, to the admiration of all the country swains in Arden, their marriages were solemnly solemnized. As soon as the priest had finished, home they went with Alinda, where Corydon had made all things in readiness. Dinner was provided, and, the tables being spread and the brides set down by Gerismond, Rosader, Saladin, and Montanus that day were servitors. Homely cheer they had, such as their country could afford, but, to mend their fare, they had mickle good chat and many discourses of their loves and fortunes. About mid-dinner, to make them merry, Corydon came in with an old crowd and played them a fit of mirth, to which he sung this pleasant song: