The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
began to breed a proud recklessness[b1-02] in them; therefore sending
to view the camp, and {30} finding that by their speech they were
Arcadians, with whom they had had no war, never suspecting a private
man’s credit could have gathered such a force, and that all other
tokens witnessed them to be of the lowest calling (besides the chains
upon the gentlemen) they granted not only leave for the prisoners, but
for some others of the company, and to all, that they might harbour
under the walls. So opened they the gates, and received in the carts,
which being done, and Palladius seeing fit time, he gave the sign, and
shaking off their chains (which were made with such art, that though
they seemed most strong and fast, he that wore them might easily loose
them) drew their swords hidden in the carts, and so setting upon the
ward, made them to fly either from the place, or from their bodies,
and so give entry to all the force of the Arcadians before the Helots
could make any head to resist them.
But the Helots, being men hardened against dangers, gathered (as well
as they could) together in the market-place, and thence would have
given a shrewd welcome to the Arcadians, but that Palladius (blaming
those that were slow, heartening them that were forward, but
especially with his own example leading them) made such an impression
into the squadron of the Helots that at first the great body of them
beginning to shake and stagger, at length every particular body
recommended the protection of his life to his feet. Then Kalander
cried to go to the prison where he thought his son was; but Palladius
wished him (first scouring the streets) to house all the Helots, and
make themselves masters of the gates.
But ere that could be accomplished, the Helots had gotten new heart,
and with divers sorts of shot from corners of streets and
house-windows, galled them; which courage was come unto them by the
return of their captain; who, though he brought not many with him
(having dispersed most of his companies to other of his holds) yet
meeting a great number running out of the gate, not yet possessed by
the Arcadians, he made them turn face, and with banners displayed, his
trumpet giveth the loudest testimony he could of his return; which
once heard, the rest of the Helots, which were otherwise scattered,
bent thitherward with a new life of resolution, as if their captain
had been a root, out of which (as into branches) their courage had
sprung. Then began the fight to grow most sharp, and the encounters of
more cruel obstinacy: the Arcadians fighting to keep what they had
won; the Helots to recover what they had lost; the Arcadians as in an
unknown place, having no succour but in their hands; the Helots as in
their own place, fighting for their lives, wives, and children. There
was victory and courage against revenge and despair: safety of both
besides being no otherwise to be gotten, but by destruction.
{31}
At length, the left wing of the Arcadians began to lose ground; which
Palladius feeling, he straight thrust himself with his choice band
against the throng that oppressed them with such an overflowing of
valour that the captain of the Helots (whose eyes soon judged of that
wherewith themselves were governed) saw that he alone was worth all
the rest of the Arcadians: which he so wondered at, that it was hard
to say whether he more liked his doings, or misliked the effects of
his doings: but determining that upon that cast the game lay, and
disdaining to fight with any other, fought only to join with him:
which mind was no less in Palladius, having easily marked that he was
the first mover of all the other hands. And so their thoughts meeting
in one point, they consented (though not agreed) to try each other’s
fortune: and so drawing themselves to be the uttermost of the one
side, they began a combat, which was so much inferior to the battle in
noise and number, as it was surpassing it in bravery of fighting, and,
as it were, delightful terribleness. Their courage was guided with
skill, and their skill was armed with courage; neither did their
hardiness darken their wit, nor their wit cool their hardiness: both
valiant, as men despising death, both confident, as unwonted to be
overcome: yet doubtful by their present feeling, and respectful by
what they had already seen. Their feet steady, their hands diligent,
their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute. The parts either not
armed, or weakly armed, were well known, and according to the
knowledge should have been sharply visited, but that the answer was as
quick as the objections. Yet some lightning, the smart bred rage, and
the rage bred smart again: till both sides beginning to wax faint, and
rather desirous to die accompanied, than hopeful to live victorious,
the captain of the Helots with a blow, whose violence grew of fury,
not of strength, or of strength proceeding of fury, struck Palladius
upon the side of the head, that he reeled astonished: and withal the
helmet fell off, he remaining bare-headed, but other of the Arcadians
were ready to shield him from any harm might rise of that nakedness.
But little needed it, for his chief enemy, instead of pursuing that
advantage, kneeled down, offering to deliver the pommel of his sword,
in token of yielding; withal speaking aloud unto him, that he thought
it more liberty to be his prisoner, than any other’s general.
Palladius standing upon himself, and misdoubting some craft, and the
Helots that were next their captain, wavering between looking for some
stratagem, or fearing treason; “What,” said the captain, “hath
Palladius forgotten the voice of Daiphantus?”
By that watch-word Palladius knew that it was his only friend
Pyrocles, whom he had lost upon the sea, and therefore both most full
of wonder so to be met, if they had not been fuller of joy than {32}
wonder, caused the retreat to be sounded, Diaphantus by authority, and
Palladius by persuasion, to which helped well the little advantage
that was of either side: and that of the Helots’ party, their
captain’s behaviour had made as many amazed as saw or heard of it: and
of the Arcadian side the good old Kalander, striving more than his old
age could achieve, was newly taken prisoner. But indeed the chief
parter of the fray was the night, which with her black arms pulled
their malicious sights one from the other. But he that took Kalander,
meant nothing less than to save him, but only so long, as the captain
might learn the enemies’ secrets, towards whom he led the old
gentleman, when he caused the retreat to be sounded; looking for no
other delivery from that captivity, but by the painful taking away of
all pain: when whom should he see next to the captain (with good
tokens how valiantly he had fought that day against the Arcadians) but
his son Clitophon? But now the captain had caused all the principal
Helots to be assembled, as well to deliberate what they had to do, as
to receive a message from the Arcadians, among whom Palladius’s virtue
(besides the love Kalander bare him) having gotten principal
authority, he had persuaded them to seek rather by parley to recover
the father and the son, than by the sword; since the goodness of the
captain assured him that way to speed, and his value (wherewith he was
of old acquainted) made him think any other way dangerous. This
therefore was done in orderly manner, giving them to understand that
as they came but to deliver Clitophon, so offering to leave the
footing they already had in the town, to go away without any further
hurt, so that they might have the father and the son without ransom
delivered. Which conditions being heard and conceived by the Helots,
Diaphantus persuaded them without delay to accept them. “For first,”
said he, “since the strife is within our own home, if you lose, you
lose all that in this life can be dear unto you: if you win, it will
be a bloody victory with no profit, but the flattering in ourselves
that same bad humour of revenge. Besides, it is like to stir Arcadia
upon us, which now, by using these persons well, may be brought to
some amity. Lastly, but especially, lest the king and nobility of
Laconia (with whom now we have made a perfect peace) should hope by
occasion of this quarrel to join the Arcadians with them, and so break
off the profitable agreement already concluded: in sum, as in all
deliberations (weighing the profit of the good success with the harm
of the evil success) you shall find this way most safe and
honourable.”
The Helots, as much moved by his authority, as persuaded by his
reasons, were content therewith. Whereupon Palladius took order that
the Arcadians should presently march out of town, {33} taking with
them their prisoners, while the night with mutual diffidence might
keep them quiet, and ere day came, they might be well on their way,
and so avoid those accidents which in late enemies, a look, a word, or
a particular man’s quarrel might engender. This being on both sides
concluded on, Kalander and Clitophon, who now with infinite joy did
know each other, came to kiss the hands and feet of Daiphantus:
Clitophon telling his father how Daiphantus, not without danger to
himself, had preserved him from the furious malice of the Helots: and
even that day going to conclude the peace (lest in his absence he
might receive some hurt) he had taken him in his company, and given
him armour, upon promise he should take the part of the Helots; which
he had in this fight performed, little knowing that it was against his
own father; “But,” said Clitophon, “here is he, who as a father, hath
now begotten me, and, as a god, hath saved me from many deaths which
already laid hold on me,” which Kalander with tears of joy
acknowledged, besides his own deliverance, only his benefit. But
Daiphantus, who loved doing well for itself and not for thanks, broke
off those ceremonies, desiring to know how Palladius, for so he called
Musidorus, was come into that company, and what his present estate
was; whereof receiving a brief declaration of Kalander, he sent him
word by Clitophon that he should not as now come unto him, because he
held himself not so sure a master of the Helots’ minds that he would
adventure him in their power, who was so well known with an unfriendly
acquaintance; but that he desired him to return with Kalander, whither
also he within few days, having dispatched himself of the Helots,
would repair. Kalander would needs kiss his hand again for that
promise, protesting he would esteem his house more blessed than a
temple of the gods, if it had once received him. And then desiring
pardon for Argalus, Diaphantus assured them that he would die but he
would bring him (though till then kept in close prison, indeed for his
safety, the Helots being so animated against him as else he could not
have lived) and so taking their leave of him, Kalander, Clitophon,
Palladius, and the rest of the Arcadians swearing that they would no
further in any sort molest the Helots, they straightway marched out of
the town, carrying both their dead and wounded bodies with them; and
by morning were already within the limits of Arcadia.
The Helots of the other side shutting their gates, gave themselves to
bury their dead, to cure their wounds, and rest their wearied bodies;
till (the next day bestowing the cheerful use of the light upon them)
Daiphantus, making a general convocation spake unto them in this
manner: “We are first,” said he, “to thank the gods, that (further
than we had either cause to hope, {34} or reason to imagine) have
delivered us out of this gulf of danger, wherein we were already
swallowed. For all being lost (had they not directed my return so just
as they did), it had been too late to recover that, which being had,