The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
better armed defensively: for (besides a strong casque bravely
covered, wherewith he covered his head) he had a huge shield, such
perchance, as Achilles showed to the pale walls of Troy, wherewithal
that great body was covered. But Pyrocles utterly unarmed for defence,
to offend had the advantage, for, in either hand he had a sword, and
with both hands nimbly performed that office. And according as they
were diversely furnished, so they did differ in the manner of
fighting: for Anaxius most by warding, and Pyrocles oftenest by
avoiding, resisted the adversary’s assault. Both hasty to end, yet
both often staying for advantage. Time, distance and motion, custom
made them so perfect in, that as if they had been fellow counsellors,
and not enemies, each knew the other’s mind, and knew how to prevent
it. So as their {427} strength failed them sooner than their skill,
and yet their breath failed them sooner than their strength. And
breathless indeed they grew, before either could complain of any loss
of blood.
So that consenting by the meditation of necessity to a breathing time
of truce, being withdrawn a little one from the other, Anaxius stood
leaning upon his sword with his grim eye so settled upon Zelmane, as
is wont to be the look of an earnest thought. Which Zelmane marking,
and according to the Pyroclean nature, fuller of gay bravery in the
midst than in the beginning of danger: “What is it,” said she,
“Anaxius, that thou so deeply musest on? doth thy brother’s example
make thee think of thy fault past, or of thy coming punishment?” “I
think,” said he, “what spiteful god it should be, who envying my
glory, hath brought me to such a wayward case, that neither thy death
can be a revenge, nor thy overthrow a victory.” “Thou dost well
indeed,” said Zelmane, “to impute thy case to the heavenly providence,
which will have thy pride find itself, even in that whereof thou art
most proud, punished by the weak sex which thou most contemnest.”
But then having sufficiently rested themselves, they renewed again
their combat far more terrible than before: like nimble vaulters, who
at the first and second leap do but stir, and, as it were, awake the
fiery and airy parts, which after in the other leaps they do with more
excellency exercise. For in this pausing, each had brought to his
thoughts the manner of the other’s fighting, and the advantages, which
by that, and by the quality of their weapons they might work
themselves, and so again repeated the lesson they had said before,
more perfectly by the using of it; Anaxius oftener used blows, his
huge force, as it were, more delighting therein, and the large
protection of his shield animating him unto it. Pyrocles, of a more
fine and deliberate strength, watching his time, when to give fit
thrusts, as, with the quick obeying of his body, to his eye’s quick
commandment, he shunned any harm Anaxius could do to him: so would he
soon have made an end of Anaxius, if he had not found him a man of
wonderful and almost matchless excellency in matters of arms. Pyrocles
used divers feignings to bring Anaxius on into some inconvenience, but
Anaxius keeping a sound manner of fighting, never offered but seeing
fair cause, and then followed it with well-governed violence. Thus
spent they a great time, striving to do, and with striving to do,
wearying themselves more than with the very doing. Anaxius finding
Zelmane so near unto him, that with little motion he might reach her,
knitting all his strength together, at that time mainly foiled at her
face. But Zelmane strongly putting it by with her right-hand sword,
coming in with her left foot and hand, would {428} have given a sharp
visitation to his right side, but that he was fain to leap away.
Whereat ashamed, as having never done so much before in his life.
* * *[b3-08]
The fire of rage then burning contempt out of his breast, did burst
forth in flames through his eyes, and in smoke from his mouth; so that
he was returning with a terrible madness (all the strength of his
whole body transferred to the one hand for a singular service) which
the resolute Zelmane did earnestly observe with a providently all
despising courage, whilst the ears of Anaxius were suddenly arrested
by a sound, whereof they were only capable, which, in consort with his
own humour, could only of him with authority have challenged a due
attendance: straight a martial noise (raised by the violence of
invaders; and distractedness of others, dreadfully tumultuous) giving
him intelligence what a bloody scene was acting without in the court
of the castle, where he was expected as a special actor; though his
eye, as harbinger of his blow, had already marked the room, where his
bended arm threatened to lodge it; yet his feet did so suddenly ravish
away the rest of his body, that even his own thoughts, much more
Zelmane’s, were prevented by the suddenness of his flight, a flight
indeed, not from the fighting with one, but to the fighting with many,
where he did not look for an object worthy of the wrath of Anaxius. So
that vanishing away, as carried in a cloud of whirlwind, Zelmane
either could not, or else would not reach him: as disdaining the base
advantage of these dishonourable wounds, which though greatest shame
to the flying receiver, can give no glory to the unresisted giver.
The impetuous storm that transported the spirit of Anaxius, had
quickly blown him down the stairs, and up the door, his sword ushering
his way, till his eyes were encountered with the beams of the
lightning weapons of a small number, which rather seemed surprised
within the castle, than to have surprised the castle. Yet they had
speedily purchased a great room for so small a company, challenging as
their own all the bounds that their swords could compass: and in
effect their enemies proved their fewness many, reckoning the black
knight and his second (as cyphers are esteemed when valued by others,
over which they are raised) not for the number which indeed they were,
but for the number which they were worth. These three were quickly
known by their wonted arms; but more by their wonted valour. The court
had been a fitter list for two, than a field for so many, where the
narrowness of the place, not giving place to sleight, there was no way
but by plain force; so that the greatest cowards were as forward as
the most courageous, fear making them bold, who saw no refuge but
{429} by fighting; which made the conflict exceeding cruel, either of
the parties having more spurs than one to draw blood.
The Amphialians, besides their rage for being abused by an unexpected
stratagem, and their desire to defend the place, being bound both by
private interest and public vows; they had added further, to make up
the accomplishment of a just wrath, the means of revenge, as they
thought, on their master’s murderer; looking no otherwise on the black
knight than as on him who had buried all their hopes in the ruins of
Amphialus, whereof to their further grief, they had been idle
witnesses. All this made them desperately endeavour that the eyes of
Anaxius might be entertained with their victory, before his ears could
be burdened with their error; chiefly at his coming, those of his own
train kindled their courage at the torches of his eyes, prodigious
comets of a deluge of blood. As for the pursued pursuers, like those
who landing to make war in an island burn the ships which brought them
thither, by the impossibility of their return to show the desperate
necessity of their victory; they were assured they could neither
advance nor retire, but over the bellies of their enemies; yet were
they not so desperate of their retreat, as confident of their victory.
The black knight, though all the giants that fought against the gods
had been there, he thought they could not hinder him from going where
his heart was already, nor from prevailing where the prize was the
delivery of his lady, and friend, the double treasures of his soul,
whereof any was valued above his life, yea, both were balanced with
his honour; so that he did show not only the height of valour, but a
ravishing of his soul, and a transportation of magnanimity, far from
the level of ordinary aims, and even scarce within the prospect of
more lofty thoughts. Yet neither love nor courage could blind his
judgment, in seeing his advantage: marching with his company ever the
next wall, to prevent being compassed: though sometimes making brave
sallies. Which Anaxius at his first approach espying, upbraided his
own troop as unworthy of his attendance, and all as traitors in
receiving, or dastards in not expelling that, in his eyes, contemned
crew, oftentimes urging them by their retiring to make way for him,
and he alone would either beat them over the walls, or in the walls:
for the truth is, they seemed all too small a sacrifice to appease his
high indignation. It was superfluous labour for Alecto to inflame his
soul with poisonous inspirations; for his soul might have furnished
all the infernal furies with fury, and yet have continued the most
furious of all itself. Rage and disdain, burning his bosom, made him
utter a roaring voice, as if his breath had been able to have blown
away the world, which for the sound that his sword made, could not
distinctly be understood.
{430}
The first whom he encountered, lifting up his hand to strike, and
withal opening his mouth, as if intending some speech, his proposition
was prevented by an active answer, cutting him from the lips to the
ears, so by opening his mouth, restraining his speech. The knight of
the sheep succeeding in his place, a vindictive heir, was exchanging
blows with Anaxius with no disadvantage, when suddenly a dart, none
knew to whose hand the honour of it was due, did wound him in the
thigh, which he doubtful to whom he stood debtor, did pay back to
many, an extraordinary interest, with the death of someone striving to
defray every drop of his blood.
The black knight, black indeed to all his adversaries, when viewing
the wonderful valour of Anaxius, with whom then rival in fame he
entertained a terrible emulation, what bred terror in others, bred in
him contentment; that his conquest, whereof he never doubted, might be
endeared by the difficulty, and his victory be honoured by so
honourable an enemy, with whom, above all others, he laboured to meet,
by the ruin of many making a room where they might fight.
But in the meantime the torrent of the violence of Anaxius was
interrupted by a sudden tumult; seeming to proceed from an ambushment
broken forth from the houses behind them. And no wonder though all
thought so: the two swords of Zelmane being riotous in their charges,
were so covetous to extend their confines. She following, or rather,
as a falcon in an earnest chase, flying down the stairs after him, did
not overtake Anaxius but with her eyes till he was walled about with
the armed multitude, and then, like a lioness lately enraged, that had
been long famished in prison, she ranged over all for her prey: but
yet like a cunning hound, that out of a whole herd of deer, doth only
single him out with whom she had entered first in hostility (a little
drop of his blood having betrayed all the rest) she disdained to fight
with any other, but would be resisted by none till she might unbend
all her forces on Anaxius, whose sight as soon as her eyes had
greedily swallowed, she burst forth: “Base dastard, who hast abused
the world with shadows of worth, yet art void of all valour, having
doubly forfeited the usurped title of honour, in offering injurious
violence to a woman, and yet flying the just violence of a woman, to
hide thyself (being protected by the shield of some trusted attender)
where the sufficiency of others may conceal thy cowardice: but all