The Strife of Love in a Dream

melted, rushing down from the mountains, which seemed to be not at all far away, because they were all draped in the white tapestry of the God Pan The snow on the mountains is poetically described as the clothing of Pan, the god of the wild and nature.. I had indeed reached this river several times during my flight through the forest, but where I had been unable to perceive it because the place was dark, for one could only see the sky through the tips of the trees: a thing which rendered this place very venerable and terrifying to a man alone and lost, and without means to pass beyond, for there was neither bridge nor plank. Furthermore, the other side appeared more obscure and gloomy than that where I then was, so that it was a great horror to me to hear the whistling and roaring of the tumbling trees, with the thunder of branches beaten down and shattered, intermingled with a stunning and horrible noise, which made me tremble for a half-hour after the blow. When I had escaped from all these afflictions, and I desired to taste of this sweet water,

to approach, I placed both knees on the ground upon the bank of the fountain: and from the hollow of my two hands I made a vessel which I filled with this liquor. But as I intended to bring it to my mouth to quench my burning thirst, I heard a song so powerfully melodious that it exceeds the power and the knowledge to declare it: for the sweetness of this harmony gave me much more delight than the drink which was stayed from me, so much so that I lost my senses, thirst, and understanding: and as if I had been overwhelmed, the water that I had already drawn spilled out through the gaps between my fingers, so much did I find myself destitute of strength. Now, like the fish which by the sweetness of the bait does not consider the fraud of the hook that it covers: I put behind me my natural need, and went away in great haste after that inhuman voice original: "voix inhumaine" — likely meaning a voice not of human origin, such as a nymph or spirit.: to which, when by reason I thought I ought to approach,

approach, I heard it in another place: and when I had come there, it seemed to have leaped elsewhere: and as it changed place, the more melodious it seemed to become. Now after I had long run in this labor in vain and frivolity, I felt myself so weak that I could hardly sustain this body, as much because of the past fear and the great crushing still then, as for the long and tedious wandering in the sharp heat of the day, which had debilitated my manly virtue In this context, "virtue" refers to physical strength or life force. so well that I desired nothing other than rest, to refresh my weary limbs. Thus being marveled at what had happened to me, and very astonished by this voice, but much more to find myself in an unknown region, and without cultivation, nevertheless quite beautiful and pleasant, I complained greatly of having approached the beautiful fountain, which was the cause and origin of the great labor of my body: and remaining weakened by the great labor, I threw myself upon the grass, at the foot of a very ancient Oak, which cast shade upon a green meadow.

There I let myself fall upon my left side, like the hunted and exhausted stag who rests his head upon his spine, and falls upon both knees. Then lying in this manner, I considered within myself the variable mutations of fortune: and I remembered the enchantments of Circe The sorceress from Homer's Odyssey who turned men into beasts., and others like her, weighing whether I was not enchanted. Alas, I said, how shall I be able here among so many different herbs to find Moly the mercurial A mythical herb given by Hermes (Mercury) to Odysseus to protect him against Circe's magic., with its black root, for my refuge and medicine? Then I thought, it is not that: but what is it then?
A iij Printer's signature mark for the third leaf of the first quire.