Page:The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (IA b30323241).pdf/43

we had ſtript our ſelues, and were both leapt into the Sea, and ſwome a little toward the ſhoare, I found by reaſon of ſome wounds I had, that I ſhould not be able to get the land, and therefore turned backe againe to the maſt of ſhippe, where you found me, aſſuring my ſelfe, that if you came aliue to the ſhoare, you would ſeeke me; if you were loſt, as I thought it as good to periſh as to liue, ſo that place as good to periſh in as another. There I found my ſword among ſome of the ſrowds, wiſhing (I muſt confeſſe) if I died, to bee found with that in my hand, and withall wauing it about my head, that ſaylers by, might haue the better glimpſe of me. There you miſſing mee, I was taken vp by Pyrates, who putting me vnder boord priſoner, preſently ſet vpon another ſhip and maintaining a long fight, in the end, put them all to the ſword. Amongſt whom I might heare them greatly praiſe one young man, who fought moſt valiantlie, whom (as loue is carefull, and misfortune ſubiect to doubtfulneſſe) I thought certainely to bee you. And ſo holding you as dead, from that time till the time I ſaw you, in truth I ſought nothing more then a noble end, which perchaunce made me more hardie then otherwiſe I would haue beene. Tryall whereof came within two dayes after: for the Kings of Lacedæmon hauing ſet out ſome Galleys, vnder the charge of one of their Nephewes, to ſcowre the Sea of the Pyrates, they met with vs, where our Captaine wanting men, was driuen to arme ſome of his priſoners, with promiſe of libertie for well fighting: among whom I was one, and being boorded by the Admirall, it was my fortune to kill Euryleon the Kings Nephew: but in the end they preuailed, and we were all taken priſoners: I not caring much what became of me (onely keeping the name of Diaphantus; according to the reſolution you know is betweene vs) but being laid in the iayle of Temaria, with ſpeeciall hate to me for the death of Euryleon, the popular ſort of that towne conſpired with the Helots, and ſo by night opened them the gates; where entring and killing all of the gentle and rich faction, for honeſtie ſake brake open all priſons, and ſo deliuered me: and I mooued with gratefulneſſe, and encouraged with careleſneſſe of life ſo behaued my ſelfe in ſome conflicts they had with in few dayes, that they barbarouſlie thinking vnſenſible wonders of mee, and with all ſo much the better truſting mee, as they heard I was hated of the King of Lacedæmon, their chiefe Captaine being ſlaine, as you know by the noble Argalus (who helped thereunto by his perſwaſion) hauing borne a great affection vnto mee, and to auoide the daungerous emulation which grew among the chiefe, who ſhould haue the place, and alſo affected, as rather to haue a ſtraunger then a competitour, they elected mee (God wot little proude of that dignity;) reſtoring vnto me ſuch things of mine as being taken firſt by the Pyrates, and then by the Lacedæmonians, they had gotten in the ſacke of the towne. Now being in it, ſo good was my ſucceſſe with many victories, that I made a peace for them to their owne liking the very day that you deliuered Clitophon, whom I with much a do had preſerued. And in my peace the King Amiclas of Lacedæmon would needes haue mee baniſhed, and depriued of the dignitie whereunto I was exalted: which (and you may ſee how much you are bound to mee) for your sake I was content to ſuffer, a new hope riſing in mee, that you were not dead: and ſo meaning to trauaile ouer the world to ſeeke you; and now heere (my deare Muſidorus) you haue mee. And with that (embracing and kiſſing each other) they called Kalander, of whom Daiphantus deſired to heare the full ſtorie, which before hee had recounted to Palladius, and to ſee the letter of Philanax, which hee read and well marked.