Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/30

Helots: who winning the victorie, he was there made priſoner, going to deliuer a friend of his taken priſoner by the Helots; there the poore young Gentleman had offered great ranſome for his life; but that the hate thoſe peaſants conceiued againſt all Gentlemen was ſuch, that euery houre he was to look for nothing, but ſome cruell death: which hitherunto had only bene delayed by the Captaines vehement dealing for him, who ſeemed to haue a heart of more manly pitie then the reſt. VVhich loſſe hat ſtricken the old Gentleman with ſuch ſorrow, as if abundance of teares did not ſeeme ſufficiently to witneſſe it, he was alone retired, tearing his beard and haire, and curſing his old age, that had not made his graue to ſtop his eares from ſuch aduertiſements: but that his faithfull ſeruants had written in his name to all his friends followers, and tenants (Philanax the gouernour refuſing to deale in it as a priuate cauſe, but yet giuing leaue to ſeeke their beſt redreſſe, ſo as they wronged not the ſtate of Lacedæmon) of whom there were now gathered vpon the frontiers good forces, that he was ſure would ſpend their liues by any way, to redeeme or reuenge Clitophon. Now ſir (ſaid he) this is my maiſters nature, though his griefe be ſuch, as to liue is a griefe vnto him, and that euen his reaſon is darkened with ſorrow; yet the lawes of hoſpitalitie (long and holily obſerued by him) giue ſtill ſuch a ſway to his proceeding, that he will no way ſuffer the ſtraunger lodged vnder his roofe, to receiue (as it were) any infection of his anguiſh, eſpecially you, toward whom I know not whether his loue, or admiration be greater. But Palladius could ſcarce heare out his tale with patience, ſo was his heart torne in peeces with compaſſion of the caſe, liking of Kalanders noble behauiour, kindneſſe for his reſpect to himward, and deſire to find ſome remedie, beſides the image of his deareſt friend Daiphantus, whom he iudged to ſuffer either a like or worſe fortune. Therfore riſing from the boord, he deſired the ſteward to tell him particularly, the ground & euent of this accident, becauſe by knowledge of many circumſtances, there might perhaps ſome way of help be opened. Wherunto the ſteward eaſily in this ſort condiſcended.

My Lord (ſaid he) when our good King Baſilius, with better ſucceſſe then expectation, took to wife (euen in his more then decaying yeares) the faire young Princeſſe Gynecia; there came with her a yong Lord, couſin german to her ſelfe, named Argalus, led hither, partly with the loue and honour of his noble kinſwoman, partly with the humour of youth, which euer thinks that good, whoſe goodneſſe he ſees not: & in this court he receiued ſo good increaſe of knowledge, that after ſome years ſpent, he ſo manifeſted a moſt vertuous mind in all his actions, that Arcadia gloried such a plant was tranſported vnto them, being a Gentleman indeed moſt rarely accompliſhed, excellently learned, but without all vaine glorie: friendly, without factiouſneſſe; valient, ſo as for my part, I think the earth hath no man that hath done more heroicall acts then he; howſoeuer now of late the fame flies of the two Princes of Theſſalia and Macedon, and hath long done of our noble Prince Amphialus; who indeed, in our parts is onely accounted likely to match him: but I ſay for my part, I thinke no man for valour of mind, and abilitie of body to be preferred, if equalled to Argalus; and yet ſo valiant as he neuer durſt do any body iniurie: in behauiour ſome will ſay euer ſad, ſurely ſober, and ſomewhat giuen to muſing, but neuer vncurteous; his word euer led by his thought, and followed by his deed; rather liberall then magnificent, though the one wanted not, and the other had euer good choiſe of the receiuer: in ſumme (for I perciue I ſhall eaſilie take a great draught of his praiſes, whom both I and all this countrie loue ſo well)ſuch