Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/19

Pyrocles, but his eyes; nor to ſuccour him, but his wiſhes. Therefore praying for him, and caſting a long looke that way, he ſaw the Galley leaue the purſuite of them, and turne to take vp the ſpoiles of the other wracke: and laſtly he might well ſee them lift vp the young man; and alas (ſaid hee to himſelfe) deare Pyrocles ſhall that body of thine be enchained? ſhal thoſe victorious hads of thine be comanded to baſe offices? ſhal vertue become a ſlaue to thoſe that be ſlaues to viciouſneſſe? Alas, better had it bin thou hadſt ended nobly thy noble daies: what death is ſo euil as vnworthy ſerutitude? But that opinion ſoone ceaſed, when he ſaw the gallie ſetting vpon another ſhippe, which held long and ſtrong fight with her: for then he began afreſh to feare the life of his friend, & to wiſh well to the Pirates whom before he hated, leaſt in their ruine he might periſh. But the fiſhermen made ſuch ſpeede into the hauen, that they abſented his eyes from beholding the iſſue: where being entred, he could procure neither them nor any other as then to put themſelues into the ſea: ſo that being as ful of ſorrow for being vnable to do any thing, as voide of counſell how to do anything, beſides, that ſickneſſe grew ſomething vpon him, the honeſt ſhepheards Strephon & Claius (who being themſelues true friends, did the more perfectly iudge the iuſtneſſe of his ſorrow) aduiſe him, that he ſhould mitigate ſomwhat of his woe, ſince he had gotten an amendment in fortune, being come from aſſured perſwaſion of his death, to haue no cauſe to diſpaire of his life: as one that had lamented the death of his ſheepe, ſhould after know they were but ſtraied, would receiue pleaſure though readily he knew not where to find them.

Now ſir (ſaid they) thus for our ſelues it is; We are in profeſſion but ſhepheards, and in this countrie of Laconia little better than ſtraungers, and therefore neither in skill, nor ability of power greatly to ſtead you. But what we can preſent vnto you is this: Arcadia, of which countrie we are, is but a little way hence; and euen vpon the next confines there dwelleth a Gentleman, by name Kalander, who vounchſafeth much fauour vnto vs: A man who for his hoſpitalitie is ſo much haunted, that no newes ſtirre, but comes to his eares; for his vpright dealing ſo beloued of his neighbours, that he hath many euer readie to doe him their vttermoſt ſeruice, and by the great good will our Prince beares him, may ſoone obtaine the vſe of his name and credit, which hath a principall ſwaie, not onely in his owne Arcadia, but in all theſe countries of Peloponneſus: & (which is worth all) all theſe things giue him not ſo much power, as his nature giues him will to benefit: ſo that it ſeemes no Muſick is ſo ſweet to his eare as feſerued thanks. To him we will bring you, & there you may recouer againe your health, without which you cannot be able to make any diligent ſearch for your friend: and therefore you muſt labour for it Beſides, we are ſure the comfort of curteſie, and eaſe of wiſe counſell ſhall not be wanting.

Muſidorus (who beſides he was meerly vnacquainted in the countrie, had his wits aſtoniſhed with ſorrow) gaue eaſie conſent to that, from which hee ſaw no reaſon to diſagree: and therefore (defraying the Mariners with a ring beſtowed vpon them) they tooke their iourney together through Loconia; Laius and Strephon by courſe carying his cheſt for him, Muſidorus only bearing in his countenance euident markes of a ſorrowful mind ſupported with a weake bodie, which they perceiuing, and knowing that the violence of ſorrow is not at the firſt to be ſtriuen withall: (being like a mighty beaſt, ſooner tamed with following, than ouerthrowne by withſtanding) they gaue way vnto it for that day and the next; neuer troubling him, either with asking queſtions, or finding fault with his melancholie, but rather fitting to his dolor dolorous diſcourſes of their owne and other folks misfortune. Which