The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
things into his hands, as well touching the obsequies of the king, the
punishment of his death, as the marriage and crowning of our
princesses, he is both by experience and wisdom taught how to direct:
his greatness such as no man can disdain to obey him: his equity such
as no man need to fear him. Lastly, as he hath all these qualities to
help, so hath he, though he would, no force to hurt. If therefore you
so think good, since our laws bear that our prince’s murder be
chastised before his murdered body be buried, we may invite him to sit
to-morrow in the judgment seat; which done, you may after proceed to
the burial.”
When Philanax first named Euarchus’ landing, there was a muttering
murmur among the people, as though, in that evil ordered weakness of
theirs he had come to conquer their country. But when they understood
he had so small a retinue, whispering one with another, and looking
who should begin to confirm {580} Philanax’s proposition, at length
Sympathus was the first that allowed it, then the rest of the
noblemen; neither did Kalander strive, hoping so excellent a prince
could not but deal graciously with two such young men, whose authority
joined to Philanax, all the popular sort followed. Timautus still
blinded with his own ambitious haste, not remembering factions are no
longer to be trusted, than the factious may be persuaded it is for
their own good, would needs strive against the stream, exclaiming
against Philanax, that now he showed who it was that would betray his
country to strangers. But well he found, that who is too busy in the
foundation of an house, may pull the building about his ears. For the
people already tired with their own divisions, of which his clampring
had been a principal nurse, and beginning now to espy a haven of rest,
hated anything that should hinder them from it: asking one another
whether this were not he whose evil tongue no man could escape?
whether it were not Timautus that made the first mutinous oration, to
strengthen the troubles? whether Timautus, without their consent, had
not gone about to deliver Gynecia? And thus inflaming one another
against him, they threw him out of the assembly, and after pursued him
with stones and staves, so that with loss of one of his eyes, sore
wounded and beaten, he was fain to fly to Philanax’s feet, for succour
of his life; giving a true lesson, that vice itself is forced to seek
the sanctuary of virtue. For Philanax, who hated his evil, but not his
person, and knew that a just punishment might by the manner be
unjustly done; remembering withal that although herein the people’s
rage might have hit rightly, yet if it were nourished in this, no man
knew to what extremities it might extend itself, with earnest dealing,
and employing the uttermost of his authority he did protect the
trembling Timautus. And then having taken a general oath, that they
should in the nonage of the princess, or till these things were
settled, yield full obedience to Euarchus, so far as were not
prejudicial to the laws, customs and liberties of Arcadia: and having
taken a particular bond of Sympathus, under whom he had a servant of
his own, that the prisoners should be kept close, without conference
with any man: he himself honourably accompanied with a great number of
torches, went to the King Euarchus, whose coming in this sort into
Arcadia had thus fallen out.
The woeful Prince Plangus receiving of Basilius no other succours, but
only certain to conduct him to Euarchus, made all possible speed
towards Byzantium, where he understood the king, having concluded all
his wars with the winning of that town, had now for some good space
made his abode. But being far gone on his way, he received certain
intelligence, that Euarchus was {581} not only some days before
returned into Macedon, but since was gone with some haste to visit
that coast of his country that lay towards Italy; the occasion given
by the Latines, who having already gotten into their hands, partly by
conquest and partly by confederacy, the greatest part of Italy, and
long gaped to devour Greece also, observing the present opportunity of
Euarchus’s absence, and Basilius’s solitariness, which two princes
they knew to be in effect the whole strength of Greece, were even
ready to lay an unjust gripe upon it, which after they might beautify
with the noble name of conquest. Which purpose though they made not
known by any solemn denouncing of war, but contrariwise gave many
tokens of continuing still their former amity: yet the staying of his
subjects’ ships, trafficking as merchants into those parts, together
with the daily preparation of shipping, and other warlike provisions
in ports, most convenient for the transporting of soldiers, occasioned
Euarchus, not unacquainted with such practices, first to suspect, then
to discern, lastly to seek to prevent the intended mischief. Yet
thinking war never to be accepted until it be offered by the hand of
necessity, he determined so long openly to hold them his friends, as
open hospitality betrayed them not his enemies, nor ceasing in the
meantime by letters and messages to move the states of Greece, by
uniting their strength, to make timely provision against this peril;
by many reasons making them see that, though in respect of place some
of them might seem further removed from the first violence of the
storm, yet being embarked in the same ship, the final wreck must needs
be common to them all. And knowing the mighty force of example, with
the weak effect of fair discourses, not waited on with agreeable
actions, what he persuaded them, himself performed, leaving in his own
realm nothing either undone or unprovided which might be thought
necessary for withstanding an invasion. His first care was to put his
people in a readiness for war, and by his experienced soldiers to
train the unskilful to martial exercises. For the better effecting
whereof, as also for meeting with other inconveniences in such
doubtful times incident to the most settled states, making of the
divers regions of his whole kingdom so many divisions as he thought
convenient, he appointed the charge of them to the greatest, and of
greatest trust he had about him: arming them with sufficient authority
to levy forces within their several governments, both for the
resisting the invading enemy, and punishing the disordered subject.
Having thus prepared the body, and assured the heart of his country
against any mischief that might attaint it, he then took into his
careful consideration the external parts, giving order both for the
repairing and increasing his navy, and for the fortifying of {582}
such places, especially on the sea coast, as either commodity of
landing, weakness of the country, or any other respect of advantage
was likeliest to draw the enemy unto. But being none of them who think
all things done, for which they have once given direction, he followed
everywhere his commandment with his presence, which witnessed of every
man’s slackness or diligence, chastising the one, and encouraging the
other, suffered not the fruit of any profitable counsel for want of
timely taking to be lost. And thus making one place succeed another in
the progress of wisdom and virtue, he was now come to Aulon a
principal port of his realm, when the poor Plangus extremely wearied
with his long journey, desire of succouring Erona no more relieving,
than fear of not succouring her in time, aggravating his travel, by a
lamentable narration of his children’s death, called home his cares
from encountering foreign enemies, to suppress the insurrection of
inward passions. The matter so heinous, the manner so villainous, the
loss of such persons, in so unripe years, in a time so dangerous to
the whole state of Greece, how vehemently it moved to grief and
compassion others, only not blind to the light of virtue, nor deaf to
the voice of their country, might perchance by a more cunning workman
in lively colours be delivered. But the face of Euarchus’s sorrow, to
the one in nature, to both in affection a father, and judging the
world so much the more unworthily deprived of those excellencies, as
himself was better judge of so excellent worthiness, can no otherwise
be shadowed out by the skilfullest pencil than by covering it over
with the veil of silence. And indeed that way himself took, with so
patient a quietness receiving this pitiful relation, that all words of
weakness suppressed, magnanimity seemed to triumph over misery. Only
receiving of Plangus perfect instruction of all things concerning
Plexirtus and Artaxia, with promise not only to aid him in delivering
Erona, but also with vehement protestation never to return into
Macedon, till he had pursued the murderers to death, he dispatched
with speed a ship for Byzantium, commanding the governor to provide
all necessaries for the war against his own coming, which he purposed
should be very shortly. In this ship Plangus would needs go, impatient
of stay, for that in many days before he had understood nothing of his
lady’s estate. Soon after whose departure, news was brought to
Euarchus, that all the ships detained in Italy were returned. For the
Latines finding by Euarchus’s proceedings their intent to be
frustrate, as before by his sudden return they doubted it was
discovered, deeming it no wisdom to show the will, not having the
ability to hurt, had not only in free and friendly manner dismissed
them, but for that time wholly omitted their enterprise attending the
opportunity of fitter occasion. By means whereof Euarchus, {583} rid
from the cumber of that war, likely otherwise to have stayed him
longer, with so great a fleet as haste would suffer him to assemble,
forthwith embarked for Byzantium. And now followed with fresh winds he
had in a short time run a long course, when on a night encountered
with an extreme tempest, his ships were so scattered that scarcely any
two were left together. As for the king’s own ship, deprived of all
company, sore bruised, and weather beaten, able no longer to brook the
sea’s churlish entertainment, a little before day it recovered the
shore. The first light made them see it was the unhappy coast of
Laconia: for no other country could have shown the like evidence of
unnatural war. Which having long endured between the nobility and the
Helots, and once compounded by Pyrocles, under the name of Daiphantus,
immediately upon his departure had broken out more violently than ever
before. For the king taking opportunity of their captain’s absence,
refused to perform the conditions of peace as extorted from him by
rebellious violence. Whereupon they were again deeply entered into
war, with so notable an hatred towards the very name of a king, that
Euarchus, though a stranger unto them, thought it not safe there to
leave his person, where neither his own force could be a defence, nor
the sacred name of majesty, a protection. Therefore calling to him an
Arcadian, one that coming with Plangus had remained with Euarchus,
desirous to see the wars, he demanded of him for the next place of
surety where he might make his stay until he might hear somewhat of
his fleet, or cause his ship to be repaired. The gentleman glad to
have this occasion of doing service to Euarchus, and honour to
Basilius, to whom he knew he should bring a most welcome guest, told
him, that if it pleased him to commit himself to Arcadia, a part
whereof lay open to their view, he would undertake ere the next night
were far spent to guide him safely to his master Basilius. The present
necessity much prevailed with Euarchus, yet more a certain virtuous
desire to try whether by his authority he might withdraw Basilius from
burying himself alive, and to employ the rest of his old years in
doing good, the only happy action of man’s life. For besides the