The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
cool wine, which seemed to laugh for joy to come to such lips.
But after the collation was ended, and that they looked for the coming
forth of such devices as were prepared for them, there rushed out of
the woods twenty armed men, who round about environed them, and laying
hold on Zelmane before she could {306} draw her sword, and taking it
from her, put hoods over the heads of all four, and so muffled, by
force set them on horse-back, and carried them away; the sisters
crying in vain for succour, while Zelmane’s heart was rent in pieces
with rage of the injury and disdain of her fortune. But when they had
carried them four or five miles further, they left Miso with a gag in
her mouth, and bound hand and foot, so to take her fortune; and
brought the three ladies (by that time the night seemed with her
silence to conspire to their treason) to a castle about ten miles from
the lodges, where they were fain to take a boat which waited for them,
for the castle stood in the midst of a great lake upon a high rock,
where partly by art, but principally by nature, it was by all men
esteemed impregnable. But at the castle-gate their faces were
discovered, and there were met with a great number of torches, after
whom the sisters knew their aunt-in-law Cecropia. But that sight
increased the deadly terror of the princesses, looking for nothing but
death, since they were in the power of the wicked Cecropia, who yet
came unto them, making courtesy the outside of mischief, and desiring
them not to be discomforted for they were in a place dedicated to
their service. Philoclea (with a look where love shined through the
midst of fear) besought her to be good unto them, having never
deserved evil of her. But Pamela’s high heart disdaining humbleness to
injury, “Aunt,” said she, “what you have determined of us I pray you
do it speedily: for my part I look for no service, where I find
violence.”
But Cecropia, using no more words with them, conveyed them all three
to several lodgings (Zelmane’s heart so swelling with spite that she
could not bring forth a word) and so left them: first taking from them
their knives, because they should do themselves no hurt, before she
had determined of them: and then giving such order that they wanted
nothing but liberty and comfort, she went to her son, who yet kept his
bed, because of his wound he had received of Zelmane, and told him
whom now he had in his power. Amphialus was but even then returned
from far countries where he had won immortal fame both of courage and
courtesy, when he met with the princesses, and was hurt by Zelmane, so
that he was utterly ignorant of all his mother’s wicked devices, to
which he would never have consented, being (like a rose out of a
briar) an excellent son of an evil mother: and now, when he heard of
this, was as much amazed as if he had seen the sun fall to the earth.
And therefore desired his mother that she would tell him the whole
discourse, how all these matters had happened. “Son,” said she, “I
will do it willingly, and since all is done for you I will hide
nothing from you. And howsoever I might be ashamed to tell it to
strangers who would think it wickedness, yet what is done for your
sake (how evil {307} soever to others) to you is virtue. To begin then
even with the beginning: this doting fool Basilius that now reigns,
having lived unmarried until he was nigh threescore years old (and in
all his speeches affirming, and in all his doings, assuring that he
never would marry) made all the eyes of this country to be bent upon
your father, his only brother (but younger by thirty years) as upon
the undoubted successor, being indeed a man worthy to reign, thinking
nothing enough for himself: where this goose (you see) puts down his
head, before there be anything near to touch him. So that he holding
place and estimation as heir of Arcadia, obtained me of my father the
king of Argos, his brother helping to the conclusion, with protesting
his bachelorly intentions, for else you may be sure the king of Argos,
nor his daughter, would have suffered their royal blood to be stained
with the base name of a subjection. So that I came into this country
as apparent princess thereof, and accordingly was courted and followed
of all the ladies of this country. My port and pomp did well become a
king of Argos’s daughter: in my presence their tongues were turned
into ears, and their ears were captives unto my tongue; their eyes
admired my majesty, and happy was he or she, on whom I would suffer
the beams thereof to fall. Did I go to church? It seemed the very gods
waited for me, their devotions not being solemnized till I was ready.
Did I walk abroad to see any delight? Nay, my walking was the delight
itself: for to it was the concourse, one thrusting upon another, who
might show himself most diligent and serviceable towards me: my sleeps
were enquired after, and my wakings never unsaluted: the very gate of
my house full of principal persons, who were glad if their presents
had received a grateful acceptation. And in this felicity wert thou
born, the very earth submitting itself unto thee to be trodden as by
his prince; and to that pass had my husband’s virtue (by my good help)
within short time brought it, with a plot we laid, as we should not
have needed to have waited the tedious work of a natural end of
Basilius, when the heavens (I think envying my great felicity) then
stopped thy father’s breath, when he breathed nothing but power and
sovereignty. Yet did not thy orphancy, or my widowhood, deprive us of
the delightful prospect which the hill of honour doth yield, while
expectation of thy succession did bind dependencies unto us.
“But before, my son, thou wert come to the age to feel the sweetness
of authority, this beast (whom I can never name with patience) falsely
and foolishly married this Gynecia, then a young girl, and brought her
to sit above me in all feasts, to turn her shoulder to me-ward in all
our solemnities. It is certain it is not so great a spite to be
surmounted by strangers as by one’s own allies. Think then what my
mind was, since withal there is no {308} question, the fall is greater
from the first to the second, than from the second to the undermost.
The rage did swell in my heart so much the more as it was fain to be
suppressed in silence, and disguised with humbleness. But above all
the rest, the grief of griefs was, when with these two daughters, now
thy prisoners, she cut off all hope of thy succession. It was a
tedious thing to me that my eyes should look lower than anybody’s,
that (myself being by) another’s voice than mine should be more
respected. But it was unsupportable unto me to think that not only I,
but thou, should’st spend all thy time in such misery, and that the
sun should see my eldest son less than a prince. And though I had been
a saint I could not choose, finding the change this change of fortune
bred unto me: for now from the multitude of followers, silence grew to
be at my gate, and absence in my presence. The guess of my mind could
prevail more before than now many of my earnest requests. And thou (my
dear son) by the fickle multitude no more than an ordinary person
(born of the mud of the people) regarded. But I (remembering that in
all miseries weeping becomes fools, and practice wise folks) have
tried divers means to pull us out of the mire of subjection. And
though many times fortune failed me, yet did I never fail myself. Wild
beasts I kept in a cave hard by the lodges, which I caused by night to
be fed in the place of their pastorals. I as then living in my house
hard by the place, and against the hour they were to meet (having kept
the beasts without meat) then let them loose, knowing that they would
seek their food there, and devour what they found. But blind fortune
hating sharp-sighted inventions, made them unluckily to be killed.
After I used my servant Clinias to stir a notable tumult of country
people; but those louts were too gross instruments for delicate
conceits. Now lastly, finding Philanax’s examinations grow dangerous,
I thought to play double or quit, and with a slight I used of my
fine-witted wench Artesia, with other maids of mine, would have sent
those goodly inheritrixes of Arcadia to have pleaded their cause
before Pluto, but that over fortunately for them, you made me know the
last day how vehemently this childish passion of love doth torment
you. Therefore I have brought them unto you, yet wishing rather hate
than love in you. For hate often begetteth victory, love commonly is
the instrument of subjection. It is true that I would also by the same
practice have entrapped the parents, but my maids failed of it, not
daring to tarry long about it. But this sufficeth, since (these being
taken away) you are the undoubted inheritor, and Basilius will not
long over-live this loss.”
“O mother,” said Amphialus, “speak not of doing them hurt, no more
than to mine eyes, or my heart, or if I have anything more dear than
eyes or heart unto me. Let others find what sweetness {309} they will
in ever fearing, because they ever are feared: for my part, I will
think myself highly entitled, if I may be once by Philoclea accepted
for a servant.” “Well,” said Cecropia, “I would I had born you of my
mind, as well as of my body, then should you not have sunk under those
base weaknesses. But since you have tied your thoughts in so wilful a
knot, it is happy my policy hath brought matters to such a pass that
you may both enjoy affection, and upon that build your sovereignty.”
“Alas!” said Amphialus, “my heart would fain yield you thanks for
setting me in the way of felicity, but that fear kills them in me
before they are fully born. For if Philoclea be displeased, how can I
be pleased? if she count it unkindness, shall I give tokens of
kindness? perchance she condemns me of this action, and shall I
triumph, perchance she drowns now the beauties I love with sorrowful
tears, and where is then my rejoicing?” “You have reason,” said
Cecropia with a feigned gravity; “I will therefore send her away
presently that her contentment may be recovered.” “No good mother,”
said Amphialus, “since she is here, I would not for my life constrain
presence, but rather would I die than consent to absence.” “Pretty
intricate follies,” said Cecropia, “but get you up and see how you can
prevail with her, while I go to the other sister. For after, we shall
have our hands full to defend ourselves if Basilius hap to besiege
us.” But remembering herself she turned back and asked him what he
would have done with Zelmane, since now he might be avenged of his
hurt? “Nothing but honourably,” answered Amphialus, “having deserved
no other of me, especially being (as I hear) greatly cherished of
Philoclea, and therefore I could wish they were lodged together.” “O
no,” said Cecropia, “company confirms resolutions, and loneliness
breeds a weariness of one’s thoughts, and so a sooner consenting to
reasonable proffers.”
But Amphialus (taking of his mother Philoclea’s knives, which he kept
as a relic since she had worn them) got up, and calling for his
richest apparel, nothing seemed sumptuous enough for his mistress’s
eyes; and that which was costly, he feared was not dainty; and though
the invention were delicate, he misdoubted the making. As careful he
was too of the colour; lest if gay he might seem to glory in his
injury, and her wrong; if mourning, it might strike some evil presage
unto her of her fortune. At length he took a garment more rich than
glaring, the ground being black velvet, richly embroidered with great
pearl, and precious stones, but they set so among certain tufts of
cypress that the cypress was like black clouds, through which the
stars might yield a dark lustre. About his neck he wore a broad and