Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/42

you, who haue the ſame beautie: but it was Parthenias ſelfe I loued, and loue; which no likeneſve can make one; no commandement diſſolue, no foulneſſe defile, nor no death finiſh. And ſhall I receiue (ſaid ſhe) ſuch diſgrace, as to be refuſed? Noble Lady (ſaid he) let not that hard word be vſed; who know your exceeding worthineſſe farre beyond my deſert: but it is onely happineſſe I refuſe, ſince of the onely happineſſe I could and can deſire, I am refuſed.

He had ſcarce ſpoken thoſe words, when ſhe ranne to him, and imbracing him, why then Argalus (ſaid ſhe) take thy Parthenia; and Parthenia it was indeede. But becauſe ſorrow forbad him too ſoone to beleeue, ſhe told him the truth, with all circumſtances; how being parted alone, meaning to die in ſome ſolitary place, as ſhe hapned to make her complaint, the Queene Helen of Corinth (who likewiſe felt her part of miſeries) being then walking alſo alone in that lonely place, heard her, and neuer left till ſhe had knowne the whole diſcourſe. Which the noble Queene greatly pitying, ſhe ſent her to a Phiſition of hers the moſt excellent man in the world, in hope he could helpe her: which in ſuch ſort as they ſaw he had performed, and ſhe taking with her of the Queenes ſeruants, thought yet to make this triall, whether he would quickly forget his true Parthenia, or no. Her ſpeech was confirmed by the Corinthian Gentlemen, who before had kept her counſell, and Argalus eaſily perſwaded to what more then ten thouſand yeares of life he desired: and Kalander would needes haue the marriage celebrated in his houſe, principally the longer to hold his deare gueſts, towards whom he was now (beſides his owne habite of hoſpitalitie) caried with loue and duty: and therefore omitted no ſeruice that his wit could inuent, and his power miniſter.

But no way he ſaw he could ſo much pleaſure them, as by leauing the two friends alone, who being ſhrunke aſide to the banquetting houſe where the pictures were; there Palladius recounted vnto him, that after they had both abandoned the burning ſhip (& either of them taken ſome thing vnder him, the better to ſupport him to the ſhore) hee knew not how, but either with ouer-labouring in the fight, and ſudden cold, or the too much receiuing of ſalt water, he was paſt himſelfe: but yet holding faſt (as the nature of dying men is to do) the cheſt that was vnder him, he was caſt on the ſands, where he was taken vp by a couple of ſhepheards, and by them brought life againe, and kept from drowning himſelfe, when hee deſpaired of his ſafetie. How after hauing failed to take him into the fiſher boate, he had by the ſhepheards perſwaſion come to this Gentlemans houſe; where being dangerouſlie ſicke, hee had yeelded to ſeeke the recouery of health, onely for that hee might the ſooner goe ſeeke the deliuerie of Pyrocles: to which purpoſe Kalander by ſome friends of his in Meſſena, had alreadie ſet a ſhippe or two abroad, when this accident of Clitophons taking had ſo bleſſedly procured their meeting. Then did he ſet foorth vnto him the noble intertainment and carefull cheriſhing of Kalander towards him, and ſo vpon occaſion of the pictures preſent, deliuered with the frankes of a friends tongue, as neare as he could, word by word what Kalander had told him touching the ſtrange ſtory (with all the particularities belonging) of Arcadia, which did in many ſorts ſo delight Pyrocles to heare; that hee would needes haue much of it againe repeated, and was not contented till Kalander himſelfe had anſwered him diuerſe queſtions.

But firſt at Muſidorus requeſt, though in briefe maner, his minde much running vpon the ſtrange ſtorie of Arcadia, he did declare by what courſe of aduentures he was come to make vp their mutuall happineſſe in meeting. When (coſin ſaid he)we