The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
Therefore, they approaching one to the other, as in two beautiful
folks, love naturally stirs a desire of joining, so in their two
courages hate stirred a desire of trial. Then began there a combat
between them, worthy to have had more large lists, and more quiet
beholders: for with the spur of courage, and the bit of respect, each
so guided himself, that one might well see the desire to overcome made
them not forget how to overcome: in such time and proportion they did
employ their blows, that none of Ceres’s servants could more {331}
cunningly place his flail: while the left foot spur set forward his
own horse, the right set backward the contrary horse, even sometimes
by the advantage of the enemy’s leg, while the left hand, like him
that held the stern, guided the horse’s obedient courage. All done in
such order that it might seem the mind was a right prince indeed, who
sent wise and diligent lieutenants into each of those well-governed
parts. But the more they fought, the more they desired to fight; and
the more they smarted, the less they felt the smart: and now were like
to make a quick proof to whom fortune and valour would seem most
friendly, when, in comes an old governor of Amphialus, always a good
knight, and careful of his charge; who giving a sore wound to the
black knight’s thigh, while he thought not of him, with another blow
slew his horse under him. Amphialus cried to him that he dishonoured
him: “You say well,” answered the old knight, “to stand now like a
private soldier, setting your credit upon particular fighting, while
you may see Basilius with all his host is getting between you and your
town.” He looked that way, and found that true indeed, that the enemy
was beginning to encompass him about and stop his return: and
therefore causing the retreat to be sounded, his governor led his men
homeward, while he kept himself still hindmost, as if he had stood at
the gate of a sluice to let the stream go, with such proportion as
should seem good unto him, and with so manful discretion performed it,
that (though with loss of many of his men) he returned himself safe,
and content, that his enemies had felt how sharp the sword could bite
of Philoclea’s lover. The other party being sorry for the loss of
Philanax, was yet sorrier when the black knight could not be found:
for he having gotten a horse, whom his dying master had bequeathed to
the world, finding himself sore hurt, and not desirous to be known,
had in the time of the enemy’s retiring, retired away also; his thigh
not bleeding blood so fast, as his heart bled revenge. But Basilius
having attempted in vain to bar the safe return of Amphialus, encamped
himself as strongly as he could, while he, to his grief, might hear
the joy that was made in town by his own subjects, that he had that
day sped no better. For Amphialus, being well beloved of that people,
when they saw him not vanquished, they esteemed him as victorious, his
youth setting a flourishing show upon his worthiness and his great
nobility ennobling his dangers.
But the first thing Amphialus did, being returned, was to visit
Philoclea, and first presuming to cause his dream to be sung unto her,
which he had seen the night before he fell in love with her, making a
fine boy he had accord the pretty dolefulness unto it.
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The song was this.
Now was our heavenly vault deprived of the light,
With sun’s depart: and now the darkness of the night,
Did light those beamy stars which greater light did dark:
Now each thing that enjoy’d that fiery quick’ning spark
(Which life is call’d) were mov’d their spirits to repose,
And wanting use of eyes, their eyes began to close;
A silence sweet each where with one consent embrac’d
(A music sweet to one in careful musing plac’d)
And mother earth, now clad in mourning weeds, did breathe
A dull desire to kiss the image of our death:
When I, disgraced wretch, not wretched then did give
My senses such relief, as they which quiet live,
Whose brains boil not in woes, nor breasts with beatings ache,
With nature’s praise are wont in safest home to take.
Far from my thoughts was aught, where to their minds aspire
Who under courtly pomps do hatch a base desire.
Free all my powers were from those captivating snares,
Which heav’nly purest gifts defile with muddy cares.
Nay could my soul itself accuse of such a fault,
As tender conscience might with furious pangs assault.
But like the feeble flower, whose stalk cannot sustain
His weighty top, his top downward doth drooping lean:
Or as the silly bird in well-acquainted nest
Doth hide his head with cares, but only to rest:
So I in simple course, and unentangled mind,
Did suffer drowsy lids mine eyes, then clear, to blind;
And laying down mine head, did nature’s rule observe,
They first their youth forgot, then fancies lost their force;
Till deadly sleep at length possess’d my living corpse.
A living corpse I lay: but ah my wakeful mind
(Which made of heav’nly stuff, no mortal change doth blind)
Flew up with freer wings of fleshly bondage free;
And having plac’d my thoughts, my thoughts thus placed me.
Methought, nay sure I was, I was in fairest wood,
Of Samothea land, a land which whilom stood
An honour to the world, while honour was their end,
And while their line of years they did in virtue spend.
But there I was, and there my calmy thoughts I fed
On nature’s sweet repast, as healthful senses led.
Her gifts my study was, her beauty were my sport,
My work her works to know, her dwelling my resort.
Those lamps of heav’nly fire to fixed motion bound,
The ever turning spheres, the never moving ground;
What essence dest’ny hath, if fortune be or no;
Whence our immortal souls to mortal earth do flow:
What life it is, and how that all these lives do gather,
With outward maker’s force, or like an inward father.
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Such thoughts, methought, I thought, and strain’d my single mind,
Then void of nearer care, the depth of things to find,
When lo with hugest noise, such noise a tower makes
When it blown down with wind, a fall of ruin takes,
Or, such a noise it was, as highest thunders send,
Or cannons thunder-like, all shot together lend.
The moon asunder rent, whereout with sudden fall
(More swift than falcon’s stoop to feeding falconer’s call)
There came a chariot fair, by doves and sparrows guided,
Whose storm-like course stay’d not till hard by me it bided.
I wretch astonished was, and thought the deathful doom,
Of heaven, of earth, of hell, of time and place was come.
But straight there issued forth two ladies, ladies sure
They seemed to me, on whom did wait a virgin pure.
Strange were the ladies’ weeds, yet more unfit than strange.
The first with clothes tucked up, as nymphs in woods do range,
Tucked up even with the knees with bow and arrows pressed:
Her right arm naked was, discovered was her breast.
But heavy was her pace, and such a meagre cheer,
As little hunting mind, God knows, did there appear.
The other had with art, more than our women know,
As stuff meant for the sale, set out to glaring show,
A wanton woman’s face, and with curl’d knots had twin’d
Her hair, which by the help of painter’s cunning shin’d,
When I such guests did see come out of such a house,
The mountains great with child, I thought brought forth a mouse,
But walking forth, the first thus to the second said,
“Venus come on.” Said she, “Diana you are obey’d.”
Those names abash’d me much, when those great names I heard:
Although their fame (meseem’d) from truth had greatly jarr’d.
As I thus musing stood, Diana call’d to her
The waiting nymph, a nymph that did excel as far
All things that erst I saw, as orient pearls exceed
That which their mother hight, or else their silly seed,
Indeed a perfect hew, indeed a sweet consent,
Of all those graces’ gifts the heavens have ever lent.
And so she was attir’d, as one that did not prize
Too much her peerless parts, nor yet could them despise.
But call’d, she came apace; apace, wherein did move
The band of beauty’s all, the little world of love.
And bending humbled eyes (O eyes the sun of sight)
She waited mistress’s will; who thus disclos’d her spright;
“Sweet Mira mine,” quoth she, “the pleasure of my mind,
In whom of all my rules the perfect proof I find;
To only thee, thou seest, we grant this special grace
Us to attend, in this most private time and place.
Be silent therefore now, and so be silent still
Of that thou seest; close up in secret not thy will.”
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She answered was with look, and well-perform’d behest:
And Mira I admir’d; her shape sunk in my breast.
But thus with ireful eyes, and face that shook with spite
Diana did begin, “What mov’d me to invite,
Your presence, sister dear, first to my moony sphere,
And hither now, vouchsafe to take with willing ear.
I know full well you know, what discord long hath reign’d
Betwixt us two; how much that discord foul hath stain’d
Both our estates, while each the other did deprave,
Proof speaks too much to us, that feeling trial have,
Our names are quite forgot, our temples are defac’d;
Our offerings spoil’d, our priests from priesthood are displac’d.
Is this the fruit of strife? those thousand churches high,
Those thousand altars fair now in the dust to lie?
In mortal minds, our minds but planets’ names preserve;
No knees once bowed, forsooth, for them they say we serve.
Are we their servants grown? no doubt a noble stay:
Celestial powers to worms, Jove’s children serve to clay.
But such they say we be: this praise our discord bred,
While we for mutual spite, a striving passion fed.
But let us wiser be; and what foul discord brake,
So much more strong again let fastest concord make,
Our years do it require; you see we both do feel
The weak’ning work of time’s for ever whirling wheel.
Although we be divine, our grandsire Saturn is
With age’s force decay’d, yet once the heaven was his.
And now before we seek by wise Apollo’s skill,
Our young years to renew, for so he saith he will,
Let us a perfect peace between us two resolve;
Which least the ruinous want of government dissolve,
Let one the princess be, to her the other yield:
For vain equality is but contention’s field.
And let her have the gifts that should in both remain;
In her let beauty both, and chasteness fully reign.
So as if I prevail, you give your gifts to me,
If you, on you I lay what in my office be.
Now resteth only this, which of us two is she,
To whom precedence shall of both accorded be,
For that, so that you like, hereby doth lie a youth,”
(She beckoned unto me) “as yet of spotless truth;
Who may this doubt discern: for better wit, then lot,
Becometh us: in us fortune determines not.
This crown of amber fair,” (an amber crown she held)
“To worthiest let him give, when both he hath beheld:
And be it as he saith.” Venus was glad to hear
Such proffer made, which she well show’d with smiling cheer,
As though she were the same, as when by Paris’ doom
She had chief goddesses in beauty overcome.
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And smirkly thus gan say, “I never sought debate,
Diana dear, my mind to love and not to hate
Was ever apt: but you my pastimes did despise.
I never spited you, but thought you overwise.
Now kindness proferr’d is, none kinder is than I;
And so most ready am this mean of peace to try;
And let him be our judge: the lad doth please me well.”
Thus both did come to me, and both began to tell;
For both together spoke, each loath to be behind,
That they by solemn oath their deities would bind,
To stand unto my will, their will they made me know
I that was first aghast, when first I saw their show;
Now bolder wax’d, wax’d proud, that I such sway must bear;