Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/41
thither, and deſired to be lodged in his houſe. Calander (moſt glad of ſuch an occaſion, went out, and all his other worthy gueſts with him, ſauing onely Argalus, who remained in his chamber, deſirous that this company were once broken vp, that he might goe in his ſolitarie queſt after Parthenia. But when they met this Lady; Kalander ſtraight thought he ſaw his neece Parthenia, and was about in ſuch familiar ſort to haue ſpoken vnto her: but ſhe in graue and honourable manner giuing him to vnderſtand that he was miſtaken, he halfe aſhamed excuſed himſelfe with the exceeding likeneſſe was betweene them, though indeede it ſeemed that this Lady was of the more pure and daintie complexion; ſhe ſayd, it might very well be, hauing bene many times taken one for another. But aſſoone as ſhe was brought into the houſe, before ſhe would reſt her, ſhe deſired to ſpeake with Argalus publikely, who ſhe heard was in the houſe. Argalus came haſtilie, and as haſtilie thought as Kalander had done, with ſudden changes of ioy into ſorrow. But ſhe when ſhe had ſtaid their thoughts with telling them her name and qualitie, in this ſort ſpake vnto him. My Lord Argalus, ſayd ſhe, being of late left in the Court of Queene Helen of Corinth, as chiefe in her abſence (ſhe being vpon ſome occaſion gone thence) there came vnto me the Lady Parthenia, ſo disfigured, as I thinke Greece hath nothing ſo ougly to behold. For my part, it was many daies, before with vehement oathes, and ſome good proofes, ſhe could make me thinke that ſhe was Parthenia. Yet at laſt finding certainely it was ſhe, and greatly pitying her misfortune, ſo much the more, as that all men had euer told me (as now you do) of the great likeneſſe betweene vs, I tooke the beſt care I could of her: and of her vderſtood the whole tragicall hiſtorie of her vndeſerued aduenture: and therewithall, of that moſt noble conſtancy in you my Lord Argalus: which whoſoeuer loues not, ſhewes himſelfe to be a hater of vertue, and vnworthy to liue in the ſocietie of mankind. But no outward cheriſhing could ſalue the inward ſore of her mind, but a few daies ſince ſhe died: before her death earneſtly deſiring, and perſwading me, to thinke of no husband but of you; as of the only man in the world worthy to be loued, with all ſhe gaue me this Ring to deliuer you; deſiring you, and by the authoritie of loue commanding you, that the affection you bare her, you ſhould turne to me: aſſuring you, that nothing can pleaſe her ſoule more, then to ſee you and me matched together. Now my L. though this office be not (perchance) ſutable to my eſtate nor ſex, who ſhould rather looke to be deſired; yet, an extraordinary deſert requires an extraordinary proceeding: and therefore I am come (with faithfull loue built vpon your worthineſſe) to offer my ſelfe, and to beſeech you to accept the offer: and if theſe noble Gentlemen preſent will ſay it is great folly, let them withal, ſay it is great loue. And then ſhe ſtaid, earneſtly attending Argalus his anſwere, who firſt making moſt harty ſighes do ſuch obſequies as he could to Parthenia, thus anſwered her.
Madame (ſayd hee) infinitly am I bound vnto you, for this, no more rare then noble courteſie; but moſt bound for the goodneſſe I perceiue you ſhewed to the Lady Parthenia (with that the teares ranne downe his eyes; but hee followed on) and as much as ſo vnfortunate a man, fit to bee the ſpectacle of miſerie, can doe you ſeruice; determine you haue made a purchaſe of a ſlaue (while I liue) neuer to fayle you. But this great matter you propoſe vnto me, wherein I am not ſo blind as not to ſee what happineſſe it ſhold be vnto me; Excellent Lady, know, that if my hart were mine to giue, you before all other ſhould haue it; but Parthenias it is though dead: there I began, there I ende all matter of affection: I hope I ſhall not long tarry after her, with whoſe beautie if I had onely bene in loue, I ſhould be ſo with