I saw myself by bitter death embraced, When I was ill-informed by tidings ill; To the rude corsairs I became a prey. Cruel was the anguish, bitter was the taste Of sorrow, yet I know and prove that still Greater the joy is of this glad to-day. Galatea and Florisa were filled with wonder at the exquisite voice of the fair Nisida, who, as it seemed to her that Timbrio and those of his party had for the time taken the lead in singing, did not wish her sister to be without doing it; and so, without much pressing, with no less grace than Nisida, beckoning to Orfenio to play his flute, to its sound she sang in this wise: BLANCA. Just as if I in sandy Libya were Or in far frozen Scythia, I beheld Myself at times by glowing fire assailed That never cools, at times by chilly fear. But hope, that makes our sorrow disappear, Although such different semblances it bore, Kept my life safe, well-guarded by its power, When it was strong, when it was weak and drear, Spent was the fury of the winter's chill, And, though the fire of Love its power retained, Yet the spring came which I had longed to see. Now in one happy moment I have gained The sweet fruit long desirèd by my will With bounteous tokens of sincerity. Blanca's voice and what she sang pleased the shepherds no less than all the others they had heard. And when they were about to give proof that all the skill was not contained in the gentlemen of the court, and when Orompo, Crisio, Orfenio, and Marsilio, moved almost by one and the same thought, began to tune their instruments, they were forced to turn their heads by a noise they perceived behind them, which was caused by a shepherd who was furiously rushing through the thickets of the green wood. He was recognised by all as the love-sick Lauso, whereat Thyrsis marvelled, for the night before he had taken leave of him, saying that he was going on a business, to finish which meant to finish his grief, and to begin his pleasure; and without saying more to him had gone away with another shepherd his friend, nor did he know what could have happened to him now that he was journeying with so much haste. What Thyrsis said moved Damon to seek to call Lauso, and so he called to him to come; but seeing that he did not hear him, and that he was already with great haste disappearing behind a hill, he went forward with all speed, and from the top of another hill, called him again with louder cries. Lauso hearing them, and knowing who called him, could not but turn, and on coming up to Damon embraced him with tokens of strange content, and so great that the proof he gave of being happy made Damon marvel; and so he said to him: