Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/34
But Argalus with a moſt heauie hart ſtill purſuing his deſire, ſhe fixt of mind to auoid further intreatie, and to fly all company; which (euen of him) grew vnpleaſant vnto her; one night ſhe ſtole away: but whither, as yet is vnknowne, or indeede what is become of her.
Argalus ſought her long, and in many places: at length (diſpairing to find her, and the more he deſpaired, the more enraged) wearie of his life, but firſt determining to bee reuenged of Demagoras, hee went alone diſguiſed into the chiefe towne held by the Helots: where comming into his preſence, garded about by many of his ſouldiers, he could delay his furie no longer for a fitter time: but ſetting vpon him, in deſpight of a great many that helped him, gaue him diuerſe mortall wounds, and himſelfe (no queſtion) had bene there preſently murthered, but that Demagoras himſelfe deſired hee might be kept aliue; perchaunce with intention to feede his owne eyes with ſome cruell execution to bee layd vpon him, but death came ſooner then he lookt for; yet hauing had leiſure to appoint his ſucceſſor, a yong man, not long before deliuered out of the priſon of the King of Lacedæmon, where he ſhould haue ſuffered death for hauing ſlaine the kings Nephew: but him hee named, who at that time was abſent, making roades vpon the Lacedæmonians, but being returned, the reſt of the Helots, for the great liking they conceiued of that yong man, eſpecially becauſe they had none among themſelues to whom the others would yeeld, were content to follow Demagoras appointment. And well hath it ſucceded with them, he hauing ſince done things beyond the hope of the yongeſt heads, of whom I ſpeake the rather, becauſe he hath hitherto preſerued Argalus aliue, vnder pretence to haue him publiquelie, and with exquiſite torments executed, after the end of theſe warres, of which, they hope for a ſoone and proſperous iſſue.
And he hath likewiſe hitherto kept my young Lord Clitophon aliue, who (to redeeme his friend) went with certaine other noble men of Laconia, and forces gathered by them, to beſiege this young and new ſucceſſor: but hee iſſuing out (to the wonder of all men) defeated the Laconians, ſlue many of the noble men, and tooke Clitophon priſoner, whom with much a doe he keepeth aliue: the Helots being villanouſly cruel; but he tempereth them ſo ſometimes by following their humor, ſometimes by ſtriuing with it, that hitherto hee hath ſaued both their liues, but in different eſtates; Argalus being kept in a cloſe and hard priſon, Clitophon at ſome liberty. And now Sir, though (to ſay the truth) we can promiſe our ſelues litle of their ſafeties, while they are in the Helots hands, I haue deliuered all I vnderſtand touching the loſſe of my Lords ſonne, and the cauſe thereof: which, though it was not neceſſarie to Clitophons caſe, to be ſo particularlie told, yet the ſtrangeneſſe of it, made me thinke it would not be vnpleſant vnto you.
Palladius thanked him greatly for it, being euen paſſionatly delighted with hearing ſo ſtraunge an accident, of a knight ſo famous ouer the world, as Argalus, with whom he had himſelfe a long deſire to meete: ſo had fame powred a noble emulation in him towards him.
But thē (well bethinking himſelfe) he called for armour, deſiring them to prouide him of horſe & guide, and armed all ſauing the head, he wēt vp to Kalander, whom he found lying vpon the ground, hauing euer ſince baniſhed both ſleepe and foode, as enemies to the mourning, which paſſion perſwaded him was reaſonable. But Palladius rayſed him vp, ſaying vnto him: No more, no more of this, my Lord Kalander; let vs labour to finde, before wee lament the loſſe: you knowe my ſelfe miſſeone,