Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/31

ſuch a man was (and I hope is) Argalus, as hardly the niceſt eye can find a ſpot in, if the ouer-vehemēt conſtancy of yet ſpotleſſe affection, may not in hard wreſted conſtructions be counted a ſpot: which in this manner began that worke in him, which hath made both him, and it ſelfe in him ouer all this countrey famous. My maiſters ſonne Clitophon (whoſe loſſe giues the cauſe to this diſcourſe, & yet giues me cauſe to begin with Argalus, ſince his loſſe proceeds from Argalus) being a young Gentleman, as of great birth (being our kings ſiſters ſonne) ſo truly of good nature, and one that can ſee good and loue it, haunted more the companie of this worthy Argalus, then of any other: ſo as if there were not a friendſhip (which is ſo rare, as it is to be doubted whether it be a thing indeed, or but a word) at leaſt there was ſuch a liking and friendlineſſe, as hath brought forth the effects which you ſhall heare. About two yeares ſince, it ſo fell out, that hee brought him to a great Ladies houſe, ſiſter to my maiſter, who had with her her onelie daughter, the faire Parthenia; faire indeed (fame I think it ſelfe daring not to call anie fairer, if it be not Helena Queene of Corinth, & the two incomparable ſiſters of Arcadia) & that which made her faireneſſe much the fairer, was, that it was but a faire Embaſſadour of a moſt faire mind, full of wit, and a wit which delighted more to iudge it ſelfe, then to ſhew it ſelfe: her ſpeech being as rare as precious; her ſilence without ſullenneſſe; her modeſtie without affectation; her ſhamefaſtneſſe without ignorance: in ſumme, one that to praiſe well, one muſt firſt ſet downe with himſelfe, what it is to be excellent: for ſo ſhe is.

I thinke you think, that theſe prefections meeting, could not chooſe but find one another, and delight in that they found; for likeneſſe of maners is likely in reaſon to draw liking with affection: mens actions do not alwaies croſſe with reaſon: to be ſhort, it did ſo indeed. They loued, although for a while the fire thereof (hopes wings being cut off) were blowne by the bellowes of diſpaire vpon this occaſion.

There had bene a good while before, & ſo continued, a ſuter to this ſame Ladie, a great noble man, though of Laconia, yet neare neighbour to Parthenias mother, named Demagoras: a man mighty in riches & power, and proud thereof, ſtubbornlie ſtout, louing no body but himſelfe, and for his owne delights ſake Parthenia: & purſuing vehemētlie his deſire, his riches had ſo guilded ouer al his other imperfectiōs, that the olde Lady (though contrarie to my Lord her brothers mind) had giuen her conſent; & vſing a mothers authority vpon her faire daughter, had made her yeeld thereunto, not becauſe ſhe liked her choiſe, but becauſe her obedient mind had not yet taken vpon it to make choiſe; & the day of their aſſurance drew neare, when my young Lord Clitophon brought this noble Argalus, perchance principallie to ſee ſo rare a ſight, as Parthenia by all well iudging eyes was iudged.

But though few dayes were before the time of aſſurance appointed, yet loue that ſaw he had a great iourney to make in ſhort time, haſted to himſelfe, that before her word could tie her to Demagoras, her heart hath vowed her to Argalus, with ſo gratefull a receipt in mutuall affection, that if ſhe deſired aboue all things to haue Argalus, Argalus feared nothing but to miſſe Parthenia. And now Parthenia had learned both liking and miſliking, louing and loathing, and out of paſſion began to take the authoritie of iudgment; in ſo much, that when the time came that Demagoras (full of proud ioy) thought to receiue the gift of her ſelfe, ſhe with words of reſolute refuſal (though with teares ſhewing ſhe was ſorie ſhe muſt refuſe) aſſured her mother, ſhe would firſt be bedded in her graue, then wedded to Demagoras. The chaunge was no more ſtraunge, then vnpleaſant to the mother: who