Together with this Timbrio counselled his friend to be content that Blanca was to have him, choosing her and accepting her as wife, since he already knew her and was not ignorant of her worth and modesty; and he dwelt on the joy and pleasure they both would have seeing themselves wedded to two such sisters. Silerio asked him in reply to give him time to think about this action, though he knew that in the end it was impossible not to do what he bade him. At this moment the white dawn was already beginning to give tokens of its new approach, and the stars were gradually hiding their brightness; and at this point there came to the ears of all the voice of the love-sick Lauso, who, as his friend Damon had known that they must needs spend that night in Silerio's hermitage, wished to be with him, and with the other shepherds. And as it was all his pleasure and pastime to sing to the sound of his rebeck the prosperous or adverse issue of his love, carried away by his mood, and invited by the solitude of the road and by the delicious harmony of the birds, who were already beginning to greet the coming day with their sweet concerted song, he came singing in a low voice verses such as these: LAUSO. I lift my gaze unto the noblest part That can be fancied by the loving thought, Where I behold the worth, admire the art That hath the loftiest mind to rapture brought; But if ye fain would learn what was the part That my free neck within its fierce yoke caught, That made me captive, claims me as its prize, Mine eyes it is, Silena, and thine eyes. Thine eyes it is, from whose clear light I gain The light that unto Heaven guideth me, Of the celestial light a token plain, Light that abhorreth all obscurity; It makes the fire, the yoke, and e'en the chain, That burns me, burdens, and afflicts, to be Relief and comfort to the soul, a Heaven Unto the life the soul hath to thee given. Oh eyes divine! my soul's joy and delight, The end and mark to which my wishes go, Eyes, that, if I see aught, have given me sight, Eyes that have made the murky day to glow; My anguish and my gladness in your light Love set; in you I contemplate and know The bitter, sweet, and yet the truthful story Of certain hell, of my uncertain glory. In darkness blind I walked, when I no more Was guided by your light, oh eyes so fair! No more I saw the heavens, but wandered o'er The world, 'midst thorns and brambles everywhere; But at the very moment when the power Of your bright clustered rays my soul laid bare, And touched it to the quick, I saw quite plain The path that leads to bliss, open and plain.