mistress of herself and had no other thoughts, but such as might arise out of quiet senses. But the principal cause that invited her remembrance was a goodly white marble stone that should seem had been dedicated in ancient time to the Sylvan gods, which she finding there a few days before Zelmane’s coming, had written these words upon it as a testimony of her mind against the suspicion her captivity made her think she lived in. The writing was this. You living powers enclos’d in stately shrine Of growing trees: you rural Gods that wield Your scepters here, if to your ears divine A voice may come, which troubled soul doth yield; This vow receive, this vow, O Gods, maintain; My virgin life no spotted thought shall stain. Thou purest stone; whose pureness doth present My purest mind; whose temper hard doth show My temper’d heart; by thee my promise sent Unto myself let after-livers know, No fancy mine, nor others’ wrong suspect Make me, O virtuous shame, thy laws neglect. O chastity, the chief of heavenly lights, Which mak’st us most immortal shape to wear, Hold thou my heart, establish thou my sprites: To only thee my constant course I bear; ’Till spotless soul unto thy bosom fly. Such life to lead, such death I vow to die. {144} But now that her memory served as an accuser of her change, and that her own handwriting was there to bear testimony against her fall; she went in among those few trees, so closed in the tops together, that they might seem a little chapel: and there might she, by the help of the moon-light, perceive the goodly stone which served as an altar in that woody devotion. But neither the light was enough to read the words, and the ink was already foreworn, and in many places blotted, which as she perceived, “Alas!” said she, “fair marble, which never received’st spot but by my writing: well do these blots become a blotted writer. But pardon her which did not dissemble then, although she have changed since. Enjoy, enjoy the glory of thy nature, which can so constantly bear the marks of my inconstancy.” And herewith, hiding her eyes with her soft hand, there came into her head certain verses, which if she had had present commodity, she would have adjoined as a retraction to the other. They were to this effect. My words, in hope to blaze a stedfast mind, This marble chose, as of like tempter known: But lo, my words defac’d my fancies blind, Blots to the stone, shames to myself I find: And witness am, how ill agree in one, A woman’s hand with constant marble stone. My words full weak, the marble full of might; My words in store, the marble all alone; My words black ink, the marble kindly white; My words unseen, the marble still in sight, May witness bear, how ill agree in one, A woman’s hand with constant marble stone.