The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
we could not keep. And had I not happened to know one of the principal
men among them, by which means the truce began between us, you may
easily conceive what little reason we have to think but that either by
some supply out of Arcadia, or from the nobility of this country, (who
would have made fruits of wisdom grow out of this occasion) we should
have had our power turned to ruin, our pride to repentance and sorrow.
But now, the storm as it fell, so it ceased: and the error committed,
in retaining Clitophon more hardly than his age or quarrel deserved,
becomes a sharply learned experience, to use, in other times, more
moderation.
“Now have I to deliver unto you the conclusion between the kings with
the nobility of Lacedaemon and you; which is in all points as
ourselves desired: as well for that you would have granted, as for the
assurance of what is granted. The towns and forts you presently have,
are still left unto you, to be kept either with, or without garrison,
so as you alter not the laws of the country, and pay such duties as
the rest of the Laconians do; yourselves are made, by public decree,
freemen, and so capable both to give and receive voice in election of
magistrates. The distinction of names between Helots and
Lacedaemonians to be quite taken away, and all indifferently to enjoy
both names and privileges of Laconians. Your children to be brought up
with theirs in the Spartan discipline: and so you (framing yourselves
to be good members of that estate) to be hereafter fellows and no
longer servants.
“Which conditions you see, carry in themselves no more contention than
assurance; for this is not a peace which is made with them; but this a
piece by which you are made of them. Lastly a forgetfulness decreed of
all what is past, they showing themselves glad to have so valiant men
as you are joined with them, so that you are to take minds of peace,
since the cause of war is finished; and as you hated them before like
oppressors, so now to love them as brothers; to take care of their
estate, because it is yours; and to labour by virtuous doing, that
posterity may not repent your joining. But now one article only they
stood upon, which in the end I with your commissioners have agreed
unto that I should no more tarry here, mistaking perchance my humour,
and thinking me as seditious as I am young; or else it is the king
Amiclas procuring, in respect that it was my ill hap to kill his
nephew Eurileon, but howsoever it be, I have condescended.” “But so
will not we,” cried almost the whole assembly, counselling one {35}
another rather to try the uttermost event than lose him by whom they
had been victorious. But he as well with general orations as
particular dealing with the men of most credit, made them see how
necessary it was to prefer such an opportunity before a vain
affection; but could not prevail till openly he sware that he would
(if at any time the Lacedaemonians brake this treaty) come back again,
and be their captain.
So, then, after a few days, setting them in perfect order, he took his
leave of them, whose eyes bade him farewell with tears, and mouths
with kissing the places where he stepped, and after making temples
unto him, as to a demi-god, thinking it beyond the degree of humanity
to have a wit so far over-going his age, and such dreadful terror
proceed from so excellent beauty. But he for his sake obtained free
pardon for Argalus, whom also (upon oath never to bear arms against
the Helots) he delivered; and taking only with him certain principal
jewels of his own, he would have parted alone with Argalus (whose
countenance well showed, while Parthenia was lost, he counted not
himself delivered, but that the whole multitude would needs guard him
into Arcadia, where again leaving them all to lament his departure, he
by enquiry got to the well-known house of Kalander. There was he
received with loving joy of Kalander, with joyful love of Palladius,
with humble, though doleful, demeanour of Argalus (whom specially both
he and Palladius regarded with grateful serviceableness of Clitophon)
and honourable admiration of all. For being now well viewed to have no
hair on the face, to witness him a man, who had done acts beyond the
degree of a man, and to look with a certain almost bashful kind of
modesty, as if he feared the eyes of men, who was unmoved by the sight
of the most horrible countenances of death; and as if nature had
mistaken her work to have a Mars’s heart in a Cupid’s body: all that
beheld him (and all that might behold him, did behold him) made their
eyes quick messengers to their mind, that there they had seen the
uttermost that in mankind might be seen. The like wonder Palladius had
before stirred, but that Diaphantus, as younger and newer come, had
gotten now the advantage in the moist and fickle impression of
eye-sight. But while all men, saving poor Argalus, made the joy of
their eyes speak for their hearts towards Daiphantus; fortune (that
belike was bid to that banquet, and meant to play the good-fellow)
brought a pleasant adventure among them. It was that as they had newly
dined, there came in to Kalander a messenger, that brought him word, a
young noble lady, near kinswoman to the fair Helen, queen of Corinth,
was come thither, and desired to be lodged in his house. Kalander
(most glad of such an occasion) went out, and all his other worthy
guests with {36} him, saving only Argalus, who remained in his
chamber, desirous that this company were once broken up, that he might
go in his solitary quest after Parthenia. But when they met this lady,
Kalander straight thought he saw his niece Parthenia, and was about in
such familiar sort to have spoken unto her, but she, in grave and
honourable manner, giving him to understand that he was mistaken; he,
half ashamed, excused himself with the exceeding likeness was between
them, though indeed it seemed that this lady was of the more pure and
dainty complexion, she said, it might very well be, having been many
times taken one for another. But as soon as she was brought into the
house, before she would rest her, she desired to speak with Argalus
publicly, who she heard was in the house. Argalus came hastily, and as
hastily thought as Kalander had done, with sudden change of to sorrow.
But she, when she had stayed her thoughts with telling them her name
and quality, in this sort spake unto him. “My Lord Argalus,” said she,
“being of late left in the court of queen Helen of Corinth, as chief
in her absence, she being upon some occasion gone thence, there came
unto me the lady Parthenia, so disfigured, as I think Greece hath
nothing so ugly to behold. For my part, it was many days, before, with
vehement oaths, and some good proofs, she could make me think that she
was Parthenia. Yet at last finding certainly it was she, and greatly
pitying her misfortune, so much the more as that all men had even told
me, as now you do, of the great likeness between us, I took the best
care I could of her, and of her understood the whole tragical history
of her undeserved adventure: and therewithal of that most noble
constancy in you my lord Argalus, which whosoever loves not, shows
himself to be a hater of virtue, and unworthy to live in the society
of mankind. But no outward cherishing could salve the inward sore of
her mind; but a few days since she died; before her death earnestly
desiring, and persuading me to think of no husband but of you, as of
the only man in the world worthy to be loved. Withal she gave me this
ring to deliver you, desiring you, and by the authority of love
commanding you that the affection you bare her, you should turn to me;
assuring you, that nothing can please her soul more than to see you
and me matched together. Now my lord, though this office be not,
perchance, suitable to my estate nor sex, who should rather look to be
desired; yet, an extraordinary desert requires an extraordinary
proceeding, and therefore I am come, with faithful love built upon
your worthiness, to offer myself, and to beseech you to accept the
offer: and if these noble gentlemen present will say it is great
folly, let them withal say, it is great love.” And then she stayed,
earnestly attending Argalus’s answer; who, first {37} making most
hearty sighs, doing such obsequies as he could to Parthenia, thus
answered her.
“Madame,” said he, “infinitely am I bound to you, for this no more
rare than noble courtesy; but much bound for the goodness I perceive
you showed to the lady Parthenia (with that the tears ran down his
eyes, but he followed on) and as much as so unfortunate a man, fit to
be the spectacle of misery, can do you a service; determine you have
made a purchase of a slave, while I live, never to fail you. But this
great matter you propose unto me, wherein I am not so blind as not to
see what happiness it should be unto me, excellent lady, know that if
my heart were mine to give, you before all others should have it; but
Parthenia’s it is, though dead: there I began, there I end all matter
of affection: I hope I shall not long tarry after her, with whose
beauty if I only had been in love, I should be so with you, who have
the same beauty; but it was Parthenia’s self I loved, and love, which
no likeness can make one, no commandment dissolve, no foulness defile,
nor no death finish.” “And shall I receive,” said she, “such disgrace
as to be refused?” “Noble lady,” said he, “let not that hard word be
used; who know your exceeding worthiness far beyond my desert? but it
is only happiness I refuse, since of the only happiness I could and
can desire, I am refused.”
He had scarce spoken those words, when she ran to him and embracing
him, “Why then Argalus,” said she, “take thy Parthenia:” and Parthenia
it was indeed. But because sorrow forbade him too soon to believe, she
told him the truth, with all circumstances: how being parted alone,
meaning to die in some solitary place, as she happened to make her
complaint, the queen Helen of Corinth (who likewise felt her part of
miseries) being then walking alone in that lovely place, heard her,
and never left, till she had known the whole discourse. Which the
noble queen greatly pitying, she sent to her a physician of hers, the
most excellent man in the world, in hope he could help her: which in
such sort as they saw he had performed, and the taking with her one of
the queen’s servants, thought yet to make this trial, whether he would
quickly forget his true Parthenia, or no. Her speech was confirmed by
the Corinthian gentlemen, who before had kept her counsel, and Argalus
easily persuaded to what more than ten thousand years of life he
desired: and Kalander would needs have the marriage celebrated in his
house, principally the longer to hold his dear guest, towards whom he
was now, besides his own habits of hospitality, carried with love and
duty: and therefore omitted no service that his wit could invent and
power minister.
But no way he saw he could so much pleasure them as by {38} leaving
the two friends alone, who being shrunk aside to the banqueting-house,
where the pictures were; there Palladius recounted unto him, that
after they had both abandoned the burning ship (and either of them
taking something under him, the better to support him to the shore) he
knew not how, but either with over-labouring in the fight, and sudden
cold, or the too much receiving of salt-water, he was past himself:
but yet holding fast, as the nature of dying men is to do, the chest
that was under him, he was cast on the sands, where he was taken up by
a couple of shepherds, and by them brought to life again, and kept
from drowning himself, when he despaired of his safety. How after
having failed to take him into the fisher-boat, he had by the