XXVIII.

That even I which daily do behold

The glory of the great, mongst whom I wonne ;
And now have prov'd, what happiness ye hold
In this fmall plot of your dominion,
Now loath great Lordship and ambition;
And with the heavens fo much had graced me,
As grant me live in like condition;

Or that my fortunes might tranfporsed be
From pitch of higher place, unto this low degree.
XXIX.

In vain, faid then old Meliba, do men

The heavens of their fortunes fault accufe ;
Sith they know beft, what is the best for them:
For they to each fuch fortune do diffuse,
As they do know each can moft aptly use.
For not that which men covet most, is best,

Nor that thing worft, which men do most refuse:
But fitteft is, that all contented reft

With that they hold: each hath his fortune in his breast.
XXX.

It is the mind that maketh good or ill,

That maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor:
For fome, that hath abundance at his will,
Hath not enough, but wants in greatest store;
And other, that hath little, asks no more,
But in that little is both rich and wife.
For wisdom is moft riches; Fools therefore
They are, which fortunes do by vows devise,
Sith each unto himself his life may fortunife.
XXXI.

Since then in each mans felf, faid Calidore,
It is, to fashion his own lifes eftate,
Give leave awhile, good Father, in this fhore
To reft my bark, which hath been beaten late
With ftorms of fortune and tempeftuous fate,
In feas of troubles and of toilfom pain;
That whether quite from them for to retrate
I shall refolve, or back to turn again,
may here with yourself fome fmall repofe obtain.

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XXXII.

Not that the burden of fo bold a guest
Shall chargeful be, or change to you at all;
For your mean food shall be my daily feast,
And this your cabin both my bowre and hall.
Befides, for recompence hereof, I fhall
You well reward, and golden guerdon give,
That may perhaps you better much withall,
And in this quiet make you fafer live.

So forth he drew much gold, and toward him it drive.
XXXIII.

But the good man, nought tempted with the offer,
Of his rich mould, did thruft it far away,

And thus befpake, Sir Knight, your bounteous proffer
Be far from me, to whom ye ill difplay

That mucky mafs, the cause of mens decay,
That mote empair my peace with dangers dread.
But if ye algates covet to affay

This fimple fort of life, that Shepherds lead,
Be it your own : our rudeness to your felf aread.
XXXIV.

So there that night Sir Calidore did dwell,

And long while after, whilft him list remain,
Daily beholding the fair Paftorell,

And feeding on the bait of his own bane.
During which time, he did her entertain
With all kind courtefies, he could invent;
And every day her company to gain,

When to the field she went, he with her went :
So for to quench his fire, he did it more augment.
XXXV.

But fhe that never had acquainted been

With fuch queint ufage, fit for Queens and Kings,
Ne ever had fuch knightly fervice feen

(But being bred under bafe Shepherds wings,
Had ever learn'd to love the lowly things)
Did little whit regard his courteous guise:
But cared more for Colins carolings
Than all that he could do, or ev'r devise :

His lays, his loves, his looks fhe did them all defpife.

XXXVI.

Which Calidore perceiving, thought it beft
To change the manner of his lofty look;
And doffing his bright arms, himself addrest
In fhepherds weed, and in his hand he took,
Inftead of fteel-head fpear, a Shepherds hook;
That who had feen him then, would have bethought
On Phrygian Paris by Plexippus brook,

When he the love of fair Oenone fought,
What time the golden apple was unto him brought.
XXXVII.

So being clad, unto the fields he went
With the fair Paftorella every day,
And kept her sheep with diligent attent,
Watching to drive the ravenous Wolf away.
The whilst at pleasure fhe mote sport and play;
And every evening helping them to fold:
And otherwhiles for meed, he did affay

In his ftrong hand their rugged teats to hold,
And out of them to prefs the milk: Love fo much could.
XXXVIII.

Which feeing Coridon, who her likewife

Long time had lov'd, and hop'd her love to gain,
He much was troubled at that ftrangers guife,
And many jealous thoughts conceiv'd in vain,
That this of all his labour and long pain
Should reap the harvest, ere it ripen'd were;
That made him fcoul, and pout, and oft complain
Of Paftorell to all the Shepherds there,

That she did love a ftranger fwain than him more dear.
XXXIX.

And ever when he came in company,

Where Calidore was prefent, he would lour,
And bite his lip, and even for jealoufie
Was ready oft his own heart to devour,
Impatient of any Paramour:

Who on the other fide did feem fo far
From malicing, or grudging his good hour,
That all he could, he graced him with her,
Ne ever fhewed fign of rancour or of jarr.

XL.

And oft when Coridon unto her brought
Or little Sparrows, ftolen from their neft,
Or wanton Squirrels, in the woods far fought,
Or other dainty thing for her addreft;

He would commend his gift, and make the best!
Yet fhe no whit his prefents did regard,

Ne him could find to fancy in her breast:

This new-come Shepherd had his market mard.
Old love is little worth, when new is more prefer'd.
XLI.

One day whenas the Shepherd fwains together
Were met, to make their sports and merry glee,
As they are wont in fair fun-fhiny weather,
The whiles their flocks in fhadows fhrouded be,
They fell to dance: Then did they all agree,
That Colin Clout should pipe, as one moft fit;
And Calidore fhould lead the ring, as he
That most in Paftorellas grace did fit.
Thereat frown'd Coridon, and his lip closely bit.
XLII.

But Calidore, of courteous inclination,

Took Coridon, and fet him in his place,

That he should lead the dance, as was his fashion; For Coridon could dance, and trimly trace.

And whenas Paftorella, him to grace,

Her flowry girlond took from her own head,
And plac'd on his, he did it foon difplace,
And did it put on Coridons instead :

Then Coridon wox frolick, that earst seemed dead.
XLIII.

Another time, whenas they did dispose

To practice games, and maifteries to try, They for their Judge did Paftorella chofe; A girlond was the meed of victory. There Coridon, forth ftepping openly, Did challenge Calidore to wrestling game: For he through long and perfect industry, Therein well practis'd was, and in the fame [fhame. Thought fure t'avenge his grudge, and work his foe great

XLIV.

But Calidore he greatly did mistake;

For he was ftrong and mightily ftiff pight,
That with one fall his neck he almoft brake:
And had he not upon him fallen light,
His deareft joint he fure had broken quight.
Then was the oaken crown by Paftorel
Given to Calidore, as his due right;
But he that did in courtefie excell,
Gave it to Coridon, and faid he won it well.

XLV.

Thus did the gentle Knight himself abear
Amongst that ruftick rout in all his deeds,
That even they the which his rivals were,
Could not malign him, but commend him needs:
For courtefie amongst the rudeft breeds
Good will and favour. So it furely wrought
With this fair Maid, and in her mind the feeds
Of perfect love did fow, that laft forth brought
The fruit of joy and blifs, though long time dearly bought.
XLVI.

Thus Calidore continu'd there long time,
To win the love of the fair Paftorel;
Which having got, he ufed without crime
Or blameful blot; but menaged fo well,
That he of all the reft, which there did dwell,
Was favoured, and to her grace commended.
But what strange fortunes unto him befell,
Ere he attain'd the point by him intended,
Shall more conveniently in other place be ended.

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