Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/18

ſea, than to abide the hot crueltie of the fire: and that therefore though they both had abandoned the ship, that he was (if any where) in that courſe to be met withall. They ſteared therefore as neare thither-ward as they could: but when they came ſo near as their eies were ful maſters of the obiect, they ſaw a ſight ful of piteous ſtrageneſſe: a ſip, or rather the carkas of the ſhip, or rather ſome few bones of the carkas, hulling there, part broken, part burned, part drowned: death hauing vſed more than one dart to that deſtruction. About it floted great ſtore of very rich things, and many cheſtes which might promiſe no leſſe. And amidſt the precious things were a number of dead bodies, which likewiſe did not only teſtifie both elements violence, but that the chiefe violence was growne of humane inhumanity: for their bodies were full of griſly wounds, and their bloud had (as it were) filled the wrinkles of the ſeas viſage: which it ſeemed the ſea would not waſh away, that it might witneſſe it is not alwaies his fault, when we condemne his crueltie. In ſumme, a defeate, where the conquered kept both field and ſpoile: a ſhipwrack without ſtorme or ill footing and a waſt of fire in the midſt of the water.

But a little way off they ſaw the maſt, whoſe proude height now lay along; like a widdow hauing loſt her make of whom ſhe held her honour: but vpon the maſt they ſaw a yong man (at leaſt if hee were a man) bearing ſhew of about 18. yeares of age, who ſate (as on horſebacke) hauing nothing vpon him but his ſhirt, which being wrought with blew ſilke and gold; had a kind of reſemblance to the ſea: on which the ſun (then neare his Weſterne home) did ſhoote ſome of his beames. His haire (which the young man of Greece vſed to weare very long) was ſtirred vp and downe with the wind, which ſeemed to haue a ſport to play with it, as the ſea had to kiſſe his feete; himſelfe full of admirable beautie, ſet foorth by the ſtrangeneſſe both of his ſeate and geſture: for, holding his head vp full of vnmoued maieſtie, he held a ſword aloft with his faire arme, which often he waued about his crowne, as though he wold threaten the world in that extremitie. But the fiſhermen, when they came ſo neare him, that it was time to throwe out a rope, by which hold they might draw him, their ſimplicity bred ſuch amaſement, and their amaſement ſuch ſuperſtition, that (aſſuredly thinking it was ſome God begotten between Neptune & Venus, that had made all this terrible ſlaughter) as they went vnder ſaile by him, held vp their hands and made their praiers. Which when Muſidorus ſaw, though he were almoſt as much rauiſhed with ioy, as they with aſtoniſhment, he leapt to the Mariner, and tooke the cord out of his hand and (ſaying, doeſt thou liue, and art well? who anſwered, thou canſt tell beſt, ſince moſt of my well being ſtands in thee,) threwe it out, but alreadie the ſhippe was paſt beyond Pyrocles: and therefore Muſidorus could do no more but perſwade the Mariners to caſt about againe, aſſuring them that he was but a man, although of moſt deuine excellencies, and promiſing great rewards for their paine.

And now they were alreadie come vpon the ſtaies; when one of the ſailers deſcried a Galley which came with ſailes and oares directly in the chaſe of them; and ſtreight perceiued it was a wel knowne Pirate, who unted not only for goods but for bodies of men, which he emploied either to be his Galley ſlaues, or to ſell at the beſt market. Which when the Maiſter vnderſtood, he commaunded foorthwith to ſet on all the canuaſſe they could, and flie homeward, leauing in that ſort poore Pyrocles ſo neare to be reſcued. But what did not Muſidorus ſaie? what did he not offer to perſwade them to venture the fight? But feare ſtanding at the gates of their eares, put backe all perſwaſions: ſo that he had nothing wherewith to accompaniePyrocles,