Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/32

being determinately (leaſt I ſhould ſay of a great Lady wilfullie) bent to marie her to Demagoras, tried all wayes which a wittie and hard-hearted mother could vſe, vpon ſo humble a daughter; in whō the only reſiſting power was loue. But the more ſhe aſſaulted, the more ſhe taught Parthenia to defend; and the more Parthenia defended, the more ſhe made her mother obſtinate in the aſſault: who at length finding, that Argalus ſtanding betweene them, was it that moſt eclipſed her affection from ſhining vpon Demagoras, ſhe ſought all meanes how to remoue him, ſo much the more as she manifeſted himſelfe an vnremoueable ſuter to her daughter: firſt, by employing him in as many dangerous enterpriſes, as euer the euill ſtep-mother Iuno recommended to the famous Hercules: but the more his vertue was tried, the more pure it grew, while all the things ſhe did to ouerthrow him, did ſet him vp vpon the height of honour; enough to haue moued her heart, eſpecially to a man euerie way ſo worthie as Argalus: but ſhe ſtrugling againſt all reaſon, becauſe ſhe would haue her will, and ſhew her authoritie in matching her with Demagoras, the more vertuous Argalus was, the more ſhe hated him, thinking herſelfe conquered in his conqueſts, and therefore ſtill imploying him in more & more dangerous attempts: in the meane while, ſhe vſed all extremities poſſible vpon her faire daughter, to make her giue ouer her ſelfe to her direction. But it was hard to iudge, whether he in doing, or ſhe in ſuffring, ſhewed greater cōſtancy of affection: for, as to Argalus the world ſooner wanted occaſions, then he valour to go through them: ſo to Parthenia, malice ſooner ceaſed, then her vnchanged patience. Laſtly, by treaſons, Demagoras and ſhe would haue made away Argalus; but he with prouidence and courage ſo paſt ouer all, that the mother tooke ſuch a ſpitefull griefe at it, that her heart brake withall; and ſhe died.

But then, Demagoras assuring himſelfe, that now Parthenia was her owne ſhe would neuer be his, and receiuing as much by her owne determinate anſwere, not more deſiring his owne happineſſe, then enuying Argalus, whome he ſaw with narrow eyes, euen ready to enioy the perfection of his deſires, ſtrengthening his conceit with all the miſchieuous counſels which diſdained loue, and enuious pride could giue vnto him; the wicked wretch (taking a time that Argalus was gone to his countrie, to fetch ſome of his principall friends to honour the mariage, which Parthenia had moſt ioyfullie conſented vnto) the wicked Demagoras (I ſay) deſiring to ſpeake with her, with vnmercifull force (her weake armes in vaine reſiſting) rubd all ouer her face a moſt horrible poyſon: the effect whereof was ſuch, that neuer leaper lookt more vgly then ſhe did: which done, hauing his men and horſes ready, departed away in ſpite of her ſeruants, as ready to reuenge as they could be, in ſuch an vnexpected miſchiefe. But the abhominableneſſe of this fact being come to my L. Kalander, he made ſuch means, both by our kings interceſſion, and his owne, that by the King & Senate of Lacedæmon, Demagoras was vpon paine of death baniſhed the countrie: who hating the puniſhment, where he ſould haue hated the fault, ioyned himſelfe, with all the powers he could make, vnto the Helots, lately in rebellion againſt that ſtate: and they (glad to haue a man of ſuch authoritie among them) made him their General: & vnder him haue committed diuerſe the moſt outragious villanies, that a baſe multitude (full of deſperate reuenge) can imagine.

But within a while after this pitifull fact cōmitted vpon Parthenia, Argalus returned (poore Gentleman) hauing her faire image in his hart, & already promiſing his eyes the vttermoſt of his felicitie, when they (no body elſe daring to tell it him) were the firſt meſſengers to themſelues of their owne misfortune. I meane not to mouepaſſions