anatomize wit, and speak none but similes, imagined she smoothed
her talk to be thought like Sappho, Phaon's paramour.

The following passage could hardly be distinguished from the writings
of Lyly:

I had thought, Menaphon, that he which weareth the bay leaf had
been free from lightning, and the eagle's pen a preservative
against thunder; that labour had been enemy to love, and the
eschewing of idleness an antidote against fancy; but I see by
proof, there is no adamant so hard, but the blood of a goat will
make soft, no fort so well defended, but strong battery will entry,
nor any heart so pliant to restless labours, but enchantments of
love will overcome.

Melicertus addresses Samela, whom he finds feeding her flocks, in the
following terms:

Mistress of all eyes that glance but at the excellence of your
perfection, sovereign of all such as Venus hath allowed for lovers,
Oenone's over-match, Arcadia's comet, Beauty's second comfort,
all hail! Seeing you sit like Juno when she first watched her white
heifer on the Lincen downs, as bright as silver Phoebe mounted on
the high top of the ruddy element, I was, by a strange attractive
force, drawn, as the adamant draws this iron, or the jet the straw,
to visit your sweet self in the shade, and afford you such company
as a poor swain may yield without offense; which, if you shall
vouch to deign of, I shall be as glad of such accepted service, as
Paris was first of his best beloved paramour.