Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/26

ſhalbe here celebrated. This ſonne of mine (while the Prince kept his Court) was of his bed chamber; now ſince the breaking vp thereof, returned home, and ſhewed me (among other things he had gathered) the copie which hee had taken of a letter: which when the Prince had read, he had laid in a windowe, preſuming no body durſt looke in his writings: but my ſonne not only tooke a time to reade it, but to copie it. In truth I blamed Clitophon for the curioſitie, which made him breake his dutie in ſuch a kind, whereby kings ſecrets are ſubiect to be reuealed: but ſince it was done, I was content to take ſo much profite, as to know it. Now here is the letter, that I euer ſince for my good liking, haue caried about me: which before I reade vnto you, I muſt tell you from whom it came. It is a noble-man of this countrie, named Philanax, appointed by the Prince, regent in this time of his retiring, & most worthy ſo to be: for, there liues no man, whoſe excellent witte more ſimplye imbraceth integritie, beſides his vnfained loue to his maiſter, wherein neuer yet any could make queſtion, ſauing whether he loued Baſilius or the Prince better: a rare temper, while moſt men either ſeruile-ly yeeld to all appetites, or with an obſtinate auſteritie looking to that they fancie good, in effect neglect the Princes perſon. This then being the man, whome of all other (and moſt worthie) the Prince chiefely loues, it ſhould ſeeme (for more then the letter I haue not to gheſſe by) that the Prince vpon his returne from Delphos, (Philanax then lying ſick) had written vnto him his determination, riſing (as euidently appeares) vpon ſome Oracle he had there receiued: whereunto he wrote this anſwere.

Moſt redoubted and beloued Prince, if as well it had pleaſed you at your going to Delphos as now, to haue vſed my humble ſeruice, both I ſhould in better ſeaſon, and to better purpoſe haue ſpoken: and you (if my ſpeech had preuailed) ſhould haue been at this time, as no way more in danger, ſo much more in quietnes; I would then haue ſaide, that wiſedome and vertue be the onely deſtinies appointed to man to follow, whence we ought to ſeeke all our knowledge, ſince they be ſuch guides as cannot faile; which, beſides their inward comfort, do leade ſo direct a way of proceeding, as either proſperitie muſt enſue; or, if the wickedneſſe of the world ſhould oppreſſe it, it can neuer be ſaid, that euil happeneth to him, who falles accompanied with vertue: I would then haue ſaid, the heauenly powers to be reuerenced, and not ſerched into; & their mercies rather by praiers to be ſought, then their hidden counſels by curioſitie. Theſe kindes of ſoothſayings (ſince they haue left vs in our ſelues ſufficient guides) to be nothing but fancie, wherein there muſt either be vanitie, or infalliblenes, & ſo, either not to be reſpected, or not to be preuented. But ſince it is weakeneſſe to much to remember what ſhould haue beene done, and that your commaundement ſtretcheth to know what is to be done, I do (moſt deare Lord) with humble boldnes ſay, that the manner of your determination doth in no ſort better pleaſe me, then the cauſe of your going. Theſe thirtie yeares you haue ſo gouerned this Region, that neither your Subiects haue wanted iuſtice in you, nor you obedience in them; and your neighbours haue found you ſo hurtelſly ſtrong, that they thought it better to reſt in your friendſhip, then make new trial of your enmitie. If this then haue proceeded out of the good conſtitution of your ſtate, and out of a wiſe prouidence, generally to preuent all thoſe things, which might encomber your happines: why ſhould you now ſeeke new courſes, ſince your own example comforts you to continue, & that it is to me moſt certaine