THE 
 
 COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE'S 
 
 A R C A D I A. 
 
 WRITTEN BY 
 
 SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, Knt. 
 
 'TES AM) INTRODUCTORY ES.-SAY BY HAIX FRISWELL, 
 AfTHOR OF "the GEXTLE LIFE," ETC., ETC. 
 
 I. .f',^ ,^y^ 
 
 London 
 
 I'N If'W. SON, 'V .\I .XKb'JUN; 
 
 MILTON" HOLSE, LUDGATE HIl.L. 
 
 New York: 
 HI, Rl) <V HOl GH ION. 
 
 I.S68. 
 
(i>3n^ 
 
 i 
 
(Jt ^^l^'-T ^- 
 
 mi 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY, K.G., 
 
 ETC., ETC, ETC., 
 
 NOT ALONE AS PRIME MINISTER OF ENGLAND AND 
 FOREMOST IN THE COUNCILS OF 
 
 THE queen; 
 
 BUT AS POSSESSOR OF A MORE ENDURING FAME 
 AS ORATOR, SCHOLAR, AND POET, 
 
 THIS EDITION OF 
 
 ^{)e Cf)icf mioxk of a "Noble ^utfjor," 
 
 NOBLE BY BIRTH, MORE NOBLE IN HIS MIND, 
 
 IS FITLY, AND BY PERMISSION, DEDICATED 
 
 BY 
 
 THE EDITOR, 
 
 (^^ ^0?) 
 
INTRODUCTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL 
 ESSAY. 
 
 ING Henry the Second brought with him 
 from Anjou, in 1154, one WiUiam Sidney, 
 who, being knighted for service in battle, had 
 the manor of Sutton granted to him, and was 
 chamberlain to the King. In lineal descent from him 
 was William Sidney, who commanded the right wing of 
 the army victorious at Flodden. He died in 1554,1/ 
 leaving a son, Henry, who was the father of Philip 
 by Lady Mary Dudley. Henry Sidney, a man of 
 "comehness of person, gallantness and liveliness of 
 spirit, virtue, quality, beauty and good composition of 
 body, the only odd man and paragon of the court,"* 
 was, injL5.5o^nighted, in company with WiUiam Cecil, 
 afterwards Lord Burghley. He was in great favour with 
 the court ; and in July, 1553, King Edward VI. died at 
 
 * Holinshed, vol. iii., p. 1548, cited by Mr. Fox Bourne. 
 
viii Introductory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 Greenwich, after uttering a noble prayer, says Mr. 
 Bourne, which closed with the following words : " O my 
 Lord God, defend this realm from Papistry, and maintain 
 Thy true religion, that I and my people may praise Thy 
 holy name ! " Then he said, " I am faint ; Lord have 
 mercy upon me, and take my spirit ;" and looking to- 
 wards Sir Henry Sidney, fell into his arms and expired. 
 
 Of his mother Sir Philip was as proud as he was of his 
 father. Referring to the Duke of No-rthumberland, in 
 his defence of the Earl of Leicester, Philip wrote, " I 
 am a Dudley in blood, that Duke's daughter's son ; and 
 do acknowledge, — though, in all truth, I may justly 
 affirm that I am, by my father's side, of ancient and 
 always well-esteemed and well-matched gentry, — yet I 
 do acknowledge, I say, that my chiefest honour is to 
 be a Dudley." Of seven children Philip wa s the eldes t ; 
 the second chil d was Mar y, for whpm the " Arcadia " 
 was written, who married Henry Herbert, Earl of Pem- 
 broke, and, dying, was celebrated in an ever-living epitaph 
 by Ben Jonson, as " Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother." 
 On the death of King Edward Sir Henry had retired to 
 Penshurst, in Kent, and there, in 1554, on the 29th of 
 November, Philip Sidney w^as bom. The King's last 
 prayer had, at least, no immediate answer. " Papistry " 
 had come back to England with redoubled vigour ; the 
 smoke of fires ascended to, and the cries and groans of 
 martyrs were heard at, the gates of Heaven, and treason 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. ix 
 
 had done its worst with the Sidney family. One grand- 
 father of the babe had died just in time, another had 
 been beheaded — recanting and apologising ; one uncle 
 perished at the block, another escaped life and a prison 
 at the same time. Sir Henry, whose mother had been 
 governess to Edward VL, and whose aunt had been to 
 the same prince " such as among meaner personages is 
 called a dry nurse, and from the time he left off sucking 
 lay with him in bed so long as he remained in women's 
 government," was loyal to the prince's sister, Queen 
 Mary, " though neither hking nor hked as he had been." 
 On the 8th of November, 1554, all his former honours 
 were confirmed to the good knight by charter of Queen 
 Mary, and his first child, shortly afterwards born, was* 
 christened " Philip" in honour of Mary's husband, Philip 
 of Spain. Sir Henry was afterwards appointed Vice- 
 Treasurer of the Royal Revenues in Ireland, and served 
 there victoriously ; in 1558 Queen Elizabeth confirmed 
 him in his oftices. On the 14th of May, 1563, he was 
 made Knight of the Garter; in 1565 Lord Deputy in 
 Ireland, whenincreed~tiT^n;^ueen had but a small part of 
 that island to depute to any one, the O'Neil holding all 
 the northern and western parts, and therein leaving the 
 Queen nothing but "the miserable town of Carrickfergus." 
 But Sir Henry was a good soldier. He harassed the 
 O'Neil, defeated him whenever he showed a head, and 
 the Irish faction, being brought very low, treacherously 
 
X Introductory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 rose on and slew their chieftain, and brought to the 
 Enghsh captain "his head pickled in a pipkin."* 
 
 Sir Henry was a wise and good governor, and did all 
 he could to help the poor people, torn, distressed, and 
 impoverished by factions and war. He never, he says, 
 with pity, " saw more waste and desolate land." Noble 
 walled towns, once with three hundred substantial house- 
 holders, now with but four, and they ready to leave the 
 place. All their cry is " Succour ! succour ! succour !'' 
 Succour and peace he gave them, and returned to Eng- 
 land in 1564, to recruit his health. When Lord President 
 of the Marches, Sir Henry had lived in Ludlow Castle, 
 on the southern border of Shropshire, and his celebrated 
 son was sent to school at Shrewsbury, under Thomas 
 Ashton, a man known for learning, and at Oxford 
 perhaps a college friend of Sir Henry. Philip made 
 good progress, and was renowned, says Ashton, " for 
 such staidness of mind, lovely and familiar gravity, a talk 
 ever of knowledge, his very play tending to enrich his 
 mind. Which eminence in nature and industry made 
 his worthy father style Sir Philip in my hearing, though 
 I unseen, Liunen familice su(e''-\ So early does Philip 
 begin to shine ; when the learned Ashton wrote his 
 letter he was about eleven, for some time in 1568, when 
 but thirteen, he went to Oxford, and was for some 
 
 * Bourne's Memoir of Sir Philip Sidney, p. 14. 
 t Life of the Renowned Sir P. Sidney, 1652. 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. xi 
 
 time a member of Christchurch, where he seems to have 
 been considered as of rare merit. And, indeed, he was 
 born to be loved. No young man ever won at so 
 early an age so great a fame ; for Sidney was not loved 
 and a dmired for h is "Arcadia" so much as the book 
 was joyjed_arui-a4mired forjts author. How was this 'I 
 Surely no man, however well born and placed, could 
 achieve so sweet and lasting a fame in these days ; 
 and truly the praisers of time past, a numerous and 
 not altogether an unreasoning people, are borne out by 
 great authorities when they say that the days of Queen 
 Elizabeth, in the genius to which they gave birth, sur- 
 passed our own days of Queen Victoria. " They [the 
 English] had then," says Thomas Carlyle, " their Shake- 
 speare and Sir Philip Sidney, where we have our Sheridan 
 Knowles and Beau Brummel."* This is putting the 
 matter in a nutshell. Not even the most enthusiastic 
 admirer of the clever Irish dramatist would dare to com- 
 pare him with Shakespeare ; and no one who cares to take 
 up the cudgels for that curious man and original fop, 
 Brummel — a man of singular history, and a peculiar, if 
 not original, genius^ for dandyism — could for a moment 
 mention him by the side of the young, noble, and exalted 
 knight, whose name has become a synonym for all that 
 appertains to the soldier, the courtier, and the gentleman. 
 The sovereigns that these two men served were not more 
 * Carlyle, "Miscell." vol. ii. p. no. 
 
xii Introductory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 different than their courtiers : from Elizabeth to George 
 the Fourth how great the stride ! Whatever may be the 
 opinion formed of Ehzabeth, " the greatest king that 
 ever ruled in England," — whether we regard her as a 
 hypocrite, a tyrant, or a self-immolated martyr to her 
 people and her country, and a virgin queen, — there can 
 be as little doubt of her ability as there is of the high 
 power to which she raised the country which had the 
 happiness to be governed by her. In no possible way is 
 she to be compared to George the Fourth, any more 
 than the great Tudor family can be compared to the 
 house of Hanover. Even in her love of gorgeous appajel 
 there was a queenly instinct of a noble kind ; whereas 
 George the Fourth had the spirit of a tailor, and " the 
 first gentleman in Europe," as he was called, only distin- 
 guished himself, as Thackeray said in his bitter qiiasi- 
 epitaph, " by a skill in cutting coats." So Brummel the 
 Beau, although in his way a courtier, is utterly distinct 
 from Sir Walter Raleigh, the noble fop — if such a word 
 is not an insult applied to him— and from Sir Philip 
 Sidney, the poetic frequenter of the court, perfect at all 
 points. It would be useless to strain the comparison 
 any further ; great and pure in his hfe, beautiful and ele- 
 vated in his thoughts, at all times entering on or tread- 
 ing the high region of poetic fancy. Sir Philip Sidney has 
 left a name which will always be quoted when one desires 
 an instance of that noble ideal, the Enghsh gentleman. 
 
Introductory a7id Biographical Essay. xlii 
 
 Dr. Zouch states that Philip went also to Cambridge ; 
 if he did, it was not for long, for at the age of seventeen 
 he went on his travels, memorable enough for him, for 
 he was one of those indignant Englishmen who, taking 
 refuge with the English ambassador, Sir Francis Wal- 
 singham, said their prayers, with loaded fire-arms and 
 drawn swords, and in bated breath, while Sir Francis 
 looked from his window at the brutal massacre of Saint 
 Bartholomew. Escaping Paris, Sidney went to Hun- 
 gary, Italy, and Germany, where Jie made a firm 
 friend of Hubert Languet, a man of great learning, 
 and^a friend of Melancthon, and in 1575 returned to 
 England. Next year, at the age of twenty-one, he 
 was appointed ambassador to the Emperor of Austria, 
 where he contracted a friendship with the famous Don 
 John. Speaking too openly against the project of the 
 Queen's marriage with the Duke of Anjou, he aban- 
 doned the court, and in retirement, at the seat of his 
 brother-in-law the Earl of Pembroke, wrote his "Ar- 
 cadia." The romance, dedicated to his sister — a married 
 woman, it is well to remember, in excuse of certain pas- 
 sages — was never intended for publication. 
 
 In 1583 he received the honour of knighthood; three 
 years afterwards he was made Governor of Flushing, and 
 general of the troops sent to the assistance oflhe United 
 Provinces, then at war with the Roman Catholic powers ; 
 and at this time his reputation for learning, gentleness, 
 
xiv Introductory and Biogj'aphical Essay. 
 
 wisdom, valour, and true knighthood stood so high that 
 he was thought a fit candidate for the crown of Poland. 
 Queen Elizabeth, whose loyal subject he was, would not 
 allow him to be put in nomination, because she said — 
 and such a sentence to such a man was more than a 
 crown — she could not brook " the loss of the jewel of her 
 dominions." 
 
 That jewel was soon, however, to be lost in another 
 way. Mounting his third horse (two had been slain 
 under him) at the bloody battle of Zutphen, he received 
 a mortal wound !n his thigh, probably injuring the fe- 
 ^ moral artery. This, and death, were owing to his 
 chivalric gallantr}^ He was well armed when he went 
 to the field, but meeting Sir William Pelham, lord mar- 
 shal of the English camp, without armour lower than 
 his breastplate, Sidne}^ threw off his cuisses and was fore- 
 most in the attack. The English, assailed on all sides, 
 repelled their enemies, but a shot from an ambush struck 
 Sidney in the left leg above the knee, splintering the 
 bone. Faint with excess of bleeding, and carried along 
 towards the place where was his uncle and general, the 
 Earl of Leicester, he called for drink, " which," says 
 Lord Brooke, " was presently brought unto him." As 
 he was putting the bottle to his mouth, he saw a poor 
 soldier carried along, " who had eaten his last at that 
 same feast (of death or glory), ghastly casting his eyes at 
 the bottle ; which Sir Philip perceiving, took from his 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. xv 
 
 head before he drunk, and delivered it to the poor man 
 with these words, 'Thy necessity is yet greater than 
 mine.'"* These touching words, and this knightly act, 
 will be remembered as the last words of Sidney, who, 
 however, lived afterwards for twenty-five days ; and, 
 when dead, he was, by the order of his Queen, brought 
 home to the shores of the country which he had loved, 
 served, and adorned, and buried with great state in the 
 heart of a mighty city, in the old cathedral of St. 
 Paul's. 
 
 Impetuous, brave, transparent as a fair casement, 
 graceful, accomplished as a scholar and as a knight, 
 whether in the tournament or on the battle-field, a lover 
 of his word, generous and open-handed, a sacrificer of 
 himself, pure in his morals, unsullied in his honour, he 
 had gained the love and esteem of all those who had the 
 happiness to meet him. His memory is a very pleasant 
 one to reflect on ; it does honour to our nation ; is 
 bright, gentle, satisfying, and indeed flattering to our 
 pride. Sidney never said a foolish or mean thing, 
 and he did a thousand generous ones, of which his 
 last act was but the crowning grace. We accept him 
 as the type of what an English gentleman should be. 
 He hated anything that was sordid and mean ; his very 
 faults we identify with the true, open sunshine-character 
 
 * Fulke Greville, p. 145. "Leicester Correspondence," p. 416. 
 
xvi Introducioiy and Biographical Essay. 
 
 of the man. In his "Astrophel and Stella"* is the 
 sentence — which should be above every author's desk — 
 "Looke in thy heart, and write;" advice which Sidney ever 
 followed. Sometimes therefore, we get anger and hasty 
 words out of that heart, but never meanness, falsehood, 
 or cowardice. Thus, believing that his father's secretary 
 had betrayed him, and had been peeping and prying into 
 his letters, he wrote — " Mr. Molyneux : Few words are 
 best. My letters to my father have come to the eyes of 
 some ; neither can I blame any one but you for it. If it 
 be so, you have played the very knave with me. . . If 
 I do know you henceforward read any letter that I write 
 to my father, without his commandment or my consent, 
 I will thrust my dagger into you : and trust to it, for I 
 speak it in earnest. In the mean time, farewell." 
 
 This is not the very gentle Sidney ; but every one is 
 aware that the best of us are not always angelic, forbear- 
 ing, and wise. Poor Mr. Molyneux, it appears more- 
 over, was wholly innocent. 
 
 * In which we find the origin of the form of verse made famous 
 by Mr. Tennyson in "In Memoriam," and some curious parallels. 
 Sidney's lamentation is on the unkindness of a mistress, Tennyson's 
 on the death of a friend; and thus the verses run together : — 
 
 Sid. Ring out ymtr bells ; let mourning shows be spread. 
 
 Ten. Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky. 
 
 Sid. I see the house ; my heart, thyself contain. 
 
 Ten. Dark house by which once more I stand. 
 
 Sid. My friend that saici'st through all vias/cs viy 7voe. 
 
 Ten. The dead shall look me through and through. 
 There are many other parallel thoughts and lines; and yet one poet 
 may have never read the other's works. 
 
Ifitrodudory and Biographical Essay. xvii 
 
 Sidney's truest and best romance lay in his life ; but 
 yet there is and will ever be something very charming 
 in his romance, the " Arcadia." Everybody read the ^V^ 
 " Arcadia " when it was published, about four years 
 after Sidney's death, although when dying he had de- 
 sired it to be destroyed; but, after passing through 
 eleven editions, it fell into a comparative oblivion ; and 
 this, too, as well as its success, is due to the book itself, 
 for it is a very long romance, with a great deal of action 
 in it, and full of romantic incidents ; nor is the actual 
 thread of the narrative broken. Yet it certainly 
 contains elements of success, since, in addition to the 
 merits above mentioned, it possesses some of the 
 most natural and charming writing, some of the purest 
 and most elevated conceptions, ever put forward. Cow- 
 per, the poet, a man of rare sensibility, has truly de- 
 scribed the author as " S idney, warbler o f poetic prose ;" 
 so much does he warble, that there are few pages in the 
 folio that do not contain perfect gems in writing, far better v 
 than any that are to be found in his poetry. Thus, in 
 one immortal passage, a shepherd boy is described 
 ''piping as though he never should grow old;" and 
 Parthenia's beauty is thus described — " Her hps, though 
 they kept close with modest silence, yet, with a pretty 
 kind of natural sweUing, seemed to invite the guests that 
 looked on them; her cheeks, blushing when she was 
 spoken unto, a little smiling, were like roses, when their 
 
 b 
 
XVlll 
 
 Introductory and Biographical Essay, 
 
 le^2i£S--a4:dJimthr-a-liltle^birM stirred." There is, more- 
 over, in addition to such passages, an innate manUness 
 in the book. " Oh," says an old gentleman to the 
 younger ones, "you will never live to my age unless 
 you keep yourself in "breath with exercise, a? id in heart 
 ivith joy fulness : too much thinking doth consume the 
 spirits j and oft it falls out that, when one thinks too 
 much of his doing, he leaves to do the effect of his 
 thinking."* In describing two young princes, he does 
 not waste words, like our late novelists, on the situation, 
 riches, fine dresses, power, and beauty of such, but goes 
 at once to the heart of the matter. Their " knowledge 
 was worthy of all princes, both to move them to do nobly 
 and to teach them how to do nobly, the beauty of Virtue 
 being still [ever] set before their eyes, and that taught 
 them with far more diligent care than grammatical 
 rules." They were also " exercised in all methods 
 both of doing and suffering ; " and, lastly, we are 
 told in a sentence which speaks to the heart of a 
 good man as a trumpet does to that of a soldier, 
 " Nature had done so much for them in nothing as 
 that it had made them lo?'ds of Truth, whereon all 
 other goods were builded." 
 
 Such are the merits and beauties of the "Arcadia" that 
 
 * Shakespeare surely had Arcadia in his eye when he wrote 
 his most charming comedy, " As You Like It." Arden is Arcadia; 
 and old Adam talks in much the same strain of his youth as does this 
 old gentleman. 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. xix 
 
 its great drawbacks — want of co mprehensible plot, an 
 utter entanglement of the thread of the story, and, from 
 numerous disguises, the inability of the reader to distin- 
 guish the heroes and heroines — are forgotten by one who 
 loves and admires poetic writing. But, on the other 
 hand, these drawbacks are so great that it is very difficult 
 to relate succinctly what the story is. Shakespeare, our 
 great character-painter, was only twenty-two when Sidney 
 died, and had not taught our writers to invent character, 
 and to give a living interest to all that they invented. 
 Then, again, Arcadia is in Greece — a fabulous and 
 semi-pagan Greece, utterly unlike that of Pericles and 
 Plato, or mediaeval Greece, or any other place with, 
 which modern knowledge is acquainted : and young 
 people, with every good quality, and every beauty, wan- 
 der about in woods, are taken by pirates, kill lions and 
 bears, fall in love with each other, believe in Christianity 
 and heathen gods, wear armour like Tudor knights, yea, 
 dress up as Amazons, and fight with the Helots and 
 Lacedaemonians, in a terribly confusing way. Even 
 Sidney's warmest admirer, William Stigant, M.A., con- 
 fesses that, for a reader properly to understand the 
 novel, a biography of each person, and a description 
 of his disguises, should be prefixed to the bookj* 
 
 * '* We should find our way more easily through the labyrinth if 
 a biographical dictionary were at hand of all the inhabitants of this 
 strange land." — Cambridge Essays, 1858, p. 117. 
 
 b2 
 
 ^ 
 
XX j7itrodiictory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 while Hazlitt plainly calls Sidney's book tedious, dry, 
 and silly. "Nothing," says Dr. Drake, "can be more 
 incompact and nerveless than the style of Sidney ;" but 
 this is eminently untrue, — the style is beautiful. It is 
 
 ^ the want of human interest that makes the story nerve- 
 less. When we complain of Sidney, we forget how much 
 our great novelists have taught us, and how it is that, 
 imperceptibly to them, even the smallest writers have 
 learnt how to make their pages lively by wit, and in- 
 teresting from the living humanity of their characters. 
 
 That the romance has been tedious to some there is 
 little doubt. Horace Walpole, who could admire his 
 own " Castle of Otranto," could by no means understand, 
 much less appreciate, Sidney's book. He has not even 
 included him among his " Royal and Noble Authors," 
 but, in a notice of Sidney's friend, Fulke Greville, Lord 
 Brcoke, thus speaks of him : — " No man seems to me so 
 astonishing an object of temporary admiration as the 
 /celebrated friend of the Lord Brooke, the famous Sir 
 Phihp Sidney. The learned of Europe dedicated their 
 works to him. The republic of Poland thought him at 
 least worthy to be put in nomination for their crown. 
 All the houses of England wept his death. When we at 
 this distance of time inquire what prodigious merits ex- 
 cited such admiration, what do we find ? Great valour 1 
 
 t But' it was an age of heroes. In full of all other 
 talents, we have a tedious, lamentable, pedantic, pastoral 
 
LiU'oductory and Biographical Essay. xxi 
 
 romance, which the patience of a young virgin in love 
 cannot now wade through; and some absurd attempts to 
 fetter EngUsh verse in Roman chains— a proof that this 
 applauded author understood little of the genius of his 
 own country." The age of George II. was, in good 
 truth, unable to comprehend that of Elizabeth. Walpole 
 returns to the charge in a note. He had been blamed, 
 he said, " for not mentioning Sir Philip's Defence of 
 Poetry, which some think his best work. / had indeed 
 forgot it when I wrote this article. Nor can I conceive 
 how a man who had in some respects written dully and 
 weakly, and who was at most far inferior to our best 
 writers, had obtained such immense reputation. Let 
 his merits and his fame be weighed together, and then 
 let it be determined whether the world has over-valued 
 or I under-valued Sir Philip Sidney." And again, after 
 slight praise of Sidney's answer to the famous libel, 
 " Leicester's Commonwealth " — " He defends his uncle 
 with great spirit. What had been said in derogation to 
 their blood seems to have touched Sir Fhilip most.''* Wal- 
 pole has another fling at the hero whom he cannot 
 understand. " He died with the rashness of a volunteer, 
 after having lived to write with the sajig-froid and pro- 
 lixity of Mademoiselle Scuderi." 
 
 Walpole would have understood him if he could ; but 
 
 * See ante, p. viii. ; it was the Dudley blood of which Sidney was 
 so proud. 
 
xxii Introducto7'y and Biographical Essay. 
 
 there are those whose spirits move in charmed circles, 
 and they who are outside such circles cannot comprehend 
 them. It was about the time that Walpole was penning 
 this disastrous criticism — and he was far from being a 
 bad dilettante critic — that young Chatterton appealed 
 to him — uselessly, as we know — and then, without a 
 helping hand, and with a rash impatience we all must 
 deplore, " perished in his pride," a very wreck of genius, 
 leaving us to marvel what he might have done. He 
 could have understood Sidney, and would have been 
 charmed with the singular grace, felicity of expression, 
 and sweet purity of the "Arcadia." We are in the high 
 mountain region of imperial fancy, and our guide is 
 scarcely to be blamed if we are unable to appreciate the 
 prospect. Sidney's sentiments, always naturally and 
 delicately expressed, are very pure and noble ; and if 
 to read Fielding after modern novels is, as has been 
 well said, like walking over a breezy heath after being 
 confined to the unwholesome air of a stifling chamber, 
 then the atmosphere of Arcadia must be very rarefied 
 and pure indeed ; such breezes as would blow only 
 round the higher belts of Parnassus. 
 
 " All confess," says Fulke Greville, " that Arcadia 
 of his to be, in form and matter, as inferior to that 
 unbounded spirit as other men's wishes are raised above 
 the writers' capacities. But the truth is, his aid was not 
 wiHting while he wrote, but both his wit and understand- 
 
/ 
 
 l7iti'odiicto7'y and Biographical Essay. xxiii 
 
 ing leant upon his heart, to make himself and others, not 
 in words and opinion, but in hfe and action, good and 
 great." This is a noble vindication of him as a writer. 
 Moreover, we must remember that Sidney begged that 
 his book might be destroyed ; that he did not even read 
 the sheets as they left his hand ; that no portion was 
 printed during his life ; and that the first two books 
 and a portion of the third are the only parts in any 
 manner co7?ipleted by himself* Ben Jonson told Drum- 
 mond of Hawthornden that he knew Sir Phihp Sidney 
 meant to transform the " Arcadia " into an English 
 romance, of which the hero should be King Arthur. 
 This notion of writing perfectly English romance, which 
 is said to be the life-dream of our present Laureate, is 
 much happier than that of casting his story " in some 
 cloud-cuckoo land, inhabited by knights and ladies, whose j 
 manners are taken from chivalry, whose talk is Platonic, 
 and whose religion is Pagan." But we must fain read the 
 "Arcadia" as it is ; and its beauties are such, that when 
 they are a little accustomed to the treatment, surely 
 almost all readers will be delighted to be introduced to 
 Sidney in the portable and readable form which, after 
 much trouble and doubt, is here attempted. 
 
 Sidney also wrote a very noble " Defence of Poesie," 
 and was so charmed with the description of the Cave of 
 Despair by^ Spenser,. who had dedicated to him "The 
 * Stigant's Sir P. Sidney. Cambridge Essays, 1858. 
 
xxiv Introductory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 Shepherd's Calendar," that he ordered ^loo to be given 
 to Spenser for every stanza that he read, till he threw 
 down the book, laying that if he read more he should 
 give away all his fortune.* He invited Spenser to Pens- 
 /hurst, where the two poets read Plato and Aristotle 
 *^ together, and talked poetry under the wide -spreading 
 % beeches and the tall chestnuts of the park. 
 \ But it is not in Sidney's books that we must look for 
 the hero ; his life was his best book. It was his honour, 
 his dignity, his accomplishments, his true heroism, the 
 noble spirit of the gentleman, that made everybody love 
 him. He was the ideal Englishman of a noble day. He 
 did nothing for money, but all for honour. Restless and 
 ever active, he was ready to share the glories of Drake, 
 Frobisher, Hawkins, and those who saved us from the 
 racks and thumbscrews ready prepared for the English 
 Protestants on board the Invincible Armada, although 
 he was godson of Philip of Spain ; or he would have 
 sailed with the noble and adventurous Sir Walter Raleigh. 
 He planned to go abroad with Drake, and fight the 
 Spaniards on the American main. " He was," says Lord 
 Brooke, " a man fit for conquest, plantation [colonisa- 
 tion], reformation, or whatever action is greatest and 
 
 * Todd, in his "Account of the Life and Writings of Spenser," 
 speaks of this story as most improbable ; and the author of the Life 
 of Spenser in the Biographia Britannica considers it an idle tale. We 
 give the anecdote for what it is worth. 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. xxv 
 
 bravest among men, and, withal, such a lover of 7na?ikind, 
 that whatsoever had any real parts in him found comfort, 
 participation, and protection, to the uttermost of his 
 power; Hke Zephyrus, he giving life wherever he blew." 
 This was the real secret why, as a courtier, even his 
 enemies loved him ; why, as a scholar, all poets admired 
 him ; why the universities abroad dedicated books to 
 him j and, to quote again the noble words of Lord 
 Brooke, " soldiers honoured him, and were so ho?ioured 
 by hi?n, that no man thought that he marched under the 
 true banner of Mars that had not obtained Sir PhiHp 
 Sidney's approbation." Simply, Sidney was, before and 
 above everything, a Christian gentleman. He came, as 
 we have shown, of noble stock. His father, Sir Henry, 
 in his wars in Ireland, where he did all to civilise the 
 savages he fought against, had always a cheering word 
 and brave face to show of a morning after his six hours' 
 sleep ; and, when things were at the darkest and most 
 dangerous pass, would turn round in his saddle and 
 address his soldiers as " good friends and loving com- 
 panions." This brave man taught his sons to love God 
 and truth first, and then to be cheerful. '' Let your first 
 action," he wrote to his son, " be the lifting up of your 
 mind to Almighty God by hearty prayer . . . then 
 give yourself to be merry ; for you degenerate frpm your 
 father if you find not yourself most able in wit and body 
 to do anything when you be most merry." His son, 
 
xxvi Intro dtictory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 from his very infancy, was the delight and reward of his 
 brave father and mother ; and that father happily went to 
 an honoured grave, mourned by his great Queen (who 
 sent the King-at-Arms to represent her in person), and 
 was buried in great state by her order. That mother in a 
 few months followed her noble husband, leaving alive 
 the son — himen familice suce — the very light of his family, 
 as his father had styled him. 
 
 But it was not for long that this light of the family was 
 to remain unquenched. " Sidney had tried," said Fulke 
 Greville, " not to write of, but to act out, a noble life." 
 His death was to be the test and crown of this, endeavour. 
 After his wound he was put on board his uncle's barge 
 and carried to Arnheim, where for five-and-twenty days 
 he lay dying, and, surrounded by his friends, " made be- 
 fore them such a confession of faith as no book but the 
 heart can feelingly disclose." He continually talked 
 with his friend and chaplain in those days, George Gif- 
 ford, of the unsearchable goodness of God ; he moralized 
 on his wound, and wrote a poem called " La Cuisse 
 Rompue," of which no portion remains. His wife, far 
 advanced in her pregnancy, hurried to watch by his bed- 
 side, and nursed him with all wifely tenderness, and with 
 her and George Gififord he often confessed his sins to God, 
 owning his unworthiness and praising God's mercy. He 
 talked much of the immortaUty of the soul, and delighted 
 not so much in the speculations of Plato, Aristotle, and 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. xxvii 
 
 Cicero, says one of his biographers, as in the assurances 
 of the Bible, and in cheering up his dying spirits to take 
 possession of that immortal inheritance which was given 
 to him by his brotherhood in Christ.^' Once, after Gifford's 
 praying with him and raising his spirits, and Sidney, 
 worn to a shadow, with his body mortifying, his blade 
 bones piercing through his skin, did now and then de- 
 spond, he rallied his faith to the support of his soul, and 
 said, as he contemplated the infinite wisdom and love of 
 God, " I would not change my joy for the empire of the 
 world. "t He made a very full and precise will, doing 
 justice to all his creditors, remembering all his friends 
 and his servants, and even as he was dying he cheered, 
 whilst chided, the grief of his friends, the most afflicted 
 amongst whom was Robert Sidney, his brother. 
 
 His last words to his brother and wife were, '' Love 
 my memory, cherish my friends : their faith to me will 
 assure you they are honest ; but, above all, govern your 
 will and your affections by the will and word of your 
 Creator." In the midst of his final agony, when he be- 
 wailed his life, noble as it was, as "Vain ! vain !" his 
 chaplain whispered in his ear to hold up his hand if he 
 still felt gladness and consolation in God. Sidney lifted 
 the wasted hand, waved it on high, and it then fell with 
 weakness ; he joined his palms on his breast, and with a 
 joyful last look went forward to the unknown world. 
 
 * Fulke Greville. f Cotton MS., quoted by Mr. Fox Bourne. 
 
xxviii Introductory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 And such was this young man, aged only thirty-two, 
 that even his Spanish enemies bewailed him ; the peasant 
 at Penshurst, the courtier with his Queen, the great Queen 
 herself, the meanest soldier in the camp, lamented him ; 
 and above two hundred authors wrote sad elegiacs on 
 his death. Brought home to London, the streets were 
 thronged ; the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, robed in 
 purple, and on stately horses — the deputies from foreign 
 States, came forth to follow his ashes ; English men and 
 women wept and sobbed aloud, and lamented for him as 
 a brother, and as the most beloved and first true gentle- 
 tleman of Europe. There is a lesson in such a life. 
 
 The principle on which this edition of the " Arcadia" 
 has been put through the press perhaps needs some expla- 
 nation. As the sheets of MS. left the hands of Sidney, 
 after the first book, or perhaps two, had been completed, 
 they were transmitted to his sister, the Countess of 
 Pembroke, and some of them mislaid and lost. Hence 
 one very great hiatus supplied by Sir William Alexander, 
 others by R(ichard) B(eling) and Mr. Johnstone. It 
 is also known that the Countess of Pembroke added to 
 the episodes, adventures, and strange turns, at least in 
 all the later books. Hence there is to be met with an 
 Arcadian undergrowth which needs mUch careful pruning 3 
 and this undertaken, with needful compression, will leave 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. xxix 
 
 the reader all that he desires of Sidney's own. Growing 
 like certain fanciful parasites upon forest trees, on the 
 books of the "Arcadia" are certain eclogues of laboriously- 
 written and fantastical poetry, some in Latin measures, 
 against which Walpole was right to protest, and anent 
 which Pope said — 
 
 "And Sidney's verse halts ill on Roman feet." 
 
 These have been boldly removed, without any loss, it is 
 believed, to the romance ; lastly, long episodes of no 
 possible use to the book, which we think have been 
 supplied by other hands than Sidney's, have, whilst using 
 their very words and phrases, been cut down. Tedious 
 excrescences have thus been removed, but it is to be 
 hoped with judgment, so that the reader gets all we think 
 is Sidney's, and without curb put upon his utterance. 
 Moreover, the spelling of the author in most obsolete 
 words is adhered to, and wherever the meaning of any 
 is obscure a note is added ; and these words, as will be 
 seen by the Glossarial Index, are many, and have been 
 carefully illustrated by examples taken from writers pre- 
 vious to, or contemporary with, Sidney, so that the study 
 of philology may be slightly helped by a perusal of this 
 charming romance. Otherwise it has been thought fit to 
 adhere to an uniform method of orthography; but this 
 makes little difference in our work. Tlius, in Book II., 
 there is a passage which is taken haphazard, so as to 
 
XXX Introductory and Biographical Essay. 
 
 show how httle variation there is between the speUing of 
 Sidney and our own. " But I had sw^m a very nttle 
 way, when I felt by reason of a wound that I had that I 
 should not be<? able to abide the travel ; and, therefore, 
 seeing the mast, whose tackling had been burnt off, fl^^te 
 clear from the ship, I swam unto it, and getting on it, I 
 found mine own sword, which by chance when I threw 
 it away, caught by a p<?(?ce of canvas, had hung to the mast. 
 I was glad, h^caus I loved it well." Now there are only four 
 words here in which we vary from Sidney, and the reader 
 will at once perceive them, the variations being italicized. 
 We have adopted the p. p. sworn as being true English ; we 
 have excised or added letters to bee^Jlote^ peece^2C(\A becaus 
 for the sake of uniformity, since the irregular way in which 
 Sidney's printers spelt the words adds nothing to our 
 knowledge nor our satisfaction. Where there is truly 
 good reason to retain the Sidneian form, it is always 
 retained ; so that, if, as it is sincerely hoped, the popu- 
 larity of this noble work revives, modern readers may 
 learn to love Sidney in his own noble and simple dress. 
 
 For his style, it is easy, flowing, and copious ; "legible," 
 indeed, as'Stigant says ; that is, easy to be read and un- 
 derstood after the involved and pedantic stuff vented by 
 too many of his predecessors. "Sidney," the same writer 
 adds, "be it always remembered,_was the first writer of 
 good English prose." He is so, and he needs no moderni- 
 zation^like that which the facile Mrs. Stanley attempted on 
 
Introductory and Biographical Essay. xxxi 
 
 him, who removed not only all the quaintnesses and con- 
 ceits, but the sweet bloom of diction, and every innocent 
 grace of art. Sidney's work is indeed " merimi sal — the 
 sweet food of sweetly uttered knowledge ;" and it must 
 have been read, and, as we have shown in the notes, made 
 good use of by Ben Jonson, Shakespeare, Beaumont and 
 Fletcher, and their contemporary dramatists, in whose 
 dramatis pei'soim many of his names are to be traced. 
 Shakespeare borrows Leontes, Antigonus, Cleomenes, 
 Archidaraus, and Mopsa, and the episode of the bear 
 from " Arcadia ;" and, although the " Winter's Tale " is 
 said to be taken from Robert Greene's " Pandosto," and 
 "As You Like It" from some other source, there are 
 traces of the " Arcadia" in the Bohemia and in the sweet 
 and enchanted forest of Arden. Of its own origin there 
 may be a little said. The time was a knightly one ; the 
 form of chivalry had died out, but its spirit was still with 
 us, though readers, tired of Bevis of Hampton, Tristram 
 of Lyoness, Denis of France and Palmerin of England, 
 or Amadis of Gaul, looked for others: hence Sidney's 
 modification of a knightly and pastoral romance, 
 something resembling those of Mademoiselle Scuderi, 
 and yet coloured more after the Arcadia of Sannazaro, 
 the Diana of Jorge de Montemayor, the Arcadia of Lope 
 de Vega, and Theagenes and Chariclea.* It is added 
 
 * Cited by Mr. Stigant, who also notices that from Sannazaro's 
 romance Shakespeare borrowed the name of Opheha — at any rate, it 
 is there. 
 
xxxii Introdudojy and Biographical Essay. 
 
 that many of the characters are from life. Musidorus 
 and Pyrocles are supposed to be Fulke Greville and 
 Sidney ; Philoclea and Pamela are Stella and the daughter 
 of Essex ; Cecropia, cruel, deceitful, bloody, is Catherine 
 de Medici, and the wise Euarchus Sir Henry Sidney. The 
 scenery of the "Arcadia" is said to have been taken 
 from that of Hackness, six miles N.W. of Scarborough. 
 This may be or may not be : it matters little. In the 
 copy of the tenth edition from which the present is 
 printed, a learned antiquary, Samuel Weston, did, 
 one hundred years ago, prefix on the fly-leaf a quo- 
 tation from Ovid, expressive of the open, fresh, and 
 mor7ii7ig feeUng that a perusal of the "Arcadia" pro- 
 duces ; and with this and its translation, very beautifully 
 done by the same hand, we take leave, wishing the 
 reader hearty welcome to these sweet Arcadian scenes. 
 
 ' ' Ecce vigil rutilo patefecit ab ortu 
 Purpureas Aurora fores, et plena rosarum 
 Atria." 
 
 " Behold, the wakeful Morn 
 Has in the east unbarr'd her purple gates, 
 And with red roses strew'd her vestibule." 
 
INDEX TO NOTES, 
 
 Glossarial and otherwise.^ 
 
 A DREAD, 154 
 affects, 389 
 alablaster, 319 
 aland, 130 — * 
 all-to, 182 
 anothergains, 179 
 Apostle's Mantle, 
 
 456 
 appassionate, 468 
 ascanses, 184 __ 
 
 Babies, 279 
 Baccha, 205 
 bachelry, 252 
 backside, 16 
 barley-break, 114 
 base, 5 
 bases, 84 
 battles, 274 
 
 bid, 151 
 
 bowl near the mis- 
 tress, 310 
 braul, 106 /yi.A'J*'' 
 bravely covered, 375 
 breeches, 85 
 bruits, 22 
 burgesses, 193 
 business, 348 
 
 Gates, 401 
 citizens, 50 
 comber, 287 
 conjuring, 177 
 cony-holes, 365 
 corner-look, 387 
 counter-buff, 363 
 curious, 453 
 cuts, 178 
 
 Daiphantus, 216 
 defeasance, 328 
 defi-aying, 1 1 
 defy, 298 
 deliver, 333 
 duke, 472 
 
 Ei-melin, 87 
 Erona, 173 
 exigent, 422 
 
 Fact, 29 
 
 flang, 294 — ^ 
 
 foined, 377 ""^ jfy\^. 
 
 forthright, 167 
 frembed, 116 — ^ {■/ 
 furmenty, 401— 
 furr, 113 
 
 * Some of the words in the above list have escaped the notice of our 
 best commentators on the old writers, and are now explained perhaps 
 for the first time. It is to be regretted that Sidney — a fruitful held for 
 philological labour — has met with so much neglect. At the same time 
 the Editor begs to acknowledge his obligations for some assistance 
 derived from the valuable works of Nares, Richardson, T. Wright, 
 R. Morris (" Specimens of Early English"), J. O. Halliwell, and many 
 others. 
 
XXXIV 
 
 Garboils, 474 
 gazing-gock, 303 
 generally, 423 
 ghost, 305 
 gild gold, 336 
 gittern, 228 
 gives, 386 
 
 going to his heart, 185 
 good cheap, 180 
 gotten within him, 221 
 great spending, 292 
 grisly, 181 
 
 Haling, 264 
 handsel, 425 
 harrish, 441 
 haunted, 10 
 Helen, 202 
 his, 4 
 hulling, 7 
 
 Imposthumed, 408 
 indifferently, 240 
 interessed, 418 
 its, 4 
 
 Jolhtie, 89 
 justicing, 237 
 
 Keels, 109 
 killed his horse, 328 
 kindly, 261 
 knights of the Order, 
 456 
 
 Lace, 180 
 
 lamms, 291 
 
 leave, 159 
 
 left obedience to, 354 
 
 lo, 176 
 
 lobbish, 441 
 
 Magnes, 269 
 
 Index to Notes. 
 
 make -bate, 177 
 many - headed multi- 
 tude, 226 
 Mary, 442 
 matachin-dance, 88 
 mean, 447 
 micher, 11 r 
 minion, 366 
 miser, 161 
 mistress, 310 
 mo, 218 
 mun-ey, 457 
 
 Nor doubt not, 344 
 
 Objections, 37 
 occurrents, 470 
 owes, 168 
 
 Pamela's prayer, 266 
 pantable, 69 
 partakers, 149 
 partlet, 303 
 party, 454 
 patrons, 325 
 pavin, 370 
 pensils, 274 
 petrell, 299 
 
 pig, 398 
 pigsme, 307 
 piping, 12 
 practice, 200, 254 
 pretended, 460 
 prince by succession, 
 
 423 
 pursue on, 353 
 pyramis, 238 
 Pyroclean nature, 376 
 
 Quick buiied, 420 
 
 Ravening, 17 
 recorded, 395 
 
 remembered to forget, 
 
 222 
 renting, 386 
 rounded in his ear, 23 
 
 Sarpedon, 274 
 sconces, 313 
 scummy, 438 
 seeled, 78, 264 
 seized, 74 
 shewels, 280 
 shrugging, 188 
 simple, 179 
 sleights, 350 
 slubbered, 14 
 stays, 9 
 stickled, 6 
 stood, 399 
 
 suggested out of, 306 
 swarved, 356 «^ ? ■- ry^ 
 
 Tendered, 183 
 torches, 250 
 trained, 464 
 
 Unnatural beast, I CO 
 unsensible, 46 
 
 Yalures, 433 
 vampalt, 270 ^ 
 viny, 416 
 virtue, 374 
 visitation, 377 
 voward, 47 
 
 Ward, 35 
 whether, 315 
 wild mare, 221 
 win, 22 
 witty, 27 
 wold, 180 
 
 Zelmaneship, 70 
 
TO MY DEAR LADY AND SISTER 
 
 THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE. 
 
 ERE now have you, most dear, and most 
 worthy to be most dear, Lady, this idle work 
 of mine, which, I fear, hke the spider's web, 
 will be thought fitter to be swept away than 
 worn to any other purpose. For my part, in very truth, 
 as the cruel fathers among the Greeks were wont to do 
 to the babes they would not foster, I could well find in 
 my heart to cast out in some desert of forgetfulness this 
 child, which I am loath to father. But you desired me to 
 do it ; and your desire, to my heart, is an absolute com- 
 mandment. Now it is done only for you, only to you. 
 If you keep it to yourself, or to such friends who will 
 weigh errors in the balance of goodwill, I hope, for the 
 father's sake, it will be pardoned, perchance made much 
 of, though in itself it have deformities; for, indeed, 
 for severer eyes it is not, being but a trifle, and that 
 triflingly handled. Your dear self can best witness the 
 manner, being done in loose sheets of paper, most of it 
 
xxxvi The Epistle Dedicatory. 
 
 in your presence, the rest by sheets sent unto you as fast 
 as they were done. In sum, a young head, not so well 
 stayed as I would it were, and shall be when God will, 
 having many, many fancies begotten in it, if it had not 
 been in some way delivered, would have grown a 
 monster, and more sorry might I be that they came in 
 than that they gat out. But his chief safety shall be the 
 not walking abroad, and his chief protection the bearing 
 the livery of your name, which, if much goodwill do not 
 deceive me, is worthy to be a sanctuary for a greater 
 offender. This say I because I know the virtue so ; and 
 this say I because it may be ever so, or, to say better, 
 because it will be ever so. Read it, then, at your idle 
 times, and the follies your good judgment will find in it 
 blame not, but laugh at ; and so, looking for no better 
 stuff than, as in a haberdasher's shop, glasses or feathers, 
 you will continue to love the writer, who doth exceed- 
 ingly love you, and most, most heartily prays you may 
 long live to be a principal ornament to the family of the 
 Sidneys. 
 
 Your loving Brother, 
 
 PHILIP SIDNEY. 
 
THE 
 
 COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE'S 
 ARCADIA.* 
 
 WRITTEN BY SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. 
 
 The Fii'st Book. 
 T was in the time that the Earth begins to put on 
 her new apparel against the approach of her lover, 
 and that the sun running a most even course 
 becomes an indifferent arbiter between the night 
 and the day, when the hopeless shepherd Strephon 
 was come to the sands which lie against the island of 
 Cithera, where, viewing the place with a heavy kind of 
 delight, and sometimes casting his eyes to the isleward, he 
 
 * "It is a country whose fitness for pasturage and grazing hath made 
 it the subject of many worthy and witty discourses, especially that of 
 Sir Philip Sidney, of whom I cannot but make honourable mention; 
 a book which, besides its excellent language, rare contrivances, and 
 delectable stories, hath in it all the strains of poesy, comprehendeth 
 the universal art of speaking, and, to them who can discern and will 
 observe, afifordeth notable rules for demeanour, both private and 
 public." — P. Heylyn's Cosmography of Arcadia in Greece. 
 
 P 
 
,,^ , . . ; ; ARCADJA.—Bcok I. 
 
 'V . friendly rival the pastor Claius unto him ; and, 
 t down in his darkened countenance a doleful 
 at he would speak, " O my Claius," said he, "hither 
 '■■■' come to pay the rent for which we are so called 
 over-busy remembrance ; remembrance, restless 
 ice, which claims not only this duty of us, but for 
 ; us forget ourselves. '/l pray you, when we were 
 flock, and that, of other shepherds, some were 
 
 .y , "ter their sheep, strayed beyond their bounds ; 
 hting their eyes with seeing them nibble upon the 
 sweet grass, some medicining their sick ewes, 
 ng a bell for an ensign of a sheepish squadron, 
 more leisure inventing new games of exercising 
 es, and sporting their wits, — did remembrance 
 ny holiday, either for pastime or devotion, nay, 
 necessary food or natural rest, but that still it 
 thoughts to work upon this place, where we last 
 : the word 'last' should so long ktst — did grace 
 pon her ever-flourishing' beautyy did it not still 
 us : 'Ah, you base-minded wretches ! are your 
 ) deeply bemired in the trade of ordinary world- 
 r respect of gain some paltry wool may yield you, 
 nuch time pass without knowing perfectly her 
 ;cially in so troublesome a season ; to leave that 
 luted from whence you may see to the island 
 here she dwelleth ; to leave those steps unkissed wherein 
 ran!". •;>)• nted the farewell of all beauty?' Well, then, 
 ice commanded, we obeyed, and here we find, 
 remembrance came ever clothed unto us in the 
 > place, so this place gives new heat to the fever 
 iguishing remembrance. Yonder, my Claius, 
 ited ; the very horse methought bewailed to be so 
 d ; and as for thee, poor Claius, when thou 
 
ARCADIA.— Book J. 3 
 
 wentest to help her down, I saw reverence and desire so 
 divide thee that thou didst at one instant both blush and 
 quake, and instead of bearing her wert ready to fall down 
 thyself. There she sate, vouchsafing my cloak (then most 
 gorgeous) under her ; at yonder rising of the ground she 
 turned herself, looking back toward her wonted abode, and 
 because of her parting, bearing much sorrow in her eyes, 
 the lightsomeness whereof had yet so natural a cheerfulness 
 as it made even sorrow seem to smile ; at that turning she 
 spake to us all, opening the cherry of her lips, and, Lord ! how 
 greedily mine ears did feed upon the sweet words she 
 uttered ! And here she laid her hand over thine eyes, when 
 she saw the tears springing in them, as if she would conceal 
 them from other and yet herself feel some of thy sorrow. 
 But woe is me ! yonder, yonder did she put her foot into the 
 boat, at that instant, as it were, dividing her hea\Lenly beauty 
 between the earth and the sea. But when she was embarked- 
 did you not mark how the winds whistled, and the seas 
 danced for joy ; how the sails did swell with pride, and all 
 because they had Urania.? O Urania, blessed be thou, 
 Urania, the sweetest fairness and fairest sweetness !" With 
 that word his voice brake so with sobbing that he could say- 
 no further ; and Claius jthus answered, " Alas, my „§trephon," 
 said he, " what needs this score to reckon up only our losses ? 
 What doubt is there but that the sight of this place doth call 
 our thoughts to appear at the court of Affection, held by that 
 racking steward Remembrance ? As well may sheep forget to 
 fear when they spy wolves, as we can miss such fancies, 
 when we see any place made happy by her treading. Who 
 can choose that saw her but think where she stayed, where 
 she walked, where she turned, where she spoke } But what 
 is all this ? Truly no more but, as this place served us to 
 think of those things, so those things serve as places to call 
 
 B 2 
 
4 ARCADIA.—Book I. 
 
 to memory more excellent matters. No, no, let us think 
 with consideration, and consider with acknowledging, and 
 acknowledge with admiration, and admire with love, and 
 love with joy in. the. midst of all woes ; let us in such sort 
 think, I say, that our poor eyes were so enriched as to 
 behold, and our low hearts so exalted as to love, a maid who 
 is such, that as the greatest thing the world can show is her 
 beauty, so the least thing that may be praised in her is her 
 beauty. J) Certainly, as her eye-lids are more pleasant to 
 behold than two white kids climbing up affair tree, and . 
 browsing on his* tenderest branches, and yet are nothing -^J 
 compared to the day-shining stars contained in them ; and 
 as her breath is more sweet than a gentle south-west wipd, 
 which comes creeping over flowery fields and shadowed 
 waters in the extreme heat of summer, and yet is nothing 
 compared to the honey-flowing speech that breath doth 
 carry, — no more all that our eyes can see of her — though when 
 they have seen her, what else they shall ever see is but dry 
 stubble after clover-grass — is to be matched with the flock 
 of unspeakable virtues laid up delightfully in that best- 
 builded fold. But, indeed, as we can better consider the 
 
 I sun's beauty by marking how he gilds these waters and 
 mountains than by looking upon his own face, too glorious 
 for our weak eyes ; so it may be our conceits — not able to 
 \ bear her sun-staining excellency— will better weigh it by her 
 works upon some meaner subject employed. And, alas, who 
 can better witness that than we, whose experience is 
 grounded upon feehng ? Hath not the only love of her made 
 us, being silly ignorant shepherds, raise up our thoughts 
 above the ordinary level of the world, so as great clerks do 
 not disdain our conference? Hath not the desire to seem 
 
 * His — the neuter possessive "its" was not in use in Sidney's time. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 worthy in her eyes made us, when others were sleeping, to sit 
 viewing the course of the heavens ; when others were running 
 at base,* to run over learned writings ; when others mark 
 their sheep, we to mark ourselves? Hath not she thrown , 
 reason upon our desires, and, as it were, given eyes unto 
 Cupid ? Hath in any, but in her, love-fellowship maintained 
 friendship between rivals and beauty taught the beholders 
 chastity ?" 
 
 He was going on with his praises, but Strephon bade him 
 stay and look, and so they both perceived a thing which 
 floated, drawing nearer and nearer to the bank, but rather 
 by the favourable working of the sea than by any self- 
 industry. They doubted a while what it should be, till it 
 was cast up even hard before them, at which time they fully", 
 saw that it was a man. Whereupon, running for pity sake 
 unto him, they found his hands (as it should appear, con- 
 stanter friends to his life than his memory) fast griping upon 
 the edge of a square small coffer which lay all under his 
 breast ; else in himself no show of life, so as the board seemed 
 to be but a bier to carry him a-land to his sepulchre. So 
 drew they up a young man of so goodly shape and well-^ 
 pleasing favour that one would think death had in him a \ 
 lovely countenance, and that, though he were naked, naked- 
 ness was to him an apparel. That sight increased their 
 compassion, and their compassion called up their care, so 
 that, lifting his feet above his head, making a great deal of 
 salt water come out of his mouth, they laid him upon some 
 of their garments, and fell to rub and chafe him, till they 
 brought him to recover both breath, the servant, and warmth, 
 the companion of living. At length, opening his eyes, he 
 
 * The prisoner' s-base of our present schoolboys. 
 " Lads more like to run 
 The country ^^j-^."—Shaks. Cymbeline, act v. sc. 3. 
 
6 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 gave a great groan (a doleful note, but a pleasant ditty, for 
 by that they found not only life, but strength of life in him). 
 They therefore continued on their charitable office until, his 
 spirits being well returned, he, without so much as thanking 
 them for their pains, gat up, and, looking round about to the 
 uttermost limits of his sight, and crying upon the name of 
 P yrocles , nor seeing nor hearing cause of comfort, " What," 
 said he, " and shall Musidorus live after Pyrocles' destruc- 
 tion ?" Therewithal he offered wilfully to cast himself again 
 into the sea ; but they ran unto him, and pulling him 
 back, then too feeble for them, by force stickled*, that un- 
 natural fray. " I pray you," said he, " honest rnen, what 
 -iuch right have you in me as not to suffer me to do with 
 myself what I list ; and what policy have you to bestow a 
 benefit where it is counted an injury ?" They hearing him 
 speak in Greek, which was their natural language, became 
 the more tender-hearted towards him ; and considering by 
 his calling and looking that the loss of some dear friend was 
 great cause of his sorrow, told^him they were poor men that 
 were bound, by course of humanity, to prevent so great a 
 mischief, and that they v/ished him, if opinion of some body's 
 perishing bred such desperate anguish in him, that he should 
 be comforted by his own proof, who had lately escaped as 
 apparent danger as any might be. " No, no," said he, " it is 
 not for me to attend so high a blissfulness ; but, since you 
 take care of me, I pray you find means that some bark may 
 be provided, that will go out of the haven, that if it be 
 possible we may find the body — far, far too precious food for 
 fishes ; and for the hire," said he, " I have within this 
 
 * Stickled. A stickler was an umpire or arbitrator. So in Troilus 
 and Cressida, act v. sc. 8, night is made, stickier-like, to separate 
 the armies ; and Dryden, in his eulogy on Cromwell, says, st. 41 — 
 " Our former chiefs, like sticklers of the war, 
 First sought to inflame the passions, then to poise." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book L 7 
 
 casket of value sufficient to content them." Claius presently 
 went to a fisherman, and having agreed with him, and pro- 
 vided some apparel for the naked stranger, he embarked, 
 and the shepherds with him, and were no sooner gone 
 beyond the mouth of the haven, but that some way into the 
 sea they might discern, as it were, a stain of the water's 
 colour, and by times some sparks and smoke mounting 
 thereout. But the young man no sooner saw it, but that, 
 beating his breast, he cried that there was the beginning of 
 his ruin, intreating them to bend their course as near unto 
 it as they could, telling how that smoke was but a small relic 
 of a great fire which had driven both him and his friend 
 rather to commit themselves to the cold mercy of the sea 
 than to abide the hot cruelty of the.iire ; and that, therefore, 
 though they both had abandoned the ship, that he was, if 
 any where, in that course to be met withal. They steered, 
 therefore, as near thitherward as they could ; but when they 
 came so near as their eyes were full masters of the object, 
 they saw a sight full of piteous strangeness — a ship, or rather 
 the carcass of the ship, or rather some few bones of the 
 carcass, hulling* there, part broken, part burned, part 
 drowned : death having used more than one dart to that 
 destruction. About it floated great store of very rich things, 
 and many chests which might promise no less. And amidst 
 the precious things were a number of dead bodies, which 
 likewise did not only testify both elements' violence, but that 
 the chief violence was grown of human inhumanity; for their 
 bodies were full of grisly wounds, and their blood had, as it 
 were, filled the wrinkles of the sea's visage, which it seemed 
 the sea would not wash away, that it might witness it is not 
 always his fault when we do condemn his cruelty. In sum, 
 a defeat, where the conquered kept both field and spoil ; a 
 
 * Hulling, floating lazily to and fro. 
 
8 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 shipwreck without storm or ill-footing ; and a waste of fire in 
 the midst of the water. 
 
 But a httle way off they saw the mast, whose proud height 
 now lay along, like a widow having lost her mate of whom 
 she held her honour ; but upon the mast they saw a young 
 man, at least if he were a man, bearing show of about eigh- 
 teen years of age, who sat as on horse-back, having nothing 
 upon him but his shirt, which, being wrought with blue silk 
 and gold, had a kind of resemblance to the sea, on which 
 the sun, then near his western home, did shoot some of his 
 beams. His hair, which the young men of Greece used to 
 wear very long, was stirred up and down with the wind, 
 which seemed to have a sport to play with it, as the sea had 
 to kiss his feet ; himself full of admirable beauty, set forth 
 by the strangeness both of his seat and gesture ; for, holding 
 his head up full of unmoved majesty, he held a sword aloft 
 with his fair arm, which often he waved about his crown, as 
 though he would threaten the world in that extremity. But 
 the fishermen, when they came so near him that it was time 
 to throw out a rope, by which hold they might draw him, 
 their simplicity bred such amazement, and their amazement 
 such superstition, that, as they went under sail by him, they 
 held up their hands and made their prayers. Which when 
 Musidorus saw, though he were almost as much ravished 
 with joy as they with astonishment, he leapt to the mariner, 
 and took the cord out of his hand, and, saying, " Dost thou 
 live, and art well ?"' who answered, " Thou canst tell best, 
 since most of my well-being stands in thee," threw it out ; 
 but already the ship was passed beyond Pyrocles, and there- 
 fore Musidorus could do no more but persuade the mariners 
 to cast about again, assuring them that he was but a man, 
 although of most divine excellencies, and promising great 
 rewards for their pains. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. ii 
 
 And now they were already come upon the stays,* when 
 one of the sailors descried a galley which came with sails 
 and oars directly in the chase of them, and straight perceived 
 it was a well-known pjrate, who hunted, not only for goods, 
 but for bodies of men, which he employed either to be his 
 galley-slaves or to sell at the best market ; which when the 
 master understood, he commanded forthwith to set on all 
 the canvas they could and fly homeward, leaving in that 
 sort poor PyrocleSjSOjriear^to be rescued. But what did not 
 Musidorus say ? What did he not offer to persuade them to 
 venture the fight? But fear, standing at the gates of their 
 ears, put back all persuasions ; so that he had nothing where- 
 with to accompany Pyrocles but his eyes, nought to succour 
 him but his wishes. Therefore praying for him, and casting 
 a long look that way, he saw the galley leave the pursuit of 
 them and turn to take up the spoils of the other wreck ; and, 
 lastly, he might well see them lift up the young man ; and, 
 " Alas !" said he to himself, " dear Pyrocles, shall that body 
 of thine be enchained? Shall those victorious hands of thine 
 be commanded to base offices ? Shall virtue become a slave} 
 to those that be slaves to viciousness ? Alas, better had it 
 been thou hadst ended nobly thy noble days. What death] 
 is so evil as unworthy servitude ?" But that opinion soon 
 ceased when he saw the galley setting upon another ship, 
 which held long and strong fight with her ; for then he 
 began afresh to fear the life of his friend, and to wish well to 
 the pirates, whom before he hated, lest in their ruin he might 
 
 * That which hinders the motion of the ship. 
 " Our whole fleete in we got ; in whose receipt 
 Our ships lay anchor'd close : nor needed we 
 Feare harm on any j/rt/>j". " — Chapman, Homer, Odyss. bk. x. 
 *'Our stale ship Echeneis {Echinus^ sea hedge-hog), Trebius Niger 
 saith, is a foot long and five fingers thick, and that oftentimes it 
 staieth a ship." — Holland, Plinie, bk. ix. ch. 25. 
 
8 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 perish. But the fishermen made such speed into the haven 
 that they absented his ej^es from beholding the issue ; where 
 being entered, he could procure neither them nor any other 
 as then to put themselves into the sea ; so that, being as full 
 of sorrow for being unable to do anything as void of counsel 
 how to do anything, besides that sickness grew something 
 upon him, the honest shepherds Strephon and Claius — who, 
 being themselves true friends, did the more perfectly judge 
 the justness of his sorrow — advised him that he should miti- 
 gate somewhat of his woe, since he had gotten an amend- 
 ment in fortune, being come from assured persuasion of his 
 death to have no cause to despair of his life, as one that had 
 lamented the death of his sheep should after know they were 
 but strayed, would receive pleasure, though readily he knew 
 not where to find them. 
 
 " Now, sir," said they, " thus for ourselves it is : we are, in 
 profession, but shepherds, and, in this country of Laconia, 
 little better than strangers, and, therefore, neither in skill'nor 
 ability of power greatly to stead you. But what we can pre- 
 sent unto you is this : Arcadia, of which country we are, is 
 but a little way hence ; and even upon the next confines 
 there dwelleth a gentleman, by name Ka|ander, who vouch- 
 safeth much favour unto us ; a man who for his hospitality 
 is so much haunted* that no news stir but come to his ears ; 
 for his upright dealing so beloved of his neighbours that he 
 hath many ever ready to do him their uttermost service, 
 and, by the great goodwill our Prince bears him, may soon 
 obtain the use of his name and credit, which hath a principal 
 sway, not only in his own Arcadia, but in all these countries 
 of Peloponnesus ; and, which is worth all, all these things 
 give him not so much power as his nature gives him will to 
 benefit, so that it seems no music is so sweet to his ear as 
 
 * Hatmted, frequented, visited. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. ii 
 
 deserved thanks. To him we will bring you, and there you / 
 may recover again your health, without which you cannot be 
 able to make any diligent search for your friend, and, there- 
 fore, you must labour for it. Besides, we are sure the comfort 
 of courtesy and ease of wise counsel shall not be wanting." 
 - Musidorus — who, besides he was merely [totally] unac- 
 quainted in the country, had his wits astonished with sorrow 
 — gave easy consent to that from which he saw no reason to 
 disagree ; and therefore, defraying* the mariners with a ring 
 bestowed upon them, they took their journey together through 
 Laconia, Claius and Strephon by course carrying his chest 
 for him, Musidorus only bearing in his countenance evident 
 marks of a sorrowful mind supported with a weak body ; which 
 they perceiving, and knowing that the violence of sorrow 
 is not, at the first, to be striven withal — being like a mighty 
 beast, sooner tamed with following than overthrown by with- 
 standing — they gave way unto it for that day and the next, * 
 never troubling him, either with asking questions or finding 
 fault with his melancholy, but rather fitting to his dolour 
 dolorous discourses of their own and other folk's misfortune ; 
 which speeches, though they had not a lively entrance to his 
 senses, shut up in sorrow, yet, like one half asleep, he took 
 hold of much of the matters spoken unto him, so as a man 
 may say, ere sorrow was aware, they made his thoughts bear 
 away something else beside his own sorrow, which wrought 
 so in him that at length he grew content to mark their 
 speeches, then to marvel at such wit in shepherds, after to 
 like their company, and lastly to vouchsafe conference ; so » 
 that the third day after, in the time that the morning did > 
 strow roses and violets in the heavenly floor against the \ 
 
 * Paying their costs. " Enforced to bestow in gifts those things 
 that were given us by well-dispos'd people to defray our charges." 
 — Hakluyt, Voyages, vol. i. p. 60. 
 
12 ARCADIA.— Book 1. 
 
 coming of the sun, the nightingales, striving one with the 
 other which could in most dainty variety recount their wrong- 
 caused sorrow, made them put off their sleep ; and, rising 
 from under a tree, which that night had been their pavilion, 
 they went on their journey, which by-and-by welcomed 
 Musidorus' eyes with delightful prospects. ' There were hills 
 which garnished their proud heights with stately trees ; 
 humble valleys whose base estate seemed comforted with the 
 refreshing of silver rivers ; meadows enamelled with all sorts 
 of eye-pleasing flowers ; thickets which, bemg hned with 
 most pleasant shade, were witnessed so to, by the cheerful 
 disposition of many well-tuned birds ; each pasture stored 
 with sheep, feeding with sober security, while the pretty 
 lambs, with bleating oratory, craved the dams' comfort : here 
 a shepherd's boy piping,* as though he should never be old ; 
 there a young shepherdess knitting, and withal singing : and 
 it seemed that her voice comforted her hands to work, and 
 her hands kept time to her voice-music. As for the houses 
 of the country — for many houses came under their eye— they 
 were all scattered, no two being one by the other, and yet 
 not so far off as that it barred mutual succour ; a show, as it 
 were, of an accompanable [companionable] solitariness, and • 
 of a civil wildness. 
 
 "I pray you," said Musidorus, then first unsealing his long- 
 silent hps, "what countries be these we pass through, which 
 are so diverse in show, the one wanting no store, the other 
 having no store but of want ?" 
 
 "The country," answered Claius, "where you were cast 
 ashore, and now are passed through, is Laconia, not so poor by 
 
 * Piping — " On pipes made of greene come." — Chaucer, 
 " And in the shape of Corin sat all day 
 Playing on pipes of corn." 
 — Shaks. Midsummer-Night's Dream, act ii. sc. 2. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 13 
 
 the barrenness of the soil — though in itself not passing fertile 
 — as by a civil war, which, being these two years within the 
 bowels of that estate, between the gentlemen and the pea- 
 sants — by them named Helots— ;hath in this sort, as it 
 were, disfigured the face of nature and made it so unhospit- 
 able as now you have found it ; the towns neither of the one 
 side nor the other willingly opening their gates to strangers, y 
 nor strangers willingly entering, for fear of being mistaken. 
 
 " But this country, where now you set your foot, is Arcadia ; 
 and even hard by is the house of Kalajider, whither we lead 
 you. This country being thus decked wqth peace, and the 
 child of peace, good husbandry, these houses you see so 
 scattered are of men, as we two are, that live upon the com- 
 modity of their sheep, and therefore, in the division of the 
 Arcadian estate, are termed shepherds — a happy people, 
 wanting little, because they desire not much." "^ 
 
 "What cause, then," said Musidorus, "made you leave this 
 sweet life and put yourself in yonder unpleasant and dangerous 
 realm?" "Guarded with poverty," answered Strephon, "and 
 guided with love." " But now," said Claius, "since it hath 
 pleased you to ask anything of us, whose baseness is such as 
 the very knowledge is darkness, give us leave to know some- 
 thing of you and of the young man you so much lament, that 
 at least we may be the better instructed to inform Kalander, 
 and he the better know how to proportion his entertainment." 
 (^Musidorus, according to the agreement between Pyrocles and 
 him tp alter their names, answered that he called himself 
 Palladius, and his friend Daiphantus. | "But, till I have him 
 again," said he, " I am indeed nothing, and therefore my 
 story is of nothing. His entertainment, since "so "good a 
 man he is, cannot be so low as I account my estate ; and, in 
 sum, the sum of all his courtesy may be to help me by some 
 means to seek my friend." 
 
14 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 They perceived he was not wilHng to open himself further, 
 and therefore, without further questioning, brought him to 
 the house ; about which they might see (with fit consideration 
 both of the air, the prospect, and the nature of the ground) 
 all such necessary additions to a great house as might well 
 show Kalander kneNV that provision is the foundation ^f 
 hospitality, and thrift the fuel of magnificence. The house 
 itself was built of fair and strong stone, not affecting so much 
 any extraordinary kind of fineness as an honourable repre- 
 senting of a firm stateliness ; the lights, doors, and stairs 
 rather directed to the use of the guest than to the eye of the 
 artificer, and yet as the one chiefly heeded, so the other not 
 neglected ; each place handsome without curiosity, and 
 homely without loathsomeness ; not so dainty as not to be 
 trod on, nor yet slubbered up* with good fellowship ; all more 
 lasting than beautiful, but that the consideration of the 
 exceeding lastingness made the eye believe it was exceeding 
 beautiful ; the servants, not so many in number as cleanly 
 in apparel and serviceable in behaviour, testifying even in 
 their countenances that their master took as well care to be 
 served as of them that did serve. One of them was forthwith 
 ready to welcome the shepherds, as men who, though they^ 
 were poor, their master greatly favoured ; and understanding 
 by them that the young man with them was to be much 
 accounted of, for that they had seen tokens of more than com- 
 mon greatness, howsoever now eclipsed with fortune, he ran to 
 his master, who came presently forth, and pleasantly welcoming 
 the shepherds, but especially applying him to Musidorus, 
 Strephon privately told him all what he knew of him, and 
 particularly that he found this stranger was loth to be known. 
 
 * Soiled, covered with dirt by frequent footsteps. Slabber, slubber^ 
 limosus, muddy, slippery. "The breve (of Pope Julius) appeared 
 slubbered by often handling." — State Trials Hen. VIII. anno 19. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book L 15 
 
 " No,-' said Kalander, speaking aloud, " I am no herald to 
 inquire of men's pedigrees ; it sufficeth me if I know their 
 virtu esy which, if this young man's face be not a false witness, 
 do better apparel his mind than you have done his body." ^ 
 While he was thus speaking, there came a boy, in show like 
 a merchant's prentice, who, taking Strephon by the sleeve, 
 delivered him a letter, written jointly both to him and Claius 
 from Urania ; which they no sooner had read, but that with 
 short leave-taking of Kalander, who quickly guessed and 
 smiled at the matter, and once again, though hastily, recom- 
 mending the young man unto him, they went away, leaving 
 Musidorus even loth to part with them, for the good conver- 
 sation he had of them, and obligation he accounted himself 
 tied in unto them ; and therefore, they delivering his chest 
 unto him, he opened it, and would have presented them with 
 two very rich jewels, but they absolutely refused them, telling 
 him that they were more than enough rewarded m the knowing 
 of him, and without hearkening unto a reply, like men whose 
 hearts disdained all desires but one, gat speedily away, as if 
 the letter had brought wings to make them fly. But by that 
 sight Kalander soon judged that his guest was of no mean 
 calling ; and therefore the more respectfully entertaining him, 
 Musidorus found his sickness, which the fight, the sea, and 
 late travel had laid upon him, grow greatly, so that fearing 
 some sudden accident, he delivered the__chest to Kalander, 
 which was full of most precious stones, gorgeously and 
 cunningly set in divers manners, desiring him he would 
 keep those trifles, and if he died, he would bestow so much 
 as was needful to find out and redeem a young man naming 
 himself Daiphantus, as then in the hands of Laconian pirates. 
 
 But Kalander seeing him faint more and more, with careful 
 speed conveyed him to the most commodious lodging in his 
 house ; where, being possessed with an extreme burning fever, 
 
i6 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 he continued some while with no great hope of life ; but 
 youth at length got the victory of sickness, so that in six 
 weeks the excellency of his returned beauty was a credible' 
 ambassador of his health, to the great joy of Kalander, who, 
 as in this time he had by certain friends of his, that dwelt 
 near the sea in Messenia, set forth a ship and a galley to seek 
 and succour Daiphantus, so at home did he omit nothing 
 which he thought might either profit or gratify Palladius. 
 
 For, having found in him (besides his bodily gifts, beyond 
 the degree of admiration) by daily discourses, which he 
 rdelighted himself to have with him, a mind of most excellent 
 composition, a piercing wit, quite void of ostentation, high- 
 erected thoughts seated in a heart of courtesy, an eloquence 
 as sweet in the uttering as slow to come to the uttering, a 
 behaviour so noble as gave a majesty to adversity, and all 
 : in a man whose age could not be above one-and-twenty 
 f years, the good old man was even enamoured with a fatherly 
 love towards him, or rather became his servant by the bonds 
 such virtue laid upon him ; once, he acknowledged himself so 
 to be, by the badge of diligent attendance. 
 
 But Palladius having gotten his health, and only staying 
 there to be in place where he might hear answer of the ships 
 set forth, Kalander one afternoon led him abroad to a well- 
 arrayed ground he had behind his house, which he thought 
 to show him before his going, as the place himself, more than 
 in any other, delighted. The backside* of the house was 
 neither field, garden, nor orchard, or rather it was both 
 field, garden, and orchard ; for as soon as the descending of 
 the stairs had delivered them down, they came into a place 
 cunningly set with trees of the most taste-pleasing fruits ; 
 but scarcely they had taken that into their consideration, but 
 that they were suddenly stepped into a delicate green ; of 
 
 * A yard or court behind a house. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 17 
 
 each side of the green a thicket, and behind the thickets 
 again new beds of flowers, which being under the trees, the 
 trees were t'o them a pavihon, and they to the trees a mosaical 
 floor, so that it seemed Art therein would needs be dehghtful, ^ 
 by counterfeiting Error, and making order in confusion.. 
 
 Hence Palladius was led towards a fairpond, whose shaking 
 crystal was a perfect mirror to all other beauties, and near 
 it was a fine fountain, made thus : a figure of a naked 
 Venus, of white marble, wherein the graver had used such 
 cunning that the natural blue veins of the marble were 
 framed in fit places to set forth the beautiful veins of her 
 body ;* at her breast was her babe ^neas, who seemed, 
 having begun to suck, to leave that to look upon her fair 
 eyes, which smiled at the babe's folly, meanwhile the breast 
 running. Hard by was a house of pleasure, adorned with 
 delightful pictures, which Kalander described, and then, 
 sometimes casting his eyes to the pictures, thus spake : — 
 " This country Arcadia, among all the provinces of Greece, 
 hath ever been had in singular reputation, partly for the 
 sweetness of the air, and other natural benefits, but princi- 
 pally for the well-tempered minds of the people, who, finding 
 that the shining title of glory, so much affected by other 
 nations, doth indeed help little to the happiness of life, are 
 the only people which, as by their justice and providence, 
 give neither cause nor Jiope to their neighbours to annoy 
 them ; so are they not stirred with false praise to trouble 
 other's quiet, thinking it a small reward for the wasting of 
 their own lives in raveningf that their posterity should long 
 after say they had done so. Even the Muses seem to approve 
 
 * Euphuistic and poetical, but only miraculously possible. 
 
 + Ravening, plundering, whence our "raven." "So y* his mou- 
 ablegoodys were spoyled and raueued ZLxnong y® kynges offycers." — 
 Fabyan, vol. i. c. 237. 
 
 C 
 
18 ARCADIA.— Book 1. 
 
 their good determination by choosing this country for their 
 chief repairing place, and by bestowing their perfections so 
 largely here, that the very shepherds have their fancies lifted 
 to so high conceits as the learned of other nations are content 
 both to borrow their names and imitate their cunning. 
 
 " Here dwelleth and reigneth this prince whose picture you 
 see, by name Basilius ; a prince of sufficient skill to govern 
 so quiet a country, where the good minds of the former 
 princes had set down good laws, and the well bringing up of 
 the people doth serve as a most sure bond to hold them. 
 
 " He, being already well stricken in years, married a young 
 princess, named Gynecia, daughter to the king of Cyprus, of 
 'notable beauty, as by her picture you see ; a woman of great 
 wit, and in truth of more princely virtues than her husband ; 
 of most unspotted chastity, but of so working a mind, and so 
 vehement spirits, as a man may say it was happy she took a 
 good course, for otherwise it would have been terrible. 
 
 " Of these two are brought to the world two daughters, so 
 beyond measure excellent in all the gifts allotted to reasonable 
 creatures, that we may think they were born to show that 
 Nature is no stepmother to that sex, how much soever some 
 men, sharp-witted only in evil speaking, have sought to 
 disgrace them. The elder is named Pamela, by many men 
 not deemed inferior to her sister. For my part, when I marked 
 them both, methought there was (if at least such perfections 
 may receive the word of more) more sweetness in Philoclea, 
 but more majesty in Pamela : methought love played in 
 Philoclea's eyes and threatened in Pamela's : methought 
 Philoclea's beauty only persuaded, but so persuaded as all 
 hearts must yield ; Pamela's beauty used violence, and such 
 violence as no heart could resist. And it seems that such 
 proportion is between their minds : Philoclea so bashful as 
 thougfh her excellencies had stolen into her before she was 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 19 
 
 aware ; so humble that she will put all pride out of counten- 
 ance ; in sum, such proceeding as will stir hope, but teach 
 hope good manners ; — Pamela of high thoughts, who avoids 
 not jride with JiotJaiQwing her excellencies, but by making 
 that one of her excellencies to be voidof pride^; her mother's 
 wisdom, greatness, nobility, but (if I can guess aright) knit • 
 with a more constant temper. 
 
 " Now, then, our Basilius'being so publicly happy as to be a 
 princejand so happy in that happiness as to be a beloved prince, 
 and so in his private blessed as to have so excellent a wife, and 
 so over-excellent children, hath of late taken a course which yet 
 makes him 1 ; lorc spoken of than all these blessings. For, having 
 made a journey to Uelphos, and safely returned, within short 
 space he brake up his court and retired himself, his wife and 
 children, into a certain forest hereby, which he calleth his 
 desert ; wherein, besides an house appointed for stables, and 
 lodgings for certain persons of mean calling, who do all 
 household services, he hath builded two fine lodges ; in the 
 one of them himself remains with his younger daughter 
 Philoclea (which was the cause they three were matched 
 together in this picture), without having any other creature 
 living in that lodge with him. Which, though it be strange, yet 
 not so strange as the course he hath taken with the Princess 
 Pamela, whom he hath placed in the other lodge : but how 
 thinkyou accompanied? truly with none other but one Dametas, 
 the most arrant, doltish clown that I think ever was witliout / 
 the privilege of a bauble, with his wife_ Miso and daughter ^^-Z 
 Mopsa,^in whom no wit can devise anything, wherein they may 
 pleasurejher, but to exercise her patience, and to serve for a 
 foil of her perfections. This loutish clown is such that you 
 never saw so ill-favoured a vizar [countenance] ; his behaviour 
 such that he is beyond the degree of ridiculous ; and for his 
 apparel, even as I would wish him : Miso his wife, so hand- 
 
 C 2 
 
JO ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 some a beldame that only her face and her splay-foot have 
 made her accused for a witch ; only one good point she hath, 
 that she observes decorum, having a froward mind, in _a 
 T'/retched bpdy^ , Between these two personages, who never 
 agreed in any humour but in disagreeing, is issued forth 
 mistress Mopsa, a fit woman to participate of both their 
 perfections. 
 
 " This Dametas the prince finds while hunting, and, like 
 other princes whose doings have been often smoothed 
 with good success, thinking nothing so absurd that they 
 cannot make honourable, brings with him, when the flatter- 
 ing courtiers had no sooner taken the prince's mind than 
 Dametas's silence grew wit, bluntness integrity, his beastly 
 ignorance virtuous simplicity ; and the prince, according to the 
 nature of great persons in love .with that he had done himself, 
 fancied that his weakness Avith his presence would much be 
 mended. And so^ like a creature of his own mak ing^e liked 
 him more and more ; and thus, havingjfirst^iven him the 
 office of principal herdman, lastly, since he took this strange 
 determination, he hath in a "mafme'r' purthe life_of himself 
 and his children into his hands. Which authority, like too 
 great a sail for so small a boat, doth so oversway poor 
 Dametas, that, if before he were a good fool in a chamber, he 
 might be allowed it now in a comedy ; so as I doubt me (I 
 fear me indeed) my Master will in the end, with his cost, find 
 Ithat his office is not to make men, but to use men as men are, no 
 more than a horse will be taught to hunt, or an ass to m.anage. 
 '' Thus much now that I have told you is nothing more than 
 in effect any Arcadian knows. But what moved him to this 
 strange solitariness hath been imparted, as I think, but to 
 one person living. Myself can conjecture, and indeed more 
 than conjecture, by this accident that I will tell you. I have 
 an only son, by name Clitophon, who is now absent, preparing 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 1. 
 
 for his own marriage, which I mean shortly shall be here 
 celebrated. This son of mine, while the prince kept his 
 court, was of his bed-chamber ; now, since the breaking up 
 thereof, returned home; and showed me, among other things 
 he had gathered, the copy which he had taken of a letter ; 
 which, when the prince had read, he had laid in a window, 
 presuming nobody durst look in his writings ; but my son 
 not only took a time to read it, but to copy it. In truth I 
 blamed Clitophon for the curiosity, which made him break his 
 duty in such a kind, whereby kings' secrets are subject to be 
 revealed; but, since it was done, I was content, to take so 
 much profit as to know it." This letter is froni "a noble- 
 man of his country, named Philanax, appointed by 
 the prince regent in this time oriiis retiring, and most 
 worthy so to be : for there lives ne man whose excellent 
 wit more simply embraceth integrity, beside his unfeigned 
 love to his master, wherein never yet any could make question, 
 saving whether he loved Basilius or the prince better ; a rare 
 temper, while most men either servilely yield to all appetites, 
 or with an obstinate austerity, looking to that they fancy good, 
 in effect neglect the prince's person. This, then, being the 
 man, whom of all other, and most worthy, the prince chiefly 
 loves, it should seem (for more than the letter I have not to 
 guess by) that the prince, upon his tlfcurn from Delphos 
 (Philanax then lying sick), had written unto him his deter- 
 mination, rising, as evidently appears, upon some oracle he 
 had there received." 
 
 To this Philanax sent a reply, urging that \¥isiiDm and 
 Virtue.be the only destinies appointed for man to follow, and" y 
 that the heavenly powers should be reverenced, not searched j 
 into, and their mercies rather by prayers to be sought than ' 
 their hidden counsels by curiosity ; that soothsayings, since 
 after all the gods have left us to ourselves sufficientguides,are 
 
^2 ARCADIA,— Book I. 
 
 nothing but fancy, wherein there must either be vanity or 
 infaUibleness, and so either not to be respected or not to be 
 
 , prevented,* V'Therefore he counselled Basilius to continue 
 '"his government, which had been good -to his people, and 
 which his neighbours had found not so hurtlessly strong 
 that they thought it better to rest in his friendship than make 
 a new trial of his enmity. For his second resolution, of con- 
 fining his daughters, so as to suffer no unworthy suitor to 
 come to them, and, indeed, to keep them both unmarried 
 — that were to kill the joy of posterity ; strictness is not "^ 
 the way to preserve virtue ; he had better leave women's 
 minds the most untamed that way of any ; for no cage will 
 please a bird, and every 'dog is the fiercer for tying. As for 
 
 , giving Pamela to the care of the clown Dametas, it was folly ; 
 
 ^ for fools can hardly be virtuous. "He cannot be good that 
 knows not why he's good." These reasons he (Philanax) 
 humbly submitted to the gracious consideration of Basilius, 
 beseeching him again to stand wholly on his own virtue. 
 ''' "By the matter of this letter you may perceive that the 
 cause of all hath been the vanity which possesseth many, 
 who, making a perpetual mansion of this poor baiting-place 
 of man's life, are desirous to know the certainty of things to 
 . conie, whereiiLth^re .^s_nothing_so_certa^^ 
 uncertainty. But what in particular points the oracle was, in 
 faith 1 know not ; neither Philanax himself distinctly knew. But 
 this experience shows us that Basilius' judgment, CQimpted 
 with a prince's fortune, hath rather heard thaja_fDliowed the 
 wise {as Itake it) counsel of Philanax. For, having left the 
 stern of his government, with much amazement to the people, 
 among whom many strange bruits t are received for current, 
 and with some appearance of danger in respect of the 
 
 * This is most admirably and closely argued. f Rumours. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 valiant Amphialus his nephew, and much envying the ambi 
 tious number of the nobihty against Philanax, to see Philanax 
 so advanced — though, to speak simply, he deserved more 
 than as many of us as there be in Arcadia— the prince 
 himself hath hidden his head, in such sort as I told you, not 
 sticking plainly to confess that he means not, while he 
 breathes, that his daughters shall have any husband, but 
 keep them thus solitary with him ; where" he gives no other 
 body leave to visit him at any time but a certain priest, who 
 being excellent in poetry, he makes him write out such 
 things as he best likes, he being no less delightful in con- 
 versation than needful for devotion, and about twenty 
 specified shepherds, in whom, some for exercises, and some 
 for eclogues, he taketh greater recreation. And now you 
 know as much as myself." ' ! -? 
 
 Kalander by this time discovered that it was fitter time to 
 pay with their suppers the duty they owed to their stomachs 
 than to break the air with idle discourses ; for more wit 
 he had learned of Homer, never to entertain either hosts 
 or guests with long speeches till the mouth of hunger be 
 stopped. So withal he atose, leading Palladius, who 
 assured him that he had been more fed by his discourses 
 than he could be by the skilfullest trenchermen of Media, to 
 the parlour where they used to sup. 
 
 Being come to the supping-place, one of Kalander's 
 servants rbunded in his ear,* at which, his colour changing, 
 
 * '^Rounded in his ear," i.e., whispered secretly to him. Thus, 
 in King John, act ii. sc. ii. : — 
 
 ' ' And France, whose armour conscience buckled on, 
 Whom zeal and charity brought to the field 
 As God's own' soldier, roiatded in the ear 
 With that same purpose-changer." 
 And Lyly, in his "Life and Times," London, 1715, says: '^I rounded 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 J retired himself into his chamber, commanding his men 
 diligently to wait upon Palladius, and to excuse his absence 
 with some necessary business he had presently to despatch ; 
 which they accordingly did, for some few days forcing 
 themselves to let no change appear, but, though they framed 
 their countenances never so cunningly, Palladius perceived 
 there was some ill-pleasing accident fallen out. Whereupon, 
 being again set alone at supper, he called to the steward, and 
 desired him to tell him the matter of his sudden alteration ; 
 who, after some trifling excuse^, in the end confessed unto 
 him that his master had received news that his son» before 
 the day of his near marriage, chanced to be at a battle 
 which was to be fought between the gentlemen of Lace- 
 dsemon and the Helots, who, winning the victory, he was 
 there made prisoner, going to deliver a friend of his taken 
 prisoner by the Helots ; that the poor young gentleman had 
 offered great ransom for his life, but that the hate those 
 peasants conceived against all gentlemen was such, that 
 every hour he was to look for nothing but some cruel death ; 
 which hitherunto had only been delayed by the captain's 
 vehement deahng for him, who seemed to have a heart of 
 more manly pity than the rest. 
 
 But Palladius could scarce hear out his tale with patience, 
 so was his heart torn in pieces with compassion of the case, 
 liking of Kalander's noble behaviour, kindness for his respect 
 to himward, and desire to find some remedy, besides the 
 image of h'is dearest friend Dafphantus, whom he judged to 
 suSer either a like or worse fortune. Therefore, rising from 
 the board, he desired the steward to tell him particularly the 
 
 the clerk in his ear, and told him I would give him five shillings to 
 hold the woman in chat till I came again, for I had a writing 
 concerned her" (p. 42). 
 
ARCADIA.— Book L 25 
 
 ground and event of this accident, because, by knowledge of 
 many circumstances, there might perhaps some way of help 
 be opened. Whereunto the steward easily in this sort 
 condescended. 
 
 " My lord," said he, " when our good king Basilius, with 
 better success than expectation, took to wife, even in his 
 more than decaying years, the fair young Princess Gynecia, 
 there came with her a young lord, cousin-german to herself, 
 named Argalus, led hither partly with the love and honour of 
 his noble kinswoman, partly with the humour of youth, which 
 ever thinks that good whose goodness he sees not And in 
 this court he received so good increase of knowledge that, 
 after some years spent, he so manifested a most virtuous 
 mind in all his actions that Arcadia gloried such a plant 
 was transported unto them, being a gentleman indeed most 
 rarely accomplished, excellently learned, but without all vain 
 glory, friendly without factiousness ; valiant, so as, for my 
 part, I think the earth hath no man that hath done more 
 heroical^cts than he ; howsoever now of late the same flies 
 of the two princes of Thessalia and Macedon, and hath long 
 done of our noble Prince Amphialus, who, indeed, in our 
 parts is only accounted likely to match him ; but I say, for 
 my part, I think no man, for valour of mind and ability ol 
 body, to be preferred, if equalled, to Argalus. My master's 
 son Clitophon — whose loss gives the cause to this discourse, 
 and yet gives me cause to begin with Argalus, since his loss 
 proceeds from Argalus — being a young gentleman, as of great 
 birth, being our king's sister's son, so truly of good nature, 
 and one that can see good and love it, haunted more the 
 company of this worthy Argalus than of any other ; so as if 
 there were not a friendship — which is so rare as it is to be 
 '^oubted whether it be athing indeed, or but a word — at least 
 there was such a liking and friendliness as hath brought 
 
26 ARCADIA.— Book 1. 
 
 forth the effects which you shall hear. About two years 
 since it so fell out that he brought him to a great lady's 
 house, sister to my master, who had with her her only 
 daughter, the fair Parthenia ; fair indeed, fame I think itself 
 daring not to call any fairer, if it be not Helen, queen of 
 Corinth, and the two incomparable sisters of Arcadia ; and 
 that which made her fairness much the fairer was that it was 
 but a fair embassador of a most fair mind, full of wit, and a 
 wit which delighted more to judge itself than to show itself, 
 her speech being as rare as precious, her silence without 
 sullenness, her modesty without affectation, her shamefast- 
 ness without ignorance ; in sum, one that to praise well one 
 must first set down with himself what it is to be excellent, 
 for so she is.* 
 
 " I think you think that these perfections meeting could not 
 choose but find one another, and delight in that they found ; 
 for likeness of manners is likely in reason to draw liking with 
 affection — men's actions do not always cross with reason. To 
 be short, it did so indeed. They loved, although for a while 
 the fire thereof — hope's wings being cut off— were blown by 
 the bellows of despair, upon this occasion : — 
 
 " There had been, a good while before, and so continued, a 
 suitor to this same lady, a great nobleman, though of 
 Laconia, yet near neighbour to Parthenia's mother, named 
 Demagoras ; a man mighty in riches and power, and proud 
 thereof, stubbornly stout, loving nobody but himself, and, 
 for his own delight's sake, Parthenia ; and, pursuing 
 vehemently his desire, his riches had so gilded over all his 
 other imperfections that the old lady, though contrary to 
 my lord her brother's mind, had given her consent, and, 
 
 * This passage, though involved, deserves to be carefully read, 
 as being especially Sidneian. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book I. 27 
 
 using a mother's authority upon her fair daughter, had made 
 her yield thereunto, not because she hked her choice, but 
 because her obedient mind had not yet taken upon it to make 
 choice ; and the day of their assurance drew near when my 
 young lord Clitophon brought this noble Argalus, perchance 
 principally to see so rare a sight as Parthenia^ by all well- 
 judging eyes was judged. 
 
 " But, though few days were before the time of assurance 
 appointed, yet Love, that saw he had a great journey to make 
 in short time, hasted so himself that, before her word could 
 tie her to Demagoras, her heart hath vowed her to Argalus, 
 with so grateful a receipt in mutual affection that, if she 
 desired above all things to have Argalus, Argalus feared 
 nothing but to miss Parthenia. And now Parthenia had ^ 
 learned both liking and misliking, loving and loathing, and 
 out of passion began to take the authority of judgment ; in- 
 somuch, that, when the time came that Demagoras, full of 
 proud joy, thought to receive the gift of herself, she, with 
 v/ords of resolute refusal, though with tears, showing she 
 was sorry she must refuse, assured her mother she would first 
 be bedded in her grave than wedded to Demagoras. The 
 change was no more strange than unpleasant to the mother, 
 who, being determinately, lest I should say of a great lady 
 vv'ilfully, bent to marry her to Demagoras, tried all ways 
 which a witty* and hard-hearted mother could use upon so 
 humble a daughter, in whom the only resisting power was 
 love. But the more she assaulted the more she taught 
 Parthenia to defend, and the more Parthenia defended the 
 more she made her mother obstinate in the assault, who at 
 length finding that Argalus, standing between them, was it that 
 most eclipsed her Mection from shining upon Demagoras, 
 
 * Witty — Full of design and resource, sharp-witted. 
 
\ 
 
 re^^- 
 
 28 ARCADIA,— Book I. 
 
 she sought all means how to remove him, so much the more 
 as he manifested himself an unremovable suitor to her 
 daughter, first by employing him in as many dangerous 
 enterprises as ever the evil step-mother Juno recommended 
 to the famous Hercules ; but the more his virtue was tried 
 the more pure it grew, while all the things she did to over- 
 throw him did set him up upon the height of honour. Lastly, 
 by treasons Demagoras and she would have made away 
 Argalus ; but he with providence and courage so passed over 
 all that the mother took such a spiteful grief at it that her 
 heart brake withal, and she died. 
 
 " But then Demagoras, assuring himself that now Parthenia 
 was her own she would never be his, and receiving as much 
 by her own determinate answer, not more desiring his own 
 happiness than envying Argalus, whom he saw with narrow 
 eyes even ready to enjoy the perfection of his desires, 
 strengthening his conceit with all the mischievous counsels 
 which disdained love and envious pride could give unto him, 
 the wicked wretch, taking a time that Argalus was gone to 
 his country to fetch some of his principal friends to honour 
 the marriage, which Parthenia had most joyfully consented 
 unto, — the wicked Demagoras, I say, desiring to speak with 
 her, with unmerciful force, her weak arms in vain resisting, 
 rubbed all over her face a most horrible poispn, the effect 
 whereof was such that never leper looked more ugly thaiLste 
 did ; which done, having his men and horses ready, departed 
 away in spite of her servants, as ready to revenge as could 
 be in such an unexpected mischief. But the abominableness 
 of this fact being come to my lord Kalander, he made such 
 means, both by our king's intercession and his own, that by 
 the king and senate of Laced^mon Demagoras was, upon 
 pain of death, banished the country ; who, hating the punish- 
 ment where he should have hated the fault, joined himself 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 29 
 
 with all the power he could make unto the Helots, lately in 
 rebellion against that state ; and they, glad to have a man of 
 such authority among them, made him their general, and 
 under him have committed divers the most outrageous 
 villainies that a base multitude, full of desperate revenge, 
 can imagine. 
 
 " But, within a while after this pitiful fact* committed upon 
 Parthenia, Argalus returned (poor gentleman !), having her 
 fair image in his heart, and already promising his eyes the 
 uttermost of his felicity, when they, nobody else daring to 
 tell it him, were the first messengers to themselves of their 
 own misfortune. I mean not to move passions with telling 
 you the grief of both when he knew her ; for at first he did 
 not, nor at first knowledge could possibly have virtue's aid 
 so ready as not even weakly to lament the loss of such a y 
 jewel ; so much the more as that skilful men in that art 
 assured it was unrecoverable. But, within a while, truth of 
 love (which still held the first face in his memory), a virtuous 
 constancy, and even a delight to be constant, faith given, and \ 
 inward worthin.£Ss shining through the foulest mists, took so 
 full hold oFthe noble Argalus that, not only in such comfort 
 which witty arguments may bestow upon adversity, but even 
 with the most abundant kindness that an eye-ravished lover 
 can express, he laboured both to drive the extremity of 
 sorrow froinher, and to hasten the celebration of their mar- 
 riage ; whereunto he unfeignedly showed himself no less 
 cheerfully earnest than if she had never been disinherited ot 
 that goodly portion which nature had so liberally bequeathed 
 unto her, and for that cause deferred his intended revenge 
 upon Demagoras, because he might continually be in her 
 presence, showing more humble serviceableness and joy to 
 content her than ever before. 
 
 * Factum, something done, an act or deed. 
 
30 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 " But as he gave this rare example, not to be hoped for of any- 
 other but of another Argalus, so, of the other side, she took 
 as strange a course in affection ; for, where she desired to 
 enjoy him more than to Hve, yet did she overthrow both her 
 "^^ own desire and his, and in no sort would, yield to marry him, 
 with a strange encounter of love's affects and effects, that he, 
 by an affection sprung from excessive_beauty, should delight 
 in horriblfeioulness, and she of a vehement desire to have 
 him should kindly build a resolution never to have him ; for 
 truth it is, that so in heart she loved him as she could not 
 find in her heart he should be tied to what was unworthy of 
 his presence. 
 
 " Argalus with a most heavy heart still pursuing his desire, 
 she, fixed of mind to avoid further intreaty and to fly all 
 company — which, even of him, grew unpleasant to her — one 
 night she siP.le_away, but whither as yet it is unknown, or 
 indeed what is become of her. 
 
 " Argalus sought her long and in many places ; at length, 
 despairing to find her, and the more he despaired the more 
 enraged, weary of his life, but first determining to be re- 
 venged of Demagoras, he went alone disguised into the chie 
 town held by the Helots, where, coming into his presence, 
 guarded about by many of his soldiers, he could delay his 
 fury no longer for a fitter time, but setting upon him, in 
 despite of a great many that helped him, gave him divers 
 mortal wounds, and himself, no question, had been there 
 presently murdered, but that Demagoras himself desired he 
 might be kept alive, perchance with intention to feed his own 
 eyes with some cruel execution to be laid upon him : but 
 death came sooner than he looked for, yet having had 
 leisure to appoint his successor, a young man not long before 
 delivered out of the prison of the king of Lacedaemon, where 
 he should have suffered death for having slain the king's 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 31 
 
 nephew ; but him he named, who at that time was absent 
 making roads upon the Lacedaemonians, but, being returned, 
 the rest of the Helots, for the great hking they conceived of 
 that young man, especially because they had none among 
 themselves to whom the others would yield, were content to 
 follow Demagoras's appointment. And well hath it succeeded 
 with him, he having since done things beyond the hope of' 
 the youngest heads, of whom I speak the rather, because he 
 hath hitherto preserved Argalus alive under pretence to have 
 him publicly, and with exquisite torments, executed after 
 the end of these wars, of which they hope for a soon and 
 prosperous issue. 
 
 "And he hath likewise hitherto kept my young lord 
 Clitophon alive, who, to redeem his friend, went with certain 
 other noblemen of Laconia, and forces gathered by them, 
 to besiege this young and new successor ; but he, issuing 
 out, to the wonder of all men, defeated the Laconians, slew 
 many of the noblemen, and took Clitophon prisoner. And 
 now, sir, though, to say the truth, we can promise ourselves 
 httle of their safeties while they are in the Helots' hands, I 
 have delivered all I understand touching the loss of my 
 lord's son and the cause thereof ; which, though it was not 
 necessary to Clitophon's case to be so particularly told, yet 
 the strangeness of it made me think it would not be unplea- 
 sant unto you." 
 
 Palladius thanked him greatly for it, being even passion- 
 ately delighted with hearing so strange an accident of a 
 knight so famous over the world as Argalus, with whom he 
 had himself a long desire to meet, so had fame poured a 
 noble emulation in him towards him. 
 
 But then, well bethinking himself, he called for armour, 
 desiring them to provide him of horse and guide ; and 
 armed, all saving the head, he went up to Kalander, whom he 
 
32 
 
 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 found lying upon the ground, having ever since banished 
 both sleep and food, as enemies to the mourning which 
 passion persuaded him was reasonable. But Palladius 
 raised him up, saying unto him : " No more, no more of this, 
 my lord Kalander, let us labmir to find before we lame nt the 
 loss. You know myself miss one, who, though he be not my 
 son, I would disdain the favour of life after him ; but, while 
 there is hope left, let not the weakness of sorrow make the 
 strength of it languish : take comfort, and good success will 
 follow." And with those words comfort seemed to lighten 
 in his eyes ; and that in his face and gesture was painted 
 victory. Once Kalander's spirits were so revived withal 
 that, receiving some sustenance, and taking a little rest, he 
 armed himself, and those few of his servants he had left 
 unsent, and so himself guided Palladius to the place upon the 
 frontiers, where already there were assembled between three 
 and four thousand men, all well disposed, for Kalander's 
 sake, to abide any peril ; but, Hke men disused with a long 
 peace, more determinate to do than skilful how to do. 
 Which Palladius soon perceiving, he desired to understand, as 
 much as could be delivered unto him, the estate of the Helots^. 
 And he was answered by a man well acquainted with the 
 affairs of Laconia, that they were a kind of people who 
 having been of old freemen and possessioners, the Lacedae- 
 monians had conquered. -them, and laid not only tribute, but 
 bondage upon them, which they had long borne, till of late 
 the LaG.ed^j»OTTians, through greediness^rowing more heavy 
 than they could bear, and through contempt less careful 
 how to make them bear, they had with a general consent, 
 rather springing by the generalness of the cause than of any 
 artificial practice, set themselves in arms, and, whetting their 
 courage with revenge, and grounding their resolution upon 
 despair, they had proceeded with unlooked-for success. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 33 
 
 having already taken divers towns and castles, with the t/ 
 slaughter of many of the gentry ; for whom no sex nor age 
 could be accepted for an excuse. And that, although at the 
 first they had fought rather with beastly fury than any 
 soldierly discipline, practice had now made them comparable 
 to the best of the' Lacedaemonians, and more of late than 
 ever. Palladius having gotten his general knowledge of the / 
 party against whom, as he had already of the party for whom, 
 he was to fight, he went to Kalander, and told him plainly 
 that by plain force there was small appearance of helping 
 Clitophon ; but some device was to be taken in hand, wherein 
 no less discretion than valour was to be used. '^V/*V*Y'^ ^ 
 
 Whereupon the counsel of the chief men was called, and 
 at last this way Palladius — who, by some experience, but 
 especially by reading histories, was acquainted with strata- 
 gems — invented, and was by all the rest approved, that all the 
 men there should dress themselves like the poorest sort of the 
 people in Arcadia, having no banners, but bloody shirts 
 hanged upon long staves, with some bad bagpipes instead of 
 drum and fife ; their armour they should, as well as might be, 
 cover, or at least make them look so rustily and ill-favouredly 
 as might well become such wearers ; and this the whole 
 number should do, saving two hundred of the best chosen 
 gentlemen for courage and strength, whereof Palladius him- 
 self would be one, who should have their arms chained, 
 and be put in carts like prisoners. This being performed 
 according to the agreement, they marched on towards the 
 town of Cardamila, where Clitophon was captive ; and being 
 come, two hours before sunset, within view of the walls, the 
 Helots already descrying their number, and beginning to 
 sound the alarum, they sent a cunning- fellow — so much the 
 cunninger as that he could mask it under rudeness — who, 
 v/ith such a kind of rhetoric as weeded out all flowers of 
 
 D 
 
% ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 rhetoric, delivered unto the Helots assembled together that 
 they were country people of Arcadia, no less oppressed by 
 their lords, and no less desirous of liberty, than they, and 
 therefore had put themselves in the field, and had already, 
 besides a great number slain, taken nine or ten score 
 gentlemen prisoners, whom they had there well and fast 
 chained. Now, because they had no strong retiring place in 
 Arcadia, and were not yet of number enough to keep the 
 field against their prince's forces, they were come to them for 
 succour ; knowing that daily more and more of their quality 
 would flock unto them, but that in the meantime, lest their 
 prince should pursue them, or the Lacedaemonian king and 
 nobihty (for the likeness of the cause) fall upon them, they 
 desired that if there were not room enough for them in the 
 town, that yet they might encamp under the walls, and for 
 surety have their prisoners, who were such men as were able 
 to make their peace, kept within the town. 
 
 The Helots made but a short consultation, being glad that 
 their contagion had spread itself into Arcadia, and making 
 account that if the peace did not fall out between them and 
 their king, that it was the best way to set fire in all the parts 
 of Greece ; besides their greediness to have so many gentle- 
 men in their hands, in whose ransoms they already meant to 
 have a share ; to which haste of concluding two things well 
 helped. The one, that their captain, with the wisest of them, 
 was at that time absent, about confirming or breaking the 
 peace with the state of Lacedsemon ; the second^ that over- 
 many good fortunes began to breed a proud recklessness in 
 them. Therefore, sending to view the camp, and 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 
 
ARCADIA.— Book L 35 
 
 chains upon the gentlemen, they granted not only leave for J 
 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 ware them might 
 easily loose them, they 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 the Arca- 
 dians before the Helots could make any head to resist them, -f 
 
 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 Palladms, 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 j 
 them beginning to shake and stagger, at length every par- i 
 ticular 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 to house ' 
 all the Helots, and make themselves master 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 
 
 * Ward — guard of soldiers. "For his menne warded in base 
 Boleine that night. "—Fabyan, Chron. Flen. VIII. 
 
 D 2 
 
2,6 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 trumpet give the loudest testimony he could of his return ; 
 which once heard, the rest of the Helots, which were other- 
 wise 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 ob- 
 stinacy, the Arcadians fighting to keep that they had won, 
 the Helots to recover what theyJiad_iost ; the Arcadians as 
 in an unknown place, having no succour but in their hands, 
 the Helots as in their own place, fighting for their livings, 
 wives, and children. There was victory and courage against 
 revenge and despair ; safety of both sides being no otherwise 
 to be gotten but by destruction. 
 
 At length the left wing of the Arcadians began to lose 
 ground ; which Palladius seeing, he straight thrust himself, 
 wath 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 them- 
 selves 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, he sought 
 only to join with him, which mind was no less in Palladius, 
 having easily marked that he was as 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 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 37 
 
 their wit cool their hardiness : both vahant, as men despis- 
 ing 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 lighting, ithe 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 pro- 
 ceeding of fury, strake Palladius upon the side of the head 
 that he reeled astonied, and withal the helmet fell off, he 
 remaining bareheaded ; but other of the Arcadians were ready 
 to shield him from any harm rfiight rise of that nakedness. 
 
 But little needed it ; for his chief enemy, instead of pur- . 
 suing 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 hberty 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 captair)(y^ 
 "hath Palladius forgotten the voice of Daiphantus .?" 
 
 By that watchword Palladius knew that it was his only 
 friend Pyrocles, whom he had lost upon the sea, and there- ""^ 
 fore both, most full of wonder so to be met, if they had not 
 been fuller of joy than wonder, caused the retreat to be 
 sounded, Daiphantus by authority, and Palladius by per- 
 suasion ; to which helped well the little advantage that was 
 
 * Objections — ob andjauv, adverse blows. 
 
38 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 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 pri- 
 soner. 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 enemy's 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 called 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 Pal- 
 ladius' 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 valour, 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 dehver Clitophon, 
 so offering to leave the footing they already had in the town, 
 to go away without any further hurt, so as they might have 
 the father and the son without ransom delivered. Which 
 conditions being heard and conceived by the Helots, 
 Daiphantus persuaded them without delay to accept them. 
 
 The Helots, as much moved by his authority as persuaded 
 
 by his reasons, were content therewith. Whereupon Pal- 
 
 I ladius took order that the Arcadians should presently march 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 39 
 
 out of the town, taking with them their prisoners, while the 
 night with mutual diffidence might keep them quiet, and ere 
 day came they might be well on of 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 -.y 
 him from the furious malice of the Helots ; and even that 
 day, going to conclude the peace, least 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 father. " But," said Clitophon, 
 " here is he who, as a father, hath new begotten me, and, as a 
 god, hath saved me from many deaths, who already laid 
 hold on me," which Kalander with tears of joy acknowledged, 
 besides his own deliverance, only his benefit. But Dai- 
 phantus, who loved doing well for itself and not for thanks, 
 brake 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 despatched 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, 
 
40 ARCADIA.— Book 1. 
 
 desiring pardon for Argalus, Daiphantus 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 caused a 
 general convocation to be made, in the which he cheereth 
 them for their escape from this recent gulf of danger, and 
 puts straightly before them the happy terms he has obtained 
 from the Laced£emonians. Next he telleth them that he 
 shall leave them ; a motion to which the Helots will not agree, 
 nor scarce hear, but after much discourse they are brought to 
 entertain, on the condition that he will return should the 
 Lacedaemonians break this treaty and they need him. 
 
 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 stept, and 
 after making temples unto him, as to a demigod, 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 
 
ARCADIA,— Booh I. 41 
 
 Parthenia was lost, he counted not himself delivered, but that 
 the whole multitude would needs cruard him into Arcadia. 
 Where again leaving them all to lament his departure, he by- 
 inquiry got to the well-known house of Kalander. There 
 was he received with loving joy of Kalander, with joyful y 
 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 ^ i«uj'-^ 
 hair on his 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 with the sight of the most horrible counten- J 
 ances 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 minds, that there they had 
 seen the uttermost that in mankind might be seen. The like 
 wonder Palladius had before stirred, but that Daiphantus, as 
 younger and newer come, had gotten now the advantage in the 
 moist and fickle impression of eyesight. 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 ' ' I 
 newly dined, there came into 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 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 
 
43 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 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 joy into sorrow. But she, when she had staid their 
 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 La,dy. 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 mis- 
 fortune, so much the more as that all men had ever 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 there- 
 withal 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 ear- 
 nestly desiring and persuading me to think of no husband 
 but of you, as of the only man in the world worthy to be 
 
ARCADIA.— Book L 43 
 
 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 re- 
 quires 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 staid, earnestly 
 attending Argalus's answer ; who, first making most hearty 
 sighs, doing such obsequies as he could to Parthenia, thus . / 
 answered her : — 
 
 " Madam," said he, " infinitely am I bound unto you for 
 this no more rare than noble courtesy ; but more 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 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 \ 
 other should have it ; but Parthenia's it is, though dead :/ 
 there I began, there I end all matter of affection. I hope L \ 
 shall not long tarry after her, with whose beauty if I had 
 only 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 re- 
 ceive," said she, " such disgrace as to be refused ?" " Noble 
 
/ 
 
 44 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 lady," said he, " let not that hard word be used to me 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 Par- 
 thenia ;" 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 com- 
 plaint, the Oueen Helen of Corinth, who likewise felt her 
 part of miseries, being then walking also alone in that lonely 
 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 she taking with her 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 habit of hospitality, 
 carried with love and duty, and therefore omitted no ser- 
 vice that his wit could invent and his power minister. 
 
 But no way he saw he could so much pleasure them as 
 by leaving the two friends alone, who being shrunk aside 
 to the banqueting house, where the pictures were, there 
 Palladius recounted unto Pyrocles his fortunate escape from 
 the wreck and his ensuing adventures. Then did he 
 set forth unto him the noble entertainment and careful 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 45 
 
 cherishing of Kalander towards him, and so, upon occasion 
 of the pictures present, deHvered with the frankness of a 
 friend's tongue, as near as he could, word by word what 
 Kalander had told him touching the strange story, with all 
 the particularities belonging, of Arcadia ; which did in many 
 sorts so delight PyK^cles to hear that he would needs have * 
 much of it again repeated, and was not contented till Kalander 
 himself had answered him divers questions. ., ^^^ ^^,j^ 
 
 But first, at Miisi^us' request, though in brief manner, 
 his mind much running upon the strange story of Arcadia, 
 he did declare by what course of adventures he was come to 
 make up their mutual happiness in meeting. "When, 
 cousin," said he, " we had stript ourselves, and were both 
 leapt into the sea, and swam a little toward the shore, I 
 found by reason of some wounds I had, that I should not 
 be able to get the land, and therefore returned back again 
 to the mast of the ship, where you found me, assuring myself 
 that if you came alive to the shore you would seek me ; if 
 you were lost— as I thought it as good to perish as to live— so 
 that place as good to perish in as another. There I found 
 my sword among some of the shrouds, wishing, I must con- 
 fess, if I died, to be found with that in my hand, and withal 
 waving it about my head, that sailers-by might have the 
 better glimpse of me. There you missing me, I was taken 
 up by pirates, who, putting me under board prisoner, presently 
 set upon another ship, and, maintaining a long fight, in the 
 end put them all to the sword. Amongst whom I might 
 hear them greatly praise one young man, who fought most 
 valiantly, whom, as love is careful, and misfortune subject 
 to doubtfulness, I thought certainly to be you. And so, 
 holding you as dead, from that time till the time I saw you, 
 in truth I sought nothing more than a noble end, which 
 perchance made me more hardy than otherwise I would 
 
J 
 
 46 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 have been. Trial whereof came within two days after ; for 
 the kings of Lacedcemon having set out some galleys, under 
 the charge of one of their nephews, to scour the sea of the 
 pirates, they met with us, where our captain wanting men, 
 was driven to arm some of his prisoners, with promise of 
 liberty for well fighting, among whom I was one ; and, being 
 boarded by the admiral, it was my fortune to kill Euryleon? 
 the king's nephew. But in the end they prevailed, aiTdTTve 
 were all taken prisoners, I not caring much what became of 
 me — only keeping the name of Daiphantus, according to the 
 resolution you know is between us ; but being laid in the 
 gaol of Tenaria, with special hate to me for the death of 
 Ettryleon, the popular sor^ ofthatjown consj)ired with the 
 Helots, and so by night opened thsm the _gates ; where 
 entering and killing all of the gentle and rich faction, for 
 honesty-sake broke open all prisons, and so delivered me ; 
 and I, moved with gratefulness, and encouraged with care- 
 lessness of life, so behaved myself in some conflicts they had 
 within few days, that they barbarously thinking unsensible* 
 wonders of me, and withal so much the better trusting me 
 as they heard I was hated of the king of Laced^mon, their 
 chief captain being slain, as you know, by the noble Argalus, 
 they elected me, God wot little proud of that dignity, re- 
 storing unto me such things of mine, as being taken first by 
 the pirates and then by the Lacedccmonians, they had gotten 
 in the sack of the town. Now being in it, so good was my 
 success with many victories, that I made a peace for them, 
 to their own liking, the very day that you delivered Clitophon, 
 whom I, with much ado, had preserved. And in my peace 
 the King Amiclas of Lacedsemon would needs have me 
 banished, and deprived of the dignity whereunto I v/as 
 exalted ; which — and you may see how much you are bound" 
 
 * Unsensible — insensate, foolish from their magnitude. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book I. 47 
 
 to me — for your sake I was content to suffer, a new hope 
 rising in me that you were not dead, and so meaning to 
 travel over the world to seek you ; and now here, my dear 
 Musidorus, you have me." And with that, embracing and 
 kissing each other, they called Kalander, of whom Dai- 
 phantus desired to hear the full story, which before he had 
 recounted to Palladius. 
 
 But, within some days after, the marriage between Argalus 
 and the fair Parthenia being to be celebrated, Daiphantus 
 and Palladius selling some of their jewels, furnished them- 
 selves of very fair apparel, meaning to do honour to their 
 loving host, who, as much for their sakes as for their marriage, 
 set forth each thing in most gorgeous manner. But all the 
 cost be^^^owed did not so much enrich, nor all the fine decking 
 so much beautify, nor all the dainty devices so much delight 
 ds the fairness of Parthenia, the pearl of all the maids of 
 Mantinea, who as she went to the temple to be married, her 
 eyes themselves seemed a temple, wherein love and beauty* 
 were married ; her lips, though they were kept close with 
 modest silence, yet, with a pretty kind of natural swelling, 
 they seemed to invite the guests that looked on them ; her 
 cheeks blushing, and withal, when she was spoken unto, a 
 little smiling, were like roses, when their leaves are with a jj 
 little breath stirred, her hair being laid at the full length 
 down her back, bare show as if the voward* failed, yet that ; 
 would conquer. Daiphantus marking her, " O Jupiter !" 
 saith he, speaking to Palladius, " how happens it that beauty 
 is only confined to A.rcadia ?" But Palladius not greatly 
 attending his speech, some days were continued in the 
 
 * Probably antithetically put, and misprinted for "vaward," the 
 fore-part ; z>., her back hair was so beautiful, that if the beauty of 
 the face failed that would conquer. Vaward is " vanguard " : — 
 " My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg 
 The leading of the vaward." — Henry V. iv. 3. 
 
J 
 
 48 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 solemnising the marriage, with all conceits that might deliver 
 delight to men's fancies. 
 
 But such a change was grown in Daiphantus that, as if 
 cheerfulness had been tediousness, and good entertainment 
 were turned to discourtesy, he w'ould ever get himself alone, 
 though almost when he was in company he was alone, so 
 little attention he gave to any that spake unto him ; even 
 the colour and figure of his face began to receive some altera- 
 tion, which he showed little to heed ; but every morning, 
 early going abroad, either to the garden or to some woods 
 towards the desert, it seemed his only c '^■'fort to be without 
 a comforter. But long it could not be hid from Palla,dius, 
 whom true love made ready to mark, and long kno\ ""-d^^e 
 able to mark ; and therefore, being now grown weary r 
 abode in Arcadia, having informed himself fully ^. ' 
 strength and riches of the country, of the nature oi 
 people, and manner of their laws, and seeing the cc 
 could not be visited, prohibited to all men but to certai. 
 shepherdish people, he greatly desired a speedy return to his 
 own-CDuntry, after the many mazes of fortune he had trodden, 
 but, perceiving this great alteration in his friend, had thought 
 first to break with him thereof, and then to hasten his return, 
 whereof he found him but smally inclined ; whereupon one 
 day taking him alone with certain graces and countenances, 
 as if he were disputing with the trees, he somewhat tried to 
 discover the _.r£as.on oLhis frie nd's melanc holy, but had not 
 proceeded far before Kalander came andjbrake off their dis- 
 course with inviting them to the hunting of a goodly stag, which, 
 being harboured in a wood thereby, he hoped would make 
 them good sport, and drive away some part of Daiphantus's 
 melancholy. They condescended ; and so, going to their lodg- 
 ings, furnished themselves as liked them, Daiphantus writing a 
 few words, which he left sealed in a letter against their return. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 49 
 
 Then went they together abroad, the good Kalander enter- 
 taining them with pleasant discoursing — how well he loved 
 the sport of hunting when he was a young man ; how much, 
 in the comparison thereof, he disdained all chamber delights ; 
 that the sun, how great a journey soever he had to make, 
 could never prevent him with earliness, nor the moon, with 
 her sober countenance, dissuade him from watching till mid- 
 night for the deer's feeding. "Oh," said he, " you will never 
 live to my age without you keep yourselves in breath with 
 exercise, and in heart with joyfulness. Too much thinking 
 doth consume the spirits ; and oft it falls out that, while one 
 thinks too much of his doing, he leaves to do the effect of his 
 thinking." Then spared he not to remember how much 
 Arcadia was changed since his youth, activity and good 
 fellowship being nothing in the price it was then held in, but, 
 according to the nature of the old-growing world, still worse 
 and worse. Then would he tell them stories of such gallants 
 as he had known, and so, with pleasant company, beguiled 
 the time's haste and shortened the way's length, till they 
 came to the side of the wood where the hounds were, in. 
 couples, staying their coming, but, with a whining accent, 
 craving liberty, many of them in colour and marks so resem- 
 bling that it showed they were of one kind. The huntsmen, 
 handsomely attired in their green liveries, as though they 
 were children of summer, with staves in their hands, to beat | 
 the guiltless earth when the hounds were at a fault, and with 
 horns about their necks, to sound an alarum upon a silly 
 fugitive. The hounds were straight uncoupled ; and ere 
 long the stag thought it better to trust to the nimbleness of 
 his feet than to the slender fortification of his lodging ; but 
 even his feet betrayed him ; for howsoever they went they 
 themselves uttered themselves to the scent of their enemies ; 
 who, one taking it of another, and sometimes believing the 
 
 E 
 
50 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 wind's advertisement, sometimes the view of their faithful 
 counsellors the huntsmen, with open mouths then denounced 
 war, when the war was already begun ; their cry being com- 
 posed of so well-sorted mouths that any man would perceive 
 therein some kind of proportion, but the skilful woodmen did 
 find a music. Then delight and variety of opinion drew the 
 horsemen sundry ways, yet, cheering their hounds with voice 
 and horn, kept still as it were together. The wood seemed 
 to conspire with them against his own citizens,* dispersing 
 their noise through all his quarters, and even the nymph Echo 
 left to bewail the loss of Narcissus and became a hunter. 
 But the stag was in the end so hotly pursued that, turning 
 his head, he made the hounds, with change of speech, to 
 testify that he was at a bay. But Kalander, by his skill of 
 coasting the country, was amongst the first that came into 
 the besieged deer, whom, when some of the younger sort 
 would have killed with their swords, he would not suffer, 
 but with a cross-bow sent a death to the poor beast, who 
 with tears showed the unkindness he took of man's cruelty. 
 
 But, by the time that the whole company was assembled, 
 and that the stag had bestowed himself liberally among 
 J them that had killed him, Daiphantus was missed, for whom 
 Palladius carefully inquiring, no news could be given him 
 but by one that said he thought he was returned home ; for 
 that he marked him, in the chief of the hunting, take a by- 
 way which might lead to Kalander's house. That answer 
 for the time satisfying, and they having performed all duties, 
 as well for the stag's funeral as the hounds' triumph, they 
 returned, some talking of the fatness of the deer's body, some 
 
 * Citizens — " Sweep on, ye fat and greasy citizens,'''' 
 
 Shaks. As You Like It. 
 "About her wondering stood 
 The citizens o' the wood.'''' — Lodge's "Rosalynd." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 51 
 
 of the fairness of his head, some of the hounds' cunning, 
 some of their speed, and some of their cry ; till, coming home 
 about the time that the candles begin to inherit the sun's 
 office, they found Daiphantus was not to be found. Whereat 
 Palladius greatly marvelling, and a day or two passing, while 
 neither search nor inquiry could help him to knowledge, at 
 last he lighted upon the letter which Pyrocles had written 
 before he went a-hunting and left in his study among other 
 of his writings. The letter was directed to Palladius himself, 
 and contained these words : — 
 
 " My onlyJFriend,— Violence ofiflxe leads me into such 
 a course'whereof your knowledge may much more vex you 
 than help me ; therefore pardon my concealing it from you, 
 since, if I wrong you, it is in the respect I bear you. Return 
 into Thes^salia, I pray you, as full of good fortune as I am of 
 desire ; and, if I live, I will in short time follow you ; if I 
 die, love my memory." 
 
 This was all, and this Palladius read twice or thrice over. 
 " Ah," said he, " Pyrocles, what means this alteration ? 
 What have I deserved of thee to be thus banished of thy 
 counsels ? Heretofore I have accused the sea, condemned 
 the pirates, and hated my evil fortune that deprived me of 
 thee ; but now thyself is the sea which drowns my comfort, 
 thyself is the pirate that robs thyself from me, thy own wjll 
 becomes my evil fortune." Then turned he his thoughts to 
 all forms of guesses that might light upon the purpose and 
 course of Pyrocles ; for he was not so sure, by his words, 
 that it was love, as he was doubtful where the love was. One 
 time he thought some beauty in Laconia had laid hold of 
 his eyes, another time he feared that it might be Parthenia's 
 excellency which had broken the bands of all former resolu- 
 tion ; but the more he thought the more he knew not what 
 
 E 2 
 
52 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 to think, armies of objections rising against any accepted 
 opinion. 
 
 Then as careful he was what to do himself ; at length de- 
 termined never to leave seeking him till his search should be 
 either by meeting accomplished or by death ended. There- 
 fore (for all the unkindness, bearing tender respect that his 
 friend's secret determination should be kept from any suspi-* 
 cion in others) he went to Kalander and told him that he had 
 received a message from his friend, by which he understood 
 he was gone back again into Laconia about some matters 
 greatly importing the poor men whose protection he had 
 undertaken, and that it was in any sort fit for him to follow 
 him, but in such private wise as not to be known, and that, 
 therefore, he would as then bid him farewell ; arming himself 
 in a black armour, as either a badge or prognostication of 
 his mind, and taking only with him good store of money 
 and a few choice jewels, leaving the greatest number of them 
 and most of his apparel with Kalander ; which he did partly 
 to give the more cause to Kalander to expect their return, 
 and so to be the less curiously inquisitive after them, and 
 partly to leave those honourable thanks unto him for his 
 charge and kindness which he knew he would not other way 
 receive. The good old man, having neither reason to dis- 
 suade nor hope to persuade, received the things, with mind 
 of a keeper, not of an owner, and abstained from urging 
 him, but not from hearty mourning the loss of so sweet a 
 conversation. 
 
 Only Clitophqn, by vehement importunity, obtained to go 
 with him, to conie again to Daiphantus, whom he named and 
 accounted his lord. And in such private guise departed 
 Palladius, though having a companion to talk withal, yet 
 talking much more with unkindness. And first they went 
 to Mantinea, whereof because Parthenia was there, he 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. ^ 53 
 
 suspected there might be some cause of his abode. But, 
 finding there no news of him, he went to Tegea, Ripa, 
 EnispcC, Stimphalus, and Phineus, famous for the poisonous 
 Stygian water, and through all the rest of Arcadia, making 
 their eyes, their ears, .and their tongues serve almost for 
 nothing but that inquiry. But they could know nothing but 
 that in none of those places he was known. And so went 
 they, making one place succeed to another, in like uncer- 
 tainty to their search, many times encountering strange 
 adventures worthy to be registered in the rolls of fame ; but 
 this may not be omitted. As they passed in a pleasant 
 valley, of either side of which high hills lifted up their beetle- 
 brows as if they would overlook the pleasantness of their 
 under-prospect, they were, by the daintiness of the place and 
 the weariness of themselves, invited to light from their 
 horses, and pulled off their bits that they might something 
 refresh their mouths upon the grass, which plentifully grew, 
 brought up under the care of those well-shading trees ; they 
 themselves laid them down hard by the murmuring music of 
 certain waters which spouted out of the side of the hills, and 
 in the bottom of the valley made of many springs a pretty 
 brook, like a commonwealth of many families. But when 
 they had a while hearkened to the persuasion of sleep, they 
 rose and walked onward in thart shady place, till Clitophon 
 espied a piece of armour, and not far off another piece ; and 
 so the sight of one piece teaching him to look for more, he at 
 length found all, with head-piece and shield, by the device 
 whereof he straight knew it to be the armour of his cousin, 
 the noble Amphialus. Whereupon, fearing some incon- 
 venience happened unto him, he told both his doubt and * 
 cause of doubt to Palladius, who, considering thereof, thought 
 best to make no longer stay but to follow on, lest, perchance, 
 some violence were offered to so* worthy a knight, whom the 
 
54 ARCADIA.— Book T. 
 
 fame of the world seemed to set in balance with any knight 
 living. Yet, with a sudden conceit, having long borne great 
 honour to the name of Amphialus, Palladius thought best to 
 take that armour, thinking thereby to learn by them that 
 should know that armour some news of Amphialus, and yet 
 not hinder him in the search of Daiphantus too. So he, by 
 the help of Clitophon, quickly put on that armour, whereof 
 there was no one piece wanting, though hacked in some 
 places, bewraying some fight not long since passed. It was 
 something too great, but yet served well enough. And so, 
 getting on their horses, they travelled but a little way when, 
 in opening of the mouth of the valley into a fair field, they 
 met with a coach drawn with four milk-white horseSj fur- 
 nished all in black, with a blackamoor boy upon every 
 horse, they all apparelled in white, the coach itself very 
 richly furnished in black and white. But, before they could 
 come so near as to discern what was within, there came 
 running upon them above a dozen horsemen, who cried to 
 them to yield themselves prisoners, or else they should die. 
 
 I But Palladius, not accustomed to grant over the possession 
 of himself upon so unjust titles, with sword drawn gave them 
 so rude an answer that divers of them never had breath to 
 reply again ; for, being well backed by Clitophon, and having 
 an excellent horse under him, when he was over-pressed by 
 some, he avoided them, and, ere the other thought of it, pun- 
 
 ^^ished in him his fellow's faults ; and so, either with cunning 
 or with force, or rather with a cunning force^JefLnone of 
 them either living or able to make his life serveto other's 
 hurt. Which being done, he approached the coach, assuring 
 the black boys they should have no hurt, who were else 
 ready to have run away ; and, looking in the coach, he 
 found in the one end a lady of great beauty, and such a 
 
 \ beauty as showed forth the t^eams both of wisdom and good 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 55 
 
 nature, but all as much darkened as might be with secret 
 sorrow ; in the other, two ladies who, by their demeanour, 
 showed well they were but her servants, holding before 
 them a picture in which was a goodly gentleman, whom he 
 knew not, painted, having in their faces a certain waiting 
 sorrow, their eyes being infected with their mistress's weep- 
 ing. But the chief lady, having not so much as once 
 heard the noise of this conflict, so had sorrow closed up 
 all the entries of her mind, and love tied her senses to that 
 beloved picture, now the shadow of him falling upon the 
 picture made her cast up her eye, and seeing the armour 
 which too well she knew, thinking him to be Amphialus, the 
 lord of her desires, Woqd_.i:oJDim^j3iQre^ freely into her 
 cheeks, as though it would be bold, and yet there growing 
 new again pale for fear, with a pitiful look, like one unjustly 
 condemned, " My lord Amphialus," said she, '' you have 
 enough punished me : it is time for cruelty to leave you, and 
 evil fortune me ; if not, I pray you — and to grant my prayer 
 fitter time nor place you can have — accomplish the one even 
 now, and finish the other." 
 
 With that, sorrow poured itself so fast into tears that 
 Palladius could not hold her longer in error; he shortly 
 discovered himself unto her, and assured her that he had 
 come by the armour by chance, knowing the device thereof, 
 and lastly conjured her to tell the story of her fortune. 
 Thereon she, looking on her wounded and dead servants, 
 said, "Your conjuration, fair knight, is too strong for my 
 poor spirit to disobey. Know you, then, that my name is 
 Helen, queen by birth, and hitherto possessed of the fair city 
 and territory of Corinth. I can say no more of myself, but 
 beloved of my people, and may justly say beloved, since they 
 are content to bear with my absence and folly. But I being 
 left by my father's death, and accepted by my people, in the 
 
 A 
 
56 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 highest degree that country could receive, as soon, or rather 
 before that my age was ripe for it, my court quickly swarmed 
 full of suitors, some perchance loving my estate, others my 
 person, but once, I know, all of them, howsoever my posses- 
 sions were in their heart, my beauty, such as it is, was in 
 their mouths — many strangers of princely and noble blood, 
 and all of mine own country, to whom either birth or virtue 
 gave courage to avow so high a desire. 
 
 " Among the rest, or rather before the rest, was the lord 
 Philqxenus, son and heir to the virtuous nobleman Timotheus, 
 which Timotheus was a man, both in power, riches, parentage 
 and (which passed all these) goodness, and (which followed 
 all these) love of the people, beyond any of the great men of 
 my countr}'. Now this son of his, I must say truly not 
 unworthy of such a father, bending himself by all means of 
 serviceableness to me, and setting forth of himself to win my 
 / favour, wan thus far of me that in truth I less misliked him 
 than any of the rest, which in some proportion my counten- 
 ance delivered unto him. Though I must protest it was ^ 
 very false embassador if it delivered at all any affection, 
 whereof my heart was utterly void, I as then esteeming 
 myself born to rule, and thinking foul scorn willingly to 
 submit myself to be ruled. 
 
 " But whiles Philoxenus in good sort pursued my favour, and 
 perchance nourished himself with over-much hope, because 
 he found I did in some sort acknowledge his value, one time 
 among the rest he brought with him a dear friend of his." With 
 that she looked upon the picture before her, and straight 
 sighed, and straight tears followed, as if the idol of duty 
 ought to be honoured with such oblations, and then her 
 speech stayed, the tale having brought her to that look, but 
 that look having quite put her out of her tale. 
 
 But Palladius warmly beseeched the queen to continue 
 
ARCADIA,— Book L 57 
 
 and recount the rest of her story. " This," said she, " is the 
 picture of Amphialus ! What need I say more ? What ear is 
 so barbarous but hath heard of him, of his deeds of arms, his 
 greatness? This knight, then, whose figure you see, but 
 whose mind can be painted by nothing but by the true>/ ft 
 shape of virtue, is brother's son to BasiHus, king of Arcadia, ^"^^ 
 and in his childhood esteemed his heir, till Basilius, in his old 
 years marrying a young and fair lady, had of her those two 
 daughters so famous for their perfection in beauty, which 
 put by their young cousin from that expectation. Where- 
 upon his mother, a woman of an haughty heart, being 
 daughter to the king of Argos, either disdaining or fearing 
 that her son should live under the power of Basilius, sent him 
 to that lord Timatheus, between whom and her dead husband 
 there had passed straight bands of mutual hospitality, to be 
 brought up in company with his son Philoxenus. 
 
 " Well, they grew in years, and shortly occasions fell aptly to 
 try Amphialus ; and all occasions were but steps for him to 
 climb fame by. An endless thing it were for me to tell how j 
 many adventures terrible to be spoken of he achieved, what 
 monsters, what giants, what conquests of countries, some- 
 times using policy, sometimes force, but always virtue, well 
 followed, and but followed, by Philoxenus ; between whom 
 and him so fast a friendship by education was knit that at 
 last Philoxenus, having no greater matter to employ his friend- 
 ship in than to win me, therein desired, and had his uttermost 
 furtherance. To that purpose brought he him to my court? 
 where truly I may justly witness with him that what his wit / 
 could conceive (and his wit can conceive as far as the limits 
 of reason stretch), was all directed to the setting forward the 
 suit of his friend Philoxenus. , In few words, while he pleaded ^ 
 for another, he wan me for himself : if, at least," with that she ' 
 sighed, " he would account it winning ; for his fame had so 
 
58 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 framed the way to my mind that his presence, so full of 
 beauty, sweetness, and noble conversation, had entered there 
 before he vouchsafed to call for the keys. 
 
 " Days passed ; his eagerness for his friend never decreased ; 
 my affection to him ever increased. At length, in way of 
 ordinaiy courtesy, I obtained of him (who suspected no such 
 matter) this his picture, the only Amphialus, I fear, that I 
 shall ever enjoy ; and, grown bolder, or madder, or bold with 
 madness, I discovered my affection unto him. But, Lord ! I 
 shall never forget how an ger a nd courtesy at one instant 
 appeared in his eyes, when he heard that motion : how with 
 his blush he taught me shame. In sum, he left nothing 
 unassayed which might disgrace himself to_gracehis ftiend, 
 in sweet terms making me receive a most resolute refusal 
 of himself. But when he found that his presence did far 
 more persuade for himself than his speech could do for his 
 friend, he left my court ; hoping that forgetfulness, which 
 commonly waits upon absence, would_jriake_room for his 
 friend. Within ,a,while- P-hiloxeaus came to see how onward 
 the fruits were of his friend's labour, when I told him that 
 I would hear him more willingly if he would speak for Am- 
 phialus as well as Amphialus had done for him. He never 
 answered me, but, pale and trembling, went straight away, 
 and straight my heart misgave me. 
 
 "Philoxenus had travelled scarce a day's journey out of 
 my country but that, not far from this place, he overtook 
 Amphialus, who, by succouring a distressed lady, had been 
 here stayed; and by-and-by called him to fight with him, 
 ^ protesting that one of them two should die. You may easily 
 judge how strange it was to Amphialus, whose heart could 
 accuse itself of no fault but too much affection towards him ; 
 which he, refusing to fight with him, would fain have made 
 Philoxenus understand ; but, as one of my servants since told 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 59 
 
 me, the more Amphialus went back, the more he followed, 
 calling him traitor and coward, yet never telling the cause of 
 this strange alteration. 'Ah, Philoxei^us,' said Amphialiis, 'I 
 know I am no traitor, and thou well knowest I am no coward : 
 but I pray thee content thyself with thus much, and let this 
 satisfy thee that I love thee, since I bear thus much of thee.' 
 But he, leaving words, drew his sword and gave Amphialus a 
 great blow or two, which, but for the goodness of his armour, 
 would have slain him ; and yet so far did Amphialus contain 
 himself, stepping aside and saying to him, ' Well, Philoxenus, 
 and thus much villainy am I content to put up, not any 
 longer for thy sake, whom I have no cause to love, since thou 
 dost injure me and wilt not tell me the cause, but for thy 
 virtuous father's sake, to whom I am so much bound : I pray 
 thee go away and conquer thy own passions, and thou shalt 
 make me soon yield to be thy servant.' But he would not 
 attend his words, but still strake so fiercely at Amphialus 
 that in the end, nature prevailing above determination, he 
 was fain to defend himself, and withal so to offend him, thatj 
 by an unlucky blow the poor Philoxenus fell dead at his feet, 
 having had time only to speak some words, whereby 
 Amphialus knew it was for my sake : which when Amphialus 
 saw, he forthwith gave such tokens of true-felt sorrow that, as 
 my servant said, no imagination could conceive greater woe, 
 but that by-and-by an unhappy occasion made Amphialus 
 pass himself in sorrow : for Philoxenus was but newly dead, 
 when there comes to the same place the aged and virtuous 
 Timotheus ; who, having heard of his son's sudden and 
 passionate manner of parting from my court, had followed 
 him as speedily as he could, but, alas, not so speedily but 
 that he found him dead before he could overtake him. Alas, 
 what sorrow, what amazement, what shame was in Amphialus 
 when he saw his dear foster-father find him the killer of his 
 
6o ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 only son ! In my heart, I know, he wished mountains had 
 lain upon him, to keep him from that meeting. As for 
 Timotheus, sorrow of his son, and, I think, principally un- 
 kindness of Amphialus, so devoured his vital spirits that, able 
 
 / to say no more but ' Amphialus, Amphialus, have I ?' 
 
 he sank to the earth and presently died. 
 
 " But not my tongue, though daily used to complaints ; no, 
 nor if my heart, which is nothing but sorrow, were turned to 
 tongues, durst it undertake to show the unspeakableness of 
 his grief. But, because this serves to make you know my 
 fortune, he threw away his armour, even this which you have 
 now upon you, which at the first sight I vainly hoped he had 
 put on again ; and then, as ashamed of the light, he ran into 
 the thickest of the woods, lamenting, and everi^ cr^^ing out so 
 pitifully that my servant, though o7~a Tortune not used to 
 much tenderness, could not refrain weeping when he told it 
 ^ me. He once overtook him ; but Amphialus, drawing his 
 sword, which was the only part of his arms (God knows to 
 what purpose) he carried about him, threatened to kill him if 
 he followed him ; and withal bade him deliver this bitter- 
 message, that he well enough found I was the cause of all 
 this mischief, and that if I were a man he would go over the 
 world to kill me; but bade me assure myself that of all 
 creatures in the world he most hated me. Ah, sir knight, 
 whose ears I think by this time are tired with the rugged 
 ways of these misfortunes, now weigh my cause, if at least 
 you know wha tjov^gi s. For this cause have I left my country, 
 j putting in hazard how my people will in time deal by me, 
 / adventuring what perils or^dishonours might ensue, only to 
 follow him who proclaimeth_ hate -against me, and to bring 
 my neck unto him, if that may redeem my trespass and 
 assuage his fur}^ And now, sir," said she, " you have your 
 request, I pray you take pains to guide me to the next town, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 6i 
 
 that there I may gather such of my company again as your 
 valour hath left me." 
 
 Palladius willingly condescended ; but ere they began to 
 go, there came Clitophon, who, having been something hurt 
 by one of them, had pursued him a good way : at length 
 overtaking him, and ready to kill him, understood they were 
 servants to the fair Queen Helen, and that the cause of this 
 enterprise was for nothing but to make Amphialus prisoner, 
 whom they knew their mistress sought ; for she concealed her 
 sorrow, nor cause of her sorrow, from nobody. 
 
 But Clitophon, very sorry for this accident, came back to 
 comfort the queen, helping such as were hurt in the best 
 sort that he could, and framing friendly constructions of 
 this rashly-undertaken enmity ; when in comes another, till 
 that time unseen, all armed, with his beaver down, who, first 
 looking round about upon the company, as soon as he spied 
 Palla4iiis,Jie-4rew-4iis-*wo^rd,- arid,- jnaking^ -ao- other pro- 
 logue, let fly at him. But Palladius, sorry for so much harm 
 as had already happened, sought rather to retire and ward, 
 thinking he might be some one that belonged to the fair 
 queen, whose case in his heart he pitied. Which Clitophon 
 seeing, stepped between them, asking the newcorae knight 
 the cause of his quarrel, who answered him that he would 
 kill that thief, who had stolen away his master's armour, if 
 he did not restore it. With that Palladius looked upon him 
 and saw that he of the other side had Palladius' own 
 armour upon him. " Truly," said Palladius, " if I have 
 stolen this armour, you did not buy that ; but you shall not 
 fight upon such a quarrel. You shall have this armour wil- 
 lingly, which I did only put on to do honour to the owner." 
 
 But Clitophon straight knew by his words and voice 
 that it was Ismenus, the faithful and diligent page of Am- 
 phialus ; and therefore, telling him that he was Clitophon, 
 
 i 
 
i 
 
 62 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 and willing him to acknowledge his error to the other, who 
 deserved all honour, the young gentleman pulled off his 
 headpiece, and, lighting, went to kiss Palladius' hands, 
 desiring him to pardon his folly, caused by extreme grief, 
 which easily might bring forth anger. " Sweet gentleman," 
 said Palladius, " you shall only make me this amends, that 
 you shall carry this, your lord's armour, from me to him, 
 and tell him, from an unknown knight, who admires his 
 worthiness, that he cannot cast a greater mist over his glory 
 than by being so unkind to so excellent a princess as this 
 queen is." Ismenus promised he would as soon as he durst 
 find his master ; and with that went to do his duty to the 
 queen, whom, in all these encounters, astonishment made 
 hardy ; but as soon as she saw Ismenus (looking to her pic- 
 ture), "Ismenus," said she, "here is my lord; where is 
 yours ? Or come you to bring me some sentence of death 
 from him.? If it be so, welcome be it. I pray you speak, 
 and speak quickly." "Alas! madam," said Ismenus, "I 
 have lost my lord !" — witlL_that__teara_came_Junto his eyes — 
 " for, as soon as the unhappy combat was concluded with the 
 death both of father and son, my master,, casting off his 
 armour, went his way, forbidding me, upon pain of death, to 
 follow him. Yet divers days I followed his steps, till lastly I 
 foundTirm, having newly met with an excellent spaniel be- 
 longing to his dead companion Philoxenus. The dog straight 
 fawned on my master for old knowledge, but never was there 
 thing more pitiful than to hear my master blame the dog for 
 loving his master's murderer, renewing afresh his^complaints 
 with the dumb counsellor as if they might comfort one 
 another in their miseries. But my lord, having spied me, 
 rose up in such rage that, in truth, I feared he would kill 
 me ; yet as then he said only, if I would not displease him, I 
 should not come near him till he sent for me — too hard a 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 63 
 
 commandment for me to disobey. I yielded, leaving him 
 only waited on by his dog, and, as I think, seeking out the 
 most solitary places that this or any other country can grant 
 him." 
 
 The queen, sobbing, desired to be conducted to the next , 
 town, where Palladius left her to be waited on by Clitophon,-^ 
 at Palladius' earnest entreaty, who desired alone ttr'falce 
 that i^elancholy course of seeking his friend, and therefore 
 changing armours again with Isuaenus (who went withal to 
 a castle belonging to his master), he continued his quest for 
 his friend Dai'phantus^ 
 
 He directed his course to Laconia, and afterwards pass- 
 eth through Achaia and Sycyonia, and returned, after two 
 months' travail in vain. Having already passed over the 
 greatest part of Arcadia, one day, coming under the side 
 of the pleasant mountain Menalus, his horse, nothing guilty 
 of his inquisitiveness, with flat tiring taught him that " dis- 
 creet stays make speedy journeys ;" and therefore, light- 
 ing down and unbridling his horse, he himself went to repose 
 himself in a little wood he saw thereby. Where, lying under 
 the protection of a shady tree, with intention to make forget- 
 ting sleep comfort a sorrowful memory, he saw a sight which 
 persuaded and obtained of his eyes that they would abide 
 yet a while open. It was the appearing of a lady, who, be- y 
 cause she walked with her side toward him, he could not f 
 perfectly see her face, but so much he might see of her that / 
 was a surety for the rest that all was excellent. 
 
 Well might he perceive the hanging of her hair in fairest 
 quantity, in locks, some curled, and some, as it were, for- 
 gotten, with such a careless care, and an art so hiding art, 
 that she seemed she would lay them for, a pattern whether 
 nature simply or nature helped by cunning be the more 
 excellent \ the rest whereof was drawn into a coronet of gold 
 
 J 
 
y 
 
 64 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 richly set with pearl, and so joined all over with gold wires, 
 and covered with feathers of divers colours, that it was not 
 unlike to an helmet, such a glittering show it bare, and so 
 bravely it was held up from the head. Upon her body she 
 ware a doublet of sky-colour satin, covered with plates of 
 gold, and, as it were, nailed with precious stones, that in it 
 she might seem armed. The nether part of her garment was 
 full of stuff, and cut after such a fashion that, though the 
 length of it reached to the ankles, yet, in her going, one 
 might sometimes discern the small of her leg, which, with 
 the foot, was dressed in a short pair of crimson velvet 
 buskins, in some places open, as the ancient manner was, to 
 show the fairness of the skin. Over all this she ware a 
 certain mantle, made in such manner that, coming under her 
 right arm, and covering most of that side, it had no fastening 
 on the left side, but only upon the top of the shoulder, where 
 the two ends met, and were closed together with a ver)' rich 
 jewel, the device whereof, as he after saw, was this : a 
 Hercules, made in little^ form, but set with a d istaff in his 
 hand, as he once was by Omphale's commandment, with a 
 word in Greek, but thus to be interpreted, "Never more 
 vahant." On the same side, on her thigh, she ware a sword,- 
 which, as it witnessed her to be an Amazon, or one following 
 that profession, so it seemed but a needless weapon, since 
 her other forces were without withstanding. But this lady 
 walked outright till he might see her enter into a fine close 
 arbour. It was of trees, whose branches so lovingly inter- 
 laced one the other that it could resist the strongest violence 
 of eyesight ; but she went into it by a door she opened, 
 which moved him, as warily as he could, to follow her ; and 
 by-and-by he might hear her sing, with a voice no less beau- 
 tiful to his ears than her goodhness was full of harmony to 
 his eyes. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 65 
 
 The ditty gave him some suspicion, but the voice gave 
 him almost assurance, who the singer was ; and, therefore, ^ 
 boldly thrusting open the door and entering into the arbour, ( 
 he perceived indeed that it was Pyrocles thus disguised ; 
 wherewith, not receiving so much joy to have found him 
 as grief so to have found him, amazedly looking upon him 
 — as Apollo is painted, when he saw Daphne suddenly 
 turned into a laurel — he was not able to bring forth a word ; 
 so that Pyrocles, who had as much shame as Musidorus 
 had sorrow, rising to him, would have formed a substan- 
 tial excuse ; but his insinuation being of blushing, and his 
 division of sighs, his whole oration stood upon a short 
 narration, which was the causer of this metamorphosis. 
 But by that time Musidorus had gathered his spirits to- . 
 gether, and, yet casting a gastful countenance upon him, / 
 as if he would conjure some strange spirits, he cried unto /. 
 him, ■" Is it possible that this is Pyrocles, and in this habit, 
 which to say ' I cannot ' is childish, and ^ I will not ' wo- 
 manish ? Let us see what power is the author of all these y 
 troubles. Forsooth_love"; love, a passion, and the basest 
 and fruitlessest_QLalLpassions. Fear breedeth wit ; anger is 
 the cradle of courage ; joy openeth and enableth the heart ; 
 sorrow, as it closeth, so it draweth it inward to look to the <-' 
 correcting of itself ; and so all of them generally have power 
 towards some good by the direction of reason. But this 
 bastard love — for, indeed, the name of love is most unv 
 worthily applied to so hateful a humour — as it is engendered . 
 betwixt_l ust and id leness ; as the matter it works upon is 
 nothing but a certain base weakness which some gentle fools 
 call a gentle heart ; as his adjoined companions be unquietness, / • 
 longings, fond comforts, faint discomforts, hopes, jealousies,^! 
 ungrounded rages, causeless yielding; so is the highest end 
 it aspires unto — ajittle pleasure, with much pain before, and 
 
66 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 great repentance after. But that end — how endless it runs to 
 infinite evils — were fit enough for the matter we speak of; but 
 not for your ears, in whom, indeed, there is so much true dis- 
 position to virtue ; yet thus much of his worthy effects in your- 
 self is to be seen, that, besides your breaking laws o^hospitality 
 f with Kalander, and of Jjriendship with me, it utterly subverts 
 the course of nature, in making reason give place to sense, and 
 man to woman. And truly I think hereupon it first gat the 
 name of love ; for indeed the true love hath that excellent 
 nature in it that it doth transform the very essence oTlhe 
 lover into the thing loved, uniting, and as it were' incor- 
 porating, it with a secret and inward working. And herein do 
 hese kinds of loves imitate the excellent ; for as the love of 
 heaven makes one heavenly, the love of virtue virtuous, so 
 doth the love of the world make one become worldly ; and 
 this effeminate love of a woman doth so womanize a man 
 that, if he yield to it, will not only make him an Amazon, but 
 a launder [washer], a distaff, a spinner, or whatsoever other 
 vile occupation their idle heads can imagine and their weak 
 hands perform." But in Pyrocles this speech wrought no 
 more but that he, who before he was espied was afraid, after 
 being perceived was ashamed, now being hardly rubbed 
 upon left both fear and shame, and was moved to anger. 
 But the good-will he bare to Musidorus striving with it, 
 he thus, partly to satisfy him, but principally to loose the reins 
 to his own motions, made him answer : " Cousin, whatsoever 
 good disposition nature hath bestowed upon me, or howsoever 
 that disposition had been by bringing up confirmed, this I 
 must confess, that I am not yet come to that degree of 
 /wisdom to think light of the sex of whom I have my life, 
 since if I be anything — which your friendship rather finds 
 than I acknowledge — I was, to come to it, born of a woman, 
 and nursed of a woiaan. And certainly — for this point of 
 
ARCADIA.— Book L '67 
 
 your speech doth nearest touch me — it is strange to see the 
 unmanhke cruelty of mankind, who, not content with their 
 tyrannous ambition to have brought the others' virtuous 
 patience under them, hke childish masters, think their 
 masterhood nothing without doing injury to those who, if 
 we will argue by reason, are framed of nature with the same 
 parts of the mind for the exercise of virtue as we are. And 
 truly we men, and praisers of men, should remember, that, 
 if we have such excellencies, it is reason to think them 
 excellent creatures, of whom we are, since a kite never 
 brought forth a good laying hawk." 
 
 Then did Pyrocles for some time argue on the power 
 of love, its end being enjoyment. " But," said Musidorus, 
 '' alas ! let your own brain disenchant you." " My heart is 
 too far possessed," said Pyrocles. " But the head gives you 
 direction." " Yes," returned Pyrocles, " and the heart gives 
 me life. Prince ]\Iusidorus, how cruelly you deal with me ; 
 if you seek the victory, take it, and if ye list, the triumph; you 
 have all the reason in the world, let me remain with the 
 imperfections." 
 
 Herewith the wound of his love, being rubbed again, began 
 to bleed afresh, and he sunk down to the ground with a sud- 
 den trance that went so to the heart of Musidorus that, fall- 
 ing down by him, he besought him to tell him everything, 
 for, between friends, all must be laid open, nothing being 
 superfluous nor tedious. " You shall be obeyed," said 
 Pyrocles ; " and here are we in as fit a place for it as may 
 be, for this arbour nobody offers to come into but myself, I 
 using it as my melancholy retiring-place, and therefore that 
 respect is borne unto it ; yet if by chance any should come, , 
 say that you are a servant sent from the Queen of Amazons 
 to seek me, and then let me alone for the rest." So sat 
 thc_, ^own, and Pyrocles thus said : 
 
 F 2 
 
68 ARCADIA.— Book L 
 
 I " Cousin," said he, " then began the fatal overthrow of all 
 1 my liberty when, walking among the pictures in Kalander's 
 1 house, you yourself delivered unto me what you had under- 
 l stood of Philoclea, who, much resembling — though I must 
 I say, much surpassing — the lady Zelmane, whom so well I 
 loved, there were mine eyes infected, and at your mouth did 
 I I drink my poison. Yet, alas ! so sweet was it unto me that 
 I could not be contented till Kalander had made it more and 
 more strong with his declaration. Which, the more I ques- 
 tioned, the more pity I conceived of her unworthy fortune ; 
 and when with pity once my heart was made tender, accord- 
 ing to the aptness of the humour, it received quickly a cruel 
 impression of that wonderful passion which to be defined is 
 / impossible, because no words reach to the strange nature of 
 it ; they only know it which inwardly feel it : it is called Love. 
 Yet did I not, poor wretch ! at first know my disease, think- 
 ing it only such a wonted kind of desice to see rare sights, 
 and my pity to be no other but the fruits of a gentle nature. 
 But even this arguing with myself came of further thoughts ; 
 and the more I argued the more my thoughts increased. 
 Desirous I was to see the place where she remained, as though 
 the architecture of the lodges would have been much for my 
 learning, but more desirous to see herself, to be judge, for- 
 \ sooth, of the painter's cunning. But my wishes grew into 
 ] unquiet longings, and knowing that to a heart resolute 
 (counsel is tedious, and reprehension loathsome, and that 
 ithere is nothing more terrible to a guilty heart than the eye 
 jof a respected friend, I determined, my dear Musidorus, to 
 run away from my well-known chiding, and, having written 
 E letter and taken my chief jewels with me, I stole away 
 while you were in the midst of your sports, committing 
 myself to fortune and industry, and determining to bear 
 the countenance of an Amazon. Therefore, in the closest 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 69 
 
 manner I could, naming myself Zelmane, for that dear lady's 
 sake to whose memory I am so much bound, I caused this 
 apparel to be made, and, bringing it near the lodges, which 
 are hard at hand, by night thus dressed myself, resting till 
 occasion might make me to be found by them whom I sought 
 which the next morning happened as well as mine own plot 
 could have laid it. For, after I had run over the whole pedi- 
 gree of my thoughts, I gave myself to sing a little, which, as 
 you know, I ever delighted in, so now especially, whether it 
 be the nature of this clime to stir up poetical fancies, or 
 rather, as I think, of love, whose scope being pleasure will 
 not so much as utter his griefs but in some form of measure. 
 " But I had sung very little, when, as I think, displeased 
 with my bad music, comes master Dametas, with a hedging- 
 bill in his hand, chafing and swearing by the pantable* of 
 Pallas, and such other oaths as his rustical bravery could 
 imagine ; and when he saw me, I assure you, my beauty was 
 no more beholding to him than my harmony ; for, leaning 
 his hands upon his bill and his chin upon his hands, with the 
 voice of one that playeth Hercules in a play, but never had 
 his fancy in his head, the first word he spake unto me was — 
 'Am not I Dametas 1 Why, am not I Dametas .'" He needed 
 not to name himself, for Kalander's description had set such 
 a note upon him as made him very notable unto me ; and 
 therefore the height of my thoughts would not descend so 
 much as to make him answer, but continued on my inward 
 discourse ; which he, perchance witness of his own unworthi- 
 
 * Pajitable, the shoe or slipper. Ital. Pantufola ; Fr. Pantoufle. 
 "Some etymologists," says Richardson, who quotes this passage, 
 "determine this of Greek origin, and devise the compound Tracro- 
 (/)€AA^s; ■Ko.v^oinne, <^iKKh%,s2iber, a cork, formed of cork for lightness." 
 He gives also a citation from Digby's "Elvira," act v., wherein the 
 word is used as an adjuration — 
 
 " Now, by my grandame's pantable, 'ds pretty." 
 
 J 
 
70 ARCADIA,— Book I. 
 
 ness, and therefore the apter to think himself contemned, 
 took in so heinous manner that, standing upon his tiptoes, 
 and staring as if he would have had a mote pulled out of his 
 eye, ' Why,' said he, * thou woman, or boy, or both, whatso- 
 ever thou be, I tell thee here is no place for thee ; get thee 
 gone. I tell thee it is the prince's pleasure ; I tell thee it is 
 Dametas' pleasure.' I could not choose but smile at him, 
 seeing him look so like an ape that had newly taken a purga- 
 tion : yet, taking myself with the manner, spake .these words 
 to myself : ' O spirit,' said I, ' of mine, how canst thou 
 receive any mirth in the midst of thine agonies ? and thou, 
 mirth, how darest thou enter into a mind so grown of late 
 thy professed enemy ?' ' Thy spirit !' said Dametas. ' Dost 
 thou think me'a spirit ? I tell thee I am Basilius' officer, 
 and have charge of him and his daughters.' ' O, only pearl,' 
 said I, sobbing, ' that so vile an oyster should keep thee !' 
 * By the combcase of Diana !' sware Dametas, ' this woman 
 is mad. Oysters and pearls ! Dost thou think I will buy 
 oysters ? I tell thee once again, get thee packing.' And 
 with that lifted up his bill to hit me with the blunt end of it ; 
 but, indeed, that put me quite out of my lesson, so that I 
 forgat all Zelmaneshi£,* and, drawing out my sword, the base^ 
 ness of the villain yet made me stay my hand, and he who, 
 as Kalander told me, from his childhood ever fea red the 
 blade of a sword, ran back backward, with his hands above 
 his head, at least twenty paces, gaping and staring, with the 
 very grace, I think, of the clowns that, by Latona's prayers, 
 were turned into frogs. At length, staying, finding himself 
 without the compass of blows, he fell to a fresh scolding in 
 such mannerly manner as might well show he had passed 
 through the discipline of a tavern ; but, seeing me walk up 
 
 * Zelmaneship ; that is, he forgot that he was disguised as a woman. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I, 71 . 
 
 and down, without marking what he said, he went his way, 
 as I perceived after, to Basilius ; for, within a while, he came 
 unto me, bearing, indeed, shows in his countenance of an 
 honest and well-minded gentleman, and, with as much 
 courtesy as Dametas with rudeness, saluting me : ' Fair 
 lady,' said he, / it is nothing strange that such a solitary 
 place as this should receive solitary persons ; but much do I 
 marvel how such a beauty as yours is should be suffered to 
 be thus alone.' I, that now knew it was my part to play, 
 looking with a grave majesty upon him, as if I found in my- 
 self cause to be reverenced, 'They are never alone,' said I, ' that 
 are accompanied with nabk -thoughts.' ' But those thoughts,' 
 rephed Basihus, 'can in this your loneliness neither warrant 
 you from suspicion in others, nor defend you from melancholy 
 in yourself.' I then, showing a mislike that he pressed me so 
 far, ' I seek no better warrant,' said I, ' than my own con- 
 science, nor no greater pleasure than mine own contentation.' 
 ' Yet virtue seeks to satisfy others,' said Basihus. ' Those 
 that be good,' said I ; ' and they will be satisfied as long as 
 they see no evil.' ' Yet will the best in this country,' said 
 Basihus, ' suspect so excellent beauty, being so weakl> 
 guarded.' ' Then are the best but stark naught,' answered I ; , 
 ' for open suspecting others comes of secret condemning"^' 
 themselves ; but in my country, whose manners I am in all 
 places to maintain and reverence, the general goodness, , 
 which is nourished in our hearts, makes every one think the j 
 strength of virtue in another, whereof they find the assured 
 foundation in themselves.' ' Excellent lady,' said he, ' you 
 praise so greatly, and yet so wisely, your country, that I must 
 needs desire to know what the nest is out of which such birds 
 do fly.' ' You must first deserve it,' said I, ' before you may 
 obtain it.' ' And by what means,' said Basilius, ' shall I 
 deserve to know your estate?' 'By letting me first knovy 
 
72 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 yours,' answered I. 'To obey you,' said he, ' I will do it, 
 although it were so much more reason yours should be 
 known first, as you do deserve in all points to be preferred. 
 Know you, fair lady, that my name is Basilius, unworthily 
 lord of this country; the rest, either fame hath already 
 brought to your ears, or, if it please you to make this place 
 happy by your presence, at more leisure you shall understand 
 of me.' I that from the beginning assured myself it was he, 
 but would not seem I did so, to keep my gravity the better, 
 making a piece of reverence unto him, ' Mighty prince,' said 
 I, 'let my not knowing you serve for the excuse of my 
 boldness ; and the Httle reverence I do you impute to the 
 manner of my country, which is the invincible land of the 
 Amazons; myself, niece to Senicia, queen thereof, hneally 
 descended of the famous Penthesilea, sTain by the bloody 
 hand of Pyrrhus. I, having in this my youth determined to 
 make the world see the Amazons' excellencies, as well in 
 private as in public virtue, have passed some dangerous 
 adventures in divers countries, till the unmerciful sea deprived 
 me of my company ; so that shipwreck casting me not far 
 hence, uncertain wandering brought me to this place.' But 
 Basilius, who now began to taste of that which since he had 
 swallowed up, as I will tell you, fell to more cunning entreat- 
 ing my abode than any greedy host should use to well-paying 
 passengers. I thought nothing could shoot righter at the 
 mark of my desires ; yet had I learned already so much, that 
 it was against my womanhood to be forward in my Dwn 
 wisli£S^_And therefore he, to prove whether intercessions in 
 fitter mouths might better prevail, commanded Dametas to 
 bring forthwith his wife and daughters thither, three ladies, 
 although of diverse, yet of excellent beauty. 
 
 " His wife in grave matron-like attire, with countenance 
 and gesture suitable, and of such fairness, being in the 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 73 
 
 strength of her age, as, if her daughters had not been by, 
 might with just price have purchased admiration ; but they 
 being there, it was enough that the most dainty eye would 
 think her a worthy mother of such children. The fair 
 Pamela, whose noble heart, I find, doth greatly disdain that 
 the trust of her virtue is reposed in such a lout's hands as 
 Dametas', had yet, to show an obedience, taken on shep- 
 herdish apparel, which was but of russet cloth, cut after their 
 fashion, with a straight body, open-breasted, the nether part 
 full of plaits, with long and wide sleeves; but, believe me, 
 she did apparel her apparel, and with the preciousness of 
 her body made it most sumptuous. Her hair at the full 
 length, wound about with gold lace, only by the comparison 
 to show how far her hair doth excel in colour : betwixt her 
 breasts, which sweetly rose up like two fair mountanets in 
 the pleasant vale of Tempe, there hung a very rich diamond, 
 set but in a black horn ; the word I have since read is this,. 
 ' Yet still myself.' And thus particularly have I described 
 them, because you may know that mine eyes are not so 
 partial but that I marked them too. But when the ornament 
 of the earth, the model of heaven, the triumph of nature, the / 
 life of beauty, the queen of love, young Philoclea, appearedjo/ 
 in her nymph-like apparel, her hair (alas, too poor a word, 
 why should I not rather call them her beams?) drawn up into 
 a net able to have caught Jupiter when he was in the form 
 of an eagle, her body (O sweet body !) covered with a light 
 taffeta garment, with the cast of her black eyes, black 
 indeed, whether nature so made them, that we might be the 
 more able to behold and bear their wonderful shining, or that 
 she, goddess-like, would work this miracle with herself, in 
 giving blackness the price above all beauty,— then, I say, 
 indeed methought the lilies grew pale for envy, the roses 
 methought blushed to see sweeter roses in her cheeks, and 
 
74 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 the clouds gave place that the heavens might more freely 
 smile upon her ; at the least" the clouds of my thoughts quite 
 vanished, and my sight, then more clear and forcible than 
 ever, was so fixed there that I imagine I stood like a well- 
 wrought image, with some life in show but none in practice. 
 And so had I been like enough to have stayed long time, but 
 that Gynecia, stepping between my sight and the only 
 Philoclea, the change of object made me recover my senses ; 
 so that I could with reasonable good manner receive the 
 salutation of her and of the Princess Pamela, doing them yet 
 no further reverence than one princess useth to another. 
 But when I came to the never-enough praised Philoclea, I 
 could not but fall down on my knees, and taking by force 
 her hand, and kissing it, I must confess, with more than 
 womanly ardency, ' Divine lady,' said I, 'let not the world 
 nor these great princesses marvel to see me, contrary to my 
 manner, do this special honour unto you, since all, both men 
 and women, do owe this to the perfection of your beauty.' 
 But she, blushing like a fair morning in May at this my 
 singularity, and causing me to rise, ' Noble lady,^said she, 
 * it is no marvel to see your judgment much mistaken in my 
 beauty, since you begin with so great an error as to do more 
 honour unto me than to them to whom I myself owe all 
 service.' ' Rather,' answered I, with a bowed down counten- 
 ance, ' that shows the power of your beauty, which forced me 
 to do such an error, if it were an error.' ' You are so well 
 acquainted,' said she, sweetly, most sweetly smiling, ' with 
 your own beauty, that it makes you easily fall into the dis- 
 course of beauty.' ' Beauty in me ?' said I, truly sighing ; 
 ' alas, if there be any, it is in my eyes, which your blessed 
 presence hath imparted unto them,' 
 
 " But then, as I think Basilius willing her so to do, ' Well,' 
 said she, ' I must needs confess I have heard that it is a 
 
ARCADIA,— Book L 75 
 
 great happiness to be praised of them that are most praise- 
 worthy ; and well I find that you are an invincible Amazon, 
 since you will overcome, though in a wrong matter. But if 
 my beauty be anything, then let it obtain thus much of you, 
 that you will remain some while in this company, to ease 
 your own travel and our solitariness.' ' First let me die,' 
 said I, ' before any word spoken by such a mouth should 
 come in vain.' And thus, with some other words of enter- 
 taining, was my staying concluded, and I led among them to 
 the lodge ; truly a place for pleasantness, not unfit to flatter 
 solitariness ; for, it being set upon such an unsensible rising 
 of the ground as you are come to a pretty height before 
 almost you perceive that you ascend, it gives the eye lordship 
 over a good large circuit, which, according to the nature of 
 the country, being diversified between hills and dales, woods 
 and plains, one place more clear, another more darksome, it 
 seems a pleasant picture of nature, with lovely hghtsomeness 
 and artificial shadows. The lodge is of a yellow stone, built 
 in the form of a star, having round about a garden framed 
 into like points ; and beyond the garden ridings cut out, each 
 answering the angles of the lodge. At the end of one of 
 them is the other smaller lodge, but of like fashion, where the 
 gracious Pamela liveth ; so that the lodge seemeth not unlike 
 a fair comet, whose tail stretcheth itself to a star of less 
 greatness. 
 
 " Gynecia herself brought me to her lodging, and after- 
 wards I was invited to sup with them in the garden, where, 
 in a banqueting house, the table, which turned with certain 
 machinery, and we with it, was set near to an excellent water 
 work, where, by the casting of the water in a most cunning 
 manner, it makes, with the shining of the sun on it, a perfect 
 rainbow. But only mine eyes did overtake Philoclea, and 
 when the table was stayed and we began to feed, drank much 
 
76 . ARCADIA.— Book /. 
 
 more eagerly of her beauty than my mouth did of any other 
 liquor. Now thus I had, as methought, well played my first 
 act, assuring myself that under that disguisement I should 
 find opportunity to reveal myself to the owner of my heart. 
 But who would think it possible, though I feel it true, that in 
 almost eight weeks' space I have lived here, having no more 
 company but her parents, and I, being familiar, as being a 
 woman, and watchful, as being a lover, yet could never find 
 opportunity to have one minute's leisure of private con- 
 ference, the cause whereof is as strange as the effects are to 
 me miserable? And, alas ! this it is. 
 
 " But at the first sight Basilius had of me, Cupid having 
 headed his arrows with my misfortune, he was stricken, 
 taking me for what I professed, with an affection for me 
 which is since grown into such doting love that I am choked 
 with his tediousness. But this is not all ; for Gynecia, being 
 a woman of excellent wit and strong working thoughts, be- 
 lieves that I am not a woman, and is jealous of my love for 
 her daughter, and is as busy about me as a bee — nay, is 
 devoured by a desperate affection. Thus, Musidorus, you 
 have my tragedy played unto you by myself, which, I pray 
 the gods, may not prove a tragedy." Therewith he ended, 
 making a full point of a hearty sigh. 
 
 Musidorus recommended to his best discourse all which 
 Pyrocles had told him. But therein he found such intricate- 
 ness, that he could see no way to lead him out of the maze ; 
 yet perceiving this afTection so grounded that striving against 
 it did rather anger than heal the wound, and rather call his 
 friendship in question than give place to any friendly counsel, 
 " Well," said he, " dear cousin, since it hath pleased the 
 gods to mingle your other excellencies with this humour of 
 love, yet happy it is that your love is employed upon so rare 
 a woman ; for certainly a noble cause doth ease much a 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 77 
 
 grievous case. But as it stands now, nothing vexeth me as 
 that I cannot see wherein I can be serviceable unto you." 
 " I desire no greater service of you," answered Pyrocles, 
 " than that you remain secretly in this country, and some- 
 times come to this place, either late in the night or early in 
 the morning, where you shall have my key to enter, because, 
 as my fortune either amends or impairs, I may declare it unto 
 you, and have your counsel and furtherance ; and hereby I 
 will of purpose lead her, that is the praise and yet the stain 
 of all womankind, that you may have so good a view as to 
 allow my judgment ; and as I can get the most convenient 
 time, I will come unto you ; for, though by reason of yonder 
 wood you cannot see the lodge, it is hard at hand. But 
 now," said he, " it is time for me to leave you, and towards 
 evening we will walk out of purpose hitherward ; therefore 
 keep yourself close in that time." But Musidorus, bethinking 
 himself that his horse might happen to bewray him, thought 
 it best to return, for that day, to a village not far off, and de- 
 spatching his horse in some sort, the next day early to come 
 afoot thither, and so to keep that course afterward, which 
 Pyrocles very well liked of. " So farewell, cousin," said he: 
 " no more Pyrocles, nor Daiphantus : none but Zelmane ; 
 Zelmane is my name." 
 
 Zelmane returned to the lodge, where, inflamed by Philoclea, 
 watched by Gynecia, and tired by Basilius, she was like a 
 horse desirous to run and miserably spurred, but so short 
 reined as he cannot stir forward ; Zelmane sought occasion 
 to speak with Philoclea, Basilius with Zelmane, and Gynecia 
 hindered them all. If Philoclea happened to sigh, and sigh 
 she did often, as if that sigh were to be waited on, Zelmane 
 sighed also, whereto Basilius and Gynecia soon made up four 
 parts of sorrow. Therefore she endeavoured to beguile them 
 with country sports, with the bow and the angle, and now she 
 
78 ARCADIA.— Book L 
 
 brought a seeled* dove, who, the bhnder she was, the higher 
 she strove. Another time a kite, which having a gut cun- 
 ningly pulled out of her, and so let fly, caused all the kites 
 in that quarter,! who, as oftentimes the world is deceived, 
 thinking her prosperous when indeed she was wounded, 
 made the poor kite find that opinion of riches may well be 
 dangerous. 
 
 But these recreations were interrupted by a delight of more 
 gallant show ; for one evening, as Basilius returned from 
 having forced his thoughts to please themselves in such 
 small conquest, there came a shepherd, who brought him 
 word that a gentleman desired leave to do a message from 
 his lord unto him. Basilius granted, whereupon the gentle- 
 man came, and after the dutiful ceremonies observed in his 
 master's name, told him that he was sent from Phala.ntus of 
 Corinth to crave license that, as he had done in many other 
 /-courts, so he might in his presence defy all Arcadian knights 
 in the behalf of his mistress's beauty, who would, besides, 
 herself in person be present, to give evident proof what his 
 lance should affirm. The conditions of his challenge were, 
 that the defendant should bring his mistress's picture, which 
 being set by the image of Artesia — so was the mistress of 
 Phalantus named — who in six courses should have the better 
 of the other in the judgment of Basihus, with him both the 
 honours and the pictures should remain. Basilius, though 
 he had retired himself into that solitary dwelling, with inten- 
 tion to avoid rather than to accept any matters of drawing 
 company, yet, because he would entertain Zelmane, that she 
 might not think the time so gainful to him loss to her, 
 granted him to pitch his tent for three days not far from the 
 
 * With its eyes blindfolded 
 
 * \\ ith Its eyes bhndfolded. 
 
 + This passage is obscure ; probably after "quarter" we should read 
 ' to pursue her." 
 
ARCADIA,— Book L 79 
 
 lodge, and to proclaim his challenge, that what Arcadian 
 knight — for none else but upon his peril was licensed to come 
 — would defend what he honoured against Phalantus should 
 have the like freedom of access and return. * 
 
 This obtained and published, Zelmane being desirous to 
 learn what this Phalantus was, having never known him further 
 than by report of his good justing, in so much as he was 
 commonly called " The fair man of arms," Basilius told her 
 that he had had occasion by one very inward with him to 
 know in part the discourse of his life, which was, that he was 
 bastard-brother to the fair Helen, queen of Corinth, and \ 
 dearly esteemed of her, for his exceeding good parts, being 
 honourably courteous, and wronglessly valiant, considerately 
 pleasant in conversation, and an excellent courtier, without i 
 unfaithfulness, who, finding his sister's unpersuadable melan- j 
 chol}^, through the love of Amphialus, had for a time left her 
 court, and gone into Laconia, where, in the war against the 
 Helots, he had gotten the reputation of one that both durst 
 and knew. " To the prince and court of Laconia none was 
 more agreeable than Phalantus, and he, not given greatly to 
 struggle with his own disposition, followed the gentle current 
 of it, having a fortune sufficient to content, and he content 
 with a sufficient fortune. But in that court he saw and was 
 acquainted with this Artesia, whose beauty he now defends, 
 became her servant ; said himself, and perchance thought 
 himself, her lover. Taking love upon him like a fashion, he 
 courted this lady Artesia, who was as fit to pay him in his own 
 money as might be ; for she, thinking she di-d wrong to her 
 teauty if she were not proud of it, called her disdain of him j 
 chastity, and placed her honour in httle setting by his 
 honouring her, determining never to marry but him whom 
 she thought worthy of her, and that was one in whom all 
 worthinesses were harboured. And to this conceit not only 
 
i\ 
 
 80 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 nature had bent her, but the bringing up she received at my 
 sister-in-law, Cecropia, had confirmed her, who, having in her 
 widowhood taken this young Artesia into her charge because 
 her father had been a dear friend of her dead husband's, had 
 taught her to think that there is no wisdom but in including 
 both heaven and earth in one's self, and that love, courtesy, 
 gratefulness, friendship, and all other virtues are rather to be 
 taken on than taken in one's self And so good a disciple 
 she found of her, that, liking the fruits of her own planting, 
 she was content, if so her son could have liked of it, to have 
 wished her in marriage to my nephew Amphialus. But I 
 think that desire hath lost some of his heat since she hath 
 known that such a queen as Helen is doth offer so great a 
 price as a kingdom to buy his favour ; for, if I be not 
 deceived in my good sister Cecropia, she thinks no face so 
 beautiful as that which looks under a crown. But Artesj a 
 indeed liked well of my nephew A mphial us, insomuch that 
 she hath both placed her only brother, a fine youth, called 
 Isnienus, to be his squire, and herself is content to wait upon 
 my sister, till she may see the uttermost what she may work 
 in Amphialus. 
 
 "And there, after the war of the Helots, this knight 
 Phalantus — at least, for tongue delight — made himself her 
 servant ; and she, so little caring as not to show mislike 
 thereof, was content only to be noted to have a notable 
 servant. For she made earnest benefit of his jest, forcing 
 him, in respect of his profession, to do her such services as 
 were both cumbersome and costly unto him, while he still 
 thought he went beyond her, because his heart did not com- 
 mit the idolatry. So that, lastly, she, I think, having in mind 
 to make the fame of her beauty an orator for her to Amphia- 
 lus, took the advantage one day, upon Phalantus' uncon- 
 scionable praising of her, and certain castaway vows, how 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. ' 8f 
 
 much he would do for her sake, to arrest his word as soon as 
 it was out of his mouth, and, by the virtue thereof, to charge 
 him to go with her through all the courts of Greece, and, 
 with the challenge now made, to give her beauty the princi- 
 pality over all other. Phalantus was entrapped, and saw 
 round about him, but could not get out. And now hath he 
 already passed the courts of Laconia, Elis, Argos, and Co- 
 rinth ; and, as many times it happens that a good pleader 
 makes a bad cause to prevail, so hath his lance brought cap- 
 tives to the triumph of Artesia's beauty such as, though 
 Artesia be among the fairest, yet in that company were to 
 have the pre-eminency ; for in those courts many knights 
 that had been in other far countries defended such as they 
 had seen and liked in their travel ; but their defence had 
 been such as they had forfeited the pictures of their ladies to 
 give a forced false testimony to Artesia's excellency. And now 
 lastly is he come hither, where he hath leave to try his fortune." 
 So, passing their time according to their wont, they waited 
 for the coming of Phalantus, who, the next morning, having 
 already caused his tents to be pitched near to a fair tree, 
 hard by the lodge, had upon the tree made a shield to be 
 hanged up, which the defendant should strike that would 
 call him to the maintaining his challenge. The impressa in 
 the shield was a heaven full of stars, with a speech signifying 
 that it was the beauty which gave the praise. Himself came 
 in next, after a triumphant chariot, made of carnation velvet 
 enriched with purple and pearl, wherein Artesia sat, drawn ; 
 by four winged horses, with artificial flaming mouths and 
 fiery wings, as if she had newly borrowed them of Phoebus. 
 Before her marched, two after two, certain footmen pleasantly ■ 
 attired, who between them held one picture after another of 
 them that, by Phalantus' well running, had lost the prize in 
 the race of beauty, and, at every pace they stayed, turned 
 
 G 
 
82 • ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 the pictures to each side so leisurely that with perfect judg- 
 ment they might be discerned. The first picture, followed 
 in order of time as they had been won, was that of Andro- 
 mana, queen of Iberia ; next that of the Princess of Elis, 
 of whom it may be said that "liking is not always the child 
 of beauty, for whatsoever one liketh is beautiful ;" for in her 
 visage was neither majesty, grace, nor favour ; yet she wanted 
 not a servant [lover]. Next was Artaxia, queen of Armenia ; 
 Erona, queen of Lycia ; Baccha and Leucippe, two ladies of 
 noble birth, the latter of a fine daintiness of beauty, one that 
 could do much good and meant no hurt. 
 
 But she that followed conquered, indeed, with being con- 
 quered, and might well have made all the beholders wait 
 upon her triumph, while herself were led captive. It was 
 the excellently-fair Queen Helen, whose jacinth hair, curled 
 by nature, but intercurled by art, like a fine brook through 
 golden sands, had a rope of fair pearl, which, now hiding, 
 now hidden by the hair, did, as it were, play at fast-and- 
 loose each with other, mutually giving and receiving rich- 
 ness ; in her face so much beauty and favour expressed as, 
 if Helen had not been known, some would rather have 
 judged it the painter's exercise to show what he could do 
 than the counterfeiting of any living pattern ; for no fault 
 the most fault-finding wit could have found, if it were not 
 that to the rest of the body the face was somewhat too little ; 
 but that little was such a spark of beauty as was able to 
 enflame a world of love ; for everything was full of a choice 
 fineness, that, if it wanted anything in majesty, it supplied it 
 with increase in pleasure ; and, if at the first it strake not 
 admiration, it ravished with delight ; and no indifferent soul 
 there was which, if it could resist from subjecting itself to 
 make it his princess, that would not long to have such a 
 playfellow. As for her attire, it was costly and curious, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I, 83 
 
 though the look, fixed with more sadness than it seemed 
 nature had bestowed to any that knew her fortune, bewrayed 
 that, as she used those ornaments, not for herself, but to 
 prevail with another, so she feared that all would not serve. 
 But Basilius could not abstain from praising PaLcthenia as 
 the perfect picture of a womanly virtue and wifely faithful- 
 ness, telling withal Zelmane how he had understood that, 
 when, in the court of Laconia, her picture — maintained by a 
 certain Sicyonian knight — was lost, through want rather of 
 valour than justice, her husband, the famous Argalus, would 
 in a chase have gone and redeemed it with a new trial. But 
 she, more sporting than sorrowing for her undeserved cham- 
 pion, told her husband she desired to be beautiful in no- 
 body's eye but his, and that she would rather mar her face 
 as evil as ever it was than that it should be a cause to make 
 Argalus put on armour. Then would Basilius have told 
 Zelmane that which he already knew of the rare trial of that 
 coupled affection, but the next picture made their mouths 
 give place to their eyes. 
 
 It was of a young maid, which sat pulling out a thorn out ( 
 of a lamb's foot, with her look so attentive upon it as if that I 
 little foot could have been the circle of her thoughts ; her 
 apparel so poor, as it had nothing but the inside to adorn it ; 
 a sheep-hook lying by her with a bottle upon it. But, with 
 all that poverty, beauty played the prince, and commanded as 
 many hearts as the greatest queen there did. Her beauty 
 and her estate made her quickly to be known to be the fair 
 shepherdess Urania, whom a rich knight called Lacemon, far 
 in love with her, had unluckily defended. 
 
 The last of all in place, because last in the time of her being 
 captive, was Zelmane, daughter to the king Plexirtus. "But 
 divers besides these," said Basilius, " hath Phalantus won ; 
 but he leaves the rest, carrying only such who, either for 
 
 G 2 
 
"^ '^^ r-,u. rt 
 
 84 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 greatness of estate or of beauty, may justly glorify the glory 
 of Artesia's triumph." 
 
 Thus talked Basilius with Zelmane, glad to make any 
 matter subject to speak of with his mistress, while Phalantus 
 in this pompous manner brought Artesia, with her gentle- 
 women, into one tent, by which he had another, where they 
 both waited who would first strike upon the shield, while 
 Basilius, the judge, appointed sticklers and trumpets, to whom 
 the other should obey. But none that day appeared, nor the 
 next, till already it had consumed half his allowance of light; 
 but then there came in a knight, protesting himself as con- 
 trary to him in mind as he was in apparel ; fo r riialoa tus was 
 all in white, having on his bases* and caparison embroidered 
 a waving water, at each side whereof he had netting cast 
 over, in which were divers fishes naturally made, and so 
 prettily, that as the horse stirred, the fishes seemed to strive 
 and leap in the net. But the other knight, by name Nestor, 
 by birth an Arcadian, and in affection vowed to the fair 
 shepherdess, was all in black, with fire burning both upon his 
 armour and horse. His impressa in his shield was a fire 
 made of juniper, with this word, " More easy and more 
 sweet." But this hot knight was cooled with a fall, which at 
 the third course he received of Phalantus, leaving his picture 
 to keep company with the other of the same stamp. The next 
 was Polycetes, greatly esteemed in Arcadia for deeds he had 
 done in arms, and much spoken of for the honourable love he 
 had long borne to Gynecia. But her champion went away as 
 much discomforted as discomfited. Then Thelamon for Polex- 
 ena, and Eurilion for Elpine, and Leon for Zoana, all brave 
 knights, all fair ladies, with their going down, lifted up the 
 balance of his praise for activity, and hers for fairness. ■ 
 
 * Bases — the lower part of the coat armour which defended the loins. 
 
 / 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 85 
 
 Upon whose loss, as the beholders were talking, ther'ls^ 
 comes into the place where they ran a shepherd stripling — 
 for his height made him more than a boy, and his face would 
 not allow him a man — brown of complexion, whether by 
 nature or by the sun's familiarity, but very lovely withal, for 
 the rest so perfectly proportioned that Nature showed she 
 doth not like men who slubber up matters of mean account. 
 And well might his proportion be judged, for he had nothing 
 upon him but a pair of slops,* and upon his body a goat-skin, 
 which he cast over his shoulder, doing all things with so 
 pretty a grace that it seemed ignorance could not make him 
 do amiss because he had a heart to do well. Holding in his 
 right hand a long scarf, and so coming with a look full of 
 amiable fierceness, as in whom choler could not take away 
 the sweetness, he came towards the king, and, making a 
 reverence which in him was comely, because it was kindly — 
 
 " My liege lord," said he, " I pray you hear a few words, 
 for my heart will break if I say not my mind to you. I see 
 here the picture of Urania, which I cannot tell how nor why 
 these men, when they fall down, they say is not so fair as 
 yonder gay woman. But, pray God, I may never see my old 
 mother alive if I think she be any more match to Urania 
 than a goat is to a fine lamb, or than the dog that keeps our 
 flock at home is like your white greyhound that pulled down 
 the stag last day. And therefore I pray you let me be drest 
 as they be, and my heart gives me I shall tumble him on the 
 earth ; for, indeed, he might as well say that a cowslip is as 
 white as a lily. Or else, I care not, let him come with his 
 
 * Loose breeches; nether garments that slip on easily, such as 
 sailors wear. 
 
 ' ' Who is come hither private for his conscience, 
 And brought munition with him, six great slops. 
 Bigger than three Dutch hoys." 
 
 — Ben Jonson, "Alchemist," act iii, sc. 2. 
 
y 
 
 86 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 great staff and I with this in my hand, and you shall see what 
 I can do to him." 
 
 Basilius saw it was the fine shepherd Lalus, whom once 
 he had afore him in pastoral sports, and had greatly 
 delighted him in his wit, full of pretty simplicity ; and there- 
 fore, laughing at his earnestness, he bade him be content, 
 since he saw the pictures of so great queens were fain to 
 follow their companion's fortune. But Lalus, even weeping 
 ripe, went among the rest, longing to see somebody that 
 would revenge Urania's wrong, and praying heartily for 
 everybody that ran against Phalantus, then beginning to 
 feel poverty that he could not set himself to that trial. 
 
 By-and-by when the sun, like a noble heart, began to show 
 his greatest countenance in his lowest estate, came in a 
 knight called Phebilus, an unknown lover of Philoclea ; his 
 armour and attire of a sea colour, his impress [cognisance] a 
 fish called a sepia, which being caught casts a black ink 
 about itself; his word was " Not so." At the second course 
 he was stricken quite out of the saddle. But the night com- 
 manded truce for those sports, and Phalantus, though in- 
 treated, would not leave Artesia, who in no case would come 
 into the house, having, as it were, sucked of Cecropia's breath 
 a mortal dislike against Basihus. 
 
 But the night, measured by the short ell of sleep, was soon 
 past over, and the next morning had given the watchful stars 
 leave to take their rest, when a trumpet summoned Basilius 
 to play his judge's part ; which he did, taking his wife and 
 daughters with him, Zelmane having locked her door so as 
 they would not trouble her for that time ; for already there 
 was a knight in the field ready to prove Hekn^ Corinth had 
 received great injury, both by the erring judgment of the 
 challenger and the unlucky weakness of her former defender. 
 The new knight was quickly known to be CHtophon, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 87 
 
 Kalander's son of Basilius' sister, by his armour, which, all 
 gilt, was so well handled that it showed like a glittering sand 
 and gravel interlaced with silver rivers. His device he had put in 
 the picture of Helen, which he defended ; it was the ermelin,* /^ 
 with a speech that signified, " Rather dead than spotted." 7 
 But in that armour, since he had parted from Helen, he had 
 performed so honourable actions, still seeking for his two 
 friends by the names of Palladius and Daiphantus, that, 
 though his face were covered, his being was discovered, which 
 yet Basilius would not seem to do ; but, glad to see the trial 
 of him of whom he had heard very well, he commanded the 
 trumpets to sound, to which the two brave knights obeying, 
 they performed their courses, breaking their six staves with 
 so good, both skill in the hitting and grace in the manner, 
 that it bred some difficulty in the judgment. But Basilius 
 in the end gave sentence against Clitophon, because Phalantus 
 had broken more staves upon the head, and that once Clito- 
 phon had received such a blow that he had lost the reins 
 of his horse, with his head well-nigh touching the crupper of 
 the horse. But Clitophon was so angry with the judgment, 
 wherein he thought he had received wrong, that he omitted 
 his duty to his prince and uncle, and suddenly went his way, 
 still in the quest of them whom, as then, he had left by seek- 
 ing, and so yielded the field to the next comer, who, coming 
 in about two hours after, was no less marked than all the 
 rest before, because he had nothing worth the marking ; for 
 he had neither picture nor device, his armour of as old a 
 fashion, besides the rusty poorness, that it might better seem 
 a monument of his grandfather's courage. About his middle 
 he had, instead of bases, a long cloalt of silk, which as un- 
 handsomely, as it needs must, became the wearer, so that all 
 
 * Ermelin — small ermine, a favourite charge in heraldry, sym- 
 bolical of purity. 
 
 y 
 
88 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 that looked on measured his length on the earth already, 
 since he had to meet one who had been victorious of so many 
 gallants. But he went on towards the shield, and with a 
 sober grace strake it ; but as he let his sword fall upon it, 
 another knight, all in black, came rustling in, who strake the 
 shield almost as soon as he, and so strongly, that he brake 
 the shield in two. The ill-appointed knight, for so the be- 
 holders called him, angry with that, as he accounted, insolent 
 injury to himself, hit him such a sound blow that they that 
 looked on said it well became a rude arm. The other 
 answered him again in the same case, so that lances were 
 put to silence, the swords were so busy. 
 
 But Phalantus, angry of this defacing shield, came upon 
 the black knight, and with the pommel of his sword set fire 
 to his eyes, which presently was avenged, not only by the 
 black, but the ill-apparelled knight, who disdained another 
 should enter into his quarrel, so as whoever saw a matachin 
 dance,* to imitate fighting, this was a fight that did imitate 
 the matachin ; for they, being but three that fought, every 
 one had but two adversaries striking him, who struck the 
 third, and revenging, perhaps, that of him which he had 
 received of the other. But Basilius, rising himself, came to 
 part them, the sticklers' authority scarcely able to persuade 
 choleric hearers : and part them he did. 
 
 But, before he could determine, conres in a fourth, halting 
 on foot, who complained to Basilius, demanding justice on 
 
 * Alatachin dance. A dance with swords, at which they strike, as 
 if in earnest, at one another, receiving the blows on their bucklers. 
 In Spanish it is called Danza de matachenes, French viatassasiiis. 
 Skinner suggests that it is so called from the Ital. matto, mad, 
 because of the insane antics of the dancers. Douce thinks our 
 dance of fools and the matachin dance to be equivalent. " But that 
 I'm not a testy old fool like your father, Fd dance a matachin dance 
 ■with you should make you sweat your best blood for it." — 
 Fletcher's "Elder Brother," act v. so. i. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I, 89 
 
 the black knight for having by force taken away the picture 
 of Pamela from him, which in little form he ware in a tablet, 
 and, covered with silk, had fastened it to his helmet, purposing, 
 for want of a bigger, to paragon the little one with Artesia's 
 length, not doubting but even in that little quantity the 
 excellency of that would shine through the weakness of the 
 other, as the smallest star doth through the whole element of 
 fire. And, by the way, he had met with this black knight, 
 who had, as he said, robbed him of it. The injury seemed 
 grievous ; but, when it came fully to be examined, it was found 
 that the halting knight, meeting the other, asking the cause 
 of his going thitherward, and finding it was to defend 
 Paniela's divine beauty against Artesia's, with a proud jollitie* 
 commanded him to leave that quarrel only for him, who was 
 only worthy to enter into it. But the black knight obeying 
 no such commandments, they fell to such a bickering that 
 he gat a halting and lost his picture. This understood by 
 Basilius, he told him he was no fitter to look to his own body 
 than another's picture ; and so, uncomforted therein, he sent 
 him away. 
 
 Then the question arising who should be the former [first] 
 against Phalantus of the black or the ill-apparelled knight, 
 who now had gotten the reputation of some sturdy lout, he 
 had so well defended himself, of the one side was alleged 
 the having a picture which the other wanted, of the other 
 side the first striking the shield ; but the conclusion was 
 that the ill-apparelled knight should have the precedence if, 
 he delivered the figure of his mistress to Phalantus, who, 
 asking him for it, " Certainly," said he : " her liveliest pic- 
 ture, if you could see ityds in my heart, and the best compari- 
 son I could make of her is of the sun and of all the other 
 heavenly beauties. But because, perhaps, all eyes cannot 
 
 Jollitle — -politeness, pretty behaviour. 
 
90 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 taste the divinity of her beauty, and would rather be dazzled 
 than taught by the light, if it be not clouded by some meaner 
 thing, know ye, then, that I defend that same lady whose 
 image Phebilus so feebly lost yesternight, and, instead of 
 another, if you overcome me, you shall have me your slave 
 to carry that image in your mistress's triumph." Phalantus 
 easily agreed to the bargain, which readily he made his 
 own. 
 
 But, when it came to the trial, the ill-apparelled knight, 
 choosing out the greatest staves in all the store, at the first 
 course gave his head such a remembrance that he lost almost 
 his remembrance, he himself receiving the encounter of 
 Phalantus without any extraordinary motion, and at the 
 second gave him such a counterbuff that, because Phalantus 
 was so perfect a horseman as not to be driven from the 
 saddle, the saddle with broken girts was driven from the 
 horse, Phalantus remaining angry and amazed, because now, 
 being come almost to the last of his promised enterprise, 
 that disgrace befel him which he had never before known. 
 
 But the victory being by the judges given, and the trumpets 
 witnessed, to the ill-apparelled knight, Phalantus' disgrace 
 was ingrieved, in lieu of comfort, of Artesia, who, telling him 
 she never looked for other, bade hirn seek^some^ other mis- 
 tress. He, excusing himself, and turning over th^Iault to 
 fortune, " Then let that be your ill fortune too," said she, 
 *' that you have lost me." 
 
 " Nay, truly, madam," said Phalantus, " it shall not be so ; 
 for I think the loss of such a mistress will prove a great 
 gain ;" and so concluded — to the sport of Basilius, to see 
 young folks' love, that came in masked with so great pomp, 
 go out with so little constancy. But Phalantus, first profess- 
 ing great service to Basihus for his courteous intermitting his 
 soHtary course for his sake, would yet conduct Artesia to the 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 91 
 
 castle of Cecropia, whither she desired to go, vowing in him- 
 self that neither heart nor_.mQuth lay e. should ever any more 
 entangle him ; a ndjwith thatLjesolution he left the company. 
 Whence all being dismissed — among whom the black knight 
 went away repining at his luck, that had kept him from 
 winning the honour, as he knew he should have done, to the 
 picture of Pamela — the ill-apparelled knight (who was only 
 desired to stay because Basilius meant to show him to 
 Zelmane) pulled off his helmet, and then was known himself / 
 to be ^eJjnane, who that morning, as she told, while the^ 
 others werebusy, had stolen out to the prince's stable, which 
 was a mile off from the lodge, had gotten a horse (they know- 
 ing it was Basilius' pleasure she should be obeyed), and, bor- 
 rowing that homely armour for want of a better, had come 
 upon the spur to redeem Philoclea's picture, which she said / 
 she could not bear (being one of that little wilderness-com- 
 pany) should be in captivity, if the cunning she had learnt 
 in her country of the noble Amazons could withstand it ; 
 and under that pretext fain she would have given a secret 
 passport to her affection. 
 
 And so many days were spent. But the one being come 
 on which, according to an appointed course, the shepherds 
 were to assemble and make their pastoral sports before 
 Basilius, Zelmane, fearing lest many eyes, and coming divers 
 ways, might hap to spy Musidorus, went out to warn him 
 thereof. 
 
 But, before she could come to the arbour, she saw, walking 
 from her-ward, a man in shepherdish apparel, who, being in 
 the sight of the lodge, it might seem he was allowed there. A 
 long cloak he had on, but that cast under his right arm, 
 wherein he held a sheep-hook so finely wrought that it gave 
 a bravery to poverty, and his raiments, though they were 
 mean, yet received they handsomeness by the grace of the 
 
y 
 
 92 ARCADIA.— Book L 
 
 wearer, though he himself went but a kind of languishing 
 pace, with his eyes sometimes cast up to heaven, as though 
 his fancies strave to mount higher ; sometimes thrown down 
 to the ground, as if the earth could not bear the burthen of 
 his sorrows. At length, with a lamentable tune, he sung 
 these few verses : — 
 
 " Come, shepherd's weeds, become yom- master's mind, 
 Yield outward show what inward change he tries ; 
 Nor be abashed, since such a guest you find, 
 Whose strongest hope in your weak comfort lies. 
 
 " Come, shepherd's weeds, attend my woeful cries. 
 Disuse yourselves from sweet Menalcas' voice ; 
 For other be those tunes which sorrow ties 
 From those clear notes which freely may rejoice ; 
 Then pour out plaint, and in one word say this : 
 Helpless his plaint who spoils himself of bliss. " 
 
 And having ended, he struck himself on the breast, saying, 
 " O miserable wretch, whither do thy destinies guide thee ?" 
 The voice made Zelmane hasten her pace to overtake him, 
 which having done, she plainly perceived that it was her dear 
 friend Musidorus; whereat marvelling not a little, she de- 
 manded of him whether the goddess of those woods had 
 such a power to transform everybody ; or whether, as in all 
 enterprises else he had done, he meant thus to match her in 
 this new alteration. " Alas !" said Musidorus, " what shall I 
 say, who am loth to say, and yet fain would have said ? I 
 find, indeed, that all is but lip v/isdom which wants experience. 
 I now (wpe is me !) do try what love c an__do. O Zelmane, 
 who will resist it must either have no wit, or put out his 
 eyes. Can any man resist his creation "i Certainly by love 
 we are made, and to love we are made. Beasts only cannot 
 discern beauty; and let them be in the roll of beasts that do 
 ,not honour it." The perfect friendship Zelmane bare him, 
 
ARCADIA,— Book T. ^3 
 
 and the great pity she, by good trial, had of such cases, 
 could not keep her from smiling at him, remembering how 
 vehemently he had cried out against the folly of lovers ; and 
 therefore, a little to punish him, "Why, how now, dear 
 cousin," said she, " you that were last day so high in the 
 pulpit against lovers, are you now become so mean an 
 auditor? Remember that love is a passion, and that a 
 worthy man's reason must ever have the masterhood." " I 
 recaiit7 I' recant,^' cried Musidorus, and withal falling down 
 prostrate. " O thou celestial or infernal spirit of love, or what 
 other heavenly or hellish title thou list to have (for effects of 
 both I find in myself), have compassion of me, and let thy 
 glory be as great in pardoning them that be submitted to 
 thee as in conquering those that were rebellious." " No, 
 no," said Zelmane, " I see you well enough ; you make but 
 an interlude of my mishaps, and do but counterfeit thus, to 
 make me see the deformity of my passions ; but take heed 
 that this jest do not one day turn to earnest." " Now I 
 beseech thee," said Musidorus, taking her fast by the hand, 
 " even for the truth of our friendship, of which, if I be not 
 altogether an unhappy man, thou hast some remembrance, 
 and by those secret flames which I know have likewise nearly 
 touched thee, make no jest of that which hath so earnestly 
 pierced me through, nor let that be light to thee which is to 
 me so burdenous that I am not able to bear it." Musidorus, 
 both in words and behaviour, did so lively deliver out his 
 inward grief that Zelmane found, indeed, he was thoroughly 
 wounded ; but there rose a new jealousy in her mind, lest it 
 might be with Philoclea, by whom, as Zelmane thought, in 
 right all hearts and Tyes should be inherited. And there- 
 fore, desirous to be cleared of that doubt, Musidorus shortly, 
 as in haste and full of passionate perplexedness, thus re- 
 counted his case unto her : — 
 
94 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 " The day," said he, " I parted from you, I being in mind 
 to return to a town from whence I came hither, my horse, 
 being before tired, would scarce bear me a mile hence, where, 
 being benighted, the sight of a candle I saw a good way 
 off guided me to a young shepherd's house, by name Menal- 
 cas, who, seeing me to be a straying stranger, with the 
 right honest hospitality which seems to be harboured in the 
 Arcadian breasts, and though not with curious costliness, 
 yet with cleanly sufficiency, entertained me ;and having, by 
 talk with him, found the manner of the country something 
 more in particular than I had by Kalander's report, I agreed 
 to sojourn with him in secret, which he faithfully promised 
 to observe ; and so hither to your arbour divers times re- 
 paired, and here by your means had the sight — O that it had 
 never been so ; nay, O that it might ever be so — of the god- 
 dess who, in a definite compass, can set forth infinite beauty. 
 
 " When I first saw her I was presently stricken ; and I, like 
 a foolish child, that, when anything hits him, will strike him- 
 self upon it, would needs look again, as though I would per- 
 suade mine eyes that they were deceived. But, alas ! well 
 have I found that love to a yielding heart is a king, but to 
 a resisting is a tyrant. The more with arguments I shaked 
 the stake which he had planted in the ground of my heart, 
 the deeper still it sank into it. But what mean I to speak of 
 the causes of my love, which is as impossible to describe as to 
 measure the backside of heaven ? Let this word suffice : I love. 
 And she, in good sobth, whom I love is Pairielii. And that 
 you may know I do so, it was I that came in black armour to 
 defend her picture, where I was both prevented and beaten 
 by you. And so I that waited here to do you service have 
 now myself most need of succour." 
 
 " But whereupon got you yourself this apparel ?" said 
 Zelmane. " I had forgotten to tell you," said Musidorus, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 9^ 
 
 "though that were one principal matter of my speech, so 
 much am I now master of my own mind. But thus it hap- 
 pened : being returned to Menalcas' house, full of tormenting 
 desire, after a while fainting under the weight, my courage 
 stirred up my wit to seek for some relief before I yielded 
 to perish. At last this came into my head, that very evening 
 that I had to no purpose last used my horse and armour. I 
 told Menalcas that I was a Thessalian gentleman, who, by 
 mischance having killed a great favourite of the prince of 
 that country, was pursued so cruelly that in no place but, 
 either by favour or corruption, they would obtain my de- 
 struction ; and that therefore I was determined, till the fury 
 of my persecutors might be assuaged, to disguise myself 
 among the shepherds of Arcadia, and, if it were possible, to 
 be one of them that were allowed the prince's presence ; ^ 
 because, if the worst should fall that I were discovered, yet, 
 having gotten the acquaintance of the prince, it might hap- 
 pen to move his heart to protect me. Menalcas, being of an 
 honest disposition, pitied my case, which my face, through 
 my inward torment, made credible ; and so, I giving him 
 largely for it, let me have this raiment, instructing me in all 
 particularities touching himself, or myself, which I desired 
 to know ; yet not trusting so much to his constancy as that 
 I would lay my life, and life of my life upon it, I hired him 
 to go into Thessalia to a friend of mine, and to deliver him a 
 letter from me, conjuring him to bring me as speedy an 
 answer as he could, because it imported me greatly to know 
 whether certain of my friends did yet possess any favour, 
 whose intercessions I might use for my restitution. He 
 willingly took my letter, which, being well sealed, indeed con- 
 tained other matter. For I wrote to my trusty servant 
 Calodoulus, whom you know, that as soon as he had de- 
 livered the letter, he should keep him prisoner in his house, 
 
96 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 not suffering him to have conference with anybody till he knew 
 my further pleasure : in all other respects that he should use 
 him as my brother. And here is Menalcas gone, and here I a 
 poor shepherd ; more proud of this estate than of any king- 
 /'dom ; so manifest it is that the highest point outward things 
 can bring one unto is the contentment of the mind ; with 
 which no estate — without which, all estates — be miserable. 
 Now have I chosen this day, because, as ]Menalcas told me, 
 the other shepherds are called to make their sports, and 
 hope that you will, with your credit, find means to get me 
 allowed among them." 
 
 "You need not doubt," answered Zelmane, "but that I willbe 
 your good mistress ; marry, the best way of dealing must be 
 by Dametas, who — since his blunt brain hath perceived some 
 favour the prince doth bear unto me, as without doubt the 
 most servile fliatteiy is lodged most easily in the grossest 
 capacity, for their ordinary conceit draweth a yielding to 
 their greater, and then have they not wit to discern the right 
 degrees of duty — is much more serviceable unto me than I can 
 find any cause to wish him. And here comes the very 
 person of Dametas." And so he did indeed, with a sword by 
 his side, a forest bill on his neck, and a chopping knife under 
 his girdle ; in which well provided for he had ever gone 
 since the fear Zelmane had put him in. But he no sooner 
 saw her, but with head and arms he laid his reverence afore 
 her, enough to have made any man forswear all courtesy. 
 And then in Basihus' name he did invite her to walk down to 
 the place where that day they were to have the pastorals. 
 
 But when he spied Musidorus to be none of the shepherds 
 allowed in that place, he would fain have persuaded himself 
 to • utter some anger, but that he durst not ; yet muttering 
 and champing, as though his cud troubled him, he gave 
 occasion to Musidorus to come near him, and feign his tale 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 97 
 
 of his own life : that he was a younger brother of the 
 shepherd Menalcas, by name Dorus, sent by his father in 
 his tender age to Athens, there to learn some cunning more 
 than ordinary, that he might be the better hked of the 
 prince ; and that, after his father's death, his brother 
 Menalcas, lately gone thither to fetch him home, was also 
 deceased, where, upon his death, he had charged him to seek 
 the service of Dametas, and to be wholly and ever guided by 
 him, as one in whose judgment and integrity the prince had 
 singular confidence. For token whereof, he gave to Dametas 
 a good sum of gold in ready coin, which Menalcas had 
 bequeathed unto him, upon condition he should receive this 
 poor Dorus into his service, that his mind and manners 
 might grow the better by his daily example. 
 
 Dametas, that of all manners of style could best conceive 
 of golden eloquence, being withal tickled by Musidorus' 
 praises, had his brain so turned that he became slave to that 
 which he that sued to be his, servant offered to give him, yet, 
 for countenance' sake, he seemed very squeamish, in respect 
 of the charge he had of the Princess Pamela. But such was 
 the secret operation of the gold, helped with the persuasion of 
 the Amazon Zelmane, who said it was pity so handsome a 
 young man should be anywhere else than with so good a 
 master, that in the end he agreed, if that day he behaved 
 himself to the liking of Basihus as he might be contented, 
 that then he would receive him into his service. 
 
 And thus went they to the lodge, where they found 
 Gynecia and her daughters ready to go to the field, to delight 
 themselves there a while until the shepherds' coming ; ^ 
 whither also taking Zelmane with them, as they went^^y 
 Dametas told them of Dorus, and desired he might be ac- 
 cepted there that day in stead of his brother Menalcas. As 
 for Basihus, he stayed behind to bring the shepherds, with 
 
 H 
 
98 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 whom he meant to confer, to breed the better Zelmane's liking, 
 which he only regarded, while the other beautiful band came 
 to the fair field appointed for the shepherdish pastimes. 
 
 It was indeed a place of delight, for through the midst of 
 it there ran a sweet brook, which did both hold the eye open 
 with her azure streams, and yet seek to close the eye with the 
 purling noise it made upon the pebble stones it ran over, 
 the field itself being set in some places with roses, and in all 
 the rest constantly preserving a flourishing green ; the roses 
 added such a ruddy show unto it as though the field were 
 bashful at his own beauty about it. As if it had been to 
 inclose a theatre, grew such sort of trees as either excellency 
 of fruit, stateliness of growth, continual greenness, or poetical 
 fancies have made at any time famous ; in most part of 
 which there had been framed by art such pleasant arbours 
 that, one answering another, they became a gallery aloft 
 from tree to tree almost round about, which below gave a 
 perfect shadow — a pleasant refuge then from the choleric 
 look of Phoebus. 
 
 In this place, while Gynecia walked hard by them, carrying 
 many unquiet contentions about her, the ladies sat them 
 down, inquiring divers questions of the shepherd Dorus, 
 who, keeping his eye still upon Pamela, answered with such 
 a trembling voice and abashed countenance, and oftentimes 
 so far from the matter, that it was some sport to the young 
 ladies, thinking it want of education which made him so 
 discountenanced with unwonted presence. But Zelmane, that 
 saw in him the glass of her own misery, taking the hand of 
 Philoclea, and with burning kisses setting it close to her lips, 
 as if it should stand there like a hand in the margin of a 
 book, to note some saying worthy to be marked, began to 
 speak these words : "O Love, since thou art so changeable 
 in men's estates, how art thou so consta nt in the ir torments.^" 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 99 
 
 when suddenly there came out of a wood a monstrous lion, 
 with a she-bear not far from him, of little less fierceness, 
 which, as they guessed, having been hunted in forests far 
 off, were by chance come thither, where before such beasts 
 had never been seen. Then care, not fear, or fear not for 
 themselves, altered something the countenances of the two 
 lovers ; but so, as any man might perceive, was rather an 
 assembling of powers than dismayedness of courage. Phi- 
 loclea no sooner espied the hon, but that, obeying the com- 
 mandment of fear, she leapt up and ran to the lodge-ward 
 as fast as her delicate legs could carry her, while Dorus 
 drew Pamela behind a tree, where she stood quaking like the 
 partridge on which the hawk is even ready to seize. But 
 the lion, seeing Philoclea run away, bent his race to her- 
 ward, and was ready to seize himself on the prey, when 
 Zelmane, to whom danger then was a cause of dreadlessness, 
 all the composition of her elements being nothing but fiery, 
 with swiftness of desire crossed him, and with force of affec- 
 tion strake him such a blow upon his chine that she opened 
 all his body, wherewith the valiant beast turning her with 
 open jaws, she gave him such a thrust through his breast 
 that all the lion could do was with his paw to tear off the 
 mantle and sleeve of Zelmane with a little scratch, rather 
 than a wound, his death-blow having taken away the effect 
 of his force ; but therewithal he fell down, and gave Zelmane 
 leisure to take off his head, to carry it for a present to her 
 lady Philoclea, who all this while, not knowing what was 
 done behind her, kept on her course, like Arethusa when she 
 ran from Alpheus. Zelmane, carrying the lion's head in her 
 hand, did not fully overtake her till they came to the presence 
 of Basilius. Neither were they long there but that Gynecia 
 came thither also, who had been in such a trance of musing 
 that Zelmane was fighting with the lion before she knew of 
 
 H 2 
 
100 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 any lion's coming ; but then affection resisting, and the soon 
 ending of the fight preventing all extremity of fear, she 
 marked Zelmane's fighting, and when the lion's head was off, 
 as Zelmane ran after Philoclea, so she could not find in her 
 b^ art but run after Zelmane. 
 
 Being all come before Basilius, amazed with this sight, 
 and fear having such possession in the fair Philoclea that 
 her blood durst not yet come to her face to take away the 
 /^ame of paleness from her most pure whiteness, Zelmane 
 kneeled down and presented the lion's head unto her. 
 " Only lady," said she, •' here see you the punishment of that 
 unnatural beast,* which, contrary to his own kind, w^ould 
 have wronged prince's blood, guided with such traiterous 
 eyes as durst rebel against your beauty." " Happy am I, 
 and my beauty both," answered the sweet Philoclea, then 
 blushing — for Fear had bequeathed his room to his kinsman 
 Bashfulness — " that you, excellent Amazon, were there to 
 teach him good manners." " And even thanks to that 
 beauty," answered Zelmane, " which can give an edge to the 
 bluntest swords." There Philoclea told her father how it 
 had happened, but as she had turned her eyes in her tale to 
 Zelmane, she perceived some blood upon Zelmane's shoulder, 
 so that starting with the lovely grace of pity, she showed 
 
 * Unnatural bcasf^i.e., to assault a le gitimate jprince. It was 
 fabled by the old heralds that the liQW woulcl not^'attack a prince of 
 blood royal. Hence, in coat armour, that charge signifies not only 
 valour but royalty. Shakespeare refers to this when Falstaff makes 
 his admirable excuse for cowardice, Henry IV., Part L, act ii. sc. 4 : 
 "Why, hear ye, my masters ; was it for me to kill the heir apparent? 
 Should I turn vxpon the true prince ? Why, thou knowest I am as 
 valiant as Hercules ; but beware instinct : the lion will not tonch the 
 tr2U' prince. Instinct is a great matter ; I was a coward upon 
 instinct ; I shall think the better of myself and thee during my life : 
 I for a valiant lion, thou for a trne prince." The excuse is excellent, 
 because so dehcately complimentary. 
 
ARCADIA.—Sxok I. loi 
 
 it to her father and mother, who 'as the nurse sometimes " 
 with over-much kissing may forget to give the babe suck, so 
 had they, with too much dehghting in beholding and praising 
 Zelmane, left off to mark whether she needed succour. But. 
 then they ran both unto her, like a father and mother to an 
 only child, and, though Zelmane assured them it was nothing, 
 would needs see it, Gynecia having skill in chirurgery, an art 
 in those days much esteemed, because it served to virtuous 
 courage, which even ladies would, ever with the contempt of 
 cowards, seem to cherish. But, looking upon it, which gave 
 more inward bleeding wounds to Zelmane, for she might some- 
 times feel Philoclea's touch while she helped her mother, she 
 found it was indeed of no importance ; yet applied she a 
 precious balm unto it, of power to heal a greater grief. 
 
 But even then, and not before, they remembered Pamela, 
 and, therefore, Zelmane, thinking of her friend Dorus, was 
 running back to be satisfied, when they might all see Pamela 
 coming between Dorus and Dametas, having in her hand 
 the paw of a bear, which the shepherd Dorus had newly [ 
 presented unto her, desiring her to accept it, as of such a beast, ' 
 which, though she deserved death for her presumption, yet 
 was her wit to be esteemed, since she could make so sweet a 
 choice. Dametas for his part came piping and dancing, the 
 merriest man in a parish ;■ and when he came so near as he 
 might be heard of Basilius, he would needs break through 
 his ears with a joyful song of their good success. 
 
 Being all now come together, and all desirous to know 
 each other's adventures, Pamela's noble heart would needs 
 gratefully make known the valiant mean of her safety, 
 which, directing her speech to her mother, she did in this 
 manner : " As soon," said she, " as ye were all run away, 
 and that I hoped to be in safety, there came out of the same 
 woods a horrible foul bear, which, fearing, belike, to deal 
 
I02 ARCADIA.— Book L 
 
 while the lion was present, as soon as he was gone, came 
 furiously towards the place where I was, and this young 
 shepherd left alone by me. I truly, not guilty of any wisdom, 
 which since they lay to my charge, because they say it is 
 the best refuge against that beast, but even pure fear bring- 
 ing forth that effect of wisdom, fell down flat on my face, 
 needing not counterfeit being dead, for, indeed, I was little 
 better. But this young shepherd, with a wonderful courage, 
 having no other weapon but that knife you see, standing 
 before the place where I lay, so behaved himself that the 
 first sight I had, when I thought myself already near Charon's 
 ferry, was the shepherd showing me his bloody knife in token 
 of victory." " I pray you," said Zelmane, speaking to Dorus, 
 whose valour she was careful to have manifested, " in what 
 sort, so ill weaponed, could you achieve this enterprise ?" 
 
 "Noble lady," said Dorus, "the manner of these beasts' 
 fighting with any man is to stand up upon their hinder feet ; 
 and so this did ; and being ready to give me a shrewd 
 embracement, I think the god Pan (ever careful of the chief 
 blessing of Arcadia) guided my hand so just to the heart of 
 the beast that neither she could once touch me, nor (which is 
 the only matter in this worthy remembrance) breed any 
 danger to the princess. For my part, I am rather, with all 
 subjected humbleness, to thank her excellencies, since the 
 duty thereunto gave me heart to save myself, than to receive 
 thanks for a deed which was her only inspiring." And this 
 Dorus spoke, keeping affection as much as he could back 
 from coming into his eyes and gestures. But Zelmane, that 
 had the same character in her heart, could easily decipher it, 
 and therefore, to keep him the longer in speech, desired to 
 understand the conclusion of the matter, and how the honest 
 Dametas was escaped. "Nay," said Pamela, "none shall 
 take that office from myself, being so much bound to him as 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 103 
 
 I am for my education." And with that word, scorn borrow- 
 ing the countenance of mirth, somewhat she smiled, and 
 thus spake on : — " When," said she, " Dorus made me 
 assuredly perceive that all cause of fear was passed, the 
 truth is, I was ashamed to find myself alone with this 
 shepherd ; and therefore, looking about me if I could see 
 anybody, at length we both perceived the gentle Dametas 
 lying with his head and breast as far as he could thrust 
 himself into a bush, drawing up his legs as close unto him 
 as he could ; for, like a man of a very kind nature, soon to f jj 
 take pity of himself, lie was full resolved not to see his own ' ' i 
 death. And when this shepherd pushed him, bidding him to 
 be of good cheer, it was a great while ere we could persuade 
 him that Dorus was not the bear, so that he was fain to pull 
 him out by the heels and show him the beast as dead as he 
 could wish it, which, you may believe me, was a ver)^ joyful 
 sight unto him. But then he forgat all courtesy, for he fell 
 upon the beast, giving it many a manful wound, swearing by 
 much it was not well such beasts should be suffered in a 
 commonwealth ; and then my governor, as full of joy as 
 before of fear, came dancing and singing before, as even now 
 you saw him." 
 
 " Well, well," said Basilius, " I have not chosen Dametas 
 for his fighting, nor for his discoursing, but for his plainness 
 and honesty ; and therein I know he will not deceive me." 
 But then he told Pamela (not so much because she should 
 know it as because he would tell it) the wonderful act 
 Zelmane had performed. Poor Dorus, though of equal desert, 
 yet not proceeding of equal estate, would have been left 
 forgotten had not Zelmane again, with great admiration, 
 begun to speak of him, asking whether it were the fashion or 
 no in Arcadia that shepherds should perform such valorous / 
 enterprises. 
 
104 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 This Basilius, having the quick sense of a lover, took 
 as though his mistress had given him a secret reprehension 
 that he had not showed more gratefuhiess to Dorus, and 
 therefore, as nimbly as he could, inquired of his estate, adding 
 promise of great rewards, among the rest offering to him, if 
 he would exercise his courage in soldiery, he would commit 
 some charge unto him under his lieutenant Philanax. But 
 Dorus, whose ambition climbed by another stair, having first 
 answered touching his estate, that he was brother to the 
 shepherd Menalcas, who among other was wont to resort to 
 the prince's presence, and excused his going to soldiery by 
 the unaptness he found in himself that way, he told Basilius 
 that his brother in his last testament had willed him to serve 
 Dametas, and therefore for due obedience thereunto he would 
 think his service greatly rewarded if he might obtain by that 
 means to live in the sight of his prince, and yet practise his 
 own chosen vocation. Basilius, liking well his goodly shape 
 and handsome manner, charged Dametas to receive him like 
 a son into his house, saying that his valour and Dametas' 
 truth would be good bulwarks against such mischiefs as, he 
 sticked not to say, were threatened to his daughter Pamela. 
 
 Dametas, no whit out of countenance with all that had been 
 said, because he had no worse to fall into than his own, 
 accepted Dorus, and withal telling Basilius that some of the 
 shepherds were come, demanded in what place he would see 
 their sports, who first curious to know whether it were not 
 more requisite for Zelmane's hurt to rest than sit up at those 
 pastimes, and she (that felt no wound but one) earnestly 
 desired to have the pastorals, Basilius commanded it should 
 be at the gate of the lodge, where the throne of the prince 
 being, according to the ancient manner, he made Zelmane 
 sit between him and his wife therein, who thought herself 
 between drowning and burning, and the two young ladies of 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 105 
 
 either side the throne, and so prepared their eyes and ears to 
 be delighted by the shepherds. 
 
 But before all of them were assembled to begin their sports, 
 there came a fellow who, being out of breath, or seeming so to 
 be, for haste, with humble hastiness told BasiHus that his 
 mistress the lady Cecropia had sent him to excuse the mis- 
 chance of her beasts ranging in that dangerous sort, being 
 happened by the folly of the keeper, who, thinking himself 
 able to rule them, had carried them abroad, and so was 
 deceived, whom yet, if Basilius would punish for it, she was 
 ready to deliver. Basilius made no other answer but that 
 his mistress, if she had any more such beasts, should cause 
 them to be killed ; and then he told his wife and Zelmane of 
 it, because they should not fear those woods, as though they 
 harboured such beasts where the like had never been seen. 
 
 The First Eclogue. 
 
 BASILIUS, because Zelmane so would have it, used the 
 artificial day of torches to lighten the sports their in- 
 ventions could minister ; and, because many of the shepherds 
 were but newly come, he did in a gentle manner chastise 
 their negligence with making them (for that night) the torch- 
 bearers ; and the other he willed with all freedom of speech 
 and behaviour to keep their accustomed method, which while 
 they prepared to do, Dametas, who much disdained, since his 
 late authority, all his old companions, brought his servant 
 Dorus in good acquaintance and allowance of them, and 
 himself stood like a director over them, with nodding, gaping 
 winking, or stamping, showing how he did like or mislike 
 those things he did not understand. The first sports the 
 shepherds showed were full of such leaps and gambols as 
 
io6 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 being according to the pipe (which they bare in their mouths, 
 even as they danced), made a right picture of their god 
 Pan, and his companions the satyrs. Then would they cast 
 away their pipes, and, holding hand in hand, dance, as it 
 were, in a braul,* by the only cadence of their voices, w^hich 
 they would use in singing some short couplets, whereto the 
 one half beginning, the other half should answer, saying — 
 
 " We love, and have our loves rewarded :" 
 the others would answer — 
 
 " We love, and are no whit regarded ;" 
 the first again — 
 
 " We find most sweet affection's snare ;" 
 with like tune it should be, as in a quire, sent back again — 
 
 " That sweet, but sour, despairful care." 
 A third time, likewise, thus — 
 
 " Who can despair whom hope doth bear ?" 
 the answer — 
 
 ' ' And who can hope that feels despair ?" 
 
 Then, joining all their voices, and dancing a faster measure, 
 they would conclude with some such words — 
 " As without breath no pipe doth move, 
 No music kindly without love." 
 
 Having varied both their song and dances into divers sorts 
 of inventions, their last sport was, one of them to provoke 
 another to a more large expressing of his passions ; which 
 Thyrsis (accounted one of the best singers amongst them), 
 having marked in Dorus' dancing no less good grace and 
 handsome behaviour than extreme tokens of a troubled mind, 
 
 * A dance imported from France, spelt at first braiisle. 
 " Now making layes of love and lovers paine, 
 Bransles, ballads, virelayes, and verses vaine." 
 
 — Spenser, Faerie Queene, bk. iii. c. lo. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 107 
 
 began first with his pipe, and then with his voice, to challenge 
 Dorus in song, and was by him answered in the like sort. 
 
 But before any other came in to supply the place, Zelmane, 
 having heard some of the shepherds by chance name Strephon , 
 and Claius, supposing thereby they had been present, was^ 
 desirous both to hear them for the sake of their friendly love, 
 and to know them for their kindness towards her best- 
 loved friend. Much grieved was Basilius that any desire of 
 his mistress should be unsatisfied ; and, therefore, to repre- 
 sent them unto her (as well as in their absence it might be), 
 he commanded one Lamon, who had at large set down their 
 country pastimes and first love to Urania, to sing the whole 
 discourse, which he did in this manner* : — 
 
 A SHEPHERD'S tale no height of style desires, 
 To raise in words what in effect is low ; 
 A plaining song plain-singing voice requires, 
 For warbling notes from cheering [heart do] flow. 
 
 * In this maujiLT. Much of the poetry which abounds in this part 
 of the book the Editor has found it necessary, in compressing the 
 romance, to excise. It is believed that this will not be regretted by 
 the reader, because, to speak with critical truth, but due reverence, 
 by far the greater part — nearly all that is omitted — is somewhat 
 wearisome and tedious. The verses seem to be poetical exercises of 
 Sidney; some are Sapphics, e.g., piinted literatim — 
 
 "If mine eyes can speak, to do heartie errand, 
 Or mine eyes language she do hap to judge of, 
 So that eie's message be of her received, 
 
 Hope we do live yet." 
 Others are "songs" of Hexameters, in which Dorus and Zelmane 
 answer each other, "in like tune (?) and verse," and too often make 
 the verse halt for it. Thus — 
 
 " Here you fully do find the strange operation of love, 
 
 How to the woods love run's, as well as ride's to the Palace ; 
 Neither he bear's reverence to a Prince, nor pitie to beggar." 
 It is presumed that few readers will regret the omission of some 
 pages of such matter ; especially since the delightful love episode, 
 which is worthy of Spenser, has been retained. 
 
lo8 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 I, then, whose burden'd breast but thus aspires 
 Of shepherds two the seely cause to show, 
 
 Need not the stately Muses' help invoke 
 
 For creeping rimes, which often sighings choice. 
 But you, O you, that think not tears too dear 
 To spend for harms, although they touch you not, 
 And deign to deem your neighbours' mischief near, 
 Although they be of meaner parents got : 
 You I invite with easy ears to hear 
 The poor-clad truth of love's wrong-order'd lot. 
 
 Who may be glad, be glad you be not such ; 
 
 Who share in woe, weigh others have as much. 
 There was (O seldom-blessed word of " was " !) 
 J A pair of friends, or rather one call'd two, 
 Train'd in the life which on short-bitten grass 
 In shine or storm must set the clouted shoe. 
 He that the other in some years did pass, 
 And in those gifts that years distribute do, 
 
 Was Claius call'd (ah, Claius, woeful wight !) ; 
 
 The later born, yet too soon, Strephpn hight. 
 Epeirus high was honest Claius' nest; 
 To Strephon dole's land first breathing lent : 
 But east and' west were join'd by friendship's 
 
 best. 
 As Strephon's ear and h^axt to Claius bent, 
 So Claius' soul did in his Strephon rest. 
 Still both their flocks flocking together went, 
 
 As if they would of owners' humour be. 
 
 As eke their pipes did well as friends agree. 
 Claius for skill of herbs and shepherd's art 
 Among the wisest was accounted wise, 
 Yet not so wise as of unstained heart : 
 Strephon was young, yet mark'd with humble eyes 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 109 
 
 their flocks, and cur'd their 
 So that the grave did not his words despise. 
 
 Both free of mind, both did clear deahng love, y 
 And both had skill in verse their voice to move. 
 Their cheerful minds, till poisoned was their cheer, 
 The honest sports of earthly lodging prove : 
 Now for a clod-like hare in form they peer ; 
 Now bolt and cudgel squirrel's leap do move ; 
 Now the ambitious lark with mirror clear 
 They catch, while he (fool !) to himself makes love ; 
 And now at keels* they try a harmless chance, 
 And now their cur they teach to fetch and dance. 
 When merry May first early calls the morn, 
 With merry maids a-Maying they do go : 
 Then do they pull from sharp and niggard thorn 
 The plenteous sweets (can sweets so sharply grow ?), 
 Then some green gowns are by the lasses worn 
 In chastest plays, till home they walk arow ; 
 While danrr'strout the May-pole is begun. 
 When, if need were, they could at quintin run. 
 While thus they ran a low but levell'd race, " 
 While thus they liv'd (this was indeed a life), 
 
 * Keels — keel, ccclan. Sax., is "to cool;" and a "keel," a vessel 
 wherein liquors stand to cool. Probably Sidney, who adopted a 
 phonetic spelling, intends by this word ' ' keels " the French game of 
 qjiilles, in Saxon kayles, which was similar to our nine-pins, save that 
 the pins were set up not in three rows, but in a line, and at these the 
 player threw a cudgel; so that it has been suggested that, with the 
 variation of having the pins (sticks) crowned with toys, the game is 
 still common at our fairs and races. In the Royal MS. 2, b. vii., 
 there is an illumination of this game — eight pins, whereof three have 
 been knocked down standing in a row. In Devonshire, a "keel- 
 alley" is a bowling-alley. I have not thought it worth while to 
 explain more known games, as running at quintin (quintain), &c., 
 believing such would be diverting the attention of the intelligent 
 reader to no purpose. 
 
no ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 With nature pleas'd, content with present case, 
 Free of proud fears, brave begg'ry, smiling strife 
 I Of chmb-fall court, the envy-hatching place ; 
 I While those restless desires in great men rife, 
 To visit so low folks did much disdain : 
 This while, though poor, they in themselves did reign. 
 One day (O day that shin'd to^make them dark !), 
 W^hile they did ward sun-beams with shady bay, 
 And Claius, taking for his youngling cark [care] 
 (Lest greedy eyes to them might challenge lay), 
 Busy with ochre did their shoulders mark 
 (His mark a pillar was devoid of stay. 
 
 As bragging that free of all passions' moan. 
 Well might he others bear, but lean to none), 
 Strephon with leafy twigs of laurel tree 
 A garland made on temples for to wear ; 
 For him then chosen was the dignity 
 I Of village lord that Whitsuntide to bear. 
 And full, poor fool ! of boyish bravery. 
 With triumph's shows would show he nought did fear. 
 But fore-accounting oft makes builders miss: 
 They found, they felt, they had no lease of bhss ; 
 For ere that either had his purpose done. 
 Behold (beholding well it doth deserve) 
 They saw a maid, who thitherward did run 
 To catch her sparrow, which from her did swerve 
 As she a black silk cap on him begun 
 To set for foil of his milk-white to serve. 
 She chirping ran, he peeping flew away. 
 Till hard by them both he and she did stay. 
 Well for to see, they kept themselves unseen. 
 And saw this fairest maid, of fairer mind ; 
 I By fortune mean, in nature born a^gueen ; 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. in 
 
 How well apaid she was her bird to find ; 
 
 How tenderly her tender hands between, 
 
 In ivory cage, she did the micher* bind ; 
 
 How rosy, moisten'd lips about his beak ^ 
 Moving, she seern'd at once to kiss and speak. 
 
 This done — but done with captive-killing grace — 
 
 Each motion seeming shot from Beauty's bow, 
 
 With length laid down she deck'd the lovely place. 
 
 Proud grew the grass that under her did grow. 
 
 The trees spread out their arms to shade her 
 face; 
 
 But she, on elbow lean'd, with sighs did show 
 No grass, no trees, nor yet her sparrow might 
 The long-perplexed mind breed long delight. 
 
 She troubled was (alas that it mought be !) 
 
 With tedious brawlings of her parents dear, 
 
 Who would have her in will and word agree^/' 
 
 To wedAntaxius, their neighbour near. 
 
 A herdman rich, of much account was he. 
 
 In whom no evil did reign, nor good appear. 
 In sum, such one she lik'd not his desire : 
 Fain would be free, but dreadeth parents' ire.— ^ 
 
 Kindly, sweet soul ! she did unkindness take, 
 
 That bagged baggage of a miser's mud 
 
 Should price of her, as in a market, make ; 
 
 But gold can gild a rotten piece of wood. 
 
 To yield she found her noble heart did ache ; 
 
 To strive she fear'd how it with virtue stood. 
 
 Thus doubting clouds o'ercasting heav'nly brain, 
 At length in rows of kiss-cheeks tears they rain. 
 
 * Micher — idler, still preserved as mike in our slang. 
 
 " Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a micher?''' 
 
 Shaks. Hen. IV. ii. 4. 
 
112 ' ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 _Cupid, the wag that lately conquer'd had 
 Wise counsellors, stout captains, puissant kings, 
 And tied them fast to lead his triumph bad, 
 Glutted with them, now plays with meanest things. 
 So oft in feasts with costly changes clad 
 To crammed maws a sprat new stomach brings : 
 
 So lords, with sport of stag and heron full. 
 
 Sometimes we see small birds from nests do pull. 
 ^ So now for prey these shepherds two he took. 
 Whose metal stiff he knew he could not bend 
 With hearsay pictures or a window-look ; 
 With one good dance, or letter finely penn'd, 
 That were in court a well-proportion'd hook, 
 W^here piercing wits do quickly apprehend, 
 \y^ Their senses rude plain objects only move, 
 
 And so must see great cause before they love. 
 Therefore Love, arm'd in her now^ takes the field, 
 Making her beams his bravery and might ; 
 Her hands, which pierc'd the soul's sev'n- double 
 
 shield. 
 Were now his dart, leaving his wonted fight. 
 Brave crest to him her scorn-gold hair did yield ; 
 His complete harness was her purest white. 
 
 But, fearing lest all white might seem too good, 
 
 In cheeks and lips the tyrant threatens blood. 
 Besides this force, within her eyes he kept 
 A fire, to burn the prisoners he gains. 
 Whose boiling heart increased as she wept ; 
 For ev'n in forge cold water fire maintains. 
 Thus proud and fierce unto the hearts he stept 
 Of them poor souls ; and, cutting reason's reins, '-"' 
 
 Made them his own before they had it wist. 
 
 But, if they had, could sheep-hooks this resist ? 
 
ARCADIA,— Book I. 113 
 
 Claius straight felt, and groaned at the blow, 
 And call'd, now wounded, purpose to his aid ; 
 Strephon, fond boy, delighted, did not know 
 That it was Love that shin'd in shining maid ; 
 But, lick'rous-poison'd, fain to her would go, 
 If him new learned manners had not stay'd. 
 For then Urania homeward did arise. 
 Leaving in pain their well-fed hungry eyes. 
 She went, they stay'd, or, rightly for to say, 
 She stay'd in them, they went in thought with her ; 
 Claius, indeed, would fain have pull'd away 
 This mote from out his eye, the inward burr ; 
 And now, proud rebel, 'gan for to gainsay .« 
 The lesson which but late he learn'd too furr,*^ 
 Meaning with absence to refresh the thought 
 To which her presence such a fever brought. 
 Strephon did leap with joy and jolHty, 
 Thinking it just more therein to delight 
 Than in good dog, fair field, or shading tree. 
 So have I seen trim books in velvet dight, 
 With golden leaves and painted babery, 
 Of silly boys please unacquainted sight ; 
 But when the rod began to play his part. 
 Fain would, but could not, fly from golden smart. 
 He quickly learn'd Urania was her name, 
 And straight, for failing, grav'd it in his heart ; 
 He knew her haunt, and haunted in the same, 
 And taught his sheep her sheep in food to thwart, 
 
 * We have before noticed Sidney's phonetic spelling, hence this 
 word to rhyme with "burr." Mr. Lowell, in his Second Edition of 
 the " Biglow Papers," cites this as an inelegancy, but surely hyper- 
 critically. ''Far" is continually pronounced "furr" by the Irish, prob- 
 ably from the early English invaders; just as they call "tea" "tay" 
 {fhe), as did Swift, Pope, and all the best society of Queen Anne's time. 
 
 I 
 
114 ARCADIA,— Book I. 
 
 Which soon as it did hateful question frame, 
 
 He might on knees confess his faulty part, 
 And yield himself unto her punishment, 
 While nought but game the self-hurt wanton meant. 
 
 Nay, even unto her home he oft would go, 
 
 Where, bold and hurtless, many play he tries, 
 
 Her parents liking well it should be so — 
 
 For simple goodness shined in his eyes. 
 
 There did he make her laugh in spite of woe, 
 
 So as good thoughts of him in all arise, 
 While into none doubt of his love did sink. 
 For not himself to be in love did think. 
 
 But glad desire, his late embosom'd guest, 
 
 Yet but a babe, with milk of sight he nurst. 
 
 Desire, the more he suck'd, more sought the breast. 
 
 Like dropsy-folk still drink to be athirst. 
 
 Till one fair ev'n, an hour ere sun did rest, 
 
 Who then in Lion's cave did enter first, 
 
 By neighbours pray'd, she went abroad thereby, 
 At barley-break* her sweet, swift foot to try. 
 
 * Barley-break — Gifford says that this game, to which many 
 allusions occur in the old dramatists, was played by six persons, three 
 of each sex, coupled by lot. A piece of ground was then chosen, 
 divided into three parts, the middle of which was called Hell. It 
 was the object of the couple condemned to this division to catch the 
 others who advanced from the other compartments ; when successful, 
 a change took place, and Hell was occupied by the couple excluded 
 by preoccupation from the other places. In this "catching " there 
 was, however, some difficulty, as, by the rules, the middle couple 
 were not to separate, while the others might break hands whenever 
 they found themselves hard pressed. When all had been taken, the 
 last couple were said to be in Hell, and the game ended, J?i tefiui 
 labor! Beaumont and Fletcher, "Scornful Lady," act v. sc. 4, 
 refer thus to the game: " Here's the last couple in HelL" Sir John 
 Suckling prettily morahses the play : — 
 
 " Love, Reason, Hate, did once bespeak 
 Three mates to play at barley-break ; 
 
ARCADIA,— Book I. 115 
 
 Never the Earth on hi^round shoulders bare 
 A maid train'd up from high or low degree 
 That in her doings better could compare 
 Mirth with tespect, few words with courtesyp^ 
 A careless comeliness with comely care, 
 Self-gu^rd with mildness, sport with majesty, 
 
 Which made her yield to deck this shepherds' band ; 
 
 And still, believe me, Strephon was at hand. 
 Afield they go, where m^ny lookers be, 
 Aiid thou seek-sorrow Claius them among ; 
 Indeed, thou said'st it was thy friend to see, 
 Strephon, whose absence seem'd unto thee long : v 
 "While most with her, he less did keep with thee. 
 No, no, it was in spite of wisdom's song. 
 
 Which absence wish'd, love play'd a victor's part: 
 
 The heav'n-love loadstone drew fhy iron heart. 
 Then couples three be straight allotted there, 
 They of both ends the middle two do fly ; 
 The two that, in mid-place. Hell called were, 
 Must strive, with waiting foot and watching eye. 
 
 Love Folly took ; and Reason Fancy ; 
 
 And Hate consorts Mnth Pride : so dance they; 
 
 Love coupled last, and so it fell 
 
 That Love and Folly were in Hell. 
 *' They break, and Love would Reason meet ; 
 
 But Hate was nimble on her feet : . 
 
 ^ancy looks for Pride, and thither 
 
 Hies, and they two hug together ; 
 
 Yet this new coupHng still doth tell -i^ 
 
 That Love and Folly were in Hell. 
 " The rest do break again, and Pride 
 
 Hath now got Reason on her side ; 
 
 Hate and Fancy meet, and stand 
 
 Untouch'd by Love in Folly's hand ; 
 
 Folly was dull, but Love ran well, 
 
 So Love and Folly were in Hell."- 
 
■ ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 catch of them, and them to ttell to bear, 
 
 hat they, as well as they, Hell may supply ; 
 
 Like some which seek to salve their blotted name 
 
 With other's blot, till all do taste of shame- 
 There may you see, soon as the middle two 
 Do coupled towards either couple make, 
 They, false and fearful, do their hands undo, 
 Bjothe r his brother, fdend doth his frLend forsake, 
 Heeding himself, cares not how fellow do, 
 But of a stranger mutual help doth take ; 
 
 As perjur'd cowards in adversity. 
 
 With sight of fear, from friends to fremb'd* do fly. 
 But never did Medea's golden weed 
 On Creon's child his poison sooner throw 
 Than those delights through all their sinews breed 
 A creeping sergent, like of mortal woe : 
 Till she brake from their arms (although, indeed, 
 Going from them, from them she could not go), 
 
 And, farewelling the flock, did homeward wend ; 
 
 And so that even the barley-break did end. 
 It ended ; but the other woe began — 
 Began, at least, to be conceiv'd as woe ; 
 For then wise Claius found no absence can 
 Help him who can no more her sight forego. 
 He found man's virtue isJbutparLjpfjiiAn ; 
 And part must follow w^here whole man doth go. 
 , Y i He found that Reason's self now reasons found 
 Jf '"^^To fasten knots which Fancy first had bound. 
 So doth he yield, so takes he on his yoke. 
 Not knowing who did draw with him therein. 
 Strephon, poor youth, because he saw no smoke, 
 
 * Fre/ud' d— Those who were strangers, aliens ; A. S./rem; Dutc 
 Vrejub; Germ. Fremde^ a foreigner. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book L wj 
 
 Did not conceive what fire he had within; 
 
 But after this to greater rage it broke, 
 
 Till of his hfe it did full conquest win, ^ 
 
 First kiUing mirth, then banishing all rest ; 
 
 Filling his eyes with tears, with sighs his breast. 
 Then sports grew pains, all talking tedious ; 
 On thoughts he feeds ; his looks their figure change ; 
 The day seems long, but night is odious ; 
 No sleeps, but dreams ; no dreams, but visions 
 
 strange ; 
 Till, finding still his evil increasing thus, 
 One day he with his flock abroad did range, 
 
 And, coming where he hop'd to be alone, 
 
 Thus, oh a hillock set, he made his moan : 
 " Alas ! what weights are these that load my heart ? 
 I am as dull as winter-sterved sheep, 
 Tir'd as a jade in over-loaden cart ; 
 Yet thoughts do fly, though I can scarcely creep. 
 All visions seem : at every bush I start ; 
 Drowsy am I, and yet can rarely sleep. 
 
 Sure I bewitched am ; it is even that : 
 
 Late, near a cross, I met an ugly cat. 
 For, but by charms, how fall these things on me, 
 That from those eyes, where heav'nly apples beam, 
 Those eyes which nothing like themselves can see, 
 Of fair Urania, fairer than a green 
 Proudly bedeckt in April's livery, 
 A shot unheard gave me a wound unseen ? 
 
 He was invisible that hurt me so*; 
 
 And none invisible but spirits can go. 
 When I see her, my sinews shake for fear ; 
 And yet, dear soul, I know she hurteth none. 
 Amid my flock with woe my voice I tear ; 
 
1 1 8 ARCADIA.— Book I. 
 
 And, but bewitch'd, who to his flock would moan ? 
 Her cherry hps, milk hands, and golden hair 
 I still do see, though I be still alone ; 
 /^ Now make me think that there is not a fiend 
 
 Who, hid in angel's shape, my life would end. 
 The sports wherein I wonted to excel, 
 Come she and sweet the air with open breast, 
 Then so I fail when most I would do well, 
 That at me, so amaz'd, my fellows jest. 
 Sometimes to her news of myself to tell 
 I go about ; but then is all my best 
 
 Wry words and stamm'ring, or else doltish dumb. 
 
 Say, then, can this but of enchantment come ? 
 But you, my pipe, whilom my chief delight. 
 Till strange delight delight to nothing ware ; 
 And you, my flock, care of my careful sight, 
 While I was I, and so had cause to care ; 
 And thou, my dog, whose ruth and valiant might 
 Made wolves, not inward wolves, my ewes to spare : 
 
 Go you not from your master in his woe ; 
 
 Let it suffice that he himself forego. 
 For though like wax this magic makes me waste, 
 Or like a lamb whose dam away is fet. 
 Stolen from her young by thieves' inchoosing haste. 
 He treble baas for help, but none can get ; 
 Though thus and worse though now I am at last, 
 Of all the games that here ere now I met, 
 
 Do you remember still you once were mine. 
 
 Till mine eyes had their curse from blessed ey'n. 
 J^e you with me while I unheard do cry, 
 While I do score my losses on the wind. 
 While I in heart my will write ere I die, 
 In which by will my will and wits I bind 
 
ARCADIA.— Book I. 119 
 
 Still to be hers, about her aye to fly, 
 
 As this same sprite about my fancies blind 
 Doth daily haunt, but so that mine become 
 As much more loving as less cumbersome. 
 
 Alas ! a cloud hath overcast mine eyes ; 
 
 And yet I see her shine amid the cloud. 
 
 Alas ! of ghosts I hear the ghastly cries ; 
 
 Yet there, meseems, I hear her singing loud. 
 
 This song she sings, in most commanding wise : 
 
 * Come, shepherd's boy, let now thy heart be bow'd, 
 To make itself to my least look a slave ; 
 Leave sleep, leave all, I will no piecing have.* 
 
 I will ! I will ! alas ! alas ! I will ! 
 
 Wilt thou have more? more have if more I be. 
 
 Away, ragg'd rams — care I what murrain kill ? 
 
 Out, shrieking pipe, made of some witched tree ; 
 
 Go, bawling cur, thy hungry maw go fill / 
 
 On you, foul flock, belonging not to me." 
 
 With that his dog he henc'd, his flock he curst. 
 With that (yet kissed [it first] ) his pipe he burst. 
 
 This said, this done, he rose, even tir'd with rest, 
 
 With heart as careful as with careless grace, 
 
 With shrinking legs, but with a swelling breast. 
 
 With eyes which threaten'd they would drown his 
 face, 
 
 Fearing the worst, not knowing what were best, 
 
 And, giving to his sight a wand'ring race. 
 He saw behind a bush where Claius sate, 
 His well-known friend, but yet his unknown mate : 
 
 Claius, the wretch who lately yielden was 
 
 To bear the bonds which time nor wit could break, 
 
 With blushing soul at sight of judgment's glass, 
 
 While guilty thoughts accus'd his reason weak, 
 
I20 ARCADIA.— Book 1. 
 
 This morn alone to lonely walk did pass, 
 Within himself of her dear self to speak ; 
 
 Till Strephon's plaining voice him nearer drew, 
 . Where by his words his self-like case he knew. 
 For hearing him so oft with words of woe 
 Urania name, whose force he knew so well, 
 He quickly knew what witchcraft gave the blow, 
 Which made his Strephon think himself in hell. 
 Which when he did in perfect image show 
 To his own wit, thought upon thought did swell, 
 Breeding huge storms within his inward part. 
 Which thus breath'd out with earthquake of his heart. 
 
 As Lamon would have proceeded, Basilius, knowing, by 
 the wasting of the torches, that the night also was far wasted, 
 and withal remembering Zelmane's hurt, asked her whether she 
 thought it not better to reserve the complaint of Claius till 
 another day. Which she, perceiving the song had already 
 worn out much time, and not knowing when Lamon would 
 end, being even now stepping over to a new matter, though 
 much delighted with what was spoken, willingly agreed unto. 
 And so of all sides they went to recommend themselves to 
 the elder brother of Death. 
 
 The E7id of the First Book. 
 
TJie Second Book. 
 
 N these pastoral times a great number of days 
 were sent to follow their flying predecessors, while 
 the cup of poison, which was deeply tasted of the 
 noble company, had left no sinew of theirs without 
 mortally searching into it ; yet never manifesting 
 his venomous work, till once, that the night, parting away 
 angry that she could distil no more sleep into the eyes of 
 lovers, had no sooner given place to the breaking out of the 
 morning light, and the sun bestowed his beams upon the 
 tops of the mountains, but that the woeful Gynecia, to whom 
 rest was no ease, had left her loathed lodging, and gotten 
 herself into the solitary places those deserts were full of, 
 going up and down with such unquiet motions as a grieved 
 and hopeless mind is wont to bring forth. There appeared 
 unto the eyes of her judgment the evils she was like to run 
 into, with ugly infamy waiting upon them ; she felt the terrors 
 of her own conscience. She was guilty of a long-exercised 
 virtue, which made this vice the fuller of deformity. The 
 uttermost of the good she could aspire unto was a mortal 
 wound to her vexed spirits ; and, lastly, no small part of her 
 evils was that she was wise to see her evils. Insomuch, that, 
 having a great while thrown her countenance ghastly about 
 her, as if she had called all the powers of the world to be 
 
y 
 
 122 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 witness of her wretched estate, at length casting up her 
 watery eyes to heaven, " O sun," said she, " whose unspotted 
 Hght directs the steps of mortal mankind, art thou not 
 ashamed to impart the clearness of thy presence to such a 
 dust-creeping worm as I am ? O you heavens, which con- 
 tinually keep the course allotted unto you, can none of your 
 influences prevail so much upon the miserable Gynecia as 
 to make her preserve a course so long embraced by her ? 
 O deserts, deserts, how fit a guest am I for you, since my 
 heart can people you with wild ravenous beasts, which in 
 you are wanting? O virtue, where dost thou hide thyself? 
 What hideous thing is this which doth eclipse thee ? Or is 
 it true that thou wert never bat a vain name, and no essen- 
 tial thing, which hast thus left thy professed servant when 
 she had now need of thy lovely presence ? O imperfect pro- 
 portion of reason, which can too much foresee, and too little 
 prevent ? Alas ! alas !" said she, " if there were but one hope 
 for all my pains, or but one excuse for all my faultiness ! 
 But, wretch that I am, my torment is beyond all succour, 
 and my evil deserving doth exceed my evil fortune. For 
 nothing else did my husband take this strange resolution to 
 live so solitarily ; for nothing else have the winds delivered 
 this strange guest to my country ; for nothing else have the 
 destinies reserved my Hfe to this time, but that only I, most 
 wretched I, should become a plague to myself, and a shame 
 to womankind. Yet if my desire, how unjust soever it be, 
 might take effect, though a thousand deaths followed it, and 
 every death followed with a thousand shames, yet should not 
 my sepulchre receive me without some contentment. But, 
 alas ! though sure I am that Zelmane is such as can answer 
 my love, yet as sure I am that this disguising must needs 
 come for some foretaken conceit ; and then, wretched Gynecia, 
 where canst thou find any small ground-plot for hope to 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 123 
 
 y 
 
 dwell upon ? No, no, it is Philoclea his heart is set upon. Is 
 
 my daughter I have borne to supplant me ? But, if it be so, 
 
 the life I have given thee, ungrateful Philoclea, I will sooner 
 
 with these hands bereave thee of, than my birth shall glory 
 
 she hath bereaved me of my desire. In shame there is no 
 
 comfort but to be beyond all bounds of shame." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the hapless Gynecia, wandering still 
 
 further, hears a lute, and to it Zelmane singing ; and, coming 
 
 to the little arbour whence proceeded this sorrowful music, 
 
 she found her love, and, sinking before her on the ground, 
 
 she cried, " O Zelmane, have pity on me." Zelmane ran to 
 
 her, marvelling what sudden sickness possessed her; and 
 
 Gynecia would fully have discovered her passion to her, and 
 
 her knowledge that she was no Amazon, but a man, when 
 
 they both heard footsteps, and presently saw old Basilius 
 
 approach, complaining of love very freshly, and thus singing : 
 
 " Let not old age disgrace my high desire, 
 
 O heavenly shape, in human soul contain'd : 
 Old wood inflam'd doth yield the bravest fire, 
 When younger doth in smoke his virtue spend. 
 
 " Ne let white hairs, which on my face do grow,,/ ' 
 Seem to your eyes of a disgraceful hue ; 
 Since whiteness doth present the sweetest show, 
 Which makes all eyes do homage unto you." 
 
 Which being done, he looked very curiously upon himself, 
 sometimes fetching a little skip, as if he had said his strength 
 had not yet forsaken him. But Zelmane having in this 
 time gotten some leisure to think for an answer, looking 
 upon Gynecia as if she thought she did her some wrong, 
 " Madam," said she, " I am not acquainted with those words 
 of disguising, neither is it the profession of an Amazon, 
 neither are you a party with whom it is to be used ; if my 
 
124 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 service may please you, employ it, so long as you do me 
 no wrong in misjudging of me." " Alas ! Zelmane," said 
 Gynecia, " I perceive you know full little how piercing the 
 eyes are of a true lover : there is no one beam of those 
 thoughts you have planted in me but is able to discern a 
 greater cloud than you do go in. Seek not to conceal your- 
 self further from me, nor force not the passion of love into 
 violent extremities." 
 
 Zelmane, now brought to an exigent, was speedily res- 
 cued therefrom by Basihus, who, perceiving both his wife 
 and his mistress together, despatched his wife to the lodge- 
 ward, and, falling down on his knees, proffered his love to 
 Zelmane, as to a lady who only had power to stir up more 
 flames in so aged a breast. " Worthy prince," said Zelmane, 
 taking him up from his knees, " both your manner and your 
 \ words are so strange to me that I know not how to answer you ; 
 1 disdain not to speak to you, mighty prince, but I disdain to 
 spVak of any matter which may bring my honour into ques- 
 tion\ And there, with a brave counterfeited scorn, she 
 deparo^^d from the king, and, thus being rid of this loving but 
 little-lowed company, she longed to meet with, and she sought, 
 her friends Dorus, that she might lay by the burden of sorrow, 
 and therefc-re went toward the other lodge, where, among 
 certain bev^ches, she found Dorus, apparelled in flannel, with 
 a goat's- skin cast upon him, and a garland of laurel mixed 
 with cy/press leaves on his head, waiting on his master Da- 
 metas, who at that time was teaching him how with his 
 sheephook to catch a wanton lamb, and how with the same 
 to cast a little clod at any one that strayed out of company. 
 And, while Dorus was practising, one might see Dametas 
 holding his hands under his girdle behind him, nodding from 
 the waist upwards, and swearing he never knew man go 
 more awkwardly to work, and that they might talk of book- 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 125 
 
 learning what they would, but, for his part, he never saw 
 more unfeaty [clumsy] fellows than great clerks were. 
 
 But Zelmane's coming saved Dorus from further chiding. 
 And so she, beginning to speak with him of the number of 
 his master's sheep, and which province of Arcadia bare the 
 finest wool, drew him on to follow her in such country 
 discourses, till, being out of Dametas' hearing, with such 
 vehemency of passion as though her heart would climb into 
 her mouth, to take her tongue's office, she declared unto him 
 upon what briers the roses of her affections grew ; how time 
 still seemed to forget her, bestowing no one hour of comfort 
 upon her, she remaining still in one plight of ill-fortune, 
 saving so much worse as continuance of evil doth in itself 
 increase evil. 
 
 And thus having poured into the friendly bosom of Dorus 
 her many chances and her ill-success, Zelmane prayed her 
 friend also to unburthen his griefs and to bestow upon her a 
 map of his httle world, that she might judge whether he had 
 been equally the spite and plaything of fortune. Thus 
 besought, Dorus entered to the description of his fortune: — 
 
 " After that by your means I was exalted to serve in yonder 
 blessed lodge, for a while I had in the furnace of my 
 agonies this refreshing, that, because of the service I had 
 done in kilHng of the bear, it pleased the princess — in whom, 
 indeed, stateliness shines through courtesy — to let fall some 
 gracious look upon me ; sometimes to see my exercises, 
 sometimes to hear my songs. For my part, my heart would 
 not suffer me to omit any occasion whereby I might make 
 the incomparable Pamela see how much extraordinary devo- 
 tion I bare to her service ; and withal strave to appear more 
 worthy in her sight ; that small desert, joined to so great 
 affection, might prevail something in the wisest lady. But 
 too well, alas ! I found that a shepherd's service was but 
 
126 ARCADIA,— Book II, 
 
 ^ / considered of as from a shepherd, and the acceptation limited 
 to no further proportion than of a good serv- ant. And when 
 my countenance had once given notice that there lay affec- 
 tion under it, I saw straight majesty, sitting in the throne of 
 beauty, draw forth such a sword of just disdain that I re- 
 mained as a man thunder-stricken, not daring — no, not able 
 to behold that power. 
 
 " Now to make my estate known seemed again impossible, 
 by reason of the suspiciousness of Dametas, Miso, and my 
 young mistress Mopsa ; for Dametas, according to the consti- 
 tution of a dull head, thinks no better way to show himself 
 wise than by suspecting everything in his way ; which sus- 
 picion Miso, for the hoggish shrewdness of her brain, and 
 Mopsa, for a very unlikely envy she hath stumbled upon 
 against the princess's unspeakable beauty, were very glad to 
 execute ; so that I, finding my service by this means lightly 
 regarded, my affection despised, and myself unknown, re- 
 mained no fuller of desire than void of counsel how to coine 
 to my desire. At last I lighted and resolved on this way, 
 which yet perchance you will think was a way rather to hide 
 it. I began to counterfeit the extremest love toward Mopsa 
 
 / that might be ; and as for the love, so lively it was indeed 
 within me, although to another subject, that little I needed to 
 counterfeit any notable demonstrations of it ; and so making a 
 contrariety the place of my memory, in her foulness I beheld 
 Pamela's fairness, still looking on Mopsa, but thinking on 
 Pamela ; as if I saw my sun shine in a puddled water. I 
 cried out of nothing but Mopsa ; to Mopsa my attendance 
 was directed ; to Mopsa the best fruits I could gather were 
 brought ; to Mopsa it seemed still that mine eye conveyed 
 my tongue, so that Mopsa was my saying, Mopsa was my 
 singing, Mopsa — that is only suitable in laying a foul com- 
 plexion upon a filthy favour, setting forth both in sluttishness 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 127 
 
 — she was the load-star of my life, she the blessing of mine 
 eyes, she the overthrow of my desires and yet the recom- 
 pense of my overthrow, she the sweetness of my heart, even 
 sweetening the death which her sweetness drew upon me. 
 In sum, whatsoever I thought of Pamela that I said to Mopsa, 
 whereby, as I gat my master's good-will, who before spited 
 me, fearing lest I should win the princess's favour from him, 
 so did the same make the princess the better content to allow 
 me her presence ; whether indeed it were that a certain 
 spark of noble indignation did rise in her not to suffer such 
 a baggage to win away anything of hers, how meanly soever 
 she reputed of it, or rather, as I think, my words being so 
 passionate and shooting so quite contrary from the marks of 
 Mopsa's worthiness, she perceived well enough whither they 
 were directed, and therefore, being so masked, she was con- 
 tented, as a sport of wit, to attend them. Whereupon one day, 
 determining to find some means to tell, as of a third person, 
 the tale of mine own love and estate, finding Mopsa, like a 
 cuckoo by a nightingale, alone with Pamela, I came in unto 
 them, and with a face, I am sure, full of cloudy fancies, 
 took a harp and sung this song : — 
 
 " ' Since so mine eyes are subject to your sight, 
 That in your sight they fixed have my brain ; 
 Since so my heart is filled with that light, 
 That only light doth all my life maintain ; 
 
 " ' Since in sweet you all goods so richly reign, 
 That where you are no wished good can want ; 
 Since so your living image lives in me, 
 That in myself yourself true love doth plant ; 
 How can you him unworthy then decree 
 In whose chief part your worths implanted be ?' 
 
 " The song being ended, I let fall my harp from me, and, 
 casting mine eye sometime on Mopsa, I fixed my look upon 
 
128 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 Pamela, ' O Mopsa, Mopsa,' said I, ' if my heart could be as 
 manifest to you as it is uncomfortable to me, I doubt not 
 the height of my thoughts should well countervail the low- 
 ness of my quality. But let not an excellent spirit do itself 
 such wrong as to think where it is placed, embraced, and 
 loved there can be any unworthiness, since the weakest mist 
 is not easilier driven away by the sun than that is chased 
 away with so high thoughts.' 
 
 " ' I will not deny,' answered the gracious Pamela, ' but that 
 the love you bear to Mopsa hath brought you to the con- 
 sideration of her virtues, and that consideration may have 
 made you the m.ore virtuous, and so the more worthy ; but 
 even that then, you must confess, you have received of her, 
 and so are rather gratefully to thank her than to press any 
 further till you bring something of your own whereby to claim 
 it. And truly, Dorus, I must, in Mopsa's behalf, say thus 
 much to you, that, if her beauties have so overtaken you, it 
 becomes a true lover to have your heart more set upon her 
 good than your own, and to bear a tenderer respect to her 
 honour than your satisfaction.' 'Now, by my hallidame, 
 madam,' said Mopsa, throwing a great number of sheep's- 
 eyes upon me, ' you have even touched mine own mind to 
 the quick, forsooth.' 
 
 And this policy of mine meeting with good hap, I had 
 one day a chance, while railing at filthy fortune, to picture 
 my own misfortunes and the high estate of the princess, 
 while I had a shrewd care of the jealous Mopsa ; for, while 
 Pamela graciously hearkened, I told my tale in this sort: — 
 
 "In the country of Thessalia — alas ! why name I that 
 accursed country, which brings forth nothing but matters 
 for tragedies ? but name it I must — in Thessalia, I say, there 
 was — well may I say there was ! — a prince ; no, no prince 
 whom bondage wholly possessed, but yet accounted a prince, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 129 
 
 and named Musidorus. O Musidorus ! Musidorus ! But to 
 what serve exclamations, where there are no ears to receive 
 the sound ? This Musidorus being yet in the tenderest age, 
 his worthy father paid to Nature, with a violent death, her 
 last duties, leaving his child to the faith of his friends and 
 the proof of time. Death gave him not such pangs as the 
 foresightful care he had of his silly successor ; and yet if in 
 his foresight he could have seen so much, happy was that 
 good prince in his timely departure, which barred him from 
 the knowledge of his son's miseries, which his knowledge 
 could neither have prevented nor relieved. The young 
 Musidorus, being thus, as for the first pledge of the des- 
 tinies' good-will, deprived of his principal stay, was yet for 
 some years after, as if the stars would breathe themselves for 
 a greater mischief, lulled up in as much good luck as the 
 heedful love of his doleful mother and the flourishing estate 
 of his country could breed unto him. 
 
 " But when the time now came that misery seemed to be 
 ripe for him, because he had age to know misery, I think 
 there was a conspiracy in all heavenly and earthly things to 
 frame fit occasions to lead him unto it. His people, to whom 
 all foreign matters in foretime were odious, began to wish in 
 their beloved prince experience by travel ; his dear mother, 
 whose eyes were held open only with the joy of looking upon 
 him, did now dispense with the comfort of her widowed life, 
 desiring the same her subjects did, for the increase of her 
 son's worthiness. 
 
 " And hereto did Musidorus' own virtue — see how virtue 
 can be a minister to mischief — sufficiently provoke him ; for, 
 indeed, thus much must I say for him, although the likeness 
 of our mishaps makes me presume to pattern myself unto 
 him, that well-doing was at that time his scope, from which 
 no faint pleasure could withhold him. But the present occa- 
 
 K 
 
I30 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 sion which did knit all this together was his uncle the king 
 of Macedon, who having lately before gotten such victories 
 as were beyond expectation, did at this time send both for 
 the prince his son, brought up together, to avoid the wars, 
 with Musidorus, and for Musidorus himself, that his joy 
 might be the more full, having such partakers of it. But, 
 alas ! to what a sea of miseries my plaintful tongue doth lead 
 me ? — And thus out of breath, rather with that I thought than 
 that I said, I stayed my speech, till Pamela showmg by 
 countenance that such was her pleasure, I thus continued it : 
 " These two young princes, to satisfy the king, took their 
 way by sea, towards Thrace, whither they would needs go 
 with a navy to succour him, he being at that time before 
 Byzantium with a mighty army besieging it, where at that 
 time his court was. But when the conspired heavens had 
 gotten this subject of their wrath upon so fit a place as the 
 sea was, they straight began to breathe out in boisterous winds 
 some part of their malice against him, so that with the loss 
 of all his navy, he only, with the prince his cousin, were cast 
 aland,* and far off. O cruel winds, in your unconsiderate 
 rages, why either began you this fury, or why did you not 
 end it in his end } But your cruelty was such as you would 
 spare his life for many deathful torments. To tell you what 
 pitiful mishaps fell to the young prince of Macedon his 
 cousin, I should too much fill your ears with strange horrors ; 
 neither will I stay upon those laboursome adventures, nor 
 loathsome misadventures, to which and through which his 
 fortune and courage conducted him. My speech hasteneth 
 itself to come to the full point of Musidorus' infortunes. 
 For, as we find the most pestilent diseases do gather into 
 • themselves all the infirmities with which the body before was 
 
 * ''Where, as ill-fortune would, the Dane, with fresh supplies, 
 Was lately come aland." — Drayton, " Polyolbion." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 131 
 
 annoyed, so did his last misery embrace in extremity of 
 itself all his former mischiefs. Arcadia, Arcadia was the , 
 place prepared to be the stage of his endless overthrow ; ''' 
 Arcadia was, alas ! — well might I say it is — the charmed / 
 circle where all his spirits for ever should be enchanted. 
 For here, and nowhere else, did his infected eyes make his 
 mind know what power heavenly l^auty had to throw it 
 down to heUish agonies. Here, herf'did he see the Arcadian 
 king's eldest daughter, in whom he forthwith placed so all 
 his hopes of joy, and joyful parts of his heart, that he left in 
 himself nothing but a maze of longing, and a dungeon of 
 sorrow. But, alas ! what can saying make them believe 
 whom seeing cannot persuade ? Those pains must be felt 
 before they can be understood ; no outward utterance can 
 command a conceit. Such was as then the state of the 
 king as it was no time by direct means to seek her. And 
 such was the state of his captived will as he could delay no 
 time of seeking her. 
 
 " In this entangled cause, he clothed himself in a shepherd's 
 weed, that, under the baseness of that form, he might at least 
 have free access to feed his eyes with that which should at 
 length eat up his heart. In which doing, thus much without 
 doubt he hath manifested, that this estate is not always to ■ ^, 
 be rejected, since under that veil there may be hidden things 1 
 to be esteemed. And if he might, with taking on a shepherd's 
 look, cast up his eyes to the fairest princess nature in that time 
 created, the like, nay, the same, desire of mine need no more 
 to be disdained or held for disgraceful. But now, alas ! mine 
 eyes wax dim, my tongue begins to falter, and my heart to 
 want force to help either, with the feeling remembrance I 
 have in what heap of miseries the caitiff prince lay at this 
 time buried. Pardon, therefore, most excellent princess, if I 
 cut off the course of my dolorous tale, since, if I be under- 
 
 K 2 
 
132 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 stood, I have said enough for the defence of my baseness : 
 and for that which after might befall to that pattern of ill- 
 fortune, the matters are too monstrous for my capacity ; his 
 hateful destinies must best declare their own workmanship. 
 
 " Thus having delivered my tale in this perplexed manner, 
 to the end the princess might judge that he meant himself 
 who spake so feelingly, her answer was both strange and, in 
 some respect, comfortable. For — would you think it ? — she 
 hath heard heretofore of us both, by means of the valiant 
 Prince Plangus, and particularly of our casting away, which 
 she, following mine own style, thus delicately brought forth : 
 ' You have told,' said she, ' Dorus, a pretty tale ; but you are 
 much deceived in the latter end of it. For the Prince 
 Musidorus, with his cousin Pyrocles, did both perish upon 
 the coast of Laconia, as a noble gentleman, called Plangus, 
 who was well acquainted with the history, did assure my 
 father.' Oh, how that speech of hers did pour joys into my 
 heart ! Oh, blessed name, thought I, of mine, since thou 
 hast been in that tongue, and passed through those lips, 
 though I can never hope to approach them. 
 
 " 'As for Pyrocles,' said I, ' I will not deny it but that he is 
 perished ;' which I said, lest sooner suspicion might arise of 
 your being here than yourself would have it, and yet affirmed 
 no lie unto her, since I only said I would not deny it. ' But 
 for Musidorus,' said I, ' I perceive, indeed, you have either 
 heard or read the story of that unhappy prince ; for this was 
 the very objection which that peerless princess did make 
 unto him when he sought to appear such as he was before 
 her wisdom ; and thus as I have read it fair written in the 
 certainty of my knowledge, he might answer her that indeed 
 the ship wherein he came by a treason was perished, and 
 therefore that Plangus might easily be deceived ; but that 
 he himself was cast upon the coast of Laconia, where he was 
 
ARCADIA,— Book II. 133 
 
 taken up by a couple of shepherds who lived in those 
 days famous ; for that, both loving one fair maid, they yet 
 remained constant friends, one of whose songs not long since 
 was sung before you by the shepherd Lamon, and brought by 
 them to a nobleman's house, near Mantinea, whose son had> 
 a little before his marriage, been taken prisoner, and, by the 
 help of this prince, Musidorus (though naming himself by 
 another name) was delivered.' Now these circumlocutions I 
 did use, because of the one side I knew the princess would 
 know well the parties I meant, and of the other, if I should 
 have named Strephon, Claius, Kalander, and Clitophon, 
 perhaps it would have rubbed some conjecture into the heavy 
 head of mistress Mopsa. 
 
 '"Therefore, most divine lady, Plangus might well err who 
 knew not of any's taking up. Lastly, for a certain demonstra- 
 tion, he presumed to show unto the princess a mark he had 
 on his face, ' as I might,' said I, ' show this of my neck to the 
 rare Mopsa ;' and, withal, showed my neck to them both, 
 where, as you know, there is a red spot bearing figure, as 
 they tell me, of a hon's paw ; 'that she may ascertain herself 
 that I am Menalcas' brother. And so did he, beseeching 
 her to send some one she might trust into Thessalia, secretly 
 to be advertised whether the age, the complexion, and parti- 
 cularly that notable sign did not fully agree with their Prince 
 Musidorus.' ' Do you not know further,' said she, with a 
 settled countenance, not accusing [betraying] any kind of 
 inward emotion, ' of that story ?' 'Alas, no,' said I, ' for even 
 here the historiographer stopped, saying. The rest belonged 
 to astrology.' And therewith, partly to bring Mopsa again 
 to the matter, lest she should too much take heed to our dis- 
 courses, but principally, if it were possible, to gather some 
 comfort out of her answers, I kneeled down to the princess 
 and humbly besought her to move Mopsa in my behalf, that 
 
134 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 she would unarm her noble heart of that steely resistance 
 against the sweet blows of Love ; that since all her parts 
 were decked with some particular ornament — her face with 
 beauty, her head with wisdom, her eyes with majesty, her 
 countenance with gracefulness, her lips with loveliness — that 
 she would make her heart the throne of pity, being the most 
 excellent raiment of the most excellent part. 
 
 " But Pamela, without any show of favour or disdain, 
 either of heeding or neglecting what I had said, turned her 
 speech to Mopsa with such a voice and action as showed she 
 spake of a matter which did little concern her, so that I was 
 well-nigh driven to submit to the tyranny of despair." 
 
 But as Dorus was about to tell further, Dametas, who 
 came whistling, and counting upon his fingers how many 
 load of hay seventeen fat oxen eat up in a year, desired 
 Zelmane, from the king, that she would come into the lodge, 
 where they stayed for her. "Alas !" said Dorus, taking his 
 leave, " the sum is this, that you may well find you have 
 beaten your sorrow against such a wall, which with the force 
 of a rebound may well make your sorrow stronger." But 
 Zelmane turning her speech to Dametas, " I shall grow," 
 said she, " skilful in countr}' matters, if I have often con- 
 ference with your servant." " In sooth," answered Dametas, 
 with a graceless scorn, " the lad may prove well enough, if 
 he over-soon think not too well of himself, and will bear away 
 that he heareth of his elders." And therewith, as they walked 
 to the other lodge, to make Zelmane find she might have 
 spent her time better with him, he began with a wild method 
 to run over all the art of husbandry, especially employing his 
 tongue about well dunging of a field ; while poor Zelmane 
 yielded her ears to those tedious strokes, not warding them 
 so much as with any. one answer, till they came to Basilius 
 and Gynecia, who attended for her in a coach, to carry her 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 135 
 
 abroad to see some sports prepared for her. Basilius and 
 Gynecia, sitting in the one end, placed her at the other, with 
 her left side to Philoclea. Zelmane was moved in her mind 
 to have kissed their feet for the favour of so blessed a seat, 
 for the narrowness of the coach made them join, from the 
 foot to the shoulders, very close together ; the truer touch 
 whereof, though it were barred by their envious apparel, yet, 
 as a perfect magnet, though but in an ivory box, will through 
 the box send forth his embracing virtue to a beloved 
 needle, so this imparadised neighbourhood made Zelmane's 
 soul cleave unto her, both through the ivory case of her 
 body, and the apparel which did overcloud it. 
 
 The sports having been witnessed, the awkward Dametas, 
 who drove home half sleeping, half musing about the mending 
 of a wine-press, overturned the coach on the great stub of a 
 tree. Gynecia was only hurt,* having her shoulder put out of 
 joint, which, though it were well set by one of the falconers' 
 cunning, yet gave her much pain, and drave her to her bed. 
 Misdoubting that this might give occasion to Zelmane, whom 
 she misdoubted, therefore she called Philoclea to her, and, 
 though it were late in the night, commanded her in her ear 
 to go to the other lodge, and send Miso to her, with whom 
 she would speak, and she to lie with her sister Pamela. The 
 meanwhile Gynecia kept Zelmane with her, because she 
 would be sure she should be out of the lodge before she 
 licensed [permitted] Zelmane. Philoclea, not skilled in any- 
 thing better than obedience, went quietly down, and the 
 moon, then full, not thinking scorn to be a torch-bearer to 
 such beauty, guided her steps. And, alas ! sweet Philoclea," 
 how hath my pen till now forgot thy passions, since to thy 
 memory principally all this long matter is intended ; pardon 
 
 * That is, in modern construction, "only was hurt;" a little 
 further on we have " therefore she called" — w'^r^she therefore called. 
 
136 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 the slackness to come to those woes which, having caused in 
 others, thou didst feel in thyself. 
 
 The sweet-minded Philoclea was in their degree of well- 
 doing to whom the not knowing of evil serveth for a ground 
 of virtue, and hold their inward powers in better form with 
 an unspotted simplicity than many who rather cunningly 
 seek to know what goodness is than willingly take into them- 
 selves the following of it. But, as that sweet and simple 
 breath of heavenly goodness is the easier to be altered, be- 
 cause it hath not passed through the worldly wickedness, nor 
 feelingly found the evil that evil carries with it, so now the 
 lady Philoclea — whose eyes and senses had received nothing 
 ^ but according as the natural course of each thing required, 
 whose tender youth had obediently lived under her parents' 
 behests, without framing out of her own will the forechoosing 
 of anything — when now she came to a point wherein her 
 judgment was to be practised, in knowing faultiness by his 
 first tokens, she was like a young fawn who, coming in the 
 wind of the hunters, doth not know whether it be a thing or 
 no to be eschewed, whereof at this time she began to get a 
 costly experience; for after that Zelmane had awhile lived in 
 the lodge with her, and that her only being a noble stranger 
 had bred a kind of heedful attention, her coming to that 
 lonely place, where she had nobody but her parents, a willing- 
 ness of conversation, her wit and behaviour a liking and 
 silent admiration, at length the excellency of her natural 
 gifts, joined with the extreme shows she made of most devout 
 honouring Philoclea (carrying thus in one person the only 
 / two bands of good-will, loveliness and lovingness), brought 
 forth in her heart a yielding to a most friendly affection, 
 which, when it had gotten to full possession of the keys of 
 her mind, that it would receive no message from her senses 
 without that affection were the interpreter, then straight 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT, 137 
 
 grew an exceeding delight still to be with her, with an unmea- 
 surable liking of all that Zelmane did. \ Matters being so turned 
 in her that where at first liking her manners did breed good- 
 will, now good-will became the chief cause of liking her 
 manners; so that within a while Zelmane was not prized for { 
 her demeanour, but the demeanour was prized because it I 
 was Zelmane's. Then followed that most natural effect of 
 conforming herself to that which she did like, and not only- 
 wishing to be herself such another in all things, but to ground 
 an imitation upon so much an esteemed authority. At last . 1 
 she fell in acquaintance with love's harbinger — wishing. First '"^ 
 she would wish that they two might live all their lives 
 together, like two of Diana's nymphs; but that wish she 
 thought not sufficient, because she knew there would be more 
 nymphs besides them, who also would have their part in 
 Zelmane. Then would she wish that she were her sister, that 
 such a natural band might make her more special to her ; 
 but against that she considered that, though being her sister, 
 if she happened to be married, she should be robbed of her. / 
 Then, grown bolder, she would wish either herself or Zel- 
 mane a man, that there might succeed a blessed marriage be- 
 tween them; but when that wish had once displayed his ensign 
 in her mind, then followed whole squadrons of longings 
 that so it might be, with a main battle of mislikings and re- 
 pinings against their creation, that so it was not. But as 
 some diseases when they are easy to be cured they are hard 
 to be known, but when they grow easy to be known they are 
 almost impossible to be cured, so the sweet Philoclea, while 
 she might prevent it she did not feel it, now she felt it when 
 it was past preventing, like a river, no rampiers [ramparts] 
 being built against it till already it have overflowed ; for 
 now, indeed, Love pulled off his mask and showed his face 
 unto her, and told her plainly that she was his prisoner. 
 
138 ARCADIA.— Book IT, 
 
 But the principal cause that invited her remembrance was a 
 goodly white marble stone, that should seem had been dedi- 
 cated in ancient time to the silvan gods ; which she finding there 
 a few days before Zelmane's coming, had written these words 
 upon it, a testimony of her mind against the suspicion her 
 captivity made her think she lived in. The writing was this : — 
 
 " You living powers enclos'd in stately shrine 
 Of growing trees, you rural gods that wield 
 Your sceptres here, if to your ears divine 
 A voice may come, which troubled soul doth yield, 
 This vow receive, this vow, O gods, maintain : 
 ]My virgin life no spotted thought shall stain. 
 
 " Thou purest stone, whose pureness doth present 
 My purest mind, whose temper hard doth show 
 My temper'd heart, by thee my promise sent 
 Unto myself let after- livers know, 
 
 No fancy mine, nor other's wrong suspect. 
 Make me, O virtuous shame, thy laws neglect. 
 
 " O Chastity, the chief of heavenly lights. 
 
 Which mak'st us most immortal shape to wear, 
 Hold thou my heart, establish thou my sprites ; 
 To only thee my constant course I bear. 
 Till spotless soul unto thy bosom fly : 
 Such life to lead, such death I vow to die." 
 
 "Alas, then, O love, why dost thou in thy beautiful sampler 
 set such a work for my desire to take out [copy] which is as 
 much impossible. And yet, alas, why do I thus condemn my 
 fortune before I hear what she can say for herself.-* What do 
 I, silly wench, know what love hath prepared for me ? Do I 
 not see my mother as well, at least as furiously, as myself love 
 '• Zelmane ; and should I be wiser than my mother ? Either 
 she sees a possibihty in that which I think impossible, or else 
 impossible loves need not mdsbecome me. And do I not see 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 139 
 
 Zelmane, who doth not think a thought which is not first 
 weighed by wisdom and virtue — doth not she vouchsafe to 
 love me with hke ardour ? I see it, her eyes depose it to be 
 true. What then ? and if she can love poor me, shall I think 
 scorn to love such a woman as Zelmane ? Away then, all vain 
 examinations of why and how. Thou lovest me, most ex- 
 cellent Zelmane, and I love thee ;" and with that, embracing the 
 ground whereon she lay, she said to herself (for even to herself 
 she was ashamed to speak it out in words), " O my Zelmane, 
 govern and direct me ; for I am wholly given over unto thee." ' 
 And now Dametas and Miso, who were round about to seek 
 her, having found her, Miso swearing that, were it her 
 daughter Mopsa, she would give her a lesson for walking so 
 late, Philoclea went alone to her sister's — Pamela's — chamber, 
 where she found her sitting in a chair, lying backward with 
 her head almost over the back of it, and looking upon a wax- 
 candle which burnt before her ; in one hand holding a letter, 
 in the other her handkerchief, which had lately drunk up the 
 tears of her eyes, leaving instead of them crimson circles, 
 like red flakes in the element when the weather is hottest, 
 which Philoclea finding — for her eyes had learned to know the 
 badges of sorrow — she earnestly intreated to know the cause 
 thereof, that either she might comfort or accompany her 
 doleful humour. But Pamela, rather seeming sorry that she 
 had perceived so much than willing to open any further, " O 
 my Pamela," said Philoclea, " who are to me a sister in 
 nature, a mother in counsel, a princess by the law of our 
 country, and — which name, methinks, of all other is the 
 dearest — a friend by my choice and your favour, what means 
 this banishing me from your counsels ? Do you love your 
 sorrow so well as to grudge me part of it ? Or do you think 
 I shall not love a sad Pamela so well as a joyful ? Or be 
 my ears unworthy, or my tongue suspected? What is it, 
 
f 
 
 140 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 my sister, that you should conceal from your sister, yea, and 
 servant, Philoclea?" 
 
 These words wan no further of Pamela, but that telling her 
 they might talk better as they lay together, they impover- 
 ished their clothes to enrich their bed, which for that night 
 V might well scorn the shrine of Venus ; and there cherishing 
 one another with dear, though chaste embracements, with 
 sweet, though cold kisses, it might seem that love was come 
 to play him there without dart, or that, weary of his own 
 fires, he was there to refresh himself between their sweet 
 breathing lips. But Philoclea earnestly ■ again intreated 
 Pamela to open her grief, who at first dissembled, but at 
 lastadjured Philoclea to take warningby her example. "Alas, " 
 thought Philoclea to herself, " your shears come too late to 
 clip the bird's wings that already is flown away." But then 
 Pamela, being once set in the stream of her love, went away 
 amain, withal telling her how his noble qualities had drawn 
 her liking towards him, but yet ever weighing his meanness, 
 and so held continually in due limits ; till, seeking many 
 means to speak with her, and ever kept from^ it, as well be- 
 cause she shunned it, seeing and disdaining his mind, as 
 because of her jealous jailors, he had at length used the finest 
 policy that might be in counterfeiting love to Mopsa, and 
 saying to Mopsa whatever he would have her know ; and in 
 how passionate manner he had told his own tale in a third 
 person, making poor Mopsa beheve that it was a matter 
 fallen out many ages before. " And in the end, because you 
 shall know my tears come not neither of repentance nor 
 misery, who, think you, is my Dorus fallen out to be 1 Even 
 the Prince Musidorus, famous over all Asia for his heroical 
 enterprises, of whom you remember how much good the 
 stranger Plangus told my father ; he not being drowned, as 
 Plangus thought, though his cousin Pyrocles indeed perished. 
 
ARCADIA— Book II. 141 
 
 Ah, my sister, if you had heard his words, or seen his ges- 
 tures, when he made me know what and to whom his love 
 was, you would have matched in yourself those two rarely 
 matched together — pity and delight. 
 
 "A few days since he and Dametas had furnished them- 
 selves very richly to run Pt the ring before me. Oh, how 
 mad a sight it was to see Dametas, like rich tissue furred with 
 lambs'-skins ! But, oh, how well it did with Dorus — to see 
 with what a grace he presented himself before me on horse- 
 back, making majesty wait upon humbleness ; how, at the 
 first, standing still with his eyes bent upon me, as though his 
 motions were chained to my look, he so stayed till I caused 
 Mopsa bid him do something upon his horse, which no sooner 
 said but, with a kind rather of quick gesture than show of 
 violence, you might see him come towards me, beating the 
 ground in so due time as no dancer can observe better mea- 
 sure. If you remember the ship we saw once when the sea 
 went high upon the coast of Argos ; so went the beast. But 
 he, as if, centaur-like, he had been on piece [one] with the horse, 
 was no more moved than one with the going of his own legs, 
 and in effect so did he command him as his own limbs ; for 
 though he had both spurs and wand, they seemed rather 
 marks of sovereignty than instruments of punishment ; his 
 hand and leg, with most pleasing grace, commanding without 
 threatening, and rather remembering than chastising ; at 
 least, if sometimes he did, it was so stolen as neither our 
 eyes could discern it nor the horse with any change did com- 
 plain of it, he ever going so just with the horse, either forth- 
 right or turning, that it seemed, as he borrowed the horse's 
 body, so he lent the horse his mind. In the turning, one 
 might perceive the bridle-hand something gently stir ; but, 
 indeed, so gently as it did rather distil virtue than use 
 violence. Himself, which methinks is strange, showing at 
 
142 ARCADIA.— Book II, 
 
 one instant both steadiness and nimbleness ; sometimes 
 making him turn close to the ground, hke a cat when scratch- 
 ingly she wheels about after a mouse ; sometimes with a little 
 more rising before ; now like a raven, leaping from ridge to 
 ridge, then, like one of Dametas' kids, bound over the 
 hillocks ; and all so done 3S neither the lusty kind showed 
 any roughness, nor the easier any idleness, but still like a 
 well-obeyed master, whose beck is enough for a discipline, 
 ever concluding each thing he did with his face to mewards, 
 as if thence came not only the beginning but ending of his 
 motions. The sport was to see Dametas — how he was tossed 
 from the saddle to the mane of the horse, and thence to the 
 ground, giving his gay apparel almost as foul an outside 
 as it had an inside. But, as before he had ever said he 
 wanted but horse and apparel to be as brave a courtier as the 
 best, so now, bruised with proof, he proclaimed it a folly for a 
 man of wisdom to put himself under the tuition of a beast; 
 so as Dorus was fain alone to take the ring ; wherein truly 
 at least my womanish eyes could not discern but that taking 
 his staff from his thigh, the descending it a little down, 
 the getting of it up into the rest, the letting of the point fall, 
 and taking the ring, was but all one motion ; at least, if they 
 were divers motions, they did so stealingly slip one into 
 another as the latter part was ever in hand before the eye 
 could discern the former was ended. Indeed, Dametas found 
 fault that he showed no more strength in shaking of his staff, 
 but to my conceit the fine cleanness of bearing it was exceed- 
 ing delightful. 
 
 " One time he danced the matachin dance* in armour — 
 oh, with what a graceful dexterity ! — I think to make me see 
 that he had been brought up in such exercises. Another 
 time he persuaded his master, to make my time seem shorter, 
 
 * Matachm dance — see note previously given, p. 88. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 143 
 
 in manner of a dialogue, to play Priamus, while he played 
 Paris. Tell me, sweet Philoclea, did you ever see such 
 a shepherd ? Tell me, did you ever hear of such a prince ? 
 And then tell me if a small or unworthy assault have con- 
 quered me. Truly, I would hate my life if I thought vanity 
 led me. See what a letter this is, which to-day he delivered 
 me, pretending before Mopsa that I should read it unto her, 
 to mollify, forsooth, her iron stomach;" with that she read the 
 letter, containing thus much : — 
 
 " ' Most blessed paper, which shalt kiss that hand whereto 
 all blessedness is in nature a servant, do not disdain to carry 
 with thee the woeful words of a miser [wretch] now despairing ; 
 neither be afraid to appear before her, bearing the base title 
 of the sender ; for no sooner shall that divine hand touch 
 thee but that thy baseness shall be turned to most high pre- 
 ferment. Therefore mourn boldly, my ink ; for while she 
 looks upon you your blackness will shine : cry out boldly, 
 my lamentation ; for while she reads you your cries will be 
 music. Say, then, O happy messenger of a most unhappy 
 message, that the too soon born and too late dying creature, 
 which dares not speak — no, not look — no, not scarcely think, 
 as from his miserable self, unto her heavenly highness, only 
 presumes to desire thee, in the times that her eyes and voice 
 do exalt thee, to say, and in this manner to say, not from 
 him — oh, no ! that were not fit — but of him, thus much 
 unto her sacred judgment : — O you, the only honour to 
 women, to men the only admiration ; you that, being armed 
 by love, defy him that armed you, in this high estate wherein 
 you have placed me, yet let me remember him to whom I am 
 bound for bringing me to your presence ; and let me re- 
 member him who, since he is yours, how mean soever he be, 
 it is reason you have an account of him. The wretch — yet 
 your wretch — though with languishing steps, runs fast to his 
 
144 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 grave ; and will you suffer a temple — how poorly built 
 soever, but yet a temple of your deity — to be razed ? But 
 he dieth, it is most true, he dieth ; and he in whom you live, 
 to obey you, dieth. Whereof, though he plain, he doth not 
 complain ; for it is a harm, but no wrong, which he hath 
 received. He dies, because, in woeful language, all his senses 
 tell him that such is your pleasure ; for, since you will not 
 that he live, alas ! alas ! what followeth — what followeth of 
 the most ruined Dorus but his end ? End, then, evil-des- 
 tined Dorus, end ; and end, thou woeful letter, end ; for it 
 sufficeth her wisdom to know that her heavenly will shall be 
 accomplished.' 
 
 " O my Philoclea, is he a person to write these words ? 
 and are these words lightly to be regarded ? But if you had 
 seen, when, with trembling hand, he had delivered, how he 
 went away, as if he had been but the coffin that carried 
 himself to his sepulchre. Two times, I must confess, I was 
 about to take courtesy into mine eyes ; but both times the 
 former resolution stopped the entry of it, so that he departed 
 without obtaining any further kindness. But he was no 
 sooner out of the door but that I looked to the door kindly ; 
 and truly the fear of him ever since hath put me into such 
 perplexity as now you found me." 
 
 " Ah, my Pamela, leave sorrow. The river of your tears 
 will soon lose his fountain. It is in your hand as well to 
 stitch up his life again as it was before to rend it." And 
 so, though with self-grieved mind, she comforted her sister, 
 till sleep came to bathe himself in Pamela's fair weeping eyes. 
 Which when Philoclea found, wringing her hands, " O 
 me," said she, " indeed the only subject of the destinies' dis- 
 pleasure, whose greatest fortunateness is more unfortunate 
 than my sister's greatest unfortunateness. Alas ! she weeps 
 because she would be no sooner happy : I weep because I 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 145 
 
 can never be happy ; her tears flow from pity, mine from being 
 too far lower than the reach of pity. Yet do I not envy thee, 
 dear Pamela, I do not envy thee ; only I could wish that, being 
 thy sister in nature, I were not so far off akin in fortune." 
 
 But the darkness of sorrow overshadowing her mind, as the 
 night did her eyes, they were both content to hide themselves 
 under the wings of sleep till the next morning had almost lost 
 his name, when Miso came with a slavering good morrow, telling 
 them it was a shame to mar their conditions, and their com- 
 plexions too, with lying too long abed ; that, when she was of 
 their age, she would have made a handkerchief by that time 
 a day. The two sweet princesses, with a smiling silence, an- 
 swered her entertainment, and, obeying her direction, covered 
 their dainty beauties with the glad clothes. But, as soon as 
 Pamela was ready — and sooner she was than her sister — of 
 the agony of Dorus giving a fit to herself, which the words 
 of his letter, lively imprinted in her mind, still remembered 
 her of, she called to Mopsa, and willed her to fetch Dorus 
 to speak with her ; because, she said, she would take further 
 judgment of him before she would move Dametas to grant 
 her in marriage unto him. Mopsa, as glad as of sweetmeat 
 to go of such an errand, quickly returned with Dorus to 
 Pamela, who intended both, by speaking with him, to give 
 some comfort to his passionate heart, and withal to hear 
 some part of his life past, which, although fame had already 
 delivered unto her, yet she desired in more particular cer- 
 tainties to have it from so beloved an historian. Yet the 
 sweetness of virtue's disposition, jealous even over itself, 
 suffered her not to enter abruptly into questions of Musidorus, 
 whom she was half ashamed she did love so well, and more 
 than half sorry she could love no better, but thought best 
 first to make her talk arise of Pyrocles and his virtuous 
 
 ^ 
 
146 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 " Dorus," said she, "you told me the last day that Plangus 
 was deceived in that he affirmed the Prince Musidorus was 
 drowned ; but withal you confessed his cousin Pyrocles 
 perished, of whom certainly in that age there was a great 
 loss, since, as I have heard, he was a young prince of v.'hom 
 all men expected as much as man's power could bring forth ; 
 and yet virtue promised for him their expectation should not 
 be deceived." 
 
 "Most excellent lady," said Dorus, "no expectation in 
 others, nor hope in himself, could aspire to a higher mark 
 than to be thought worthy to be praised by your judgment, 
 and made worthy to be praised by your mouth. But most 
 sure it is that, as his fame could by no means get so sweet 
 and noble air to fly in as in your breath, so could not you, 
 leaving yourself aside, find in the world a fitter subject of 
 commendation ; as noble as a long succession of royal an- 
 cestors, famous, and famous for victories, could make him ; 
 of shape most lovely, and yet of mind more lovely ; valiant, 
 courteous, wise. What should I say more ? Sweet Pyrocles, 
 excellent Pyrocles ! what can my words but wrong thy per- 
 fections, which I would to God in some small measure thou 
 hadst bequeathed to him that ever must have thy virtues in 
 admiration, that masked, at least, in them I might have 
 found some more gracious acceptation ?" With that he im- 
 prisoned his look for a while upon Mopsa, who thereupon 
 fell into a very wide smiling. 
 
 " Truly," said Pamela, "Dorus, I like well your mind, that 
 can raise itself out of so base a fortune as yours is to think of 
 the imitating so excellent a prince as Pyrocles was. Who 
 shoots at the midday sun, though he be sure he shall never 
 hit the mark, yet as sure he is he shall shoot higher than 
 who aims but at a bush. But I pray you, Dorus," said she, 
 " tell me, since I perceive you are well acquainted with that 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 147 
 
 story, what prince was that Euarchus, father to Pyrocles, of 
 whom so much fame goes for his rightly royal virtues, or by 
 what ways he got that opinion ; and then so descend to the 
 causes of his sending first away from him, and then to him, 
 for that excellent son of his, with the discourse of his life and 
 loss ; and therein you may, if you list, say something of that 
 same Musidorus his cousin, because, they going together, 
 the story of Pyrocles — which I only desire — may be the 
 better understood." 
 
 " Incomparable lady," said he, " your commandment doth 
 not only give me the will, but the power to obey you, such 
 influence hath your excellency. This king, left orphan both 
 of father and mother, whose father and grandfather likewise 
 had died young, he found his estate, when he came to the age 
 -which allowed his authority, so disjointed even in the noblest 
 and strongest hmbs of government, that the name of a king 
 was grown even odious to the people, his authority having 
 been abused by those great lords and little kings who, in those 
 between-times of reigning, by unjust favouring those that 
 were partially theirs, and oppressing them that would defend 
 their liberty against them, had brought in, by a more felt than 
 seen manner of proceeding, the worst kind of oligarchy ; 
 that is, when men are governed indeed by a few, and yet are 
 not taught to know what those few be to whom they should 
 obey. For they, having the power of kings, but not the nature 
 of kings, use the authority as men do their farms, of which they 
 see within a year they shall go out ; and so there were offices 
 sold, public defences neglected, and, in sum, wit abused, 
 rather to feign reason why it should be amiss, than how it 
 should be amended. In short, peerless princess, I might 
 easily set down the whole art of government, but must tell 
 you the history of King Euarchus. / 
 
 " He had only one sister, a lady — lest I should too easily fall 
 
 L 2 
 
148 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 to partial praises of her — of whom it may be justly said, that 
 she was no unfit branch to the noble stock whereof she was 
 come. Her he had given in marriage to Dorilaus, prince of 
 Thessalia, not so much to make a friendship as to confirm 
 the friendship between their posterity, which between them, 
 by the likeness of virtue, had been long before made : for 
 certainly Dorilaus could need no amplifier's mouth for the 
 highest point of praise. Dorilaus, having married his sister, 
 had his marriage in short time blest (for so are folks wont to 
 say, how unhappy soever the children after grow) with a son, 
 whom they named Musidorus : of whom I must needs first 
 speak before I come to Pyrocles, because, as he was born first, 
 so upon his occasion grew — as I may say, accidentally — the 
 other's birth. For scarcely was Musidorus made partaker 
 of this oft-blinding light, when there were found numbers 
 of soothsayers who affirmed strange and incredible things 
 should be performed by that child. Whether the heavens at 
 that time hsted to play with ignorant mankind, or that flattery 
 be so presumptuous as even at times to borrow the face of 
 divinity, but certainly, so did the boldness of their affirma- 
 tion accompany the greatness of what they did affirm — even 
 descending to particularities, what kingdoms he should over- 
 come — that the king of Phrygia, who over-superstitiously 
 thought himself touched in the matter, sought by force to 
 destroy the infant, to prevent his after-expectations ; because 
 a skilful man, having compared his nativity with the child, 
 so told him. Foolish man ! either vainly fearing what was 
 not to be feared, or not considering that, if it were a v/ork of 
 the superior powers, the heavens at length are never children. 
 But so he did, and by the aid of the kings of Lydia and 
 Crete, joining together their armies, invaded Thessalia, and 
 brought Dorilaus to some behind-hand of fortune ; when his 
 faithful friend and brother Euarchus came so mightily to his 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 149 
 
 succour that, with some interchanging changes of fortune, 
 they begat of a just war the best child — peace. In which 
 time Euarchus made a cross marriage also with Dorilaus his 
 sister, and shortly left her with child of the famous Pyrocles, 
 driven to return to the defence of his own country, which in 
 his absence, helped with some of the ill-contented nobility, 
 the mighty king of Thrace and his brother king of Pannonia 
 had invaded. The success of those wars was too notable to 
 be unknown to your ears, to which it seems all worthy fame 
 hath glory to come unto. But there was Dorilaus, valiantly 
 requiting his friend's help, in a great battle deprived of life, 
 his obsequies being no more solemnized by the tears of his 
 partakers* than the blood of his enemies ; with so piercing a 
 sorrow to the constant heart of Euarchus, that the news of 
 his son's birth could lighten his countenance with no show of 
 comfort, although all the comfort that might be in a child 
 truth itself in him forthwith delivered. For what fortune only 
 soothsayers foretold of Musidorus, that all men might see 
 prognosticated in Pyrocles, both heavens and earth giving 
 tokens of the coming forth of an heroical virtue. The senate- 
 house of the planetst was at no time so set for the decreeing 
 perfection in a man, as at that time all folks skilful therein 
 did acknowledge ; only love was threatened and promised to 
 him, and so to his cousin, as both the tempest and haven of 
 their best years. But, as death may have prevented Pyrocles^ 
 so unworthiness must be the death of Musidorus. 
 
 " But the mother of Pyrocles, shortly after her childbirth^ 
 dying, was cause that Euarchus recommended the care of 
 his only son to his sister ; doing it the rather because the 
 war continued in cruel heat, betwixt him and those ill neigh - 
 
 "^ Partakers — Those who took part with him ; assistants, friends. 
 'j' " The senatc-Ii07ise of planets all did sit 
 
 To knit in her their best perfections." — Pericles, i. i. 
 
I50 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 hours of his. In which mean time those young princes, the 
 only comforters of that virtuous widow, grew on so, that 
 Pyrocles taught admiration to the hardest conceits ; Musi- 
 dorus, perchance because among his subjects, exceedingly 
 beloved; and, by the good order of Euarchus — well performed 
 by his sister — they were so brought up that all the sparks of 
 virtue which nature had kindled in them were so blown to 
 give forth their uttermost heat, that justly it may be affirmed 
 they inflamed the affections of all that knew them. 
 
 "Among which nothing I so much delight to recount as the 
 memorable friendship that grew betwixt the two princes, such 
 as made them more like than the likeness of all other virtues, 
 and made them more near one to the other than the nearness 
 of their blood could aspire unto, which I think grew the 
 faster, and the faster was tied between them, by reason that 
 Musidorus being elder by three or four years, it was neither 
 so great a difference in age as did take away the delight in 
 society, and yet by the difference there was taken away the 
 occasion of childish contentions, till they had both past over 
 the humour of such contentions. For Pyrocles bare rever- 
 ence full of love to Musidorus, and Musidorus had a delight 
 full of love in Pyrocles. Musidorus what he had learned 
 either for body or mind would teach it to Pyrocles, and 
 Pyrocles was so glad to learn of none as of Musidorus ; till 
 Pyrocles being come to sixteen years of age, he seemed so 
 to overrun his age in growth, strength, and all things follow- 
 ing it, that not Musidorus, no, nor any man living, I think, 
 could perform any action, either on horse or foot, more 
 strongly, or deliver that strength more nimbly, or become the 
 delivery more gracefully, or employ all more virtuously, 
 which may well seem wonderful: but wonders are not wonders 
 in a wonderful subject. 
 
 " At which time, understanding that the king Euarchus, 
 
ARCADIA,— Book IT. 151 
 
 after so many years' war, and the conquest of all Pannonia, 
 and almost Thrace, had now brought the conclusion of all to 
 •-he siege of Byzantium, to the raising of which siege great 
 forces were made, they would needs fall to the practice of 
 those virtues which they before learned. And therefore the 
 mother of Musidorus, nobly yielding over her own affects to 
 her children's good (for a mother she was in effect to them 
 both), the rather that they might help her beloved brother, 
 they brake off all delays ; which Musidorus for his part 
 thought already had devoured too much of his good time, 
 but that he had once granted a boon, before he knew what it 
 was, to his dear friend Pyrocles, that he would never seek 
 the adventures of arms until he might go with him ; which 
 having fast bound his heart a true slave to faith, he had bid* 
 a tedious delay of following his own humour for his friend's 
 sake, till now, being both sent for by Euarchus, and finding 
 Pyrocles able every way to go through with that kind of life, 
 he was as desirous for his sake as for his own to enter into 
 it. So, therefore, preparing a navy, that they might go like 
 themselves, and not only bring the comfort of their presence, 
 but of their power to their dear parent Euarchus, they re- 
 commended themselves to the sea, leaving the shore of 
 Thessalia full of tears and vows, and were received thereon 
 with so smooth and smiling a face as if Neptune had as then 
 learned falsely to fawn on princes. The wind was like a 
 servant; waiting behind them so just that they might fill the 
 sails as they listed ; and the best sailers, showing themselves 
 less covetous of his liberaHty, so tempered it that they all 
 kept together like a beautiful flock, which so well could obey 
 their master's pipe ; without, sometimes, to delight the 
 prince's eyes, some two or three of them would strive who 
 
 * " He had bid a tedious delay." Here used as a past participle ; 
 i.e.. he had endured. 
 
152 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 could, either by the cunning of well spending the wind's 
 breath, or by the advantageous building of their moving 
 houses, leave their fellows behind them in the honour oi 
 speed, while the two princes had leisure to see the practice 
 of that which before they had learned by books — to consider 
 the art of catching the wind prisoner to no other end but to 
 run away with it ; to see how beauty and use can so well 
 agree together that, of all the trinkets wherewith they are 
 attired, there is not one but serves to some necessary pur- 
 pose. And, O Lord, to see the admirable power and noble 
 effects of love, whereby the seeming insensible loadstone, 
 with a secret beauty holding the spirit of iron in it, can draw 
 that hardhearted thing unto it, and, like a virtuous mistress, 
 not only make it bow itself, but with it make it aspire to so high 
 a love as of the heavenly poles, and thereby to bring forth the 
 • oblest deeds that the children of the earth can boast of ! 
 
 '' But by the next morning, even as the sun began to make 
 a gilded show of good meaning, there arose before his face a 
 dark veil of clouds, which blackened all the heavens, pre- 
 paring a mournful stage for a tragedy to be played on. The 
 traitorous sea began to swell in pride against the afflicted 
 navy, and such a storm played his direful part as sundered 
 all the vessels, driving the good ship of the two princes on a 
 rock, which, hidden with those outrageous waves, did, as it 
 were, closely dissemble his [its] cruel mind. The ship broke 
 herself in pieces and, as it were, tore out her own bowels to 
 feed the sea's greediness. The princes, alas ! were sundered 
 as the wreck, Musidorus driven out to sea on a piece of the 
 ship, while, contrariwise, Pyrocles was shortly brought out 
 of the sea's fury to the land's comfort. 
 
 " Being cast on land, much bruised and beaten both with 
 the sea's hard farewell and the shore's rude welcome, and even 
 almost deadly tired with the length of his uncomfortable 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 153 
 
 labour, as he was walking up to discover somebody to whom 
 he might go for relief, there came straight running unto him 
 certain, who, as it was after known, by appointment watched, 
 with many others, in divers places along the coast, who laid 
 hands on him, and, without either questioning with him or 
 showing will to hear him, like men fearful to appear curious, 
 or, which was worse, having no regard to the hard plight he 
 was in, being so wet and weak, they carried him some miles 
 thence, to a house of a principal officer of that country ; who, 
 with no more civility, though with much more business, than 
 those under-fellows had showed, began, in captious manner, 
 to put interrogatories unto him. To which he, unused to 
 such entertainment, did shortly and plainly answer what he 
 was, and how he came thither. But that no sooner known, 
 with numbers of armed men to guard him — for mischief, not 
 from mischief — he was sent to the king's court, which, as 
 then, was not above a day's journey off, with letters from that 
 officer containing his own serviceable diligence in discovering 
 so great a personage, adding, withal, more than was true of 
 his conjectures, because he would endear his own service. 
 
 " This country whereon he fell was Phrygia, and it was to 
 the king thereof to whom he was sent, a prince of a melan- 
 choly constitution both of body and mind ; wickedly sad, 
 ever musing of horrible matters ; suspecting, or, rather, 
 condemning, all men of evil, because his mind had no eye to 
 espy goodness ; and, therefore, accusing sycophants, of all 
 men, did best sort to his nature. And this king, with a toad- 
 like retiredness of mind, had suffered, and well remembered 
 what he had suffered, from the war in Thessalia. But when 
 this bloody king knew what he was, and in what order he 
 and his cousin Musidorus, so much of him feared, were come 
 out of Thessalia, assuredly thinking, because ever thinking 
 the worst, that those forces were provided against him, glad 
 
154 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 of the perishing, as he thought, of Musidorus, determined in 
 pubhc sort to put Pyrocles to death ; for, having quite lost 
 the way of nobleness, he strave to climb to the height of 
 terribleness, and, thinking to make all men adread* to make 
 such one an enemy who would not spare nor fear to kill so 
 great a prince, and, lastly, having nothing in him why to 
 make him his friend, he thought he would take him away 
 from being his enemy. The day was appointed, and all 
 things prepared for that cruel blow, in so solemn an order as 
 if they would set forth tyranny in most gorgeous decking ; 
 the princely youth of invincible valour, yet so unjustly sub- 
 jected to such outrageous wrong, carrying himself in all his 
 demeanour so constantly, abiding extremity, that one might 
 see it was the cutting away of the greatest hope of the world, 
 and destroying virtue in his sweetest growth. 
 
 " But so it fell out that his death was prevented by a rare 
 example of friendship in Musidorus, who, being almost 
 drowned, had been taken up by a fisherman belonging to the 
 kingdom of Bithynia ; and being there, and understanding 
 the full discourse (as fame was very prodigal of so notable 
 an accident) in what case Pyrocles was, learning, withal, 
 that his hatet was far more to him than to Pyrocles, he found 
 means to acquaint himself with a nobleman of that country, 
 to whom largely discovering what he was, he found him a 
 most fit instrument to effectuate his desire ; for this noble- 
 man had been one who in many wars, had served Euarchus, 
 and had been so mindstricken by the /bssutyof yii'tue in that 
 noble king that, though not born his subject, he ever pro- 
 fessed himself his servant. His desire, therefore, to him was 
 to keep Musidorus in a strong castle of his, and then to 
 
 * Adread — Afraid. — " I am adrad, by saynt Thomas." 
 
 —Chaucer, C. T. 1. 3425. 
 + His Jiate — The king of Phrygia's. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. i55 
 
 make the king of Phrygia understand that, if he would 
 dehver Pyrocles, Musidorus would willingly put himself into 
 his hands, knowing well that how thirsty soever he was of 
 Pyrocles' blood, he would rather drink that of Musidorus, 
 
 " The nobleman was loth to preserve one by the loss of an- 
 other ; but time urging resolution, the importunity of Musi- 
 dorus, who showed a mind not to overHve Pyrocles, with the 
 affection he bare to Euarchus, so prevailed that he carried this 
 strange offer of Musidorus, which by the tyrant was greedily 
 accepted. 
 '{ " And so, upon security of both sides, they were inter- 
 changed. Where I may not omit the work of friendship in 
 Pyrocles, who, both in speech and countenance to Musidorus, 
 well showed that he thought himself injured, and not relieved 
 by him, asking him what he had ever seen in him why he 
 could not bear the extremities of mortal accidents as well as 
 any man ; and why he should envy him the glory of suffer- 
 ing death for his friend's cause, and, as it were, rob him of 
 his own possession. But in this notable contention, where 
 the conquest must be the conqueror's destruction, and safety 
 the punishment of the conquered, Musidorus prevailed, 
 because he was a more welcome prey to the unjust king ; 
 and as cheerfully going towards, as Pyrocles went frowardly 
 fromward his death, he was delivered to the king, who could 
 not be enough sure of him without he fed his own eyes upon 
 one whom he had began to fear as soon as the other began 
 to be. Yet, because he would in one act both make ostentation 
 of his own felicity, into whose hands his most feared enemy 
 was fallen, and withal cut off such hopes from his suspected 
 subjects, when they should know certainly he was dead, with 
 much more skilful cruelty and horrible solemnity he causeth 
 each thing to be prepared for his triumph of tyranny. And 
 so, the day being come, he was led forth by many armed 
 
 y 
 
156 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 men, v/ho often had been the fortifiers of wickedness, to the 
 place of execution, where, coming with a mind comforted 
 in that he had done such service to Pyrocles, this strange 
 encounter he had. 
 
 " The excelhng Pyrocles was no sooner delivered by the 
 king's servants to a place of liberty than he bent his wit and 
 courage — and what would not they bring to pass? — how either 
 to deliver Musidorus or to perish with him. And, finding 
 he could get in that country no forces sufficient by force to 
 rescue him, to bring himself to die with him, httle hoping of 
 better event, he put himself in poor raiment, and, by the help 
 of some few crowns he took of that nobleman, who, full 
 of sorrow, though not knowing the secret of his intent, suf- 
 fered him to go in such order from him, he, even he, born 
 to the greatest expectation, and of the greatest blood that 
 Any prince might be, submitted himself to be servant to 
 the executioner that should put to death Musidorus ; a far 
 notabler proof of his friendship, considering the height of 
 his mind, than any death could be. That bad officer not 
 suspecting him, being arrayed fit for such an estate, and 
 having his beauty hidden by many foul spots he artificially 
 put upon his face, gave him leave not only to wear a sword 
 himself, but to bear his sword prepared for the justified 
 murder. And so Pyrocles taking his time when Musidorus 
 was upon the scaffold, separated somewhat from the rest, as 
 allowed to say something, he stept unto him, and, putting 
 the sword into his hand not bound, a point of civility the 
 ofificers used towards him, because they doubted no such 
 enterprise, 'Musidorus,' said he, 'die nobly.' In truth, 
 never man between joy before knowledge what to be glad of, 
 and fear after considering his case, had such a confusion of 
 thoughts as I had when I saw Pyrocles so near me." But 
 / with that Dorus blushed, and Pamela smiling, Dorus the 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II! 157 
 
 more blushed at her smiling, and she the more smiled at his 
 blushing, because he had, with the remembrance of that plight 
 he was in, forgotten, in speaking of himself, to use the third 
 person. But Musidorus turned her thoughts at this stay of 
 his story in rough sort, being with sword in hand, by laying 
 heartily about him ; and Pyrocles, the excellent Pyrocles did 
 such wonders as had made Musidorus full of courage had he 
 been born a coward. 
 
 " But as they were still fighting, with weak arms and strong 
 hearts, it happened that one of the soldiers, commanded to 
 go up after his fellows against the princes, having received 
 a light hurt, more wounded in his heart, went back with as 
 much dihgence as he came up with modesty, which another 
 of his fellows seeing, to pick a thank of the king, strake him 
 upon the face, reviling him, that so accompanied he would 
 run away from so few. But he, as many times it falls out, 
 only valiant when he was angry, in revenge thrust him through, 
 which with his death was straight revenged by a brother of - 'j 
 his, and that again requited by a fellow of the other's. There ^ ^ 
 began to be a great tumult amongst the soldiers, which seen, 
 and not understood, by the people, used to fears, but not used ' 
 to be bold in them, some began to cry treason; and that voice 
 straight multiplying itself, the king — O the cowardice of a 
 guilty conscience ! — before any man set upon him, fled away.V 
 Wherewith a bruit, either by art of some well-meaning men, 
 or by some chance, as such things often fall out by, ran from 
 one to the other, that the king was slain ; wherewith certain 
 young men of the bravest minds cried with a loud voice, 
 ' Liberty !' and, encouraging the other citizens to follow them, */ 
 set upon the guard and soldiers, as chief instruments of 
 tyranny ; and, quickly aided by the princes, they had left 
 none of them alive, nor any other in the city who they 
 thought had in any sort set his hand to the work of their 
 
158 ARCADIA.— Book IL 
 
 servitude, and, God knows, by the blindness of rage, killing 
 many guiltless persons, either for affinity to the tyrant or 
 enmity to the tyrant-killers. But some of the wiser, seeing 
 that a popular license is indeed the many-headed tyranny, 
 /prevailed with the rest to make Musidorus their chief, 
 "^ choosing one of them, because princes, to defend them, and 
 him because elder and most hated of the tyrant, and by him 
 to be ruled, whom forthwith they lifted up ; Fortune, I think, 
 smiling at her work therein, that a scaffold of execution 
 should grow to a scaffold of coronation. 
 
 " But by-and-by came news that the tyrant was not dead, 
 but had fled to a strong place, and was gathering his forces 
 with all speed; but those collected were dispersed as soon, and 
 the king killed in the fight by the two princes. Thereon the 
 chief rule and kingship was offered to Musidorus ; but he, 
 thinking it a greater greatness to give a kingdom than to 
 get a kingdom, bestowed it on one who was left of the blood 
 royal, an aged gentleman of approved goodness. And soon 
 by this king and his people the kingdom next joining was 
 added to his, and the country well cleared of monsters and 
 cruel giants of hugeness and greatness, and therefore well 
 called giants, who did trouble it. 
 
 "It were the part of a very idle orator to set forth the 
 numbers of well-devised honours done unto them ; but, as 
 high honour is not only gotten and borne by pain and danger, 
 but must be nurst by the like, or else vanisheth as soon as it 
 appears to the world, so the natural hunger thereof, which 
 was in Pyrocles, suffered him not to account a resting seat of 
 that which either riseth or falleth, but still to make one occa- 
 sion beget another ; whereby his doings might send his praise 
 to others' mouths, to rebound again true contentment to his 
 spirit. And, therefore, having well estabhshed those king- 
 doms under good governors, and rid them by their valour of 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 159 
 
 such giants and monsters as before-time armies were not 
 able to subdue, they determined, in unknown order, to see 
 more of the world, and to employ those gifts esteemed rare 
 in them to the good of mankind ; and therefore would them- 
 selves, understanding that the king Euarchus was passed all 
 the cumber of his wars, go privately to seek exercises of their | 
 virtue, thinking it not so worthy to be brought to heroical; 
 effects by fortune or necessity, like Ulysses and ^neas, as by| 
 one's own choice and working. And so went they away from'' 
 very unwilling people to leave them,* making time haste itself 
 to be a circumstance of their honour, and one place witness 
 to another of the truth of their doings. For scarcely were 
 they out of the confines of Pontus but that, as they rid alone 
 armed — for alone they went, one serving the other — they met 
 an adventure, which, though not so notable for any great 
 effect they performed, yet worthy to be remembered, for the 
 unused examples therein, as well of true natural goodness as 
 of wretched ungratefulness. 
 
 " And now being in the country of Galatia, and in mid- 
 winter, the princes were condemned by the pride of the wind 
 which blew into their faces to some shrouding place, a hollow 
 rock ; and under that rude canopy they found an aged man, 
 
 * Leave them — /. e. , people very unwilling to let them go. Although 
 few dictionary-makers give the sense, it is evident that "leave" was 
 used as we now use "/f^"," and at a time when that meant "to hinder." 
 " Leave me do it," used by peasants and vulgar street boys, is old 
 English for asking permission. Here follow examples of the verb 
 and noun used in this sense : — 
 
 " This old Pandion, this king gan wepe 
 For tendernesse of herte, for to /eve 
 His doughter gon, and for to geve her leve. 
 Of all this world he loveth nothing so. 
 But at the last /eave hath she to go." 
 
 — Chaucer, "Legend of Philomene.' 
 " For to leve his doughter gon " means, in Latinised English, that 
 he should permit his daughter's departure. 
 
i6o ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 and a young scarcely come to the age of man, the old man 
 blind, the young man leading him, and their doleful speeches 
 were such as moved the princes to ask the younger who they 
 were. ' Sirs,' answered he with a good grace, ' your pre- 
 sence promiseth that cruelty shall not overrun hate ; and 
 if it did, in truth our state is sunk below the degree of fear. 
 This old man whom I lead was lately rightful prince of 
 this country of Paphlagonia, by the hard-hearted ungrateful- 
 ness of a son of his deprived not only of his kingdom, 
 whereof no foreign forces were ever able to spoil him, but of 
 his sight, the riches which nature grants to the poorest crea- 
 tures, whereby and by other his unnatural dealings, he hath 
 been driven to such grief as even now he would have had 
 me to have led him to the top of this rock,* thence to cast 
 himself headlong to death, and so would have made me, who 
 received my life of him, to be the worker of his destruction. 
 But, noble gentlemen,' said he, ' if either of you have a father, 
 and feel what dutiful affection is ingrafted in a son's heart, 
 let me intreat you to convey this afflicted prince to some 
 place of rest and security ; amongst your worthy acts it shall 
 be none of the least that a king of such might and fame, and 
 so unjustly oppressed, is in any sort by you relieved.' 
 
 " But, before they could make him answer, his father began 
 to speak. ' Ah, my son,' said he, ' how evil an historian are 
 you, that leave out the chief knot of all the discourse — my 
 wickedness, my wickedness ! and if thou doest it to spare my 
 ears, the only sense now left me proper for knowledge, assure 
 
 * It is pretty generally agreed by commentators that Shakespeare, 
 who was evidently a reader of the Arcadia, and has indeed borrowed 
 (assuming "Pericles" to be his) one of his lines from it (see note, 
 p. 149), took the underplot of Gloster and his sons, or at least the 
 most striking incident of it, in his tragedy of "King Lear," from 
 this story of the king of Paphlagonia, If we read " top of this rock " 
 as relating to Dover, that chalky elevation has another link to bind 
 it to English literature. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. i6i 
 
 thyself thou doest mistake me ; and I take witness of that sun 
 which you see ' — with that he cast up his bhnd eyes, as if he 
 would hunt for light — ' and wish myself in worse case than I 
 do wish myself, which is as evil as may be, if I speak untruly, 
 that nothing is so welcome to my thoughts as the publishing 
 of my shame. Therefore, know you, gentlemen — to whom, 
 from my heart, I wish that it may not prove some ominous 
 foretoken of misfortune to have met with such a miser* as I 
 am — that whatsoever my son — O God, that truth binds me to 
 reproach him with the name of my son ! — hath said is true. 
 But, besides those truths, this also is true, that having had, in 
 lawful marriage, of a mother fit to bear royal children, this 
 son — such a one as partly you see, and better shall know by 
 my short declaration — and so enjoyed the expectations in the 
 world of him, till he was grown to justify their expectations, 
 so as I needed envy no father for the chief comfort of 
 mortality, to leave another oneself after me, I was carried by 
 a bastard son of mine— if at least I be bound to believe the 
 words of that base woman my concubine, his mother — first to 
 mislike, then to hate, lastly to destroy, or to do my best i<y 
 destroy, this son — I think you think — undeserving destruction. 
 What ways she used to bring me to it, if I should tell you, I 
 should tediously trouble you with as much poisonous hypo- 
 crisy, desperate fraud, smooth malice, hidden ambition, and 
 smiling envy, as in any living person could be harboured ; 
 but I list it not, no remembrance of naughtiness delights me 
 but mine own, and methinks th£ accusing his traps might 
 in some manner excuse my fault, which certainjy I loathe to 
 do. But the conclusion is, that I gave order to some ser- 
 vants of mine, whom I thought as apt for such charities as 
 
 * Miser — Used in its true sense — a poor wretch. 
 
 " He stayd his steed for humble misers sake." 
 
 — Spenser, Faerie Queene, II. i. 9. 
 
/ 
 
 J 
 
 162 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 myself, to lead him out into a forest, and there to kill him. 
 But those thieves, better natured to my son than myself, 
 spared his life, letting him go to learn to live poorly ; which 
 he did, giving himself to be a private soldier in a country 
 hereby. But as he was ready to be greatly advanced for some 
 noble pieces of service which he did, he heard news of me, 
 who, drunk in my affection to that unlawful and unnatural 
 son of mine, suffered myself so to be governed by him that 
 all favours and punishments passed by him, all offices and 
 places of importance distributed to his favourites ; so that, 
 ere I was aware, I had left myself nothing but the name of a 
 king, which he shortly weary of too, with many indignities, if 
 anything may be called an indignity which was laid upon 
 me, threw me out of my see, and put out my eyes, and then, 
 proud in his tyranny, let me go, neither imprisoning nor 
 killing me, but rather delighting to make me feel misery, 
 — misery indeed, if ever there were any ; full of wretchedness, 
 fuller of disgrace, and fullest of guiltiness. And as he came 
 to the crown by so unjust means, as unjustly he kept it, by 
 force of stranger soldiers in citadels, the nests of tyranny 
 and murtherers of liberty ; disarming all his own countrymen, 
 that no man durst show himself a well-wilier of mine : to say 
 the truth, I think, few of them being so, considering my cruel 
 folly to my good son, and foolish kindness to my unkind 
 bastard. But if there were any who felt pity of so great a 
 fall, and had yet any sparks of unslain duty left in them 
 towards me, yet durst they not show it, scarcely with giving 
 me alms at their doors — which yet was the only sustenance 
 of my distressed life — nobody daring to show so much charity 
 as to lend me a hand to guide my dark steps. Till this son of 
 mine — God knows, worthy of a more virtuous and more fortu- 
 nate father — forgetting my abominable wrongs, not reckoning 
 danger, and neglecting the present good way he was 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 163 
 
 doing himself good, came hither to do this kind office you see 
 him perform towards me, to my unspeakable grief; not only 
 because his kindness is a glass even to my blind eyes of 
 my naughtiness, but that, above all griefs, it grieves me he 
 should desperately adventure the loss of his well-deserving 
 life for mine, that yet owe more to fortune for my deserts, as 
 if he would carry mud in a chest of crystal ; for well I know, 
 he that now reigneth, how much soever, and with good 
 reason, he despiseth me, of all men despised, yet he will not 
 let slip any advantage to make away him whose just title, 
 ennobled by courage and goodness, may one day shake the 
 seat of a never-secure tyranny. And for this cause I craved 
 of him to lead me to the top of this rock ; indeed, I must / 
 confess, with meaning to free him from so serpentine a com- 
 panion as I am. But he finding what I purposed, only 
 therein since he was born showed himself disobedient unto 
 me. And now, gentlemen, you have the true story, which I 
 pray you publish to the world, that my mischievous proceed- 
 ings- may be the glory of his filial piety, the only reward now 
 left for so great a merit. And if it may be, let me obtain 
 that of you which my son denies me ; for never was there 
 more pity in saving any than in ending me, both because 
 therein my agony shall end, and so you shall preserve this 
 excellent young man, who else wilfully follows his own ruin.' ^ 
 " The matter, in itself lamentable, lamentably expressed by 
 the old prince — which needed not to take to himself the 
 gestures of pity, since his face could not put off the marks 
 thereof^greatly moved the two princes to compassion, which 
 could not stay in such hearts as theirs without seeking 
 remedy. But by-and-by Plexirtus— so was the bastard called — 
 came thither with forty horse of purpose to murder his bro- 
 ther ; yet, notwithstanding help given to the usurper by Tydeus 
 and Telenor, two brothers of the noblest house of that 
 
 M 2 
 
l64 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 country, and forty or fifty of their suite, Pyrocles and Musi- 
 dorus, and the king of Pontus, who had come unlooked for 
 to their succour, so reduced the usurper that they left him 
 but that strong place wherein he was. In which season, too, 
 the bhnd king, his heart broken with affliction, having in the 
 chief city of his realm placed the crown upon his son Leonatus' 
 head, even in a moment, as it should seem, died. Plexirtus, 
 reduced by famine, came, cunningly dissembling, bare-footed, 
 and with a rope about his neck, to Leonatus, seeming to desire 
 nothing but death, as, ashamed to live, he begged the life in 
 refusing it. In the noble breast of Leonatus he begat not 
 only pity, but pardon, and the ministers of his cruelty being 
 punished, he was forgiven. 
 
 " In such sort the princes left these reconciled brothers, 
 V Plexirtus in all his behaviour carrying him in far lower degree 
 of service than the ever-noble nature of Leonatus would 
 suffer him, and taking likewise their leaves of their good friend 
 the king of Pontus, who returned to enjoy some benefit, both 
 of his wife and kingdom, they privately went thence, having 
 only with them the two valiant brothers, who would needs 
 accompany them through divers places, they four doing acts 
 more dangerous, though less famous, because they were but 
 private chivalries ; till, hearing of the fair and virtuous 
 Queen Erona of Lycia, besieged by the puissant king of 
 Armenia, they bent themselves to her succour, both because 
 the weaker — and weaker, as being a lady — and partly because 
 they heard the king of Armenia had in his company three 
 of the most famous men living, for matters of arms, that 
 were known to be in the world ; whereof one was the Prince 
 Plangus, whose name was sweetened by your breath, peer- 
 less lady, when the last day it pleased you to mention him 
 unto me ; the other two were two great princes — though 
 holding of him — Barzanes and Euardes, men of giantlike 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 165 
 
 both hugeness and force ; in which two especially the trust 
 the king had of victory was reposed. And of them those 
 brothers Tydeus and Telenor, sufficient judges in warlike 
 matters, spake so high commendations that the two princes 
 had even a youthful longing to have some trial of their 
 virtue. And, therefore, as soon as they were entered into 
 Lycia, they joined themselves with them that faithfully 
 served the poor queen, at that time besieged ; and ere long 
 animated in such sort their almost overthrown hearts, that 
 they went by force to relieve the town, though they were 
 deprived of a great part of their strength by the parting of 
 the two brothers, who were sent for in all haste to return 
 to their old friend and master Plexirtus, who, willingly hood- 
 winking themselves from seeing his faults, and binding them- 
 selves to believe what he said, often abused the virtue of 
 courage to defend his foul vice of injustice* But now they 
 were sent for to advance a conquest he was about, while 
 Pyrocles and Musidorus pursued the delivery of the queen 
 Erona." 
 
 " I have heard," said Pamela, " that part of the story of 
 Plangus when he passed through this country, therefore you 
 may, if you list, pass over that war of Erona's quarrel, lest, 
 if you speak too much of war matters, you should wake 
 Mopsa, which might haply breed a great broil." He looked 
 and saw that Mopsa indeed sate swallowing of sleep with 
 open mouth, making such a noise withal as nobody could 
 lay the stealing of a nap to her charge. Whereupon, willing 
 to use that occasion, I* kneeled down, and, with humble- 
 heartedness and hearty earnestness printed m my graces, 
 "Alas !" said I, "divine lady, who have wrought such miracles 
 in me as to make a prince — none of the basest — to think 
 
 * There is here a confusion of persons, not uncommon with Sidney 
 and the older writers. 
 
i66 ARCADIA.— Book IL. 
 
 all principalities base, in respect of the sheephook which 
 may hold him up in your sight, vouchsafe now, at last, to 
 hear in direct words my humble suit, while this dragon 
 sleeps that keeps the golden fruit. If in my desire I wish, 
 or in my hopes aspire, or in my imagination feign to myself 
 anything which may be the least spot to that heavenly 
 virtue which shines in all your doings, I pray the eternal 
 powers that the words I speak may be deadly poisons while 
 they are in my mouth, and that all my hopes, all my desires, 
 all my imaginations may only work their own confusion. 
 But if love, love of you, love of your virtues, seek only that 
 favour of you which becometh that gratefulness which can- 
 not misbecome your excellency, O do not " He would 
 
 have said further, but Pamela calling aloud " Mopsa !" she 
 suddenly start up, staggering, and rubbing her eyes, ran 
 first out of the door, and then back to them, before she knew 
 how she went out or why she came in again ; till at length, 
 being fully come to her little self, she asked Pamela why 
 she had called her. " For nothing," said Pamela, " but that 
 ye might hear some tales of your servant's telling ; and 
 therefore now,"' said she, " Dorus, go on." But asj[, who 
 found no so good sacrifice as obedience, was returning to 
 the story of myself, Philoclea came in, and by-and-by after 
 her, Miso : so as for that time they were fain to let Dorus 
 depart. 
 
 Pamela and Philoclea, their sober dinner being come and 
 gone, resolved to beg Zelmane's company and to go, while 
 the heat of the day lasted, to bathe themselves, as the Ar- 
 cadian nymphs often do, in the river Ladon, which of all the 
 rivers of Greece had the price for excellent pureness and 
 sweetness, insomuch as the very bathing in it was accounted 
 exceeding healthful. It ran upon so fine and delicate a ground 
 as one could not easily judge whether the river did more wash 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 167 
 
 the gravel, or the gravel did purify the river, the river not 
 running forth-right,* but almost continually winding,^as if the 
 lower streams would return to their spring, or that the river 
 had a delight to play with itself. The banks of either side 
 seeming arms ofjthe_laidng_earth that fain would embrace it, 
 and the rix^efXwanton nymph which still would slip from it, 
 either side of the bank being fringed with most beautiful 
 trees, which resisted the sun's darts from over-much piercing 
 the natural coldness of the river. 
 
 Zelmane, whose passion was so great that she was obliged \y 
 to lean against a tree, as the raiments of these damsels fell 
 off, to receive the kisses of the ground, retired ; while Philoclea, 
 who blushing, and withal smiling, making shamefastness 
 pleasant, and pleasure shamefast, tenderly moved her feet, 
 unwonted to feel the naked ground, till the touch of the cold 
 water made a pretty kind of shrugging come over her body, 
 like the twinkling of the fairest among the fixed stars. But 
 the river itself gave way unto her, so that she was straight 
 breast high, which was the deepest that thereabout she 
 could be ; and when co ld La don had once fully embraced 
 them, himself was no more so cold to those ladies, but, as if |^ 
 his cold complexion had been heated with love, so seemed ^ 
 he to play about every part he could touch. 
 
 Zelmane, in retirement taking up a lute, with her panting 
 heart dancing to the music, gave utterance and invention 
 to a song in honour of her mistress, when, coming to the 
 latter end of it, she saw a water-spaniel come and fetch away 
 one of Philoclea's gloves, whose fine proportion showed well 
 what a dainty guest was wont there to be lodged. It was 
 a delight to Zelmane to see that the dog was therewith 
 
 ^ Straightforward; sometimes used as a nomi. 
 " Here's a maze trod indeed 
 Through forth-rights and meanders." — Tempest iii. 3. 
 
1 68 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 delighted, and so let him go a little way withal, who quickly 
 carried it out of sight among certain trees and bushes, which 
 were very close together. But by-and-by he came again, 
 and, amongst the raiment, the dog lighted upon a little book 
 of four or five leaves of paper, and was bearing that away 
 too. But when Zelmane, not knowing what importance it 
 might be of, ran after the dog, who going straight to those 
 bushes, she might see the dog deliver it to a gentleman who 
 secretly lay there. But she hastily coming in, the gentleman 
 rose up, and, with a courteous, though sad countenance, pre- 
 sented himself unto her. Zelmane's eyes straight willed her 
 mind to mark him, for she thought in herself she had never 
 seen a man of a more goodly presence, in whom strong 
 making took not away delicacy, nor beauty fierceness ; being 
 indeed such a right man-like man as Nature, often erring, 
 yet shows she would fain make. But when she had a while, 
 not without admiration, viewed him, she desired him to de- 
 liver back the glove and paper, because they were the lady 
 Philoclea's, telling him withal that she would not willingly 
 let them know of his close lying in that prohibited place 
 while they were bathing of themselves, because she knew 
 they would be mortally oftended withal. 
 
 •" Fair lady," answered he, " the worst of the complaint is 
 already passed, since I feel of my fault in myself the punish- 
 ment. But for these things, I assure you, it was my dog's 
 wanton boldness, not my presumption." With that he gave 
 her back the paper. " But for the glove," said he, " since 
 it is my lady Philoclea's, give me leave to keep it, sith my 
 heart cannot persuade itself to part from it. And I pray you 
 tell the lady — lad y indeed of all my desires — that owes* it, 
 
 * Owes — "Owe" v., "own" adj. "To owe" is to have, to 
 possess. " Ought " the/, perfect.; "that man oiight 500 pence." 
 "Loke thu here nat there awaye bote yt be thyne cnae.^^ 
 
 — Piers Ploughman, p. 122. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 169 
 
 that I will direct my life to honour this glove with serving 
 her." 
 
 " O villain !" cried out Zelmane, madded with finding an 
 unlooked-for rival, and that he would make her a messenger, 
 "despatch, and deliver it, or, by the life of her that owes it, I will 
 make thy soul, though too base a price, pay for it ;" and with that 
 drew out her sword, which, Amazon-like, she ever ware about 
 her. The gentleman retired himself into an open place from 
 among the bushes, and then drawing out his too, he offered 
 to deliver it unto her, saying withal, " God forbid I should 
 use my sword against you, sith, if I be not deceived, you 
 are the same famous Amazon that both defended my lady's 
 just title of beauty against the valiant Phalantus, and saved 
 her life in killing the lion ; therefore I am rather to kiss 
 your hands, with acknowledging myself bound to obey you." 
 But this courtesy was worse than a bastinado to Zelmane, 
 so that again, with rageful eyes, she bad him defend himself, 
 for no less than his life should answer it. " A hard case," 
 said he, " to teach my sword that lesson, which hath ever used 
 to turn itself to a shield in a lady's presence." But Zelmane, 
 hearkening to no more words, began with such witty fury to 
 pursue him with blows and thrusts that nature and virtue 
 commanded the gentleman to look to his safety. Yet still 
 courtesy, that seemed incorporate in his heart, would not be 
 persuaded by danger to offer any offence, but only to stand 
 upon the best defensive guard he could ; sometimes going 
 back, being content, in that respect, to take on the figure of 
 cowardice, sometime with strong and well-met wards, some- 
 times cunning avoidings of his body, and sometimes feigning 
 some blows, which himself pulled back before they needed to 
 be withstood. And so, with play, did he a good while fight 
 against the fight of Zelmane, who, more spited with that 
 courtesy, that one that did nothing should be able to resist 
 
 / 
 
■J 
 
 170 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 her, burned away with choler any motions which might grow 
 out of her own sweet disposition, determining to kill him if 
 he fought no better ; and so, redoubling her blows, drave the 
 stranger to no other shift than to ward and go back, at that 
 time seeming the image of innocency against violence. But 
 at length he found that, both in public and private respects, 
 who stands only upon defence stands upon no defence ; for 
 Zelmane seeming to strike at his head, and he going to 
 ward it, withal stepped back, as he was accustomed, she 
 stopped her blow in the air, and, suddenly turning the point, 
 ran full at his breast, so as he was driven with the pommel 
 of his sword, having no other weapon of defence, to beat it 
 down ; but the thrust was so strong that he could not so 
 wholly beat it away but that it met with his thigh, through 
 which it ran. But Zelmane retiring her sword, and seeing 
 his blood, victorious anger was conquered by the before-con- 
 quered pity, and heartily sorry, and even ashamed with her- 
 self, she was considering how little he had done who well, 
 she found, could have done more ; insomuch that she said, 
 " Truly I am sorry for your hurt ; but yourself gave the 
 cause, both in refusing to deliver the glove, and yet not 
 fighting as I know you could have done. But," said she, 
 " because I perceive you disdain to fight with a woman, it 
 may be, before a year come about, you shall meet with a 
 near kinsman of mine, Pyrocles, prince of Macedon ; and I 
 give you my word, he, for me, shall maintain this quarrel 
 against you." " I would," answered Amphialus, " I had 
 many more such hurts to meet and know that worthy prince, 
 whose virtue I love and admire, though my good destiny 
 hath not been to see his person." 
 
 But, as they were so speaking, the young ladies came, to 
 whom Mopsa, curious in anything but her own good be- 
 haviour, having followed and seen Zelmane fighting, had 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 171 
 
 cried what she had seen. But they, careful of Zehnane, 
 Pamela with a noble mind, and Philoclea with a loving, 
 made quick work to come to save her. But already they 
 found them in talk, and Zelmane careful of his wound ; and, 
 when they saw him, they knew it was their cousin-german, 
 the famous Amphialus, whom, yet with a sweet-graced bit- y 
 terness, they blameH for breaking their father's command- 
 ment, especially while themselves were in such sort retired. 
 But he craved pardon, protesting unto them that he had 
 only been to seek solitary places by an extreme melancholy 
 that had a good while possessed him, and guided to that 
 place by his spaniel, where, while the dog hunted in the 
 river, he had withdrawn himself to pacify with sleep his 
 over-watched eyes, till a dream waked him. But Philoclea, 
 that was even jealous of herself for Zelmane, would needs 
 have her glove, and not without so mighty a lower [frown] as 
 that face could yield. As for Zelmane, when she knew it 
 was Amphialus, " Lord Amphialus," said she, " I have long 
 desired to know you heretofore, I must confess, with more 
 good-will, but still with honouring your virtue, though I love 
 not your person ; and at this time, I pray you, let us take 
 care of your wound, upon condition you shall hereafter 
 promise that a more knightly combat shall be performed 
 between us." Amphialus answered in honourable sort, but 
 with such excusing himself that more and more accused his 
 love to Philoclea, and provoked more hate in Zelmane. But 
 Mopsa had already called certain shepherds, not far off, who 
 knew and well observed their limits, to come and help to 
 carry away Amphialus, whose wound suffered him not with- 
 out danger to strain it ; and so he, leaving himself with 
 them, departed from them, faster bleeding in his heart than 
 at his wound. 
 
 He being gone, the ladies— with merry anger talking in 
 
172 ARCADIA.— Book IL 
 
 what naked simplicity their cousin had seen them — returned 
 to the lodge-ward. Yet thinking it too early, as long as they 
 had any day, to break off so pleasing a company with going 
 to perform a cumbersome obedience, Zelmane invited them 
 to the little arbour, only reserved for her, which they willingly 
 did ; and there sitting, Pamela having a while made the lute 
 in his* language show how glad it was to be touched by her 
 fingers, Zelmane delivered up the paper which Amphialus 
 had at first yielded unto her ; and, seeing written upon the 
 back side of it the complaint of Plangus, remembering what 
 Dorus had told he^, and desiring to know how much Philo- 
 clea knew of her estate, she took occasion, in presenting of it, 
 to ask whether it were any secret or no. 
 
 " No, truly," answered Philoclea, " 'tis even an exercise of 
 my father's writing, a story of a gentleman whom he met as 
 he lay under a tree while his servants gat fresh post horses 
 for him. His pitiful motions, and even groans, moved my 
 father to talk to him, and he afterwards set down his story in 
 such a form as you see." 
 
 The quick eyes of Zelmane, leave being given them to over- 
 run the paper, perceived it to be a kind of tuneful dialogue 
 between a certain Plangus and Basilius, relating the love 
 torments of Plangus and a fair queen named Erona, in this 
 sad world, 
 
 " Where death is fear'd and life is held with pain, 
 Like playersf plac'd to fill a filthy stage; 
 Where change of thoughts one fool to other shows, 
 And all but jests save only sorrow's rage ;" 
 
 where the body is, indeed, but a shop of shame, a book 
 
 *' His — Here used for " its;" in the language of the lute. 
 
 f So Shakespeare — 
 
 " Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player 
 That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, 
 And then is heard no more." — Macbeth, act v. s. 5. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book 11. 173 
 
 where blots be rife. Little else learned she from it, and, 
 therefore, thus she spake to Philoclea : " Most excellent lady ! 
 one may be little wiser for this dialogue, since it neither sets 
 forth what Plangus, nor what Erona is ; wherefore I would 
 humbly crave to understand the particular discourse thereof." 
 
 " With my sister's leave and help," answered Philoclea, " I 
 will at once declare it. Of late there reigned a king in Lydia, 
 who had for the blessing of his marriage this only daughter 
 of his, Erona* ; a princess worthy, for her beauty, as much 
 praise as beauty may be praiseworthy. This princess Erona, 
 being nineteen years of age, seeing the country of Lydia so 
 much devoted to Cupid as that in every place his naked 
 pictures and images were superstitiously adored, either 
 moved thereunto by the esteeming that it could be no god- 
 head which could breed wickedness, or the shamefast con- 
 sideration of suchnakedness, procured so much of her father 
 as utterly to pull down and deface all those statues and 
 pictures.f Which how terribly he punished — for to that the 
 Lydians impute it — quickly after appeared. 
 
 "For she had not lived a year longer when she was 
 stricken with most obstinate love to a young man, but of 
 mean parentage, in her father's court, named Antiphilus ; so 
 
 * Erona — Whether by this name Sidney intends to lead the mind 
 towards Eros, the God of Love, in the Orphic hymns the son of 
 Kronos, is a question. Sometimes, as in Gynecia, there seems to 
 be a distinct suggestion of the nature of the bearer of the name, and 
 these characters were evidently drawn from life ; but, as Sidney never 
 finished this work, nor prepared it for publication, it is now impos- 
 sible to assign the real characters to the puppets in his fiction. The 
 better way to enjoy the romance is to read it for its intrinsic beauty 
 and the charm of its language, and to let the hidden allegory lie 
 forgotten and undisturbed. 
 
 t This profanation of Cupid's shrines, and the consequent events, 
 suggested to Beaumont and Fletcher the groundwork of the plot of 
 "Cupid's Revenge." — Works, ed. Dyce, vol. ii. 351. 
 
174 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 mean as that he was but the son of her nurse, and by that 
 means, without other desert, became known of her. Now so 
 evil could she conceal her fire, and so wilfully persevered 
 she in it, that her father offering her the marriage of the 
 great Tiridates, king of Armenia, who desired her more than 
 the joys of heaven, she, for Antiphilus' sake, refused it. 
 Many ways her father sought to withdraw her from it ; 
 sometimes by persuasions, sometimes by threatenings ; once 
 hiding Antiphilus, and giving her to understand that he was 
 fled the country ; lastly, making a solemn execution to be 
 done of another, under the name of Antiphilus, whom he 
 kept in prison. But neither she liked persuasions, nor feared 
 threatenings, nor changed for absence ; and when she thought 
 him dead, she sought all means, as well by poison as knife, 
 to send her soul at least to be married in the eternal Church 
 with him. This so brake the tender father's heart that, 
 leaving things as he found them, he shortly after died. Then 
 forthwith Erona, being seized* of the crown, and arming her 
 will with authority, sought to advance her affection to the 
 holy title of matrimony. 
 
 " But before she could accomplish all the solemnities, she 
 was overtaken with a war the king Tiridates made upon her, 
 only for her person ; towards whom, for her ruin. Love had 
 kindled his cruel heart, indeed cruel and tyrannous ; for, 
 being far too strong in the field, he spared no man, woman, 
 nor child ; but, as though there could be found no foil to set 
 
 * Seized— Vosi&ss&d. of, used in the present law sense. In the 
 third book of the Arcadia there is a fine use of the word. " They 
 could scarcely understand his last words, for Death began to seize 
 himself of his heart. " 
 
 " Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs : 
 Sufficient that thy prayers are heard, and Death, — 
 Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, — 
 Defeated of his seizure, many days 
 Given thee of grace." — Milton, P. L. b. xi. 251. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 175 
 
 forth the extremity of his love, but extremity of hatred, wrote, 
 as it were, the sonnets of his love in the blood, and tuned 
 them in the cries of her subjects ; although his fair sister 
 Artaxia, who would accompany him in the army, sought all 
 means to appease his fury ; till, lastly, he besieged Erona in 
 her best city, vowing to win her or lose his life. And now 
 had he brought her to the point either of a woeful consent, 
 or a ruinous denial, when there came thither, following the 
 course which Virtue and Fortune led them, two excellent 
 young princes, Pyrocles and Musidorus, the one prince of 
 Macedon, the other of Thessalia ; two princes, as Plangus 
 said — and he witnessed his saying with sighs and tears — the 
 most accomplished both in body and mind that the sun ever 
 looked upon." While Philoclea spake those words, •' O sweet 
 words," thought Zelmane to herself, " which are not only a 
 praise to me, but a praise to praise itself, which out of that 
 mouth issueth." 
 
 " These two princes," said Philoclea, " as well to help the 
 weaker, especially being a lady, as to save a Greek people 
 from being ruined by such, whom we call and count bar- 
 barous, gathering together such of the honestest Lydians as 
 would venture their lives to succour their princess, giving 
 order by a secret message they sent into the city, that they 
 should issue with all force at an appointed time, they set 
 upon Tiridates' camp with so well-guided a fierceness, that 
 being of both sides assaulted, he was like to be overthrown ; 
 but that this Plangus, being general of Tiridates' horsemen, 
 especially aided by the two mighty men Euardes and Bar- 
 zanes, rescued the footmen, even almost defeated ; but yet 
 could not bar the princes, with their succours both of men 
 and victual, to enter the city. 
 
 " Which when Tiridates found would make the war long, 
 which length seemed to him worse than a languishing con- 
 
176 ARCADIA.— Book IT, 
 
 sumption, he made a challenge of three princes in his retinue 
 against those two princes and Antiphilus ; and that thereupon 
 the quarrel should be decided, with compact that neither 
 side should help his fellow ; but of whose side the more 
 overcame, with him the victory should remain. Antiphilus, 
 though Erona chose rather to bide the brunt of war than 
 venture him, yet could not for shame refuse the offer, espe- 
 cially since the two strangers that had no interest in it did 
 willingly accept it ; besides that, she saw it like enough that the 
 people, weary of the miseries of war, would rather give him 
 up if they saw him shrink than for his sake venture their 
 ruin, considering that the challengers were of far greater 
 worthiness than himself. So it was agreed upon, and against 
 Pyrocles was Euardes, king of Bithynia, Barzanes of Hircania 
 against Musidorus — two men that thought the world scarce 
 able to resist them — and against Antiphilus he placed this 
 same Plangus, being his own cousin-german, and son to the 
 king, of Iberia. Now so it fell out that Musidorus slew 
 Barzanes, and Pyrocles Euardes, which victory those princes 
 esteemed above all that ever they had ; but of the other side 
 Plangus took Antiphilus prisoner ; under which colour, as if 
 the matter had been equal, though, indeed, it was not, the 
 greater part being overcome of his side, Tiridates continued 
 his war, and to bring Erona to a compelled yielding, sent 
 her word that he would the third morrow after, before the 
 walls of the town, strike off Antiphilus' head, without his 
 suit in that space were granted, adding withal, because he 
 had heard of her desperate affection, that if in the meantime 
 she did herself any hurt, what tortures could be deyised 
 should be laid upon Antiphilus. 
 
 " Then lo* if Cupid be a god, or that [by] the tyranny of our 
 own thoughts seem as a god unto us ; but whatsoever it was, 
 
 * Lo — Used in the sense of see, behold. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 177 
 
 then it did set forth the miserableness of his effects, she being 
 drawn to two contraries by one cause ; for the love of him com- 
 manded her to yield to no other, the love of him commanded 
 her to preserve his life, which knot might well be cut, but 
 united [untied] it could not be. So that love in her passions, 
 like a right make-bate,* whispered to both sides arguments of 
 quarrel. 
 
 " At length, even the evening before the day appointed for 
 his death, the determination of yielding prevailed, especially 
 growing upon a message of Antiphilus, who, with all the con- 
 juringt terms he could devise, besought her to save his life 
 upon any conditions. But she had no sooner sent her mes- 
 senger to Tiridates but her mind changed, and she went to 
 the two young princes, Pyrocles and Musidorus, and, falling 
 down at their feet, desired them to try some way for her 
 deliverance, showing herself resolved not to overlive Anti- 
 philus, nor yield to Tiridates. 
 
 " They, that knew not what she had done in private, pre- 
 pared that night accordingly ; and, as sometimes it falls out 
 that what is inconstancy seems cunning, so did this change, 
 indeed, stand in as good stead as a witty dissimulation ; for 
 it made the king as reckless as them diligent ; so that, in the 
 dead time of the night, the princes issued out of the town, 
 with whom she would needs go, either to die herself or rescue 
 Antiphilus, having no armour or weapon but affection. And 
 I cannot tell you how, by what device (though Plangus at 
 large described it), the conclusion was, the wonderful valour 
 
 ^Make-bate — "To bate" means "to quarrel;" hence "make- 
 bate," a maker of quarrels. In a similar way Shakespeare has 
 "make-peace:" "To be a make-peace shall become my age" 
 (Richard II. i. i). 
 
 + Conjiirmg—'''^o conjure" is to call upon one with great earnest- 
 ness and entreaty. " And in the end he repeateth how he conjured 
 God in Horeb, and overcame Him with prayer." — Tyndal, Workes, 
 p. 22^ 
 
 N 
 
178 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 ^ of the two princes so prevailed that Antiphilus was succoured 
 and the king slain. Plangus was then the chief man left in 
 the camp ; and therefore, seeing no other remedy, conveyed 
 in safety into her country Artaxia, now queen of Armenia, 
 who, being at home, proclaimed great rewards to any private 
 man, and herself in marriage to any prince, that would 
 destroy Pyrocles and Musidorus. But thus was Antiphilus 
 redeemed, and, though against the consent of all her nobility, 
 married to Erona ; in which case the two Greek princes, 
 being called away by another adventure, left them. 
 
 " But now, methinks, as I have read some poets, who, when 
 they intend to tell some horrible matter, they bid men shun 
 the hearing of it, so, if I do not desire you to stop your ears 
 from me, yet may I well desire a breathing time before I am 
 to tell the execrable treason of Antiphilus, that brought her 
 to great misery, and, withal, wish you all that from all man- 
 kind, indeed, you stop your ears. Oh, most happy were we if 
 we did set our loves one upon another ;" — and as she spake 
 that word her cheeks in red letters writ more than her tongue 
 did speak ; — " and, therefore, since I have named Plangus, I 
 pray you, sister," said she, " help me with the rest ; for I 
 have held the stage long enough ; and if it please you to 
 make his fortune known, as I have done Erona's, I will after 
 take heart again to go on with his [Antiphilus'] falsehood ; 
 and so, between us both, my lady Zelmane shall understand 
 both the cause and parties of this lamentation." 
 
 "Nay, beshrew me," said Miso, "I will have none of 
 that ; I will first have my tale ; you all and my daughter 
 Mopsa may draw cuts,* and the shortest cut speak first; 
 
 * Cuts — Lots; so Chaucer makes his pilgrims draw cuts who shall 
 tell the first tale. 
 
 " Now draweth cut, er that we forther twpme; 
 Which that hath the schortest schal bvgvnne." 
 
 —Cant. Tales, Prologue, 1. 838. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. ijc) 
 
 for I tell you— and this may be suffered — when you are 
 married, you will have first and last word of your husbands." 
 The ladies laughed to see with what an eager earnestness 
 she looked, having threatening, not only in her ferret eyes, 
 but, while she spake, her nose seeming to threaten her chin, 
 and her shaking limbs one to threaten another. But there 
 was no remedy ; they must obey. And Miso, sitting on the 
 ground, with her knees up, and her hands upon her knees, 
 tuning her voice with many a quavering cough, thus dis- 
 coursed unto them : — "I tell you true," said she, "whatsoever 
 you think of me, you will one day be as I am ; and I, simple 
 though I sit here,* thought once my penny as good silver as 
 some of you do ; and, if my father had not played the hasty 
 fool — it is no lie I tell you — I might have had another-gainsf 
 husband than Dametas. But let that pass. God amend 
 him ! And yet I speak it not without good cause. You are 
 full in your tittle-tattlings of Cupid ; here is Cupid, and there 
 is Cupid. I will tell you now what a good old woman told 
 me, what an old wise man told her, what a great learned 
 clerk told him, and gave it him in writing, and here I have 
 in my prayer-book." " I pray you," said Philoclea, " let us 
 see it, and read it." "No haste, but good," said Miso, 
 " you shall first know how I came by it. I was a young girl 
 of seven-and-twenty year old, and I could not go through 
 the street of our village but I might hear the young men 
 talk : ' Oh, the pretty Httle eyes of Miso !' ' Oh, the fine thin 
 lips of Miso !' ' Oh, the goodly fat hands of Miso !' besides 
 how well a certain wrying I had of my neck became me. 
 
 * A phrase common in Shakespeare's time. "He's a justice of 
 peace in his country, simple though I stand here." — Mer. Wives, i. I. 
 ■\ Another-gains — This may be a misprint for "anothergates," 
 another sort. 
 
 ' ' When Hudibras about to enter 
 
 Upon an i^/^^r^a/^j- adventure. " — Hudibras, P. I. c. iii. 
 
 N 2 
 
i8o ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 Then the one would wink with one eye, and the other cast 
 daisies at me. I must confess, seeing so many amorous, it 
 made me set up my peacock's tail with the highest. Which, 
 when this good old woman perceived — O the good wold* 
 woman ! well may the bones rest of the good wold woman ! — 
 she called me to her into her house. I remember full well, it 
 stood in the lane as you go to the barber's shop ; all the 
 town knew her ; there was a great loss of her. She called 
 me to her, and, taking first a sop of wine to comfort her 
 heart — it was of the same wine that comes out of Candia, 
 which we pay so dear for nowadays, and in that good world 
 was very good cheapf — she called me to her. 'Minion,' said 
 she — indeed, I was a pretty one in those days, though I say 
 it — ' I see a number of lads that love you. Well,' said she, 
 ' I say no more. Do you know what Love is ?' With that 
 she brought me into a corner, where there was painted a foul 
 fiend, I trow ; for he had a pair of horns like a bull, his feet 
 cloven, as many eyes upon his body as my gray mare hath 
 dapples, and for all the world so placed. This monster sate 
 like a hangman upon a pair of gallows. In his right hand 
 he was painted holding a crown of laurel ; in his left hand a 
 purse of money ; and out of his mouth hung a lacej of two 
 
 * Good wold wo/nan — An intentional and mocking alliteration. 
 + Good cheap — "Chepe" is Saxon for "market ;" hence "good 
 cheap," good market. The French have an equivalent for this in 
 their expression boii inarche. 
 
 " Until thy death thou shalt not fully know 
 Whether thy purchase be good cheap or no ; 
 And at that day, believe it, 'twill appear, 
 If not extremely cheap, extremely dear." 
 
 — QUARLES, Div. Fancies, xcix.. On Buying a Bible. 
 X Lace — From A. S. Lcece-an, prehendere, to catch hold of, any- 
 thing which catches or holds. 
 
 "I know of love's peine. 
 As he that oft has been caught in his Azj." 
 
 —Chaucer, Knightes Tale, v. 1888. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. i8i 
 
 fiiir pictures of a man and a woman ; and such a countenance 
 he showed, as if he would persuade folks by those allurements 
 to come thither and be hanged. I, like a tender-hearted 
 wench, skriked out for fear of the devil. ' Well,' said she, 
 ' this same is even Love ; therefore do what thou list with 
 all those fellows one after another ; and it recks not much 
 what they do to thee, so it be in secret ; but, upon my charge, 
 never love none of them.' " 
 
 Then Miso, making a face to weep as if it were sorrow for 
 the remembrance of her youth, sent forth hei; tears Hke rain U\ 
 falling on dirty furrows, while the ladies read from her book 
 a description of Cupid, which Zelmane took to be blasphemy 
 against that god, and humbly besought Pamela to go on 
 with the story. Pamela persisted to have Fortune their judge ; 
 and blind Fortune, that saw not the colour of them, gave 
 M opsa the pre-eminence. Wipi ng her mouth, for which there 
 was good cause, she thus tumbled into her matter :— " In time 
 past," said she, " there was a king, the mightiest man in all his 
 country, that had by his wife the fairest daughter that did 
 ever eat pap. Now this king did keep a great house, that 
 everybody might come and take their meat freely. So one 
 day, as his daughter was sitting in her window, playing upon 
 a harp, as sweet as any rose, and combing her head with a 
 comb all of precious stones, there came in a knight into the 
 court, upon a goodly horse, one hair of gold, and the other of 
 silver ; and so the knight, casting up his eyes to the window, 
 did fall into such love with her that he grew not worth the 
 bread he eat ; till many a sorry day going over his head, 
 with daily diligence and grisly* groans, he w an her affection, 
 
 * Grisly, from "greslich," is, says Mr. Morris, in his Specimens o^' 
 Early English, "horrid, horrible." We find it frequently in Chaucer. 
 " Her othes been so greet and so dampnable 
 That it is grisly for to hiere hem swere." 
 
 — Pardoneres Tale, v. lO, 
 
i82 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 so that they agreed to run away together. And so in May, 
 when all true hearts rejoice, they stale out of the castle, 
 without staying so much as for their breakfast. Now, for- 
 sooth, as they went together, often all to-kissing* one another, 
 the knight told her he was brought up among the water- 
 nymphs, who had so bewitched him that, if he were ever 
 asked his name, he must presently vanish away, and there- 
 fore charged her upon his blessing never to ask him what he 
 was, nor whither he would. And so a great while she kept 
 his commandment ; till once, passing through a cruel wilder- 
 ness as dark as pitch, her mouth so watered that she could 
 not choose but ask him the question. And then he, making 
 the grievousest complaints that would have melted a tree to 
 have heard them, vanished quite away ; and she lay down 
 casting forth such pitiful cries as any shrich-owl. But 
 having lain so, wet by the rain, and burnt by the sun, five 
 days and five nights, she gat up, and went over many a high 
 hill, and many a deep river, till she came to an aunt's house 
 of hers, and came and cried to her for help, and she for pity 
 gave her a nut, and bade her never open her nut till she was 
 come to the extremest misery that ever tongue could speak 
 of. And sa^ she went, and she went, and never rested the 
 evening where she went in the morning, till she came to a 
 second aunt, and she gave her another nut." 
 
 " Keep this tale till my marriage day, good Mopsa," said the 
 sweet Philoclea, " and I will give thee the best gown that I 
 wear that day." Mopsa was glad of the bargain, and Pamela 
 related at some length the misfortunes of Prince Plangus ; 
 the base intrigues of his step-mother, the second wife of his 
 
 * AH to-kissing — The prefix ail to before a verb is frequently to be 
 met with in our old writers used as an augmentative. It also occurs 
 in the authorized version of the Bible (Judges ix. 53). 
 
 t A?td so—1 have preserved these italics, which indicate and 
 satirize Mopsa's method of narration. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 183 
 
 father, the king of Iberia, who loved, and in a guilty way, the 
 prince himself ; and forced by this love, and the plots by which 
 the queen sought to entrap him, and render him guilty in his 
 father's eyes, who, urged by his wife, attended but some fit 
 occasion to lay hands on his son, he — Plangus — chose a volun- 
 tary exile, and went to Tiridates, living in his court eleven or 
 twelve years, at the end of which time the war of Erona 
 happened. His father had suspicion so deeply engraved on 
 his heart, that he caused the son of the second wife, called 
 Palladius, to be proclaimed successor, and Plangus quite 
 excluded, so that Plangus was driven to continue serving 
 
 Tiridates, when Erona, by the treason of Antiphilus 
 
 But at that word she stopped. For Basilius, not able 
 longer to abide their absence, came suddenly among them, 
 and, with smiling countenance, telling Zelmane he was afraid 
 she had stolen away his daughters, invited them to follow the 
 sun's counsel in going then to their lodging, for indeed the 
 sun was ready to set. They yielded, Zelmane meaning some 
 other time to understand the story of Antiphilus' treason, 
 and Erona's danger, whose cause she greatly tendered.* Now 
 Miso had no sooner espied Basilius, but, as spitefully as her 
 rough voice could utter it, she set forth the sauciness of 
 Amphialus. But Basilius only attended what Zelmane's 
 opinion was, who, though she hated Amphialus, yet the 
 nobility of her courage prevailed over it, and she desired he 
 might be pardoned that youthful error, considering the repu- 
 tation he had to be one of the best knights in the world, so as 
 hereafter he governed himself as one remembering his fault. 
 Basilius, giving the infinite terms of praises to Zelmane's 
 both valour in conquering and pitifulness in pardoning, 
 
 * Tendered — French, tendre, to heed or care for, " Here was a 
 sore ponnyshemete for so horryble a myschefe, but that they sum- 
 what tcdered them selues in the same, as ocupyers in one arte."— 
 Bale, English Votaries, pt. ii. 
 
i84 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 commanded no more words to be made of it, since such he 
 thought was her pleasure. 
 
 So brought he them up to visit his wife, where, between 
 her and him, the poor Zelmane received a tedious entertain- 
 ment, oppressed with being loved almost as much as with 
 loving. But the night coming on with her silent steps upon 
 them, they parted each from other — if at least they could be 
 parted, of whom every one did. live in another — and went 
 about to flatter sleep in their beds, that disdained to bestow 
 itself liberally upon such eyes, which by their will would ever 
 be looking. 
 
 On the next morn, Basilius having combed and tricked 
 himself more curiously than at any time forty winters before, 
 coming where Zelmane was, and loth to lose the precious 
 fruit of time, he presented himself unto her, falling down upon 
 both his knees, and holding up his hands, as the old gover- 
 ness of Uanae is painted, when she suddenly saw the golden 
 shower. " O heavenly woman, or earthly goddess," said he, 
 "let not my presence be odious unto you, nor my humble 
 suit seem of small weight in your ears. Vouchsafe your eyes 
 to descend upon this miserable old man, whose life hath 
 hitherto been maintained but to serve as an increase of your 
 beautiful triumphs. You only have overthrown me, and in 
 my bondage consists my glory. Suffer not your own work to 
 be despised of you, but look upon him with pity, whose life 
 serves for your praise." Zelmane, keeping her countenance 
 ascanses* she understood him not, told him it became her 
 
 * Ascanses — This is manifestly a printer's error. The passage 
 means Zelmane kept her countenance askance, as [though] she 
 understood him not. Askance — Dutch, schiiins, to cut sloping. 
 " For as she lookte a skance. 
 Under a stole she spied two steming eyes." 
 
 — Wyatt, The Meane Estate. 
 I can find no instance of askanses used as it is in the text above. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 185 
 
 evil to suffer such excessive reverence of him, but that it 
 worse became her to correct him, to whom she owed duty ; 
 that the opinion she had of his wisdom was such as made 
 her esteem greatly of his words, but that the words themselves 
 sounded so as she could not imagine what they might in- 
 tend. " Intend !" said Basilius, proud that that was brought 
 in question ; " what may they intend but a refreshing of my 
 soul, and a suaging of my heat, and enjoying those your 
 excellencies, wherein my hfe is upheld, and my death threat- 
 ened ?" Zelmane, lifting up her face as if she had received a 
 mortal injury of him, "And is this the devotion your ceremonies 
 have been bent to ?" said she ; " is it the disdain of my estate, 
 or the opinion of my lightness, that have emboldened such base 
 fancies towards me ? Enjoying, quoth you ? now little joy come 
 to them that yield to such enjoying !" Poor Basilius was so 
 appalled that his legs bowed under him ; his eyes looked as 
 though he would gladly hide himself ; and his old blood going 
 to his heart,* a general shaking all over his body possessed 
 him. At length, with a wan mouth, he was about to give a 
 stammering answer, when it came into Zelmane's head by this 
 device to make her profit of his folly ; and, therefore, with a 
 relented countenance, thus said unto him : "Your words, 
 mighty prince, were unfit either for me to hear, or you to 
 speak ; but yet, the large testimony I see of your affection 
 makes me willing to suppress a great number of errors. Only 
 thus much I think good to say, that the same words in my 
 lady Philoclea's mouth, as from one woman to anocher, so 
 as there were no other body by, might have had a better 
 grace ; and perchance have found a gentler receipt." 
 
 * Going to his heart — This and many other passages in the Eliza- 
 bethan writers might be cited to prove that, long before Harvey 
 demonstrated the circulation of the blood to King Charles I., a 
 partial behef in the fact was general with educated people. 
 
i86 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 Basilius, whose senses by desire were held open, scarce heard 
 her answer out ; but, running to Philoclea, conjured her by 
 the love she held to her father, with all the words desire could 
 indite, and authority utter, not to disdain any service to Zel- 
 mane. Philoclea, glad to enjoy the private conference of 
 Zelmane, said she would in all virtuous sort lay his case 
 before her, and, going forth, after some time found Zelmane 
 on a river's bank, who, after a pause, brought forth in this 
 manner : — 
 
 '' Most beloved lady, the incomparable excellencies of your- 
 self, waited on by the greatness of your estate, and the import- 
 ance of the thing, whereon my life consisteth, doth require 
 both many ceremonies before the beginning and many cir- 
 cumstances in the uttering my speech, both bold and fearful. 
 But the small opportunity of envious occasion, by the mali- 
 cious eye hateful love doth cast upon me, and the extreme 
 bent of my affection, which will either break out in words, or 
 break my heart, compel me not only to embrace the smallest 
 time, but to pass by the respect due unto you, in respect of 
 your poor caitiff's life, who is now or never to be preserved. I 
 do therefore vow unto you hereafter never more to omit all 
 dutiful form ; do you only now vouchsafe to hear the matter 
 of a mind most perplexed. If ever the sound of love hath come 
 to your ears, or if ever you have understood what force it 
 hath had to conquer the strongest hearts, and change the 
 most settled estates, receive here an example of those strange 
 tragedies ; one that in himself containeth the particularities 
 of all those misfortunes ; and from henceforth believe that 
 such a thing may be, since you shall see it is. You shall see, 
 I say, a living image, and a present story of what love can 
 do when he is bent to ruin. 
 
 " But, alas ! whither goest thou, my tongue ? or how doth my 
 heart consent to adventure the revealing his nearest-touching 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 187 
 
 secret ? But peace, Fear, thou comest too late, when already 
 the harm is taken. Therefore, I say again, O only princess, 
 attend here a miserable miracle of affection ; behold here 
 before your eyes Pyrocles, Prince of Macedon, whom you only 
 have brought to this game of fortune, and unused rnetamor- 
 phosis, whom you only have made neglect his country, forget his 
 father, and lastly forsake to be Pyrocles ; the same Pyrocles 
 who, you heard, was betrayed by being put in a ship, which 
 being burned, Pyrocles was drowned. O most true presage ! 
 for these traitors, my eyes, putting me into a ship of desire 
 which daily burneth — those eyes, I say, which betrayed me, 
 will never leave till they have drowned me. But be not, be 
 not, most excellent lady, you that nature hath made to be the 
 load-star of comfort, be not the rock of shipwreck : you whom 
 virtue hath made the princess of fehcity, be not the minister 
 of ruin : you whom my choice hath made the goddess of my 
 safety, O let not, let not from 'you be poured upon me de- 
 struction ; your fair face hath many tokens in it of amaze- 
 ment at my words. Think, then, what his amazement is 
 from whence they come. Since no words can carry with them 
 the life of the inward feeling, I desire that my desire may be 
 weighed in the balances of honour, and let Virtue hold them ; 
 for if the highest love in no base person may aspire to grace, 
 then may I hope your beauty will not be without pity. If 
 otherwise you be — alas ! but let it not be so ! — resolved, yet 
 shall not my death be comfortless, receiving it by your sen- 
 tence." 
 
 The joy which wrought into Pygmalion's mind while he 
 found his beloved image was softer and warmer in his folded 
 arms, till at length it accomplished his gladness with a per- 
 fect woman's shape, still beautified with the former perfec- 
 tions, was even such as by each degree of Zelmane's words 
 creepingly entered into Philoclea, till her pleasure was fully 
 
i88 ARCADIA.— Book II, 
 
 made up with the manifesting of his being, which was such 
 as in hope did overcome hope. Yet doubt would fain have 
 played his part in her mind, and called in question how she 
 should be assured that Zelmane was Pyrocles ; but Love 
 straight stood up and deposed that a lie could not come 
 from the mouth of Zelmane. Besides, a certain spark of 
 honour, which rose in her well-disposed mind, made her 
 fear to be alone with him, with whom alone she desired 
 to be (with all the other contradictions growing in those 
 minds which neither absolutely climb the rock of virtue nor 
 freely sink into the sea of vanity) ; but that spark soon gave 
 place, or at least gave no more light in her mind than a candle 
 doth in the sun's presence. ' But, even sick with a surfeit of 
 joy,^and fearful of she knew not what, as he that newly finds 
 huge treasures doubts whether he sleep or no, or like a 
 fearful deer, which then looks most about when he comes to 
 the best feed, with a shrugging* kind of tremor through all 
 her principal parts, she gave these affectionate words for 
 answer — 
 
 " Alas ! how painful a thing it is to a divided mind to make 
 a well-joined answer ; how hard it is to bring inward shame 
 to outward confession ; and what handsomeness, trow you, 
 can be observed in that speech which is made one knows 
 not to whom ? Shall I say O Zelmane ? Alas ! your words 
 be against it. Shall I say Prince Pyrocles ? Wretch that I 
 am, your show is manifest against it. But this, this I may 
 well say : If I had continued as I ought, Philoclea, you had 
 either never been, or ever been Zelmane ; you had either 
 never attempted this change, set on with hope, or never 
 
 * Shrugging — Written by Holland j-//;-/^^/;/^; "forth he shrigged' 
 (constricta;). " Shrug" is a motion or action of the shoulders. 
 " His shoulders witnessing by many a shrug 
 How much his feelings suffered, sat Sir Snug." 
 
 — CowPKR, Hope. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 189 
 
 discovered it, stopped with despair. But, I fear me, my 
 behaviour, ill governed, gave you the first comfort ; I fear me, 
 my affection, ill hid, hath given you this last assurance ; I fear, 
 indeed, the weakness of my government before made you 
 think such a mask would be grateful unto me ; and my weaker 
 government since makes you to pull off the visor. What 
 should I do then ? Shall I seek far-fetched inventions .? shall 
 I labour to lay marble colours over my ruinous thoughts ? or 
 rather, though the pureness of my virgin mind be stained, let 
 me keep the true simplicity of my word. True it is, alas ! 
 too true it is, Zelmane — for so I love to call thee, since in that 
 name my love first began, and in the shade of that name my/ 
 love shall best he hidden — that, even while so thou wert (what 
 eye bewitched me I know not), my passions were fitter to 
 desire than to be desired. Shall I say, then, I am sorry, or 
 that my love must be turned to hate, since thou art turned to' 
 Pyrocles .^ How may that well be, since, when thou wert Zel- 
 mane, the despair thou mightest not be thus did most torment 
 me. Thou hast, then, the victory : use it with virtue. Thy 
 virtue wan me ; with virtue preserve me. Dost thou love 
 me ? keep me, then, still worthy to be loved." 
 
 Then held she her tongue, and cast down a self-accusing 
 look, finding that in herself she had, as it were, shot out of 
 the bow of her affection a more quick opening of her mind 
 than she minded to have done. But Pyrocles, so carried up 
 with joy that he did not envy the Gods' felicity, presented her 
 with some jewels of right princely value, as some little tokens of 
 his love and quality ; and withal showed her letters from his 
 father. King Euarchus, unto him, which, even in the sea, had 
 amongst his jewels been preserved. But httle needed those 
 proofs to one who would have fallen out with herself rather 
 than make any contrary conjectures to Zelmane's speeches ; 
 so that, with such embracements as it seemed their souls 
 
190 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 desired to meet, and their hearts to kiss, as their mouths did, 
 they passed the promise of marriage, which fain Pyrocles 
 J^ would have sealed with the chief arms of her desire ; but 
 Philoclea commanded the contrary. 
 
 Then did Pyrocles, without disguise and at Philoclea's 
 intreaty, tell the story of her life* from the time of his depart- 
 ing from \Erona ; and, though he knew that this discourse 
 was but to entertain him from a more straight parley, yet he 
 durst not but kiss his rod and gladly make much of his 
 entertainment. 
 
 " Sweet princess of my life," said he, " what trophies, what 
 triumphs, what monuments, what histories might ever make 
 my fame yield so sweet a music to my ears as that it pleaseth 
 you to lend your mihd to the knowledge of anything touching 
 Pyrocles, only, therefore, of value because he is your Pyrocles? 
 and, therefore, grow I now so proud as to think it worth the 
 hearing, since you vouchsafe to give it the hearing. There- 
 fore, only height of my hope, vouchsafe to know that, after 
 the death of Tiridates, and settling Erona in her government 
 — for settled we left her — howsoever since, as I perceived by 
 your speech the last day, ungrateful treason of her ill-chosen 
 / husband overthrew her — a thing, in truth, never till this time 
 by me either heard or suspected ; for who could think, with- 
 out having such a mind as Antiphilus, that so great a beauty 
 as Erona's (indeed excellent) could not have held his affec- 
 tion ? so great goodness could not have bound gratefulness } 
 and high advancement could not have satisfied his ambition ? 
 But, therefore, true it is that wickedness may well be com- 
 pared to a bottomless pit, into which it is far easier to keep 
 one's self from falling, than, being fallen, to give one's self any 
 
 * He7' life— A confusion of the sexes, consequent upon Pyrocles 
 being still disguised as the Amazon Zelmane. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IL 191 
 
 stay from falling infinitely ; but, for my cousin and me, upon 
 this cause we parted from Erona. 
 
 " Euardes, the brave and mighty prince whom it was my 
 fortune to kill in the combat for Erona, had three nephews, 
 sons to a sister of his ; all three set among the foremost 
 ranks of fame for great minds to attempt, and great force to 
 perform what they did attempt, especially the eldest, by name 
 Anaxius, to whom all men would willingly have yielded the 
 height of praise, but that his nature was such as to bestow it 
 upon himself before any could give it ; for of so unsupport- 
 able a pride he was, that where his deeds might well stir 
 envy, his demeanour did rather breed disdain. And if it be 
 true that the giants ever made war against heaven, he had 
 been a fit ensign-bearer for that company ; for nothing 
 seemed hard to him, though impossible, and nothing unjust, 
 while his liking was his justice. Now he in these wars had 
 flatly refused his aid, because he could not brook that the^ 
 worthy Prince Plangus was by his cousin Tiridates preferred 
 before him. For, allowing no other weights but the sword 
 and spear in judging of desert, how much he esteemed him- 
 self before Plangus in that, so much would he have had his 
 allowance in his service. 
 
 " But, now that he understood that his uncle was slain by 
 me, I think rather scorn that any should kill his uncle than 
 any kindness, an unused guest to an arrogant soul, made him 
 seek his revenge, I must confess in manner gallant enough; 
 for he sent a challenge unto me to meet him at a place ap- 
 pointed in the confines of the kingdom of Lydia, where he 
 would prove upon me that I had by some treachery overcome 
 his uncle, whom else many hundreds such as I could not have 
 withstood. Youth and success made me willing enough to 
 accept any such bargain, especially because I heard that 
 your cousin Amphialus, who for some years hath borne 
 
192 ARCADIA.— Book II, 
 
 universally the name of the best knight in the world, had divers 
 times fought with him, and never been able to master him, 
 but so had left him, that every man thought Anaxius, in that 
 one virtue of courtesy far short of him, in all other his match, 
 Anaxius still deeming himself for his superior. Therefore to 
 him I would go, and I would needs go alone, because so I 
 i understood for certain he was, and, I must confess, desirous 
 ll to do something without the company of the incomparable 
 ■^ Prince Musidorus, because in my heart I acknowledge that I 
 owed more to his presence than to anything in myself what- 
 ever before I had done ; for of him, indeed, as of any worldly 
 cause, I must grant, as received, whatever there is or may be 
 good in me. He taught me by word, and best by example, 
 giving me in him so lively an image of virtue as ignorance 
 could not cast such a mist over mine eyes as not to see and 
 to love it, and all with such dear friendship and care as, O 
 heaven ! how can my life ever requite to him ; which made me 
 indeed find in myself such a kind of depending upon him as 
 without him I found a weakness and a mistrustfulness of 
 myself, as one stayed from his best strength, when at any 
 time I missed him; which humour perceiving to overrule me, 
 I strave against it, not that I was unwilling to depend upon 
 / him in judgment, but by weakness I would not, which, though 
 it held me to him, made me unworthy of him. Therefore I 
 desired his leave, and obtained it, such confidence he had in 
 me, preferring my reputation before his own tenderness ; and 
 so privately went from him, he determining, as after I knew, 
 in secret manner, not to be far from the place where v/e ap- 
 pointed to meet, to prevent any foul play that might be 
 offered unto me. Full loth was Erona to let us depart 
 from her, as it were, fore-feeling the harms which after fell 
 to her. 
 "Passing through a land full of timber-trees, where I might 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 193 
 
 look for no companions but the wild burgesses* of the forest, 
 I heard cries coming by pauses to mine ears from a gentleman, 
 whom I found bound and stripped from his waist upwards, 
 who was continually pricked by nine gentlewomen — truly 
 such, they were handsome — who held bodkins in their hands, 
 and who said they were executing vengeance on this naughty 
 man for deceiving women, who had said there was no incon- 
 stancy to change one love to another, but great constancy ; 
 'therefore,' said they, 'we are about to mangle him, so that he 
 shall have lost his credit for beauty. His name is Pamphilus.' 
 Him I rescued from these gentlewomen and their servants ; 
 and as I did so, speaking with one lady who. had told this 
 story, named Dido, who thus would have punished this false 
 -^neas, there comes a number of his friends, and I was forced 
 to forsake the ensign under which I had served, and spend 
 my uttermost force in protecting her. And so I, leaving her 
 in a place of security, as she thought, went on my journey 
 towards A naxiu s. for whom I was fain to stay two days in 
 the appointed place, he disdaining to wait for me till he was 
 sure I were there. 
 
 " I did patiently abide his angry pleasure, till about that 
 space of time he came, indeed, according to promise, alone. 
 And as soon as ever he came near me in fit distance for his 
 purpose, he, with much fury, but with fury skilfully guided, 
 ran upon me ; which I, in the best sort I could, resisted, 
 having kept myself ready for him, because I had under- 
 stood that he observed few compliments in matter of arms 
 but such as a proud anger did indite unto him. And so, 
 putting our horses into a full career, we hit each other upon 
 the head with our lances. I think he felt my blow ; for my 
 
 * Biirgesses of the fo7'est — The deer — a simile used frequently by 
 Sidney in his poems, and also by Shakespeare and other poets j the 
 "fat and greasy citizens" of Jaques. 
 
 O 
 
J 
 
 194 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 part, I must confess I never received the like ; but I think, 
 though my senses were astonied, my mind forced them to 
 quicken themselves, because I had learned of him how little 
 favour he is wont to show in any matter of advantage. And in- 
 deed he was turned and coming upon me with his sword drawn, 
 both our staves* having been broken at that encounter; but 
 I was so ready to answer him that truly I know not who gave 
 the first blow. But whosoever gave the first was quickly 
 seconded by the second. And indeed, excellentest lady, I must 
 say true, for a time it was well fought between us, he un- 
 doubtedly being of singular valour — I would God it were not 
 abased by his too much loftiness ; but as, by the occasion of 
 the combat, winning and losing ground, we changed places, 
 his horse happened to come upon the point of the broken 
 spear, which, fallen to the ground, chanced to stand upward, 
 so as it lighting upon his heart, the horse died. He, driven 
 to dismount, threatened, if I did not the like, to do as much 
 for my horse as fortune had done for his. But, whether for 
 that, or because I would not be beholding to fortune for any 
 part of the victory, I descended. So began our foot-fight in 
 such sort that we were well entered to blood of both sides, 
 when there comes by that unconstant Pamphilus, whom 
 I had delivered (easy to be known, for he was barefaced), 
 with a dozen armed men after him ; but before him he 
 had Dido, that lady who had most sharply punished him, 
 riding upon a palfrey, he following her with most unmanlike 
 cruelty, beating her with wands he had in his hand, she cry- 
 ing for sense of pain, or hope of succour, which was so piti- 
 ful a sight unto me that it moved me to require Anaxius to 
 defer our combat till another day, and now to perform the 
 duties of knighthood in helping this distressed lady. But he, 
 that disdains to obey anything but his passion, which he calls 
 
 * Our staves — The staves of the two knights' lances. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 195 
 
 his mind, bade me leave off that thought ; but when he had 
 killed me he would then, perhaps, go to her succour. But I, 
 well finding the fight would be long between us — longing in my 
 heart to deliver poor Dido — giving him so great a blow as some- 
 what stayed him, (to term it aright) I flatly ran away from him 
 toward my horse, who trotting after the company, in mine 
 armour I was put to some pain, but that use made me nimble 
 unto it. But as I followed my horse, Anaxius followed me ; 
 but his proud heart did so disdain that exercise that I had 
 quickly over-run him, and overtaken my horse, being, I must 
 confess, ashamed to see a number of country folks, who hap- 
 pened to pass thereby, who hallooed and hooted after me as 
 at the arrantest coward that ever showed his shoulders to his 
 enemy. But when I had leaped on my horse, with such speedy 
 agility that they all cried, ' O ! see how fear gives him wings,' I 
 turned to Anaxius and aloud promised him to return thither ^ 
 again, as soon as I had relieved the injured lady. But he, 
 railing at me with all the base words angry contempt could 
 indite, I said no more but, ' Anaxius, assure thyself I 
 neither fear thy force nor thy opinion.' And so, using no 
 weapon of a knight as at that time but my spurs, I ran, in my 
 knowledge after Pamphilus, but in all their conceits from 
 Anaxius,* which, as far as I could hear, I might well hear tes- 
 tified with such laughters and games that I was some few 
 times moved to turn back again. 
 
 " The lady's misery overbalanced my reputation, and after j 
 her I went, and released her from Pamphilus and his friends- 
 injurious wretches, most of whom carried news to the other 
 world, that amongst men secret wrongs are not always left un- 
 punished, Pamphilus escaping in the rearward. The lady in- 
 vited me to her father's castle, one of good strength, having a 
 
 * Pyrocles knew that he was running to rescue the lady ; but the 
 spectators thought that he was flying from Anaxius. 
 
 O 2 
 
196 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 great moat about it, the work of a noble gentleman, of whose 
 unthrifty son the father of Dido, one Chremes, a drivelling 
 old fellow, lean, shaking of both hands, already half in earth, 
 yet then most greedy of earth, had bought it. He would 
 scarcely give me thanks for what I had done, but talked of 
 nothing but his poverty, for fear, belike, I should prove a bor- 
 rower. His house was bare — a picture of rich beggary, served 
 with rustical villains full of sweat and dust, and all his pre- 
 parations would make one detest niggardliness, it is so 
 sluttish a vice. This Chremes, I found, would have sold 
 me to Queen Artaxia, I having slain her brother Tiri- 
 dates, and she offering a hundred thousand crowns for my 
 head. So he surrounded me with his clowns, some upon 
 cart jades, to bear me on my way — which I might have sus- 
 pected, as a churl's courtesy rarely comes but either for gain or 
 falsehood — until I found myself in the midst of a great troop of 
 enemies, who willed me to yield myself to the Queen Artaxia. 
 " But they could not have used worse eloquence ; so, making 
 my necessity both my sword and my shield, I made what use 
 I could of my other weapons to cut my way through them, 
 Chremes having withdrawn, gilding his wicked conceits with 
 the hope of gain. But I was grown so weary that I supported 
 myself more with anger than strength, when the most excel- 
 lent Musidorus came to my succour, who, having followed 
 /my trace as well as he could, after he found I had left 
 the fight with Anaxius, came to the niggard's castle, where 
 \ he found all burned and spoiled by the country people, who 
 ^^ bare mortal hatred to that covetous man, and now took the 
 '^ time, when the castle was left almost without guard, to come 
 * in and leave monuments of their malice therein ; which 
 f Musidorus not staying either to further or impeach, came 
 •> upon the spur after me, because with one voice many told 
 him that if I were in his company it was for no good meant 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 197 
 
 unto me, and in this extremity found me. But when I saw 
 that cousin of mine, methought my life was doubled, and 
 where I before thought of a noble death I now thought of a 
 noble victory ; for who can fear that hath Musidorus by him ? 
 who, what he did there for me, how many he killed, not 
 stranger for the number than for the strange blows wherewith 
 he sent them to a well-deserved death, might well delight me 
 to speak of, but I should so hold you too long in every par- 
 ticular. But in truth, there, if ever, and ever if ever any man, 
 did Musidorus show himself second to none in able valour. 
 
 " Yet what the unmeasurable excess of their number would 
 have done in the end I know not ; but the trial thereof w^as 
 cut off by the chanceable coming thither of the King of Iberia, 
 that same father of the worthy Plangus whom it hath pleased 
 you sometimes to mention, who, not yielding over to old age 
 his country delights, especially of hawking, was, at that time 
 following a merlin, brought to see this injury offered unto 
 us ; and, having great numbers of courtiers waiting upon 
 him, was straight known by the soldiers that assaulted us to 
 be their king, and so most of them withdrew themselves. 
 
 " He, by his authority, knowing of the captain's own con- 
 strained confession what was the motive of this mischievous 
 practice, misliking much such violence should be offered in 
 his country to men of our rank, but chiefly disdaining it should 
 be done in respect of his niece, whom, I must confess wrong- 
 fully, he hated, because he interpreted that her brother and 
 she had maintained his son Plangus against him, caused the 
 captain's head presently to be stricken off, and the old bad 
 Chremes to be hanged ; though, truly, for my part, I 
 earnestly laboured for his hfe, because I had eaten of his 
 bread. But one thing was notable for a conclusion of his 
 miserable life, that neither the death of his daughter — who, 
 alas ! poor gentlewoman, was by chance slain among his 
 
198 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 clowns, while she, over-boldly for her weak sex, sought to 
 hold them from me — nor yet his own shameful end was so 
 much in his mouth as he was led to execution as the loss of 
 his goods and burning of his house, which often, with more 
 laughter than tears of the hearers, he made pitiful exclama- 
 tions upon. 
 
 '"This justice thus done, and we delivered, the king, indeed 
 in royal sort, invited us to his court, not far thence, in all 
 points entertaining us so as truly I must ever acknowledge a 
 beholdingness unto him, although the stream of it fell out 
 not to be so sweet as the spring.* For, after some days being 
 there, curing ourselves of such wounds as we had received, 
 while I, causing diligent search to be made of Anaxius, could 
 learn nothing but that he was gone out of the country, boast- 
 ing in every place how he had made me run away, we were 
 brought to receive the favour of acquaintance with this Queen 
 AjQdromana, whom the Princess Pamela did in so lively 
 colours describe the last day, as still, methinks, the figure 
 thereof possesseth mine eyes, confirmed by the knowledge 
 myself had. 
 
 " I must make you to know what kind of woman she was, 
 who greatly affected us both, and who many times tore the 
 veil of her modesty, having the scutcheon of her desires sup- 
 portedf by certain badly diligent ministers, who often cloyed 
 our ears with her praises, and would needs teach us a way of 
 felicity by seeking her favour. Nay, when we were deaf, she 
 would no longer stay in the suburbs of her desires, but directly 
 entered upon them, making herself an impudent suitor, 
 confessing the contention in her mind between the lovely 
 
 * Not so sweet as the sprhtg — /. e. , The beginning of his kindness 
 was sweeter than its continuation. 
 
 t Scutcheon of her desires supported — A simile taken from the blazon 
 of heraldry, wherein the shield or escutcheon of achievements is 
 upheld by heraldic animals termed supporters. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 199 
 
 brownness of Musidorus his face and this colour of mine. She 
 would begin half her sentence with Musidorus and end the 
 other half to Pyrocles. I do more largely set this proceeding 
 of hers before you, most dear lady, because, by the foil thereof, 
 you may see the nobleness of my desire to you, and the war- 
 rantableness of your favour to me." 
 
 At that Philoclea smiled a little. " But," said Pyrocles, 
 " when this lady prevailed nought with us, she made herself so 
 absolute a master of her husband's mind that she could obtain 
 the direction of everything, and so she servilely intreated us ; 
 and love, that would have poisoned me with roses, healed me 
 with wormwood ; for she sauced her desires with threatenings, ^/ 
 deprived us of our arms, and threw us into prison. This 
 king by his queen had a son of tender age, but of great expec- 
 tation, brought up in the hope of themselves, and already 
 acceptation of the inconstant people, as successor of his 
 father's crown, whereof he was as worthy, considering his 
 parts, as unworthy in respect of the wrong which was thereby 
 done against the most noble Plangus, whose great deserts 
 now either forgotten or ungratefully remembered, all men set 
 their sails with the favourable wind, which blew on the for- 
 tune of this young prince, perchance not in their hearts, but 
 surely in their mouths, now giving Plangus, who some years 
 before was their only champion, the poor comfort of calamity 
 — pity. This youth, therefore, accounted prince of that region, 
 by name Palladius, did with vehement affection love a young "^ 
 lady, brought up in his father's court, called Zelmane, daughter 
 to that mischievously unhappy Prince Plexirtus, of whom 
 already I have, and sometimes must make, but never honour- 
 able mention; left there by her father, because of the intricate 
 changeableness of his estate, he, by the mother's side, being 
 half-brother to this Queen Andromana, and therefore the 
 willinger committing her to her care. But as love, alas ! 
 
200 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 doth not always reflect itself,* so fell it out that this Zelmane, 
 though truly reason there was enough to love Palladius, yet 
 could not ever persuade her heart to yield thereunto, with that 
 pain to Palladius as they feel that feel an unloved love ; yet, 
 loving indeed, and therefore constant, he used still the inter- 
 cession of diligence and faith, ever hoping, because he would 
 not put himself into that hell to be hopeless, until the time of 
 our being come and captived there brought forth this end, 
 which truly deserves of me a further degree of sorrow than tears. 
 " Such was therein my ill destiny, that this young lady, Zel- 
 mane, like some unwisely liberal, that more delight to give 
 presents than pay debts, she chose — alas for the pity ! — 
 rather to bestow her love, so much undeserved as not de- 
 sired, upon me, than to recompense him whose love, besides 
 many other things, might seem, even in the court of honour, 
 justly to claim it of her. But so it was — alas that so it was ! — 
 whereby it came to pass that, as nothing doth more naturally 
 follow its cause than care to preserve and benefit, doth follow 
 unfeigned affection, she felt with me what I felt of my cap- 
 tivity, and straight laboured to redress my pain, which was 
 her pain : which she could do by no better means than by 
 using the help therein of Palladius; who, true lover, con- 
 sidering what, and not why, in all her commandments, and 
 indeed she concealing from him her affection — which she in- 
 tituled compassion — immediately obeyed to employ his utter- 
 most credit to relieve us ; which though as great as a beloved 
 son with a mother, faulty otherwise, but not hardhearted 
 toward him, yet it could not prevail to procure us liberty. 
 Wherefore he sought to have that by practicef which he could 
 
 * Reflect itself — A simile taken from a mirror ; love does not always 
 create love in the person upon whom its shadow is thrown. 
 
 t Practice — Cmining stratagem. "And in this first yere also this 
 realme was troubled with the ciuile sedition, and the cva.hie practises 
 of the Frenchmen." — Grafton, Hen. IV. an. i. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 201 
 
 not by prayer. And so, being allowed often to visit us — for 
 indeed our restraints were more or less, according as the ague 
 of her passion was either in the fit or intermission — he used 
 the opportunity of a time thus to deliver us. 
 
 " The time of the marrying [of] that queen was every year, 
 by the extreme love of her husband and the serviceable love 
 of the courtiers, made notable by some public honours, which 
 did, as it were, proclaim to the world how dear she was to 
 that people. Among other, none was either more grateful to 
 the beholders or more noble in itself than jousts, both with 
 sword and lance, maintained for a sevennight together : 
 wherein that nation doth so excel, both for comeliness and 
 ableness, that from neighbour countries they ordinarily come, 
 some to strive, some to learn, some to behold. 
 
 " This day it happened that divers famous knights came 
 thither from the court of Helen, queen of Corinth, a lady 
 whom Fame at that time was so desirous to honour that she 
 borrowed all men's mouths to join with the sound of her 
 trumpet ; for, as her beauty hath won the prize from all 
 women that stand in degree of comparison (for, as for the 
 two sisters of Arcadia, they are far beyond all conceit of 
 comparison), so hath her government been such as hath been 
 no less beautiful to men's judgments than her beauty to the 
 eyesight. For, being brought, by right of birth, a woman, a 
 young woman, a fair woman, to govern a people in nature 
 mutinously proud, and always before so used to hard gover- 
 nors as they knew not how to obey without the sword were 
 drawn, yet could she for some years so carry herself among 
 them, that they found cause, in the delicacy of her sex, of 
 admiration, not of contempt, and, which was notable, even 
 in the time that many countries about her were full of wars, 
 which, for old grudges to Corinth, were thought still would 
 conclude there, yet so handled she the matter that the 
 
202 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 threatened ever smarted in the threateners, she using so 
 strange, and yet so well-succeeding a temper that she made 
 her people, by peace, warlike, her courtiers, by sports, 
 learned, her ladies, by love, chaste. For, by continual mar- 
 tial exercises without blood, she made them perfect in that 
 bloody art. Her sports were such as carried riches of know- 
 ledge upon the stream of delight ; and such the behaviour, 
 both of herself and her ladies, as builded their chastity, not 
 upon waywardness, but choice of worthiness. So as it 
 seemed that court to have been the marriage-place of Love 
 and Virtue, and that herself was a Diana apparelled in the 
 garments of Venus.* And this, which fame only delivered 
 unto me — for yet I have never seen her — I am the willinger to 
 speak of to you, who, I know, know her better, being your 
 near neighbour, because you may see by her example, in her- 
 self wise and of others beloved, that neither folly is the cause 
 of vehement love, nor reproach the effect ; for never, I think, 
 was there any woman that with more unremovable determi- 
 nation gave herself to the counsel of love, after she had once 
 set before her mind the worthiness of your cousin Amphialus ; 
 and yet is neither her wisdom doubted of nor honour 
 blemished. For, O God ! what doth better become wisdom 
 than to discern what is worthy the loving? What more 
 agreeable to goodness than to love it so discerned? and what 
 to greatness of heart than to be constant in it, once loved ? 
 But at that time that love of hers was not so publicly known 
 as the death of Philoxenus and her search of Amphialus hath 
 made it, but then seemed to have such leisure to send thither 
 
 * Under this figure of Helen, queen of Corinth, Diana apparelled 
 in the garments of Venus, "building her chastity not upon way- 
 wardness, but upon choice of worthiness, and whose court seemed 
 the marriage-place of Love and Virtue," no doubt Sidney allegorizes 
 his great mistress Queen Elizabeth. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 203 
 
 divers choice knights of her court, because they might bring 
 her, at least the knowledge, perchance the honour, of that 
 triumph. Wherein so they behaved themselves as for three 
 days they carried the prize, which being come from so far a 
 place to disgrace her servant, Palladius, who himself had never 
 used arms, persuaded the queen Andromana to be content, 
 for the honour's sake of her court, to suffer us two to have 
 our horse and armour, that he, with us, might undertake the 
 recovery of their lost honour ; which she granted, taking our 
 oath to go no further than her son, nor ever to abandon him, 
 which she did not more for saving him than keeping us. 
 And yet, not satisfied with our oath, appointed a band of 
 horsemen to have an eye that we should not go beyond 
 appointed limits. We were willing to gratify the young 
 prince, who we saw loved us. And so, the fourth day of that 
 exercise, we came into the field, where, I remember, the 
 manner was that the forenoon they should run at tilt, one 
 after the other, the afternoon in a broad field, in manner of a 
 battle, till either the stranger or that country knights won 
 the field. 
 
 '' Let it then suffice, most excellent lady, that you know 
 the Corinthians that morning in the exercise, as they had 
 done the days before, had the better, Palladius neither suf- 
 fering us nor himself to take in hand the party till the after- 
 noon, when we were to fight in troops, not differing otherwise 
 from earnest, but that the sharpness of the weapons was 
 taken away. But in the trial Palladius, especially led by 
 Musidorus, and somewhat aided by me, himself truly behav- 
 ing himself nothing like a beginner, brought the honour to 
 rest itself that night on the Iberian side, and the next day, 
 both morning and afternoon, being kept by our party, he, 
 that saw the time fit for the delivery he intended, called 
 unto us to follow him, which we, both bound by oath and 
 
204 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 willing by good-will, obeyed ; and so, the guard not daring 
 to interrupt us, he commanding passage, we went after him, 
 upon the spur, to a little house in a forest near by, which 
 he thought would be the fittest resting-place, till we might go 
 further from his mother's fury ; whereat he was no less angry 
 and ashamed than desirous to obey Zelmane. 
 
 " But his mother, understanding how we were conveyed 
 away, pursued us, and overtook us in the kingdom of Bithynia, 
 and, regardless of another's dominions, set on us with about 
 threescore horsemen. By Musidorus' incredible valour we 
 had little to do to overcome w^eak wrong, and Palladius, 
 heated by victory, pursued our assailers, when one of them, a 
 special minion of Andromana's, with a traitorous blow, slew 
 his young prince ; and this so wrought on us that many of 
 his subjects' bodies we left there dead, to wait on him more 
 faithfully in another w'orld. 
 
 " All this while disdain, strengthened by the fury of a 
 furious love, made Andromana stay to the last of the combat; 
 and, when she saw us light down to see what help w^e might 
 do to the helpless Palladius, she came running madly unto 
 us, then no less threatening when she had no more power to 
 hurt. But when she perceived it w^as her only son that lay 
 hurt, and that his hurt was so deadly as that already his life 
 had lost the use of the reasonable and almost sensible part, 
 then only did misfortune lay his [its] own ugliness upon her 
 fault, and make her see what she had done, and to what she 
 had come, especially finding in us rather detestation than pity 
 (considering the loss of that young prince), and resolution 
 presently to depart, which still she laboured to stay. But, 
 deprived of all comfort, with eyes full of death, she ran to her 
 son's dagger, and, before we were aware of it, who else would 
 have stayed it, strake herself a mortal wound. But then her 
 love, though not her person, awaked pity in us, and I went 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 205 
 
 to her, while Musidorus laboured about Palladius. But the 
 wound was past cure of a better surgeon than myself ; so 
 as I could but receive some few of her dying words, which 
 were cursings of her illset affection, and wishing unto me 
 many crosses and mischances in my love, whensoever I 
 should love ; wherein I fear, and only fear, that her prayer is 
 from above granted. But the noise of this fight, and issue 
 thereof, being blazed by the country people to some noblemen 
 thereabouts, they came thither, and finding the wrong offered 
 us, let us go on our journey, we having recommended those 
 royal bodies unto them to be conveyed to the king of Iberia." 
 
 With that Philoclea, seeing the tears stand in his eyes 
 with remembrance of Palladius, but much more of that which 
 thereupon grew, she would needs drink a kiss from those 
 eyes, and he suck another from her lips, whereat she blushed, 
 and yet kissed him again to hide her blushing, which had 
 almost brought Pyrocles into another discourse, but that she 
 with so sweet a rigour forbad him that he durst not rebel, 
 though he found it great war to keep that peace, but was 
 fain to go on in his story ; for so she absolutely bade him, 
 and he durst not know to disobey. 
 
 " Parting before the sun had much abased himself, we met 
 a fair gentlewoman, one of the lovers of Pamphilus, to whom 
 the inconstant man had betrothed himself, and who was 
 about to slay herself, seeing that before his marriage day* he 
 had taken to wife Baccha, the most impudently unchaste 
 woman of all Asia,t as I had heard much blazed about. This 
 
 * Marriage day — The day of the marriage which should have 
 followed the betrothal. 
 
 f The most ivipiidently unchaste woman of all Asia — As Shake- 
 speare has taken some of his names from the Arcadia, so Beaumont 
 and Fletcher seem to have found it a storehouse for hints of plots, 
 titles, and names of the persons. Thus the title of "Cupid's 
 Revenge," one of their tragedies, seems to have been suggested by 
 
2o6 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 lady Leucippe we in some sort comforted and conveyed to a 
 house thereby dedicated to vestal nuns, where she resolved 
 to spend all her years in bewailing the wrong and yet praying 
 for the wrong-doer. 
 
 " The next morning there overtook us a young gentleman, 
 for so he seemed to us, but indeed, sweet lady, it was the fair 
 Zelmane, Plexirtus' daughter, whom unconsulting affection, 
 unfortunately borne to mewards, had made borrow so much 
 of her natural modesty as to leave her more decent raiments, 
 and, taking occasion of Andromana's tumultuous pursuing us, 
 had apparelled herself like a page, with a pitiful cruelty cut- 
 ting off her golden hair, leaving nothing but the short curls 
 to cover that noble head, but that she ware upon it a fair 
 head-piece, a shield at her back, and a lance in her hand ; 
 else disarmed. Her apparel of white, wrought upon with 
 broken knots ; her horse fair and lusty, which she rid so as 
 might show a fearful boldness, daring to do that which she 
 knew that she knew not how to do ; and the sweetness of her 
 countenance did give such a grace to what she did, that it 
 did make handsome the unhandsomeness, and make the eye 
 force the mind to believe that there was a praise in that un- 
 skilfulness. But she straight approached me, and with few 
 words, which borrowed the help of her countenance to make 
 themselves understood, she desired me to accept her into my 
 service, telling me she was a nobleman's son of Iberia, her 
 name Daiphantus, who, having seen what I had done in that 
 court, had stolen from her father to follow me. I inquired 
 the particularities of the manner of Andromana's following 
 me, which by her I understood, she hiding nothing but her 
 sex from me. And still methought I had seen that face, but 
 
 the story of Erona (see page 173), though the plot is different ; while 
 the names of Leucippus the hero, and his wicked mistress Bacha 
 (so spelt), are drawn from this portion of Sidney's book. 
 
ARCADIA.— Booh IL 207 
 
 the great alteration of her fortune made her far distant from 
 my memory ; but, Hking very well the young gentleman — such 
 I took her to be — admitted this Daiphantus about me, who 
 well showed there is 110 service like his that serves because 
 he loves.* For, though born of princes' blood, brought up 
 with tenderest education, unapt to service because a woman, 
 and full of thoughts because in a strange estate, yet Love 
 enjoined such diligence that no apprentice, no, no bondslave, 
 could ever be by fear more ready at all commandments than 
 that young princess was. How often, alas ! did her eyes 
 say unto me that they loved, and yet I, not looking for such 
 a matter, had not my conceit open to understand them ! 
 How often would she come creeping to me, between gladness 
 to be near me and fear to offend me ! Truly I remember 
 that then I marvelled to see her receive my commandments 
 with sighs, and yet do them with cheerfulness, sometimes 
 answering me in such riddles as I then thought a childish 
 inexperience ; but, since returning to my remembrance, they 
 have come more clear unto my knowledge ; and pardon me, 
 only-dear lady, that I use many words, for her affection to 
 me deserves of me an affectionate speech. 
 
 " In such sort did she serve me in the ki«gdom of Bithynia, 
 that we brought to an end a cruel war between the king and 
 his brother. This done, we intended to ease the care of our 
 father and mother, when we were guided by the noise of a 
 great fight to a pleasant valley, which, like one of those cir- 
 cuses in great cities, doth give a pleasant sight for running 
 horses, hemmed in by woody hills as if Nature therein had 
 made a place for beholders. There beheld we one of the 
 
 * A most charming sentence ; the thought as beautiful as true. 
 It is such as these, and there are many, that more than redeem the 
 involved tediousness of the Arcadia. Of their worth Sidney (or his 
 publisher) seems to have been fully aware, as they were set in italics. 
 
2o8 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 cruellest fights between two knights that ever hath adorned 
 the most martial story. So as I must confess awhile we stood 
 bewondered, another while delighted, with the rare beauty 
 thereof, till, seeing such streams of blood as threatened a 
 drowning of life, we galloped toward them to part them. 
 But we were prevented by a dozen armed knights, or rather 
 villains, who, using this time of their extreme feebleness, all 
 together set upon them. But common danger brake off par- 
 tiv-ular discord ; so that, though with a dying weakness, with a 
 lively courage they resisted, and by our help drave away or 
 slew those murdering attempters, among whom we hapt to 
 take alive the principal. But, going to disarm those two ex- 
 cellent knights, we found, with no less wonder to us than 
 astonishment to themselves, that they were the two valiant 
 and indeed famous brothers Tydeus and Telenor, whose 
 adventure, as afterwards we made that ungracious wretch 
 confess, had thus fallen out. 
 
 " After the noble Prince Leonatus had by his father's death 
 succeeded in the kingdom of Galatia, he, forgetting all former 
 injuries, had received that naughty Plexirtus into a stray 
 degree of favour, his goodness being as apt to be deceived 
 as the other's craft was to deceive, till by plain proof finding 
 that the ungrateful man went about to poison him, yet would 
 he not suffer his kindness to be overcome, not by justice it- 
 self, but, calling him to him, used words to this purpose : 
 ' Plexirtus,' said he, ' this wickedness is found by thee ; no 
 good deeds of mine have been able to keep it down in thee ; 
 all men counsel me to take away thy life, likely to bring forth 
 nothing but as dangerous as wicked effects ; but I cannot 
 find it in my heart, remembering what father's son thou art ; 
 but since it is the violence of ambition, which perchance 
 pulls thee from thine own judgment, I will see whether the 
 satisfying that may quiet the ill-working of thy spirits. Not 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 299 
 
 far hence is the great city of Trebisond, which, with the 
 territory about it, anciently pertained unto this crown, now 
 unjustly possessed and as unjustly abused by those who have 
 neither title to hold it nor virtue to rule it. To the conquesti 
 of that for thyself I will lend thee force and give thee my 
 right. Go, therefore, and with less unnaturalness glut thy 
 ambition there ; and that done, if it be possible, learn virtue. 
 
 " Plexirtus, mingling forsworn excuses with false-meant 
 promises, gladly embraced the offer, and, hastily sending 
 back for those two brothers, who at that time were with us 
 succouring that gracious queen Erona, by their virtue chiefly, 
 if not only, obtained the conquest of that goodly dominion. 
 Which indeed done by them, gave them such an authority 
 that, though he reigned, they in effect ruled, most men 
 honouring them because they only deserved honour ; and 
 many thinking therein to please Plexirtus, considering how 
 much he was bound unto them, while they likewise, with a 
 certain sincere boldness of self-warranting friendship, ac- 
 cepted all openly and plainly, thinking nothing should ever 
 by Plexirtus be thought too much in them, since all they 
 were was his. 
 
 " But he, who by the rules of his own mind could construe 
 no other end of men's doing but self-seeking, suddenly feared 
 what they could do, and as suddenly suspected what they 
 would do, and as suddenly hated them, as having both might 
 and mind to do. But, dreading their power, standing so 
 strongly in their own valour and others' affection, he durst 
 not take open way against them, and as hard it was to take 
 a secret, they being so continually followed by the best and 
 every way ablest of that region, and therefore used this 
 devilish sleight, which I will tell you, not doubting, most 
 wicked man, to turn their own friendship toward him to their 
 own destruction. He, knowing that they well knew there 
 
 P 
 
2IO ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 was no friendship between him and the new king of Pontus, 
 never since he succoured Leonatus and us to his overthrow, 
 gave them to understand that of late there had passed secret 
 defiance between them to meet privately at a place appointed ; 
 which though not so fit a thing for men of their greatness, 
 yet was his honour so engaged as he could not go back. Yet 
 feigning to find himself weak by some counterfeit infirmity, 
 the day drawing near, he requested each of them to go in his 
 stead, making either of them swear to keep the matter secret, 
 even from each other, delivering the self-same particularities 
 to both, but that he told Tydeus the king would meet him 
 ^ in a blue armour, and Telenor that it was a black armour ; 
 and with wicked subtilty, as if it had been so appointed, 
 caused Tydeus to take a black armour, and Telenor a blue ; 
 appointing them ways how to go, so as he knew they should 
 not meet till they came to the place appointed, where each 
 promised to keep silence lest the king should discover it was 
 not Plexirtus ; and there in await had he laid these mur- 
 therers, that who overlived the other should by them be 
 despatched, he not daring, trust more than those with that 
 enterprise, and yet thinking them too few till themselves, 
 by themselves, were weakened. 
 
 " This we learned chiefly by the chief of those way-beaters 
 after the death of those two worthy brothers, whose love was 
 no less than their valour ; but well we might find much 
 thereof by their pitiful lamentation, when they knew their 
 mismeeting, and saw each other, in despite of the surgery we 
 could do unto them, striving who should run fastest to the 
 goal of death ; each bewailing the other, and more dying in 
 the other than in himself ; cursing their own hands for doing, 
 and their breasts for not sooner suffering, detesting their 
 unfortunately spent time in having served so ungrateful a 
 tyrant, and accusing their folly in having beheved he could 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 211 
 
 faithfully love who did not love faithfulness, wishing us to 
 take heed how we placed our good-will upon any other 
 ground than proof of virtue, since length of acquaintance, 
 mutual secrecies, nor height of benefits could bind a savage 
 heart, no man being good to other that is not good in 
 himself ; then, while any hope was, beseeching us to leave 
 the care of him that besought, and only look to the other. 
 But when they found by themselves and us no possibility, they 
 desired to be joined, and so, embracing and craving that 
 pardon each of other which they denied to themselves, they 
 gave us a most sorrowful spectacle of their death, leaving 
 few in the world behind them their matches in anything if 
 they had soon enough known the ground and limits of 
 friendship. But with woeful hearts we caused those bodies 
 to be conveyed to the next town of Bithynia, where we, 
 learning thus much as I have told you, caused the wicked 
 historian to conclude his story with his owfi well-deserved 
 death. 
 
 " But then, I must tell you, I found such woeful counten- 
 ances in Daiphantus that I could not but much marvel, 
 finding them continue beyond the first assault of pity, how 
 the case of strangers, for further I did not conceive, could so 
 deeply pierce. But the truth indeed is, that partly with the 
 shame and sorrow she took of her father's faultiness, partly 
 with the fear that the hate I conceived against him would 
 utterly disgrace her in my opinion, whensoever I should 
 know her, so vehemently perplexed her, that her fair colour 
 decayed, and daily and hastily grew into the very extreme 
 working of sorrowfulness, which oft I sought to learn and 
 help. But she, as fearful as loving, still concealed it ; and so 
 decaying still more and more in the excellency of her fairness, 
 ;but that whatsoever weakness took away pity seemed to add ; 
 yet still she; forced herself to wait on me with such care and 
 
 P 2 
 
212 ARCADIA.— Book IL 
 
 diligence as might well show had been taught in no other 
 school but love. 
 
 " While we, returning again to embark ourselves for Greece, 
 understood that the mighty Otanes, brother to Barzanes slain 
 by Musidorus, in the battle of the six princes, had entered upon 
 the kingdom of Pontus, partly upon the pretences he had to 
 the crown, but principally because he would revenge upon 
 him whom he knew we loved the loss of his brother, thinking, 
 as indeed he had cause, that wheresoever we were, hearing of 
 his extremity, we would come to relieve him, in spite whereof 
 he doubted not to prevail, not only upon the confidence of 
 his own virtue and power, but especially because he had in 
 his company two mighty giants, sons to a couple whom we 
 slew in the same realm ; they having been absent at their 
 father's death, and now returned, willingly entered into his 
 service, hating, more than he, both us and that king of Pontus. 
 We therefore with all speed went thitherward ; but by the way 
 this fell out, which whensoever I remember without sorrow, 
 I must forget withal all humanity. 
 
 " Poor Daiphantus fell extreme sick, yet would needs conquer 
 the delicacy of her constitution, and force herself to wait on 
 me, till one day, going toward Pontus, we met one who in 
 great haste went seeking for Tydeus and Telenor, whose 
 death as yet was not known unto the messenger, who, being 
 their servant, and knowing how dearly they loved Plexirtus, 
 brought them word how, since their departing, Plexirtus was 
 in present danger of a cruel death, if by the valiantness of 
 one of the best knights of the world he were not rescued. We 
 inquired no further of the matter, being glad he should now 
 to his loss find what an unprofitable treason it had been 
 unto him to dismember himself of two such friends, and so 
 let the messenger part, not sticking to make him know his 
 masters' destruction by the falsehood of Plexirtus. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 213 
 
 " But the grief of that, finding a body already brought to the 
 last degree of weakness, so overwhelmed the little remnant 
 of the spirits left in Daiphantus, that she fell suddenly into 
 deadly swoonings, never coming to herself but that withal 
 she returned to make most pitiful lamentations, most strange 
 unto us because we were far from guessing the ground 
 thereof. But finding her sickness such as began to print 
 death in her eyes, we made all haste possible to convey her 
 to the next town ; but before we could lay her on a bed, both 
 we and she might find in herself that the harbingers of 
 over-hasty death had prepared his lodging in that dainty 
 body, which she undoubtedly feeling, with a weak cheerful- 
 ness showed comfort therein, and then, desiring us both to 
 come near her, and that nobody else might be present, with 
 pale, and yet, even in paleness, lovely lips, * Now or never, 
 and never indeed but now, is it time for me,' said she, ' to 
 speak ; and I thank death, which gives me leave to discover 
 that the suppressing whereof perchance hath been the sharpest 
 spur that hath hasted my race to this end. Know, then, my 
 lords, and especially you, my lord and master Pyrocles, that 
 your page Daiphantus is the unfortunate Zelmane, who for 
 your sake caused my as unfortunate lover and cousin Palla- 
 dius to leave his father's court, and, consequently, both him 
 and my aunt his mother to lose their lives. For your sake 
 myself have become of a princess a page, and for your sake 
 have put off the apparel of a woman, and, if you judge not 
 more mercifully, the modesty.' We were amazed at her 
 speech, and then had, as it were, new eyes given us to 
 perceive that which before had been a present stranger 
 to our minds ; for indeed forthwith we knew it to be the 
 face of Zelmane, whom before we had known in the court 
 of Iberia. And, sorrow and pity laying her pain upon 
 me, I comforted her the best I could by the tenderness of 
 
214 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 good-will, pretending, indeed, better hope than I had of her 
 recovery. 
 
 "But she, that had inward ambassadors from the tyrant 
 that shortly would oppress her, ' No, my dear master,' said 
 she, ' I neither hope nor desire to live. I know you would 
 never have loved me ' — and with that word she wept — ' nor, 
 alas ! had it been reason you should, considering many ways 
 my unworthiness. It sufficeth me that the strange course I 
 have taken shall to your remembrance witness my love ; and 
 yet this breaking of my heart, before I would discover my 
 pain, will make you, I hope, think that I was not altogether 
 unmodest. Think of me so, dear master, and that thought 
 shall be my life ;' and with that languishingly looking upon 
 me, ' and I pray you,' said she, ' even by these dying eyes of 
 mine, which are only sorry to die because they shall lose your 
 sight, and by these polled locks of mine, which, while they 
 were long, were the ornament of my sex, now in their short 
 curls, the testimony of my servitude ; and by the service I 
 have done you, which God knows has been full of love, think 
 of m6 after my death with kindness, though you cannot with 
 love. And whensoever ye shall make any other lady happy 
 with your well-placed affection, if you tell her my folly, I pray 
 you speak of it not with scorn, but with pity.' I assure you, 
 dear princess of my life — for how could it be otherwise? — her 
 words and her manner, with the lively consideration of her 
 love, so pierced me, that though I had divers griefs before, 
 yet methought I never felt till then how much sorrow en- 
 feebled all resolution ; for I could not choose but yield to the 
 weakness of abundant weeping ; in truth with such grief that 
 I could willingly at that time have changed lives with her. 
 
 " But when she saw my tears, ' O God,' said she, ' how 
 largely am I recompensed for my losses.! why, then,' said she, 
 ' I may take boldness to make some requests unto you.' I 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 215 
 
 besought her to do, vowing the performance, though my life 
 were the price thereof. She showed great joy : ' The first,' 
 said she, ' is this, that you will pardon my father the dis- 
 pleasure you have justly conceived against him, and for this 
 once succour him out of the danger wherein he is : I hope he 
 will amend : and I pray you, whensoever you remember him 
 to be the faulty Plexirtus, remember withal that he is Zel- 
 mane's father. The second is, that when you come once into 
 Greece, you will take unto yourself this name, though un- 
 lucky, of Daiphantus, and vouchsafe to be called by it : for 
 so shall I be sure you shall have cause to remember me ; and 
 let it please your noble cousin to be called Palladius, that I 
 may do that right to that poor prince, that his name yet may 
 live upon the earth in so excellent a person ; and so between 
 you I trust sometimes your unlucky page shall be, perhaps 
 with a sigh, mentioned. Lastly, let me be buried here ob- 
 scurely, not suffering my friends to know my fortune, till, 
 when you are safely returned to your own country, you cause 
 my bones to be conveyed thither, and laid, I beseech you, in 
 some place where yourself vouchsafe sometimes to resort.' 
 Alas ! small petitions for such a suitor ! which yet she so 
 earnestly craved that I was fain to swear the accomplishment. 
 And then kissing me, and often desiring me not to condemn 
 her of lightness, in mine arms she delivered her pure soul to 
 the purest place ; leaving me as full of agony as kindness, 
 pity, and sorrow could make an honest heart. For I must 
 confess for true, that if my stars had not wholly reserved me 
 for you, there else, perhaps, I might have loved, and, which 
 had been most strange, begun my love after death : whereof 
 let it be the less marvel, because somewhat she did resemble 
 you, though as far short of your perfection as herself dying 
 was of herself flourishing ; yet something there was which, 
 when I saw a picture of yours, brought again her figure into 
 
2i6 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 my remembrance, and made my heart as apt to receive the 
 wound as the power of your beauty with unresistible force 
 to pierce.* 
 
 " But we, in woeful and yet private manner burying her, 
 performed her commandment ; and then, inquiring of her 
 father's estate, certainly learned that he was presently to be 
 succoured, or by death to pass the need of succour. There- 
 fore we determined to divide ourselves ; I, according to my 
 
 .* With the exception of the page Bellario, in Beaumont and Fletcher's 
 "Philaster," perhaps there is no similar character in literature which 
 excites so melancholy a pleasure as that of Daiphantus. Her death, 
 which Beaumont has not copied, is so tenderly described that we feel 
 Charles Lamb was speaking within bounds when he coupled the 
 Arcadia with Milton's "Comus." Lamb, a true lover of Sidney, 
 seems to have been unaware that the character of Bellario is bor- 
 rowed from Daiphantus, and he therefore assigns to Beaumont and 
 Fletcher, although Shakespeare had preceded them, the starting of 
 the fashion of "these women pages;" a fashion which, he says, 
 evidences " the extreme popularity of Bellario." Women were then 
 played by boys. " What an odd double confusion it must have 
 been," adds Lamb, " to see a boy play a woman playing a man; 
 one cannot disentangle the perplexity without some violence to the 
 imagination." This fashion had, in Sidney's days, a basis of reality; 
 thus Donne wrote a copy of verses addressed to his mistress, dis- 
 suading her from a resolution she had taken of following him abroad 
 dressed as a page. She was the daughter of Sir George Moore, and 
 her story ought to be well known, since it is charmingly written m 
 Walton's Lives : — 
 
 "By thy father's wrath, 
 I conjure thee ; and all the oaths which I 
 And thou have sworn to seal joint constancy 
 I here unswear, and overswear them thus : 
 Thou shalt not love by means so dangerous. 
 Temper, 0-fair Love, love's impetuous rage ; 
 Be my true mistress, not myfeig?iedpage." 
 From this noble ardour of true love, this heat and glow experienced 
 by such men as Sidney and Donne, to the cold calculations of our 
 youth, which seeks even base ways to place impediments to marriage, 
 what a fall is there ! But, indeed, in the great Queen's days the 
 inhabitants of this island were not politico-economical-calculating 
 machines, but real live, loving, and God-fearing men and women. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 217 
 
 vow, to help liim, and Musidorus toward the king of Pontus, 
 who stood in no less need than immediate succour ; and, even 
 ready to depart one from the other, there came a messenger 
 from him, who, after some inquiry, found us, giving us to 
 understand that he, trusting upon us two, had appointed the 
 combat between him and us against Otanes and the two 
 giants. Now the day was so accorded as it was impossible 
 for me both to succour Plexirtus and be there, where my 
 honour was not only so far engaged, but, by the strange 
 working of unjust fortune, I was to leave the standing by 
 Musidorus, whom better than myself I loved, to go save him 
 whom, for just causes, I hated. But my promise given, and ; 
 given to Zelmane, and to Zelmane dying, prevailed more with 
 me than my friendship to Musidorus : though certainly I may 
 affirm nothing had so great rule in my thoughts as that. But 
 my promise carried me the easier, because Musidorus himself 
 would not suffer me to break it. And so with heavy minds, 
 more careful each of other's success than of our own, we parted. 
 
 " The virtuous Leonatus, understanding two so good friends 
 of his were to be in that danger, would perforce be one him- 
 self, where he did valiantly, and so did the king of Pontus. 
 But the truth is, that they both being sore hurt, the incom- 
 parable Musidorus finished the combat by the death of both 
 the giants and the taking of Otanes prisoner, to whom as he 
 gave his life, so he got a noble friend, for so he gave his word 
 to be, and he is well known to think himself greater in being 
 subject to that, than in the greatness of his principality. 
 
 " But thither, understanding of our being there, flocked great 
 multitudes of many great persons and even of princes, especially 
 those whom we had made beholding unto us, as the kings of 
 Phrygia, Bithynia, with those two hurt of Pontus and Galatia, 
 and Otanes, the prisoner by Musidorus set free ; and thither 
 came Plexirtus of Trebisond, and Antiphilus, then king of 
 
2i8 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 Lydia, with as many mo* great princes, drawn either by our 
 reputation or by wilHngness to acknowledge themselves 
 obliged unto us for what we had done for the others. So as 
 in those parts of the world, I think, in many hundreds of 
 years, there was not seen so royal an assembly, where nothing 
 was let pass to do us the highest honours which such persons, 
 who might command both purses and inventions, could per- 
 form ; all from all sides bringing unto us right royal presents, 
 which we, to avoid both unkindness and importunity, libe- 
 rally received, and, not content therewith, would needs accept 
 as from us their crowns, and acknowledge to hold them of us, 
 with many other excessive honours, which would not suffer 
 the measure of this short leisure to describe unto you. 
 
 " But we, quickly aweary thereof, hasted to Greece-ward, led 
 thither partly with the desire of our parents, but hastened 
 principally because I understood that Anaxius, with open 
 mouth of defamation, had gone thither to seek me, and was 
 now come to Peleponnesus, where from court to court he 
 made inquiry of me, doing yet himself so noble deeds as 
 might hap to authorize an ill opinion of me. We therefore 
 suffered but short delays, desiring to take this country in our 
 way, so renowned over the world that no prince could pre- 
 tend height nor beggar lowness to bar him from the sound 
 thereof — renowned indeed, not so much for the ancient 
 
 * Mo — Our adjective ''more," which Tooke says is the present and 
 past participle of the Anglo-Saxon maw-an, 7fietere, to measure, has 
 passed through various changes till it stands mo, nio-er (more), mo- est 
 (most), among others, mokel, mykel, mochel, mitchel, moche, much. 
 Some of the above forms are still retained in Scotland. Ala is used 
 for "more" by Shakespeare — "Then sigh no mo, but let them go," 
 is a very familiar instance — and by the old dramatists veiy frequently — 
 " The moe the stronger, if they gree in one " ("Ferrex and Porrex," 
 i. 1 16) — and in the Bible of 1551 — ■" Agayn he sent othir seruauntes, 
 moo then the first, and they serued them lykewyse " — and also in the 
 early editions of the authorized version. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 219' 
 
 praises attributed thereunto, as for the having in it Argalus 
 and Amphialus, two knights of such rare prowess as we de- 
 sired especially to know, and yet by far not so much for that 
 as without suffering of the comparison for the beauty of you 
 and your sister, which makes all indifferent judges that speak 
 thereof account this country as a temple of deities. But these 
 causes, indeed, moving us to come by this land, we embarked 
 ourselves in the next port, whither all those princes, saving 
 Antiphilus, who returned, as he pretended, not able to tarry 
 longer from Erona, conveyed us ; and there found we a ship 
 most royally furnished by Plexirtus, who had made all things 
 so proper, as well for our defence as ease, that all the other 
 princes greatly commended him for it, who seemed a quite 
 altered man, had nothing but repentance in his eyes, friend- 
 ship in his gesture, and virtue in his mouth ; so that we, who 
 had promised the sweet Zelmane to pardon him, now not 
 only forgave, but began to favour, persuading ourselves, with 
 a youthful credulity, that perchance things were not so evil as 
 we took them, and, as it were, desiring our own memory that 
 it might be so. Committing ourselves to the uncertain discre- 
 tion of the wind, we — then determining, as soon as we came to 
 Greece, to take the names of Daiphantus and Palladius, as well 
 for own promise to Zelmane as because we desired to come 
 unknown into Greece — left the Asian shore, full of princely 
 persons, who even upon their knees recommended our safe- 
 ties to the devotion of their chief desires, among whom none 
 hath been so officious, though, I dare affirm, all quite con- 
 trary to his unfaithfulness, as Plexirtus. 
 
 " And so having sailed almost two days, looking for nothing 
 but when we might look upon the land, a grave man, whom 
 we had seen of great trust with Plexirtus, and was sent as 
 our principal guide, came unto us, and, with a certain kind 
 manner, mixed with shame and repentance, began to tell us 
 
220 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 that he had taken such a love unto us, considering our youth 
 and fame, that, though he were a servant, and a servant of 
 such trust about Plexirtus as that he had committed unto 
 him even those secrets of his heart which abhorred all other 
 knowledge, yet he rather chose to reveal at this time a most 
 pernicious counsel than, by concealing it, bring to ruin those 
 whom he could not choose but honour. So went he on, and 
 told us that Plexirtus (in hope thereby to have Artaxia, 
 endowed with the great kingdom of Armenia, to his wife) had 
 given him order, when we were near Greece, to find some 
 opportunity to murder us, bidding him to take us asleep, 
 because he had seen what we could do waking. 
 
 "' Now, sirs,' said he, ' I would rather lose my life than 
 have my remembrance poisoned with such a mischief. 
 Therefore stand upon your guard ; and what I can do for 
 your help you shall see, if it come to the push, by me per- 
 formed.' And truly, when we came within half a day's sailing 
 of the shore, the captain, who had been a pirate, and in that 
 much blooded, set upon us, crying that if Plexirtus desired 
 he would kill God himself So straight against the captain 
 we— time being indeed come — went. He was environed with 
 soldiers and mariners. Yet some, either in doubt of the 
 king or in liking for us, drew their swords on our side ; and it 
 quickly grew a confused fight. From the highest to the 
 lowest part of the ship there was no place left without cries 
 of murdering or of murdered persons, and after many were 
 slain, while the little remnant, like the children of Cadmus, 
 continued to slay one another, fire, either by the desperate 
 malice of some, or accidentally, broke out in the ship, and 
 soon the mast fell overboard, and the fire growing nearer us, 
 it was not only terrible in respect of what we were to attend, 
 ^ but insupportable through the heat of it. So that we were 
 constrained to bide it no longer, but disarming and stripping 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 221 
 
 ourselves, and laying ourselves upon such things as we 
 thought might help our swimming to the land — too far for our 
 own strength to bear us — my cousin and I threw ourselves ' 
 into the sea. But I had sworn a very little way when I felt, 
 by reason of a wound I had, that I should not be able to 
 abide the travel ; and, therefore, seeing the mast, whose 
 tackling had been burnt off, float clear from the ship, I swam 
 unto it, and getting on it I found mine own sword, which by 
 chance, when I threw it away, caught by a piece of canvas, 
 had hung to the mast. I was glad, because I loved it well, 
 but gladder when I saw at the other end the captain of the 
 ship, and of all this mischief, who having a long pike, belike 
 had borne himself up with that till he had set himself upon 
 the mast. But when I perceived him, ' Villain,' said I, ' dost 
 thou think to overlive so many honest men whom thy false- 
 hood hath brought to destruction }' With that bestriding, 
 the mast, I gat by little and little towards him, after such 
 manner as boys are wont, if ever you saw that sport, when 
 they ride the wild mare.* And he perceiving my intention, 
 like a fellow that had much more courage than honesty, set 
 himself to resist ; but I had in short space gotten within him,t 
 and, giving him a sound blow, sent him to feed fishes. But 
 there myself remained, until by pirates I was taken up, and 
 among them again taken prisoner and brought into Laconia." 
 " But what," said Philoclea, " became of your cousin 
 
 * Ride the wild mare — A game common with boys from Saxon 
 times even till now. 
 
 ''''Doll. Why does the Prince love him [Poins] so, then ? 
 '''' Falstaff. Because their legs are both of a bigness, and he plays 
 at quoits well, .... and rides the wild mare with the boys.'''' — 
 Henry IV. pt. ii. act ii. sc. 4. 
 
 t Gotten within him — i.e., that he could not strike. 
 
 " Hold, hurt him not, for God's sake ! he is mad. 
 Some get within him, take his sword away." 
 
 — Comedy of Errors, v. I. 
 
222 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 Musidorus ?" " Lost,"' said Pyrocles. " Ah I my Pyrocles," 
 said Philoclea, " I am glad I have taken you. I perceive 
 you lovers do not always say truly ; as though I knew not 
 your cousin Dorus the shepherd !" " Life of my desires," 
 
 ' said Pyrocles, " what is mine, even to my soul, is yours ; but 
 the secret of my friend is not mine. But if you know so 
 much, then I may truly say he is lost, since he is no more 
 his own. But I perceive your noble sister and you are great 
 friends ; and well doth it become you so to be." " But go for- 
 ward, dear Pyrocles ; I long to hear out till your meeting me, 
 for there to meward is the best part of your story." "Ah, 
 sweet Philoclea," said Pyrocles, " do you think I can think 
 so precious leisure as this well spent in talking ? Are your 
 eyes a fit book, think you, to read a tale upon ? Is my love 
 quiet enough to be an historian ? Dear princess, be gracious 
 unto me." And then he fain would have remembered to have 
 forgot himself.* But she, with a sweetly disobeying grace, 
 desired him that her desire, once for ever, might serve that 
 no spot might disgrace that love which shortly she hoped 
 should be to the world warrantable. Fain he would not have 
 heard till she threatened anger, and then the poor lover durst 
 not, because he durst not. " Nay, I pray thee, dear Pyrocles," 
 said she, " let me have my story." " Sweet princess," said 
 he, " give my thoughts a little respite, and if it please you, 
 since this time must be so spoiled, yet it shall suffer the less 
 harm if you vouchsafe to bestow your voice and let me know 
 ihow the good queen Erona was betrayed into such danger, 
 
 'and why Plangus sought me. For indeed I should pity 
 greatly any mischance fallen to that princess." " I will," 
 
 * Remembered to have forgot hiJJiself — Sidney here anticipates Dr. 
 Young, Night Thoughts, IV. 1. 57 — 
 
 " I've been so long remembered I'm forgot ;" 
 or, more closely, Dr. Wolcots George III.: "Remember to forget 
 to ask Mr, Wlii thread to dinner." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 223 
 
 said Philoclea, smiling, " so you give me your word your 
 hands shall be quiet auditors." " They shall," said he, " be- 
 cause subject." Then began she to speak, but with so pretty 
 and delightful a majesty, when she set her countenance to 
 tell the matter, that Pyrocles could not choose but rebel so 
 far as to kiss her. She would have pulled her head away 
 and spake, but while she spake he kissed, and it seemed he 
 fed upon her words ; but she gat away. " How will you have 
 your discourse," said she, " without you let my lips alone ?" 
 He yielded, and took her hand. " On this," said he, " will I 
 revenge my wrong," and so began to make much of that hand. 
 
 But her tale and his delight were interrupted by Miso, who 
 was sent thither by Gynecia, who had been vexed by a fearful 
 dream of Zelmane. But Philoclea telling her she was there 
 by her father's desire, Miso left them. To them soon came 
 the great and wretched lady Gynecia, divided between those 
 two devils Love and Jealousy, "O jealousy," said she to herself, 
 " the frenzy of wise folks, the well-wishing spite, and unkind 
 carefulness, the self-punishment for other's fault and self-misery 
 in other's happiness, the cousin of envy, daughter of love, and 
 mother of hate, how couldest thou so quietly get thee a seat 
 in the unquiet heart of Gynecia ? — Gynecia," said she, sighing, 
 " thought wise, and once virtuous. Alas ! it is thy breeder's 
 power which plants thee there ; it is the flaming agony of 
 affection that works the chilling access of thy fever, in such 
 sort that nature gives place ; the growing of my daughter 
 seems the decay of myself, the blessings of a mother turn to 
 the curses of a competitor ; and the fair face of Philoclea 
 appears more horrible in my sight than the image of death." 
 Yet, for Zelmane's sake, she used no harder words to her 
 than to bid her go home and accompany her solitary father. 
 
 Then began she to display to Zelmane the storehouse of 
 her deadly desires, when suddenly the confused rumour of a 
 
 X 
 
224 ARCADIA.— Book IT, 
 
 mutinous multitude gave just occasion to Zelmane to break 
 off any such conference — for well she found they were not 
 friendly voices they heard — and to retire with as much dili- 
 gence as conveniently they could towards the lodge. Yet, 
 before they could win* the lodge by twenty paces, they were 
 overtaken by an unruly sort of clowns and other rebels, which, 
 like a violent flood, were carried they themselves knew not 
 whither. But, as soon as they came within perfect discerning 
 these ladies, like enraged beasts, without respect of their 
 estates, or pity of their sex, they began to run against them, 
 as right villains, thinking ability to do hurt to be a great 
 advancement ; yet so many as they were, so many almost 
 were their minds, all knit together only in madness. Some 
 cried " Take," some " Kill," some " Save." But even they 
 that cried " Save " ran for company with them that meant to 
 kill. Every one commanded, none obeyed ; he only seemed 
 chief captain that was most rageful. 
 
 Zelmane, whose virtuous courage was ever awake, drew 
 out her sword, which upon those ill-armed churls giving as 
 many wounds as blows, and as many deaths almost as wounds 
 — lightening courage and thundering smart upon them — kept 
 them at a bay, while the two ladies gat themselves into the 
 lodge, out of which Basilius, having put on an armour long 
 untried, came to prove his authority among his subjects, or 
 at least to adventure his life with his dear mistress, to whom 
 he brought a shield, while the ladies, trembling, attended the 
 issue of this dangerous adventure. But Zelmane made them 
 perceive the odds between an eagle and a kite, with such 
 nimble stayedness, and an assured nimbleness, that, while 
 one was running back for fear, his fellow had her sword in 
 his guts. 
 
 And by-and-by was both her heart and help well increased 
 
 * Win^ A. S. %vinn-an, to gain, to reach. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IL 225 
 
 by the coming of Dorus, who, having been making of hurdles 
 for his master's sheep, heard the horrible cries of this mad 
 multitude ; and having straight represented before the eyes 
 of his careful love the peril wherein the soul of his soul might 
 be, he went to Pamela's lodge, but found her in a cave hard 
 by with Mopsa and Dametas, who at that time would not 
 have opened the entry to his father. And therefore leaving 
 them there, as in a place safe, both for being strong and un- 
 known, he ran as the noise guided him. But when he saw 
 his friend in such danger among them, anger and contempt, 
 asking no counsel but of courage, made him run among them 
 with no other weapon but his sheephook, and with that over- 
 throwing one of the villains, took away a two-hand sword 
 from him, and withal helped him for ever being ashamed of 
 losing it. Then lifting up his brave head, and flashing terror 
 into their faces, he made arms and legs go complain to the 1 . , 
 earth how evil their masters had kept them. Yet the multi- , A 
 tude still growing, and they — very killing wearying them— • 
 fearing lest in long fight they should be conquered by con- 
 quering, they drew back towards the lodge, but drew bacK in 
 such sort that still their terror went forward like a valiant 
 mastiff, whom when his master pulls back by the tail from 
 the bear, with whom he had already interchanged a hateful 
 embracement, though his pace be backward his gesture is 
 forward, his teeth and his eyes threatening more in the 
 retiring than they did in the advancing ; so guided they 
 themselves homeward, never stepping step backward but that 
 they proved themselves masters of the ground where they 
 stept. 
 
 But the fury of these common men was such that the 
 lodge afforded no security against them. For never bees 
 made such a confused humming: the town dwellers were 
 for putting down imposts, the country fellows for laying out 
 
 Q 
 
226 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 of commons ; some would have Basilius keep his court in 
 one place, some in another ; all cried to have new counsellors 
 and the treasure looked to. The peasants would have all 
 the gentlemen destroyed ; the citizens, especially the cooks 
 and barbers, and those that lived most on gentlemen, would 
 have them reformed. But no confusion was greater than 
 that of particular men's likings and dislikings, and some 
 went about to destroy the lodge with pickaxe and fire, when 
 Zelmane, used to such humours, with an angerless bravery 
 thus spake to them : — 
 
 "An unused thing it is, O Arcadians, and I think not 
 hitherto seen, that a woman should give public counsel to 
 men, and a stranger to the country people. But since it is 
 so, I would tell you that none lodge here but those whom you 
 have cause to love, and no cause to hate — your prince, princess, 
 and their children — excepting myself. Is it I, then, O Arca- 
 dians, against whom your anger is turned.?" And so she 
 :ontinued, the action that she used being beautified by nature, 
 tiU the sweet clearness of her voice, rising and falling as the 
 natV-je of the word and the efficacy of the matter imported, had 
 so persuaded them that some of them began to waver. Then, 
 thinking that in such mutinies it were well some should counter- 
 vail their trespass, " Loyal Arcadians," said she, " now do I 
 offer unto you the manifesting of your duties : all those that 
 have taken arms for the prince's safety, let them turn their 
 backs to the gate with their weapons bent again such as would 
 hurt his sacred person." " O weak trust of the many-headed 
 multitude,* whom inconstancy only.-doth guide to well-doing, 
 who can set confidence there where company takes away 
 
 * Many-headed multitude — Sidney here anticipates Massinger s 
 "many-headed monster," Roman Actor, act iii., and Sir Walter 
 Scott, " Lady of the Lake," can. v. st. 20 — 
 
 " Thou many-headed monster thing, 
 Oh, who would wish to be thy king ?" 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT, 227 
 
 shame, and each may lay the fault on his fellow ?" so said a 
 crafty fellow among them, named Clinias, to himself, when 
 he saw the word no sooner out of Zelmane's mouth but that 
 there were some shouts of joy, with " God save Basilius !" 
 and divers of them with much jollity grown to be his guard 
 that but little before meant to be his murderers. 
 
 This Clinias in his youth had been a scholar, so far as to 
 learn rather words than manners, and of words rather plenty 
 than order, and oft had used to be an actor in tragedies, 
 where he had learned, besides a slidingness of language, 
 acquaintance with many passions, and to frame his face to 
 bear the figure of them, long used to the eyes and ears of 
 men, and to reckon no fault but shamefastness in nature ; a 
 most notable coward, and yet more strangely than rarely 
 venturous in privy practices. This fellow was become of| i 
 near trust to Cecropia, Amphialus his mother, so that he wasji 
 privy to all the mischievous devices wherewith she wentlj 
 about to ruin Basilius and his children for the advancing of 
 her son ; and, though his education had made him full of 
 tongue, yet his love to be doing taught him in any evil to be^ 
 secret, and had by his mistress been used, ever since the ' 
 strange retiring of Basilius, to whisper rumours into the 
 people's ears ; and this time, finding great aptness in the 
 multitude, was one of the chief that set them in the uproar, 
 though quite without the consent of Amphialus, who would 
 not for all the kingdoms of the world so have adventured the 
 life of Philoclea ; but no\y, perceiving the flood of their fury 
 began to ebb, he thought it policy to take the first of the 
 tide, so that no man cried louder than he upon Basilius. 
 
 Some of the lustiest rebels not agreeing with the rest, a 
 fight again was set up, the king's party driving the rest away, 
 and Zelmane striking a farmer dead with her sword as she 
 had before done with her eyes. Clinias fought on the side of 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 . ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 Basilius, and he imagining him to be one of the chief that had 
 bred the good akeration, after giving the rebels a general 
 pardon, demanded of Clinias how it was that this frenzy had 
 entered into the minds of the people. Whereon Clinias, pur- 
 posing to tell the truth of all, saving what did touch himself or 
 Cecropia, said that it was chiefly because he (Basilius) retired 
 from the government and withdrew from the people. With 
 that the fellow did wring his hands, and wrang out tears so 
 that Basilius, who was not the sharpest piercer into masked 
 minds, took a good liking to him. But before Chnias went 
 away, certain of the shepherds being come — for that day was 
 appointed for their pastorals — Basihus sent one of them to 
 Philanax, and another to other principal noblemen and cities 
 thereabouts, to make thorough inquiry of this uproar, and 
 withal to place such garrisons in all the towns and villages 
 near unto him, that he might thereafter keep his solitar}^ 
 lodge in more security, upon the making of a fire or ringing 
 of a bell, having them in a readiness for him. 
 
 This Clinias, having his ear one way when his eye was 
 another, had perceived, and therefore hasted away with mind 
 to tell Cecropia that she was to take some speedy resolution, 
 or else it were'danger those examinations would both discover 
 and ruin her ; and so went his way, leaving that little com- 
 pany with embra'cements, and praising of Z^lmane's excellent 
 proceeding, to show that no decking sets forth anything so 
 much as affection. 
 
 But as they were in the midst of those unfeigned cere- 
 monies, a gittern* ill played on, accompanied with a hoarse 
 voice, who seemed to sing maugre the Muses, and to be 
 merry in spite of fortune, made them look the way of the ill- 
 
 * Gittcni — Sometimes spelt "cittern;" an instniment similar to 
 a guitar, aiiuch favom-ed by the customers of barbers, while waiting 
 their turns, in early times. Ben Jonson, in his "Vision of Delight," 
 has both forms of the word. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book IT. 229 
 
 noised song. They had soon found it was Dametas, who 
 came with no less lifted up countenance than if he had passed 
 over the bellies of all his enemies ; so wise a point he thought 
 he had performed in using the natural strength of the cave. 
 But never was it his doing to come so soon thence till the 
 coast were more assuredly clear ; for it was a rule with him 
 that after a great storm there ever fall a few drops before it 
 be fully finished. But Pamela — who had now experienced 
 how much care doth solicit a lover's heart — used this occa- 
 sion of going to her parents and sister, indeed as well for that 
 cause as being unquiet till her eye might be assured how her 
 shepherd had gone through the danger. But Basilius, with 
 the sight of Pamela, of whom almost his head, otherwise 
 occupied, had left the wonted remembrance, was suddenly 
 stricken into a devout kind of admiration, remembering the 
 oracle, which, according to the fawning l^umour of false hope, 
 he interpreted now his own to his own bSSt;* and with the 
 willing blindness of affection, because his mind ran wholly 
 upon Zelmane, he thought the gods in their oracles did 
 principally mind her. 
 
 But, as he was deeply thinking of the matter, one of the 
 shepherds told him that Philanax was already come with an 
 hundred horse in his company. For having by chance rid 
 not far off the little desert, he had heard of this uproar, and 
 so was come upon the spur, gathering a company of gentle- 
 men as fast as he could, to the succour of his master. Basilius 
 was glad of it ; but, not willing to have him nor any other of the 
 noblemen see his mistress, he himself went out of the lodge, 
 and so giving order unto him of placing garrisons and exam- 
 ining these matters, and Philanax, with humble earnestness, 
 
 * Ozvn best — This passage is so involved that it becomes obscure. ' 
 The meaning is easily seen. Basilius interprets the oracle according 
 to his sinful wishes. Perhaps for best we should read lust. 
 
230 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 beginning to intreat him to leave off this sohtary course, 
 which already had been so dangerous unto him, "Well," 
 said Basilius, " it may be ere long I will condescend unto 
 your desire. In the meantime, take you the best order you 
 can to keep me safe in my solitariness. But," said he, " do 
 you remember how earnestly you wrote unto me that I should 
 not be moved by that oracle's authority, which brought me 
 to this resolution ?" " Full well, sir," answered Philanax, " for 
 though it pleased you not as then to let me know what the 
 oracle's words were — yet all oracles hold in, in my conceit, one 
 degree of reputation — it sufficed me to know it was but an 
 oracle which led you from your own course." "Well," said 
 Basilius, " I will now tell you the words, which before I 
 thought not good to do, because when all the events fall out, 
 as some already have done, I may charge you with your 
 incredulity." So he repeated them in this sort : — 
 
 " Thy elder care shall from thy careful face 
 By princely mean be stol'n, and yet not lost ; 
 Thy younger shall with nature's bliss embrace 
 An uncouth love, which nature hateth most ; 
 Both they themselves unto such two shall wed, 
 Who at thy bier, as at a bar, shall plead 
 Why thee, a living man, they had made dead. 
 In thine own seat a foreign state shall sit ; 
 And ere that all these blows thy head do hit, 
 Thou, with thy wife, adultery shall commit." 
 
 " For, forsooth," said he, " when I told you that some super- 
 natural cause sent me strange visions, which being confirmed 
 with presagious chances, I had gone to Delphos, and there 
 received this answer, you replied unto me that the only super- 
 natural causes were the humours of my body, which bred 
 such melancholy dreams, and that both they framed a mind 
 full of conceits, apt to make presages of things which in 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IT. 231 
 
 themselves were merely chanceable ; and withal, as I say, 
 you remember what you wrote unto me touching the autho- 
 rity of the oracle. But now I have some notable trial of the 
 truth thereof, which hereafter I will more largely communicate 
 unto you. Only now know that the thing I most feared 
 is already performed ; I mean that a, foreign state should 
 possess my throne. For that hath been done by Zelmane, 
 but not as I feared to my ruin, but to my preservation." But 
 when he had once named Zelmane, that name was as good as 
 a pulley to make the clock of his praises run on in such sort 
 that, Philanax found, was more exquisite than the only admira- 
 tion of virtue breedeth ; which his faithful heart inwardly 
 repining at made him shrink away as soon as he could to go 
 about the other matters of importance which Basilius had 
 enjoined unto him. 
 
 Basilius returned into the lodge, thus by himself construing 
 the oracle : that in that he said his elder care should by 
 princely mean be stolen away from him, and yet not lost, it 
 was now performed, since Zelmane had, as it were, robbed 
 from him the care of his first-begotten child; yet was it not 
 lost, since in his heart the ground of it remained. That his 
 younger should with nature's bliss embrace the love of Zel- 
 mane, because he had so commanded her for his sake to do ; 
 yet should it be with as much hate of nature, for being so 
 hateful an opposite to the jealousy he thought her mother 
 had of him. The sitting in his seat he deemed by her already 
 performed ; but that which most comforted him was his 
 interpretation of the adultery, which he thought he should 
 commit with Zelmane, whom afterwards he should have to his 
 wife. The point of his daughters' marriage, because it 
 threatened his death withal, he determined to prevent with 
 keeping them, while he lived, unmarried. But having, as 
 he thought, gotten thus much understanding^ of the oracle. 
 
232 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 he determined for three days after to perform certain rites 
 to Apollo. 
 
 As soon as he had ended his devotion, all the privileged 
 shepherds being now come, knowing well enough he might 
 lay all his care upon Philanax, he was willing to sweeten 
 the taste of this passed tumult with some rural pastimes ; 
 for which while the shepherds prepared themselves in the 
 best manner, Basilius took his daughter Philoclea aside, and 
 with such haste as if his ears hunted for words, desired to 
 know how she had found Zelmane. She humbly answered 
 him, according to the agreement betwixt them, that thus 
 much for her sake Zelmane was content to descend from 
 her former resolution as to hear him whensoever he would 
 speak ; and further than that, she said, as Zelmane had not 
 granted, so she neither did nor ever would desire. Basilius 
 kissed her with more than fatherly thanks, and straight, 
 like a hard-kept ward new come to his lands, would fain 
 have used the benefit of that grant in laying his sick- 
 ness before his only physician. But Zelmane, that had not 
 yet fully determined with herself how to bear herself to- 
 ward him, made him in few words understand that the time, 
 in respect of the company, was unfit for such a parley ; and, 
 therefore, to keep his brains the busier, letting him under- 
 stand what she had learned of his daughters touching 
 Erona's distress, whom in her travel she had known and 
 been greatly beholding to, she desired him to finish the rest, 
 for so far as Plangus had told him. Because, she said — 
 and she said truly — she was full of care for that lady, whose 
 desert, only except an over-base choice, was nothing agree- 
 able to misfortune. Basilius, glad that she would command 
 him anything, but more glad that, in excusing the unfitness 
 of that time, she argued an intention to grant a fitter, obeyed 
 her in this manner — 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 233 
 
 " Madam," said he, " it is very true that, since years 
 enabled me to judge what is or is not to be pitied, I never 
 saw anything that more moved me to justify a vehement com- 
 passion in myself than the estate of that prince, whom, strong 
 against all his own afflictions, which yet were great, as I per- 
 ceive you have heard, yet true and noble love had so pulled 
 down as to lie under sorrow for another. But then, to leave 
 that unrepeated which I find my daughters have told you, 
 it may please you to understand, since it pleaseth you to 
 demand, that Antiphilus being crowned, and so left by the 
 famous princes Musidorus and Pyrocles, led thence by the 
 challenge of Anaxius, who is now in these provinces of 
 Greece, making a dishonourable inquiry after that excellent 
 Prince Pyrocles already perished — Antiphilus, I say, being 
 crowned and delivered from the presence of those two, whose 
 virtues, while they were present, like good schoolmasters, sup- 
 pressed his vanities, he had not strength of mind enough 
 in him to make long delay of discovering what manner of 
 man he was. But straight, like one carried up to so high a 
 place that he loseth the discerning of the ground over which 
 he is, so was his mind hfted so far beyond the level of his 
 own discourse that, remembering only that himself was in the 
 high seat of a king, he could not perceive that he was a king of 
 reasonable creatures, who would quickly scorn follies and 
 repine at injuries. But, imagining no so true property of 
 sovereignty as to do what he listed, and to list whatsoever 
 pleased his fancy, he quickly made his kingdom a tennis- 
 court, where his subjects should be the balls, not, in truth, 
 cruelly, but licentiously abusing them, presuming so far upon 
 himself that what he did was liked of everybody ; nay, that 
 his disgraces were favours, and all because he was a king. 
 
 " Then vainness, a meagre friend to gratefulness, brought 
 him so to despise Erona, as of whom he had received no 
 
234 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 benefit, that, within half a year's marriage, he began to pre- 
 tend barrenness, and, making first an unlawful law of having 
 mo wives than one, he, still keeping Erona under hand, by- 
 messages sought Artaxia, who, no less hating him than 
 loving (as unlucky a choice) the naughty king Plexirtus, yet, 
 to bring to pass what she purposed, was content to train 
 him into false hopes, till already his imagination had crowned 
 him king of Armenia, and had made that but the foundation 
 of more and more monarchies, as if fortune had only gotten 
 eyes to cherish him. Poor Erona to all this obeyed, either 
 vehemency of affection making her stoop to so over-base a 
 servitude, or, astonished with an unlooked-for fortune, dull 
 to any behoof-full resolution, or, as many times it falls out even 
 in great hearts when they can accuse none but themselves, 
 desperately bent to maintain it. For so went she on in that 
 way of her love that, poor lady, to be beyond all other ex- 
 amples of ill-set affection, she was brought to write to Artaxia 
 that she was content, for the public good, to be a second wife, 
 and yield the first place to her ; nay, to extol him, and even 
 woo Artaxia for him. 
 
 " But Artaxia, mortally hating them both for her brother's 
 sake, was content to hide her hate till she had time to show 
 it ; and, pretending that all her grudge was against the two 
 paragons of virtue, Musidorus and Pyrocles, even met them 
 half way in excusing her brother's murther, as not being prin- 
 cipal actors, and, of the other side, driven to what they did 
 by the ever-pardonable necessity, and so well handled the 
 matter as, though she promised nothing, yet Antiphilus pro- 
 mised himself all that she would have him think. And so a 
 solemn interview was appointed. But, as the poets say, 
 Hymen had not there his saffron-coloured coat ; for Artaxia, 
 laying men secretly — and easily they might be secret, since 
 Antiphilus thought she overran him in love — when he came 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 11. 235 
 
 even ready to embrace her, showing rather a countenance of 
 accepting than offering, they came forth, and, having much 
 advantage both in number, valour, and fore-preparation, put 
 all his company to the sword but such as could fly away. 
 As for Antiphilus, she caused him and Erona both to be put 
 in irons, hasting back towards her brother's tomb, upon which 
 she meant to sacrifice them, making the love of her brother 
 stand between her and all other motions of grace, from which 
 by nature she was alienated. 
 
 " But great diversity in them two quickly discovered itself 
 for the bearing of that affliction ; for Antiphilus, that had no 
 greatness but outward, that taken away, was ready to fall 
 faster than calamity could thrust him, with fruitless begging 
 of life, where reason might well assure him his death was 
 resolved, and weak bemoaning his fortune, to give his enemies 
 a most pleasing music, with many promises and protestations 
 to as little purpose, as from a little mind. But Erona, sad 
 indeed, yet like one rather used than new fallen to sadness, 
 as who had the joys of her heart already broken, seemed 
 rather to welcome than to shun that end of misery, speaking 
 little, but what she spake was for Antiphilus, remembering 
 his guiltiness, being at that time prisoner to Tiridates when 
 the valiant princes slew him ; to the disgrace of men, show- 
 ing that there are women both more wise to judge what is 
 to be expected, and more constant to bear it when it is 
 happened. 
 
 " But her wit, endeared by her youth, her affliction by her 
 birth, and her sadness by her beauty, made this noble Prince / 
 PlanguSjWho — never almost from his cousin Artaxia — was now 
 present at Erona's taking, to perceive the shape of loveliness 
 more perfectly in woe than in joyfulness, as in a picture which 
 receives greater life by the darkness of shadows than by more 
 glittering colours, and seeing to like, and liking to love, and, 
 
236 ARCADIA,— Book IT. 
 
 loving straight, to feel the most incident effects of love, to 
 serve and preserve : so, borne by the hasty tide of short 
 leisure, he did hastily deliver together his affection and affec- 
 tionate care. But she, as if he had spoken of a small matter 
 when he mentioned her life, to which she had not leisure to 
 
 y attend, desired him, if he loved her, to show it in finding 
 "^ some way to save Antiphilus. For her, she found the world 
 but a wearisome stage unto her, where she played a part 
 against her will, and therefore besought him not to cast his 
 love in so unfruitful a place as could not love itself, but, for 
 a testimony of constancy and a suitableness to his word, to 
 do so much comfort to her mind as that for her sake Anti- 
 philus were saved. He told me how much he argued against 
 her tendering him who had so ungratefully betrayed her and 
 foolishly cast away himself; but, perceiving she did not only 
 bend her very good wits to speak for him against herself, but, 
 when such a cause could be allied to no reason, yet love 
 would needs make itself a cause, and bar her rather from 
 hearing than yield that she should yield to such arguments, 
 he likewise, in whom the power of love, as they say of spirits, 
 was subject to the love in her, with grief consented ; and, 
 though backwardly, was diligent to labour the help of Anti- 
 -philus, a man whom he not only hated, as a traitor to Erona, 
 
 Y but envied as a possessor of Erona ; yet love sware his heart, 
 in spite of his heart, should make him become a servant to 
 his rival. And so did he, seeking all the means of persuad- 
 ing Artaxia which the authority of so near and so virtuous a 
 kinsman could give unto him. But she, to whom the eloquence 
 of hatred had given revenge the face of delight, rejected all 
 such motions, but the rather more closely imprisoning them 
 in her chief city, where she kept them with intention at the 
 birthday of Tiridates, which was very near, to execute Anti- 
 philus, and at the day of his death, which was about half a 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 237 
 
 year after, to use the same rigour towards Erona, Plangus, 
 much grieved, because much loving, attempted the humours 
 of the Lydians, to see whether they could come in with forces 
 to succour their princess ; but there the next inheritor to the 
 crown, with the true play that is used in the game of kingdoms, 
 had no sooner his mistress in captivity but he had usurped 
 her place, and, making her odious to her people, because of 
 the unfit election she had made, had so left no hope there, 
 but, which is worse, had sent to Artaxia, persuading the jus- 
 ticing* her, because that unjustice might give his title the 
 name of justice. Wanting that way, Plangus practised with 
 some dear friends of his to save Antiphilus out of prison, > 
 whose day, because it was much nearer than Erona's, and 
 that he well found she had twisted her life upon the same 
 thread with his, he determined first to get him out of prison ; 
 and to that end, having prepared all matters as well as in 
 such case he could, where Artaxia had set many of Tuidates' 
 old servants to have well-marking eyes, he conferred with 
 Antiphilus, as, by the authority he had, he found means to 
 do, and agreed with him of the time and manner how he 
 should, by the death of some of his jailors, escape. But all 
 being well ordered, and Plangus willingly putting himself into 
 the greatest danger, Antiphilus — who, like a bladder, swelled 
 ready to break while it was full of the wind of prosperity, 
 that being out, was so abjected as apt to be trod on by every- 
 body — when it came to the point that, v/ith some hazard, he 
 might be in apparent likelihood to avoid the uttermost harm, 
 his heart fainted, and, weak fool, neither hoping nor fearing 
 as he should, gat a conceit that, with bewraying this practice 
 he might obtain pardon, and therefore, even a little before 
 Plangus should have come unto him, opened the whole prac- 
 tice to him that had the charge, with unpitied tears idly 
 
 * Justicing—i.c.^ sentence being passed upon her. 
 
238 ARCADIA.— Book 11. 
 
 y protesting he had rather die by Artaxia's commandment 
 than against her will to escape ; yet begging life upon any 
 the hardest and wretchedest conditions that she should lay 
 upon him. His keeper provided accordingly, so that when 
 Plangus came he was like himself to have been entrapped, 
 but that, finding, with a lucky insight, that it was discovered, 
 he retired, and, calling his friends about him, stood uponhis 
 guard, as he had good cause. For Artaxia, accounting him 
 most ungrateful, considering that her brother and she had 
 not only preserved him against the malice of his father, but 
 ever used him much liker his birth than his fortune, sent 
 forces to apprehend him ; but he among the martial men 
 had gotten so great love that he could not only keep himself 
 from her malice, but work in their minds a compassion of 
 Erona's adversity. 
 
 " But for the succour of Antiphilus he could get nobody to 
 join v.'ith him, the contempt of him having not been able to 
 qualify the hatred ; so that Artaxia might easily upon him 
 perform her will, which was, at the humble suit of all the 
 women of that city, to deliver him to their censure, who 
 mortally hated him for having made a law of polygamy, after 
 J many tortures, forced him to throw himself from a high 
 pyramis,* which was built over Tiridates' tomb, and so to 
 end his false-hearted life, which had planted no strong thought 
 in him, but that he could be unkind. 
 
 " But Plangus well perceiving that Artaxia stayed only for 
 
 ^ the appointed day that the fair Erona's body, consumed to 
 
 ashes, should make a notorious testimony how deeply her 
 
 brother's death was engraven in her breast, he assembled 
 
 good numbers of friends, whom his virtue, though a stranger, 
 
 * Pyraviis — This is the old and correct form of our modern " py- 
 ramid." In the change it has undergone it bears considerable 
 affinity to the old word "magnes," now modernized into "magnet." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 239 
 
 had tied unto him, by force to give her hberty. Contrari- 
 wise, Artaxia, to whom anger gave more courage than her 
 sex did fear, used her regal authority the most she could, to 
 suppress that sedition, and have her will, which, she thought, 
 is the most princely thing that may be. But Plangus, who, 
 indeed, as all men witness, is one of the best captains, both 
 for policy and valour, that are trained in the school of Mars, 
 in a conflict overthrew Artaxia's power, though of far 
 greater number, and there took prisoner a base son of her 
 brother's, whom she dearly affected, and then sent her word 
 that he should run the same race of fortune, whatsoever it 
 was, that Erona did ; and happy was that threatening for 
 her, for else Artaxia had hastened the day of her death in 
 respect of those tumults. 
 
 " But now, some principal noblemen of that country inter- 
 posing themselves, it was agreed that all persons else fully 
 pardoned, and all prisoners, except Erona, delivered, she 
 should be put into the hands of a principal nobleman, who 
 had a castle of great strength, by oath, if by the day two 
 year from Tiridates' death Pyrocles and Musidorus did 
 not in person combat and overcome two knights, whom she 
 appointed to maintain her quarrel against Erona and them 
 of having by treason destroyed her brother, that then Erona^ 
 should be that same day burnt to ashes ; but if they came 
 and had the victory, she should be delivered, but upon no 
 occasion neither freed nor executed till that day. And hereto 
 of both sides all took solemn oath, and so the peace was con- 
 cluded ; they of Plangus' party forcing him to agree, though 
 he himself the sooner condescended knowing the courtesy 
 of those two excellent princes not to refuse so noble a quarrel, 
 and their power such as two more like the other two were not 
 able to resist. But Artaxia was more, and upon better ground, 
 pleased with this action ; for she had even newly received 
 
240 ARCADIA.— Book II. 
 
 news from Plexirtus that upon the sea he had caused them 
 both to perish, and therefore she held herself sure of the 
 match. 
 
 " But poor Plangus knew not so much, and therefore, seeing 
 his party, as most times it falls out in like case, hungry of 
 any conditions of peace, accepted them ; and then obtained 
 leave of the lord that indifferently* kept her to visit Erona, 
 whom he found full of desperate sorrow, suffering neither his 
 [Antiphilus'] un worthiness, nor his wrongs, nor his death, w^hich 
 is the natural conclusion of all worldly acts, either to cover with 
 forgetfulness or diminish with consideration the affection 
 she had borne him, but even glorying in affliction, and 
 shunning all comfort, she seemed to have no delight but in 
 making herself the picture of misery. So that when Plangus 
 came to her she fell in deadly trances, as if in him she had 
 seen the death of Antiphilus, because he had not succoured 
 him ; and yet, her virtue striving, she did at one time acknow- 
 ledge herself bound, and profess herself injured, instead of 
 allowing the conclusion they had made, or writing to the 
 princes, as he wished her to do, craving nothing but some 
 speedy death to follow her, in spite of just hate, beloved 
 Antiphilus. 
 
 " So that Plangus, having nothing but a ravished kiss from 
 her hand at their parting, went away toward Greece, whither- 
 ward he understood the princes were embarked. But by the 
 way it was his fortune to intercept letters written by Artaxia 
 to Plexirtus, wherein she signified her accepting him to her 
 husband, whom she had ever favoured, so much the rather as 
 he had performed the conditions of her marriage, in bringing 
 to their deserved end her greatest enemies ; withal thanking 
 
 * Indifferently —Impartially. 
 
 " Set honour in one eye and death i' the other. 
 And I will look on both indffefently.^'' — Jul. Csesar, i. 2. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 241 
 
 the sea, in such terms as he might well perceive it was by- 
 some treason wrought in Plexirtus' ship. Whereupon, to 
 make more diligent search, he took ship himself, and came 
 into Laconia, inquiring, and by his inquiry finding that such 
 a ship was indeed with light and fire perished, none almost 
 escaping. But for Pyrocles and Musidorus, it was assuredly- 
 determined that they were cast away, for the name of such 
 princes, especially in Greece, would quickly else have been a 
 large witness to the contrary. Full of grief with that, for the 
 loss of such who left the world poor of perfection, but more 
 sorry for Erona's sake, who now by them could not be 
 relieved, a new advertisement from Armenia overtook him 
 which multiplied the force of his anguish. It was a message 
 from the nobleman who had Erona in ward, giving him to 
 understand that since his departure Artaxia, using the 
 benefit of time, had besieged him in his castle, demanding 
 present delivery of her, whom yet for his faith given he 
 would not before the day appointed, if possibly he could 
 resist, which, he foresaw, long he should not do for want of 
 victual, which he had not so wisely provided, because he 
 trusted upon the general oath taken for two years' space, and 
 therefore willed him to make haste to his succour, and come 
 with no small forces, for all they that were of his side in 
 Armenia were consumed, and Artaxia had increased her 
 might by marriage of Plexirtus, who, now crowned king 
 there, sticked not to glory in the murder of Pyrocles and 
 Musidorus, as having just cause thereto, in respect of the 
 deaths of his sister Andromana, her son, his nephew, and his 
 own daughter Zelmane, all whose loss he unjustly charged 
 them withal, and now openly sticked not to confess what a 
 revenge his wit had brought forth. Plangus, much astonished 
 herewith, bethought himself what to do ; for to return to 
 Armenia was vain, since his friends" there were utterly over- 
 
 R 
 
242 ARCADIA.— Book IT. 
 
 thrown. Then thought he of going to his father, but he had 
 already, even since the death of his stepmother and brother, 
 attempted the recovering of his favour, and all in vain. For 
 they that had before joined with Andromana to do him the 
 wrong thought now no life for them if he returned, and 
 therefore kept him still with new-forged suspicions odious to 
 his father. So that Plangus, reserving that for a work of 
 longer time than the saving of Erona could bear, determined 
 to go to the mighty and good king Euarchus, who lately 
 having, to his eternal fame, fully not only conquered his 
 enemies, but established good government in their countries, 
 /he hoped he might have present succour of him, both for the 
 justness of the cause, and revenge of his children's death, by 
 so heinous a treason murdered. Therefore with diligence he 
 went to him, and by the way, passing through my country, it 
 was my hap to find him, the most overthrown man with grief 
 that ever I hope to see again. 
 
 " And thus, excellent lady, I have obeyed you in this story, 
 wherein if it well please you to consider what is the strange 
 power of love, and what is due to his authority, you shall 
 exercise therein the true nobleness of your judgment, and do 
 the more right to the unfortunate historian." Zelmane, sighing 
 for Erona's sake, yet inwardly comforted in that she assured 
 herself Euarchus would not spare to take in hand the just 
 delivering of her, joined with the just revenge of his children's 
 loss, having now what she desired of Basilius, to avoid his 
 further discourses of affection, encouraged the shepherds to 
 begin, whom she saw already ready for them.* 
 
 The End of the Second Book. 
 
 * The Editor has omitted the " Second Eclogue " for the reasons 
 given in the note to Eclogue I. There is nothing to be regretted 
 
ARCADIA.— Book II. 243 
 
 le remarkable in it, save a skirmish between seven "Rea- 
 ' and seven "Appassionated" shepherds. Of course, in this 
 I'aon — it cannot be called dialogue — "the Reasonable shep- 
 'c*t the better of the "rebels vile" who represent Passion, and 
 ::two square battles meet," and, instead of fighting, embrace 
 ';her, singing thus : — 
 
 /^. We are too strong ; but Reason seeks no blood. 
 
 ff. Who to be weak do feign they be too good. 
 
 A'. Though we cannot o'ercome, our cause is just. 
 
 y. Let us o'ercome and let us be unjust. 
 
 /■?. Yet Passions yield at length to Reason's stroke. 
 
 P. What shall we win by taking Reason's yoke ? 
 
 A*. The joys you have shall be made permanent. 
 
 /*. But so we shall with grief learn to repent. 
 
 R. Repent indeed, but that shall be your bliss. 
 
 , •. How know we that, since present joys we miss ? 
 
 />'. You know it not ; of Reason, therefore, know it. 
 
 /'. No Reason yet had ever skill to show it. 
 
 (\. Then let us both to heavenly rules give place — 
 
 j^'\ Which Passions kill and Reason do deface." 
 
 ere is also a double sestine, unrhymed, which contains poetic 
 diction, but is truly a sad and useless interruption to Sidney's loo 
 much interrupted prose poem. 
 
 R 2 
 
The Third Book. 
 
 HIS last day's danger, having made PaiuOia : Ij '^ 
 discern what a loss it should have ~\if?ciov.* •" 
 Dorus had been destroyed, bred such ler: 
 of kindness in her toward him that she . 
 longer keep love from looking out through iter 
 eyes, and going forth in her words, whom before ?3/a dose 
 prisoner she had to her heart only committed ; so as ^mding 
 not only by his speeches and letters, but by the p.T. : ion 
 
 of languishing behaviour, and the easily deciphered dx... . 
 of a sorrowful face, that despair began now to threaten him 
 destruction, she grew content both to pity him and let him 
 see she pitied him, as well by making her own beautiful beams 
 to thaw away the former iciness of her behaviour, as by 
 entertaining his discourses, whensoever he did use them, in 
 the third person of Musidorus, to so far a degree that in the 
 end she said that, if she had been the princess whom that dis- 
 guised prince had virtuously loved, she would have requited 
 his faith with faithful affection ; finding in her heart that 
 nothing could so heartily love as virtue, with many mo words 
 to the same sense of noble favour and chaste plainness. 
 Which when at the first it made that unexpected bliss shine 
 upon Dorus, he was like one frozen with extremity of cold 
 overhastily brought to a great fire ; rather oppressed than 
 reheved with such a lightening of felicity. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 245 
 
 But after the strength of nature had made him able to feel 
 the sweetness of joyfulness, that again being a child of pas- 
 sion, and never acquainted with mediocrity,^ could not set ;(>, 
 bounds upon his happiness, nor be content to give desire a 
 kingdom, but that it must be an unlimited monarchy: so 
 that the ground he stood upon being over-high in happiness 
 and slippery through affection, he could not hold himself 
 from falling into such an error, which with sighs blew all 
 comfort out of his breast, and washed away all cheerfulness 
 of his desire, and Desire considering nothing but oppor- 
 tunity, one time, Mopsa being called away by her mother, 
 and he left alone with Pamela, the sudden occasion called 
 Love, and that never stayed to ask Reason's leave, but made 
 the too-much loving Dorus take her in his arms, offering to 
 kiss her, and as it were to establish a trophy of his victory. 
 But she, as if she had been ready to drink a wine of excellent 
 taste and colour, which suddenly she perceived had poison in 
 it, so did she put him away from her ; looking first up to 
 heaven, as amazed to find herself so beguiled in him, then 
 laying cruel punishment upon him of angry love, and lowering 
 beauty, showing disdain, and a despising disdain, " Away !" 
 said she, " unworthy man to love or to be loved. Assure thy- 
 self, I hate myself for being so deceived ; judge then what I do 
 thee for deceiving me. Let me see thee no more, the only 
 fall of my judgment and stain of my conscience." With that 
 she called Mopsa, not staying for any answer, which was no 
 other but a flood of tears, which she seemed not to mark, 
 much less to pity, and chid her for having so left her alone. 
 
 It was not a sorrow, but it was even a death, which then 
 laid hold of Dorus ; which certainly at that instant would 
 have killed him, but that the fear to tarry longer in her pre- 
 sence, contrary to her commandment, gave him life to carry 
 himself away from her sight, and to run into the woods, where, 
 
246 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 throwing himself down at the foot of a tree, he did not fall 
 into lamentation, for that proceeded of pitying, or grieving 
 for himself, which he did no way, but to curses of his life, as 
 one that detested himself. For, finding himself not only un- 
 happy, but unhappy after being fallen from all happiness, and 
 to be fallen from all happiness, not by any misconceiving, 
 but by his own fault, and his fault to be done to no other but 
 to Pamela, he did not tender his own estate, but despised it, 
 greedily drawing into his mind all conceits which might more 
 and more torment him. And so remained he two days in the 
 woods, disdaining to give his body food or his mind comfort, 
 loving in himself nothing but the love of her. 
 
 And indeed that love only strave with the fury of his 
 anguish, telling it that if it destroyed Dorus it should also 
 destroy the image of her that lived in Dorus ; and when the 
 thought of that was crept in unto him, it began to win of him 
 some compassion to the shrine of that image, and to bewail 
 not for himself, whom he hated, but that so notable a love 
 should perish. Then began he only so far to wish his own 
 good as that Pamela might pardon him the fault, though not 
 the punishment ; and the uttermost height he aspired unto 
 was, that after his death she might yet pity his error, and 
 know that it proceeded of love, and not of boldness. That 
 conceit found such friendship in his thoughts that at last he 
 yielded, since he was banished her presence, to seek some 
 means by writing to show his sorrow and testify his repentance. 
 Therefore, getting him his pen, he thought fit to counterfeit 
 his hand, lest she should cast his letter away as soon as she 
 saw it, and writing an elegiac, marring much with mending, 
 he made an end of it, and one day, when all were gone to 
 dinner, he stale up into Pamela's chamber and placed the 
 letter in her standish, which he first kissed, and craved of it 
 a friendly keeping. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 247 
 
 Which letter when Pamela found, what it would have wrought 
 in her she herself could not tell ; for, before her reason could 
 moderate the disputation between favour and faultiness, her 
 sister and Miso called her down to entertain Zelmane, who was 
 come to visit the two sisters, about whom, as about two poles, 
 the sky of beauty was turned ; while Gynecia wearied her bed 
 with her melancholy sickness, and made Miso's shrewdness — 
 who, like a Spirit set to keep a treasure, barred Zelmane from 
 any further conference — to be the Heutenant of her jealousy, 
 both she and her husband driving Zelmane to such a strait 
 of resolution, either of impossible granting or dangerous refus- 
 ing, as the best escape she had was, as much as she could, to 
 avoid their company. So as, this day being the fourth day 
 after the uproar, Basilius being with his sick wife, conferring 
 upon such examinations as Philanax and other of his noble-, 
 men had made of this late sedition, all touching Cecropia 
 with vehement suspicion of giving either flame or fuel unto it, 
 Zelmane came with her body to find her mind, which was 
 gone long before her and had gotten his seat in Philoclea, 
 who now, with a bashful cheerfulness, as though she were 
 ashamed that she could not choose but be glad, joined with 
 her sister in making much of Zelmane. 
 
 And so, as they sate devising how to give more feathers to 
 the wings of Time,* there came to the lodge-door six maids, all 
 in one livery of scarlet petticoats, which were tucked up almost 
 to their knees, the petticoats themselves being in many places 
 garnished with leaves, their legs naked, saving that above the 
 ankles they had little black silk laces, upon which did hang a 
 few silver bells, like which they had a little above their elbows 
 upon their bare arms. Upon their hair they ware garlands 
 
 * More feathers, &^c. — 
 
 " And then, with chaste discourse, as we return' d, 
 Imp feathers to the broken wings of Time." 
 
 — Massinger, Great Duke of Florence, i. i. 
 
248 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 of roses and gilliflowers, and the hair was so dressed as that 
 came again above the garlands, interchanging a mutual 
 covering ; so as it was doubtful whether the hair dressed the 
 garlands or the garlands dressed the hair. Their breasts 
 liberal to the eye, the face of the foremost of them in excel- 
 lency fair, and of the rest lovely, if not beautiful ; and beau- 
 tiful might have been, if they had not suffered greedy Phoebus, 
 over-often and hard, to kiss them. Their countenances full 
 of a graceful gravity, so as, the gesture matched with the 
 apparel, it might seem a wanton modesty* — an enticing sober- 
 ness. Each of them had an instrument of music in their 
 hands, which, consorting their well-pleasing tunes, did charge 
 each ear with unsensibleness that did not lend itself unto 
 them. The music entering alone into the lodge, the ladies 
 were all desirous to see from whence so pleasant a guest was 
 come, and therefore went out together, where, before they 
 could take the pains to doubt, much less to ask the question 
 of their quality, the fairest of them, with a gay but yet dis- 
 creet demeanour, in this sort spake to them — 
 
 " Most excellent ladies, whose excellencies have power to 
 make cities envy these woods, and solitariness to be accounted 
 the sweetest company, vouchsafe our message your gracious 
 hearing, which, as it comes from love, so comes it from lovely 
 persons. The maids of all this coast of Arcadia, understand- 
 ing the often access that certain shepherds of these quarters 
 are allowed to have in this forbidden place, and that their 
 rural sports are not disdained of you, have been stirred up 
 with emulation to them and affection to you to bring forth 
 
 * lVant07i modesty — 
 
 " Robes loosely flowing, hair as free, 
 Such stveet neglect more taketh me 
 Than all th' adulteries of art, 
 That strike mine eyes, but not my heart." 
 
 — Ben Jonson, The Silent Woman, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 249 
 
 something which might as well breed your contentment ; 
 therefore, hoping that the goodness of their intention and the 
 hurtlessness of their sex shall excuse the breach of the com- 
 mandment in coming to this place unsent for, they chose out 
 us to invite both your princely parents and yourselves to a 
 place in the woods, about half a mile hence, where they have 
 provided some such sports as they trust your gracious 
 acceptations will interpret to be delightful. We have been at 
 the other lodge ; but, finding them there busied in weigh- 
 tier affairs, our trust is that you will not deny the shining 
 of your eyes upon us." 
 
 The ladies stood in some doubt whether they should go 
 or not, lest Basilius might be angry withal. But Miso, that 
 had been at none of the pastorals, and had a great desire to 
 lead her old senses abroad to some pleasure, told them 
 plainly they should nor will nor choose, but go thither and 
 make the honest country people know that they were not so>^ 
 squeamish as folks thought of them. The ladies, glad to 
 be warranted by her authority, with a smiling humbleness 
 obeyed her, Pamela only casting a seeking look whether she 
 could see Dorus, who, poor wretch, wandered half mad for 
 sorrow in the woods, crying for pardon of her who could not 
 hear him, but indeed was grieved for his absence, having "^ 
 given the wound to him through her own heart. But so the 
 three ladies and Miso went with those six nymphs, conquer- 
 ing the length of the way with the force of music, leaving ^ 
 only Mopsa behind, who disgraced weeping with her coun- 
 tenance, because her mother would not suffer her to show her 
 new-scoured face among them ; but the place appointed, as 
 they thought, met them half in their way, so well were _ 
 they pleased with the sweet tunes and pretty conversation of 
 their inviters. There found they, in the midst of the thickest 
 part of the wood, a little square place, not burthened with 
 
250 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 trees, but with a board covered and beautified with the plea- 
 santest fruits that sunburned Autumn could dehver to them. 
 The maids besought the ladies to sit down and taste of the 
 swelling grapes, which seemed great with child with Bacchus, 
 and of the diverse coloured plums, which gave the eye a 
 pleasant taste before they came to the mouth. The ladies 
 would not show to scorn their provision, but ate and drank a 
 little of their cool wine, which seemed to laugh for joy to come 
 to such Hps. 
 
 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 draw her sword, and taking it from her, put 
 hoods over the heads of all four, and, so muffled, by force set 
 them on horseback and carried them away, the sisters in 
 vain crying 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 mile 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 mile 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 
 jtheir faces were discovered, and there were met with a great 
 tiumber of torches,* after whom the sisters knew their aunt-in- 
 ^aw, 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 
 
 * Torches — Here put for torch-bearers. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 251 
 
 them, making courtesy the outside of mischief, and desiring 
 them not to be discomforted ; for they were in a place dedi- 
 cated to their service. Philoclea, with a look where love 
 shined through the mist 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 [separate] 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 as 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 how all these matters had happened. 
 
 " Son," said she, " I will do it wilhngly, and, since all is 
 done for you, I will hide nothing from you. And howsoever 
 I might be ashamed to tell it strangers, who would think it 
 wickedness, yet what is done for your sake, how evil soever 
 to others, to you is virtue. To begin, then, even with the 
 beginning, this doting fool Basilius that now reigns, having 
 lived unmarried till he was nigh threescore years old, and in 
 
252 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 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, obtaining me of my father 
 the king of Argos, his brother helping to the conclusion with 
 protesting his bachelry intention ;t 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 sub- 
 jection. So that I came into this country as apparent prin- 
 cess thereof, and accordingly was courted and followed of 
 the ladies of this country. My port and pomp did well 
 become a king of Argos' 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 solemnised till I was ready. 
 Did I walk abroad to see my delight — nay, my walking 
 was the delight itself, for to it was the concourse, one thrust- 
 ing upon another who might show himself most diligent and 
 serviceable towards me ; my sleeps were inquired after, and 
 my wakings never unsaluted ; the very gate of my house full 
 
 * This goose— ^\i?A. is, Basilius. " Where," in this place, is used 
 in the sense of " whereas." 
 
 t Bachelry intention — His determination to a single life. " Bache- 
 lor," originally a military term, has somehow been detailed to signify 
 a single man. Ben Jonson applies it to an mamarried woman. 
 Bachehy is therefore the state of single life. 
 
 " Phebus that was flour oi bachelerie 
 As well in fredoni as in chivalrie." 
 
 — Chaucer, Man. Tale, v. 17,074. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 253 
 
 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 V 
 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 mevvard 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 question the fall is greater from 
 the first to the second than from the second to the under- 
 most. 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 re- 
 spected ; but it was insupportable unto me to think that 
 not only I, but thou, shouldst 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 
 
254 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 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 re- 
 quests ; 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 CHnias to stir a notable tumult of country 
 people ; but those louts were too gross instruments for delicate 
 conceits. Now, lastly, finding Philanax his examinations 
 grow dangerous, I thought to play double or quit, and with a 
 sleight I used of my fine-wicted wench Artesia, with other 
 maids of mine, would have sent these 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 vic- 
 tory ; love commonly is the instrument of subjection. It is 
 true that I would also by the same practice have entrapped 
 
 * /'r^r^/Ve' here signifies "artifice," "stratagem." " Had gotten 
 great estimation among the rude people, as one that was ever a 
 /rar/AT^r of new devises. " — Goldinge, Caesar, fo. 260. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 255 
 
 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 Basihus will not long 
 overlive this loss." ..-_ 
 
 " Oh, 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 they will in ever fearing, because they 
 ever are feared ; for my part, I will think myself highly en- 
 titled if I may be once by Philoclea accepted for a servant." ^ 
 "Well," said Cecropia, "I would I had borne you of my I 
 mind as well as of my body; then should you not havej 
 sunk under these base weaknesses. But since you have tied! 
 your thoughts in so wilful a knot, it is happy my pohcy hath 
 brought matters to such a pass as you may both enjoy affec- 
 tion 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 
 
256 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 Zelmane, since now he might be revenged 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." " Oh, 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, gat 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 deh- 
 cate, he misdoubted the making. And in that sort he went 
 , to Philoclea's chamber, whom he found — because her cham- 
 j ber was over-lightsome— sitting of that side of her bed which 
 was from the window, which did cast such a shadow upon 
 her as a good painter would bestow upon Venus, when, under 
 the trees, she bewailed the murther of Adonis, her hands and 
 fingers, as it were, indented one within the other, her shoulder 
 leaning to her bed's head, and over her head a scarf, which 
 did eclipse almost half her eyes, which under it fixed their 
 beams upon the wall by with so steady a manner as if in that 
 place they might well change, but not mend their object ; 
 and so remained they a good while after his coming in, he 
 not daring to trouble her, nor she perceiving him, till that, a 
 little varying her thoughts something quickening her senses, 
 she heard him as he happened to stir his upper garment, and, 
 perceiving him, rose up with a demeanour where in the book 
 of beauty there was nothing to be read but sorrow, for kind- 
 ness was blotted out, and anger was never there. 
 "^ ■ But Amphialus, that had intrusted his memory with long 
 and forcible speeches, found it so locked up in amazement 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 257 
 
 that he could pick nothing out of it but the beseeching her to 
 take what was done in good part, and to assure herself there 
 was nothing but honour meant unto her person. But she, 
 making no other answer, but letting her hands fall one from 
 the other, which before were joined, with eyes something 
 cast aside, and a silent sigh, gave him to understand that, 
 considering his doings, she thought his speech as full of in- 
 congruity as her answer would be void of purpose ; where- 
 upon, he kneeling down and kissing her hand, which she 
 suffered with a countenance witnessing captivity, but not 
 kindness, he besought her to have pity of him, whose love 
 went beyond the bounds of conceit, much more of uttering, 
 that in her hands the balance of his life or death did stand, 
 whereto the least motion of hers would serve to determine, 
 she being indeed the mistress of his life, and he her eternal 
 slave, and with true vehemency besought her that he might 
 hear her speak, whereupon she suffered her sweet breath to 
 turn itself into these kind of words : — . 
 
 " Alas, cousin," said she, " what shall my tongue be able / 
 to do, which is informed by the ears one way, and by the^ 
 eyes another ? You call for pity, and use cruelty ; you say 
 you love me, and yet do the effects of enmity ; you affirm 
 your death is in my hands, but you have brought me to so 
 near a degree of death as, when you will, you may lay death 
 upon me ; so that while you say I am mistress of your life, I 
 am not mistress of mine own. You entitle yourself my slave, 
 but I am sure I am yours. If, then, violence, injury, terror, 
 and depriving of that which is more dear than life itself — 
 liberty — be fit orators for affection, you may expect that I 
 will be easily persuaded. But if the nearness of our kindred 
 breed any remorse in you, or there be any such thing in you 
 which you call love toward me, then let not my fortune be 
 disgraced with the name of imprisonment ; let not my heart 
 
 S 
 
258 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 waste itself by being vexed with feeling evil and fearing 
 worse. Let not me be a cause of my parents' woeful de- 
 struction, but restore me to myself, and, so doing, I shall 
 account I have received myself of you. And what I say for 
 myself, I say for my dear sister and my friend Zelmane ; for 
 I desire no well-being without they may be partakers." With 
 that her tears rained down from her heavenly eyes, and 
 seemed to water the sweet and beautiful flowers of her face. 
 
 But Amphialus was like the poor woman who, loving a 
 tame doe she had above all earthly things, having long played 
 withal and made it feed at her hand and lap, is constrained 
 at length by famine, all her flock being spent, and she fallen 
 into extreme poverty, to kill the deer to sustain her life. 
 Many a pitiful look doth she cast upon it, and many a time 
 doth she draw back her hand before she can give the stroke. 
 For even so Amphialus, by a hunger-starved aftection, was 
 compelled to offer this injury, and yet the same affection 
 made him, with a tormenting grief, think unkindness in him- 
 self that he could find in his heart any way to restrain her 
 freedom. But at length, neither able to grant nor deny, he 
 thus answered her : — 
 
 "Dear lady," said he, " I will not say unto you, how justly 
 spever I may do it, that I am neither author nor accessory 
 ilnto this your withholding ; for, since I do not redress it, I 
 sy'am as faulty as if I had begun it. But this I protest unto 
 you — and this protestation of mine let the heavens hear, and 
 if I lie let them answer me with a deadly thunderbolt — that in 
 my soul I wish I had never seen the light, or rather that I 
 had never had a father to beget such a child, than that by my 
 means those eyes should overflow their own beauties, than 
 by my means the sky of your virtue should be overclouded 
 with sorrow. But woe is me, most excellent lady! I find 
 myself most willing to obey you, neither truly do mine ears 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 259 
 
 receive the least word you speak with any less reverence than 
 as absolute and unresistible commandments ; but, alas, that 
 tyrant Love, which now possesseth the hold of all my life and^ 
 reason, will no way suffer it. It is Love, it is Love, not I, / Q^ 
 which disobey you ! What then shall I say, but that I, who '^e /, 
 am ready to lie under your feet, to venture, nay, to lose my / ", 
 life at your least commandment, I am not the stay of your *V 
 freedom, but Love, Love, which ties you in your own knots !>^ ^ 
 It is you yourself that imprison yourself; it is your beauty ^ 
 which makes these castle walls embrace you ; it is your own ^'^/^ , 
 eyes which reflect upon themselves this injury. Then is 
 there no other remedy, but that you some way vouchsafe to 
 satisfy this love's vehemency, which since it grew in yourself, 
 without question you shall find it, far more than I, tractable." 
 But with these words Philoclea fell to so extreme a quaking, 
 and her lively whiteness did degenerate to such a deadly 
 paleness, that Amphialus feared some dangerous trance ; so 
 that, taking her hand, and feeling that it — which was wont to 
 be one of the chief firebrands of Cupid — had all the sense of 
 it wrapt up in coldness, he began humbly to beseech her to 
 put away all fear, and to assure herself upon the vow he 
 made thereof unto God and herself that the uttermost forces 
 he would ever employ to conquer her affection should be 
 desire and desert. That promise brought Philoclea again 
 to herself, so that, slowly lifting up her eyes upon him, with 
 a countenance ever courteous, but then languishing, she told 
 him that he should do well to do so, if, indeed, he had ever 
 tasted what true love was ; for that where now she did bear 
 him good-will, she should, if he took any other way, hate and 
 abhor the very thought of him, assuring him withal that, 
 though his mother had taken away her knives, yet the house 
 of death had so many doors as she would easily fly into it if 
 ever she found her honour endangered. 
 
 S 2 
 
26o ARCADIA. -Book III. 
 
 Ampliialus, having the cold ashes of care cast upon the 
 coals of desire, leaving some of his mother's gentlewomen 
 to wait upon Philoclea,- himself, indeed, a prisoner to his 
 prisoner, and making all his authority to be but a footstool 
 to humbleness, went from her to his mother, to whom, with 
 words which affection indited, but amazement uttered, he 
 delivered what had passed between him and Philoclea, be- 
 seeching her to try what her persuasions could do with her, 
 while he gave order for all such things as were necessary 
 against such forces as he looked daily Basilius would bring 
 before his castle. His mother bade him quiet himself, for 
 she doubted not to take fit times ; but that the best way was 
 first to let her own passion a little tire itself. 
 
 So they calling Clinias, and some other of their counsel, 
 advised upon their present affairs. First, he despatched 
 private letters to all those principal lords and gentlemen of 
 the country whom he thought either alliance or friendship to 
 himself might draw, with special motions from the general 
 consideration of duty, not omitting all such whom either 
 youthful age or youthlike minds did fill with unlimited de- 
 sires, besides such whom any discontentment made hungry 
 of change, or an over-spended want made want a civil war, 
 to each, according to the counsel of his mother, conforming 
 himself after their humours. To his friends, friendliness ; to 
 the ambitious, great expectations ; to the displeased, re- 
 venge ; to the greedy, spoil ; wrapping their hopes with such 
 cunning as they rather seemed given over unto them as 
 partakers than promises sprung of necessity. Then sent he 
 to his mother's brother the king of Argos, but he was then so 
 over-laid with war himself as from thence he could attend 
 small succour. 
 
 But, because he knew how violently rumours do blow the 
 sails of popular judgments, and how few there be that can 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 261 
 
 discern between truth and truth-likeness, between shows and 
 substance, he caused a justification of this his action to be 
 written, whereof were sowed abroad many copies, which, with 
 some glosses of probabihty, might indeed hide the foulness 
 of his treason, and from true common-places fetch down 
 most false apphcations. For, beginning how much the duty 
 which is owed to the country goes beyond all other duties, 
 since in itself it contains them all, and that for the respect ; 
 thereof not only all tender respects of kindred, or whatsoever ' 
 other friendships, are to be laid aside, but that even long-held 
 opinions — rather builded upon a secret of government than any 
 ground of truth — are to be forsaken, he fell by degrees to 
 show, that since the end whereto anything is directed is ever 
 to be of more noble reckoning than the thing thereto directed, 
 that therefore the weal public was more to be regarded than 
 any person or magistrate that thereunto was ordained. The 
 feeling consideration whereof had moved him, though as 
 near of kin to Basilius as could be, yet to set principally 
 before his eyes the good estate of so many thousands, over 
 whom Basilius reigned, rather than so to hoodwink himself 
 with affection as to suffer the realm to run to manifest ruin. 
 The care whereof did kindly* appertain to those who, being 
 subaltern magistrates and officers of the crown, were to be 
 employed as from the prince so for the people, and of all 
 other, especially himself, who being descended of the royal 
 race, and next heir male, nature had no sooner opened his 
 eyes, but that the soil whereupon they did look was to look 
 for at his hands a continual carefulness, which as from his 
 childhood he had ever carried, so now finding that his uncle 
 
 * Kindly — Naturally, as in the Prayer-book, " the kindly fruits of 
 the earth" — that is, its natural and ordinary productions. 
 " All were his earthly eien both blunt and bad, 
 And through great age had lost their kindly sight." 
 
 — Spenser, Faerie Queene, I. x. 47. 
 
262 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 had not only given over all care of government, but had put 
 it into the hands of Philanax, a man neither in birth compar- 
 able to many, nor for his corrupt, proud, and partial dealing 
 liked of any, but, beside, had set his daughters, in whom the 
 whole estate, as next heirs thereunto, had no less interest 
 than himself, in so unfit and ill-guarded a place as it were 
 not only dangerous for their persons, but, if they should be 
 conveyed to any foreign country, to the whole commonwealth 
 pernicious ; that therefore he had brought them into this 
 strong castle of his, which way if it might seem strange, they 
 were to consider that "new necessities require new remedies ; 
 but there they should be served and honoured as belonged 
 to their greatness, until, by the general assembly of the estates, 
 it should be determined how they should to their best both 
 private and public advantage be matched, vowing all faith 
 and duty both to the father and children never by him to be 
 violated. But if in the meantime, before the estates could be 
 assembled, he should be assailed, he would then for his own 
 defence take arms ; desiring all that either tendered the 
 dangerous case of their country or in their hearts loved 
 justice to defend him in this just action. And if the prince 
 should command them otherwise, yet to know that therein 
 he was no more to be obeyed than if he should call for 
 poison to hurt himself withal, since all that was done was 
 done for his service, howsoever he might — seduced by Phi- 
 lanax — interpret of it ; he protesting that whatsoever he should 
 /do for his own defence should be against Philanax, and no 
 way against Basilius. 
 
 To this effect, amplified with arguments and examples, and 
 painted with rhetorical colours, did he sow abroad many 
 discourses, which as they prevailed with some of more quick 
 than sound conceit to run his fortune with him, so in many 
 did it breed a coolness to deal violently against him, and a 
 
<t V-- ^ 
 
 ^3' 5^^ 
 
 ARCADIA.— Book III. -^-^ o^^ 263 
 
 false-minded neutrality to expect the issue. But, besides the 
 ways he used to weaken the adverse party, he omitted nothing 
 for the strengthening of his own ; the chief trust whereof, 
 because he wanted men to keep the field, he reposed in the 
 surety of his castle, which at least would win him much time, 
 the mother of many mutations. To that, therefore, he bent 
 both his outward and inward eyes, striving to make art strive 
 with nature, to whether of them two that fortification should 
 be most beholding. The seat nature bestowed, but art gave 
 the building, which as his rocky hardness would not yield to 
 undermining force, so to open assaults he took counsel of 
 skill how to make all approaches, if not impossible, yet diffi- 
 cult, as well at the foot of the castle as round about the lake, 
 to give unquiet lodgings to them whom only enmity would 
 make neighbours. Then omitted he nothing of defence, as 
 well simple defence as that which did defend by offending, 
 fitting instruments of mischief to places whence the mischief 
 might be most liberally bestowed. Neither was his smallest 
 care for victuals, as well for the providing that which should 
 suffice, both in store and goodness, as in well preserving it, 
 and wary distributing it, both in quantity and quality, spend- 
 ing that first which would keep least. 
 
 Even of vices he made his profit ; making the cowardly 
 Clinias to have care of the watch, which he knew his own 
 fear would make him very wakefully perform. In the midst 
 of danger he did exercise his men daily in all their charges, 
 his hand and body disdaining no base matters nor shrinking 
 from the heavy ; the only odds was that, when others took 
 breath, he sighed, and, when others rested, he crossed his 
 arms. For love, passing through the pikes of danger, and 
 tumbling itself in the dust of labour, yet made him still 
 remember his sweet desire and beautiful image. 
 
 Cecropia, stirred with no other pity but for her son, did 
 
264 ARCADIA.— Book IIL 
 
 meanwhile, haling* kindness into her countenance, visit Philo- 
 clea, and, finding tears hang upon her cheeks and lips as 
 upon cherries which the dropping tree bedeweth, " What 
 ails this sweet lady?" said she. "Will you mar so good 
 eyes with weeping ? will you not have contentment ?" " I 
 know not," answered the sweet Philoclea, fearing lest silence 
 would offend for sullenness, " what contentment you speak 
 of, but I am sure the best you can make of it, which is mar- 
 riage, is a burdenous yoke." "Ah, dear niece," said Cecropia, 
 " how much you are deceived ! A yoke, indeed, we all bear, 
 laid upon us in our creation, which by marriage is not in- 
 creased, but thus far eased — that you have a yoke-fellow to 
 help to draw through the cloddy combers of this world. Oh, 
 widow-nights, bear witness with me of the difference. How 
 often, alas ! do I embrace the orphan-side of my bed, which 
 was wont to be imprinted by the body of my dear husband, 
 and with tears acknowledge that I now enjoy such a liberty 
 as the banished man hath, who may, if he list, wander over 
 the world, but is for ever restrained from his most delightful 
 home ; that I have now such a liberty as the seeledf dove 
 hath, which, being first deprived of eyes, is then by the 
 falconer cast off ! For, believe me, niece, believe me, man's 
 experience is woman's best eyesight. Have you ever seen a 
 pure rose water kept in a crystal glass ? How fine it looks, 
 how sweet it smells, while that beautiful glass imprisons it ! 
 Break the prison, and let the water take his own course ; 
 doth it not embrace dust and lose all his former sweetness 
 
 * Haling — Forcing or dragging violently. Two instances of the 
 word occur in the Bible ; Luke xii. 58, and Acts viii. 3. 
 ■\ Seelcd^^\\\\^^A; Fr. siller les yaix (seep. 78). 
 
 " Ambition, like a seeled dove, mounts upwards, 
 Higher and higher still, to perch on clouds, 
 But tumbles headlong down with heavier ruin." 
 
 Ford, The Broken Heart, act ii. so. 2. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 265 
 
 and fairness ? Truly, so are we, if we have not the stay, 
 rather than the restraint, of crystalline marriage." 
 
 Yet neither her wily words, nor the persuasions of sucl^ 
 words passing through such lips, could gain over Philoclea 
 to Cecropia's wishes. Nor did daily presents, as it were 
 oblations to pacify an angry deity, have any avail ; whereon 
 Cecropia bethought her to attempt Pamela, and, taking new 
 courage, she went to her chamber, and, according to her own 
 ungracious method of subtle proceeding, stood listening at 
 the door till there might arise a fit beginning to her intended 
 discourse. 
 
 And so she might perceive that Pamela did walk up and 
 down, full of deep, though patient, thoughts, without any 
 passionate gesture or violent motion ; till at length, as it /, 
 were, awakening and strengthening herself, " Well," said she, 
 " yet this is the best, and of this I am sure, that, howsoever 
 they wrong me, they cannot overmaster God. No darkness 
 blinds his eyes, no jail bars him out. To whom then else 
 should I fly but to him for succour ?" And therewith kneeling 
 down, even where she stood, she thus said : " O all-seeing 
 Light and eternal Life of all things, to whom nothing is 
 either so great that it may resist, or so small that it is con- 
 temned, look upon my misery with thine eye of mercy, and 
 let thine infinite power vouchsafe to limit out some propor- 
 tion of deliverance unto me as to thee shall seem most con- 
 venient. Let not injury, O Lord, triumph over me, and let 
 my faults by thy hand be corrected, and make not mine 
 unjust enemy the minister of thy justice. But yet, my God, 
 if in thy wisdom this be the aptest chastisement for my 
 unexcusable folly ; if this low bondage be fittest for my over- 
 high desires ; if the pride of my not enough humble heart 
 be thus to be broken, O Lord, I yield unto thy will and joy- 
 fully embrace what sorrow thou wilt have me suffer. Only 
 
266 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 thus much let me crave of thee — let my craving, O Lord, be 
 accepted of thee, since even that proceeds from thee — let 
 me crave, even by the noblest title, which in my greatest 
 affliction I may give myself, that I am thy creature, and by 
 thy goodness, which is thyself, that thou wilt suffer some 
 beam of thy majesty so to shine into my mind that it may 
 still depend confidently on thee. Let calamity be the exer- 
 cise, but not the overthrow of my virtue. Let their power 
 prevail, but prevail not to destruction ; let my greatness be 
 their prey ; let my pain be the sweetness of their revenge ; 
 let them, if so it seem good unto thee, vex me with more 
 and more punishment. But, O Lord, let never their wicked- 
 ness have such a hand but that I may carry a pure mind in 
 a pure body." And, pausing a while, "And, O most 
 gracious Lord," said she, "whatever becomes of me, pre- 
 serve the virtuous Musidorus."* 
 
 * Pamela! s Prayer — According to some of the earlier editions 
 of Eikon Basilike, this prayer was delivered to Bishop Juxon by 
 Charles L immediately before his death, and entitled "A Prayer in 
 Time of Captivity." Mihon, in his "Eikonoklastes," chap, i., speaks 
 thus indignantly of the king's use of it : — " But this king, not con- 
 tent with that which, although in a thing holy, is no holy theft, to 
 attribute to his own making other men's whole prayers, hath as it 
 were unhallowed and unchristened the very duty of prayer itself, by 
 borrowing to a Christian use prayers offered to a heathen god. Who 
 would have imagined so little fear in him of the true all-seeing Deity, 
 so little reverence of the Holy Ghost, whose office is to dictate and 
 present our Christian prayers, so little care of truth in his last words, 
 or honour to himself or to his friends, or sense of his afflictions, or of 
 that sad hour which was upon him, as immediately before his death 
 to pop into the hand of that grave bishop who attended him, for a 
 special relique of his saintly exercises, a prayer stolen word for word 
 from the mouth of a heathen woman praying to a heathen god ; and 
 that in no serious book, but the vain, amatorious poem of Sir Philip 
 Sidney's Arcadia, a book in that kind full of worth and wit, but 
 among religious thoughts and duties not worthy to be named, nor to 
 be read at any time without good caution, much less in time of 
 trouble and affliction to be a Christian's prayer-book f And again, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 267 
 
 The other part Cecropia might well hear ; but this later 
 prayer for Musidorus her heart held it as so jewel-like a 
 treasure that it would scarce trust her own lips withal. But 
 this prayer, sent to heaven from so heavenly a creature, with 
 such a fervent grace as if devotion had borrowed her body to 
 make of itself a most beautiful representation ; with her eyes 
 so lifted to the skyward that one would have thought they 
 had began to fly thitherward, to take their place among their 
 fellow-stars ; her naked hands raising up their whole length, 
 and as it were kissing one another, as if the right had been 
 the picture of zeal and the left of humbleness, which both 
 united themselves to make their suits more acceptable ; 
 lastly, all her senses being rather tokens than instruments 
 of her inward motions, altogether had so strange a working 
 power that even the hard-hearted wickedness of Cecropia, if 
 it found not a love of that goodness, yet it felt an abashment 
 at that goodness ;* and if she had not a kindly remorse, yet 
 had she an irksome accusation of her own naughtiness, so 
 that she was put from the bias of her fore-intended lesson. 
 For well she found there was no way at that time to take that 
 mind but with some, at least, image of virtue ; and what the 
 figure thereof was, her heart knew not. 
 
 Yet did she prodigally spend her uttermost eloquence, 
 leaving no argument unproved which might with any force 
 invade her excellent judgment — the justness of the request, 
 
 at the end of chap, xxiii., he speaks of the king's "borrowing 
 
 David's psalms However, this was more tolerable than 
 
 Pamela's prayer, stolen out of Sir Philip." Although he here calls 
 the Arcadia "a vain, amatorious poem," Milton elsewhere speaks in 
 the highest terms of it — it was only "vain" on the scaffold of the 
 king. 
 
 * Abashment at that goodness — 
 
 ''''Abashed the Devil stood. 
 
 And felt how awful goodness is, and saw 
 
 Virtue in her shape how lovely." — Milton, P. L. iv. 846. 
 
/ 
 
 268 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 being but for marriage ; the worthiness of the suitor ; then 
 her own present fortune, which should not only have amend- 
 ment, but felicity ; besides falsely making her beheve that 
 her sister would think herself happy if now she might have 
 his love which before she contemned, and obliquely touching 
 what danger it should be for her if her son should accept Phi- 
 loclea in marriage, and so match the next heir-apparent, she 
 being in his power ; yet plentifully perjuring how extremely 
 her son loved her, and excusing the little shows he made of 
 it with the dutiful respect he bare unto her, and taking upon 
 herself that she restrained him, since she found she could set 
 no limits to his passions. And as she did to Philoclea, so 
 did she to her, with the tribute of gifts seek to bring her mind 
 into servitude, and all other means that might either establish 
 a beholdingness, or at least awake a kindness, doing it so as, 
 by reason of their imprisonment, one sister knew not how the 
 other was wooed, but each might think that only she was, 
 sought. But if Philoclea, with sweet and humble dealing, 
 did avoid their assaults, she with the majesty of virtue did 
 beat them off. 
 
 But this day speech was the sooner broken off, by reason 
 that he who stood as watch upon the top of the keep did not 
 only see a great dust arise, which the earth sent up as if it 
 would strive to have clouds as well as the air, but might spy 
 sometimes, especially when the dust, wherein the naked wind 
 did apparel itself, was carried aside from thern, the shining 
 of armour, like flashing of lightning, wherewith the clouds 
 did seem to be with child, which the sun gilding with his 
 beams, it gave a sight delightful to any but to them that were 
 to abide the terror. But the watch gave a quick alarum to the 
 soldiers within, whom practice already having prepared, 
 began each, with unabashed hearts, or at least countenances, 
 to look to their charge which was allotted unto them. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 26() 
 
 Amphialus, who, before the enemies came, was careful, 
 providently diligent, and not sometimes without doubting of 
 the issue, now the nearer danger approached, like the light 
 of a glow-worm, the less still it seemed, and now his courage 
 began to boil in choler, and with such impatience to desire to 
 pour out both upon the enemy that he issued presently into 
 certain boats he had of purpose, and, carrying with him some 
 choice men, went to the fortress he had upon the edge of the 
 lake, which he thought would be the first thing that the enemy 
 would attempt, because it was a passage which commanding 
 all that side of the country, and, being lost, would stop victual 
 or other supply that might be brought into the castle ; and 
 in that fortress having some force of horsemen, he issued out 
 with two hundred horse and five hundred footmen, ambushed 
 his footmen in the falling of a hill which was overshadowed 
 with a wood ; he with his horsemen went a quarter of a mile 
 further, asidehand of which he might perceive the many 
 troops of the enemy, who came but to view where best to 
 encamp themselves. 
 
 But, as if the sight of the enemy had been a magnes stone* | 
 to his courage, he could not contain himself, but, showing his 
 face to the enemy and his back to the soldiers, used that 
 action as his only oration both of denouncing war to the one 
 and persuading help of the other, who faithfully following an 
 example of such authority, they made the earth to groan under 
 their furious burden, and the enemies to begin to be angry 
 with them, whom in particular they knew not ; among whom 
 there was a young man, youngest brother to Philanax, whose 
 
 * Magnes stone — The magnet, its Greek form Mayj/rjs, so called 
 from the country it came from — Magnesia (Vossius). 
 
 " Quem magneta vocant patrio de nomine Graii." 
 
 — Lucret. vi. 908. 
 " On th' other syde an hideous rocke is pight 
 
 Of mightie magnes stone.'''' — Faerie Queene, bk. ii. c. 12* 
 
270 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 face as yet did not bewray his sex with so much as show of 
 hair, of a mind having no Hmits of hope, not knowing why to 
 fear, full of jollity in conversation, and lately grown a lover. 
 His name was Agenor, of all that army the most beautiful, 
 who having ridden in sportful conversation among the fore- 
 most, all armed, saving that his beaver was up, to have his 
 breath in more freedom, seeing Amphialus come a pretty way 
 before his company, neither staying the commandment of the 
 captain, nor reckoning whether his face were armed or no, set 
 spurs to his horse, and, with youthful bravery casting his 
 staff about his head, put it then into his rest, as careful of 
 comely carrying it as if the mark had been but a ring and 
 the lookers-on ladies. But Amphialus' lance was already 
 come to the last of his descending line, and began to make 
 the full point of death against the head of this young gentle- 
 man, when Amphialus, perceiving his youth and beauty, com- 
 passion so rebated the edge of choler that he spared that fair 
 nakedness, and let his staff fall to Agenor's vampalt ;* so as 
 both with brave breaking should hurtlessly have performed 
 that match, but that the pitiless lance of Amphialus, angry 
 with being broken, with an unlucky counterbuff full of unspar- 
 ing splinters, lighted upon that face, far fitter for the combats 
 of Venus, giving not only a sudden but a foul death, leaving 
 scarcely any tokens of his former beauty ; but, his hands 
 abandoning the reins and his thighs the saddle, he fell side- 
 ward from the horse ; which sight coming to Leontius, a dear 
 friend of his, who in vain had lamentably cried unto him to 
 stay, when he saw him begin his career, it was hard to say 
 whether pity of the one or revenge against the other held as 
 then the sovereignty in his passions. But while he directed 
 his eye to his friend and his hand to his enemy, so wrongly 
 
 * Vampalt — Vamplet, or vamplate, the round iron hand-guard on 
 a tilting spear. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 271 
 
 consorted a power could not resist the ready-minded force ' 
 of Amphialus, who, perceiving his ill-directed direction 
 against him, so paid him his debt before it was lent that he 
 also fell to the earth, only happy that one place and one time 
 did finish both their loves and lives together. 
 
 But by this time there had been a furious meeting of either 
 side, where, after the terrible salutation of warlike noise, the 
 shaking of hands was with sharp weapons. Some lances, ac- 
 cording to the metal they met and skill of the guider, did 
 stain themselves in blood ; some flew up in pieces, as if they 
 would threaten heaven because they failed on earth : but 
 their office was quickly inherited, either by the prince of 
 weapons — the sword — or by some heavy mace, or biting axe, 
 which, hunting still the weakest chase, sought ever to fight 
 there where smallest resistance might worst prevent mischief. 
 The clashing of armour, and crushing of staves, the justling 
 of bodies, the resounding of blows, was the first part of that 
 ill-agreeing music which was beautified with the grisliness of 
 wounds, the rising of dust, the hideous falls, and the groans 
 of the dying. 
 
 But no sword paid so large a tribute of souls to the eternal 
 kingdom as that of Amphialus, who like a tiger from whom 
 a company of wolves did seek to ravish a new-gotten prey, 
 so he, remembering they came to take away Philoclea, did 
 labour to make valour, strength, choler, and hatred to answer 
 the proportion of his love, which was infinite. And with 
 the well-followed valour of Amphialus were the other almost 
 overthrown, when Philanax, who was the marshal of the army, 
 came in, with new force renewing the almost decayed courage 
 of his soldiers ; for, crying to them, and asking them whether 
 their backs or their arms were better fighters, he himself 
 thrust just into the press, and, making force and fury wait 
 upon discretion and government, he might seem a brave lion 
 
272 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 who taught his young honets how, in taking of a prey, to join 
 courage with cunning. Then Fortune, as if she had made 
 chases enow of the one side of that bloody tenniscourt, went 
 of the other side the hne, making as many fall down of Am- 
 phialus' followers as before had done of Philanax's, they 
 losing the ground as fast as before they had won it, only 
 leaving them to keep it who had lost themselves in keeping 
 it. Then those that had killed inherited the lot of those that 
 had been killed, and cruel deaths made them lie quietly 
 together who most in their lives had sought to disquiet each 
 other, and many of those first overthrown had the comfort to 
 see their murtherers overrun them to Charon's ferry. 
 
 Codrus, Ctesiphon, and Milo lost their lives upon Phila- 
 nax's sword. But nobody's case was more pitied than of a 
 young squire of Amphialus, called Ismenus, who never 
 abandoning his master, and making his tender age aspire to 
 acts of the strongest manhood, in this time that his side was 
 put to the worst, and that Amphialus' valour was the only 
 stay of them from delivering themselves over to a most 
 shameful flight, he saw his master's horse killed under him ; 
 whereupon, asking advice of no other thought but of faithful- 
 ness and courage, he presently lighted from his own horse, 
 and, with the help of some choice and faithful servants, gat 
 his master up. But in the multitude that came of either 
 side, some to succour, some to save Amphialus, he came 
 under the hand of Philanax, and the youth, perceiving he 
 was the man that did most hurt to his party, desirous even 
 to change his life for glory, strake at him as he rode by him, 
 and gave him a hurt upon the leg that made Philanax turn 
 towards him ; but seeing him so young, and of a most lovely 
 presence, he rather took pity of him, meaning to take him 
 prisoner, and then to give him to his brother Agenor to be 
 his companion, because they were not much unlike, neither 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 273 
 
 in years nor countenance. But as helooked down upon him 
 with that thought, he espied where his brother lay dead, and 
 his friend Leontius by him, even almost under the squire's 
 feet. Then sorrowing not only his own sorrow, but the 
 past-comfort sorrow which he foreknew his mother would 
 take, who, with many tears and misgiving sighs, had suffered 
 him to go with his elder brother Philanax, blotted out all 
 figures of pity out of his mind, and putting forth his horse 
 while Ismenus doubled two or three more valiant than well- 
 set blows, saying to himself, " Let other mothers bewail an 
 untimely death as well as mine," he thrust him through, 
 and the boy, fierce though beautiful, and beautiful though 
 dying, not able to keep his falling feet, fell down to the earth, 
 which he bit for anger, repining at his fortune, and, as long 
 as he could, resisting death, which might seem unwilling 
 too, so long he was in taking away his young struggling soul. 
 
 Philanax himself could have wished the blow ungiven when 
 he saw him fall like a fair apple, which some uncourteous 
 body, breaking his bough, should throw down before it were 
 ripe. But the case of his brother made him forget both that 
 and himself, so as, over-hastily pressing upon the retiring 
 enemies, he was, ere he was aware, further engaged than his 
 own soldiers could relieve him, where, being overthrown by 
 Amphialus, Amphialus, glad of him, kept head against his 
 enemies, while some of his men carried away Philanax. 
 
 But Philanax's men, as if with the loss of Philanax they 
 had lost the fountain of their valour, had their courages so 
 dried up in fear that they began to set honour at their backs 
 and to use the virtue of patience in an untimely time, when 
 into the press comes, as hard as his horse — more afraid of the 
 spur than the sword — could carry him, a knight in armour 
 as black as darkness could make it, followed by none and 
 adorned by nothing, so far without authority that he was 
 
 T 
 
274 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 without knowledge. But virtue quickly made him known, 
 and admiration bred him such authority that though they of 
 whose side he came knew him not, yet they all knew it was 
 fit to obey him, and, while he was followed by the valiantest, 
 he made way for the vilest. For, taking part with the be- 
 siegers, he made the Amphialians' blood serve for a caparison 
 to his horse and a decking to his armour. His arm no ofter 
 gave blows than the blows gave wounds, than the wounds 
 gave deaths, so terrible was his force; and yet was his quick- 
 ness more forcible than his force, and his judgment more 
 quick than his quickness ; for, though his sword went faster 
 than eyesight could follow it, yet his own judgment went 
 still before it. There died of his hand Sarpedon, Plistonax, 
 Strophilus, and Hippolytus,* men of great proof in wars, and 
 who had that day undertaken the guard of Amphialus. 
 
 And now the often-changing fortune began also to change 
 the hue of the battles \\ for at the first, though it were terrible, 
 yet terror was decked so bravely with rich furniture, gilt 
 swords, shining armours, pleasant pensils,J that the eye with 
 delight had scarce leisure to be afraid; but now all, universally 
 defiled with dust, blood, broken armour, mangled bodies, 
 took away the mask, and set forth Horror in his own horrible 
 manner. But neither could danger be dreadful to Amphialus 
 his undismayable courage, nor yet seem ugly to him, whose 
 truly-affected mind did still paint it over with the beauty of 
 
 * Sarpedon, &^c. — This mr/Jev,-\]\ remind the reader of the Homeric 
 combats, or of those conflicts in the ^'Eneid, whence, probably, 
 Sidney took many of his names, as, for instance, that at the head of 
 this note : 
 
 " vSeevus ubi ^acides t^o jacet Hector ; ubi mgeus 
 Sarpedon.'''' — /Eneid, lib. i. v. 103. 
 
 + Battles — " Battle" properly means the main body of the army, 
 although it is occasionally used by Sidney in the sense of "battalions." 
 
 X Pensils — Little streamers at the ends of the lances ; Lat. penderc^ 
 pensilis. Ben Jonson speaks of pensile shields and armours. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 275 
 
 Philoclea. And therefore he, rather inflamed than troubled \ 
 with the increase of dangers, and glad to find a worthy sub- 
 ject to exercise his courage, sought out this new knight, whom 
 he might easily find, for he like a wanton rich man that 
 throws down his neighbour's house to make himself the better 
 prospect, so had his sword made him so spacious a room that 
 Amphialus had more cause to wonder at the finding than 
 labour for the seeking, which, if it stirred hate in him to see 
 how much harm he did to the one side, it provoked as much 
 emulation in him to perceive how much good he did to the 
 other side. 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 \y' 
 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 propor- 
 tion they did employ their blows, that none of Ceres' ser- 
 vants could more cunningly place his flail ; while the left-foot 
 spur set forward his own horse, the right let 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 
 
 T 2 
 
276 ARCADIA,— Book IIL 
 
 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 hindermost, 
 as if he had stood at the gate of the 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 re- 
 tiring 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 him- 
 self as strongly as he could, while he, to his grief, might hear 
 the joy was made in the 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 flourish- 
 ing show upon his worthiness, and his great nobility en- 
 nobhng his dangers. 
 
 And now Amphialus, still craving his mother's help to 
 persuade Philoclea, himself sent for Philanax unto him, whom 
 he had not only long hated, but now had his hate greatly 
 increased by the death of his squire Ismenus ; besides, he 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 277 
 
 had made him as one of the chief causes that moved him to 
 this rebelhon, and therefore was incHned, to colour the better 
 his action, and the more to embrue the hands of his accom- 
 pHces by making them guilty of such a trespass, in some 
 formal sort to cause him to be executed, being also greatly 
 egged thereunto by his mother and some other, who long had 
 hated Philanax, only because he was more worthy than they 
 to be loved. 
 
 But, while that deliberation was handled according rather 
 to the humour than the reason of each speaker, Philoclea 
 coming to the knowledge of the hard plight wherein Philanax 
 stood, she desired one of the gentlewomen appointed to wait 
 upon her to go in her name and beseech Amphialus that, if 
 the love of her had any power of persuasion in his mind, he 
 would lay no further punishment than imprisonment upon 
 Philanax. This message was delivered even as Philanax was 
 entering to the presence of Amphialus, coming, according to 
 the warning was given him, to receive judgment of death. 
 But when he, with manful resolution, attended the fruit of 
 such a tyrannical sentence, thinking it wrong, but no harm to 
 him that should die in so good a cause, Amphialus turned 
 quite the form of his pretended speech, and yielded him 
 humble thanks that by his means he had come to that happi- 
 ness as to receive a commandment of his lady, and therefore 
 he willingly gave him liberty to return in safety whither 
 he would, quitting him not only of all former grudge, but 
 assuring him that he would be willing to do him any friend- 
 ship and service. Philanax — glad to receive an uncor- 
 rupted liberty — humbly accepted his favourable convoy 
 out of the town, and so departed, not visiting the princesses, 
 thinking it might be offensive to Amphialus, and no way 
 fruitful to them, who were no way but by force to be 
 rescued. 
 
 a/ 
 
2/8 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 The poor ladies, indeed, [were] not suffered either to meet 
 together, or to have conference with any other but such as 
 Cecropia had already framed to sing all their songs to her 
 tune, she herself omitting no day, and catching hold of every 
 occasion, to move forward her son's desire and remove their 
 own resolutions, using the same arguments to the one sister as 
 to the other, determining that whom she could win first the 
 other should, without her son's knowledge, by poison be made 
 away ; but, though the reasons were the same to both, yet the 
 handling was diverse, according as she saw their humours 
 to prepare a more or less aptness of apprehension. This day, 
 having long speech to Philoclea, amplifying not a little the 
 great dutifulness her son had showed in delivering Philanax, 
 of whom she could get no answer, but a silence sealed up in 
 virtue, and so sweetly graced as that in one instant it carried 
 with it both resistance and humbleness, Cecropia, threaten- 
 ing in herself to run a more rugged race with her, went to her 
 sister Pamela. 
 
 Whom when Cecropia had found, she took a sudden as- 
 suredness of hope, and, looking on a purse that Pamela was 
 making, " Oh, happy man," said she, " to whom a purse in 
 this manner and by this hand wrought is dedicated." " And 
 think you so indeed ?" said Pamela, half smiling. " It is the 
 right nature of beauty," said Cecropia, " to work unwitting 
 effects of wonder." Then she began glossingly to praise 
 beauty. " Nature," she said, " countervails all other liberali- 
 ties, wherein she maybe thought to have dealt more favourably 
 toward mankind. How do men crown, think you, themselves 
 with glory, for having either by force brought others to yield 
 to their mind, or, with long study and premeditated orations, 
 persuaded what they would have persuaded "i And see, a fair 
 woman shall not only command without authority, but 
 persuade without speaking. She shall not need to procure 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 279 
 
 attention, for their own eyes will chain their ears unto it. 
 Men venture lives to conquer ; she conquers lives without ven- 
 turing. She is served and obeyed, which is the most notable, 
 not because the laws so command it, but because they be- 
 come laws themselves to obey her, not for her parents' sake, but 
 for her own sake. She need not dispute whether to govern 
 by fear or love, since, without her thinking thereof, their love 
 will bring forth fear, and their fear will fortify their love ; and 
 she need not seek offensive or defensive force, since her only 
 lips may stand for ten thousand shields, and ten thousand un- 
 evitable shot go from her eyes. Beauty, beauty, dear niece, 
 is the crown of the feminine greatness, which gift, on whom- 
 soever the heavens, therein most niggardly, do bestow, with- 
 out question she is bound to use it to the noble purpose for 
 which it is created, not only winning, but preserving ; since 
 that, indeed, is the right happiness which is not only in itself 
 happy, but can also derive the happiness to another." 
 " Certainly, aunt," said Pamela, " I fear me you will make nie 
 not only think myself fairer than ever I did, but think my 
 fairness a matter of greater value than heretofore I could 
 imagine it ; for I ever, till now, conceived these conquests 
 you speak of rather to proceed from the weakness of the con- 
 quered than from the strength of the conquering power, as 
 they say the cranes overthrow whole battles of Pigmies, 
 not so much of their cranish courage as because the other 
 are Pigmies, and that we see young babes think babies* of 
 wonderful excellency, and yet the babies are but babies. But, 
 since your elder years and abler judgment find beauty to be 
 worthy of so incomparable estimation, certainly methinks it 
 ought to be he ld in dearness, according to the excellency, 
 
 * Babies — Dolls, or children's toys. 
 
 " Babies doe childi-en please, and shadowes fooles ; 
 Shewes have deceiv'd the wisest many a time." 
 
 — Griffin's Fidessa, 1596. 
 
28o ARCADIA.— Booh III. 
 
 and, no more than we would do of things which we account 
 precious, never to suffer it to be defiled." 
 
 " Defiled !" said Cecropia ; " marry, God forbid my speech 
 should tend to any such purpose !" Then, employing the utter- 
 most of her mischievous wit, " Dear niece, or, rather, dear 
 daughter, if my affection and wish might prevail therein, how 
 much doth it increase, trow you, the earnest desire I have of 
 this blessed match to see those virtues of yours knit fast with 
 such zeal of devotion — indeed the best bond which the most 
 politic wits have found to hold man's wit in well-doing? For, 
 as children must first by fear be induced to know that which 
 after, when they do know, they are most glad of, so are these 
 bugbears of opinions brought by great clerks into the world 
 to serve as shewels* to keep them from those faults whereto 
 else the vanity of the world and weakness of senses might 
 pull them. But in you, niece, whose excellency is such as it 
 need not to be held up by the staff of vulgar opinions, I would 
 not you should love virtue servilely, for fear of I know not what, 
 which you see not, but even for the good effects of virtue which 
 you see. Fear — and indeed foolish fear — and fearful ignorance, 
 was the first inventor of those conceits ; for when they heard 
 it thunder, not knowing the natural cause, they thought there 
 was some angry body above that spake so loud, and ever the 
 less they did perceive the more they did conceive. Whereof 
 they knew no cause, that grew straight a miracle, foolish folks 
 not marking that the alterations be but upon particular acci- 
 dents, the universality being always one. Yesterday was but 
 as to-day, and to-morrow will tread the same footsteps of his 
 foregoers ; so as it is manifest enough that all things follow 
 but the course of their own nature, saving only man, who, 
 
 ^Shrivels — Examples; from the verb "to shew." Archdeacon 
 Nares says that this is the only instance of the word with which he 
 is acquainted. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 281 
 
 while by the pregnancy of his imagination he strives to things '; 
 supernatural, meanwhile he loseth his own natural felicity. 
 Be wise, and that wisdom shall be a god unto thee ; be con- 
 tented, and that is thy heaven : for else to think that those 
 powers, if there be any such, above are moved either by the 
 eloquence of our prayers, or in a chafe at the folly of our 
 actions, carries as much reason as if flies should think that 
 men take great care which of them hums sweetest and which 
 of them flies nimblest." 
 
 She would have spoken further, to have enlarged and con- 
 firmed her discourse, when Pamela, whose cheeks were dyed 
 in the beautifulest grain of virtuous anger, with eyes which 
 glistered forth beams of disdain, thus interrupted her : — 
 "Peace! wicked woman, peace! unworthy to breathe that doest 
 not acknowledge the Breath-giver ; most unworthy to have 
 a tongue, which speakest against him through whom thou 
 speakest ; keep your affection to yourself, which, like a be- 
 mired dog, would defile with fawning. You say yesterday 
 was as to-day. O foolish woman, and most miserably foolish 
 since v^at makes you foolish ! what doth that argue but that 
 there is a constancy in the everlasting Governor t Would 
 you have an inconstant God ; since we count a man foohsh 
 that is inconstant 1 He is not seen, you say ; and would you 
 think him a god who might be seen by so wicked eyes as 
 yours ? which yet might see enough if they were not like such 
 who for sport sake willingly hoodwink themselves to receive 
 blows the easier. But, though I speak to you without any 
 hope of fruit in so rotten a heart, and there be nobody else 
 here to judge of my speeches, yet be thou my witness, O cap- 
 tivity, that my ears shall not be willingly guilty of my Creator's 
 blasphemy. You say, because we know not the causes of 
 things, therefore fear was the mother of superstition : nay, 
 because we know that each effect hath a cause, that hath 
 
 ^ 
 
282 ARCADIA.— Book HI. 
 
 engendered a true and lively devotion. For this goodly work 
 of which we are,, and in which we live, hath not his being by 
 chance ; on which opinion it is beyond marvel by what chance 
 any brain could stumble. For if it be eternal, as you would 
 seem to conceive of it, eternity and chance are things unsuf- 
 ferable together. For that is chanceable which happeneth ; 
 and if it happen, there was a time before it happened when 
 it might have not happened ; or else it did not happen, and 
 so, if chanceable, not eternal. And as absurd it is to think 
 that, if it had a beginning, his beginning was derived from 
 chance ; for chance could never make all things of nothing : 
 and if there were substances before which by chance should 
 meet to make up this work, thereon follows another bottomless 
 pit of absurdities. For then those substances must needs 
 have been from ever, and so eternal ; and that eternal causes 
 should bring forth chanceable effects is as sensible as that the 
 sun should be the author of darkness. Again, if it were 
 chanceable, then was it not necessary ; whereby you take 
 away all consequents. But we see in all things, in some 
 respect or other, necessity of consequence ; therefore, in 
 reason, we must needs know that the causes were necessary. 
 Lastly, chance is variable, or else it is not to be called chance ; 
 but we see this work is steady and permanent. If nothing 
 but chance had glued those pieces of this All, the heavy parts 
 would have gone infinitely downward, the hght infinitely 
 upward, and so never have met to have made up this goodly 
 body. For, before there was a heaven or earth, there was 
 neither a heaven to stay the height of the ring, or an earth 
 which, in respect of the round walls of heaven, should become 
 a centre. Lastly, perfect order, perfect beauty, perfect con- 
 stancy, if these be the children of chance, let wisdom be 
 counted the root of wickedness. 
 
 " But you will say it is so by nature ; as much as if you 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 283 
 
 said it is so because it is so. If you mean of many natures 
 conspiring together, as in a popular government, to establish 
 this fair estate, as if the elementish and ethereal parts should 
 in their town-house set down the bounds of each one's office, 
 then consider what follows : that there must needs have been 
 a wisdom which made them concur, for their natures, being 
 absolutely contrary, in nature rather would have sought each 
 other's ruin than have served as well-consorted parts to such 
 an unexpressible harmony. For that contrary things should 
 meet to make up a perfection without force and wisdom above 
 their powers is absolutely impossible ; unless you will fly 
 to that hissed-out opinion of chance again. But you may 
 perhaps affirm that one universal nature, which hath been 
 for ever, is the knitting together of these many parts to such 
 an excellent unity. If you mean a nature of wisdom, good- 
 ness, and providence, which knows what it doth, then say you 
 that which I seek of you, and cannot conclude those blas- 
 phemies with which you defiled your mouth and mine ears. 
 But if you mean a nature, as we speak of the fire, which goeth 
 upward it knows not why, and of the nature of the sea, which 
 in ebbing and flowing seems to observe so just a dance and 
 yet understands no music, it is but still the same absurdity 
 superscribed with another title. For this word One being 
 attributed to that which is All is but one mingling of many, 
 and many ones ; as in a less matter, when we say one king- 
 dom which contains many cities, or one city which contains 
 many persons ; wherein the under-ones, if there be not a 
 superior power and wisdom, cannot by nature regard any 
 preservation but of themselves ; no more we see they do, 
 since the water willingly quenches the fire, and drowns the 
 earth, so far are they from a conspired unity ; but that a right 
 heavenly nature indeed, as it were unnaturing them, doth so 
 bridle them. 
 
284 ARCADIA.— Book TIL 
 
 " Again, it is as absurd in nature that from an unity many 
 contraries should proceed, still kept in an unity, as that from 
 the number of contrarieties an unity should arise. I say still, 
 if you banish both a singularity and plurality of judgment 
 from among them, then, if so earthly a mind can lift itself 
 up so high, do but conceive how a thing whereto you give 
 the highest and most excellent kind of being, which is 
 eternity, can be of a base and vilest degree of being, and 
 next to a not being, which is so to be as not to enjoy his own 
 being. I will not here call all your senses to witness, which 
 can hear nor see nothing which yield not most evident evi- 
 dence of the unspeakableness of that wisdom, each thing being 
 directed to an end of preservation ; so proper effects of judg- 
 ment, as speaking and laughing are of mankind. But what 
 mad fury can ever so inveigle any conceit as to see our mortal 
 and corruptible selves to have a reason, and that this uni- 
 versality, whereof we are but the least pieces, should be 
 utterly devoid thereof.'' As if one should say that one's foot 
 might be wise and himself foolish. This heard I once alleged 
 against such a godless mind as yours, who, being driven to 
 acknowledge this beastly absurdity that our bodies should be 
 better than the whole world if it had the knowledge whereof the 
 other were void, he sought, not able to answer directly, to shift 
 it off in this sort : that, if that reason were true, then must it 
 follow also that the world must have in it a spirit that could write 
 and read too, and be learned, since that was in us commend- 
 able. Wretched fool ! not considering that books be but 
 supplies of defects, and so are praised because they help our 
 want, and therefore cannot be incident to the eternal Intelli- 
 gence, which needs no recording of opinions to confirm his 
 knowledge, no more than the sun wants wax to be the fuel of 
 his glorious lightfulness. 
 
 " This world, therefore, cannot otherwise consist but by a 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 285 
 
 mind of wisdom which governs it, which whether you will 
 allow to be the creator thereof, as undoubtedly he is, or 
 the soul and governor thereof, most certain it is that, whether 
 he govern all, or make all, his power is above either his 
 creatures or his government. And if his power be above all 
 things, then, consequently, it must needs be infinite, since 
 there is nothing above it to limit it; forbeyond which there is 
 nothing must needs be boundless and infinite. If his power 
 be infinite, then likewise must his knowledge be infinite; for 
 else there should be an infinite proportion of power which he 
 should not know how to use, the unsensibleness whereof I 
 think even you can conceive ; and if infinite, then must 
 nothing, no, not the estate of flies, which you, with so un- 
 savoury scorn, did jest at, be unknown unto him ; for if there 
 were, then were his knowledge bounded, and so not infinite. 
 If his knowledge and power be infinite, then must needs his 
 goodness and justice march in the same rank; for infiniteness 
 of power and knowledge, without like measure of goodness, 
 must necessarily bring forth destruction and ruin, and not 
 ornament and preservation. Since, then, there is a God, and 
 an all-knowing God, so as he seeth into the darkest of all 
 natural secrets, which is the heart of man, and sees therein 
 the deepest dissembled thoughts — nay, sees the thoughts 
 before they be thought ; since he is just to exercise his 
 might, and mighty to perform his justice, assure thyself, most 
 wicked woman, that hast so plaguily a corrupted mind as 
 thou canst not keep thy sickness to thyself, but must most 
 wickedly infect others — assure thyself, I say, for what I say 
 depends of everlasting and unremovable causes, that the 
 time will come when thou shalt know that power by feeling 
 it, when thou shalt see his wisdom in the manifesting thy 
 ugly shamefulness, and shalt only perceive him to have been 
 a Creator in thy destruction." 
 
286 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 Thus she said, thus she ended, with so fair a majesty of 
 unconquered virtue that captivity might seem to have au- 
 thority over tyranny, so foul was the filthiness of impiety 
 discovered by the shining of her unstained goodness, so far 
 as either Cecropia saw, indeed, or else the guilty amazement 
 of a self-accusing conscience made her eyes untrue judges of 
 their natural object, that there was a light, more than human, 
 which gave a lustre to her perfections. But Cecropia, like a 
 bat, which, though it have eyes to discern that there is a sun, 
 yet hath so evil eyes that it cannot delight in the sun, found 
 a truth, but could not love it. So, saying little more unto 
 her, but that she should have leisure enough better to bethink 
 herself, she went away, repining, but not repenting, con- 
 demning greatly, as she thought, her son's over-feeble humble- 
 ness, and purposing to ^%% him forward to a course of 
 violence. For herself, determining to deal with neither of 
 them both any more in manner of a suitor ; for what majesty 
 of virtue did in the one that did silent humbleness in the 
 other. But, finding her son over-apt to lay both condemna- 
 tion and execution of sorrow upon himself, she sought to 
 mitigate his mind with feigned delays of comfort, who, having 
 this inward overthrow in himself, was the more vexed that he 
 could not utter the rage thereof upon his outward enemies. 
 
 For Basilius, taught by the last day's trial what dangerous 
 effects chosen courages can bring forth, rather used the spade 
 than the sword, or the sword but to defend the spade, girding 
 about the whole town with trenches, which beginning a good 
 way off from the town, with a number of well-directed pi oners 
 he still carried before him till they came to a near distance, 
 where he built forts, one answering the other, in such sort as 
 it was a pretty consideration in the discipline of war to see 
 building used for the instrument of ruin, and the assailer 
 intrenched as if he were besieged. But many sallies did 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 287 
 
 Amphialus make to hinder their working ; but they, ejcercising 
 more melancholy than choler in their resolution, made him find 
 that, if by the advantage of the place few are able to defend 
 themselves from many, that many must needs have power, 
 making themselves strong in seat, to repel few, referring the 
 revenge rather to the end than to a present requital. Yet 
 oftentimes they dealt some blows in light skirmishes, each side 
 having a strong retiring place, and rather fighting, with many 
 alarums, to vex the enemy, than for any hope of great success. 
 Which every way was a tedious comber* to the impatient 
 courage of Amphialus, till the fame of this war bringing 
 thither divers both strangers and subjects, as well of princely 
 as noble houses, the gallant Phalantus, who refrained his 
 sportful delights as then to serve Basilius, whom he honoured 
 for received honours, when he had spent some time in 
 considering the Arcadian manner in marching, encamping, 
 and fighting, and had learned in what points of government 
 and obedience their discipline differed from others, and so 
 had satisfied his mind in the knowledges both for the cutting 
 off the enemy's helps and furnishing one's self, which Basi- 
 lius' orders could deliver unto him, his young spirits, weary of 
 wanting cause to be weary, desired to keep his valour in 
 knowledge by some private act, since the public policy re- 
 strained him ; the rather because his old mistress Artesia 
 might see whom she had so lightly forsaken ; and therefore, 
 demanding and obtaining leave of Basilius, he caused a herald 
 to be furnished with apparel of his office, and tokens of a 
 peaceable message, and so sent him to the gate of the town to 
 demand audience of Amphialus, who, understanding thereof, 
 caused him both safely and courteously to be brought into 
 
 * Comber^ that which overloads or embarrasses, whence our word 
 "cumber." "For if thou were not brought sometime into com- 
 h-aunce, whence God onely could deliver thee, thou shouldst never 
 see thy faith." — Tyndall, Workes, p. 117. 
 
288 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 his presence ; who, making lowly reverence unto him, pre- 
 sented his letters, desiring Amphialus that whatsoever they 
 contained he w^ould consider he was only the bearer and not 
 the inditer. Amphialus wath noble gentleness assured him, 
 both by honourable speeches and a demeanour which answered 
 for him, that his revenge, whensoever, should sort unto itself a 
 higher subject. But, opening the letters, he found them to 
 speak in this manner : — 
 
 " Phalantus of Corinth, to Amphialus of Arcadia, 
 sendeth the greeting of a hateless enemy. The liking of 
 martial matters, without any dislike of your person, hath 
 brought me rather to the company than to the mind of your 
 besiegers ; where languishing in idleness, I desire to refresh 
 my mind w4th some exercise of arms, which might make 
 known the doers with delight of the beholders. Therefore, if 
 there be any gentleman in your town that, either for the love 
 of honour or honour of his love, will, armed on horseback 
 with lance and sword, win another or lose himself, to be a 
 prisoner at discretion of the conqueror, I w411 to-morrow 
 morning by sun-rising, with a trumpet and a squire only, 
 attend him in like order furnished. The place I think 
 fittest, the island within the lake, because it stands so well in 
 the view of your castle as that the ladies may have the plea- 
 sure of seeing the combat, which, though it be within the 
 commandment of your castle, I desire no better security 
 than the promise I make to myself of your virtue. I attend 
 your answer, and wish you such success as may be to your 
 honour, rather in yielding to that which is just, than in 
 maintaining wrong by violence." 
 
 Amphialus read it with cheerful countenance, and, thinking 
 but a little with himself, called for ink and paper, and wrote 
 this answer : — 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 289 
 
 " Amphialus of Arcadia, to Phalantus of Corinth, 
 wisheth all his own wishes, saving those which may be 
 hurtful to another. The matter of your letters so fit for a 
 worthy mind, and the manner so suitable to the nobleness of 
 the matter, give me cause to think how happy I might 
 account myself if I could get such a friend, who esteem it no 
 small happiness to have met with so noble an enemy. Your 
 challenge shall be answered, and both time, place, and weapon 
 accepted. For your security from any treachery, having no 
 hostage worthy to countervail you, take my word, which I 
 esteem above all respects. Prepare therefore your arms to 
 fight, but not your heart to malice, since true valour needs 
 no other whetstone than desire of honour." 
 
 Having writ and sealed his letter, he delivered it to the 
 herald, and withal took a fair chain from off his own neck 
 and gave it him ; and so with safe convoy sent him away 
 from out his city. And he being gone, Amphialus showed 
 unto his mother, and some other of his chief counsellors, 
 what he had received, and how he had answered, telling 
 them withal that he was determined to answer the challenge 
 in his own person. His mother, with prayers authorized by 
 motherly commandment ; his old governor, with persuasions 
 mingled with reprehensions that he would rather affect the 
 glory of a private fighter than of a wise general ; Qinias, with 
 falling down at his feet, and beseeching him to remember 
 that all their lives depended upon his safety, sought all to 
 dissuade him. But Amphialus, whose heart was inflamed 
 with courage, and courage inflamed with affection, made an 
 imperious resolution cut off the tediousness of replies, giving 
 them in charge what they should do upon all occasions, 
 and particularly to deliver the ladies if otherwise than well 
 happened unto him ; only desiring his mother that she would 
 bring Philoclea to a window, whence she might with ease 
 
 U 
 
290 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 perfectly discern the combat. And so soon as the morning 
 began to draw dew from the fairest greens to wash her face 
 withal, against the approach of the burning sun, he went to 
 his stable, where himself chose out a horse, whom, though he 
 was near twenty years old, he preferred for a piece of sure 
 service before a great number of younger. And after being 
 fully appointed, he caused himself, with his trumpet and 
 squire whom he had taken since the death of Ismenus, to be • 
 ferried over into the island, a place well chosen for such a 
 purpose. For it was so plain as there was scarcely any 
 bush or hillock either to unlevel or shadow it ; of length and 
 breadth enough to try the uttermost both of lance and sword ; 
 and the one end of it facing the castle, the other extending 
 itself toward the camp ; and, no access to it but by water, there 
 could no treachery be wrought, and, for manifest violence, 
 either side might have time enough to succour their party. 
 
 But there he found Phalantus already waitrng for him 
 upon a horse milk-white, but that upon his shoulder and 
 withers he was freckled with red stains, as when a few straw- 
 berries are scattered into a dish of cream. As soon as 
 Amphialus landed, he sent his squire to Phalantus to tell him 
 that there was the knight ready to know whether he had any- 
 thing to say to him ; Phalantus answered that his answer now 
 must be in the language of lances ; and so each attended the 
 warning of the trumpets, which were to sound at the appoint- 
 ment of four judges, who with consideration of the same had 
 divided the ground. Phalantus his horse, young, and feehng 
 the youth of his master, stood curveting, which being well 
 governed by Phalantus, gave such a glittering grace as when 
 the sun in a clear day shines upon a waving water ; Amphi- 
 alus' horse stood pawing upon the ground with his further 
 foot before, as if he would for his master's cause begin to 
 make himself angry; till the trumpets sounding together, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 291 
 
 together they set spurs to their horses, together took their 
 lances from their thighs, conveyed them up into the rest 
 together, together let them sink downward, so as it was a 
 delectable sight in a dangerous effect, and a pleasant consi- 
 deration that there was so perfect agreement in so mortal 
 disagreement, like a music made of cunning discords. But 
 their horses, keeping an even line their masters had skilfully 
 allotted unto them, passed one by another without encoun- 
 tering, although either might feel the angry breath of the 
 other. But the staves being come to a just descent, even 
 when the mark was ready to meet them, Amphialus was run 
 through the vamplate, and under the arm, so as the staff 
 appearing behind him, it seemed to the beholders he had 
 been in danger. But he strake Phalantus just upon the 
 gorget, so as he battered the lamms* thereof, and made his 
 head almost touch the back of his horse. 
 
 But either side having stayed the spur, and used the bit to 
 stop their horses' fury, casting away the truncheons of their 
 staves, and drawing their swords, they attended the second 
 summons of the death-threatening trumpet, which quickly 
 followed ; and they as soon making their horses answer their 
 hands, with a gentle gallop, set one toward the other, till they 
 being come to the nearness of little more than astaft's length, 
 Amphialus, trusting more to the strength than to the nimble- 
 ness of his horse, put him forth with speedy violence, and 
 making his head join to the other's flank, guiding his blow 
 with discretion and strengthening it with the course of his 
 horse, strake Phalantus upon the head in such sort that his 
 feeling sense did both dazzle his sight and astonish his hear- 
 ing. But Phalantus, not customed to be ungrateful to such 
 benefits, strake him upon the side of his face with such force 
 that he thought his jaw had been cut asunder, though the 
 * Lamms^ or laniels, thin plates \ Latin, la?tiella. 
 
 U 2 
 
292 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 faithfulness of his armour indeed guarded him from further 
 damage. And so remained they a while, rather angry with 
 fighting than fighting for anger, till Amphialus' horse leaning 
 hard upon the other, and winning ground, the other horse, 
 feeling himself pressed, began to rise a little before, as he was 
 wont to do in his curvet, which advantage Amphialus taking, 
 set forward his own horse with the further spur, so as Pha- 
 lantus' horse came over with his master under him, which 
 Amphialus seeing, lighted with intention to help Phalantus. 
 But his horse, that had faulted rather with untimely art than 
 want of force, gat up from burdening his burden, so as Pha- 
 lantus, in the fall having gotten his feet free of the stirrup, 
 could, though something bruised, arise, and seeing Amphialus 
 near him, he asked him whether he had given him any help 
 in removing his horse. Amphialus said " No." " Truly," 
 said Phalantus, " I asked it because I would not willingly 
 have fought with him that had had my life in his mercy. 
 But now," said Phalantus, " before we proceed further, let me 
 know who you are, because never yet did any man bring me 
 to the like fortune." Amphialus, listing to keep himself un- 
 known, told him he was a gentleman to whom Amphialus 
 that day had given armour and horse to try his valour, having 
 never before been in any combat worthy remembrance. 
 " Ah," said Phalantus, in a rage, " and must I be the exercise 
 of your prentisage ?" And with that choler took away 
 either the bruise or the feeling of the bruise, so as he entered 
 afresh into the combat, and, boiling into his arms the disdain 
 of his heart, strake so thick upon Amphialus as if every blow 
 would fain have been foremost. But Amphialus, that many 
 like trials had taught great spending to leave small remnants,* 
 let pass the storm with strong wards and nimble avoidings, 
 
 * Great spendifig, <^c. — i.e., that a violent storm soon passes and 
 leaves little behind it. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 293 
 
 till, seeing his time fit, both for distance and nakedness, he 
 strake him so cruel a blow on the knee that the poor gentle- 
 man fell down withal in a swound. 
 
 But Amphialus, pitying approved valour, made precious by 
 natural courtesy, went to him, and taking off his headpiece 
 to give him air, the young knight, disdaining to buy life with 
 yielding, bad him use his fortune, for he was resolved never 
 to yield. " No more you shall," said Amphialus, " if it be 
 not to my request, that you will account yourself to have 
 great interest in me." Phalantus, more overcome by his 
 kindness than by his fortune, desired yet once again to know 
 his name, who in his first beginning had showed such fury 
 in his force and yet such stay in his fury, Amphialus then 
 named himself, telling him withal he would think his name 
 much bettered if it might be honoured by the title of his 
 friend. But no balm could be more comfortable to his wound 
 than the knowledge thereof was to his mind, when he knew 
 his mishap should be excused by the renowned valour of the 
 other. And so promising each to other assuredness of good- 
 w^ill, Phalantus, of whom Amphialus would have no other 
 ransom but his word of friendship, was conveyed into the 
 camp, where he would but httle remain among the enemies 
 of Amphialus, but went to seek his adventures otherwhere. 
 
 As for Amphialus, he was received with triumph into the 
 castle, although one might see by his eyes, humbly lifted up 
 to the window where Philoclea stood, that he was rather 
 suppliant than victorious, which occasion Cecropia taking, 
 who as then stood by Philoclea, and had lately left Pamela 
 in another room, whence also she might see the combat, 
 " Sweet lady," said she, " now you may see whether you have 
 cause to love my son, who then lies under your feet when he 
 stands upon the neck of his bravest enemies." " Alas !" said 
 Philoclea, " a simple service to me methinks it is, to have 
 
294 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 those who come to succour me destroyed. If it be my duty to 
 call it love, be it so ; but the effects it brings forth I confess 
 I account hateful." Cecropia grew so angry with this unkind 
 answer that she could not abstain from telling her that she 
 was like them that could not sleep when they were softly 
 laid ; but that, if her son would follow her counsel, he should 
 take another course with her, and so flang* away from her. 
 
 Yet, knowing the desperate melancholy of Amphialus in 
 like cases, Cecropia framed to him a very thankful message, 
 powdering it with some hope-giving phrases, which were of 
 such joy to Amphialus that he, though against public respect 
 and importunity of dissuaders, presently caused it to be made 
 known to the camp that whatsoever knight would try the like 
 fortune as Phalantus did he should in like sort be answered ; 
 so as divers of the valiantest, partly of themselves, partly at 
 the instigation of Basilius, attempted the combat with him ; 
 and according to every one's humour, so were the causes of 
 the challenge grounded, one laying treason to his charge, 
 another preferring himself in the w^orthiness to serve Philo- 
 clea, a third exalting some lady's beauty beyond either of the 
 sisters, a fourth laying disgraces to love itself, naming it the 
 bewitcher of the wit, the rebel to reason, the betrayer of re- 
 solution, the defiler of thoughts, the underminer of magnani- 
 mity, the flatterer of vice, the slave to weakness, the infection 
 of youth, the madness of age, the curse of life, and reproach 
 of death ; a fifth, disdaining to cast at less than at all, would 
 make the cause of his quarrel the causers of love, and pro- 
 claim his blasphemies against womankind, that, namely, that 
 sex was the oversight of nature, the disgrace of reasonableness, 
 
 * Flang — The proper pluperfect of "fling," though we now use 
 "flung." Thus, in Shakespeare, folio 1623 : 
 •' Alas (kinde Lord) 
 Yi^€ % flujig va. rage from this ingratefull Seate 
 Of monstrous Friends." — Timon of Athens, act iv. sc. 2. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 295 
 
 the obstinate cowards, the slave-born tyrants, the shops 
 of vanities, the gilded weathercocks, in whom conscience is 
 but peevishness, chastity waywardness, and gratefulness a 
 miracle. But all these challenges, how well soever indited, 
 were so well answered that some by death taught others, 
 though past learning themselves, and some by yielding gave 
 themselves the lie for having blasphemed, to the great grief 
 of Basilius, so to see his rebel prevail, and in his own sight 
 to crown himself with deserved honour. 
 
 Whereupon, thirsting for revenge, and else not hoping to 
 prevail, the best of his camp being already overthrown, he 
 sent a messenger to Argalus, in whose approved courage and 
 force he had — and had cause to have — great confidence, with a 
 letter, requiring him to take his quarrel in hand, from which 
 he had hitherto spared him in respect of his late marriage. 
 But now his honour and felicity standing upon it, he could no 
 longer forbear to challenge of him his faithful service. 
 
 The messenger made speed, and found Argalus at a castle 
 of his own, sitting in a parlour with the fair Parthenia, he 
 reading in a book the stories of Hercules, she by him, as to 
 hear him read ; but, while his eyes looked on the book, she 
 looked on his eyes, and sometimes staying him with some 
 pretty question, not so much to be resolved of the doubt as 
 to give him occasion to look upon her. A happy couple, he 
 joying in her, she joying in herself, but in herself because she 
 enjoyed him ; both increased their riches by giving to each 
 other, each making one life double because they made a 
 double life one ; where desire never wanted satisfaction, nor 
 satisfaction ever bred satiety, he ruhng because she would 
 obey, or rather, because she would obey, she therein ruling.* 
 
 * A most charming picture of happy married life ; a description 
 which many have imitated, but none in fitness, compactness, and 
 appropriateness have surpassed. 
 
296 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 But when the messenger came in with letters in his hand 
 and haste in his countenance, though she knew not what to 
 fear, yet she feared because she knew not ; but she rose and 
 went aside, while he delivered his letters and message, yet 
 afar off she looked, now at the messenger, and then at her 
 husband, the same fear which made her loth to have cause of 
 fear yet making her seek cause to nourish her fear. And 
 well she found there was some serious matter, for her hus- 
 band's countenance figured some resolution between loath- 
 someness and necessity ; and once his eye cast upon her, and 
 finding hers upon him, he blushed, and she blushed because 
 he blushed, and yet straight grew pale, because she knew not 
 why he had blushed. But when he had read and heard, and 
 despatched away the messenger, like a man in whom honour 
 could not be rocked asleep by affection, with promise quickly 
 to follow, he came to Parthenia, and, as sorry as might be for 
 parting, and yet more sorry for her sorrow, he gave her the 
 letter to read. She with fearful slowness took it, and with 
 fearful quickness read it, and having read it, " Ah, my Ar- 
 galus," said she, "and have you made such haste to answer? 
 and are you so soon resolved to leave me ?" But he discours- 
 ing unto her how much it imported his honour, which, since 
 it was dear to him, he knew it would be dear unto her, her 
 reason, overclouded with sorrow, suffered her not presently 
 to reply, but left the charge thereof to tears and sighs, which 
 he not able to bear, left her alone, and went to give order for 
 his present departure. 
 
 But by that time he was armed and ready to go she had 
 recovered a little strength of spirit again, and coming out, 
 and seeing him armed and wanting nothing for his departure 
 but her farewell, she ran to him, took him by the arm, and 
 kneeling down, without regard who either heard her speech or 
 saw her demeanour, " My Argalus ! my Argalus !" said she, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 297 
 
 " do not thus forsake me. Remember, alas ! remember that 
 1 have interest in you, which I will never yield shall be thus 
 adventured. Your valour is already sufficiently known, 
 sufficiently have you already done for your country ; enow, 
 enow there are beside you to lose less worthy lives. Woe 
 is me ! what shall become of me, if you thus abandon me ? 
 Then was it time for you to follow these adventures when 
 you adventured nobody but yourself, and were nobody's but 
 your own. But now pardon me that now or never I claim 
 mine own ; mine you are, and without me you can undertake 
 no danger, and will you endanger Parthenia .? Parthenia 
 shall be in the battle of your fight, Parthenia shall smart in 
 your pain, and your blood must be bled by Parthenia." 
 " Dear Parthenia," said he, " this is the first time that ever 
 you resisted my will ; I thank you for it, but persever not in 
 it, and let not the tears of those most beloved eyes be a pre- 
 sage unto me of that which you would not should happen. 
 I shall live, doubt not : for so great a blessing as you are was 
 not given unto me so soon to be deprived of it. Look 
 for me, therefore, shortly, and victorious, and prepare a 
 joyful welcome, and I will wish for no other triumph." She 
 answered not, but stood as it were thunder-stricken with 
 amazement, for true love made obedience stand up against 
 all other passions. But when he took her in his arms, and 
 sought to print his heart in her sweet lips, she fell in a 
 swound, so as he was fain to leave her to her gentlewomen ; 
 and, carried away by the tyranny of honour, though with 
 many a back-cast look and hearty groan, went to the camp. 
 Where understanding the notable victories of Amphialus, he 
 thought to give him some days' respite of rest, because he 
 would not have his victory disgraced by the other's weariness. 
 In which days he sought by all means, having leave to parley 
 with him, to dissuade him from his enterprise ; and then 
 
298 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 imparting his mind to Basilius, because he found Amphialus 
 was inflexible, wrote his defy* unto him in this manner : — 
 
 " Right famous Amphialus, if my persuasion in reason, 
 or prayer in good- will, might prevail with you, you should by 
 better means be like to obtain your desire. You should 
 make many brave enemies become your faithful servants and 
 make your honour fly up to heaven, being carried up by both 
 wings of valour and justice, whereof now it wants the latter. 
 But since my suit nor counsel can get no place in you, 
 disdain not to receive a mortal challenge, from a man so far 
 inferior unto you in virtue that I do not so much mislike 
 of the deed as I have the doer 'in admiration. Prepare 
 therefore yourself according to the noble manner you have 
 used, and think not hghtly of never so weak an arm which 
 strikes with the sword of justice." 
 
 To his he quickly received this answer : — 
 
 " Much more famous Argalus, I whom never threaten- 
 ings could make afraid am now terrified by your noble 
 ^ courtesy. For well I know from what height of virtue it doth 
 proceed, and what cause I have to doubt such virtue bent to 
 my ruin ; but love, which justifieth the unjustice you lay unto 
 me, doth also animate me against all dangers, since I come 
 full of him by whom yourself have been, if I be not deceived, 
 sometimes conquered. I will therefore attend your appear- 
 ance in the isle, carrying this advantage with me, that as it 
 shall be a singular honour if I get the victory, so there can be 
 no dishonour in being overcome by Argalus." 
 
 * Defy — Mr. R. Morris (" Specimens of Early English") translates 
 defye to digest ; here it manifestly means challenge, defiance. 
 Richardson classes defy as a noun, but gives no instance of its use, 
 even Chaucer using defiance ; this instance is therefore valuable. 
 From the Fr. defier. " Ingrats, je vous defie de douter de mon 
 coeur."— Georges Sand. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 299 
 
 The challenge thus denounced and accepted, Argalus was 
 armed in a white armour which was all gilded over with 
 knots of women's hair which came down from the crest of his 
 headpiece, and so spread itself in rich quantity over all his 
 armour ; his furniture was cut out into the fashion of an 
 eagle, whereof the beak, made into a rich jewel, was fastened 
 to the saddle, the tail covered the crupper of the horse, and 
 the wings served for trappers, which falling of each side, as 
 the horse stirred the bird seemed to fly. His petrell* and 
 reins were embroidered with feathers suitable unto it ; upon 
 his right arm he ware a sleeve which his dear Parthenia had 
 made for him to be worn in a jousts, in the time that success 
 was ungrateful to their well-deserved love ; it was full of 
 bleeding hearts, though never intended to any bloody enter- 
 prise. In his shield, as his own device, he had two palm- 
 trees near one another, with a word signifying, "In that sort 
 flourishing." His horse was of fiery sorrel, with black feet, 
 and black hst on his back, who with open nostrils breathed 
 war before he could see an enemy ; and now up with one leg, 
 and then with another, seemed to complain of nature that 
 she had made him any whit earthy. 
 
 But he had scarcely viewed the ground of the island, and 
 considered the advantages, if any were, thereof, before the 
 castle boat had delivered Amphialus, in all points provided 
 to give a hard entertainment. And then sending each to other 
 their squires in honourable manner, to know whether they 
 should attend any further ceremony, the trumpets sounding, 
 the horses with smooth running, the staves with unshaked 
 motion, obediently performed their choleric commandments. 
 But, when they drew near, Argalus' horse, being hot, pressed 
 
 * Petrell — The breastplate of the horse's armour ; from the 
 French /c'/r/ra//, or \\.2X\?cc\. pettorale^ or it maybe a corruption of the 
 word "pectoral," \^dX. pectoralis. 
 
300 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 in with his head, which Amphialus perceiving, knowing if he 
 gave him his side it should be to his disadvantage, pressed 
 in also with him, so as both the horses and men met shoulder 
 to shoulder, so as the horses, hurt as much with the striking 
 as being stricken, tumbled down to the earth, dangerously 
 to their masters, but that they, by strength nimble, and by 
 use skilful in the falling, shunned the harm of the fall, and 
 without more respite drew out their swords with a gallant 
 bravery, each striving to show himself the less endamaged, 
 and to make known that they were glad they had now 
 nothing else to trust to but their own virtue. True it is that 
 Amphialus was the sooner up, but Argalus had his sword 
 out the sooner ; and then fell they to the cruellest combat 
 that any present eye had seen ; their swords first, like 
 cannons, battering down the walls of their armour, making 
 breaches almost in ever}^ place for troops of wounds to enter. 
 Among the rest, Argalus gave a great wound to Amphialus' 
 disarmed face, though part of the force of it Amphialus warded 
 upon his shield, and withal, first casting his eye up to Philo- 
 clea's window, as if he had fetched his courage thence, feign- 
 ing to intend the same sort of blow, turned his sword, and,, 
 with a mighty reverse, gave a cruel wound to the right arm 
 of Argalus, the unfaithful armour yielding to the sword's 
 strong-guided sharpness. But, though the blood accused the 
 hurt of Argalus, yet would he in no action of his confess it, 
 but, keeping himself in a lower ward, stood watching with 
 timely thrusts to repair his loss, which quickly he did. For 
 Amphialus, following his fawning fortune, laid on so thick 
 upon Argalus that his shield had almost fallen piecemeal to 
 the earth, when Argalus coming in with his right foot, and 
 something stooping to come under his armour, thrust him 
 into the belly dangerously, and mortal it would have been, 
 but that with the blow before Amphialus had over-stricken 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III, 301 
 
 himself so as he fell sideward down, and with falling saved 
 himself from ruin, the sword by that means slipping aside, 
 and not piercing more deeply. Argalus, seeing him fall, 
 threatening with voice and sword, bade him yield. But he 
 striving without answer to rise, Argalus strake with all his 
 might upon his head. But his hurt arm, not able to master 
 so sound a force, let the sword fall so as Amphialus, though 
 astonished with the blow, could arise, which Argalus con- 
 sidering ran in to grasp with him, and so closed together, 
 falling so to the ground, now one getting above, and then the 
 other. At length, both weary of so unlovely embracements, 
 with a dissenting consent gate up and went to their swords, 
 but happened each of his enemy's ; where Argalus finding his 
 foe's sword garnished in blood, his heart rose with the same 
 sword to revenge it, and on that blade to ally their bloods 
 together. But his mind was evil waited on by his lamed 
 force, so as he received still more and more wounds, which 
 made all his armour seem to blush that it had defended his 
 master no better. But Amphialus perceiving it, and weigh- 
 ing the small hatefulness of their quarrel with the worthiness 
 of the knight, desired him to take pity of himself. But 
 Argalus, the more repining the more he found himself in dis- 
 advantage, filling his veins with spite instead of blood, and 
 making courage arise against faintness, like a candle, which 
 a little before it goes out gives then the greatest blaze, so did 
 he unite all his force that, casting away the little remnant of 
 his shield, and taking his sword in both hands, he strook such 
 a notable blow that he cleft his shield, armour, and arm almost 
 to the bone. 
 
 But then Amphialus forgat all ceremonies, and with cruel 
 blows made more of his best blood succeed the rest, till his 
 hand being stayed by his ear, his ear filled with a pitiful cry, 
 the cry guided his sight to an excellent fair lady, who came 
 
302 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 running as fast as she could, and yet, because she could not 
 so fast as she would, she sent her lamentable voice before 
 her, and being come, and being known to them both to be 
 the beautiful Parthenia, who had that night dreamed she 
 saw her husband in such estate as she then found him, which 
 made her make such haste thither, they both marvelled. 
 But Parthenia ran between them, fear of love making her 
 forget the fear of nature, and then fell down at their feet, 
 determining so to part them till she could get breath to sigh 
 out her doleful speeches ; and when her breath, which run- 
 ning had spent and dismayedness made slow to return, had 
 by sobs gotten into her sorrow-closed breast, for a while she 
 could say nothing but " O wretched eyes of mine, O wail- 
 ful sight, O day of darkness !" At length turning her eyes, 
 wherein sorrow swam, to Amphialus, " My lord," said she, 
 " it is said you love ; in the power of that love I beseech you 
 to leave off this combat, as ever your heart may find comfort 
 in his affection, even for her sake, I crave it ; or, if you be 
 mortally determined, be so pitiful unto me as first to kill me, 
 that I may not see the death of Argalus." Amphialus was 
 about to have answered, when Argalus, vexed with his for- 
 tune, but most vexed that she should see him in that fortune, 
 " Ah, Parthenia," said he, " never till now unwelcome unto 
 me, do you come to get my life by request ? And cannot 
 Argalus live but by request ? Is that a life?'' With that he 
 went aside, for fear of hurting her, and would have begun 
 the combat afresh. 
 
 But Amphialus, not only conjured by that which held the 
 monarchy of his mind, but even in his noble heart melting 
 with compassion at so passionate a sight, desired him to 
 withhold his hands, for that he should strike one who sought 
 his favour, and would not make resistance. A notable ex- 
 ample of the wonderful effects of virtue, where the conqueror 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 303 
 
 sought for friendship of the conquered, and the conquered 
 would not pardon the conqueror, both indeed being of that 
 mind to love each other for accepting, but not for giving 
 mercy, and neither affected to overlive a dishonour ; so that 
 Argalus, not so much striving with Amphialus — for if he had 
 had him in the hke sort, in like sort he would have dealt 
 with him — as labouring against his own power, which he 
 chiefly despised, set himself forward, stretching his strength 
 to the uttermost. But the fire of that strife, blown with his 
 inward rage, boiled out his blood in such abundance that he 
 was driven to rest him upon the pommel of his sword ; and 
 then each thing beginning to turn round in the dance of 
 death before his eyes, his sight both dazzled and dimmed, 
 till, thinking to sit down, he fell in a swound. Parthenia 
 and Amphialus both hastily went unto him ; Amphialus took 
 off his helmet, and Parthenia laid his head in her lap, tearing 
 off her linen sleeves and partlet* to serve about his wounds, to 
 bind which she took off her hair-lace, and would have cut off 
 her fair hair herself but that the squires and judges came in 
 with fitter things for the purpose, while she bewailed herself 
 with so lamentable sweetness as was enough to have taught 
 sorrow to the gladdest thoughts, and have engraved it in the 
 minds of hardest metal. 
 
 " O, Parthenia, no more Parthenia," said she, " what art 
 thou ? what seest thou ? how is thy bliss in a moment fallen ! 
 how wert thou even now before all ladies the example of per- 
 fect happiness, and now the gazing-gockt of endless misery ! 
 
 * Partlet — An article of dress. Minshew thinks it the diminutive 
 of" part ;" in the Observer, No. 39, we find it described thus : "Cut 
 off before by the breast-bone like -^l partlet or neckercher." 
 
 t Gazing-gock — I should read this "gazing-stock. " Goff, a north 
 country word, the nearest to gock — and printers may err at both ends 
 of a word — signifies a dull, stupid fellow. 
 
 "For to beware oi gofish people's speech." 
 
 — Chaucer, Troilus, b. iii. 
 
304 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 O God, what hath been my desert to be thus punished ? or, 
 if such have been my desert, why was I not in myself pun- 
 ished ? O wandering Hfe, to what wilderness wouldst thou 
 lead me ? But sorrow, I hope thou art sharp enough to save 
 my labour from other remedies. Argalus, Argalus, I will 
 follow thee, I will follow thee !"* 
 
 But with that Argalus came out of his swound, and lifting 
 up his languishing eyes, which a painful rest and iron sleep 
 did seek to lock up, seeing her in whom, even dying, he lived, 
 and himself seated in so beloved a place, it seemed a Httle 
 cheerful blood came up to his cheeks, like a burning coal 
 almost dead, if some breath a little revive it ; and forcing up, 
 the best he could, his feeble voice, " My dear, my better half," 
 said he, " I find I must now leave thee ; and by that sweet 
 hand and fair eyes of thine, I swear that death brings nothing 
 with it to grieve me but that I must leave thee, and cannot 
 remain to answer part of thy infinite deserts with being some 
 comfort unto thee. But since so it pleaseth Him whose wis- 
 dom and goodness guideth all, put thy confidence in him, 
 and one day we shall blessedly meet again never to depart ; 
 meanwhile, live happily, dear Parthenia, and I persuade 
 
 * This tender solicitude of Parthenia for her husband is strikingly 
 like that of Erminia when she finds Tancred wounded and nigh death- 
 stricken beneath the walls of Jerusalem ; z//V/,? Fairfax's " Godfrey of 
 Boulogne," bk. xix. st. 1 12. 
 
 ' ' From wearinesse and losse of bloode she spied 
 His greatest paines and anguish most proceede, 
 Nought but her vaile amid those desarts wide 
 She had to bind his wounds, in soe greate neede ; 
 But love could other bandes (thoughe strange) provide, 
 And pitie wept for joy to see that deede, 
 
 For with her amber lockes ait off, each wonnde 
 She tied (oh happie man, so cur'd, so bounde)." 
 As Tasso and Sidney were contemporaries, and employed on their 
 poems both about the same time, the resemblance is probably caused 
 by their both drawing from the same source, the old romances. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 305 
 
 myself it will increase the blessedness of my soul so to see thee. 
 Love well the remembrance of thy loving, and truly loving, 
 Argalus ; and let not" — with that word he sighed — "this dis- 
 grace of mine make thee one day think thou hadst an un-^ 
 w^orthy husband." They could scarcely understand the laai 
 words, for death began to seize himself of his heart ; neither 
 could Parthenia make answer, so full was her breast of anguish. 
 But, while the other sought to stanch his remediless wounds, 
 she with her kisses made him happy, for his last breath was 
 delivered into her mouth. 
 
 But when indeed she found his ghost* was gone, then sor- 
 row lost the wit of utterance and grew rageful and mad, so 
 that she tare her beautiful face and rent her hair, as though 
 they could serve for nothing since Argalus was gone ; till 
 Amphialus, so moved with pity of that sight as that he 
 honoured his adversary's death with tears, caused her, with 
 the help of her woman that came with her, partly by force to 
 be conveyed into the boat with the dead body of Argalus, 
 from which she would not depart. And being come of the 
 other side, there she was received by Basilius himself with 
 all the funeral pomp of military discipline, trailing all their 
 ensigns upon the ground, making their warlike instruments 
 sound doleful notes, and Basilius, with comfort in his mouth 
 and woe in his face, sought to persuade some ease into Par- 
 thenia's mind ; but all was as easeful to her as the handling 
 of sore wounds, all the honour done being to her but the 
 triumph of her ruin, she finding no comfort but in desperate 
 yielding to sorrow, and rather determined to hate herself if 
 ever she should find ease thereof. And well might she hear 
 as she passed through the camp the great praises spoken of 
 
 * Ghost — Spirit. " Vnmercifully slaine and thrust vpon speares 
 and shaken vp in the aire, where they yeelded vp their innocent 
 ^'^c'x^'j- in most pitiful wise." — HOLINSHED, Edwd. I. an. 1296. 
 
 X 
 
3o6 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 her husband, which all were records of her loss. But the 
 more excellent he was, being, indeed, accounted second to 
 none in all Greece, the more did the breath of those praises 
 ^ear up the wings of Amphialus' fame, to whom yet, such 
 was his case, that trophy upon trophy still did but build up 
 the raonument of his thraldom, he ever finding himself in such 
 favour of Philoclea that she was most absent when he was 
 present with her, and ever sorriest when he had best success ; 
 which would have made him renounce all comfort but that 
 his mother, with diversity of devices, kept up his heart. 
 
 Amongst those that attended Basilius_Dametas was one, 
 and the bravery of Amphialus causing the contrast to be 
 drawn between him and Clinias, a young gentleman who was 
 of the camp egged Dametas on to send this challenge for 
 mere humour and bravado : — 
 
 " O Clinias, the wickedest worm that ever went upon two 
 legs, the very fritter of fraud and seething pot of iniquity : 
 I, Dametas, chief governor of all the royal cattle, and also of 
 Pamela, whom thy master most perniciously hath suggested 
 out of* my dominion, do defy thee in a mortal affray, from the 
 bodkin to the pike upward. Which if thou dost presume to 
 take in hand, I will out of that superfluous body of thine 
 make thy soul to be evacuated." 
 
 Clinias was horribly disturbed by this, and would, by his 
 coward blood fleeing out of his face, have betrayed himself, 
 
 * Hath stiggested out of — "Suggested" here means borne off, carried 
 away, or placed under. Lat. sz(g-gere, sjcggestzim, as if sub. I cannot 
 find the word anywhere else used in this sense. Skelton's use is 
 quite modern : 
 
 " Some men might aske a question 
 By whose sjiggestion 
 I toke on hande this warke, 
 Thus boldly for to barke." 
 
 — " Why come ye not to Court?" 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 307 
 
 had not Amphialus, hoping to make sport to Philoclea, 
 boldly told the young gentleman who bore it that Clinias 
 would answer. Thereon the messenger returned to Dametas, 
 who had fetched many a sigh for fear Clinias should accept the 
 challenge. However, he began to look big and speak in a 
 loud voice ; and, further to insult upon Clinias, he gave order 
 to a painter for his device, which was a plough with the oxen 
 loosed from it, a sword with a great number of arms and legs 
 cut off, and lastly a great army of pen-and-ink horns and 
 books. Neither did he stick to tell the secret of his intent, 
 which was that he had left off the plough to do such bloody 
 deeds with his sword as many ink-horns and books should be 
 employed about the historifying of them ; and being asked 
 why he set no word unto it, he said that was indeed like the 
 painter that saith in his picture, " Here is the dog, and there 
 is the hare ;" and with that he laughed so perfectly as was 
 great consolation to the beholders. Yet, remembering that 
 Miso would not take it well at his return if he forgat his duty 
 to her, he caused in a border about to be written — 
 
 " Miso, mine own pigsnie,* thou shalt hear news of Dametas." 
 Thus, all things being condignly ordered, with an ill-favoured 
 impatience he waited until the next morning, that he might 
 make a muster of himself in the island, often asking them 
 that very diligently waited upon him whether it were not pity 
 that such a coward as Clinias should set his runaway feet 
 upon the face of the earth. 
 
 * Pigsnie — A term of endearment ; Tyrwhitt, ni his notes on 
 Chaucer, explains that the Romans used oadus as a term of endear- 
 ment, and that //^fj-;//^ means occUiLs. He quotes the "Milleres 
 Tale" in Chaucer. Bishop Gardner has a good example of its use : 
 " She was wont to chirpe him under the chin and kisse him ; how 
 pretely she could talk to him (how doth my swete heart, what sayth 
 now, pigseie ?) " Somner and Skinner derive it, with much greater 
 probability, from A.-S. ''piga, a little maid; we use at this day to 
 call such a one a //^j-;/^." 
 
 X 2 
 
3o8 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 But Amphialus having persuaded Clinias to write a bold 
 answer to Dametas, calling him a " filthy drivel,'' Dametas, 
 who was as great a coward as Clinias, would have drawn 
 back had his backers allowed him, but they would not, al- 
 though he groaned to hear the thunder of those threatenings. 
 And with much pressing on each side, the two at last were 
 brought to fight, and Clinias' horse stumbHng, Dametas, 
 although in mortal fear, laying about him in fearful agony, 
 got the victory, and the combat of cowards being finished, 
 Dametas was with much mirth and melody received into the 
 camp, never a page there failing to wait upon his triumph. 
 
 But Clinias, though he wanted heart to prevent shame, yet 
 he wanted not wit to feel shame, and hated Amphialus in that 
 he had answered Dametas' challenge. And the daily dangers 
 Amphialus did submit himself unto made Clinias assuredly 
 look for his overthrow, and for his own consecjuently if he did 
 not redeem his former treason to Basilius with a more trea- 
 sonable falsehood toward Amphialus. His chief care there- 
 fore was to find out among all sorts of the Amphialians, whom 
 either like fear, tediousness of the siege, or discontent of some 
 unsatisfied ambition would make apt to dig in the sam^e mine 
 that he did ; and some already of wealth-w:eary folks, and 
 unconstant youths, who had not found such sudden success 
 as they had promised themselves, he had made stoop to his 
 lure. But of none he made so good account as of Artesia, 
 sister to the late slain Ismenus, and the chief of the six maids 
 who had trained out* the princesses to their banquet of misery ; 
 so much did the sharpness of her wit countervail, as he 
 
 ■* Trained out — From Fr. trainer, or It. tranare, to draw, to 
 seduce, or allure. Richardson cites from " Vncerlaine Auctors : a 
 Praise of Mistres R." this couplet, in which the word bears the same 
 sense as in the text — 
 " Then fineness thought by training talk to win that beauty lost, 
 And whet her tongue with oily words and spared for no cost." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 309 
 
 thought, any other defects of her sex ; for she had undertaken 
 that dangerous practice by the persuasion of Cecropia, who 
 assured her that the two princesses should be made away, 
 and then Amphialus would marry her ; which she was the 
 apter to believe by some false persuasion her glass had given 
 her of her own incomparable excellencies, and by the great 
 favour she knew he bare to her brother Ismenus, which, like 
 a self-flattering woman, she conceived was done for her sake. 
 But when she had achieved her attempt, and that she found 
 the princesses were so far from their intended death as that 
 the one of them was like to be her sovereign, and that neither 
 her service had won of Amphialus much more than ordinary 
 favour, nor her over-large offering herself to a mind otherwise 
 owed had obtained a looked-for acceptation, disdain to be 
 disdained, spite of a frustrate hope, and perchance unquenched 
 lust-grown rage, made her unquiet thoughts find no other 
 rest but malice, which was increased by the death of her 
 brother, whom she judged neither succoured against Philanax 
 nor revenged upon Philanax. But all these coals were well- 
 blown by the company she especially kept with Zelmane all 
 this time of her imprisonment. For, finding her presence un- 
 cheerful to the mourning Philoclea, and condemned of the 
 high-hearted Pamela, she spent her time most with Zelmane, 
 who, though at the first hardly brooking the instrument of 
 their misery, learning cunning in the school of adversity, in 
 time framed herself to yield her acceptable entertainment. 
 
 And when Artesia did insinuate herself into her acquaint- 
 ance, she gave the government of her courage to wit, and 
 was content to familiarize herself with her; so much the 
 rather as that she perceived in her certain flaws of ill-con- 
 cealed discontentment, insomuch that when Zelmane would 
 sweeten her mouth with the praises of the sisters, especially 
 setting forth their noble gratefulness in never forgetting well- 
 
3IO ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 intended services, and invoking the justice of the gods not 
 to suffer such treasures to be wrongfully hidden, and some- 
 times with a kind unkindness charging Artesia that she had 
 been abused to abuse so worthy persons, Artesia, though 
 falsely, would protest that she had been beguiled in it, never 
 meaning other matter than recreation, and yet withal, by 
 alleging how ungratefully she was dealt with, it was easy to 
 be seen it was the unrewarding, and not the evil employing, 
 her service which grieved her. But Zelmane, using her own 
 bias to bowl near the mistress* of her own thoughts, was con- 
 tent to lend her belief, and withal, to magnify her desert, if 
 willingly she would deliver whom unwillingly she had im- 
 prisoned, leaving no argument which might tickle ambition 
 or flatter revenge ; so that Artesia, pushed forward by Clinias, 
 and drawn onward by Zelmane, bound herself to that practice, 
 wherein Zelmane, for her part, desired no more but to have 
 armour and weapons brought into her chamber, not doubting 
 therewith to perform anything, how impossible soever, which 
 longing love can persuade, and invincible valour dare promise. 
 But Clinias, whose faith could never comprehend the 
 mysteries of courage, persuaded Artesia, while he by cor- 
 ruption had drawn the guard of one gate to open if, when he 
 would appoint the time, to the enemy, that she should im- 
 poison Amphialus, which she might the easier do, because 
 she herself had used to make the broths when Amphialus, 
 either wearied or wounded, did use such diet. And all things 
 already were ready to be put in execution, when they thought 
 best to break the matters with the two excellent sisters, not 
 doubting of their consent in a thing so behootful to them- 
 
 * Bowl neai' the ttiisfress — A simile taken from the early game of 
 bowls. The small ball now called the Jack was in Sidney's time 
 called the mistress. The bowls are said to kiss when they touch 
 gently. So Shak. Troilus and Cressida, iii. 2 : "Rub on, and kiss 
 the mistress,^^ 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 311 
 
 selves ; their reasons being that the princesses, knowing their 
 service, might be sure to preserve them from the fury of the 
 entering soldiers, whereof Clinias, even so, could scarcely 
 be sufficiently certain ; and, withal, making them privy to 
 their action to bind them afterwards to a promised grateful- 
 ness towards them. They went, therefore, at one time when 
 they knew them to be alone, Clinias to Philoclea, and Artesia 
 to Pamela ; and Clinias, with no few words, did set forth 
 what an exploit was intended for her service. But Philoclea, 
 in whose clear mind treason could find no hiding-place, told 
 him that she would be glad if he could persuade her cousin 
 to deliver her, and that she would never forget his service 
 therein ; but that she desired him to lay down any such way 
 of mischief, for that, for her part, she would rather yield to 
 perpetual imprisonment than consent to the destroying her 
 cousin, who, she knew, loved her, though wronged her. This 
 unlooked-for answer amazed Chnias, so that he had no other 
 remedy in his mind but to kneel down to Philoclea and 
 beseech her to keep it secret, considering that the intention 
 was for her service ; and vowing, since she misliked it, to 
 proceed no further therein, she comforted him with promise 
 of silence, which she performed. 
 
 But that little availed ; for Artesia, having in like sort 
 opened this device to Pamela, she, in whose mind virtue 
 governed with the sceptre of knowledge, hating so horrible a 
 wickedness, and straightjudging what was fit to do, "Wicked 
 woman," said she, "whose unrepenting heart can find no way 
 to amend treason but by treason, now the time is come that 
 thy wretched wiles have caught thyself in thine own tiet : 
 as for me, let the gods dispose of me as shall please them ; 
 but sure it shall be no such way, nor way-leader, by which I 
 will come to liberty." This she spake something with a 
 louder voice than she was wont to use, so as Cecropia heard 
 
312 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 the noise, who was, sooner than Artesia imagined she would, 
 come up to bring Pamela to a window, where she might see 
 a notable skirmish happened in the camp, as she thought 
 among themselves ; and being a cunning fisher in troubled 
 waters, straight found by their voices and gestures there was 
 some matter of consequence, which she desired Pamela to tell 
 her. " Ask of her," said Pamela ; " and learn to know that 
 who do falsehood to their superiors teach falsehood to their 
 inferiors." More she would not say ; but Cecropia, taking 
 away the each-way guilty Artesia, with fear of torture gat of 
 her the whole practice ; so as Zelmane was the more closely 
 imprisoned, and Clinias, with the rest of his corrupted mates, 
 according to their merits, executed. For, as for Artesia, she 
 was but locked up in her chamber, Amphialus not consenting, 
 for the love he bare to Ismenus, that further punishment 
 should be laid upon her. 
 
 But the noise they heard in the camp was by occasion of 
 the famous Prince Anaxius, nephew to the giant Euardes, 
 whom Pyrocles slew ; a prince of body exceeding strong, 
 in arms so skilful and fortunate as no man was thought to 
 excel him, of courage that knew not how to fear, of parts 
 worthy praise, if they had not been guided by pride and fol- 
 lowed by unjustice. For, by a strange composition of mind, 
 there was no man more tenderly sensible in anything offered 
 to himself which, in the farthest-fet construction, might be 
 wrested to the name of wrong ; no man that in his own 
 actions could worse distinguish between valour and violence; 
 so proud as he could not abstain from a Thraso-like boasting, 
 and yet, so unlucky a lodging his virtues had gotten, he would 
 never boast more than he would accomplish ; falsely account- 
 ing an inflexible anger a courageous constancy ; esteeming 
 fear and astonishment righter causes of admiration than 
 love and honour. This man had four sundry times fought 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 313 
 
 with Amphialus, but Mars had been so unpartial an arbiter 
 that neither side gate advantage of the other. But in the 
 end it happened that Anaxius found Amphialus (unknown) 
 in a great danger, and saved his hfe, whereupon, loving his 
 own benefit, began to favour him, so much the more as, think- 
 ing so well of himself, he could not choose but like him, whom 
 he found a match for himself, which at last grew to as much 
 friendship towards him as could by a proud heart be con- 
 ceived. So as in this travel, seeking Pyrocles to be revenged 
 of his uncle's death, hearing of this siege, never taking pains 
 to examine the quarrel, like a man whose will was his God, 
 and his hand his law, taking with him his two brothers, men 
 accounted little inferior to himself in martial rhatters, and two 
 hundred chosen horsemen, with whom he thought himself able 
 to conquer the world, yet commanding the rest of his forces 
 to follow, he himself upon such an unexpected suddenness 
 entered in upon the back of Basilius, that many with great 
 unkindness took their death, not knowing why nor how 
 they were so murthered. But the valiant and faithful 
 Philanax, with well-governed speed, made such head against 
 him as would have showed how soon courage falls in the 
 ditch which hath not the eye of wisdom, but that Amphialus 
 at the same time issued out, and winning with an abundance 
 of courage one of the sconces'* which Basilius had builded, 
 made way for his friend Anaxius, with great loss of both 
 sides, but especially of the Basilians ; such notable monu- 
 ments had those two swords especially left of their masters' 
 redoubted worthiness. 
 
 There, with the respect fit to his estate, the honour due to 
 his worthiness, and the kindness which accompanies friend- 
 ship, made fast by interchanged benefits, did Amphialus 
 
 * Sconces — Small forts or bulwarks to defend a pass or river; 
 "where I would haue left my boates, to haue raised a sconse y^'iih. small 
 trench, and a pallisado vpon top of it." — Hakluyt's Voyages, vol. iii. 
 
314 ARCADIA.— Book III, 
 
 enforce himself, as much as in a besieged town he could, to 
 make Anaxius know that his succour was not so needful as 
 his presence grateful. For, causing the streets and houses 
 of the town to witness his welcome, making both soldiers 
 and magistrates in their countenances to show their gladness 
 of him, he led him to his mother, whom he besought to 
 entertain him with no less love and kindness than as one 
 who once had saved her son's life, and now came to save 
 both Kfe and honour. " Tush !" said Anaxius, speaking 
 aloud, looking upon his brothers, " I am only sorry there are 
 not half a dozen kings more about you, that what Anaxius 
 can do might be the better manifested." His brothers 
 smiled, as though he had over-modestly spoken, far under- 
 neath the pitch of his power. Then was he disarmed at the 
 earnest request of Amphialus ; for Anaxius boiled with desire 
 to issue out upon the enemies, persuading himself that the 
 sun should not be set before he had overthrown them. That 
 night, when supper was ended, wherein Amphialus would 
 needs himself wait upon him, he caused in boats upon the 
 lake an excellent music to be ordered, which, though Anaxius 
 might conceive was for his honour, yet, indeed, he was but 
 the brick wall to convey it to the ears of the beloved Philo- 
 clea. But Anaxius, seeming aweary before it was ended, 
 told Amphialus that, for his part, he liked no music but the 
 neighing of horses, the sound of trumpets, and the cries of 
 yielding persons, and therefore desired that the next morning 
 they should issue upon the same place where they had entered 
 that day, not doubting to make them quickly aweary of being 
 the besiegers of Anaxius. Amphialus, who had no whit less 
 courage, though nothing blown up with pride, willingly con- 
 descended ; and so, the next morning, giving false alarum to 
 the other side of the camp (Amphialus, at Anaxius' earnest 
 request, staying within the town to see it guarded), Anaxius 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 315 
 
 and his brethren Lycurgus and Zoilus sallied out with the 
 best chosen men. But Basilius, having been the last day 
 somev/hat unprovided, now had better fortified the overthrown 
 sconce, and so well had prepared everything for defence that 
 it was impossible for any valour from without to prevail. 
 Yet things were performed by Anaxius beyond the credit of 
 the credulous ; for thrice, valiantly followed by his brothers, 
 did he set up his banner upon the rampier of the enemy, 
 though thrice, again, by the multitude, and advantage of the 
 place, but especially by the coming of three valiant knights, 
 he were driven down again. 
 
 But so far had Anaxius at the third time prevailed that 
 now the Basilians began to let their courage descend to their 
 feet, BasiHus and Philanax in vain striving with reverence of 
 authority to bridle the flight of astonishment, and to teach 
 fear discretion ; so that Amphialus, seeing victory show such 
 a flattering countenance to him, came out with all his force, 
 hoping that day to end the siege. 
 
 But that fancy altered quickly by the sudden coming to 
 the other side of three knights, whereof the one was in white 
 armour, the other in green, and the third by his black armour 
 and device straight known to be the notable knight who the 
 first day had given fortune so short a stop with his notable 
 deeds, fighting hand to hand with the deemed invincible 
 Amphialus. For the very cowards no sooner saw him but, as 
 borrowing some of his spirit, they went like young eagles 
 to the prey under the wing of their dam. For the three 
 adventurers, not content to keep them from their rampier, 
 leaped down among them and entered into a brave combat 
 with the three valiant brothers. But to whether* side fortune 
 
 * Whether — Used here for "which;" "whether daughter," 
 "whether side," "which daughter" and "which side." ''^Whether 
 hii be saf other nat saf " is met with in " Piers Ploughman," p. 240. 
 
3i6 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 would have been partial could not be determined ; for the 
 Basilians, lightened with the beams of their strangers' valour, 
 followed so thick that the Amphialians were glad with some 
 haste to retire to the walls-ward, though Anaxius neither 
 reason, fear, nor example could make him assuage the fury 
 of his fight, until one of the Basilians (unworthy to have his 
 name registered, since he did it cowardly), sideward, when he 
 least looked that way, almost cut off one of his legs, so as he 
 fell down, blaspheming heaven that all the influences thereof 
 had power to overthrow him ; and there death would have 
 seized of his proud heart, but that Amphialus took in hand 
 the black knight while some of his soldiers conveyed away 
 Anaxius, so requiting life for life unto him. 
 
 And, for the love and example of Amphialus, the fight 
 began to enter into a new fit of heat, when Basilius (that 
 thought enough to be done for that day) caused retreat to be 
 sounded, fearing lest his men, following over-earnestly, might 
 be the loss of those excellent knights, whom he desired to 
 know. The knights, as soon as they heard the retreat, 
 though they were eagerly set, knowing that courage without 
 discipline is nearer beastliness than manhood, drew back 
 their swords, though hungry of more blood, especially the 
 black knight, who, knowing Amphialus, could not refrain to 
 tell him that this was the second time he escaped out of his 
 hands, but that he would shortly bring him a bill of all the 
 former accounts. Amphialus seeing it fit to retire also, most 
 of his people being hurt, both in bodies and hearts, withdrew 
 himself with so well-seated a resolution that it was as far 
 from anger as from dismayedness, answering no other to the 
 black knight's threats but that, when he brought him his 
 account, he should find a good paymaster. 
 
 The fight being ceased, and each side withdrawn within 
 their strengths, Basilius sent Philanax to entertain the 
 
ARCADIA.-Book III. 317 
 
 strange knights, and to bring them unto him, that he might 
 acknowledge what honour was due to their virtue. But they 
 excused themselves, desiring to be known first by their deeds 
 before their names should accuse their unworthiness ; and, 
 though the other replied according as they deserved, yet, 
 finding that unwelcome courtesy is a degree of injury, he 
 suffered them to retire themselves to a tent of their own 
 without the camp, where they kept themselves secret, 
 Philanax himself being called away to another strange 
 knight — strange not only by the unlooked-for-ness of his 
 coming, but by the strange manner of his coming ; for he 
 had before him four damosels, and so many behind him, all 
 upon palfreys, and all apparelled in mourning weeds ; each 
 of them a servant of each side, with like liveries of sorrow ; 
 himself in an armour all painted over with such a cunning 
 of shadow that it represented a gaping sepulchre ; the furni- 
 ture of his horse was all of cypress branches, wherewith in 
 old time they w^ere wont to dress graves. The word was, 
 " No way to be rid from Death but by Death." 
 
 This Knight of the Tomb — for so the soldiers termed him 
 — sent to Basilius to demand leave to send in a damosel into 
 the town to call out Amphialus, according as beforetime 
 some others have done ; which being granted, as glad 
 any would undertake the charge, which nobody else in that 
 camp was known willing to do, the damosel went in ; and, 
 having with tears sobbed out a brave challenge to Amphia- 
 lus from the Knight of the Tomb, Amphialus, honourably 
 entertaining the gentlewoman, and desiring to know the 
 knight's name, which the doleful gentlewoman would not 
 discover, accepted the challenge, only desiring the gentle- 
 woman to say thus much to the strange knight from him, 
 that, if his mind were like to his title, there were more 
 cause of affinity than enmity between them. And, therefore. 
 
3i8 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 presently, according as he was wont, as soon as he perceived 
 the Knight of the Tomb, with his damosels and judge, was 
 come into the island, he also went over in accustomed man- 
 ner, and yet, for the courtesy of his nature, desired to speak 
 with him. 
 
 But the Knight of the Tomb, with silence, and drawing 
 his horse back, showed no will to hear nor speak, but, with 
 lance on thigh, made him know it was fit for him to go to 
 the other end of the career, whence, waiting the start of the 
 unknown knight, he likewise made his spurs claim haste of 
 his horse. But, when his staff was in his rest, coming down 
 to meet with the knight, now very near him, he perceived 
 the knight had missed his rest; wherefore the courteous 
 Amphialus would not let his lance descend, but with a gallant 
 grace ran over the head of his therein friended enemy ; and 
 having stopped his horse, and with running of him blessed 
 his sight with the window where he thought Philoclea might 
 stand, he perceived the knight had lighted from his horse and 
 thrown away his staff, angry with his misfortune as of having 
 missed his rest, and drawn his sword to make that supply his 
 fellow's fault. He also lighted and drew his sword, esteeming 
 victory with advantage rather robbed than purchased ; and 
 so, the other coming eagerly toward him, he, with his shield 
 out and sword aloft, with more bravery than anger, drew unto 
 him, and straight made their swords speak for them a pretty 
 while with equal fierceness. But Amphialus, to whom the 
 earth brought forth few matches, having both much more 
 skill to choose the places and more force to work upon the 
 chosen, had already made many windows in his armour for 
 death to come in at, when, in the nobleness of his nature 
 abhorring to make the punishment overgo the offence, he 
 stepped a little back, and withal, "Sir knight," said he, "you 
 may easily see that it pleaseth God to favour my cause ; 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 319 
 
 employ your valour against them that wish you hurt, for my 
 part, I have not deserved hate of you." " Thou liest, false 
 traitor !" said the other, with an angry but weak voice. But 
 Amphialus, in whom abused kindness became spiteful rage, 
 " Ah, barbarous wretch !" said he, " only courageous in dis- 
 courtesy, thou shalt soon see whether thy tongue hath betrayed 
 thy heart or no ;" and with that, redoubling his blows, gave 
 him a great wound upon his neck, and closing with him over- 
 threw him, and in the fall thrust him mortally into the body, 
 and with that went to pull off his helmet with intention to 
 make him give himself the lie for having so said, or to cut 
 off his head. 
 
 But the headpiece was no sooner off but that there fell about 
 the shoulders of the overcome knight the treasure of fair 
 golden hair, which, with the face, soon known by the badge 
 of excellency, witnessed that it was Parthenia, the unfortu- 
 nately virtuous wife of Argalus ; her beauty then, even in de- 
 spite of the passed sorrow, or coming death, assuring all 
 beholders that it was nothing short of perfection. For her 
 exceeding fair eyes having with continual weeping gotten a 
 little redness about them ; her roundy, sweetly-swelling lips 
 a little trembling, as though they kissed their neighbour 
 Death ; in her cheeks, the whiteness striving, by little and 
 little, to get upon the rosiness of them ; her neck — a neck in- 
 deed of alablaster* — displaying the wound which with most 
 dainty blood laboured to drown his own beauties ; so as here 
 
 * Alablaster—T\(\i word (Gr. "AXd^aaTpov, from o and \al3eiu) in 
 the original is thus spelt. In vulgar parlance it is now occasionally 
 to be met with, although those who use it are ignorant that they have 
 good authority on their side. Mikon, a precisian in such matters, 
 has "alablaster" (P. L. iv. 544); so, too, has Spenser (F. Q. II. 
 xii. 77); and in other of our old writers it is not uncommon. This 
 form ojf the word has been overlooked by Richardson, who cites 
 Wiclif, the Bible of 1539, and Chaucer as using a/adastre or alabaster, 
 our present form. 
 
320 ARCADIA.— Book TIL 
 
 was a river of purest red, there an island of perfectest white, 
 each giving lustre to the other, with the sweet counten- 
 ance, God knows, full of an unaffected languishing ; though 
 these things, to a grossly conceiving sense, might seem dis- 
 graces, yet indeed were they but appareUing beauty in a new 
 fashion, which all looking upon through the spectacles of 
 pity, did even increase the lines of her natural fairness, so 
 as Amphialus was astonished with grief, compassion, and 
 shame, detesting his fortune that made him unfortunate in 
 victory. 
 
 Therefore, putting off his headpiece and gauntlet, kneeling 
 down unto her, and with tears testifying his sorrow, he 
 offered his, by himself accursed, hands to help her, protesting 
 his life and power to be ready to do her honour. But Parthenia, 
 who had inward messengers of the desired death's approach, 
 looking upon him, and straight turning away her feeble sight, 
 as from a delightless object, drawing out her words, which 
 her breath, loth to depart from so sweet a body, did faintly 
 deliver, " Sir," said she, " 1 pray you, if prayers have place 
 in enemies, to let my maids take my body untouched by you: 
 the only honour I now desire by your means is, that I have 
 no honour of you. Argalus made no such bargain with you: 
 that the hands which killed him should help me. I have of 
 them — and I do not only pardon you, but thank you for it— the 
 service which I desired. There rests nothing now but that 
 I go live with him since whose death I have done nothing 
 but die." Then pausing, and a little fainting, and again 
 coming to herself, " Oh, sweet life, welcome," said she ; " now 
 feel I the bands untied of the cruel death which so long hath 
 held me. And, O life, O death, answer for me, that my 
 thoughts have, not so much as in a dream, tasted any comfort 
 since they were deprived of Argalus. I come, my Argalus, 
 I come ! And, O God, hide my faults in thy mercies, and 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. yi\ 
 
 grant, as I feel thou dost grant, that in thy eternal love we 
 
 may love each other eternally. And this, O Lord ," but 
 
 there Atropos cut off her sentence ; for with that, casting up 
 both eyes and hands to the skies, the noble soul departed, 
 one might well assure himself, to heaven, which left the body 
 in so heavenly a demeanour. 
 
 But Amphialus, with a heart oppressed with grief, because 
 of her request, withdrew himself ; but the judges, as full of 
 pity, had been all this while disarming her, and her gentle- 
 women, with lamentable cries, labouring to stanch the reme- 
 diless wounds; and a while she was dead before they perceived 
 it, death being able to divide the soul, but not the beauty, 
 from the body. But when the infallible tokens of death 
 assured them of their loss, one of the women would have 
 killed herself, but that the squire of Amphialus, perceiving, by 
 force held her. Others that had as strong passion, though 
 weaker resolution, fell to cast dust upon their heads, to tear 
 their garments, all falling upon the earth and crying upon 
 their sweet mistress, as if their cries could persuade the soul 
 to leave the celestial happiness, to come again into the ele- 
 ments of sorrow ; one time calling to remembrance her virtue, 
 chasteness, sweetness, goodness to them ; another time ac- 
 cursing themselves, that they had obeyed her, being deceived 
 by her words, who assured them that it was revealed unto 
 her that she should have her heart's desire in the battle against 
 Amphialus, which they wrongly understood. Then kissing 
 her cold hands and feet, weary of the world since she was 
 gone who was their world, the very heavens seemed with a 
 cloudy countenance to lower at the loss, and fame itself, 
 though by nature glad to tell such rare accidents, yet could 
 not choose but deliver it in lamentable accents, and in such 
 sort went it quickly all over the camp ; and, as if the air had 
 been infected with sorrow, no heart was so hard but was 
 
 Y 
 
322 ARCADIA.— Book IIL 
 
 subject to that contagion ; the rareness of the accident 
 matching together the rarely matched together — pity with 
 admiration. BasiHus himself came forth, and brought the 
 fair Gynecia with him, who was come into the camp under 
 colour of visiting her husband and hearing of her daughters ; 
 but indeed Zelmane was the saint to which her pilgrimage 
 was intended ; cursing, envying, blessing, and, in her heart, 
 kissing the walls which imprisoned her. But both they, with 
 Philanax and the rest of the principal nobility, went out to 
 make honour triumph over death, conveying that excellent 
 body, whereto Basilius himself would needs lend his shoulder, 
 to a church a mile from the camp, where the valiant Argalus 
 lay intombed, recommending to that sepulchre the blessed 
 relics of a faithful and virtuous love, giving order for the 
 making of two marble images to represent them, and each 
 way enriching the tomb ; upon which BasiHus himself caused 
 this epitaph* to be written : — 
 
 The Epitaph. 
 His being was in her alone ; 
 And he not being, she was none. 
 They joy'd one joy, one grief they griev'd, 
 One love they lov'd, one life they liv'd. 
 The hand was one, one was the sword 
 That did his death, her death afford. 
 As all the rest, so now the stone 
 That tombs the two is justly one. 
 Argalus and Parthenia. 
 
 * In sweetness and fitness this quaint epitaph is surpassed by none 
 in the English language ; in terseness only by this its parallel, upon 
 the death of Sir Albert Morton's wife : — 
 
 " He first deceas'd ; she for a little tri'd 
 To live without him ; lik'd it not, and di'd. — H. W." 
 From the "Reliquiae Wottonianse," by the curious pencil of the 
 ever memorable Sir Henry Wotton, Kt. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 323 
 
 Then, with eyes full of tears, and mouths full of their 
 praises, returned they to the camp with more and more hate 
 against Amphialus, who, poor gentleman, had therefore 
 greater portion of woe than any of them. For that courteous 
 heart, which would have grieved but to have heard the like ad- 
 venture, was rent with remembering himself to be the author, 
 so that his wisdom could not so far temper his passion but 
 that he took his sword, counted the best in the world, which 
 with much blood he had once conquered of a mighty giant, 
 and brake it into many pieces, which afterwards he had good 
 cause to repent, saying that neither it was worthy to serve 
 the noble exercise of chivalry, nor any other worthy to feel 
 that sword which had stricken so excellent a lady ; and withal, 
 banishing all cheerfulness of his countenance, he returned 
 home, where he gat him to his bed, not so much to rest his 
 restless mind as to avoid all company, the sight whereof was 
 tedious unto him. And then rnelancholy, only rich in un- 
 fortunate remembrances, brought before him all the mishaps 
 with which his life had wrestled, taking this not only as a 
 confirming of the former, but a presage of following misery. 
 " Did ever man's eye," he cried, " look through love upon 
 the majesty of virtue, shining through beauty, but that he 
 became, as it well became him, a captive ? and is it the style 
 of a captive to write — Our will and pleasure ?" 
 
 " Tush, tush, son," said Cecropia, " you say you love, but 
 withal you fear : you fear lest you should offend. Offend 1 
 and how know you that you should offend — because she 
 doth deny ? Deny ? now, by my truth, if your sadness would 
 let me laugh, I could laugh heartily, to see that yet you are 
 ignorant that ' No ' is no negative in a woman's mouth. My son, 
 believe me, a woman, speaking of women, a lover's modesty 
 among us is much more praised than liked ; or, if we like it, 
 so well we like it that for marring of his modesty he shall 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 never proceed further. Each virtue hath his time. Think 
 she would not strive but that she means to try thy force ; and, 
 my Amphialus, know thyself a man, and show thyself a 
 man, and believe me upon my word, a woman is a woman." 
 Amphialus was about to answer her, when a gentleman of his 
 brought him a letter from the camp, importing this : — 
 
 " To THEE Amphialus of Arcadia, the Forsaken Knight 
 wisheth health and courage, that by my hand thou mayest 
 receive punishment for thy treason, according to thine own 
 offer, which, wickedly occasioned, thou hast proudly begun 
 and accursedly maintained. I will presently, if thy mind 
 faint thee not for his own guiltiness, meet thee in thy island, 
 in such order as hath by the former been used ; or, if thou 
 likest not the time, place, or weapon, I am ready to take 
 thine own reasonable choice in any of them, so as thou do 
 perform the substance. Make me such answer as may show 
 that thou hast some taste of honour ; and so I leave thee to 
 live till I meet thee." 
 
 Amphialus read it, and, with a deep sigh, according to the 
 humour of inward affliction, seemed even to condemn himself, 
 as though indeed his reproaches were true. But, howsoever 
 the dulness of melancholy would have languishingly yielded 
 thereunto, his courage, unused to such injuries, desired help 
 of anger to make him this answer : — 
 
 " Forsaken Knight, though your nameless challenge 
 might carry in itself excuse for a man of my birth and estate, 
 yet herein set your heart at rest — you shall not be forsaken. 
 I will, without stay, answer you in the wonted manner, and 
 come both armed in your foolish threatenings, and yet the 
 more fearless, expecting weak blows where I find so strong 
 words. You shall not therefore long attend me in the island 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 325 
 
 before proof teach you that of my hfe you have made your- 
 self too large a promise. In the meantime, farewell." 
 
 This being written and delivered, the messenger told him 
 that his lord would, if he liked the same, bring two knights 
 with him to be his patrons.*' Which Amphialus accepted ; 
 and withal shaking off with resolution his mother's importu- 
 nate dissuasions, he furnished himself for the fight, but not 
 in his wonted furniture. For now, as if he would turn his 
 inside outward, he would needs appear all in black. In his 
 crest he carried Philoclea's knives, the only token of her 
 forced favour. So passed he over into the island, taking with 
 him the two brothers of Anaxius, where he found the Forsaken 
 Knight attired in his own livery, as black as sorrow itself 
 could see itself in the blackest glass. Their very horses 
 were coal-black too, not having so much as one star to give 
 light to their night of blackness, so as one would have 
 thought they had been the two sons of sorrow, and were 
 come thither to fight for their birthright in that sorry inherit- 
 ance. Which alliance of passions so moved Amphialus, 
 already tender-minded by the afflictions of love, that, without 
 staff or sword drawn, he trotted fairly to the Forsaken Knight, 
 willing to have put off this combat, to which his melancholy 
 heart did, more than ever in like occasion, misgive him ; and 
 therefore saluting him, " Good knight," said he, " because we 
 are men, and should know reason why we do things, tell me 
 the cause that makes you thus eager to fight with me." 
 " Because I affirm," answered the Forsaken Knight, " that 
 thou dost most rebellious injury to those ladies to whom all 
 men owe service." "You shall not fight with me," said 
 Amphialus, " upon the quarrel, for I confess the same too, 
 
 * Patrons — A patron is one who supports or aids the cause of 
 another ; in this place used to signify a second. I can find no other 
 instance of its use in this sense. 
 
326 ARCADIA.— Book II L 
 
 but it proceeds from their own beauty to enforce love to offer 
 this force." " I maintain, then," said the Forsaken Knight, 
 " that thou art not worthy so to love." " And that I confess 
 too," said Amphialus, " since the world is not so richly 
 blessed as to bring forth anything worthy thereof But no 
 more unworthy than any other, since in none can be a more 
 worthy love." " Yes, more unworthy than myself," said the 
 Forsaken Knight ; " for, though I deserve contempt, thou 
 deservest both contempt and hatred." 
 
 But Amphialus, by that thinking, though wrongly — each 
 indeed mistaking other — that he was his rival, forgat all mind 
 of reconciliation, and, having all his thoughts bound up in 
 choler, never staying either judge, trumpet, or his own 
 lance, drew out his sword, and saying, " Thou liest, false 
 villain !" unto him, his words and blows came so quick 
 together as. the one seemed a lightning of the other's thunder. 
 But he found no barren ground of such seed, for it yielded 
 him his own with such increase that, though reason and 
 amazement go rarely together, yet the most reasonable eyes 
 that saw it found reason to be amazed at the fury of their 
 combat. Never game of death better played, never fury set 
 itself forth in greater bravery-. Spite, rage, disdain, shame, 
 revenge, came waiting upon hatred ; of the other side came, 
 with love-longing desire, both invincible hope and fearless de- 
 spair. Of either side confidence, unacquainted with loss, but 
 assuring trust to overcome, and good experience how to 
 overcome ; now seconding their terrible blows with cunning 
 labouring their horses to win ground of the enemy, now 
 unlooked-for parting one from the other to win advantage 
 by an advantageous return. But force against force, skill 
 against skill, so interchangeably encountered that it was not 
 easy to determine whether enterprising or preventing came 
 former ; both, sometimes at one instant, doing and suffering 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 327 
 
 wrong, and choler no less rising of the doing than of the 
 suffering. But as the fire, the more fuel is put to it the more 
 hungry still it is to devour more, so the more they strake 
 the more unsatisfied they were with striking. And so a long 
 space they fought, while neither virtue nor fortune seemed 
 partial of either side, which so tormented the unquiet heart of 
 Amphialus that he resolved to see a quick end ; and there- 
 fore, with the violence of courage adding strength to his 
 blow, he strake in such wise upon the side of the other's 
 head that his remembrance left that battered lodging. And 
 Amphialus used the favour of occasion, redoubling his blows, 
 but the horse, weary to be beaten, as well as the master, 
 carried his master away till he came to himself. 
 
 But then who could have seen him might well have discerned 
 shame in his cheeks and revenge in his eyes, so as, setting 
 his teeth together with rage, he came running upon Am- 
 phialus, reaching out his arm, which had gathered up his 
 sword, meaning with that blow to have cleaved Amphialus in 
 two. But Amphialus, seeing the blow coming, shunned it 
 with nimble turning his horse aside ; wherewith the Forsaken 
 Knight overstrake himself so as almost he came down with his 
 own strength ; but the more hungry of his purpose the more 
 he was barred the food of it. Disdaining the resistance both 
 of force and fortune, he returned upon the spur again, and 
 ran with such violence upon Amphialus that his horse, with 
 the force of the shock, rose up before, almost overturned, 
 which Amphialus perceiving, with rein and spur put forth 
 his horse, and withal gave a mighty blow in the descent of 
 his horse upon the shoulder of the Forsaken Knight, from 
 whence sliding, it fell upon the neck of his horse, so as horse 
 and man fell to the ground ; but he was scarce down before 
 he was up on his feet again, with brave gesture showing 
 rising of courage in the falling of fortune. But the courteous 
 
328 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 Amphialus excused himself for having, against his will, killed 
 his horse.* " Excuse thyself for viler faults," answered the 
 Forsaken Knight, "and use this poor advantage the best thou 
 canst ; for thou shalt quickly find thou hast need of more." 
 " Thy folly," said Amphialus, " shall not make me forget 
 myself ;" and therewith, trotting a little aside, alighted from 
 his horse, because he would not have fortune come to claim 
 any part of the victory. Which courteous act would have 
 mollified the noble heart of the Forsaken Knight if any other 
 had done it besides the jailer of his mistress ; but that was 
 a sufficient defeasancef for the firmest bond of good-nature ; 
 and therefore he was no sooner alighted but that he ran 
 unto him, re-entering into as cruel a fight as eye did ever see 
 or thought could reasonably imagine — far beyond the reach 
 of weak words to be able to express it : for what they had 
 done on horseback was but as a morsel to keep their stomachs 
 in appetite in comparison of that which now, being them- 
 selves, they did. 
 
 Amphialus, being the taller man, for the most part stood 
 with his right leg before, his shield at the uttermost length 
 of his arm, his sword high, but with the point toward his 
 enemy. But, when he strake — which came so thick as if 
 every blow would strive to be foremost — his arm seemed still 
 a postillion of death. The Forsaken Knight showed with like 
 skill unlike gesture, keeping himself in continual motion, 
 proportioning the distance between them to anything that 
 Amphialus attempted ; his eye guided his foot, and his foot 
 conveyed his hand : and, since nature had made him some- 
 
 * Killed his horse — It was against the laws of Chivalry to kill the 
 horse of an adversary in single combat. 
 
 t Defeasance — (Fr, defaire) Defeat, undoing. 
 
 " Being arrived where that champion stout 
 After his foes defeasance did remaine." 
 
 — Spenser, Faerie Queene, I. xii. 12. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 329 
 
 thing the lower of the two, he made art follow, and not strive 
 with nature ; shunning rather than warding his blows, like a 
 cunning mastiff who knows the sharpness of the horn and 
 strength of the bull, fights low to get his proper advantage, 
 answering mightiness with nimbleness, and yet at times em- 
 ploying his wonderful force, wherein he was second to none. 
 In sum, the blows were strong, the thrusts thick, and the 
 avoidings cunning. But the Forsaken Knight, that thought it 
 a degree of being conquered to be long in conquering, strake 
 him so mighty a blow that he made Amphialus put knee to 
 the ground without any humbleness. But, when he felt him- 
 self stricken down, and saw himself stricken down by his 
 rival, then shame seemed one arm, and disdain another ; 
 fury in his eyes, and revenge in his heart ; skill and force 
 gave place, and they took the place of skill and force with so 
 unweariable a manner that the Forsaken Knight also was 
 driven to leave the stern of cunning, and give himself wholly 
 to be guided by the storm of fury, there being in both, be- 
 cause hate would not suffer admiration, extreme disdain to 
 find themselves so matched. 
 
 " What !" said Amphialus to himself, " am I Amphialus, 
 before whom so many monsters and giants have fallen dead 
 when I only fought causeless adventures ; and can one 
 knight now withstand me in the presence of Philoclea, and 
 fighting for Philoclea ? or, since I lost my liberty, have I lost 
 my courage ; have I gotten the heart of a slave as well as 
 the fortune ? If an army were against me in the sight of 
 Philoclea, could it resist me T Of the other side, the For- 
 saken Knight, with no less spite, fell out with himself. " Hast 
 thou broken," said he to himself, " the commandment of thy 
 only princess, to come now into her presence, and in her 
 presence to prove thyself a coward ? O incomparable 
 Pyrocles, more grieved wilt thou be with thy friend's shame 
 
330 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 than with thine own imprisonment, when thou shalt know 
 how httle I have been able to do for the dehvery of thee and 
 those heavenly princesses. Am I worthy to be friend to the 
 most valorous prince that ever was intituled valorous, and 
 show myself so weak a wretch? No, shamed Musidorus, 
 worthy for nothing but to keep sheep : get thee a sheephook 
 again, since thou canst use a sword no better." 
 
 Thus at times did they, now with one thought, then with 
 another, sharpen their over-sharp humours, like the lion that 
 beats himself with his own tail to make himself the more 
 angry. These thoughts indeed not staying but whetting 
 their angry swords, which now had put on the apparel of 
 cruelty, they bleeding so abundantly that everybody that 
 saw them fainted for them, and yet they fainted not in them- 
 selves, their smart being more sensible to other's eyes than to 
 their own feeling ; wrath and courage barring the common 
 sense from bringing any message of their case to the mind, 
 pain, weariness, and weakness not daring to make known 
 their case, though already in the limits of death, in the 
 presence of so violent fury, which, filling the veins with 
 rage instead of blood, and making the mind minister spirits 
 to the body, a great while held out their fight, like an arrow 
 shot upward by the force of the bow, though by his own 
 nature he would go downward. The Forsaken Knight had 
 the more wounds, but Amphialus had the sorer, which the 
 other, watching time and place, had cunningly given unto 
 him. Whoever saw a well-manned galley fight with a tall 
 ship might make unto himself some kind of comparison of 
 the difference of these two knights, a better couple than 
 which the world could not brag of. Amphialus seemed to 
 excel in strength, the Forsaken Knight in nimbleness ; and 
 yet did the one's strength excel in nimbleness, and the other's 
 nimbleness excel in strength ; but now strength and nimbleness 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 331 
 
 were both gone, and excess of courage only maintained the 
 fight. Three times had Amphialus, with his mighty blows, 
 driven the Forsaken Knight to go staggering backward, but 
 every one of those times he requited pain with smart, and 
 shame v/ith repulse, only that he should be the later to die, 
 which hope hate, as unsecret as love, could not conceal, but 
 drawing himself a little back from him, brake out into these 
 manner of words : — 
 
 " Ah, Amphialus," said the Forsaken Knight, " this third 
 time thou shalt not escape me, but thy death shall satisfy thy 
 injury and my malice, and pay for the cruelty thou showedst 
 in killing the noble Argalus and the fair Parthenia." " In 
 troth," said Amphialus, " thou art the best knight that ever I 
 fought withal, which would make me willing to grant thee thy 
 life if thy wit were as good as thy courage, that, besides 
 other follies, layest that to my charge which most against my 
 will was committed. But whether my death be in thy power 
 or no, let this tell thee ;" and upon the word waited a blow, 
 which parted his shield into two pieces, and, despising the 
 weak resistance of his already broken armour, made a great 
 breach into his heart side, as if he would make a passage for 
 his love to get out at. 
 
 But pain rather seemed to increase life than to weaken 
 life in those champions ; for the Forsaken Knight, coming 
 in with his right leg, and making it guide the force of the 
 blow, strake Amphialus upon the belly so horrible a wound 
 that his guts came out withal ; which Amphialus perceiving, 
 fearing death only because it should come with overthrow, he 
 seemed to conjure all his strength for one moment's service ; 
 and so, hfting up his sword with both hands, hit the Forsaken 
 Knight upon the head a blow wherewith his sword brake. But, 
 as if it would do a notable service before it died, it prevailed 
 so even in the instant of breaking that the Forsaken Knight 
 
332 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 fell to the ground, quite for that instant forgetting both love 
 and hatred ; and Amphialus, finding himself also in such 
 weakness as he looked for speedy death, glad of the victory, 
 though little hoping to enjoy it, pulled up his visor, meaning 
 with his dagger to give him death ; but, instead of death, he 
 gave him life ; for the air so revived his spirits that, coming to 
 himself, and seeing his present danger, with a life conquering 
 death, he took Amphialus by the thigh, and together rose him- 
 self and overturned him. But Amphialus scrambled up again, 
 both now so weak indeed as their motions rather seemed the 
 after-drops to a storm than any matter of great fury. 
 
 But Amphialus might repent himself of his wilful breaking 
 his good sword ; for the Forsaken Knight, having with the 
 extremity of justly-conceived hate, and the unpitifulness of 
 his own near-threatening death, blotted out all complements 
 of courtesy, let fly at him so cruelly, that, though the blows 
 were weak, yet weakness upon a weakened subject proved 
 such strength that Amphialus, having attempted in vain once 
 or twice to close with him, receiving wound upon wound, sent 
 his whole burthen to strike the earth with falling, since he 
 could strike his foe no better in standing, giving no other 
 tokens of himself than as of a man even ready to take his 
 oath to be death's true servant. 
 
 Which when the hardy brothers of Anaxius perceived, not 
 recking law of arms nor use of chivalry, they flew in to defend 
 their friend or revenge their loss of him. But they were forth- 
 with encountered with the two brave companions of the For- 
 saken Knight, whereof the one being all in green, both armour 
 and furniture, it seemed a pleasant garden wherein grew 
 orange-trees, which, with their golden fruits cunningly beaten 
 in and embroidered, greatly enriched the eye-pleasing colour 
 of green. In his shield was a sheep feeding in a pleasant 
 field, with this word, " Without fear or envy ;" and therefore 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 333 
 
 was called the Knight of the Sheep. The other knight was all 
 in milk-white, his attiring else all cut in stars, which, made of 
 cloth of silver and silver spangles, each way seemed to cast 
 many aspects. His device was the very pole itself, about 
 which many stars stirring, but the place itself left void ; the 
 word was, " The best place yet reserved." But these four 
 knights, inheriting the hate of their friends, began a most 
 fierce combat ; the Forsaken Knight himself not able to help 
 his side, but was driven to sit him down with the extreme 
 faintness of his more and more fainting body. But those 
 valiant couples, seeking honour by dishonouring, and to build 
 safety upon ruin, gave new appetites to the almost glutted 
 eyes of the beholders ; and now blood began to put sweat from 
 the full possession of their outsides, no advantage being yet 
 to be seen, only the Knight of the Sheep seeming most 
 deliver,* and affecting most of all that viewed him, when a 
 company of soldiers, sent by Cecropia, came out in boats to 
 the island, and all came running to the destruction of the three 
 knights, whereof one was utterly unable to defend himself. 
 
 But then did the other two knights show their wonderful 
 courage and fidelity ; for, turning back to back, and both 
 bestriding the black Forsaken Knight, who had fainted so 
 long till he had lost the feeling of faintness, they held- play 
 against the rest, though the two brothers unknightly helped 
 them ; till Philanax, who watchfully attended such traitorous 
 practices, sent likewise over, both by boat and swimming, so 
 choice a number as did put most of the other to the sword ; 
 only the two brothers, with some of the bravest of them, 
 carrying away the body of Amphialus, which they would 
 rather have died than have left behind. 
 
 * Deliver — Active, nimble. 
 
 "Like bulls set head to head with mei-e deliver strength." 
 
 Drayton, Polyolbion, Song i. 
 
334 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 So was the Forsaken Knight, laid upon cloaks, carried 
 home to the camp. But his two friends, knowing his earnest 
 desire not to be known, covering him from anybody's eyes, 
 conveyed him to their own tent ; Basihus himself conquering 
 his earnest desire to see him with fear to displease him who 
 had fought so notably in his quarrel. But fame set the honour 
 upon his back which he would not suffer to shine in his face, 
 no man's mouth being barren of praises to the noble knight 
 that had battered the most esteemed knight in the world, 
 everybody praying for his life and thinking that therein they 
 prayed for themselves. But he himself, when, by the diligent 
 care of friends and well-applied cunning of surgeons, he came 
 to renew again the league between his mind and body, then 
 fell he to a fresh war with his own thoughts, wrongfully con- 
 demning his manhood, laying cowardice to himself, whom 
 the impudentest backbiter would not so have wronged. For 
 his courage, used to use victory as an inheritance, could brook 
 no resistance at any time ; but now that he had promised 
 himself not only the conquest of him, but the scaling of the 
 walls and delivery of Pamela, though he had done beyond all 
 other's expectation, yet so short was he of his own that he 
 hated to look upon the sun that had seen him do so weakly, 
 and so much abhorred all visitation or honour, whereof he 
 thought himself unworthy, that he besought his two noble 
 friends to carry him away to a castle not far off, where he 
 might cure his wounds and never be known till he made suc- 
 cess excuse this, as he thought, want in him. They lovingly 
 obeyed him, leaving Basihus and all the camp very sorry for 
 the parting of these three unknown knights, in whose prowess 
 they had reposed greatest trust of victory. 
 
 But they being gone, Basilius and Philanax gave good 
 order to the strengthening of the siege, fortifying themselves, 
 so as they feared no more any such sudden onset as that of 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 335 
 
 Anaxius. And they within, by reason of Anaxius' hurt, but 
 especially of Amphialus his, gave themselves only to a dili- 
 gent watch and ward, making no sallies out, but committing 
 the principal trust to Zoilus and Lycurgus ; for Anaxius was 
 yet forced to keep his chamber. And as for Amphialus, his 
 body had such wounds, and he gave such wounds to his 
 mind, as easily it could not be determined whether death or 
 he made the greater haste one to another ; for when the 
 diligent care of cunning chirurgeons had brought hfe to the 
 possession of his own right, sorrow and shame, like two cor- 
 rupted servants, came waiting of it, persuading nothmg but 
 the giving over of itself to destruction. 
 
 His mother, who had confined all her love only unto him, set 
 only such about him as were absolutely at her commandment, 
 whom she forbad to let him know anything that passed in 
 the castle till his wounds were cured, but as she from time 
 to time should instruct them ; she, for herself, being resolved, 
 now she had the government of all things in her own hands, 
 to satisfy her son's love by their* yielding, or satisfy her own 
 revenge in their punishment. Yet first, because she would 
 be the freer from outward force, she sent a messenger to the 
 camp to denounce unto Basilius, that, if he did not presently 
 raise his siege, she would cause the heads of the three ladies, 
 prisoners, to be cut off before his eyes. And, to make him 
 the more fear a present performance, she caused his two 
 daughters and Zelmane to be led unto the walls, where she 
 had made a scaffold easy to be seen by Basilius, and there 
 caused them to be kept, as ready for the slaughter, till answer 
 came from Basilius. 
 
 But when this message was brought to Basilius, and that 
 this pitiful preparation was a sufficient letter of credit for 
 him to believe it, he called unto him his chief counsellors, 
 
 * Their yielding — i.e.^ that of Pamela and Philoclea. 
 
336 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 among which those he chiefly trusted were Philanax and 
 Kalander, lately come to the camp at Basilius' command- 
 ment, and in himself weary of his solitary life, wanting his 
 son's presence, and never having heard from his beloved 
 guests since they parted from him. Now in this doubt what 
 he should do he willed Kalander to give him his advice, who 
 told him that no sophistical scholar could find any question 
 in this, that he would rather have his daughters live or die. 
 A man might use more words if it were to any purpose to 
 gild gold;* "but you are wise and are a father," said he; 
 "do, therefore, as you mean to do: remove the siege." 
 
 But Basilius made sign to Philanax, who, though inwardly 
 perplexed, would have persuaded the king to set down all 
 private conceits in comparison of what for the public is pro- 
 fitable, and he would have proceeded on, when Gynecia came 
 running in, amazed for her daughter Pamela, but mad for 
 Zelmane, and, falling at Basilius' feet, besought him to make 
 no delay, using such gestures of compassion, instead of 
 stopped words, that Basilius, otherwise enough tender-minded, 
 easily granted to raise the siege, which he saw dangerous 
 to his daughters, but, indeed, more careful for Zelmane, 
 by whose besieged person the poor old man was straitly 
 besieged. So as, to rid him of the famine of his mind, he 
 went in speed away, discharging his soldiers, only leaving the 
 authority, as before, in Philanax his hands ; he himself went 
 with Gynecia to a strong castle of his, where he took counsel 
 how first to deliver Zelmane, whom he called the poor stranger, 
 as though only law of hospitality moved him, and for that 
 purpose sent divers messengers to traffic with Cecropia. 
 
 But she, by this means rid of the present danger of the 
 siege, desired Zoilus and Lycurgus to take the care, till their 
 
 * To gild gold — "To gild refined gold ; to paint the lily." 
 
 — King John, act iv. sc. 2. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 2>n 
 
 brother recovered, of revictualling and furnishing the city, 
 both with men and what else wanted, against any new occa- 
 sion should urge them ; she herself, disdaining to hearken to 
 Basihus without he would grant his daughter in marriage 
 to her son, which by no means he would be brought unto^ 
 bent all the sharpness of her malicious wit how to bring 
 a comfortable grant to her son, whereupon she well found 
 no less than his hfe depended. Therefore for a while 
 she attempted all means of eloquent praying and flattering 
 persuasion, mingling sometimes gifts, sometimes threaten- 
 ings, as she had cause to hope that either open force or 
 undermining would best win the castle of their resolution. 
 And ever as much as she did to Philoclea, so much did she 
 to Pamela, though in manner sometimes differing, as she 
 found fit to level at the one's noble height and the other's 
 sweet lowliness. For, though she knew her son's heart had 
 wholly given itself to Philoclea, yet, seeing the equal gifts in 
 Pamela, she hoped a fair grant would recover the sorrow of 
 a fair refusal ; cruelly intending the present empoisoning the 
 one as soon as the other's affection were purchased. 
 
 But in vain was all her vain oratory employed. Pamela's 
 determination was built upon so brave a rock that no shot of 
 hers could reach unto it ; and Philoclea, though humbly 
 seated, was so environed with sweet rivers of clear virtue as 
 could neither be battered nor undermined : her witty persua- 
 sions had wise answers ; her eloquence recompensed with 
 sweetness ; her threatenings repelled with disdain in the one 
 and patience in the other ; her gifts either not accepted, or 
 accepted to obey, but not to bind. 
 
 Cecropia, by nature violent and now spiteful, dishonour- 
 ably used them, both in diet and in lodging, by contempt 
 seeking to pull their thoughts to yielding. But to all virtue 
 and love resisted ; yet Cecropia, resolving all extremities 
 
 z 
 
338 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 rather than fail of conquest, pursued on her ruo^ged way, 
 letting no day pass without new and new perplexing the poor 
 ladies' minds and troubling their bodies. 
 
 So these diamonds of the world — whom nature had made 
 to be preciously set in the eyes of men, to be the chief works 
 of her workmanship, the chief ornaments of the world and 
 princesses of felicity — by rebellious injury were brought to 
 the uttermost distress that an enemy's heart could wish or a 
 woman's spite invent ; Cecropia daily in one or other sort 
 punishing them, still with her evil torments giving them fear 
 of worse, making the fear itself the sorest torment of all, that, in 
 the end, weary of their bodies, they should be content to bestow 
 them at her appointment. Yet Cecropia found herself still 
 further off ; for where at first she might perchance have per- 
 suaded them to have visited her son and have given him some 
 comfort in his sickness, drawing near to the confines of 
 death's kingdom, now they protested that they would never 
 otherwise speak to him than as to their enemy, of most 
 unjust cruelty towards them that any time or place could 
 ever make them know. 
 
 This made the poison swell in her cankered breast, per- 
 ceiving that, as in water, the more she grasped the less she 
 held ; but yet now, having run so long the way of rigour, it 
 was too late in reason, and too contrary to her passion, to 
 return to a course of meekness. And, therefore, taking 
 counsel of one of her old associates, who so far excelled in 
 wickedness as that she had not only lost all feeling of con- 
 science, but had gotten a very glory in evil, in the end they 
 determined that beating and other such sharp dealing did 
 not so much pull down a woman's heart as it bred anger, and 
 that nothing was more enemy to yielding than anger, making 
 their tender hearts take on the armour of obstinacy — for 
 thus did their wicked minds, blind to the light of virtue, and 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 339 
 
 owly-eyed in the night of wickedness, interpret it — and that 
 therefore that was no more to be tried. And for fear of death, 
 which, no question, would do most with them, they had been 
 so often threatened as they began to be famiharly acquainted 
 with it, and learned to esteem threatening words to be but 
 words. Therefore the last but best way now was, that 
 the one seeing indeed the other's death should perceive 
 there was no dallying meant ; and then there was no doubt 
 that a woman's soul would do so much rather than leave so 
 beautiful a body. 
 
 This being concluded, Cecropia went to Philoclea and told 
 her that now she was to come to the last part of the play ; 
 for her part, though she found her hard-hearted obstinacy 
 such that neither the sweetness of loving means nor the force 
 of hard means could prevail with her, yet, before she would 
 pass to a further degree of extremity, she had sought to win 
 her sister, in hope that her son might be in time satisfied 
 with the love of so fair a lady, but, finding her also rather 
 more than less wilful, she was now minded that one of their 
 deaths should serve for an example to the other, that de- 
 spising worthy folks was more hurtful to the despiser than 
 the despised ; that yet, because her son especially affected 
 her, and that in her own self she was more inclinable to pity 
 her than she had deserved, she would begin with her sister, 
 who that afternoon should have her head cut off before her 
 face ; if in the meantime one of them did not pull out their ill- 
 wrought stitches of unkindness, she bad her look for no other, 
 nor longer time, than she told her. 
 
 There was no assault given to the sweet Philoclea's mind 
 that entered so far as this ; for where, to all pains and dangers 
 of herself, foresight, with his lieutenant resolution, had made 
 ready defence, now with the love she bare her sister she was 
 driven to a stay before she determined ; but long she stayed 
 
 z 2 
 
340 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 not before this reason did shine unto her, that since in her- 
 self she preferred death before such a base servitude, love 
 did teach her to wish the same to her sister. Therefore 
 crossing her arms and looking sideward upon the ground, 
 " Do what you will," said she, " with us ; for my part, heaven 
 shall melt before I be removed. But, if you will follow my 
 counsel, for your own sake — for as for prayers for my sake I 
 have felt how little they prevail — let my death first serve for 
 example to win her, who perchance is not so resolved against 
 Amphialus, and so shall you not only justly punish me, who 
 indeed do hate both you and your son, but, if that may move 
 you, you shall do more virtuously in preserving one most 
 worthy of life, and killing another most desirous of death ; 
 lastly, in winning her, instead of peevish unhappy creature 
 that I am, you shall bless your son with the most excellent 
 woman in all praiseworthy things that the world holdeth." 
 But Cecropia, who had already set down to herself what she 
 would do, both with bitter terms and countenance, told her 
 that she should not need to woo death over-eagerly, for, if her 
 sister going before her did not teach her wit, herself should 
 quickly follow. For, since they were not to be gotten, there 
 was no way for her son's quiet but to know that they were 
 past getting. And so, since no intreating nor threatening 
 might prevail, she bad her prepare her eyes for a new play, 
 which she should see within few hours in the hall of that castle. 
 A place indeed over-fit for so unfit a matter ; for being 
 so stately made that the bottom of it being even with the 
 ground, the roof reached as high as any part of the castle, 
 at either end it had convenient lodgings. In the one end 
 was, one storey from the ground, Philoclea's abode, in the 
 other, of even height, Pamela's, and Zelmane's in a chamber 
 above her ; but all so vaulted of strong and thickly-built stone 
 as one could no way hear the other. Each of these chambers 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 341 
 
 had a little window to look into the hall, but, because the 
 sisters should not have so much comfort as to look one to 
 another, there was, of the outsides, curtains drawn, which 
 they could not reach with their hands, so barring the reach 
 of their sight. But then the hour came that the tragedy- 
 should begin, and the curtains were withdrawn from before the 
 windows of Zelmane and of Philoclea, a sufficient challenge 
 to call their eyes to defend themselves in such an encounter. 
 And by-and-by came in at one end of the hall, with about a 
 dozen armed soldiers, a lady led by a couple, with her hands 
 bound before her, from above her eyes to her lips muffled 
 with a fair kerchief, but from her mouth to the shoulders all 
 bare ; and so was led on to a scaffold raised a good deal 
 from the floor, and all covered with crimson velvet. But 
 neither Zelmane nor Philoclea needed to be told who she 
 was, for the apparel she ware made them too well assured 
 that it was the admirable Pamela ; whereunto the rare 
 whiteness of her naked neck gave sufficient testimony to 
 their astonished senses. But the fair lady being come to the 
 scaffold, and then made to kneel down, and so left by her 
 unkind supporters, as it seemed that she was about to speak 
 somewhat, whereunto Philoclea, poor soul, earnestly listened, 
 according to her speech even minding to frame her mind, 
 her heart never till then almost wavering to save her sister's 
 life, before the unfortunate lady could pronounce three words, 
 the executioner cut off the one's speech and the other's at- 
 tention with making his sword do his cruel office upon that 
 beautiful neck. Yet the pitiless sword had such pity of so 
 precious an object that at first it did but hit flatlong. But 
 little availed that, since the lady falling down astonished 
 withal, the cruel villain forced the sword with another blow 
 to divorce the fair marriage of the head and body. 
 And this was done so in an instant that the very act did 
 
342 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 overrun Philoclea's sorrow, sorrow not being able so quickly 
 to thunderbolt her heart through her senses, but first only- 
 oppressed her with a storm of amazement ; but when her eyes 
 saw that they did see, as condemning themselves to have 
 seen it, they became weary of their own power of seeing, and 
 her soul then drinking up woe with great draughts, she fell 
 down to deadly trances ; but her waiting jailers, with cruel 
 pity, brought loathed life unto her, which yet many times 
 took his leave as though he would indeed depart ; but, when 
 he was stayed by force, he kept with him deadly sorrow, 
 which thus exercised her mourning speech, " Pamela ! my 
 sister, my sister Pamela ! woe is me for thee ! I would I had 
 died for thee ! Pamela, never more shall I see thee ; never 
 more shall I enjoy thy sweet company and wise counsel ! 
 But O that a thousand more miseries had chanced unto me 
 so thou hadst not died, Pamela, my sister Pamela !" And so, 
 like a lamentable Philomela, complained she the horrible 
 wrong done to her sister, which, if it stirred not in the 
 wickedly-closed minds of her tormentors a pity of her sorrow, 
 yet bred it a weariness of her sorrow, so as, only leaving one 
 to prevent any harm she should do herself, the rest went away, 
 consulting again with Cecropia how to make profit of this 
 their late bloody act. 
 
 In the end, that woman that used most to keep company 
 with Zelmane told Cecropia that she found by many most 
 sensible proofs in Zelmane that there was never woman so 
 loved another as she loved Philoclea, which was the cause 
 that she, further than the commandment of Cecropia, had 
 caused Zelmane's curtains to be also drawn ; because, having 
 the same spectacle that Philoclea had, she might stand in the 
 greater fear for her whom she loved so well, and that indeed 
 she had hit the needle in that device ; for never saw she 
 creature so astonished as Zelmane, exceedingly sorry for 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 343 
 
 Pamela, but exceedingly exceeding that exceedingness in fear 
 for Philoclea. Therefore her advice was she should cause 
 Zelmane to come and speak with Philoclea ; for, there being 
 such vehemency of friendship between them, it was most 
 likely both to move Zelmane to persuade and Philoclea to be 
 persuaded. Cecropia liked well of the counsel, and gave 
 order to the same woman to go deal therein with Zelmane, 
 and to assure her with oath that Cecropia was determined 
 Philoclea should pass the same way that Pamela had done, 
 without she did yield to satisfy the extremity of her son's 
 affection, which the woman did, adding thereunto many, as 
 she thought, good reasons to make Zelmane think Amphialus 
 a fit match for Philoclea. 
 
 Zelmane, who had understood from time to time the cruel 
 dealing they had used to the sisters, now had her own eyes 
 wounded with the sight of one's death, and had now to think 
 of the death of Philoclea. A night was granted for leisure 
 for thinking, a night not half so black as her mind, nor so 
 silent as her musing thoughts. She resolved at last that the 
 only way was for Philoclea to pretend a yielding to Cecropia, 
 and, by speaking with Amphialus and making fair delaying 
 promises, should procure liberty for Zelmane, who should 
 come with a sword and deliver Philoclea, so little did the 
 forces of the men seem in her eyes, looking down from the 
 high top of affection's tower. 
 
 With that mind, and well bound, she was brought to Phi- 
 loclea. Sorrow a while would needs speak his own language 
 without using their tongues to be his interpreters. At last Zel- 
 mane brake silence, but spake with the eloquence of amaze- 
 ment. "Dear lady, in extreme necessities we must not 
 
 But alas ! unfortunate wretch that I am that I live to see this 
 day !" The sweet Philoclea, that had already died in Pamela, 
 and of the other side had the heaviness of her heart some- 
 
344 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 thing quickened in the most beloved sight of Zelmane, guessed 
 somewhat at Zehnane's mind, and therefore spake unto her 
 in this sort : " My Pyrocles," said she, " I know this exceeding 
 comfort of your presence is not brought unto me for any good- 
 will that is owed unto me, but, as I suppose, to make you 
 persuade me to save my life with the ransom of mine honour. 
 Trouble me not, dear Pyrocles, nor double ih4* my death by 
 tormenting my resolution. Since I cannot live with thee, I 
 will die for thee." And Philoclea continuing sweetly con- 
 stant, and in the end being silent, Zelmane was forced to end. 
 Yet, craving other opportunities, she obtained them, till at the 
 last Cecropia found it to no purpose, and therefore deter- 
 mined to follow her own way ; Zelmane yet still desirous to 
 win, by any means, respite, even wasted with sorrow and un- 
 certainty whether in worse case in her presence or absence, 
 being able to do nothing for Philoclea's succour but by sub- 
 mitting the greatest courage of the earth to fall at the feet of 
 Cecropia, and crave stay of their sentence till the uttermost 
 was seen what her persuasions might do. 
 
 Cecropia seemed much to be moved by her importunity, 
 so as divers days were won of painful life to the excellent 
 Philoclea ; while Zelmane suffered some hope to cherish her 
 mind, especially trusting upon the help of Musidorus, who, 
 she knew, would not be idle in this matter ; till one morning a 
 noise awaked Zelmane, from whose over-watchful mind the 
 tired body had stolen a little sleep, and straight, with the first 
 opening of her eyes, care taking his wonted place, she ran 
 to the window which looked into the hall — for that way the 
 noise guided her — and there might she see, the curtain being 
 left open ever since the last execution, seven or eight persons 
 in a cluster upon the scaffold, who by-and-by retiring them- 
 
 * Nor double not — The repetition of the negative was frequently used 
 by the Elizabethan writers, and is often met with in Shakespeare. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book III. 345 
 
 selves, nothing was to be seen thereupon but a basin of gold 
 pitifully enamelled with blood, and in the midst of it the 
 head of the most beautiful Philoclea. The horribleness of 
 the mischief was such as Pyrocles could not at first believe 
 his own senses, but bent his woeful eyes to discern it better, 
 where too well he might see it was Philoclea's self, having no 
 veil but beauty over her face, which still appeared to be 
 alive ; so did those eyes shine, even as they were wont — and 
 they were wont more than any other — and sometimes as they 
 moved it might well make the beholder think that death 
 therein had borrowed her beauty, and not they any way dis- 
 graced by death, so sweet and piercing a grace they carried. 
 
 It was not a pity, it was not an amazement, it was not a 
 sorrow which then laid hold on Pyrocles, but a wild fury of 
 desperate agony ; so that he cried out, " O tyrant heaven ! 
 traitor earth ! bhnd providence ! no justice! how is this done? 
 how is this suffered ? Hath this world a government ? if it 
 have, let it pour out all his mischiefs upon me, and see 
 whether it have power to make me more wretched than I am. 
 Did she excel for this ? have I prayed for this ? Abominable 
 hand that did it, detestable devil that commanded it, cursed 
 light that beheld it ; and, if the light be cursed, what are then 
 mine eyes that have seen it ? And have I seen Philoclea 
 dead, and do I live ? and have I hved not to help her, but to 
 talk of her, and stand I still talking?" And with that, 
 carried by the madness of anguish, not having a readier way 
 to kill himself, he ran as hard as ever he could with his head 
 against the wall, with intention to brain himself, but the 
 haste to do it made the doing the slower. For, as he came to 
 give the blow, his foot tripped, so as it came not with the full 
 force, yet forcible enough to strike him down, and withal to 
 deprive him of his sense, so that he lay a while comforted by 
 the hurt in that he felt not his discomfort. 
 
346 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 And when he came again to himself, he heard, or he thought 
 he heard, a voice which cried, " Revenge ! revenge !" unto him ; 
 whether indeed it were his good angel which used that voice 
 to stay him from unnatural murdering of himself, or that his 
 wandering spirits lighted upon that conceit, and by their 
 weakness, subject to apprehensions, supposed they heard it. 
 But that indeed, helped with Virtue and her valiant servant 
 Anger, stopped him from present destroying of himself; 
 yielding in reason and manhood first to destroy man, woman, 
 and child that were any way of kin to them that were acces- 
 sory to this cruelty ; then to raze the castle, and to build a 
 sumptuous monument for her sister, and a most sumptuous 
 for herself, and then himself to die upon her tomb. This 
 determining in himself to do, and to seek all means how for 
 that purpose to get out of prison, he was content a while to 
 bear the thirst of death ; and yet went he again to the 
 window to kiss the beloved head with his eyes, but there saw 
 he nothing but the scaffold all covered over with scarlet, and 
 nothing but solitary silence to mourn this mischief. Rut 
 then, sorrow having dispersed itself from his heart into all his 
 noble parts, it proclaimed his authority in cries and tears, nor 
 with a more gentle dolefulness could pour out his inward evil. 
 
 *' Sweet Philoclea," said he, " thou art gone, and hast 
 carried with thee my love, and hast left thy love in me ; and 
 I, wretched man ! do live. I live, to die continually, till thy 
 revenge do give me leave to die ; and then die I will, my 
 Philoclea ; my heart willingly makes this promise to itself. 
 O cruel divorce of the sweetest marriage that ever was in 
 nature ! Philoclea is dead ; and dead is with her all good- 
 ness, all sweetness, all excellency ! Philoclea is dead ; and 
 yet life is not ashamed to continue upon the earth ! Philo- 
 clea is dead ! O deadly word, which containeth in itself the 
 uttermost of all misfortunes; but happy word when thou 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 347 
 
 shalt be said of me ; and long it shall not be before it be 
 said !" 
 
 Then stopping his words with sighs, drowning his sighs in 
 tears, and drying again his tears in rage, he would sit a while 
 in a wandering muse, which represented nothing but vexa- 
 tions unto him ; then throwing himself sometime upon the 
 floor, and sometimes upon the bed, then up again, till walking 
 was wearisome and rest loathsome ; and so, neither suffering 
 food nor sleep to help his afflicted nature, all that day and 
 night he did nothing but weep "Philoclea," sigh "Philoclea," 
 and cry out " Philoclea ;" till, as it happened, at that time 
 upon his bed, toward the dawning of the day, he heard one 
 stir in his chamber, by the motion of garments, and with an 
 angry voice asked who was there. " A poor gentlewoman," 
 answered the party, "that wish[es] long life unto you." "And 
 I soon death unto you," said he, " for the horrible curse you 
 have given me." " Certainly," said she, " an unkind answer, 
 and far unworthy the excellency of your mind, but not 
 unsuitable to the rest of your behaviour. For most part of 
 this night I have heard you, being let into your chamber, 
 you never perceiving it, so was your mind estranged from 
 your senses, and have heard nothing of Zelmane in Zelmane, 
 nothing but weak wailings, fitter for some nurse of a village 
 than so famous a creature as you are." " O God," cried out 
 Pyrocles, " that thou wert a man that usest these words unto 
 me ! I tell thee I am sorry, I tell thee I will be sorry, in 
 despite of thee and all them that would have me joyful." 
 "And yet," repHed she, "perchance Philoclea is not dead 
 whom you so much bemoan." " I would we were both dead 
 on that condition," said Pyrocles. " See the folly of your 
 passion," said she ; " as though you should be nearer to her, 
 you being dead and she alive than she being dead and you 
 alive. And, if she be dead, was she not born to die ? What, 
 
348 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 then, do you cry out for ? Not for her, who must have died 
 one time or other, but for some few years ; so as it is time 
 and this world that seem so lovely things, and not Philoclea, 
 unto you." " O noble sisters," cried Pyrocles, " now you be 
 gone, who were the only exalters of all womankind, what is 
 left in that sex but babbling and business ?"* "And truly," 
 said she, " I will yet a little longer trouble you." " Nay, I 
 pray you do," said Pyrocles ; " for I wish for nothing in my 
 short life but mischiefs and cumbers, and I am content you 
 shall be one of them." "In truth," said she, " you would 
 think yourself a greatly privileged person if, since the 
 strongest building and lastingest monarchies are subject to 
 end, only your Philoclea, because she is yours, should be 
 exempted. But, indeed, you bemoan yourself, who have lost 
 a friend ; you cannot her, who hath in one act both preserved 
 her honour and left the miseries of this world." " O woman's 
 philosophy, childish folly," said Pyrocles ; "as, though I do 
 bemoan myself, I have not reason so to do, having lost 
 more than any monarchy — nay, than my life can be worth 
 unto me." "Alas!" said she, " comfort yourself ; Nature 
 did not forget her skill when she made them ; you shall find 
 many their superiors, and perchance such as, when your 
 eyes shall look abroad, yourself will like better." 
 
 But that speech put all good manners out of the conceit of 
 Pyrocles, in so much that, leaping out of his bed, he ran to 
 have stricken her ; but, coming near her, the morning then 
 winning the field of darkness, he saw, or he thought he saw, 
 indeed, the very face of Philoclea ; the same sweetness, the 
 same grace, the same beauty ; with which, carried into a 
 divine astonishment, he fell down at her feet. " Most blessed 
 
 * Business — Officiousness, multiplicity of affairs. 
 
 " Must business thee from hence remove. 
 
 Oh, that's the worst disease of love." — DoNNE. 
 
ARCADIA.—Book III. 349 
 
 angel," said he, "well hast thou done to take that shape, 
 since thou wouldest submit thyself to mortal sense ; for a 
 more angelical form could not have been created for thee. 
 Alas ! even by that excellent beauty so beloved of me, let it 
 be lawful for me to ask of thee what is the cause that she, 
 that heavenly creature whose form you have taken, should 
 by the heavens be destined to so unripe an end? Why 
 should unjustice so prevail ? Why was she seen to the 
 world so soon to be ravished from us ? Why was she not 
 suffered to live, to teach the world perfection?" "Do not 
 deceive thyself," answered she ; " I am no angel : I am 
 Philoclea, the same Philoclea, so truly loving you, so truly 
 beloved of you." " If it be so," said he, "that you are indeed 
 the soul of Philoclea, you have done well to keep your own 
 figure ; for no heaven could have given you a better. Then, 
 alas ! why have you taken the pains to leave your blissful 
 seat to come to this place, most wretched to me, who am 
 wretchedness itself, and not rather obtain for me that I 
 might come where you are, there eternally to behold and 
 eternally to love your beauties ? You know, I know, that I 
 desire nothing but death, which I only stay to be justly 
 revenged of your unjust murtherers." "Dear Pyrocles," 
 said she, " I am thy Philoclea, and, as yet, hving, not mur- 
 dered, as you supposed, and therefore be comforted ;" and 
 with that gave him her hand. 
 
 But the sweet touch of that hand seemed to his estrayed 
 powers so heavenly a thing that it rather for a while con- 
 firmed him in his former belief; till she, with vehement 
 protestations, and desire that it might be so, helping to 
 persuade that it was so, brought him to yield, yet doubtfully 
 to yield to this height of all comfort, that Philoclea lived ; 
 which witnessing with tears of joy, "Alas !" said he, "how 
 shall I believe mine eyes any more? Or do you yet but 
 
350 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 appear thus unto me to stay me from some desperate end ? 
 For, alas ! I saw the excellent Pamela beheaded ; I saw 
 your head — the head, indeed, and chief part of all nature's 
 works — standing in a dish of gold — too mean a shrine, God 
 wot, for such a relic. How can this be, my only dear, and 
 you live ? Or, if this be not so, how can I believe mine own 
 senses ? and, if I cannot believe them, why should I believe 
 these blessed tidings they bring me ?" 
 
 " The truth is," said she, " my Pyrocles, that neither I, as 
 you find, nor yet my dear sister, is dead, although the mis- 
 chievously-subtle Cecropia used sleights* to make either of us 
 think so of other. For, having in vain attempted the farthest 
 of her wicked eloquence to make either of us yield to her 
 son, and seeing that neither it, accompanied with great 
 flatteries and rich presents, could get any ground of us, nor 
 yet the violent way she fell into of cruelly tormenting our 
 bodies could prevail with us, at last she made either of us 
 think the other dead, and so hoped to have wrested our 
 minds to the forgetting of virtue ; and first she gave to mine 
 eyes the miserable spectacle of my sister's (as I thought) 
 death ; but, indeed, it was not my sister — it was only Artesia, 
 she who so cunningly brought us to this misery. Truly I am 
 sorry for the poor gentlewoman, though justly she be punished 
 for her double falsehood ; but Artesia, muffled so as you could 
 not easily discern her, and in my sister's apparel, which they 
 had taken from her under colour of giving her other, did 
 they execute ; and when I, for thy sake especially, dear 
 Pyrocles, could by no force nor fear be won, they essayed 
 
 * Sleights— ^xxc^i, deceptions. "Be all prudent foresight, lest 
 our simplicity be over- reached by cunning sleights,'''' — Hooker, 
 Sermons. 
 
 " Though false Duessa it to barre 
 Her false sleights doe employ." 
 
 — Faerie Queene, head to cant. xiL bk. i. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 351 
 
 the like with my sister, by bringing me down under the scaf- 
 fold, and, making me thrust my head up through a hole they 
 had made therein, they did put about my poor neck a dish 
 of gold whereout they had beaten the bottom, so as having 
 set blood in it, you saw how I played the part of death — God 
 knows, even willing to have done it in earnest — and so had 
 they set me that I reached but on tiptoes to the ground, so 
 as scarcely I could breathe, much less speak. And truly, if 
 they had kept me there any whit longer, they had strangled 
 me instead of beheading me ; but then they took me away, 
 and, seeking to see their issue of this practice, they found my 
 noble sister, for the dear love she vouchsafeth to bear me, so 
 grieved withal that she willed them to do their uttermost 
 cruelty unto her ; for she vowed never to receive sustenance 
 of them that had been the causers ofmy murther ; and, find- 
 ing both of us even given over, not like to live many hours 
 longer, and my sister Pamela rather worse than myself — the 
 strength of her heart worse bearing those indignities — the 
 good woman Cecropia, with the same pity as folks keep fowl 
 when they are not fat enough for their eating, made us know 
 her deceit, and let us come one to another — with what joy 
 you can well imagine, who, I know, feel the like, saving that 
 we only thought ourselves reserved to miseries, and therefore 
 fitter for condoling than congratulating. True, I think it is 
 but a little respite, yet I would rob from death the most sweet 
 comfort of seeing thee, my Pyrocles. And so, having leave, 
 I came stealing into your chamber, where what a joy it was 
 unto me to hear you solemnise the funerals of the poor Philo- 
 clea ! That I myself might live to hear my death bewailed ! 
 And by whom 1 By my dear Pyrocles. That I saw death 
 was not strong enough to divide thy love from me ! O my 
 Pyrocles, I am too well paid for my pains I have suffered. 
 Joyful is my woe for so noble a cause ; and welcome be all 
 
352 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 miseries, since to thee I am so welcome. Alas ! how I pitied 
 to hear thy pity of me ; and yet a great while I could not 
 find in my heart to interrupt thee, but often had even plea- 
 sure to weep with thee ; and so kindly came forth thy lamen- 
 tations that they enforced me to lament too, as if, indeed, I 
 had been a looker-on to see poor Philoclea die. Till at last 
 I spake with you, to try whether I could remove thee from 
 sorrow, till I had almost procured myself a beating." And 
 w^ith that she prettily smiled ; which mingled with her tears, 
 one could not tell whether it were a mourning pleasure or a 
 delightful sorrow, but like when a few April drops are scat- 
 tered by a gentle zephyrus among fine-coloured flowers. 
 
 Then began Pyrocles, half distraught with joy, to comfort 
 her ; but who could lively describe the manner of these 
 speeches should paint out the lightsome colours of affection, 
 shaded with the deepest shadows of sorrow, finding then 
 between hope and fear a kind of sweetness in tears ; till 
 Philoclea, content to receive a kiss, and but a kiss of 
 Pyrocles, sealed up his moving lips, and closed them up in 
 comfort, and herself, for the passage was left between them 
 open, went to her sister, with whom she stayed but a while, 
 fortifying one another, while Philoclea tempered Pamela's 
 just disdain, and Pamela ennobled Philoclea's sweet humble- 
 ness, when Amphialus came unto them, who never since he 
 had heard Philoclea named could be quiet in himself, 
 although none of them about him, fearing more his mother's 
 violence than his power, would discover what had passed ; 
 and many messengers he sent to know her estate, which 
 brought answer back according as it pleased Cecropia to 
 indite them, till his heart, full of unfortunate affection, more 
 and more misgiving him, having impatiently borne the delay 
 of the night's unfitness, this morning he gat up, and, though 
 full of wounds (which not without danger could suffer such 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 353 
 
 exercise), he apparelled himself, and, with a countenance that 
 showed strength in nothing but in grief, he came where the 
 sisters were, and weakly kneeling down, he besought them to 
 pardon him if they had not been used in that castle accord- 
 ing to their worthiness and his duty, beginning to excuse small 
 matters, poor gentleman, not knowing in what sort they had 
 been handled. 
 
 But Pamela's high heart, having conceived mortal hate for 
 the injury offered to her and her sister, could scarcely abide 
 his sight, much less hear out his excuses, but interrupted him 
 with these words : " Traitor," said she, " to thine own blood, 
 and false to the profession of so much love as thou hast vowed ! 
 do not defile our ears with thy excuses, but pursue on* the 
 cruelty that thou and thy godly mother have used towards 
 us ; for my part, assure thyself — and so do I answer for my 
 sister, whose mind I know — I do not more desire mine own 
 safety than thy destruction." Amazed with this speech, 
 he turned his eye, full of humble sorrowfulness, to Phi- 
 loclea. "And is this, most excellent lady, your doom of me 
 also r 
 
 She, sweet lady, sate weeping ; for, as her most noble kins- 
 man, she had ever favoured him and loved his love, though 
 she could not be in love with his person ; and now, partly 
 unkindness of his wrong, partly pity of his case, made her 
 sweet mind yield some tears before she could answer, and 
 her answer was no other but that she had the same cause as 
 her sister had. He rephed no further, but delivering from his 
 heart two or three untaught sighs, rose, and, with most low 
 reverence, went out of their chamber, and straight, by threat- 
 ening torture, learned of one of the women in what terrible 
 manner those princesses had been used. But when he heard 
 
 * Pursue ^;/— Used in the sense of "follow on." I cannot find 
 another instance of this duplication. 
 
 A A 
 
354 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 it, crying out " O God !" and then not able to say any more, 
 for his speech went back to rebound woe upon his heart, he 
 needed no judge to go upon him, for no man could ever think 
 any other worthy of greater punishment than he thought him- 
 self. Full, therefore, of the horriblest despair which a most 
 guilty conscience could breed, with wild looks promising some 
 terrible issue, understanding his mother was up on the top of 
 the leads, he caught one of his servant's swords from him, 
 and none of them daring to stay him, he went up, carried by 
 fury instead of strength, where she was at that time musing 
 how to go through with this matter, and resolving to make 
 much of her nieces in show and secretly to impoison them, 
 thinking, since they were not to be won, her son's love would 
 no otherwise be mitigated. 
 
 But when she saw him come in with a sword drawn, and a 
 look more terrible than the sword, she straight was stricken 
 with the guiltiness of her own conscience ; yet the well-known 
 humbleness of her son somewhat animated her, till he, coming 
 nearer her, and crying to her, "Thou damnable creature ! only 
 fit to bring forth such a monster of unhappiness as I am !" 
 she, fearing he would have stricken her, though indeed he 
 meant it not, but only intended to kill himself in her presence, 
 went back so far, till, ere she were aware, she overthrew her- 
 self from over the leads, to receive her death's kiss at the 
 ground ; and yet was she not so happy as presently to die, 
 but that she had time, with hellish agony, to see her son's 
 mischief, whom she loved so well, before her end ; when 
 she confessed, with most desperate but not repenting 
 mind, the purpose she had to impoison the princesses, and 
 would then have had them murthered. But everybody 
 seeing, and glad to see, her end, had left obedience to* her 
 tyranny. 
 
 * Left obedience to — Had ceased to obey her. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 355 
 
 And, if it could be, her ruin increased woe in the noble 
 heart of Amphialus, who, when he saw her fall, had his own 
 rage stayed a little with the suddenness of her destruction. 
 " And was I not enough miserable before," said he, " but that 
 before my end I must be the death of my mother ? who, how 
 wicked soever, yet I would she had received her punishment 
 by some other. O Amphialus ! wretched Amphialus ! thou 
 hast lived to be the death of thy most dear companion and 
 friend Philoxenus, and of his father, thy most careful foster- 
 father ; thou hast lived to kill a lady with thine own hands, 
 and so excellent and virtuous a lady as the fair Parthenia was ; 
 thou hast lived to see thy faithful Ismenus slain in succouring 
 thee, and thou not able to defend him ; thou hast lived to 
 show thyself such a coward as that one unknown knight could 
 overcome thee in thy lady's presence ; thou hast lived to bear 
 arms against thy rightful prince, thine own uncle ; thou hast 
 lived to be accounted, and justly accounted, a traitor by the 
 most excellent persons that this world holdeth ; thou hast 
 lived to be the death of her that gave thee life : but, ah, 
 wretched Amphialus ! thou hast lived for thy sake, and by thy 
 authority, to have Philoclea tormented, O heavens ! in Am- 
 phialus' castle, where Amphialus commanded — tormented ! 
 tormented ! Torment of my soul ! Philoclea tormented ! and 
 thou hast had such comfort in thy life as to live all this while ! 
 Perchance this hand, used only to mischievous acts, thinks it 
 were too good a deed to kill me ; or else, filthy hand, only 
 worthy to kill women, thou art afraid to strike a man. Fear 
 not, cowardly hand, for thou shalt kill but a cowardly traitor ; 
 and do it gladly, for thou shalt kill him whom Philoclea 
 hateth." 
 
 With that furiously he tare open his doublet, and setting 
 the pommel of the sword to the ground and the point to his 
 breast, he fell upon it. But the sword, more merciful than he 
 
 A A 2 
 
356 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 to himself, with the slipping of the pommel the point swarved* 
 and rased him but upon the side ; yet with the fall his other 
 wounds opened so as he bled in such extremity that Charon's 
 boat might very well be carried in that flood which yet he 
 sought to hasten by this means. As he opened his doublet 
 and fell, there fell out Philoclea's knives, which Cecropia at 
 the first had taken from her and delivered to her son, and he 
 had ever worn them next his heart as the only relic he had of 
 his saint ; now, seeing them by him, his sword being so as 
 weakness could not well draw it out from his doublet, he took 
 the knives, and pulling one of them out and many times kiss- 
 ing it, and then, first with the passions of kindness and un- 
 kindness melting in tears, " O dear knives, you are come in 
 good time to revenge the wrong I have done you all this while 
 in keeping you from her blessed side, and wearing you with- 
 out your mistress' leave. Alas ! be witness with me yet before 
 I die— and well you may, for you have lain next my heart — 
 that by my consent your excellent mistress should have had 
 as much honour as this poor place could have brought forth 
 for so high an excellency ; and now I am condemned to die 
 by her mouth. Alas ! other, far other hope would my desire 
 often have given me, but other event it hath pleased her to 
 lay upon me. Ah, Philoclea"— with that his tears gushed out 
 as though they would strive to overflow his blood — " I would 
 yet thou knewest how I love thee. Unworthy I am, unhappy 
 I am, false I am ; but to thee, alas ! I am not false. But what 
 a traitor am I any way to excuse him whom she condemneth ! 
 Since there is nothing left me wherein I may do her service 
 
 * Swarved, Sw. sziia)f-wa, circitmagere. Richardson, citing this 
 passage, spells it " swerved." Hooker and Jewell use " swarving" 
 and "swarveth," and Spenser has — 
 
 " And ever up to heven, as she did pray, 
 
 Her stedfast eyes were fixt, ne nvarvcd other way." 
 
 — Faerie Queene, bk. i. cant. lo. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book III. 357 
 
 but in punishing him who hath so offended her, dear knife, 
 then do your noble mistress' commandment." 
 
 With that he stabbed himself into divers places of his 
 breast and throat, until those wounds, with the old freshly- 
 bleeding, brought him to the senseless gate of death. By 
 which time his servants having with fear of his fury abstained 
 a while from coming unto him, one of them, preferring dutiful 
 affection before fearful duty, came in, and there found him 
 swimming in his own blood, giving a pitiful spectacle, where 
 the conquest was the conqueror's overthrow, and self-ruin the 
 only triumph of a battle fought between him and himself. 
 The time full of danger, the person full of worthiness, the 
 manner full of horror, did greatly astonish all the beholders, 
 so as by-and-by all the town was full of it, and then of all 
 ages came running up to see the beloved body, everybody 
 thinking their safety bled in his wounds and their honour 
 died in his destruction. 
 
 But when it came, and quickly it came, to the ears of his 
 proud friend Anaxius, who by that time was grown well of his 
 wound, but never had come abroad, disdaining to abase him- 
 self to the company of any other but of Amphialus, he was 
 exceedingly vexed either with kindness, or, if a proud heart 
 be not capable thereof, with disdain, that he who had the 
 honour to be called the friend of Anaxius should come to 
 such an unexpected ruin ; therefore, then coming abroad with 
 a face red in anger, and engrained in pride, with lids raised 
 and eyes levelling from top to toe of them that met him, 
 treading as though he thought to make the earth shake under 
 him, with his hand upon his sword, short speeches and dis- 
 dainful answers, giving straight order to his two brothers to go 
 take the oath of obedience in his name of all the soldiers and 
 citizens in the town, and, withal, to swear them to revenge 
 the death of Amphialus upon Basilius, he himself went to 
 
358 ARCADIA— Book III. 
 
 see him, calling for all the surgeons and physicians there, 
 spending some time in viewing the body, and threatening 
 them all to be hanged if they did not heal him. But they, 
 taking view of his wounds, and falling down at Anaxius' feet, 
 assured him that they were mortal, and no possible means to 
 keep him above two days alive ; and he stood partlj^ in doubt 
 to kill or save them between his own fury and their humble- 
 ness, but vowing with his own hands to kill the two sisters 
 as causers of his friend's death, when his brothers came to 
 him and told him they had done his commandment, in having 
 received the oath of allegiance w'ith no great difficulty, the 
 most part terrified by their valour and force of their servants, 
 and many that had been forward actors in the rebellion will- 
 ing to do anything rather than come under the subjection of 
 Basihus again, and such few as durst gainsay being cut off by 
 present slaughter. 
 
 But, withal, as the chief matter of their coming to him, 
 they told Anaxius that the fair Queen Helen was come with 
 an honourable retinue to the town, humbly desiring leave to 
 see Amphialus, whom she had sought in many places of the 
 world ; and, lastly, being returned into her own country, she 
 heard together of the late siege, and of his combat with the 
 strange knight who had dangerously hurt him ; whereupon, 
 full of loving care, which she was content even to publish to 
 the world, how ungratefully soever he dealt with her, she had 
 gotten leave of Basilius to come by his frontiers to carry away 
 Amphialus with her to the excellentest surgeon then known, 
 whom she had in her country, but so old as not able to travel, 
 but had given her sovereign anointments to preserve his body 
 withal, till he might be brought unto him ; and that Basilius 
 had granted leave, either natural kindness prevailing over all 
 the offences done, or rather glad to make any passage which 
 might lead him out of his country and from his daughters. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 359 
 
 This discourse Lycurgus understanding of Helen, delivered to 
 his brother, with her vehement desire to see the body, and take 
 her last farewell of him. Anaxius, though he were fallen out 
 with all womankind, in respect of the hate he bare the sisters, 
 whom he accounted murtherers of Amphialus, yet at his 
 brother's request granted her leave ; and she, poor lady, with 
 grievous expectation and languishing desire, carried her faint 
 legs to the place where he lay, either not breathing, or in all 
 appearance breathing nothing but death. 
 
 In which piteous plight when she saw him, though sorrow 
 had set before her mind the pitifullest conceit thereof that it 
 could paint, yet the present sight went beyond all the former 
 apprehensions, so that beginning to kneel by the body, her 
 sight ran from her service rather than abide such a sight, 
 and she fell in a swound upon him, as if she could not choose 
 but die of his wounds. But when her breath, aweary to be 
 closed up in woe, broke the prison of her fair hps and brought 
 memory, with his servant senses, to his natural office, she 
 yet made the breath convey these doleful words with it : — 
 " Alas !" said she, " Amphialus, what strange disasters be 
 these, that, having sought thee so long, I should be now sorry 
 to find thee ! that these eyes should look upon Amphialus 
 and be grieved withal ! that I should have thee in my power 
 without glory, and embrace thee without comfort ! How 
 often have I blest the means that might bring me near thee ! 
 Now woe worth the cause that brings me so near thee ! 
 Often, alas ! often hast thou disdained my tears, but now, my 
 dear Amphialus, receive them ; these eyes can serve for 
 nothing else but to weep for thee : since thou wouldst never 
 vouchsafe them thy comfort, yet disdain not them thy sorrow. 
 I would they had been more dear unto thee, for then hadst thou 
 lived. Woe is me that thy noble heart could love who hated 
 thee, and hate who loved thee ! Alas ! why should not my 
 
36o ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 faith to thee cover my other defects, who only sought to make 
 my crown thy foot-stool, myself thy servant ? That was all 
 my ambition, and, alas ! thou disdainedst it to serve them by 
 whom thy incomparable self wert disdained. Yet, O Philoclea, 
 wheresoever you are, pardon me if I speak in the bitterness 
 of my soul, excellent may you be in all other things, and 
 excellent sure you are since he loved you, your want of pity, 
 where the fault only was infiniteness of desert, cannot be 
 excused. I would, O God ! I would that you had granted his 
 deserved suit of marrying you, and that I had been your 
 serving-maid, to have made my estate the foil of your felicity, 
 so he had lived. How many weary steps have I trodden 
 after thee, while my only complaint was that thou wert un- 
 kind ! Alas ! I would now thou wert to be unkind. Alas ! 
 why wouldst thou not command my service in persuading 
 Philoclea to love thee 1 Who could, or, if every one could, 
 who would have recounted thy perfection so well as I ? Who, 
 with such kindly passions, could have stirred pity for thee as 
 I, who should have delivered not only the words but the 
 tears I had of thee, and so shouldst thou have exercised thy 
 disdain in me, and yet used my service for thee .'"' 
 
 With that the body moving somewhat, and giving a 
 groan full of death's music, she fell upon his face and kissed 
 him, and withal cried out : " O miserable I, that have only 
 favour by misery !" and then would she have returned to a 
 fresh career of complaints, when an aged and wise gentle- 
 man came to her and besought her to remember what was 
 fit for her greatness, wisdom, and honour ; and withal, that 
 it was fitter to show her love in carrying the body to her 
 excellent surgeon, first applying such excellent medicines as 
 she had received of him for that purpose, rather than only 
 show herself a woman-lover in fruitless lamentations. She 
 was straight warned with the obedience of an overthrown 
 
ARCADIA.— Book 111. 361 
 
 mind, and therefore leaving some surgeons of her own to 
 dress the body, went herself to Anaxius, and humbling her- 
 self to him as low as his own pride could wish, besought him 
 that since the surgeons there had utterly given him over, that 
 he would let her carry him away in her litter with her, since 
 the worst he could have should be to die, and to die in her 
 arms that loved him above all things ; and where he should 
 have such monuments erected over him as were fit for her 
 love and his worthiness ; beseeching him withal, since she was 
 in a country of enemies, where she trusted more to Anaxius' 
 valour than Basilius' promise, that he would convey them 
 safely out of those territories. Her reasons something moved 
 him, but nothing thoroughly persuaded him but the last 
 request of his help, which he straight promised, warranting 
 all security as long as that sword had his master alive. She 
 as happy therein as unhappiness could be, having received 
 as small comfort of her own surgeons as of the others, caused 
 yet the body to be easily conveyed into the litter, all the 
 people then beginning to roar and cry as though never till 
 then they had lost their lord ; and if the terror of Anaxius 
 had not kept them under, they would have mutinied rather 
 than suffered his body to be carried away. 
 
 But Anaxius himself riding before the litter, with the choice 
 men of that place, they were afraid even to cry, though they 
 were ready to cry for fear, but because that they might do, 
 everybody forced, even with harming themselves, to do honour 
 to him, some throwing themselves upon the ground, some 
 tearing their clothes and casting dust upon their heads, and 
 some even wounding themselves and sprinkling their own 
 blood in the air. Which so moved Anaxius to consider the 
 loss of his friend that, his mind apter to revenge than tender- 
 ness, he presently giving order to his brother to keep the 
 prisoners safe and unvisited till his return from conveying 
 
3^^ ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 Helen, he sent a messenger to the sisters to tell them this 
 courteous message : that at his return, with his own hands, 
 he would cut off their heads and send them for tokens to 
 their father. This message was brought unto the sisters as 
 they sate at that time together with Zelmane, conferring how 
 to carry themselves, having heard of the death of Amphialus ; 
 and, as no expectation of death is so painful as where the 
 resolution is hindered by the intermixing of hopes, so did this 
 new alarm, though not remove, yet move somewhat the con- 
 stancy of their minds, which were so unconstantly dealt with. 
 
 " Loved sister," said the excellent Pamela, " see in how 
 many acts our tragedy is. Fortune is not yet weary of vex- 
 ing us ; but even in this dark I see a light of comfort yet. 
 And let death come : what is it but a bugbear only? Only" 
 — with that she stayed a little and sighed — " only, my Philo- 
 clea" — then she bowed down and whispered in her ear — " only 
 Musidorus, my shepherd, comes between me and death, and 
 makes me think I should not die because I know he would not 
 I should die." And so stayed they, having yet that comfort 
 that they might tarry together ; Pamela nobly, Philoclea 
 sweetly, and Zelmane sadly and desperately, none of them 
 entertaining sleep, which they thought should shortly begin 
 never to awake. 
 
 But Anaxius came home, having safely conducted Helen ; 
 and safely he might well do it, for, though many of Basilius' 
 knights would have attempted something upon Anaxius, by 
 that means to deliver the ladies, yet Philanax, having received 
 his master's commandment, and knowing his word was given, 
 would not consent unto it ; and the Black Knight, who by 
 then was able to carry abroad his wounds, did not know 
 thereof, but was bringing force, by force to deliver his lady. 
 So as Anaxius, interpreting it rather fear than faith, and 
 making even chance an argument of his virtue, returned, and, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 363 
 
 as soon as he was returned, with a felon heart calling his 
 brothers up with him, he went into the chamber where they 
 were all three together, with still intention to kill the sisters 
 with his own hands, and send their'heads for tokens to their 
 father ; though his brothers, who were otherwise inclined, 
 dissuaded hirn ; but his reverence stayed their persuasions. 
 But when he was come into the chamber with the very words 
 of choleric threatening climbing up his throat, his eyes first 
 lighted upon Pamela, who, hearing he was coming, and look- 
 ing for death, thought she would keep her own majesty in 
 welcoming it, but the beams thereof so struck his eyes, with 
 such a counterbuff* upon his pride, that, if his anger could 
 not so quickly love, nor his pride so easily honour, yet both 
 were forced to find a worthiness ; which while it bred a 
 pause in him, Zelmane, who had already in her mind both 
 what and how to say, stept out unto him, and with a resolute 
 staidness, void either of anger, kindness, disdain, or humble- 
 ness, spake in this sort : — 
 
 " Anaxius," said she, " if fame hath not been over-partial 
 to thee, thou art a man of exceeding valour. Therefore I do 
 call thee even before that virtue, and will make it the judge 
 between us. And now I do affirm thou doest cowardly in 
 going about by the death of these excellent ladies, to prevent 
 the just punishment that hereafter they, by the powers which 
 they, better than their father or any other could make, might 
 lay upon thee, and doest most basely in once presenting thy- 
 self as an executioner, a vile office upon men, and in a just 
 
 * Coiiuterbitff here means a blow; ordinarily "buff" is the 
 leathern hide used as armour. Bayard strikes his enemy upon the 
 buff; and " buffer' —whence our "buffer"— is that which defends one 
 from blows. 
 
 " And for the good old cause stood htff 
 'Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff." 
 
 —Butler, Hudibras, Ep. 
 
364 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 cause, beyond the degree of any vile word in so unjust a 
 cause, and upon ladies, and such ladies. And therefore, as a 
 hangman, I say thou art unworthy to be counted a knight, 
 or to be admitted into tlie company of knights. Neither 
 for what I say will I allege other reasons of wisdom or jus- 
 tice to prove my speech, because I know thou doest disdain 
 to be tied to their rules ; but even in thine own virtue, whereof 
 thou so much gloriest, I will make my trial, and therefore 
 defy thee, by the death of one of us two, to prove or disprove 
 these reproaches. Choose thee what arms thou likest ; I only 
 demand that these ladies, whom I defend, may in liberty see 
 the combat." 
 
 When Zelmane began her speech, the excellency of her 
 beauty and grace made him a little content to hear. Besides 
 that, a new lesson he had read in Pamela had already taught 
 him some regard ; but when she entered into bravery of 
 speech, he thought at first a mad and railing humour pos- 
 sessed her, till finding the speeches hold well together, and at 
 length come to flat challenge of combat, he stood leaning 
 back with his body and head, sometimes with bent brows 
 looking upon the one side of her, sometimes of the other, 
 beyond marvel marvelling that he, who had never heard such 
 speeches from any knight, should be thus rebuffed by a 
 woman, and that marvel made him hear out her speech, 
 which ended, he turned his head to his brother Zoilus and 
 said nothing, but only lifting up his eyes, smiled. But Zel- 
 mane finding his mind, " Anaxius," said she, " perchance 
 thou disdainest to answer me, because, as a woman, thou 
 thinkest me not fit to be fought withal ; but I tell thee that I 
 have been trained up in martial matters with so good success 
 that I have many times overcome braver knights than thyself, 
 and am well known to be equal in feats of arms to the famous 
 Pyrocles, who slew thy valiant uncle, the giant Euardes." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 365 
 
 The remembrance of his uncle's death something nettled him, 
 so as he answered thus : — 
 
 " Indeed," said he, " any woman may be as valiant as that 
 coward and traitorly boy, who slew my uncle traitorously, and 
 after ran from me in the plain field. Five thousand such 
 could not have overcome Euardes but by falsehood : but I 
 sought him all over Asia, following him still from one of his 
 cony-holes* to another, till coming into this country I heard 
 of my friend's being besieged, and so came to blow away the 
 wretches that troubled him. But wheresoever the miserable 
 boy fly, heaven nor hell shall keep his heart from being torn 
 by these hands." " Thou liest in thy throat !" said Zelmane ; 
 " that boy, wherever he went, did so noble acts as thy heart, 
 as proud as it is, dares not think of, much less perform. But, 
 to please thee the better with my presence, I tell thee no 
 creature can be nearer of kin to him than myself ; and so well 
 we love, that he would not be sorrier for his own death than 
 for mine — I being begotten by his father of an Amazon lady ; 
 and therefore thou canst not devise to revenge thyself more 
 upon him than by killing me, which if thou darest do, man- 
 fully do it, otherwise, if thou harm these incomparable ladies 
 or myself without daring to fight with me, I protest before 
 these knights, and before heaven and earth, that will reveal 
 thy shame, that thou art the beggarliest, dastardly villain 
 that dishonoureth the earth with his steps ; and if thoulettest 
 me overlive them, so will I blaze thee." 
 
 But all this could not move Anaxius, but that he only said, 
 " Evil should it become the terror of the world to fight, much 
 worse to scold with thee. But," said he, " for the death of 
 these same," pointing to the princesses, " of my grace I give 
 
 * Cony-holes — Rabbit-burrows. " Here's one of Sir Ralph Non- 
 such liis rabbet- catchers : there's scarce a ferret sees further into a 
 coney- hole.'' — HOWARD, " Man of Newmarket," 1678. 
 
366 ARCADIA.— Book HI. 
 
 them life ;" and withal, going to Pamela, and ofifering to take 
 her by the chin, "And as for you, minion,"* said he, " yield 
 but gently to my will, and you shall not only hve, but live so 
 
 happily " He would have said further, when Pamela, 
 
 displeased both with words, matter, and manner, putting him 
 away with her fair hand, " Proud beast !" said she, " yet thou 
 playest worse thy comedy than thy tragedy. For my part, 
 assure thyself, since my destiny is such that each moment 
 my life and death stand in equal balance, I had rather have 
 thee, and think thee far fitter, to be my hangman than my 
 husband," 
 
 Pride and anger would fain have cruelly revenged so bitter 
 an answer, but already Cupid had begun to make it his sport 
 to pull his plumes, so that, unused to a way of courtesy, and 
 put out of his bias of pride, he hastily went away, grumbling 
 to himself, between threatening and wishing, leaving his 
 brothers with them, the elder of whom, Lycurgus, liked Philo- 
 clea, and Zoilus would needs love Zelmane, or at least enter- 
 tain themselves with making them believe so. Lycurgus 
 more bragged, and, near his brother's humour, began with 
 setting forth their blood, their deeds, how many they had 
 despised of most excellent women, how much they were 
 bound to them that would seek that of them ; in sum, in 
 all his speeches more like the bestower than the desirer of 
 felicity, whom it was an excellent pastime, to those that 
 would delight in the play of virtue, to see with what a witty 
 ignorance she would not understand ; and how, acknowledg- 
 ing his perfections, she would make that one of his per- 
 fections not to be injurious to ladies. But when he knew 
 not how to reply, then would he fall to touching and toying, 
 
 * Minion — A term of endearment ; also used in the sense of any- 
 thing small, delicate, or agreeable. (Fr. migjion) " His hynes 
 lykythe your mynyon howse." — State Papers, i. 307. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III, 367 
 
 still viewing his graces in no glass but self-liking, to which 
 Philoclea's shanriefastness and humbleness were as strong 
 resisters as choler and disdain ; for, though she yielded not, 
 he thought she was to be overcome, and that thought awhile 
 stayed him from further violence. But Zelmane had eye to 
 his behaviour, and set it in her memory upon the score of 
 revenge, while she herself was no less attempted by Zoilus. 
 
 But when, after their fruitless labours, they had gone away, 
 called by their brother, who began to be perplexed between 
 new-conceived desires, and disdain to be disdained, Zelmane, 
 who with most assured quietness of judgment looked into their 
 present estate, earnestly persuaded the two sisters that, to 
 avoid the mischiefs of proud outrage, they would only so far 
 suit their behaviour to their estates as they might win 
 time, which as it could not bring them to worse case than 
 they were, so it might bring forth unexpected rehef. And 
 so, when they were again solicited in that little-pleasing 
 petition, Pamela forced herself to make answer to Anaxius 
 that, if her father gave his consent, she would make herself 
 believe that such was the heavenly determination, since she 
 had no means to avoid it. Anaxius, who was the most frank 
 promiser to himself of success, nothing doubted of Basilius' 
 consent, but rather assured himself he would be his orator in 
 that matter ; and therefore he chose out an officious servant, 
 whom he esteemed very wise because he never found him 
 but just of his opinion, and willed him to be his ambassador 
 to Basilius, and to make him know that if he meant to have 
 his daughter both safe and happy, and desired himself to 
 have such a son-in-law as would not only protect him in his 
 quiet course, but, if he listed to accept it, would give him the 
 monarchy of the world, that then he should receive Anaxius, 
 who never before knew what it was to pray anything. That, 
 if he did not, he would make him know that the power of 
 
368 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 Anaxius was in everything beyond his will, and yet his will 
 not to be resisted by any other power. 
 
 The messenger with speed performed his lord's command- 
 ment to Basilius, who by nature quiet, and by superstition 
 made doubtful, was loath to take any matter of arms in hand, 
 wherein already he had found so slow success, though Phi- 
 lanax vehemently urged him thereunto, making him see 
 that his retiring back did encourage injuries. But Basilius, 
 betwixt the fear of Anaxius' might, the passion of his love 
 and jealousy of his estate, was so perplexed, that, not able to 
 determine, he took the common course of men, to fly only 
 then to devotion when they want resolution ; therefore, de- 
 taining the messenger with delays, he deferred the directing 
 of his course to the counsel of Apollo, which, because himself 
 at that time could not well go to require, he intrusted the 
 matter to his best trusted Philanax, who, as one in whom 
 obedience was sufficient reason unto him, went with diligence 
 to Delphos, where being entered into the secret place of the 
 temple, and having performed the sacrifices usual, the spirit 
 that possessed the prophesying woman with a sacred fury 
 attended not his demand, but, as if it would argue him of 
 incredulity, told him, not in dark wonted speeches, but plainly 
 to be understood, what he came for, and that he should return 
 to Basilius and will him to deny his daughters to Anaxius 
 and his brothers, for that they were reserved for such as 
 were better beloved of the gods. That he should not doubt, 
 for they should return unto him safely and speedily, and that 
 he should keep on his solitary course till both Philanax and 
 Basilius fully agreed in the understanding of the former 
 prophecy, withal commanding Philanax from thenceforward 
 to give -tribute, but not oblation, to human wisdom. 
 
 Philanax, then finding that reason cannot show itself more 
 reasonable than to leave reasoning in things above reason, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III, 369 
 
 returns to his lord, and, like one that preferred truth before 
 the maintaining of an opinion, hid nothing from him ; nor 
 from thenceforth durst any more dissuade him from that 
 which he found by the celestial providence directed ; but he 
 himself looking to repair the government as much as in so 
 broken an estate by civil dissension he might, and fortifying 
 with notable art both the lodges so as they were almost made 
 unapproachable, he left Basilius to bemoan the absence of 
 his daughters, and to bewail the imprisonment of Zelmane ; 
 yet wholly given holily to obey the oracle, he gave a resolute 
 negative unto the messenger of Anaxius, who all this while 
 had waited for it, yet in good terms desiring him to show 
 himself in respect of his birth and profession so princely a 
 knight as, without forcing him to seek the way of force, to 
 deliver in noble sort those ladies unto him, and so should the 
 injury have been by Amphialus and the benefit in him. 
 
 The messenger went back with this answer, yet having 
 ever used to sugar anything which his master was to receive, 
 he told him that when Basilius first understood his desires, 
 it did over-reach so far all his most hopeful expectations that 
 he thought it were too great a boldness to hearken to such a 
 man, in whom the heavens had such interest, without asking 
 the god's counsel, and therefore had sent his principal 
 counsellor to Delphos, who, although he kept the matter 
 never so secret, yet his diligence, inspired by Anaxius' pri- 
 vilege over all worldly things, had found out the secret, which 
 was that he should not presume to marry his daughter to one 
 who already was enrolled among the demi-gods, and yet much 
 less he should dare the attempting to take them out of his 
 hands. 
 
 Anaxius, who till then had made fortune his creator, and 
 force his God, now began to find another wisdom to be above 
 that judged so rightly of him ; and where in this time of his 
 
 B B 
 
^7o ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 servant's waiting for Basilius' resolution he and his brothers 
 had courted their ladies, as whom they vouchsafed to have 
 for their wives, he resolved now to dally no longer in delays, 
 but to make violence his orator, since he had found per- 
 suasions had gotten nothing but answers. Which intention 
 he opened to his brothers, who gave sputs to his runnings, 
 and (worthy men), having neither virtue in themselves nor 
 tendering it in others, went headlong to make an evil consort 
 of love and force, when Anaxius had word that they from the 
 tower descried some companies of armed men. He sent his 
 servants, therefore, to the gates, leaving none within but his 
 brothers and himself 
 
 But, while he was directing what he would have done, his 
 youngest brother Zoilus, glad that he had the commission, 
 went in the name of Anaxius to tell the sisters, that since he 
 had answer from their father that he and his brother Lycur- 
 gus should have them in what sort it pleased them, that they 
 would now grant them no longer time, but presently to 
 determine whether they thought it more honourable comfort 
 to be compelled or persuaded. Pamela made him answer 
 that, in a matter whereon the whole state of her life de- 
 pended, and wherein she had ever answered she would not 
 lead, but follow her parents' pleasure, she thought it reason 
 she should, either by letter or particular messenger, under- 
 stand something from themselves, and not have their behef 
 bound to the report of their partial servant ; and, therefore, 
 as to their words, she and her sister had ever a simple and 
 true resolution, so against their unjust force God, they hoped, 
 would either arm their lives or take away their lives. 
 " Well, ladies," said he, " I will leave my brothers, who by- 
 and-by will come unto you, to be their own ambassadors ; for 
 my part, I must now do myself service." 
 
 And with that, turning up his mustachoes, and marching 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 371 
 
 as if he would begin a pavin,* he went toward Zelmane ; but 
 Zehnane having had, all this while of the messenger's being 
 with Basilius, much to do to keep those excellent ladies from 
 seeking by the passport of death to escape those base dan- 
 gers whereunto they found themselves subject, still hoping 
 that Musidorus would find some means to deliver them, and, 
 therefore, had often, both by her own example and comfort- 
 able reasons, persuaded them to overpass many insolent 
 indignities of their proud suitors, who thought it was a suf- 
 ficient favour not to do the uttermost injury, now come again 
 to the strait she most feared for them, either of death or 
 dishonour, if heroical courage would have let her, she had 
 been beyond herself amazed ; but that yet held up her wit 
 to attend the uttermost occasion, which even then brought 
 his hairy forehead unto her ; for Zoilus, smacking his lips as 
 for the prologue of a kiss, and something advancing himself, 
 tried, indeed, to snatch it, and proffered marriage, but 
 Zelmane answered she was bound by a vow never to marry 
 any one who was not superior to her in fight. Zoilus, laughing 
 with a hearty loudness, said she should soon know what a 
 man at arms he was, and, without reverence to the ladies, 
 began to struggle with her. Zelmane, abiding no longer 
 abode in the matter, she that had not put off, though she 
 had disguised Pyrocles, being far fuller of stronger nimble- 
 ness, tripped up his feet, so that he fell down at hers, and, 
 withal, meaning to pursue what she had begun, pulled out 
 his sword which he ware about him ; but, before she 
 could strike him withal, he gat up and ran to a fair chamber, 
 where he had left his two brethren preparing themselves to 
 come down to their mistresses. But she followed at his heels, 
 and even as he came to throw himself into their arms for suc- 
 cour, she hit him with his own sword such a blow upon the 
 
 * Pavin — A grave Spanish dance (Sp. pavdna). 
 
 B B 2 
 
372 ARCADIA.— Book HI. 
 
 waist that she almost cut him asunder at once. But Anaxius, 
 seeing before his eyes the miserable end of his brother, fuller 
 of despite than wrath, and yet fuller of wrath than sorrow, 
 looking with a woeful eye upon his brother Lycurgus, 
 '• Brother," said he, " chastise this vile creature, while I go 
 down and take order lest further mischief arise ;" and so 
 went down to the ladies, whom he visited, doubting there 
 had been some further practice than yet he conceived ; but, 
 finding them only strong in patience, he went and locked a 
 great iron gate, by which only anybody might mount to that 
 part of the castle, rather to conceal the shame of his brother, 
 slain by a woman, than for doubt of any other annoyance, 
 and then went up to receive some comfort of the execution 
 he was sure his brother had done of Zelmane. But Zelmane 
 no sooner saw those brothers, of whom reason assured her 
 she was to expect revenge, but that she leaped to a target as 
 one that well knew the first mark of valour to be defence ; 
 and then accepting the opportunity of Anaxius' going away, 
 she waited not the pleasure of Lycurgus, but, without any 
 words, which she ever thought vain when resolution took the 
 place of persuasion, gave her own heart the contentment to 
 be the assailer. Lycurgus, who was in the disposition of his 
 nature hazardous, and by the lucky passing through many 
 dangers grown confident in himself, went toward her, rather 
 as to a spoil than to a fight, so far from fear that his assured- 
 ness disdained to hope. But when her sword made demon- 
 strations above all flattery of arguments, and that he found 
 she pressed so upon him as showed that her courage sprang 
 not from blind despair, but was guarded both with cunning 
 and strength, self-love then first in him divided itself from 
 vainglory, and made him find that the world of worthiness 
 had not his whole globe comprised in his breast, but that it 
 was necessary to have strong resistance against so strong 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 373 
 
 assailing. And so between them, for a few blows, Mars him- 
 self might have been delighted to look on ; but Zelmane, who 
 knew that in her case slowness of victory was little better 
 than ruin, with the bellows of hate blew the fire of courage, 
 and he, striking a main blow at her head, she warded it with 
 the shield, but so warded that the shield was cut in two 
 pieces while it protected her ; and, withal, she ran in to him, 
 and thrusting at his breast, which he put by with his target, 
 as he was lifting up his sword to strike again, she let fall the 
 piece of her shield, and with her left hand catching his sword 
 of the inside of the pommel, with nimble and strong 
 sleight she had gotten his sword out of his hand before his 
 sense could convey to his imagination what was to be doubted, 
 and, having now two swords against one shield, meaning 
 not foohshly to be ungrateful to good fortune, while he was 
 no more amazed with his being unweaponed than with the 
 suddenness thereof, she gave him such a wound upon his 
 head, in despite of the shield's over-weak resistance, that he 
 fell to the ground, astonished with pain, and aghast with fear ; 
 with that she made her sword drink the blood of his heart, 
 though he, wresting his body, and with a countenance pre- 
 pared to excuse, would fain have delayed the receiving of 
 death's ambassadors. 
 
 But neither that stayed Zelmane's hand, nor yet Anaxius' 
 cry unto her, who, having made fast the iron gate, even then 
 came to the top of the stairs, when, contrary to all his imagi- 
 nations, he saw his brother lie at Zelmane's mercy ; therefore, 
 crying, promising, and threatening to her to hold her hand, 
 the last groan of his brother was the only answer he could 
 get to his unrespected eloquence. But then pity would fain 
 have drawn tears, which fury, in their spring, dried ; and 
 anger would fain have spoken, but that disdain sealed up his 
 lips ; but in his heart he blasphemed heaven that it could have 
 
374 .ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 such a power over him ; no less ashamed of the victory he 
 should have of her than of his brother's overthrow, and no 
 more spited that it was yet^unrevenged than that the revenge 
 should be no greater than a woman's destruction ; therefore, 
 with no speech, but such a groaning cry as often is the 
 language of sorrowful anger, he came running at Zelmane, 
 use of fighting then serving instead of patient consideration 
 what to do. Guided therewith, though he did not with know- 
 ledge, yet did he according to knowledge, pressing upon 
 Zelmane in such a well-defended manner that, in all the 
 combats that ever she had fought, she had never more need of 
 quick senses and ready virtue.* For being one of the greatest 
 men of stature then living, as he did fully answer that 
 stature in greatness of might, so did he exceed both in great- 
 ness of courage, which, with a countenance formed by the 
 nature both of his mind and body to an almost horrible 
 
 (fierceness, was able to have carried fear to any mind that 
 was not privy to itself of a true and constant worthiness. 
 \ But Pyrocles, whose soul might well be separated from his 
 ' body, but never alienated from the remembering of what was 
 comely, if at the first he did a little apprehend the dangerous- 
 ness of his adversary, whom once before he had something 
 tried, and now perfectly saw, as the very picture of forcible 
 fury, yet was that apprehension quickly stayed in him, 
 rather strengthening than weakening his virtue by that wrest- 
 ling, like wine growing the stronger by being moved. So that 
 they both, prepared in hearts and able in hands, did honour 
 solitariness there with such a combat as might have de- 
 manded as a right of fortune whole armies of beholders. 
 
 But no beholders needed there where manhood blew the 
 trumpet and satisfaction did whet as much as glory. There 
 
 * Virtue — Here used in the Roman sense ; for with them virtics 
 was military valour. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 375 
 
 was strength against nimbleness, rage against resolution, fury v) 
 against virtue, confidence against courage, pride against /' 
 nobleness ; love in both breeding mutual hatred and desire ^ 
 of revenging, the injuries of his brothers' slaughter to Anaxius 
 being like Philoclea's captivity to Pyrocles. Who had seen 
 the one would have thought nothing could have resisted ; 
 who had marked the other would have marvelled that the 
 other had so long resisted. But like two contrary tides, 
 either of which are able to carry worlds of ships and men 
 upon them, with such swiftness as nothing seems able to 
 withstand them, yet, meeting one another, with mingling 
 their watery forces and struggling together it is long to say 
 whether stream gets the victory ; so between these, if Pallas 
 had been there, she could scarcely have told whether she had 
 nursed better in the feats of arms. The Irish greyhound 
 against the English mastift", the sword-fish against the whale, 
 the rhinoceros against the elephant, might be models, and but 
 models, of this combat. Anaxius was better armed defensively, 
 for, beside a strong casque bravely covered,* wherewith he 
 covered his head, he had a huge shield, such, perchance, as 
 Achilles showed to the pale walls of Troy, wherewithal that 
 great body was covered. But Pyrocles, utterly unarmed for 
 defence, to offend had the advantage ; for in either hand he 
 had a sword, and with both hands nimbly performed that 
 office. And according as they were diversely furnished, 
 so they did differ in the manner of fighting ; for Anaxius 
 most by warding, and Pyrocles oftenest by avoiding, resisted 
 the adversary's assault. Both hasty to end, yet both often 
 staying for advantage. Time, distance, and motion custom 
 made them so perfect in that, as if they had been fellow- 
 counsellors, and not enemies, each knew the other's mind, and 
 knew how to prevent it ; so as their strength failed them 
 * Bravely covered — That is, handsomely ornamented. 
 
2,76 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 sooner than their skill, and yet their breath failed them 
 sooner than their strength. And breathless indeed they grew 
 before either could complain of any loss of blood. So that 
 consenting by the mediation of necessity to a breathing time 
 of truce, being withdrawn a little one from the other, Anaxius 
 stood leaning upon his sword with his grim eye so settled 
 upon Zelmane as is wont to be the look of an earnest 
 thought. Which Zelmane marking, and, according to the 
 Pyroclean nature,* fuller of gay bravery in the midst than in 
 the beginning of danger, " What is it," said she, "Anaxius, 
 that thou so deeply musest on t Doth thy brothers' example 
 make thee think of thy fault past, or of thy coming punish- 
 ment ?" " I think," said he, " what spiteful god it should be 
 who, envying my glory, hath brought me to such a wayward 
 case that neither thy death can be a revenge nor thy over- 
 throw a victory." " Thou doest well indeed," said Zelmane, 
 '' to impute thy case to the heavenly providence which will 
 haye thy pride find itself, even in that whereof thou art most 
 proud, punished by the weak sex which thou most contemnest." 
 But then having sufficiently rested themselves, they re- 
 newed again their combat, far more terrible than before, like 
 nimble vaulters, who at the first and second leap do but stir 
 and, as it were, awake the fiery and airy parts, which after in 
 the other leaps they do with more excellency exercise. For 
 in this pausing each had brought to his thoughts the manner 
 of the other's fighting, and the advantages which by that, 
 and by the quality of their weapons, they might work them- 
 selves, and so again repeated the lesson they had said before 
 more perfectly by the using of it. Anaxius oftener used 
 blows, his huge force, as it were, more delighting therein, and 
 
 * Pyi-odean nature — Sidney himself and his father both served as 
 models for Pyrocles. This admirable "gay bravery" was observable 
 in botli. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 2>77 
 
 the large protection of his shield animating him unto it. 
 Pyrocles, of a more fine and deliver strength, watching his 
 time when to give fit thrusts, as, with the quick obeying of 
 his body to his eye's quick commandment, he shunned any 
 harm Anaxius could do to him, so would he soon have made 
 an end of Anaxius if he had not found him a man of won- 
 derful and almost matchless excellency in matters of arms. 
 Pyrocles used divers feignings to bring Anaxius on into some 
 inconvenience. But Anaxius, keeping a sound manner of 
 fighting, never offered but seeing fair cause, and then followed 
 it with well-governed violence. Thus spent they a great 
 time, striving to do, and with striving to do wearying them- 
 selves more than with the very doing. Anaxius, finding Zel- 
 mane so near unto him that with little motion he might reach 
 her, knitting all his strength together, at that tmie manly 
 foined* at her face. But Zelmane, strongly putting it by with 
 her right-hand sword, coming in with her left foot and hand, 
 would have given a sharp visitationf to his right side, but that 
 he was fain to leap away. Whereat ashamed, as having 
 never done so much before in his life ^ 
 
 Thus far the worthy author had revised and enlarged that first- 
 written Arcadia of his, which only passed from hand to hand and 
 %vas never printed ; having a ptirpose likewise to have new ordered, 
 angmented, and concluded the rest, had he not been prevented by 
 untimely death. So that all which follozveth here of this work 
 remained as it was done and sent away in several loose sheets, being 
 never after reviewed nor so much as seen altogether by himself, with- 
 out any certain disposition or perfect order. Yet for that it was his, 
 
 * Foined — " Foin " is to fence ; Ruddiman says from Yx. poindre, 
 pungere, to prick or wound. "Than they assembled togyderin al 
 partes, and began to foyne with speares and stryke with axes and 
 swordes." — Froissart, Cronycle, vol. ii. Lord Berners' Trans. 
 
 f Visitation — It is curious to note that this word is used similarly 
 by those gentlemen who describe prize-fights in our own day. 
 
378 ARCADIA.— Book III, 
 
 hnvsoever deprived of the just grace it should have had, 7vas held 
 too good to be lost ; and therefore with much labour zvere the best 
 coherencies that could be gathered out of those scattered papers made, 
 and afterwards printed as Jtow it is, 07ily by her noble care to zvhose 
 dear hand they were first committed, and for whose delight and 
 entertainme7it only u?idertaken. 
 
 What conclusion it should have had, or how far the work have 
 been extended, had it had his last hand thereunto, was only knozun to 
 his aion spirit, where only those admirable images were — and jiozvhere 
 else — to be cast. 
 
 And here we are likenuise Jitterly deprived of the relation hozu this 
 combat ended, and how the ladies, by discovery of the approaching 
 forces, wet-e delivej'ed and restored to Basilius; how Dor us returned to 
 his old master Dametas : all which uji^ortunate maim zve Diust be 
 content to suffer with the rest. 
 
 [Sir William Alexander, afterwards Earl of Sterling, says 
 the " Retrospective Review" (vol. ii. p. 30), " has attempted 
 to supply the defect existing in the third book, as an imitator 
 not unworthy of Sidney." And, again, the reviewer adds 
 that " this performance, as well as the other continuations, is 
 a proof, from the exactness with which the style of Sidney is 
 copied, what attention had been paid to the model." Sir W, 
 A., or, as the printer has it, " S. JV.A." speaks more modestly 
 and truly of his own work. "If this little essay," he says, "has 
 no perfection, yet shall it serve for a shadow to give lustre to 
 the rest." Truly that is all it can serve for. Its style is 
 a most bombastical imitation of Sidney's, constantly over- 
 running the modesty of nature by such violence as this : 
 " The impetuous storm that transported the spirit of 
 Anaxius /md quickly blowfi him down the stairs and np the 
 door, his sword ushering his way, till his eyes were encoun- 
 tered by the beams of the lightning weapons of a small 
 
ARCADIA.— Boo c ItL 379 
 
 number," &c. And, again : "His soul might have furnished all 
 the infernal furies with ftcry, and yet have continued most 
 furious of all itself. Rage and disdain, burning his bosom, 
 made him utter a roaring voice, as if his breath had been 
 able to have blown away the world, which, for the sound his 
 sword made, could not distinctly be understood." Such seems 
 to be Sir W. A.'s notion of Sidney's curious and often beauti- 
 ful antithetical style. Nor does the Earl of Sterling succeed 
 better in imitating those wise and proverbial sentences which 
 Sidney has scattered through his works ; to take a couple of 
 instances : " '// is an easy matter^ said Pamela, ''for one who 
 ca?i deceive to dissenible, and where great familiarity is, no 
 ceremonial duty can be observed/ " the first is obvious enough, 
 the other not so. The best and only part worth preserving 
 is the conclusion of an episode of the death of Phihsides, in 
 which the author has, he tells us, pictured the dying moments 
 of Sidney, differently, indeed, from Lord Brooke, but worth 
 preserving as a curiosity; it has nothing to do with the 
 story: — 
 
 " With this the Black Knight, weeping, embraced him in 
 his arms, and told him what he was, saying he was glad 
 that his vow was performed ; he being a benefited witness, 
 not the endangered subject of his valour. Then contentment 
 budding forth in his [Philisides'] countenance, flourished in a 
 smile, and having kissed his friends, desiring to live in their 
 memory, wished them as contented lives as his was a death. 
 He died as joyfully as he had left them sorrowful, who had 
 known him a mirror of courage and courtesy, of learning 
 and arms ; so that it seemed that Mars had begotten him 
 upon one of the Muses." 
 
 It is believed, upon a careful review of Sir W. A.'s work, 
 that the reader will be better served by a resume of the por- 
 tion supplied, which, while it saves valuable space, sufficiently 
 
38o ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 connects the portions of the story and supplies the missing 
 pages of Sidney's romance.] 
 
 Anaxius, in a great rage, is returning with a terrible fury 
 to the onslaught, when his ears are saluted by a martial 
 noise which reminds him of the bloody scene then being 
 enacted in the court of the castle. He flies from the fighting 
 of one to the fighting with many, anxious for an object 
 worthy of his great wrath. He rushes impetuously to the 
 scene of action, the courage of his followers being revived at 
 his appearance, and the fury of his opponents is redoubled. 
 The Black Knight preserves his coolness in the midst of his 
 love and courage. Anaxius upbraids his train for their want 
 of courage in not vanquishing their enemies, plunges himself 
 into the thickest of the fight, and is wounded by a dart from 
 an unknown hand. Zelmane, who has followed Anaxius, 
 refuses to fight any but him, upbraids him for first injuring a 
 woman and then fleeing her just violence. Anaxius, troubled 
 at her words, gives orders to Armagines, his nephew, to shut 
 all the castle gates, that no enemy may escape, and signs to 
 Zelmane to follow him. Only too glad of an opportunity to 
 wreak her vengeance, Zelmane rushes after him to a back 
 court of the castle. Here they fight. Anaxius, rioting in 
 rage, puts forth all his strength at first, and increases his 
 anger because he is not at once successful. Zelmane runs 
 Anaxius through the heart, and at the same time his sword 
 pierces her body. Anaxius dies ; Zelmane rises, draws the 
 sword from her enemy's body, and is retreating, with a sword 
 in each hand and one in her breast, when she meets Musi- 
 dorus. Guided by one acquainted with the castle, they are 
 seeking a room to rest in, when they hear mournful sounds, 
 and, entering an adjoining chamber, find Philoclea and 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IH. 381 
 
 Pamela. Zelmane, recognised as Pyrocles, relates her ad- 
 ventures as Zelmane, and receives the praises of the ladies. 
 Musidorus betrays himself to Pamela, who hides her love 
 under a mask of hate and chides him. Having somewhat 
 softened her heart towards him, he takes Pyrocles away to 
 dress his wounds. A messenger arrives from Basilius, who 
 has heard of the exploits of Musidorus and Zelmane, convey- 
 ing his gratitude and anxiety for the recovery of Zelmane. 
 The queen Gynecia sends a box of ointment for her wound. 
 Pamela desires Musidorus to return to his old master ; he, 
 willing to do all she wishes, goes away, after taking affec- 
 tionate leave of Pyrocles. The next day Zelmane, Philoclea, 
 and Pamela depart, and are met by Basilius, who embraces 
 his daughters and Zelmane ; they arrive at the castle, and 
 Gynecia dresses Zelmane's wound in the presence of the 
 jealous Basilius, to the great relief of Zelmane, who is as 
 tired of Basilius as she is afraid of Gynecia. 
 
 From hence the history is again contijiiied cnit of the azithor''s ozvn 
 writings and conceits, as follo7veth : — 
 
 After that Basilius, according to the oracle's promise, had 
 received home his daughters, and settled himself again in his 
 solitary course and accustomed company, there passed not 
 many days ere the now fully recomforted Dorus, having 
 waited a time of Zelmane's walking alone towards her little 
 arbour, took leave of his master Dametas' husbandry to 
 follow her. Near whereunto overtaking her, and sitting down 
 together among the sweet flowers, whereof that place was 
 very plentiful, under the pleasant shade of a broad-leaved 
 sycamore, they recounted one to another their strange pilgri- 
 mage of passions, omitting nothing which open-hearted friend- 
 ship is wont to lay forth where there is cause to communicate 
 
382 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 both joys and sorrows ; for indeed there is no sweeter taste of 
 friendship than the couphng of souls in this mutuahty either 
 of condohng or comforting, where the oppressed mind finds 
 itself not altogether miserable, since it is sure of one which 
 is feelingly sorry for his misery, and the joyful spends not his 
 joy, either alone or there where it may be envied, but may 
 freely send it to such a well-grounded object, from whence he 
 shall be sure to receive a sweet reflection of the same joy, 
 and, as in a clear mirror of sincere goodwill, see a lively 
 picture of his own gladness. But, after much discourse on 
 either part, Dorus- his heart scarce serving him to come to 
 the point whereunto his then coming had been wholly directed, 
 as loath in the kindest sort to discover to his friend his own 
 unkindness, at length, one word emboldening another, made 
 known to Zelmane how Pamela, upon his vehement oath to 
 offer no force unto her till he had invested her in the duchy 
 of Thessalia, had condescended to his stealing her away to 
 the next seaport : that besides the strange humours she 
 saw her father more and more falling into, and unreasonable 
 restraint of her liberty, whereof she knew no cause but light- 
 grounded jealousies, added to the hate of that manner of life, 
 and confidence she had in his virtue, the chiefest reason had . 
 won her to this was the late danger she stood in of losing 
 him, the like whereof — not unlike to fall if this course were 
 continued — she chose rather to die than again to undergo : 
 that now they waited for nothing else but some fit time for 
 their escape, by the absence of their three loathsome com- 
 panions, in whom folly engendered suspicion. 
 
 "And therefore now," said Dorus, "my dear cousin, to 
 whom nature began my friendship, education confirmed it, 
 and virtue hath made it eternal, here have I discovered the 
 very foundation whereupon my life is built : be you the judge 
 betwixt me and my fortune. The violence of love is not 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III, 383 
 
 unknown to you ; and I know my case shall never want 
 pity in your consideration. How all the joys of my heart do 
 leave me in thinking I must for a time be absent from you, 
 the eternal truth is witness unto me. I know I should not so 
 sensibly feel the pangs of my last departure. But this en- 
 chantment of my restless desire hath such authority in myself 
 above myself that I am become a slave unto it ; I have no 
 more freedom in mine own determinations. My thoughts 
 are now all bent to carry away my burdenous bliss. Yet, 
 most beloved cousin, rather than you should think I do 
 herein violate that holy band of true friendship wherein I 
 unworthy am knit unto you, command me stay. Perchance 
 the force of your commandment may work such impression 
 into my heart that no reason of mine own can imprint into 
 it. For the gods forbid the foul word of abandoning Pyro- 
 cles might ever be objected to the faithful Musidorus. But, 
 if you can spare my presence, whose presence no way serves 
 you, and, by the division of these two lodges, is not oft with 
 you— nay, if you can think my absence may, as it shall, stand 
 you in stead, by bringing such an army hither as shall make 
 Basihus willing or unwilling to know his own hap in granting 
 you Philoclea, then I will cheerfully go about this my most 
 desired enterprise, and shall think the better half of it already 
 achieved, being begun in the fortunate hour of my friend's 
 contentment." 
 
 These words, as they were not knit together with such a 
 constant course of flowing eloquence as Dorus was wont to 
 use, so was his voice interrupted with sighs, and his coun- 
 tenance with interchanging colour dismayed ; so much his 
 own heart did find him faulty to unbend any way the con- 
 tinual use of their dear friendship. But Zelmane, who had all 
 this while gladly hearkened to the other tidings of her friend's 
 happy success, when this last determination of Dorus strake 
 
384 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 her attentive ears, she stayed a great while oppressed with a 
 dead amazement. There came straight before her mind 
 made tender with woes the images of her own fortune : her 
 tedious longings, her causes of despair, the combersome 
 folly of Basilius, the enraged jealousy of Gynecia, herself a 
 prince without retinue, a man annoyed with the troubles of 
 womankind, loathsomely loved, and dangerously loving : 
 and now, for the perfecting of all, her friend to be taken away 
 by himself, to make the loss the greater by the unkindness. 
 But within a while she resolutely passed over all inward 
 objections, and preferring her friend's profit to her own desire, 
 with a quiet but hearty look she thus answered him : — 
 
 " If I bare thee this love, virtuous Musidorus, for mine own 
 sake, and that our friendship grew because I, for my part, 
 might rejoice to enjoy such a friend, I should now so tho- 
 roughly feel mine own loss that I should call the heavens 
 and earth to witness how cruelly ye rob me of my greatest 
 comfort, measuring the breach of friendship by mine own 
 passion. But because indeed I love thee for thyself, and in 
 my judgment judge of thy worthiness to be loved, I am con- 
 tent to build my pleasure upon thy comfort, and then will I 
 deem my hap in friendship great when I shall see thee, whom 
 I love, happy. Let me be only sure thou lovest me still, the 
 only price of true affection. Go therefore on, worthy Musi- 
 dorus, with the guide of virtue and service of fortune. Let 
 thy love be loved, thy desires prosperous, thy escape safe, and 
 thy journey easy. Let everything yield his help to thy desert; 
 for my part, absence shall not take thee from mine eyes, nor 
 afflictions shall bar me from gladding in thy good, nor a pos- 
 sessed heart shall keep thee from the place it hath for ever 
 allotted unto thee." 
 
 Dorus would fain have replied again, to have made a liberal 
 confession that Zelmane had of her side the advantage of 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 385 
 
 well-performing friendship ; but partly his own grief of parting 
 from one he loved so dearly, partly the kind care in what state 
 he should leave Zelmane, bred such a conflict in his mind 
 that many times he wished he had either never attempted or 
 never revealed His secret enterprise. But Zelmane, who had 
 now looked to the uttermost of it, and established her mind 
 upon an assured determination, " My only friend," said she, 
 " since to so good towardness your courteous destinies have 
 conducted you, let not a ceremonial consideration of our 
 mutual love be a bar unto it. I joy in your presence, but I 
 joy more in your good ; that friendship brings forth the fruits 
 of enmity which prefers his own tenderness before his friend's 
 damage. For my part, my greatest grief herein shall be I 
 can be no further serviceable unto you," " O Zelmane," said 
 Dorus, with his eyes even covered with water, " I did not 
 think so soon to have displayed my determination unto you, 
 but to have made my way first in your loving judgment. 
 But, alas ! as your sweet disposition drew me so far, so doth 
 it now strengthen me in it. To you, therefore, be the due 
 commendation given, who can conquer me in love, and love 
 in wisdom. As for me, then shall goodness turn to evil, and 
 ungratefulness be the token of a true heart, when Pyrocles 
 shall not possess a principal seat in my soul, when the name 
 of Pyrocles shall not be held of me in devout reverence." 
 
 They would never have come to the cruel instant of parting, 
 nor to the ill-faring word of farewell, had not Zelmane seen 
 afar off the old Basilius, who having performed a sacrifice to 
 Apollo for his daughters, but principally for his mistress' 
 happy return, had since been everywhere to seek her. And now 
 being come within compass of discerning her, he began to frame 
 the loveliest countenance he could, stroking up his legs, setting 
 his beard in due order, and standing bolt upright. "Alas !" 
 said Zelmane, " behold an evil fore-token of your sorrowful 
 
 C C 
 
386 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 departure. Yonder see I one of my furies, which doth daily 
 vex me ; farewell, farewell, my Musidorus, the gods make 
 fortune to wait on thy virtues, and make me wade through 
 this lake of wretchedness." Dorus burst out into a flood of 
 tears, wringing her fast by the hand. " No, no," said he, " I 
 go blindfold whither the course of my ill-hap carries me, for 
 now, too late, my heart gives* me this our separating can never 
 be prosperous. But, if I hve, attend me here shortly with an 
 army." 
 
 Thus, both appalled with the grievous renting! of their first 
 combination, having first resolved with themselves that, 
 whatsoever fell unto them, they should never upon no occa- 
 sion utter their names, for the conserving the honour of their 
 royal parentage, but keep the names of Daiphantus and 
 Palladius, as before had been agreed between them, they 
 took divers ways, Dorus to the lodgeward, where his heavy- 
 eyes might be something refreshed, Zelmane towards Basi- 
 lius, saying to herself with a scornful smiling, " Yet hath not 
 my friendly fortune deprived me of a pleasant companion." 
 But he having with much search come to her presence, doubt 
 and desire bred a great quarrel in his mind, for his former 
 experience had taught him to doubt, and true feehng of love 
 made doubts dangerous ; but the working of his desire had 
 ere long won the field. And, therefore, with the most sub- 
 missive manner his behaviour could yield, " O goddess," 
 said he, " towards whom I have the greatest feeling of reli- 
 gion, be not displeased at some show of devotion I have 
 
 * Gives — Misgives. "Give" was occasionally used by our early 
 wi-iters in the sense of "misgive." 
 
 + Renting— ^^^QwV is the old form of our present word "rend," 
 and in the earlier editions of our Bible is repeatedly to be met with ; 
 in the authorized version, however, only one instance remains (Jer. 
 iv. 30). " Will you rent our ancient- love asunder ?" — Midsummer- 
 Night's Dream, iii. 2. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book ITT. 387 
 
 made to Apollo, since he, if he know anything, knows that 
 my heart bears far more awful reverence to yourself than to 
 his, or any other the like deity." " You will ever be deceived 
 in me," answered Zelmane: " I will make myself no competitor 
 with Apollo; neither can blasphemies to him be duties to me." 
 
 But Basilius began afresh to lay before her many pitiful 
 prayers, and in the end to conclude that he was fully of 
 opinion it was only the unfortunateness of that place that 
 hindered the prosperous course of his desires. And, there- 
 fore, since the hateful influence which made him embrace 
 this solitary life was now passed over him, as he doubted not 
 the judgment of Philanax would agree with his, and his late 
 mishaps had taught him how perilous it was to commit a 
 prince's state to a place so weakly guarded, he was now in- 
 clined to return to his palace in Mantinea, and there he hoped 
 he should be better able to show how much he desired to 
 make all he had hers, with many other such honey-words 
 which my pen grows almost weary to set down. This indeed 
 nearly pierced Zelmane ; for the good beginning she had 
 there obtained of Philoclea made her desire to continue the 
 same trade, till unto the more perfecting of her desires, and, 
 to come to any public place she did deadly fear, lest her mask 
 by many eyes might the sooner be discovered, and so her 
 hopes stopped and the state of her joys endangered. Therefore 
 a while she rested, musing at the daily changing labyrinth of 
 her own fortune, but in herself determined it was her only 
 best to keep him there, and with favours to make him love 
 the place where the favours were received, as disgraces had 
 made him apt to change the soil. 
 
 Therefore, casting a kind of corner-look* upon him, " It is 
 truly said," said she, " that age cooleth the blood. How soon, 
 good man, you are terrified before you receive any hurt ! Do 
 * Co7-iier-look — From the corners of her eyes ; a side glance. 
 
 C C 2 
 
388 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 you not know that daintiness is kindly unto us, and that hard 
 obtaining is the excuse of woman's granting ? Yet speak I 
 not as though you were like to obtain or I to grant, but 
 because I would not have you imagine I am to be won by 
 courtly vanities, or esteem a man the more because he hath 
 handsome men to wait on him, when he is afraid to live with- 
 out them." You might have seen Basilius humbly swell, and 
 with a lowly look stand upon his tiptoes, such diversity her 
 words delivered unto him. " O Hercules !" answered he, 
 " Basilius afraid, or his blood cold that boils in such a fur- 
 nace ! Care I who is with me while I enjoy your presence ? 
 or is any place good or bad to me but as it pleaseth you to 
 bless or curse it ? Oh, let me be but armed in your good 
 grace, and I defy whatsoever there is or can be against me. 
 No, no, your love is forcible, and my age is not without 
 vigour." 
 
 Zelmane thought it not good for his stomach to receive a 
 surfeit of too much favour, and therefore thinking he had 
 enough for the time to keep him from any sudden removing, 
 with a certain gracious bowing down of her head toward him, 
 she turned away, saying she would leave him at this time to 
 see how temperately he could use so bountiful a measure of 
 her kindness. Basilius, that thought every drop a flood that 
 bred any refreshment, durst not further press her, but with 
 an ancient modesty left her to the sweet repast of her own 
 fancies. 
 
 Zelmane, as soon as he was departed, went towards Pamela's 
 lodging, in hopes to have found her friend Dorus, to have 
 pleased herself with another painful farewell. Coming near 
 the lodge, she saw the mouth of a cave, and near it a little 
 sweet river, the very show of the place enticing the me- 
 lancholy mind of Zelmane to yield to the flood of her own 
 thoughts. Sitting down, therefore, at the cave's mouth, she 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 389 
 
 gave doleful way to her bitter affects* in a song of complaint. 
 No sooner had she finished, and was about to compose her 
 mind, than another voice began to deliver itself into musical 
 tunes, and with a base lyra give forth this song : — 
 
 " Hark, plaintful ghosts, infernal furies, hark 
 Unto my woes the hateful heavens do send ; 
 The heavens conspir'd to make my vital spark 
 A wretched wreck, a glass of ruin's end. 
 Seeing, alas ! so mighty powers bend 
 Their ireful shot against so weak a mark. 
 Come, cave, become my grave ; come, death, and lend 
 Receipt to me within thy bosom dark. 
 
 " For what is life to daily dying mind. 
 Where, drawing breath, I suck the air of woe ; 
 Where too much sight makes all the body blind. 
 And highest thoughts downwai'd most headlong throw ? 
 Thus, then, my form, and thus my state I find. 
 Death wrapp'd in flesh to living grave assigned." 
 
 " O Venus !" said Zelmane, " who is this that can make so 
 lively a portraiture of my miseries ?" And, rising, she went 
 forward, and discerned a lady lying on her face in a dark 
 spot, who was no other than Gynecia. It was indeed Gynecia, 
 who had gotten into that place to pass her pangs by change 
 of places. Seeing it was Zelmane, the unhappy lady fell 
 down at her feet, and, catching fast hold of her, besought her 
 pity and love, which when Zelmane refused, she furiously cried, 
 " Believe it, believe it, unkind creature, since thou hast no pity, 
 I will end my miseries with a notable example of revenge ; 
 Philoclea shall feel the smart of my wound, thou of thy tyranny, 
 and lastly, I confess, myself of mine own work." Zelmane 
 
 * Affects — Affections, passions. 
 
 " I hope I shall not need to urge 
 The sacred purity of our affects. " 
 
 — Ben Jonson, Case is Altered, act i. 
 
390 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 felt like one who has a wolf by the ears, bitten while they 
 hold and slain if they loose. What could she do, encompassed 
 with these instant difficulties ? She bent her spirits to think of 
 a remedy which might at once both save her from them and 
 serve her to the accomplishment of her only pursuit. Lastly, 
 she determined thus, that there was no way but to yield to the 
 violence of their desires, since striving did the more chafe 
 them, and that, following their own current, at length of itself 
 it would bring her to the other side of her burning desires. 
 
 Now, in the meanwhile, the divided Dorus, long divided 
 between love and friendship, and now for his love divided 
 from his friend, though, indeed, without prejudice of friend- 
 ship's loyalty, which doth never bar the mind from his free 
 satisfaction, yet still a cruel judge over himself, thought he 
 was some ways faulty, and applied his mind now to amend 
 it with a speedy and behoofful return. But then was his 
 first study how to get away, whereto already he had Pamela's 
 consent, confirmed and concluded under the name of Mopsa 
 in her own presence, Dorus taking this way, that whatsoever 
 he would have of Pamela he would ask her, whether in such 
 a case it were not best for Mopsa so to behave herself, in 
 that sort making Mopsa's envy an instrument of that she 
 did envy. So, having passed over his first and most feared 
 difficulty, he busied his spirits how to come to the harvest of 
 his desires, whereof he had so fair a show. And thereunto, 
 having gotten leave for some days of his master Dametas, 
 who now accounted him as his son-in-law, he roamed round 
 about the desert to find some unknown way that might bring 
 him to the next seaport as much as might be out of all course 
 of other passengers ; which all very well succeeding him, 
 and he having hired a bark for his life's traffic, and provided 
 horses to carry her thither, returned homeward, now come 
 to the last point of his care, how to go beyond the loathsome 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 391 
 
 watchfulness of these three uncomely companions, and therein 
 did wisely consider how they were to be taken with whom he 
 had to deal, remembering that in the particularities of every- >^ 
 body's mind and fortune there are particular advantages by 
 which they are to be held. The muddy mind of Dametas he 
 found most easily stirred with covetousness ; the curst mis- 
 chievous heart of Tvliso most apt to be tickled with jealousy, 
 as whose rotten brain could think well of nobody ; but young 
 mistress Mopsa, who could open her eyes upon nothing that 
 did not all-to bewonder* her, he thought curiosity the fittest 
 bait for her. 
 
 And first for Dametas, Dorus having employed a whole 
 day's work, about ten mile off from the lodge — quite con- 
 trary way to that he meant to take with Pamela — in digging 
 and opening the ground under an ancient oak that stood 
 there, in such sort as he might longest hold Dametas' greedy 
 hopes in some show of comfort, he came to his master, with 
 a countenance mixed between cheerfulness and haste, and 
 taking him by the right hand as if he had a great matter of 
 secrecy to reveal unto him, " Master," said he, " I did never 
 think that the gods had appointed my mind, freely brought up, 
 to have so longing a desire to serve you, but that they minded 
 thereby to bring some extraordinary fruit to one so beloved 
 of them as your honesty makes me think you are. This binds 
 me even in conscience to disclose that which I persuade my- 
 self is allotted unto you, that your fortune may be of equal 
 balance with your deserts." He said no further, because he 
 would let Dametas play upon the bit a while, who not under- 
 standing what his words intended, yet well finding they car- 
 ried no evil news, was so much the more desirous to know 
 the matter as he had free scope to imagine what measure of 
 good hap himself would. Therefore, putting off his cap to 
 * All-to bewonder — i.e.^ exceedingly astonish hei' — see note, p. 182. 
 
392 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 him, which he had never done before, and assuring him he 
 should have Mopsa, though she had been all made of cloth of 
 gold, he besought Dorus not to hold him long in hope, for 
 that he found it a thing his heart was not able to bear. 
 
 " Master," answered Dorus, "you have so satisfied me with 
 promising me the uttermost of my desired bliss, that, if my 
 duty bound me not, I were in it sufficiently rewarded. To 
 you, therefore, shall my good hap be converted, and the fruit 
 of all my labour dedicated." Therewith he told him how, 
 under an ancient oak — the place he made him easily under- 
 stand by sufficient marks he gave unto him — he had found, 
 digging but a little depth, scatteringly lying, a great number 
 of rich medals ; and that, piercing further into the ground, he 
 had met with a great stone, which, by the hollow sound it 
 yielded, seemed to be the cover of some greater vault, and 
 upon it a box of cypress, with the name of the valiant Aristo- 
 menes graven upon it ; and that within the box he found 
 certain verses, which signified that some depth again under 
 that all his treasure lay hidden, what time, for the discord fell 
 out in Arcadia, he lived banished. Therewith he gave 
 Dametas certain medals of gold he had long kept about him, 
 and asked him, because it was a thing much to be kept secret, 
 and a matter one man in twenty hours might easily perform, 
 whether he would have him go and seek the bottom of it, 
 which he had refrained to do till he knew his mind, promising 
 he would faithfully bring him what he found, or else that he 
 himself would do it and be the first beholder of that comfort- 
 able spectacle. 
 
 No man need doubt which part Dametas would choose, 
 whose fancy had already devoured all this great riches, and 
 even now began to grudge at a partner before he saw his own 
 share. Therefore, taking a strong jade, laden with spades 
 and mattocks, which he meant to bring back otherwise laden, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 393 
 
 he went in all speed thitherward, taking leave of nobody, 
 only desiring Dorus he would look well to the Princess 
 Pamela, promising him mountains of his own labour, which 
 nevertheless he little meant to perform, like a fool, not con- 
 sidering that no man is to be moved with part that neglects 
 the whole. Thus away went Dametas, having already made 
 an image in his fancy what palaces he would build, how 
 sumptuously he would fare, and among all other things 
 imagined what money to employ in making coffers to keep 
 his money ; his ten mile seemed twice so many leagues, and 
 yet, contrary to the nature of it, though it seemed long, it was 
 not wearisome. Many times he cursed his horse's want of 
 consideration, that in so important a matter would make no 
 greater speed ; many times he wished himself the back of an 
 ass, to help to carry away the new-sought riches : an unfor- 
 tunate wisher ; for, if he had as well wished the head, it had 
 been granted him. At length, being come to the tree which 
 he hoped should bear so golden acorns, down went all his 
 instruments, and forthwith to the renting* up of the hurtless 
 earth, where by-and-by he was caught with the lime of a few 
 promised medals, which was so perfect a pawn unto him of 
 his further expectation that he deemed a greater number of 
 hours well employed in groping further into it, which with 
 logs and great stones was made as combersome as might be, 
 till at length, with sweaty brows, he came to the great stone ; 
 a stone, God knows, full unlike to the cover of a monument, 
 but yet there was the cypress box, with " Aristomenes " graven 
 upon it, and some verses written in it. He opened the box, 
 and to his great comfort read them, and with fresh courage 
 went about to lift up that stone. 
 
 But in the meantime, ere Dametas was half a mile gone 
 to the treasure-ward, Dorus came to Miso, whom he found 
 
 * Renting — See note, p. 386. 
 
394 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 sitting in the chimney's end, babbhng to herself, and showing 
 by all her gestures that she was loathsomely weary of the 
 '\ world, not for any hope of a better life, but, finding no one 
 good, neither in mind nor body, whereout she might nourish 
 a quiet thought, having long since hated each thing else, 
 began now to hate herself. Before this sweet-humoured 
 dame Dorus set himself, and framed towards her such a 
 smiling countenance as might seem to be mixed between a 
 tickled mirth and a forced pity. Miso, to whom cheerfulness 
 in others was ever a source of envy in herself, took quickly 
 mark of his behaviour, and with a look full of forworn spite, 
 " Now the devil," said she, " take these villains that can 
 never leave grinning ! because 1 am not so fair as mistress 
 Mopsa, to see how this skip-jack looks at me !" Dorus, that 
 had the occasion he desired, " Truly, mistress," answered he, 
 " my smiling is not at you, but at them that are from you ; and 
 indeed I must needs a little accord my countenance with 
 other's sport." And therewithal took her in his arms, and 
 rocking her to and fro, " In faith, mistress," said he, " it is 
 high time for you to bid us good night for ever, since others 
 can possess your place in your own time." 
 
 Miso, that was never void of malice enough to suspect the 
 uttermost evil, to satisfy a further shrewdness, took on a pre- 
 sent mildness, and gently desired him to tell her what he 
 meant ; " For," said she, " I am like enough to be knavishly 
 dealt with by that churl my husband." Dorus fell off from 
 the matter again, as if he had meant no such thing, till, by 
 much refusing her entreaty, and vehemently stirring up her 
 desire to know, he had strengthened a credit in her to that 
 he should say ; and then, with a formal countenance, as if the 
 conscience of the case had touched himself, " Mistress," said 
 he, " I am much perplexed in mine own determination, for 
 my thoughts do ever will me to do honestly, but my judgment 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 395 
 
 fails me what is honest, betwixt the general rule that intrusted 
 secrecies are holily to be observed, and the particular excep- 
 tion that the dishonest secrecies are to be revealed ; especially 
 there where, by revealing, they may either be prevented or at 
 least amended. Yet in this balance your judgment weighs 
 me down, because I have confidence in it that you will use 
 what you know moderately, and rather take such faults as an 
 advantage to your own good desert than, by your bitter using 
 it, be contented to be revenged on others with your own harms. 
 So it is, mistress," said he, " that yesterday driving my sheep 
 up to the stately hill which lifts his head over the fair city of 
 Mantinea, I happened upon the side of it, in a httle falling of 
 the ground which was a rampier against the sun's rage, to 
 perceive a young maid, truly of the finest stamp of beauty, 
 and, that which made her beauty the more admirable, there 
 was at all no art added to the helping of it ; for her apparel 
 was but such as shepherds' daughters are wont to wear ; and 
 as for her hair, it hung down at the free liberty of his goodly 
 length, but that sometimes falling before the clear stars of her 
 sight, she was forced to put it behind her ears, and so open 
 again the treasure of her perfections which that for a while 
 had in part hidden. In her lap there lay a shepherd, so 
 wrapped up in that well-liked place that I could discern no 
 piece of his face ; but as mine eyes were attent [intent] in that, 
 her angel-like voice strake mine ears with a song. But, as if 
 the shepherd that lay before her had been organs which were 
 only to be blown by her breath, she had no sooner ended with 
 the joining her sweet lips together but that he recorded* to 
 
 * Recorded— Sang in a soft fluting manner. Recorders in ' ' Hamlet" 
 are flutes or pipes. The word is more usually found to be applied, 
 in the old writers, to the singing of birds. 
 
 " The nymph did earnestly contest 
 Whether the birds or she recoi'dedh^fii.'''' 
 
 — Browne, Britannia's Pastorals, b. ii. song 4. 
 
396 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 her music like rural poesy ; and with the conclusion of his 
 song he embraced her about the knees. *" O sweet Charita,' 
 said he, 'when shall your blissful promise, now due, be verified 
 with just performance ?' With that I drew nearer to them, 
 and saw, for now he had lifted up his face to glass himself in 
 her fair eyes, that it was my master Dametas." But here 
 Miso interrupted his tale with railing at Dametas with all 
 those exquisite terms which I* was never good scold enough 
 to imagine. But Dorus, as if he had been much offended with 
 her impatience, would proceed no further till she had vowed 
 more stillness. " For," said he, " if the first drum thus chafe 
 you, what will you be when it comes to the blows ?" 
 
 Then he told her how, after many familiar entertainments 
 betwixt them, Dametas, laying before her his great credit with 
 the duke, and withal giving her very fair presents, with pro- 
 mise of much more, had in the end concluded together to 
 meet as that night at Mantinea, in the Oudemian street, at 
 Charita's uncle's house, about ten of the clock. After which 
 bargain Dametas had spied Dorus, and, calling him to him, 
 had, with great bravery, told him all his good hap, willing 
 him in any case to return to the old witch Miso — " for so in- 
 deed, mistress, of liveliness, and not of ill-will, he termed 
 you — and to make some honest excuse of his absence ; ' for,' 
 said he, kissing Charita, ' if thou didst know what a life I lead 
 with that drivel, it would make thee even of pity receive me 
 into thy only comfort.' Now, mistress," said he, "exercise 
 your discretion, which if I were well assured of I would wish 
 you to go yourself to Mantinea, and, lying secret in some one 
 of your gossips' houses till the time appointed come, so may 
 you find them together, and, using mercy, reform my master 
 from his evil ways." There had nothing more enraged Miso 
 
 * The reader will here perceive that Sidney again forgets the plan 
 upon which he is proceeding with his narrative. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 397 
 
 than the praises Dorus gave to Charita's beauty, which made 
 her jealousy swell the more with the poison of envy ; and 
 that being increased with the presents she heard Dametas 
 had given her, which all seemed torn out of her bowels, her 
 hollow eyes yielded such wretched looks as one might well 
 think Pluto at that time might have had her soul very good 
 cheap.* At length, with few words, for her words were choked 
 up with the rising of her revengeful heart, she ran down, and 
 with her own hands saddled a mare of hers ; a mare that 
 seven year before had not been acquainted with the saddle, 
 and so to Mantinea she went, casting with herself how she 
 might couple shame with the punishment of her accursed 
 husband ; but the person is not worthy in whose passion I 
 should too long stand. 
 
 Therefore now must I tell you that mistress Mopsa, who 
 was the last party Dorus was to practise his cunning withal, 
 was at the parting of her parents attending upon the Princess 
 Pamela, whom, because she found to be placed in her father's 
 house, she knew it was for suspicion the duke had of her. 
 This made Mopsa, with a right base nature which joys to see 
 any hard hap happen to them they deem happy, grow proud 
 over her, and use great ostentation of her own diligence in 
 prying curiously into each thing that Pamela did. Neither 
 is there anything sooner overthrows a weak heart than opinion 
 of authority ; like too strong a liquor for so feeble a glass, 
 which joined itself to the humour of envying Pamela's beauty 
 so far that oft she would say to herself, if she had been born 
 a princess as well as Pamela, her perfections then should 
 have been as well seen as Pamela's. With this manner of 
 woman, and placed in these terms, had Dorus to play his last 
 part, which he would quickly have despatched in tying her up 
 in such a manner that she should little have hindered his 
 * Good cheap — See note, p. 180. 
 
398 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 enterprise, but that the virtuous Pamela, when she saw him 
 so minded, by countenance absolutely forbad it, resolutely 
 determining she would not leave behind her any token of 
 wrong, since the wrong done to herself was the best excuse of 
 her escape ; so that Dorus was compelled to take her in the 
 manner he first thought of. And accordingly, Pamela sitting 
 musing at the strange attempt she had condescended unto, 
 and Mopsa hard by her, looking in a glass with very partial 
 eyes, Dorus put himself between them, and casting up his face 
 to the top of the house, shrugging all over his body, and 
 stamping sometimes upon the ground, gave Mopsa occasion, 
 who was as busy as a bee to know anything, to ask her lover 
 Dorus what ailed him that made him use so strange a beha- 
 viour. He, as if his spirits had been ravished with some super- 
 natural contemplation, stood still, mute, sometimes rubbing 
 his forehead, sometimes starting in himself, that he set Mopsa 
 in such an itch of inquiry that she would have offered any- 
 thing rather than be long kept from it. 
 
 Dorus not yet answering to the purpose, still keeping his 
 amazement, "O Hercules !" said he, "resolve me in this doubt. 
 A tree to grant one's wishes ! Is this the cause of the king's 
 solitar>^ life ? Which part shall I take ? Happy in either, 
 unhappy because I cannot know which were my best hap." 
 These doubtful self-speeches made Mopsa yet in a further 
 longing of knowing the matter; so that the pretty pig,* laying 
 her sweet burden about his neck, "My Dorus," said she, "tell 
 me these words, or else I know not what will befall me ; honey 
 Dorus, tell them me?" Dorus having stretched her mind 
 upon a right last, " Extremely-loved Mopsa," said he, " the 
 matters be so great as my heart fails me in the telling them ; 
 
 * Pig — "Pig" and its diminutive "pigsnie" were used 
 cliangeably as terms of endearment — see note, p. 307. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 399 
 
 but, since you hold the greatest seat in it, it is reason your 
 desire should add life unto it." Therewith he told her a far- 
 fet tale : how that many millions of years before, Jupiter, fallen 
 out with Apollo, had thrown him out of heaven, taking from 
 him the privilege of a god ; so that poor Apollo was fain to 
 lead a very miserable life, unacquainted to work and never 
 used to beg ; that in this order, having in time learned to be 
 Admetus' herdman, he had, upon occasion of fetching a cer- 
 tain breed of beasts out of Arcadia, come to that very desert, 
 where, wearied with travel, and resting himself in the boughs 
 of a pleasant ash-tree, stood* a little off from the lodge, he had 
 with pitiful complaints gotten his father Jupiter's pardon, and 
 so from that tree was received again to his golden sphere. 
 But having that right nature of a god never to be ungrateful, 
 to Admetus he had granted a double life ; and because that 
 tree was the chapel of his prosperous prayers, he had given it 
 this quality, that whatsoever of such estate and in such manner 
 as he then was sate down in that tree, they should obtain 
 whatsoever they wished. This Basilius having understood 
 by the oracle, was the only cause v/hich had made him try 
 whether, framing himself to the state of an herdman, he might 
 have the privilege of wishing only granted to that degree ; 
 but that, having often in vain attempted it, because indeed 
 he was not such, he had now opened the secret to Uame- 
 tas, making him swear he should wish according to his 
 direction. 
 
 " But because," said Dorus, " Apollo was at that time with 
 extreme grief muffled round about his face with a scarlet 
 cloak Admetus had given him, and because they that must 
 wish must be muffled in hke sort and with hke stuff, my 
 master Dametas is gone I know not whither to provide him 
 
 * Stood — i.e., placed at a little distance. 
 
400 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 a scarlet cloak, and to-morrow doth appoint to return with it. 
 My mistress, I cannot tell how, having gotten some inkling 
 of it, is trudged to Mantinea to get herself a cloak before him, 
 because she would have the first wish. My master at his 
 parting of great trust told me this secret, commanding me to 
 see nobody should climb that tree. But now, my Mopsa," 
 said he, " I have here the like cloak of mine own, and am not 
 so very a fool as, though I keep his commandments in others, 
 to bar myself. I rest only extremely perplexed, because, 
 having nothing in the world I wish for but the enjoying you 
 and your favour, I think it a much pleasanter conquest to 
 come to it by your own consent than to have it by such a 
 charming force as this is. Now therefore choose, since have 
 you I will, in what sort I shall have you." 
 
 But never child was so desirous of a gay puppet as Mopsa 
 was to be in the tree, and therefore, without squeamishness, 
 promising all he would, she conjured him by all her precious 
 loves that she might have the first possession of the wishing- 
 tree, assuring him that for the enjoying of her he should never 
 need to climb far. Dorus, to whom time was precious, made 
 no great ceremonies with her, but helping her up to the top 
 of the tree, from whence likewise she could ill come down 
 without help, he muffled her round about the face so truly 
 that she herself could not undo it. And so he told her the 
 manner was she should hold her mind in continual devotion 
 to Apollo, without making at all any noise till, at the farthest 
 within twelve hours' space, she should hear a voice call her 
 by name three times, and that till the third time she must in 
 no wise answer ; " and then you shall not need to doubt your 
 coming down ; for at that time," said he, " be sure to wish ; 
 wisely ; and, in what shape soever he come unto you, speak boldly 
 unto him, and your wish shall have as certain effects as I 
 have a desire to enjoy your sweet loves." In this plight did he 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IIL 401 
 
 leave Mopsa, resolved in her heart to be the greatest lady in 
 the world, and never after to feed of worse than furmenty.* 
 
 Thus Dorus, having delivered his hands of his three tor- 
 mentors, took speedily the benefit of his device, and mounting 
 the gracious Pamela upon a fair horse he had provided for 
 her, he thrust himself forthwith into the wildest part of the 
 desert, where he had left marks to guide him from place to 
 place to the next seaport, disguising her very fitly with scarfs, 
 although he rested assured he should meet that way with 
 nobody, till he came to his bark, into which he meant to enter 
 by night. Keeping on their journey, maintaining their hearts 
 in that right harmony of affection which doth interchange- 
 ably deliver each to other the secret workings of their souls, 
 till, with the unused travel, the princess being weary, they 
 lighted down in a fair thick wood, which did entice them 
 with the pleasantness of it to take their rest there. It was all 
 of pine-trees, whose broad heads, meeting together, yielded a 
 perfect shade to the ground, where their bodies gave a spa- 
 cious and pleasant room to walk in ; they were set in so 
 perfect an order, that every way the eye being full yet no way 
 was stopped. And even in the midst of them were there 
 many sweet springs which did lose themselves upon the 
 face of the earth. Here Musidorus drew out such provision 
 of fruits and other catesf as he had brought for that day's 
 repast, and laid it down upon the fair carpet of the green 
 
 * Fiirmeiity, or fiirmity — A favourite Christmas dish of hulled 
 wheat boiled in milk and seasoned. It is still to be met with in the 
 North. A receipt for preparing it is given in "A True Gentle- 
 woman's Delight," 1676, 
 
 + Gates — Provisions ; from Fr. acheter, to buy ; and hence the 
 word properly means "things bought." It is more correctly spelt 
 achates. So vSpenser : — 
 
 " The kitchin clerke, that hight Digestion, 
 Did order all the achates in seemely wise." 
 
 — Faerie Queene, II. ix. 31. 
 D D 
 
402 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 grass. Pamela, having tasted of the fruits, and growing ex- 
 treme sleepy, having been long kept from it, with the per- 
 plexity of her dangerous attempt, laying her head in his lap, 
 was invited by him to sleep with these softly-uttered verses : — 
 
 ' ' Lock up, fair lids, the treasure of my heart, 
 Preserve those beams, this age's only light ; 
 To her sweet sense, sweet sleep, some ease impart. 
 Her sense too weak to bear her spirit's might. 
 
 " And while, O sleep, thou closest up her sight. 
 Her sight where Love did forge his fairest dart, 
 O harbour all her parts in easeful plight. 
 Let no strange dream make her fair body start." 
 
 But within a while they were interrupted by the coming of 
 a company of clownish villains, armed with divers sorts of 
 weapons, and for the rest both in face and apparel so for- 
 wasted that they seemed to bear a great conformity with the 
 savages ; who, miserable in themselves, taught to increase 
 their mischiefs in other bodies' harms, came with such cries 
 as they both awaked Pamela, and made Musidorus turn unto 
 them full of a most violent rage, with the look of a she- 
 tiger when her whelps are stolen away. 
 
 But Zelmane, whom I left in the cave hardly bestead, 
 having to deal with a lady with her wits awake, determined 
 to save herself with plainness, so as to mollify Gynecia's rage. 
 " I will," said she, " disclose to you my greatest secret, which 
 you may suspect, but never know. I am a man ; nay, I will say 
 further, I am born a prince ; and, that you may understand 
 why I came to this place, I have I know not what good 
 liking to the lady Philoclea. I having travelled in the coun- 
 try of the Amazons, and finding none but was too hard for 
 me, in the end challenged Marpesia their queen, who having 
 overthrown me, made me, for the saving of my life, swear 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 403 
 
 that I should go Hke an Amazon, till the coming of my beard 
 did deliver me from that bondage." Here he ended, and 
 Gynecia said, " The gods reward thee for thy pity, but O 
 tread not upon a soul that lies under your foot ; let my errors 
 be excused by the immortal name of love." Zelmane com- 
 forting the noble lady, they issued out of that dark place, 
 Gynecia half persuaded that Zelmane's love was turned to- 
 wards her ; for such, alas ! we are, that with the too much love 
 we bear ourselves, being first our own flatterers, we are easily 
 hooked with each other's flattery, easily persuaded of other's 
 love. They therefore went forward till they met Basilius and 
 Philoclea, she singing while the old king lay upon the green 
 carpet of the grass. Philoclea, seeing another light in her 
 mother's eyes, and a careless look on her, found Zelmane's 
 behaviour bent altogether to her mother, and presumed in her- 
 self she discerned the well-acquainted face of his fancies now 
 turned to another subject. She saw her mother's worthiness, 
 and too well knew her affection. These joining their divers 
 working powers together in her mind, as yet a prentice in 
 the painful mystery of passions, brought Philoclea into a new 
 traverse of her thoughts, and made her keep her careful look 
 the more attentive upon Zelmane's behaviour, w^ho, indeed, 
 though with much pain, and condemning herself to commit 
 a sacrilege against the sweet saint that lived in her inmost 
 temple, yet strengthening herself in it, being the surest way 
 to make Gynecia bite of her other baits, did so quite over- 
 rule all wonted shows of love to Philoclea, and convert them 
 to Gynecia, that the part she played did work in both a full 
 and lively persuasion : to Gynecia, such excessive comfort 
 as the being preferred to a rival doth dehver to sweUing de- 
 sire ; but to the delicate Philoclea, whose calm thoughts 
 were unable to nourish any strong debate, it gave so stinging 
 a hurt that, fainting under the force of her inward torment, 
 
 D D 2 
 
404 ARCADIA.— Book TIL 
 
 she withdrew herself to the lodge, and there, weary of sup- 
 porting her own burthen, cast herself upon her bed, suffering 
 her sorrow to melt itself into abundance of tears ; at length 
 closing her eyes, as if each thing she saw was a picture of 
 her mishap, and turning upon her heart side, which with vehe- 
 ment panting did summon her to consider her fortune, she 
 tearfully bemoaned herself. 
 
 But O you that have ever known how tender to every 
 motion love makes the lover's heart, how he measures all his 
 joys upon her contentment, and doth v/ith respectful eye 
 hang all his behaviour upon her eyes, judge, I pray you, now 
 of Zelmane's troubled thoughts, when she saw Philoclea, with 
 an amazed kind of sorrow, carry away her sweet presence, 
 and easily found — so happy a conjecture unhappy affection 
 hath — that her demeanour was guilty of that trespass. There 
 was never foolish soft-hearted mother that, forced to beat her 
 child, did weep first for his pains, and, doing that she was loath 
 to do, did repent before she began, did find half that motion 
 in her weak mind as Zelmane did, now that she was forced by 
 reason to give an outward blow to her passions, and for the 
 lending of a small time to seek the usury of all her desires. 
 The unkindness she conceived Philoclea might conceive did 
 wound her soul ; each tear she doubted she spent drowned 
 all her comfort. Her sickness was a death unto her. 
 
 Nor was Zelmane freed from care by the conduct of Basi- 
 lius, who, thinking it was now time to urge his painful peti- 
 tion, and beseeching his wife with more careful eye to look to 
 his sickly daughter Philoclea, thus being rid of her who was 
 content to grant him any scope that she might have the like 
 freedom, " O lady of my life," said he to Zelmane, " I 
 plainly lay my death to you if you refuse me ; let not certain 
 imaginative rules whose truth stands but on opinion keep so 
 wise a mind from gracefulness and mercy, whose never-failing 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III, 405 
 
 laws nature hath planted in us." This and much more did 
 this tedious old king rehearse, till Zelmane, who had beguiled 
 for her own service, and to draw him away, the much-loving 
 Basilius, to the cave, found time to answer him and send him 
 away to his lodging, but, alas ! only to be laid siege to more 
 closely by the amorous Gynecia. By wiles and glosses Zel- 
 mane, unwilling to stain her honour, or to yield to the too 
 soliciting queen, did deceive her also, telling her that she would 
 lie down in her chamber, but that the queen should take her 
 (Zelmane's) upper garment, and endue it, so that Basilius 
 might be outwitted, and she and Gynecia might meet in 
 the cave. Therefore the queen, putting on Zelmane's outmost 
 apparel, went first into her closet, there quickly to beautify 
 herself with the best and sweetest night-deckings. But there 
 casting an hasty eye over her precious things, which ever 
 since Zelmane's coming, her head otherwise occupied, had 
 left unseen, she happened to see a bottle of gold, upon which 
 down along were graved these verses — 
 
 " Let him drink this whom long in arms to fold 
 Thou dost desire, and with free power to hold." 
 
 Putting this potion in a fair cup all set with diamonds, and 
 clad in Zelmane's garments, she went to the cave where the 
 Amazonian slept and lay down awaiting her ; and the tyranny 
 of misdirected passion soon sent the love-laden Basilius to his 
 queen, who being as to the outermost garments like Zelmxane, 
 he mistook for her. Leaving them thus to amuse and befool 
 themselves, although Gynecia, more sharp-witted than blinded 
 by love, well knew Basilius, Pyrocles approached the chamber 
 of his dear Philoclea, meaning to salute her with the sweetest 
 music, while she indeed, beheving him faithless, bewailed her 
 sad lot. " O ye deaf heavens," she cried to herself, " I would 
 either his injury could blot out mine affection, or my affectio 
 
4o6 ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 could forget his injury." And taking a lute she sang a sonnet 
 which thus ended — 
 
 " But, ah, the more I hate the more T think 
 Whom I do hate ; the more I think on him 
 The more his matchless gifts do deeply sink 
 Into my breast, and loves renewed swim. 
 What med'cine, then, can such disease remove. 
 Where love draws hate and hate engendreth love ?" 
 
 When Pyrocles heard his name accused and condemned by her 
 he most loved, he rushed forwards with haste, but she, turning 
 away her face from him, thus said unto him, " O Zelmane, or 
 Pyrocles — for whether name I use it much skills not, since by 
 the one I was first deceived, and by the other now betrayed — 
 what strange motion is the guide of thy cruel mind hither ? Dost 
 thou not think the day-torments thou hast given me sufficient, 
 but that thou doest envy me the night's quiet ? Wilt thou 
 give my sorrows no truce, but, by making me see before mine 
 eyes how much I have lost, off"er me due cause of confirming 
 my plaint ? Or is thy heart so full of rancour that thou dost 
 desire to feed thine eyes with the wretched spectacle of thine 
 overthrown enemy, and so to satisfy the full measure of thy 
 undeserved rage with the receiving into thy sight the unre- 
 lievable ruins of my desolate life ? O Pyrocles, Pyrocles, for 
 thine own virtue's sake, let miseries be no music unto thee, 
 and be content to take to thyself some colour of excuse that 
 thou didst not know to what extremity thy inconstancy, or 
 rather falsehood, hath brought me." 
 
 Pyrocles, to whom every syllable she pronounced was a 
 thunderbolt to his heart, equally distraught betwixt amaze- 
 ment and sorrow, abashed to see such a stop of his desires, 
 grieved with her pain, but tormented to find himself the 
 author of it, with quaking lips and pale cheer, " Alas ! divine 
 lady," said he, " your displeasure is so contrary to my desert, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 407 
 
 and your words so far beyond all expectations, that I have 
 least ability now I have most need to speak in the cause upon 
 which my life dependeth. For my troth is so undoubtedly 
 constant unto you, my heart is so assured a witness to itself 
 of his unspotted faith, that having no one thing in me where- 
 out any such sacrilege might arise, I have likewise nothing 
 in so direct a thing to say for myself but sincere and vehe- 
 ment protestations ; for, in truth, there may most words be 
 spent where there is some probability to breed of both sides 
 conjectural allegations. But so perfect a thing as my love is 
 of you, as it suffers no question, so it seems to receive injury 
 by addition of any words unto it. If my soul could have been 
 polluted with treachery, it would likewise have provided for 
 itself due furniture of colourable answers ; but as it stood 
 upon the naked conscience of his untouched duty, so I must 
 confess it is altogether unarmed against so unjust a violence 
 as you lay upon me. Alas ! let not the pains I have taken to 
 serve you be now accounted injurious unto you, let not the 
 dangerous cunning I have used to please you be deemed a 
 treason against you ; since I have deceived them whom you 
 fear for your sake, do not you destroy me for their sake. What 
 can I without you further do ; or to what more forwardness 
 can any counsel bring our desired happiness ? I have pro- 
 vided whatsoever is needful for our going, I have rid them 
 both out of the lodge ; so that there is none here to be hin- 
 derers or knowers of our departure, but only the almighty 
 powers, whom I invoke as triers of mine innocency and wit- 
 nesses of my well meaning. And if ever my thoughts did 
 receive so much as a fainting in their affections, if they have 
 not continually with more and more ardour from time to time 
 pursued the possession of your sweetest favour ; if ever in 
 that possession they received either spot or falsehood, then 
 let their most horrible plagues fall upon me, let mine eyes be 
 
 /■ 
 
4o8 ARCADIA.— Book III, 
 
 deprived of the light which did abase the heavenly beams 
 that strake them, let my falsified tongue serve to no use but 
 to bemoan mine own wretchedness, let my heart impoisoned 
 with detestable treason be the seat of infernal sorrow, let my 
 soul with the endless anguish of his conscience become his 
 own tormentor !" 
 
 "O false mankind!" cried out the sweet Philoclea; "how 
 can an imposthumed* heart but yield forth evil matter by 
 his mouth ? Are oaths there to be believed where vows are 
 broke? No, no ; who doth w^ound the eternal justice of the 
 gods cares little for abusing their names, and who in doing 
 wickedly doth not fear due recompensing plagues, doth little 
 fear that invoking of plagues will make them come ever a 
 whit the sooner. But, alas ! what aileth this new conversion ? 
 have you yet another sleight to play, or do you think to de- 
 ceive me in Pyrocles' form as you have done in Zelmane's ? 
 Or rather, now you have betrayed me in both, is some third 
 sex left you to transform yourself into to inveigle my simpli- 
 city ? Enjoy the conquest you have already won, and assure 
 yourself you are come to the farthest point of your cunning. 
 For my part, unkind Pyrocles, my only defence shall be 
 belief of nothing, my comfort my faithful innocency, and the 
 punishment I desire of you shall be your own conscience." 
 
 Philoclea's hard persevering in this unjust condemnation 
 of him did so overthrow all the might of Pyrocles' mind — 
 who saw that time would not serve to prove by deeds, and 
 that the better words he used the more they were suspected 
 of deceitful cunning — that, void of all counsel and deprived 
 of all comfort, finding best deserts punished and nearest 
 hopes prevented, he did abandon the succour of himself, and 
 
 * Imposthimied — Corruptly swollen, ATrt^crTTj/xa ; " The inner flesh 
 or pulpe, cleansed from the seed, is passing good for to be laid into 
 those imposthiiJties or swellings." — Holland, Plinie, bk. xx. c. 3. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. 409 
 
 suffered grief so to close his heart that his breath faihng him, 
 with a deathful shutting of his eyes, he fell down at her side, 
 having had time to say no more but " Oh ! whom dost thou 
 kill, Philoclea ?" She that little looked for such an extreme 
 event of her doings, not so much stricken down with amaze- 
 ment and grief of her fault as lifted up with the force of love 
 and desire to help, she laid her fair body over his breast, 
 and throwing no other water in his face but the stream of 
 her tears, nor giving him other blows but the kissing of her 
 well-formed mouth, her only cries were these lamentations : 
 " O unfortunate suspicion," said she — " the very mean to lose 
 that we most suspect to lose ! O unkind kindness of mine, 
 which returns an imagined wrong with an effectual injury ! 
 O fool to make quarrel m.y supplication, or to use hate as 
 the mediator of love ! Childish Philoclea, hast thou throvm 
 away the jewel wherein all thy pride consisted ? hast thou 
 with too much haste overrun thyself?" Then would she re- 
 new her kisses, and, yet not finding the life return, redouble 
 her plaints in this manner : " O divine soul," said she, 
 " whose virtue can possess no less than the highest place in 
 heaven, if for mine eternal plague thou hast utterly left this 
 most sweet mansion, before I follow thee with Thisbe's 
 punishment for my rash unwariness, hear this protestation 
 of mine : That as the wrong I have done thee proceeded of 
 a most sincere but unresistible affection, so led with this 
 pitiful example it shall end in the mortal hate of myself, and, 
 if it may be, I will make my soul a tomb of thy memory." 
 
 At that word, with anguish of mind and weakness of body 
 increased one by the other, and both augmented by this 
 fearful accident, she had fallen down in a swound, but that 
 Pyrocles, then first severing his eyelids, and quickly appre- 
 hending her danger, to him more than death, beyond all 
 powers striving to recover the commandment of all his 
 
4IO ARCADIA.— Book III. 
 
 powers, stayed her from falling, and then lifting the sweet? 
 burthen of her body in his arms laid her in her bed ; so 
 that she, but then the physician, was now become the patient, 
 and he to whom her weakness had been serviceable was now 
 enforced to do service to her weakness, which, performed by 
 him with that hearty care which the most careful love on the 
 best loved subject in greatest extremity could employ, pre- 
 vailed so far that ere long she was able, though in strength 
 exceedingly dejected, to call home her wandering senses, to 
 yield attention to that her beloved Pyrocles had to deliver. 
 But he, lying down on the bed by her, holding her hand in 
 his, with so kind an accusing her of unkindness as in accus- 
 ing her he condemned himself, began from point to point 
 to discover unto her all that had passed between his loathed 
 lovers and him : how he had entertained, and by entertain- 
 ing deceived, both Basilius and Gynecia, and with such a 
 kind of deceit as either might see the cause in the other, but 
 neither espy the effect in themselves ; that all his favours 
 to them had tended only to make them strangers to this his 
 action, and all his strangeness to her to the final obtaining 
 of her long-promised and now to be performed favour. 
 Which device seeing it had so well succeeded to the re- 
 moving all other hindrances that only her resolution re- 
 mained for the taking their happy journey, he conjured her 
 by all the love she had ever borne him she would make no 
 longer delay to partake with him whatsoever honours the 
 noble kingdom of Macedon, and all other Euarchus' dominions, 
 might yield him, specially since in this enterprise he had 
 now waded so far as he could not possibly retire himself 
 back without being overwhelmed with danger and dishonour. 
 He needed not have used further persuasion, for that only 
 conjuration had so forcibly bound all her spirits that, could 
 her body have seconded her mind, or her mind have 
 
ARCADIA.— Book HI. 411 
 
 strengthened her body, without respect of any worldly thing, 
 but only fear to be again unkind to Pyrocles, she had con- 
 descended to go with him. But, raising herself a little in her 
 bed, and finding her own unability in any sort to endure the 
 air, " My Pyrocles," said she, with tearful eyes and pitiful 
 countenance such as well witnessed she had no will to deny 
 anything she had power to perform, " if you can convey me 
 hence in such plight as you see me, I am most wilHng to 
 make my extremest danger a testimony that I esteem no 
 danger in regard of your virtuous satisfaction." But she 
 fainted so fast that she was not able to utter the rest of her 
 conceived speech, which also turned Pyrocles' thoughts from 
 expecting further answer to the necessary care of reviving 
 her, in whose fainting himself was more than overthrown ; 
 and that having effected with all the sweet means his wits 
 could devise, though his highest hopes were by this unex- 
 pected downfall sunk deeper than any degree of despair, yet, 
 lest the appearance of his inward grief might occasion her 
 further discomfort, having racked his face to a more com- 
 fortable semblance, he sought some show of reason to show 
 she had no reason either for him or for herself to be afflicted : 
 which in the sweet-minded Philoclea, whose consideration 
 was limited by his words, and whose conceit pierced no 
 deeper than his outward countenance, wrought within a 
 while such quietness of mind, and that quietness again such 
 repose of body, that sleep, by his harbingers weakness, weari- 
 ness, and watchfulness, had quickly taken up his lodging in 
 all her senses. 
 
 Then, indeed, had Pyrocles leisure to sit in judgment on 
 himself, and to hear his reason accuse his rashness, who„ 
 without forecast of doubt, without knowledge of his friend, 
 without acquainting Philoclea with his purpose, or being 
 made acquainted with her presentestate, had fallen headlong, 
 
413 ARCADIA,— Book III, 
 
 into that attempt, the success whereof he had long since set 
 down to himself as the measure of all his other fortunes. 
 But calling to mind how weakly they do that rather find 
 fault with what cannot be amended than seek to amend 
 wherein they have been faulty, he soon turned him from re- 
 membering what might have been done to considering what 
 was now to be done, and, when that consideration failed, what 
 was now to be expected. Wherein having run over all the 
 thoughts his reason, called to the strictest accounts, could 
 bring before him, at length he lighted on this : That, as long 
 as Gynecia bewrayed not the matter, which he thought she 
 would not do, as well for her own honour and safety as for 
 the hope she might still have of him, which is loath to die in 
 a lover's heart, all the rest might turn to a pretty merriment, 
 and inflame his lover Basilius again to cast about for the 
 missed favour. And as naturally the heart stuffed up with 
 woefulness is glad greedily to suck the thinnest air of comfort, 
 so did he at first embrace this conceit as offering great hope, 
 if not assurance of well-doing, till, looking more nearly into 
 it, and not able to answer the doubts and difficulties he saw 
 therein more and more arising, the night being also far spent, 
 his thoughts, even weary of his own burthens, fell to a stray- 
 ing kind of uncertainty, and his mind, standing only upon 
 the nature of inward intelligences, left his body to give a 
 sleeping respite to his vital spirits, which he, according to 
 the quality of sorrow, received with greater greediness than 
 ever in his life before. According to the nature of sorrow, I 
 say, which is past care's remedy ; for care, stirring the brains 
 and making thin the spirits, breaketh rest ; but those griefs 
 wherein one is determined there is no preventing, do breed 
 a dull heaviness which easily clothes itself in sleep. So as, 
 laid down so near the beauty of the world Philoclea that 
 their necks were subject each to other's chaste embracements, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book III. ^n 
 
 it seemed love had come thither to lay a plot, in that picture 
 of death, how gladly, if death came, their souls would go 
 together.* 
 
 The End of the Third Book. 
 
 * The third Book is followed by the third Eclogue, which, in pur- 
 suance of our plan — as it has nothing to do with the story, and is not 
 remarkable for merit — we omit. The only verses at all noticeable 
 are some short lines attributed to Philisides (Sir Philip Sidney). 
 " The lad Phihsides 
 Lay by a river side. 
 
 In flowery field a gladder eye to please ; 
 His pipe was at his foot, 
 His lambs were him beside ; 
 A widow turtle near on bared root 
 Sat wailing without boot. 
 Each thing both sweet and sad 
 Did draw his boiling brain 
 To think, and think with pain. 
 Of Mira's beams eclips'd by absence bad." 
 We trust that the reader will gladly excuse the absence of such verse. 
 In another set of verses Sidney thus refers to Languet, his German 
 friend, to whom reference is made in the Introductory Essay : — 
 " The song I sang old Languet had me taught, 
 Languet the shepherd best swift Ister knew 
 For clerkly reed and hating what is naught. 
 For faithful heart, clean hands, and mouth as true : 
 With his sweet skill my skilless youth he drew 
 To have a feeling taste of him that sits 
 Beyond the heaven, far more beyond our wits." 
 
TJie FoiirtJi Book. 
 
 HE Almighty Wisdom, evermore delighting to show 
 the world that by unlikeliest means greatest mat- 
 ters may come to conclusion, that human reason 
 may be the more humbled and more willingly 
 give place to divine providence, as at the first it 
 brought Dametas to play a part in this royal pageant, so, 
 having continued him still an actor, now that all things were 
 grown ripe for an end, made his folly the instrument of re- 
 vealing that which far greater cunning had sought to conceal. 
 For so it fell out that, Dametas having spent the whole day 
 in breaking up the cumbersome work of the pastor Dorus, 
 and feehng in all his labour no pain so much as that his 
 hungry hopes received any stay, having with the price of 
 much sweat and weariness gotten up the huge stone which he 
 thought should have such a golden lining, the good man, in 
 the great bed that stone had made, found nothing but these 
 two verses written upon a broad piece of vellum : — 
 
 " Who hath his hire hath well his labour plac'd; 
 
 Earth thou didst seek, and store of earth thou hast." 
 
 What an inward discontentment it was to Master Dametas 
 to find his hope of wealth turned to poor verses, for which he 
 never cared much, nothing can describe but either the feeling 
 in one's self the state of such a mind Dametas had, or at 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 415 
 
 least the bethinking what was Midas' fancy when, after the 
 great pride he conceived to be made judge between gods, he 
 was rewarded with the ornament of an ass's ears. Yet the 
 deep apprehension he had received of such riches could not 
 so suddenly lose the colour that had so thoroughly dyed his 
 thick brain but that he turned and tossed the poor bowels of 
 the innocent earth till the coming on of the night and the 
 tediousness of his fruitless labour made him content rather to 
 exercise his discontentation at home than there. But forced 
 he was, his horse being otherwise burthened with digging 
 instruments, to return as he came, most part of the way on 
 foot, with such grudging lamentations as a nobler mind would, 
 but more nobly, make for the loss of his mistress. For so 
 far had he fed his foolish soul with the expectation of that 
 which he reputed felicity, that he no less accounted himself 
 miserable than if he had fallen from such an estate his fancy 
 had embraced. So then home again went Dametas, punished 
 in conceit as in conceit he had erred, till he found himself 
 there from a fancied loss fallen to essential misery. For, 
 entering into his house three hours before night, instead of 
 the lightsome countenance of Pamela, which gave such an 
 inward decking to that lodge that proudest palaces might 
 have envied it, instead of the grateful conversation of Dorus, 
 the scolding of Miso, and busy rumbling up and down of 
 Mopsa, he found darkness and loathsome silence. Struck 
 with terror and a kind of irksome gastfulness, he lighted a 
 candle and vainly searched, and then running out of the 
 lodge, looking like a she-goat when she has cast her kid, 
 he found Mopsa sitting on a tree, waiting for Apollo to 
 visit her as she had been persuaded. Dametas, who could 
 get no sanely-conceived answer from her, and fully persuaded 
 that she was mad, was trying to bring her to herself, when 
 ihe was assaulted by his wife Miso, who, jealous of her 
 
4i6 ARCADIA.— Book IK 
 
 husband, and not knowing Mopsa at that time, came grunting 
 out her mischievous spite full of devilish disdain and hateful 
 tj\ I jealousy. Dametas, who was not so sensible in anything of 
 \ anything as of blows, turned up his blubbered face like a 
 great lout newly whipped, and Miso mistaking Mopsa, hit 
 her a blow, and all three hunting to and fro on the wrong 
 scent — for the conceits which Dorus had imprinted on them 
 kept still dominion over them — fell to such blows and quarrels 
 as it was sport to see. 
 
 Dametas, leaving the women to their brawling, began to 
 have some glimmering sense of the escape of Pamela and 
 Dorus, and running backwards to the king's lodge, found all 
 the doors locked, save only one trap which went down by a 
 vault into the cellar ; and he, who knew the buttery better 
 than any other place, got in that way, and passing softly 
 to Philoclea's chamber, where he thought it most likely to 
 find Pamela, he entered in and saw some one on the bed 
 with her ; yet thinking to make himself sure that it was Pa- 
 mela, in a matter touching his neck, he went to the bed side 
 of these unfortunate lovers, who, tired with sorrows which had 
 overthrown the wakeful use of their senses, were then pos- 
 sessed with mutual sleep, yet not forgetting with viny* em- 
 bracements to give any eye a perfect model of affection. 
 
 Dametas, thinking it not good to awake a sleeping lion, 
 went down again, taking with him Pyrocles' sword, and 
 making the door as fast as he could on the outer side, hoping 
 with the revealing of this, as he thought, greater fault to 
 make his own the less, or at least that this injury would so fill 
 the king's head that he should not have leisure to chastise 
 his negligence — like a fool, not considering that the more 
 rage breeds the crueller punishment — he went first into the 
 
 * V/7/y — Vinelike, clasping each other as do the tendrils of a vine 
 the body of its support or stay. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 417 
 
 king's chamber, and not finding him there, he ran down, 
 crying with open mouth the king was betrayed, and that 
 Zelmane did abuse his daughter. The noise he made, being 
 a man of no few words, joined to the yelping sound of Miso, 
 and his unpleasant inheritrix, brought together some number 
 of the shepherds, to whom he, without any regard of reserving 
 it for the king's knowledge, spattered out the bottom of his 
 stomach, swearing by him he never knew that Zelmane, 
 whom they had taken all the while to be a woman, was as 
 arrant a man as himself was, whereof he had seen sufficient 
 signs and tokens. 
 
 The poor men, jealous of their prince's honour, were ready 
 with weapons to have entered the lodge, standing yet in 
 some pause whether it were not best first to hear some news 
 from the king himself, when, by the sudden coming of other 
 shepherds, which, with astonished looks, ran from the one 
 cry to the other, their griefs were surcharged with the evil 
 tidings of the king's death. Turning, therefore, all their 
 minds and eyes that way, they ran to the cave where they 
 said he lay dead, the sun beginning now to send some pro- 
 mise of coming light, making haste, I think, to be spec- 
 tator of the following tragedies ; for Basilius, having passed 
 over the night with the sweet imagination of embracing the 
 most desired Zelmane, doubting lest the cave's darkness 
 might deceive him in the day's approach, thought it now 
 season to return to his wedlock-bed, remembering the pro- 
 mises he had made to Zelmane to observe true orders to- 
 wards Gynecia. Gynecia, who had cast about her Zelmane's 
 garment, wherein she came thither, followed Basilius to the 
 cave's entry, full of inward vexation, betwixt the deadly accu- 
 sation of her own guiltiness, and the spiteful doubt she had 
 Zelmane had abused her : but because of the one side — 
 finding the king did think her to be Zelmane — she had 
 
 E E 
 
41 8 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 liberty to imagine it might rather be the king's own unbridled 
 enterprise which had barred Zelmane, than Zelmane's cun- 
 ning deceiving of her, and that of the other, if she would 
 headily seek a violent revenge, her own honour might be as 
 much interessed* as Zelmane endangered, she fell to this de- 
 termination : first with fine handling of the king to settle in 
 him a perfect good opinion of her, and then, as she should 
 learn how things had passed, to take into herself new-devised 
 counsel. But this being her first action, having given unlooked- 
 for attendance to the king, she heard him utter words betray- 
 ingwith what partiality he did prefer Zelmane to herself; there- 
 fore went she out to Basilius, setting herself in a grave beha- 
 viour and stately silence before him, until he, who at the first, 
 thinking her by so much shadow as he could see to be Zelmane, 
 was beginning his loving ceremonies, did now, being helped 
 by the peeping light wherev/ith the morning did overcome 
 the night's darkness, know her face and his error, which 
 acknowledging in himself with starting back from her, she 
 with a modest bitterness spake unto him. 
 
 Basilius, ashamed to see himself overtaken, began to make 
 certain extravagant excuses ; but the matter hardly brooking 
 purgation, with the suddenness of the time, which barred any 
 good conjoined invention, made him sometimes allege one 
 thing, to which by-and-by he would bring in a contrary, one 
 time with flat denial, another time with mitigating the fault ; 
 now brave, then humble, use such a stammering defensive 
 that Gynecia, the violence of whose sore, indeed, ran another 
 way, was content to fasten up the last stitch of her anger. 
 
 Basilius, that would rather than his life the matter had been 
 
 * hiteressed^'-'- Interess "' was the old form of our modem word 
 "interest," and is to be found in many of the early dramatists. It 
 existed even as late as the time of Drj'den, in whose preface to the 
 yEneid the word occurs. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 419 
 
 ended, the best rhetoric he had was flat demanding pardon of 
 her, saying he had such a lesson without book of affection unto 
 her as he would repay the debt of this error with the interest 
 of a great deal more true honour than ever before he had 
 done her. How much Basilius' own shame had found him 
 culpable, and had already, even in soul, read his own con- 
 demnation, so much did the unexpected mildness of Gynecia 
 captive his heart unto her, which otherwise, perchance, would 
 have grown to a desperate carelessness. Therefore, embrac- 
 ing her, and confessing that her virtue shined in his vice, he 
 did even, with a true resolved mind, vow unto her that, as 
 long as he unworthy of her did live, she should be the furthest 
 and only limit of his affection. Thus reconciled, to Basi- 
 lius' great contentation, who began something to mark him- 
 self in his own doings, his hard hap guided his eye to the cup 
 of gold wherein Gynecia had put the liquor meant for Zelmane, 
 and having failed of that guest was now carrying it home 
 again. But he, whom perchance sorrow had made extremely 
 thirsty, took it out of her hands, although she directly told him 
 both of whom she had it, what the effect of it was, and the little 
 proof she had seen thereof, hiding nothing from him but that 
 she meant to minister it to another patient. But the king, 
 whose belly had no ears, and much drouth kept from the 
 desiring a taster, finding it not unpleasant to his palate, drank 
 it almost off, leaving very little to cover the cup's bottom. 
 But within a while that from his stomach the drink had deli- 
 vered to his principal veins his noisome vapours, first with a 
 painful stretching and forced yawning, then with a dark yel- 
 lowness dyeing his skin and a cold deadly sweat principally 
 about his temples, then with pang-like groans and gastly 
 turning of his eyes, immediately all his limbs stiffened and 
 his eyes fixed, he having had time to declare his case only 
 
 in these words: " O Gynecia, I die ! Have care " 
 
 E E 2 
 
420 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 Of what, or how much further, he would have spoken no 
 man can tell ; for Gynecia, having well perceived the chang- 
 ing of his colour, and those other evil signs, yet had not 
 looked for such a sudden overthrow, but rather had bethought 
 herself what was best for him, when she suddenly saw the 
 matter come to that period, coming to him, and neither with 
 any cries getting a word of him, nor with any other possible 
 means able to bring any Hving action from him, the height 
 of all ugly sorrows did so horribly appear before her amazed 
 mind that at the first it did not only distract all power of 
 speech from her, but almost wit to consider, remaining as it 
 were quick buried* in a grave of miseries. Her painful me- 
 mory had straight filled her with the true shapes of all the 
 forepast mischiefs ; her reason began to cry out against the 
 filthy rebellion of sinful sense, and to tear itself with anguish 
 for having made so weak a resistance, her conscience a ter- 
 rible witness of the inward wickedness still nourishing this 
 debateful fire ; her complaint now not having an end to be 
 directed unto, from something to disburden sorrow, but a 
 necessary downfall of inward wretchedness. She saw the 
 rigour of the laws was like to lay a shameful death upon her, 
 which being for that action undeserved, made it the more 
 insupportable, and yet in depth of her soul most deserved, 
 made it more miserable. 
 
 " O bottomless pit of sorrow," said she, "' in which I cannot 
 contain myself, having the firebrands of all furies within me, 
 still falling, and yet by the infiniteness of it never fallen ! 
 Neither can I rid myself, being fettered with the everlasting 
 consideration of it. For whither should I recommend the 
 protection of my dishonoured fall ? To the earth .^ It hath no 
 life, and waits to be increased by the relics of my shamed 
 
 * Quick buried — Buried alive. " Come to judge the quick and the 
 dead." — Apostles' Creed. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 421 
 
 carcass. To men — who are always cruel in their neighbour's 
 faults, and make other's overthrow become the badge of their 
 ill-masked virtue ? To the heavens ? O unspeakable torment 
 of conscience, which dare not look unto them ! No sin can 
 enter there ; oh, there is no receipt for polluted minds ! 
 Whither, then, wilt thou lead this captive of thine, O snaky- 
 despair?" And kissing the cold face of Basilius, "And even 
 so will I rest," said she, " and join this faulty soul of mine to 
 thee, if so much the angry gods will grant me." 
 
 And as she was in this plight, the sun now climbing over 
 our horizon, the first shepherds came by, who seeing the 
 king in that case, and hearing the noise Dametas made of 
 the lady Philoclea, ran with the doleful tidings of Basilius' 
 death unto him, who presently, with all his company, came 
 to the cave's entry where the king's body lay ; Dametas, for 
 his part, more glad for the hope he had of his private escape 
 than sorry for the public loss his country received for a 
 prince not to be misliked. But in Gynecia nature prevailed 
 above judgment, and the shame she conceived to be taken in 
 that order* overcame for that instant the former resolution ; 
 so that, as soon as she saw the foremost of the pastoral 
 troop, the wretched princess ran to have hid her face in the 
 next woods, but with such a mind that she knew not almost 
 herself what she could wish to be the ground of her safety. 
 Dametas, that saw her run away in Zelmane's upper raiment, 
 and judging her to be so, thought certainly all the spirits in 
 hell were come to play a tragedy in those woods, such 
 strange change he saw every way : the king dead at the 
 cave's mouth ; the queen, as he thought, absent ; Pamela 
 fled away with Dorus ; his wife and Mopsa in divers frenzies. 
 But, of all other things, Zelmane conquered his capacity, 
 
 * That order — The shame she conceived lo be taken in that order, 
 i.e.^ to be arrested in Zelmane's attire. 
 
422 ARCADIA,— Book IV. 
 
 suddenly from a woman grown to a man, and from a locked 
 chamber gotten before him into the fields, which he gave the 
 rest quickly to understand ; for, instead of doing anything 
 as the exigent* required, he began to make circles and all 
 those fantastical defences that he had ever heard were forti- 
 fications against devils. 
 
 But the other shepherds, who had both better wits and 
 more faith, forthwith divided themselves, some of them run- 
 ning after Gynecia, and esteeming her running away a great 
 condemnation of her own guiltiness ; others going to their 
 prince to see what service was left for them, either in re- 
 covery of his life or honouring his death. They that went 
 after the queen had soon taken her, in whom now the first 
 fears were stayed, and the resolution to die had repossessed 
 his place in her mind. But, when they saw it was the queen, 
 to whom, besides the obedient duty they owed to her state, 
 they had always carried a singular love for her courteous 
 liberalities and other wise and virtuous parts, which had 
 filled all that people with affection and admiration, they 
 were all suddenly stopped, beginning to ask pardon for their 
 following her in that sort, and desiring her to be their good 
 lady, as she had ever been. But the queen, who now 
 thirsted to be rid of herself, thus said unto them : " It is I, 
 faithful Arcadians, that have spoiled the country of their pro- 
 tector. I, none but I, was the minister of his unnatural end. 
 Carry, therefore, my blood in your hands to testify your own 
 innocency." With this she presented her fair neck to 
 the poor men, who looked one upon the other, unused to be 
 arbiters in princes' matters, and were now fallen into a 
 great perplexity betwixt a prince dead and a princess 
 alive. But at last, in moanful march, they went towards 
 the other shepherds, who in the meantime had left nothing 
 
 * Exigent — The need of the occasion. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book IV, 423 
 
 imassayed to revive the king ; but all v^^as bootless, and 
 their sorrows increased the more they had suffered any 
 hopes vainly to arise. Among other trials they made to 
 know at least the cause of his end, having espied the 
 unhappy cup, they gave the little liquor that was left to a 
 dog of Dametas, in which within a short time it wrought the 
 like effect, although Dametas did so much to recover him 
 that, for very love of his life, he dashed out his brains. 
 
 And now the shepherds, after the ancient Greek manner, be- 
 moaned their king, giving him the sacred titles of good, just, 
 merciful, the father of his people and life of his country, gene- 
 rally* giving a true testimony that men are loving creatures 
 when injuries put them not from their natural course, and how 
 easy a thing it is for a prince by successionf deeply to sink 
 into the souls of his subjects. And so, as they dispersed 
 about the Arcadian woods, making them ring with their 
 lamentations, and their resounding shrieks came indeed to 
 the ears of the faithful and worthy Philanax, who, with other 
 Arcadian lords, was coming to visit Basihus, to assure him- 
 self of his well-being — a thing which, after the late mutiny, he 
 had often done — the shepherds, especially Dametas, know- 
 ing him to be the second person in authority, gave a sad 
 relation to him of these events ; and he, kneeling down by 
 the body, " Ah, dear master," said he, " how soon, to our 
 ruin, have you left the frail bark of your estate ! True love 
 must be proved, in honour of your memory, in seeking just 
 revenge on your enemies ; and more honourable will it be 
 
 * Generally — Here meaning universally, on all sides. 
 
 f Prince by succession — Bitterly true, some of the easiest and most 
 careless, not to say most vicious princes, having been, before and 
 since Sidney's time, the most popular. Loyal as Sidney was, there 
 are hei'e and there distinct hints of his admiration for a republican 
 form of government and of his contempt for unfounded loyalty. 
 Basilius singularly anticipates in his cliaracter the British Solomon, 
 James I. and VI. 
 
424 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 for your tomb to have the blood of your enemies sprinkled 
 on it than the tears of your friends." And then he rose, look- 
 ing upon the poor guiltless princess with an unjust justice 
 that his eyes were sufficient heralds for him to denounce 
 vengeance and hatred. 
 
 Philanax having presently given order for the bringing 
 from Mantinea a great number of tents for the receipt of the 
 principal Arcadians — the manner of that country being that 
 where the prince died there should be orders taken for the 
 country's government, and in the place any murther was 
 committed the judgment should be given there before the 
 body was buried — both concurring in this matter, and already 
 great part of the nobility being arrived, he delivered the prin- 
 cess to a gentleman of great trust ; and as for Uametas, taking 
 from him the keys of both the lodges, calling him the moth of 
 his prince's estate and only spot of his judgment, he caused 
 him, with his wife and daughter, to be fettered up in as many 
 chains and clogs as they could bear, and every third hour to 
 be cruelly whipped, till the determinate judgment should be 
 given of all these matters. That done, having sent already at 
 his coming to all the quarters of the country to seek Pamela, 
 although with small hope of overtaking them, he himself 
 went well accompanied to the lodge, where the two unfor- 
 tunate lovers were attending a cruel conclusion of their long, 
 painful, and late most painful affection. 
 
 Dametas' clownish eyes, having been the only discoverers 
 of Pyrocles' stratagem, had no sooner taken a full view of 
 them, which in some sights would rather have bred anything 
 than an accusing mind, and locked the door upon these two 
 young folks, now made prisoners for love, as before they had 
 been prisoners to love, but that immediately upon his going 
 down, whether with noise Dametas made or with the creep- 
 ing in of the light, or rather that as extreme grief had 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 425 
 
 procured his sleep, so extreme care had measured his sleep, 
 giving his senses a very early salve to come to themselves, 
 Pyrocles awaked ; and being up, the first evil handsel* he had 
 of the ill case wherein he was was the seeing himself de- 
 prived of his sword, from which he had never separated him- 
 self in any occasion ; but by-and-by he perceived he was a pri- 
 soner before any arrest; for the door which he had left open was 
 made so fast of the outside that for all the force he could em- 
 ploy unto it he could not undo Dametas' doing. Then went 
 he to the windows, to see if that way there were any escape 
 of him and his dear lady ; but as vain he found all his em- 
 ployment there, not having might to break out but only one 
 bar, wherein notwithstanding he strained his sinews to the 
 uttermost. And that he rather took out to use for other 
 service than for any possibility he had to escape ; for even 
 then it was that Dametas, having gathered together the first 
 coming shepherds, did blabber out what he had found in the 
 lady Philoclea's chamber. Pyrocles markingly hearkened to 
 all that Dametas said, whose voice and mind acquaintance 
 had taught him sufficiently to know. But when he assuredly 
 perceived that his being with the lady Philoclea was fully 
 discovered, and by the folly or malice, or rather malicious 
 folly, of Dametas her honour therein touched in the highest 
 degree, remembering withal the cruelty of the Arcadian laws, 
 which, without exception, did condemn all to death who 
 were found, as Dametas reported of them, in act of marriage 
 
 * Handsel — A word still used by the peasantry and common 
 people of London, signifying the first money touched in a day's sale; 
 hence its symbolical meaning. From the A,-S. hand-selen, manci^ 
 fatio, putting over into another's hand. 
 
 " Yeat lothe to hurt my haste, and least 
 The hansell should retyer, 
 I was not over coye, nor he, 
 To warme him at my fier." — 
 
 Warner, Albion's England, bk. ix. 
 
426. ARCADIA.— Book IV, 
 
 without solemnity of marriage, he saw the misfortune, not 
 the mismeaning, of his work was hke to bring that creature 
 to end, in whom the world, as he thought, did begin to re- 
 ceive honour ; he saw the weak judgment of man would 
 condemn that as death-deserving vice in her which had in 
 troth never broken the bonds of a true living virtue, and that 
 the first time she should bend her excellent eyes upon him 
 she should see the accursed author of her dreadful end. And 
 even this consideration, more than any other, did so set 
 itself in his well-disposed mind that, dispersing his thoughts 
 to all the ways that might be of her safety, finding a very 
 small discourse in so narrow limits of time and place, at 
 length in many difficulties he saw none bear any likehhood 
 for her life but his death. For then he thought it would fall 
 out that, when they found his body dead, having no accuser 
 but Dametas, as by his speech he found there was not, it 
 might justly appear that either Philoclea in defending her 
 honour, or else he himself in despair of achieving, had left 
 his carcass proof of his intent, but witness of her clearness. 
 Having a small while stayed upon the greatness of his resolution, 
 and looked to the furthest of it, " Be it so," said the valiant 
 Pyrocles : " never life for better cause, nor to a better end, 
 was bestowed." 
 
 But then arose there a new impediment ; for Dametas 
 having carried away anything which he thought might 
 hurt as tender a man as himself, he could find no fit instru- 
 ment which might give him a final despatch ; at length, 
 making the more haste lest his lady should awake, taking 
 the iron bar, which, being sharper somewhat at the one 
 end than the other, he hoped, joined to his willing strength, 
 might break off the feeble thread of mortality, he strake 
 it upon his heart side with all the force he had, and falling 
 withal upon to give it the thorougher passage, the bar in 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV, AV 
 
 troth was too blunt to do the effect, although it pierced 
 his skin and bruised his ribs very sore, so that his breath 
 was almost past him. But the noise of his fall drave 
 away sleep from the quiet senses of the dear Philoclea, 
 and, borne as fast with desire as fear carried Daphne, 
 she came running to Pyrocles, and finding his spirits some- 
 thing troubled with the fall, she put by the bar that lay close 
 to him, and straining him in her most beloved embracements, 
 " My comfort, my joy, my life," said she, " what haste have 
 you to kill your Philoclea with the most cruel torment that 
 ever lady suffered ! Do you not yet persuade yourself that 
 any hurt of yours is a death unto me, and that your death 
 should be my hell ? Alas ! if any sudden mislike of me — for 
 other cause I see none — have caused you to loath yourself; if 
 any fault or defect of mine hath bred this terriblest rage in 
 you, rather let me suffer the bitterness of it, for so shall the 
 deserver be punished, mankind preserved from such a ruin, 
 and I, for my part, shall have that comfort that I die by the 
 noblest hand that ever drew sword." 
 
 Pyrocles, grieved with his fortune that he had not in one 
 instant cut off all such deliberation, thinking his life only re- 
 served to be bound to be the unhappy news-teller, " Alas !" 
 said he, " my only star, why do you this wrong to God, your- 
 self, and me, to speak of faults in you ? No, no, most faultless, 
 most perfect lady, it is your excellency that makes me hasten 
 my desired end ; it is the right I owe to the general nature 
 that, though against private nature, makes me seek the pre- 
 servation of all that she hath done in this age. Let me, let me 
 die. There is no way to save your life, most worthy to be 
 conserved, than that my death be your clearing." Then did 
 he, with far more pain and backward loathness than the so 
 near killing himself was, but yet driven with necessity to 
 make her yield to that he thought was her safety, make her a 
 
428 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 short but pithy discourse, and therewith sought new means of 
 stopping his breath, but that by Philoclea's labour, above 
 her force, he was stayed to hear her. She having with a pretty 
 paleness, which did leave milken lines upon her rosy cheeks, 
 paid a little duty to human fear, taking the prince by his hand 
 and kissing the wound he had given himself, " O the only life of 
 my life, and, if it fall out so, the comfort of my death," said 
 she, " far, far from you be the doing of me such wrong as to 
 think I will receive my life as a purchase of your death ; but well 
 may you make my death so much more miserable as it shall 
 anything be delayed after my only felicity. Oh no, if die we 
 must, let us thank death he hath not divided so true an union. 
 And truly, my Pyrocles, I have heard my father and other wise 
 men say that the killing of one's self is but a false colour of 
 true courage, proceeding rather of a fear of a further evil, 
 either of torment or shame. Whatsoever, would they say, 
 comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valour, which 
 should be lifted up to such a height that, holding all things 
 under itself, it should be able to maintain his greatness even 
 in the midst of miseries. Lastly, they would say God had 
 appointed us captains of these our bodily forts, which, with- 
 out treason to that Majesty, were never to be delivered over 
 till they were redemanded." 
 
 But Pyrocles having with vehement embracings of her got 
 yet some fruit of his delayed end, he thus answered the wise 
 innocency of Philoclea : " Lady most worthy not only of life, 
 but to be the very life of all things, the more notable demon- 
 strations you make of the love, so far beyond my desert, with 
 which it pleaseth you to overcome fortune in making me 
 happy, the more am I even in course of humanity, to leave 
 that love's force, which I neither can nor will leave, bound 
 to seek requital's witness that I am not ungrateful, to do 
 which the infiniteness of your goodness being such as I 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV, ^429 
 
 cannot reach unto it, yet doing all I can, and paying my life, 
 which is all I have, though it be far, without measure, short 
 of your desert, yet shall I not die in debt to mine own duty. 
 And truly the more excellent arguments you made to keep 
 me from this passage, imagined far more terrible than it is, 
 the more plainly it makes me to see what reason I have to 
 prevent the loss not only Arcadia, but all the face of the 
 earth should receive, if such a tree, which even in his first 
 spring doth not only bear most beautiful blossoms, but most 
 rare fruits, should be so untimely cut off. Therefore, O 
 most truly beloved lady, to whom I desire, for both our 
 goods, that they may be my last words, give me your 
 consent, for it is fitter one die than both. And since you 
 have sufficiently showed you love me, let me claim by that 
 love you will be content rather to let me die contentedly than 
 wretchedly — rather with a clear and joyful conscience than 
 with desperate condemnation in myself. Your father, you 
 say, was wont to say that this like action doth more proceed 
 of fear of further evil or shame than of a true courage. But 
 indeed, and as for my part, I call the immortal truth to wit- 
 ness that no fear of torment can appal me, having long learned 
 to set bodily pain but in the second form of my being. And as 
 for shame, how can I be ashamed of that for which my well- 
 meaning conscience will answer for me to God, and your 
 unresistible beauty to the world.'' But to take that argument 
 in his own force, and grant it done for avoiding of further 
 pain or dishonour — for, as for the name of fear, it is but an 
 odious title of passion given to that which true judgment 
 performeth — grant, I say, it is to shun a worse case, and 
 truly I do not see but that true fortitude, looking into all 
 human things with a persisting resolution, carried away 
 neither with wonder of pleasing things nor astonishment of 
 the unpleasant, doth not yet deprive itself of the discerning 
 
430 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 the difference of evil, but rather is the only virtue which in 
 an assured tranquillity shuns the greater by the valiant enter- 
 ing into the less. Thus for his country's safety he will spend 
 his life, for the saving of a limb he will not niggardly spare 
 his goods, for the saving of all his body he will not spare the 
 cutting off a limb, where indeed the weak-hearted man will 
 rather die than see the face of a surgeon, who might with as 
 good reason say that the constant man abides the painful 
 surgery for fear of a further evil ; but he is content to wait 
 for death itself. But neither is true, for neither hath the one 
 any fear, but a well-choosing judgment, nor the other hath 
 any contentment, but only fear, and not having a heart actively 
 to perform a matter of pain is forced passively to abide a 
 greater damage. For to do requires a whole heart, to suffer 
 falleth easiliest in the broken minds ; and if in bodily torment 
 thus, much more in shame, wherein, since valour is a virtue, 
 and virtue is ever limited, we must not run so infinitely as to 
 think the valiant man is willingly to suffer anything, since the 
 very suffering of some things is a certain proof of want of 
 courage. And if anything unwillingly, among the chiefest 
 may shame go ; for if honour be to be held dear, his contrary 
 is to be abhorred, and that not for fear, but of a true election : 
 for which is the less inconvenient, either the loss of some 
 years more or less — once we know our lives be not immortal — 
 or the submitting ourselves to each unworthy misery* which 
 
 * Each umuorthy misery — This argument in favour of suicide so 
 much resembles that of Hamlet in his celebrated soliloquy that it is 
 easy to believe that Shakespeare had this passage in his recollection 
 when he wrote — 
 
 " For who would bear the whips and scorns of time ; 
 
 who would fardels bear, 
 
 To grunt and sweat under a weary life ?" 
 and, indeed, the whole thirty-three lines, which are of such mighty 
 import and rough, thoughtful grandeur that even spelling-books, 
 elegant extracts, and school exercises cannot make them common- 
 place nor vulgar. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 431 
 
 the foolish world may lay upon us ? As for their reason, that 
 fear is contrary to hope, neither do I defend fear, nor much 
 yield to the authority of hope ; to either of which great in- 
 clining shows but a feeble reason, which must be guided by 
 his servants ; and who builds not upon hope shall fear no 
 earthquake of despair. Their last alleging of the heavenly 
 powers, as it bears the greatest name, so it is the only thing 
 that at all bred any combat in my mind ; and yet I do not see 
 but that, if God had made us masters of anything, it is of our 
 own lives, out of which, without doing wrong to anybody, we 
 are to issue at our own pleasure. And the same argument 
 would as much prevail to say we should for no necessity lay 
 away from us any of our joints, since they being made of him, 
 without his warrant we should not depart from them ; or, if 
 that may be, for a greater cause we may pass to a greater 
 degree : and if we be lieutenants of God in this little castle, 
 do you not think we must take warning of him to give over 
 our charge when he leaves us unprovided of good means to 
 tarry in it ?"* 
 
 " No, certainly do I not," answered the sorrowful Philoclea, 
 *' since it is not for us to appoint that mighty Majesty what 
 time he will help us ; the uttermost instant is scope enough 
 for him to revoke everything to one's own desire. And 
 therefore to prejudicate his determination is but a doubt of 
 goodness in him who is nothing but goodness. But when, 
 indeed, he doth either by sickness or outward force lay death 
 
 * Spenser's description of the Cave of Despair is said to have 
 gained him an introduction to Sidney. Be this as it may, here is a 
 very curious parallel. A similar argument in favour of suicide, 
 drawn like the above from the rules of military discipline, is used by 
 Despair when he would tempt Sir Guyon to slay himself: — 
 " He that points the centonell his roome 
 Doth Hcense him depart at sound of morning droome." 
 
 — Spenser, Faerie Queene, I. ix. 41. 
 
432 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 upon us, then are we to take knowledge that such is his 
 pleasure, and to know that all is well that he doth. That 
 we should be masters of ourselves we can show at all no 
 title nor claim, since neither we made ourselves nor bought 
 ourselves ; we can stand upon no other right but his gift, 
 which he must limit as it pleaseth him. And truly, my most 
 dear Pyrocles, I must needs protest unto you that I cannot 
 think your defence even in rules of virtue sufficient. Suf- 
 ficient and excellent it were if the question were of two out- 
 ward things, wherein a man might by nature's freedom deter- 
 mine whether he would prefer shame to pain, present smaller 
 torment to greater following, or no. But to this, besides the 
 comparison of the matter's valures,* there is added of the one 
 part a direct evil doing, which maketh the balance of that 
 side too much unequal, since a virtuous man without any re- 
 spect, whether the grief be less or more, is never to do that 
 which he cannot assure himself is allowable before the Ever- 
 living Rightfulness, but rather is to think honours or shames, 
 which stand in other men's true or false judgments pains or 
 not pains, which yet never approach our souls, to be nothing 
 in regard of an unspotted conscience. And these reasons do 
 I remember I have heard good men bring in, that since it 
 hath not his ground in an assured virtue, it proceeds rather 
 of some other disguised passion." 
 
 Pyrocles was not so much persuaded as delighted by her 
 well-conceived and sweetly-pronounced speeches ; but when 
 she had closed her pitiful discourse, and as it were sealed 
 up her delightful lips with the moistness of her tears, which 
 followed still one another like a precious rope of pearl, now 
 thinking it high time, " Be it as you say," said he, " most 
 virtuous beauty, in all the rest, but never can God himself 
 persuade me that Pyrocles' life is not well lost for to preserve 
 * Valures — i.e., value, worth. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 433 
 
 the most admirable Philoclea. But," said he, "most dear 
 lady, whose contentment I prefer before mine own, and judg- 
 ment esteem more than mine own, I yield unto your pleasure. 
 The gods send you have not won your own loss. For my 
 part, they are my witnesses that I think I do more at your 
 commandment in delaying my death than another would in 
 bestowing his life. And now," said he, "as thus far I have 
 yielded unto you, so grant me recompense thus much again, 
 that I may find your love in granting as you have found 
 your authority in obtaining. My humble suit is, you will say 
 I came in by force into your chamber — for so am I resolved 
 now to affirm, and that will be the best for us both — but in 
 no case name my name, that whatsoever come of me my 
 house be not dishonoured." 
 
 Philoclea, fearing lest refusal would turn him back again to 
 his violent refuge, gave him a certain countenance that might 
 show she did yield to his request, the later part whereof 
 indeed she meant for his sake to perform. Neither could 
 they spend more words together ; for Philanax, with twenty 
 of the noblest personages of Arcadia after him, were come 
 into the lodge. Philanax, making the rest to stay below, for 
 the reverence he bare to womanhood, as stilly as he could 
 came to the door, and opening it, drew the eyes of these 
 two doleful lovers upon him, and resting a while upon him- 
 self, stricken with admiration at the goodly shape of Pyrocles, 
 whom before he had never seen, and withal remembering, 
 besides others, the notable act he had done, when with his 
 courage and eloquence he had saved Basilius, perchance the 
 whole state from utter ruin, he felt a kind of relenting mind 
 towards him. But when that same thought came, waited on 
 with the remembrance of his master's death, which he, by all 
 probabilities, thought he had been of counsel unto with the 
 queen, compassion turned to hateful passion, and left in 
 
 F F 
 
434 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 Philanax a strange medley betwixt pity and revenge, betwixt 
 liking and abhorring. 
 
 Pyrocles seeing him in such a muse, neither knowing the 
 man, nor the cause of his coming, but assuring himself it was 
 for no good, yet thought best to begin with him in this sort : 
 " Gentleman," said he, " what is the cause of your coming to 
 my lady Philoclea's chamber? Is it to defend her from 
 such violence as I might go about to offer unto her ? If be 
 it so, truly your coming is vain, for her own virtue hath 
 been a sufficient resistance : there needs no strength to be 
 added to so inviolate chastity, the excellency of her mind 
 makes her body impregnable ; which for mine own part I 
 had soon yielded to confess with going out of this place, 
 where I found but little comfort, being so disdainfully re- 
 ceived, had I not been, I know not by whom, presently upon 
 my coming hither so locked into this chamber that I could 
 never escape hence ; where I was fettered in the most guilty 
 shame that ever man was, seeing what a paradise of un- 
 spotted goodness my filthy thoughts sought to defile. If 
 for that therefore you come, already I assure you your 
 errand is performed ; but if it be to bring me to any punish- 
 ment whatsoever for having undertaken so inexcusable pre- 
 sumption, truly I bear such an accuser about me of mine 
 own conscience that I willingly submit myself unto it. Only 
 thus much let me demand of you, that you will be a witness 
 unto the king w^hat you hear me say, and oppose yourself that 
 neither his sudden fury nor any other occasion may offer any 
 hurt to this lady ; in whom you see nature hath accomplished 
 so much that I am fain to lay mine own faultiness as a foil 
 of her purest excellency." 
 
 Philanax was content to hear him out, not for any favour 
 he owed him, but to see whether he w^ould reveal anything 
 of the original cause and purpose of the king's death. But 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV, 435 
 
 finding it so far from that that he named BasiHus unto him, 
 as supposing him ahve, thinking it rather cunning than ignor- 
 ance, '• Young man," said he, " whom I have cause to hate 
 before I have mean to know, you use but a point of skill by 
 confessing the manifest smaller fault to be believed hereafter 
 in the denial of the greater. But, for that matter, all passeth 
 to one end, and hereafter we shall have leisure by torments 
 to seek the truth if the love of the truth itself will not bring 
 you unto it. As for my lady Philoclea, if it so fall out as you 
 say, it shall be the more fit for her years, and comely for the 
 great house that she is come of, that an ill-governed beauty 
 hath not cancelled the rules of virtue. But, howsoever it be, 
 it is not for you to teach an Arcadian what reverent duty we 
 owe unto any of that progeny. But," said he, " come with 
 me without resistance ; for the one cannot avail and the other 
 may procure pity." " Pity !" said Pyrocles, with a bitter 
 smiling, disdained with so currish an answer ; " no, no, Arca^ 
 dian, I can quickly have pity of myself, and would think my 
 life most miserable which should be a gift of thine. Only I 
 demand this innocent lady's security, which until thou hast 
 confirmed unto me by an oath, assure thyself the first that 
 lays hands upon her shall leave his life for a testimony of his 
 sacrilege." 
 
 Philanax with an inward scorn thinking it most manifest 
 they were both, he at least, of counsel with the king's death, 
 "Well," said he, "you speak much to me of the king ; I do 
 here swear unto you by the love I have ever borne him she shall 
 have no worse, howsoever it fall out, than her own parents." 
 "And upon that word of yours I yield," said poor Pyrocles, 
 deceived by him that meant not to deceive him. Then did 
 Philanax deliver him into the hands of a nobleman in the 
 company, every one desirous to have him in his charge, so 
 much did his goodly presence, wherein true valour shined, 
 
 F F 2 
 
436 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 breed a delightful admiration in all the beholders. Philanax 
 himself stayed with Philoclea, to see whether of her he might 
 learn some disclosing of his former conclusion. 
 
 But the sweet lady, whom first a kindly shamefastness had 
 separated from Pyrocles, now felt his absence, and, according 
 to the nature of love, fearing the worst, began wringing her 
 hands, and letting fall abundance of tears, and bending her 
 amber-crowned head over the bed-side to the hard-hearted 
 Philanax, " O Philanax," said she, " I know how much authority 
 you have with my father, and you have often promised to 
 serve me. Now my chance is turned, let not your truth turn." 
 But to her he said, " Look for no mercy but that which dread 
 pitiless laws may allot you. For my part, I loved you for your 
 virtue ; but now where is that ? I loved you in respect of a 
 private benefit : what is that in comparison of the public 
 loss ? I loved you for your father : unhappy folks, you have 
 robbed the world of him." 
 
 These words of her father were so little understood by the 
 only well-understanding Philoclea that she desired him to tell 
 her what he meant to speak in such dark sort unto her of her 
 lord and father, whose displeasure was more dreadful unto her 
 than her punishment ; that she was free in her own conscience 
 she had never deserved evil of him — no, not in this last fact ; 
 wherein, if it pleased him to proceed with patience, he should 
 find her choice had not been unfortunate. He, that saw her 
 words written in the plain table of her fair face, thought it 
 impossible there should therein be contained deceit, and 
 therefore so much the more abashed, " Why," said he, 
 " madam, would you have me think you are not of conspiracy 
 with the Princess Pamela's flight and your father's death ?" 
 With that word the sweet lady gave a pitiful cry, having 
 straight in her face and breast abundance of witnesses that 
 her heart was far from any such abominable consent "Ah, of 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV, 437 
 
 all sides utterly ruined Philoclea," said she, "now indeed I may 
 well suffer all conceit of hope to die in me. Dear father, 
 where was I, that might not do you my last service before 
 soon after miserably following you ?" Philanax perceived the 
 demonstration so lively and true in her that he easily acquitted 
 her in his heart of that fact, and the more was moved to join 
 with her in most hearty lamentation. But, remembering him 
 that the burthen of the state and punishment of his master's 
 murtherers lay all upon him, "Well," said he, "madam, I can 
 do nothing without all the states of Arcadia ; what they will 
 determine of you I know not ; for my part, your speeches 
 would much prevail with me, but that I find not how to excuse 
 your giving over your body to him that, for the last proof of 
 his treason, lent his garments to disguise your miserable 
 mother in the most vile fact she committed. Hard, sure, it 
 will be to separate your causes, with whom you have so nearly 
 joined yourself." " Neither do I desire it," said the sweetly- 
 weeping Philoclea : " whatsoever you determine of him, do 
 that likewise to me ; only as you find him faultless let him 
 find you favourable, and build not my dishonour upon sur- 
 mises." Philanax, feeling his heart more and more mollifying 
 unto her, renewed the image of his dead master in his fancy, 
 and, using that for the spurs of his revengeful choler, went 
 suddenly without any more speech from the desolate lady, 
 leaving good guard upon the lodge, himself to see the order 
 of his other prisoners, whom even then as he issued he found 
 increased by this unhoped means : — 
 
 The noble Pamela reposed both mind and body upon the 
 trusted support of her princely shepherd when, with the braying 
 cries of a rascal company, she was robbed of her quiet, so that 
 at one instant she opened her eyes and the enraged Musidorus 
 rose from her. But the clowns, having with their hideous 
 noise brought them both to their feet, had soon knowledge what 
 
438 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 guests they had found ; for indeed these were the scummy* 
 remnant of those rebels whose naughty minds could not trust 
 so much to the goodness of their prince as to lay their hang- 
 worthy necks upon the constancy of his promised pardon. 
 In this sort vagabonding in those untrodden places, they 
 were guided by the everlasting justice, using themselves to 
 be punishers of their faults, making their own actions the 
 beginning of their chastisements, unhappily, both for him 
 and themselves, to light on Musidorus, whom, as soon as 
 they saw turned towards them, they full well remembered 
 it was he that, accompanied with Basilius, had come to the 
 succour of Zelmane, and had left among some of them 
 bloody tokens of his valour. As for Pamela, they had 
 many times seen her. Thus, first stirred up with a rustical 
 revenge against him, without any other denouncing of war, 
 they set all together upon the worthy Musidorus, who, after 
 performing many deeds of valour and slaying some of his 
 assailants, was constrained to yield himself an unwilling pri- 
 soner, since one of the rabble, compassing about some trees, 
 surprised the lady Pamela, and holding to her fair throat his 
 dagger, threatened to kill her unless Musidorus yielded. He, 
 seeing that it stood upon the point of his dear lady's life, gave 
 up his sword ; and, either by fortune or the inward working 
 virtue of those two lovers, the villains took two horses, and 
 having set upon them their princely prisoners, they returned 
 towards the lodge, having decked all their heads with laurel 
 branches, as thinking they had done a notable act, and, singing 
 and shouting, ran by them in hope to have brought them the 
 same day again to the king. But the time was so far spent 
 that they were forced to take up that night's lodging in the 
 midst of the woods ; where Musidorus, taking the tender hand 
 of Pamela and bedewing it with his tears, in this sort gave an 
 
 "■"' Scummy — The draggled ends of the mob, the scum of the people. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV, 439 
 
 issue to the swelling of his heart's grief. " Most excellent 
 lady," said he, " in what case, think you, am I with myself, 
 how unmerciful judgments do I lay upon my soul now that I 
 know not what god hath so reversed my well-meaning enter- 
 prise as, instead of doing you that honour which I hoped, and 
 not without reason hoped, Thessalia should have yielded unto 
 you, am now like to become a wretched instrument of your 
 discomfort ? Alas ! how contrary an end have all the inclina- 
 tions of my mind taken ; my faith falls out a treason unto you, 
 and the true honour I bear you is the field wherein your dis^ 
 honour is like to be sown !" " My dear and ever dear Musi- 
 dorus," said she, " a greater wrong do you to yourself that 
 will torment you thus with grief for the fault of fortune. Since 
 a man is bound no further to himself than to do wisely, chance 
 is only to trouble them that stand upon chance. But greater 
 is the wrong — at least, if anything that comes from you may 
 bear the name of wrong — you do unto me, to think me either 
 so childish as not to perceive your faithful faultlessness, or, 
 perceiving it, so basely disposed as to let my heart be over- 
 thrown, standing upon itself in so unspotted a pureness. 
 For how can I want comfort that have the true and living 
 comfort of my unblemished virtue 'i and how can I want 
 honour as long as Musidorus, in whom indeed honour is, doth 
 honour me ? Now let us turn from these things, and think 
 you how you will have me behave myself towards you in 
 this matter." 
 
 Musidorus, finding the authority of her speech con- 
 firmed with direct necessity, the first care that came to 
 his mind was of his dear friend and cousin Pyrocles, with 
 whom long before he had concluded what names they should 
 bear, if upon any occasion they were forced to give themselves 
 out for great men, and yet not make themselves fully known. 
 Now, fearing lest, if the princess should name him for 
 
440 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 Musidorus, the fame of their two being together would discover 
 Pyrocles, holding her hand betwixt his hands a good while 
 together, " I did not think, most excellent princess," said he, 
 " to have made any further request unto you ; for, having been 
 already to you so unfortunate a suitor, I know not what 
 modesty can bear any further demand. But the estate of one 
 young man whom, next to you, far above myself, I love more 
 than all the world, one worthy of all well-being for the notable 
 constitution of his mind, and most unworthy to receive hurt 
 by me, whom he doth in all faith and constancy love, the pity 
 of him only goes beyond all resolution to the contrary." 
 Then did he, to the princess' great admiration, tell her the 
 whole story as far as he knew of it, and that when they made 
 the grievous disjunction of their long combination, they had 
 concluded Musidorus should entitle himself Palladius, Prince 
 of Iberia, and Pyrocles should be Daiphantus of Lycia. 
 
 " Now," said Musidorus, " he keeping a woman's habit is 
 to use no other name than Zelmane ; but that I find it best 
 of the one side for your honour you went away with a prince 
 and not with a shepherd, of the other side accounting my 
 death less evil than the betraying of that sweet friend of mine, 
 will take this mean betwixt both, and, using the name of Pal- 
 ladius, if the respect of a prince will stop your father's fury, 
 that will serve as well as Musidorus, until Pyrocles' fortune 
 being someway established, I may freely give good proof that 
 the noble country of Thessalia is mine ; and if that will not 
 mitigate your father's opinion to mewards, nature, I hope, 
 working in your excellency, will make him deal well by you. 
 For my part, the image of death is nothing fearful unto me ; 
 and this good I shall have reaped by it, that I shall leave my 
 most esteemed friend in no danger to be disclosed by me." 
 
 Pamela, promising him upon no occasion ever to name him, 
 fell into extremity of weeping, as if her eyes had been content 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 441 
 
 to spend all their seeing moistness, now that there was a 
 speech of the loss of that which they held as their chiefest 
 light ; so that Musidorus was forced to repair her good 
 counsels with sweet consolations, which continued betwixt 
 them until sleep having stolen into their heavy senses, their 
 lobbish* guard, who all night had kept themselves awake with 
 prating how valiant deeds they had done when they ran away, 
 and how fair a death their fellow had died, who at his last 
 gasp sued to be a hangman, awaked them and set them upon 
 their horses, to whom the very shining force of excellent 
 virtue, though in a very harrishf subject, had wrought a kind 
 of reverence in them. 
 
 Being now come within the plain near to the lodges, they 
 espied a troop of horsemen, who were some of them Philanax 
 had sent out to the search of Pamela, come galloping unto 
 them, and who marvelled who they were that in such a 
 general mourning durst sing joyful tunes, and in so public a 
 ruin wear the laurel token of victory. And that which seemed 
 strangest, they might see two among them unarmed like pri- 
 soners, but riding like captains ; but when they came nearer 
 they perceived the one was a lady, and the lady Pamela. 
 Then, glad they had by hap found that which they so little 
 hoped to meet withal, taking these clowns, who first resisted 
 them, for the desire they had to be the deliverers of the two 
 excellent prisoners, learning that they were of those rebels 
 which had made the dangerous uproar, as well under colour 
 to punish that as this their last withstanding them, but in- 
 deed their principal cause being because they themselves 
 would have the only praise of their own quest, they suffered 
 
 * Lobbish — Clownish or lubberish ; from the old word lob^ a 
 clown, or lubber. " Farewell, thou lob of spirits." — Midsummer- 
 Night's Dream, act ii., sc. I. 
 
 f Harrish — The old form of our modern word " harsh." 
 
442 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 not one of them to live. Mary,* three of the stiibbornest of 
 them they left their bodies hanging upon the trees, because 
 their doing might carry the likelier form of judgment. Such 
 an unlooked-for end did the life of justice work for the 
 naughty-minded wretches, by subjects to be executed that 
 would have executed princes, and to suffer that without law 
 which by law they had deserved. And thus these young 
 folks, twice prisoners before any due arrest, delivered of their 
 jailers but not of their jail, had rather change than respite of 
 misery ; these soldiers, that took them with very few words 
 of entertainment, hasting to carry them to their lord Philanax. 
 When Pyrocles, led towards his prison, saw his friend 
 Musidorus, with the noble lady Pamela, in that unexpected 
 sort returned, his grief — if any grief were in a mind which 
 had placed everything according to his natural worth — was 
 very much augmented ; for besides some small hope he had, 
 if Musidorus had once been clear of Arcadia, by his dealing 
 and authority to have brought his only gladsome desires to 
 a good issue, the hard estate of his friend did no less — nay, 
 rather more — vex him than his own. But, as soon as Musidorus 
 was brought by the soldiers near unto Philanax, Pyrocles not 
 knowing whether ever after he should be suffered to see his 
 friend, and determining there could be no advantage by 
 dissembling a not knowing of him, leapt suddenly from their 
 hands that held him, and passing with a strength strengthened 
 with a true affection through them that encompassed Musi- 
 dorus, he embraced him as fast as he could in his arms, and 
 kissing his cheeks, " O my Palladius," said he, " let not our 
 virtue now abandon us ; let us prove our minds are no slaves 
 to fortune, but in adversity can triumph over adversity." 
 " Dear Daiphantus," answered Musidorus, seeing by his 
 
 * Mary — Sometimes spelt 7?iai'?y, an abbreviated form of the 
 oath "by the Virgin Mary." 
 
ARCADIA.— Book IV. 443 
 
 apparel his being a man was revealed, " I thank you for this 
 best care of my best part ; but fear not, I have kept too long 
 company with you to want now a thorough determination of 
 these things ; I well know there is nothhig evil but within us 
 — the rest is either natural or accidental." Philanax, finding 
 them of so near acquaintance, began presently to examine 
 them apart ; but such resolution he met with in them that by 
 no such means he could learn further than it pleased them 
 to deliver, so that he thought best to put them both in one 
 place, with espial of their words and behaviour, and for that 
 purpose gave them both unto the nobleman who before had 
 the custody of Pyrocles, by name Sympathus. 
 
 No man that hath ever passed through the school of affec- 
 tion needs doubt what a tormenting grief it was to the noble 
 Pamela to have the company of him taken from her to whose 
 virtuous company she had bound her hfe, but, weighing 
 with herself it was fit for her honour, till her doing were 
 clearly manifested, that they should remain separate, kept 
 down the rising tokens of grief, showing passion in nothing 
 but her eyes, which accompanied Musidorus even unto the 
 tent whither he and Pyrocles were led. Then, with a coun- 
 tenance more princely than she was wont, according to the 
 wont of highest hearts, like the palm-tree striving most up- 
 ward when he is most burthened, she commanded Philanax 
 to bring her to her father and mother that she might render 
 them account of her doings. Philanax, showing a sullen kind 
 of reverence unto her, as a man that honoured her as his 
 master's heir, but much misliked her for her— in his conceit- 
 dishonourable proceedings, told her what was passed, rather to 
 answer her than that he thought she was ignorant of it. But her 
 good spirit did presently suffer a true compassionate afflic- 
 tion of those hard adventures, which with crossing her arms, 
 looking a great while on the ground with those eyes which 
 
444 ARCADIA.— Book IV. 
 
 let fall many tears, she well declared ; but, in the end re- 
 membering how necessary it was for her not to lose herself 
 in such an extremity, she strengthened her well-created heart, 
 and stoutly demanded Philanax what authority then they had 
 to lay hands on her person, who being the undoubted heir 
 was then the lawful princess of that kingdom. Philanax 
 answered, her grace knew the ancient laws of Arcadia bare 
 she was to have no sway of government till she came to one- 
 and-twenty years of age, or were married. 
 
 " And married I am," replied the wise princess ; " therefore 
 I demand your due allegiance." " The gods forbid," said 
 Philanax, " Arcadia should be a dowry of such marriages !" 
 Besides, he told her all the states of her country were evil 
 satisfied touching her father's death. After that she should have 
 obedience as by the laws was due unto her, desiring God she 
 would show herself better in public government than she had 
 done in private. She would have spoken to the gentlemen and 
 people gathered about her, but Philanax, fearing lest thereby 
 some commotion might arise, hasted her up to the lodge where 
 her sister was, and there, with a chosen company of soldiers to 
 guard the place, left her with Philoclea, Pamela protesting 
 they laid violent hands on her. But high time it was for Phi- 
 lanax so to do ; for already was all the whole multitude fallen 
 into confused and dangerous divisions. 
 
 Among the noblemen that had set themselves against 
 Philanax, the most open was one Timautus, a man of middle 
 age, but of extreme ambition, who placed his utmost good in 
 greatness, thinking it small difference how he came by it ; 
 of commendable wit too, if he had not made it a servant 
 to unbridled desires. He, shameless and bold, proposed, for 
 his own purposes, to deliver the queen and the princesses. 
 But Philanax came amongst them thereat, and urged that 
 ihey should take in hand the punishment of their master's 
 
ARCADIA,-~Book IV. 445 
 
 murtherers, " laying order," said he, " for the government ; by 
 whomsoever it be done, so it be done, and done justly, I am 
 satisfied. For the care of my heart stands to repay that 
 wherein both I and most of you were tied to that prince." 
 
 As he spake his last words, there came one running to him 
 with open mouth and fearful eyes, telling him that there was 
 a great number of the people which were bent to take the 
 young men out of Sympathus' hands, and, as it should seem 
 by their acclamations, were like enough to proclaim them 
 princes. Among these, the chief man both in authority and 
 love was Kalander, he that not long before had been host to 
 the two princes, whom though he knew not so much as by 
 name, yet stood bound to them for preserving the lives of 
 his son and nephew. 
 
 But Philanax came in time to withstand them, both sides 
 yet standing in arms, and rather wanting a beginning than 
 minds to enter into a bloody conflict, which Philanax fore- 
 seeing, thought best to remove the prisoners secretly, and, if 
 need were, rather without form of justice to kill them than 
 against justice, as he thought, to have them usurp the state. 
 But there again arose a new trouble ; for Sympathus, the 
 nobleman that kept them, was so stricken in compassion 
 with their excellent presence that, as he would not falsify 
 his promise to Philanax to give them liberty, so yet would 
 he not yield them to himself, fearing he would do them 
 violence. Thus tumult upon tumult arising, the sun, I 
 think, aweary to see their discords, had already gone down 
 to his western lodging. 
 
 The End of the Fourth Bookr^ 
 
 * A fourth Eclogue concludes the fourth Book ; and this also, in 
 pursuance of our plan, is omitted, Sidney, or its author, himself 
 owning that it is " perchance a tedious digression." 
 
The Fifth Book. 
 
 HE dangerous division of men's minds, the ruinous 
 renting of all estates, had now brought Arcadia to 
 feel the pangs of the uttermost peril — such convul- 
 sions never coming but that the life of that go- 
 vernment draws near his necessary period — when 
 to the honest and wise Philanax, equally distracted betwixt 
 desire of his master's revenge and care of the estate's estab- 
 lishment, there came, unlooked for, a Macedonian gentleman, 
 who in short but pithy manner delivered unto him that the 
 renowned Euarchus, king of Macedon, purposing to have 
 yisited his old friend and confederate the king Basilius, was 
 now come within half-a-mile of the lodges, where having 
 understood by certain shepherds the sudden death of their 
 prince, had sent unto him, of whose authority and faith he 
 had good knowledge, desiring him to advertise him in what 
 security he might rest there for that night, where willingly he 
 would, if safely he might, help to celebrate the funerals of his 
 ancient companion and ally ; adding he need not doubt, since 
 he had brought but twenty in his company, he wijuld be so 
 unwise as to enter into any forcible attempt with so small 
 force. 
 
 Philanax, having entertained the gentleman, desired him 
 to return to the king his master, and to beseech him, 
 though with his pains, to stay for an hour or two where he 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. U7 
 
 was, till he had set things in better order to receive him ; he 
 himself went first to the noblemen, then to Kalander and 
 the principal Mantineans, who were most opposite unto him, 
 desiring them that, as the night had most blessedly stayed 
 them from entering into civil blood, so they would be content 
 in the night to assemble the people together to hear some 
 news which he was to deliver unto them. 
 
 There is nothing more desirous of novelties than a man 
 that fears his present fortune. Therefore they whom mutual 
 diffidence made doubtful of their utter destruction were 
 quickly persuaded to hear of any new matter which might 
 alter, at least, if not help the nature of their fear ; namely, 
 the chiefest men, who, as they had most to lose, so were most 
 jealous of their own case. And to them, aware of the labour- 
 ing of Timautus to have withdrawn them from his assembly, 
 Philanax said, " I will deliver to you what blessed mean* the 
 gods have sent, if you like to embrace it. There be none of 
 you, I think, but have heard of that just prince Euarchus, king 
 of Macedon ; a prince with whom our late master did ever 
 hold most perfect alliance. He, even he, is this day come, 
 having but twenty horse with him, within two miles of this 
 place, hoping to have found the virtuous Basilius alive, but 
 now willing to do honour to his death. Surely, surely the 
 heavenly powers have in too full a time bestowed him on 
 us to unite our divisions. For my part, therefore, I wish that, 
 since among ourselves we cannot agree in so manifold 
 partialities, we do put the ordering of all these things into 
 his hands, as well touching the obsequies of the king, the 
 
 * Mean — Fr. jnoyeji, Lat. medium — now and for some time used 
 in the plural, means the agency or instrumentality by which a thing 
 is done. "O Blessed Lady, be thou the meane and medyatryce 
 between thy Sonne and wretched synners that hee punnysshe not 
 euerlastyngely. " — FiSHER, Seuen Psalmes, Ps, 38. , 
 
448 ARCADIA.—Book V. 
 
 punishment of his death, as the marriage and crowning of our 
 princess." 
 
 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 a small re- 
 tinue, whispering one with another, and looking who should 
 begin to confirm Philanax's proposition, at length Sympathus 
 was the first that allowed it, then the rest of the noblemen. 
 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, 
 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 not only some days before returned into 
 ]\Iacedon, but since was gone with some haste to visit that 
 coast of his country that lay towards Italy, and 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 suc- 
 couring 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. But the face of Euarchus' sorrow, to the 
 
 * See note, p. 250. 
 
ARCADIA,— Book V. 449 
 
 one in nature, to both in afifection a father, and judging the 
 world so much the more unworthily deprived of those ex- 
 cellencies as himself was better judge of so excellent worthi- 
 ness, 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 the 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 protes- 
 tation never to return into Macedon till he had pursued the 
 murtherers to death, he despatched with speed a ship for By- 
 zantium, 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 his ships 
 detained in Italy were returned. By means whereof Euar- 
 chus, with so great a fleet as haste would suffer him to as- 
 semble, 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 toge- 
 ther. 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 reco- 
 vered 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 be- 
 tween the nobihty and the Helots, and once compounded by 
 
 G G 
 
450 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 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 
 a more 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. Now a prince being, and not doing, 
 like a prince, keeping and not exercising the place, they were 
 in so much more evil case as they could not provide for their 
 evil. These rightly wise and virtuous considerations especially 
 moved Euarchus to take his journey towards the desert, 
 where arriving within night, and understanding, to his great 
 grief, the news of the prince's death, he waited for his safe 
 conduct from Philanax. But Philanax, as soon as he M^as in 
 sight of him, lighting from his horse, presented himself unto 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 451 
 
 him in all those humble behaviours which not only the great 
 reverence of the party, but the conceit of one's own misery 
 is wont to frame. Euarchus rose up unto him with so 
 gracious a countenance as the goodness of his mind had 
 long exercised him unto ; careful so much more to descend 
 in all courtesies as he saw him bear a low representation of 
 his afflicted state. And Philanax, as soon as by near looking 
 he might behold him, conjured Euarchus to abide, the people 
 having yielded themselves over to him as elected protector 
 of the kingdom, reserving only to Basilius' blood the right, 
 and begging for the ancient prescribing of their laws. 
 Euarchus, utterly unlooking for this request, and yet with 
 a secret assurance of his own worthiness, but held back 
 by his own business, after some parley, yielded to take 
 upon himself the judgment of this cause. Therefore, 
 mounting on their horses, they hasted to the lodges, where 
 they found, though late in the night, the people wakefully 
 watching for the issue of Philanax's embassage. But v/hen 
 they saw Philanax return, having on his right hand the king 
 Euarchus, on whom they had now placed the greatest burthen 
 of their fears, with joyful shouts and applauding acclamations 
 they made him and the world quickly know that one man's 
 sufficiency is more available than ten thousands' multitude. 
 For, as if Euarchus had been born of the princely blood 
 of Arcadia, or that long and well-acquainted proof had 
 ingrafted him in their country, so flocked they about this 
 stranger, most of them already from dejected fears rising to 
 ambitious considerations, who should catch the first hold 
 of his favour ; and then from those crying welcomes to 
 babbling one with the other, some praising Philanax for his 
 exceeding pain, others hking Euarchus' aspect, and as they 
 judged his age by his face, so judging his wisdom by his age. 
 Euarchus passed through them hke a man that did neither 
 
 G G 2 
 
452 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 disdain a people, nor yet was anything tickled with their flat- j 
 teries, but, always holding his own, a man might read a 
 constant determination in his eyes. And in that sort dis- 
 mounting among them, he forthwith demanded the convo- 
 cation to be made, which accordingly was done, and he 
 being raised up upon a place more high than the rest, where 
 he might be best understood, in this sort spake unto them : 
 
 " I understand," said he, " faithful Arcadians, by my lord 
 Philanax, that you have with one consent chosen me to be 
 the judge of the late evils happened, orderer of the present 
 disorders, and finally protector of this country, till therein it 
 be seen what the customs of Arcadia require." He could say 
 no further, being stopped with a general cry that so it was, 
 giving him all the honourable titles and happy wishes they 
 could imagine. He beckoned unto them for silence, and then 
 thus again proceeded : " Well," said he, " how good choice 
 you have made, the attending must be in you — the proof in 
 me. But, because it many times falls out we are much de- 
 ceived in others, we being the first to deceive ourselves, I am 
 to require you not to have an overshooting expectation of me. 
 Secondly, that you will lay your hearts void of foretaken 
 opinions ; else, whatsoever I do or say will be measured by 
 a wrong rule. Thirdly, whatsoever debates have risen 
 among you may be utterly extinguished. Lastly, that you do 
 not easily judge of your judge, but, since you will have me to 
 command, think it is your part to obey. And, in reward of 
 this, I will promise and protest unto you that the uttermost 
 of my skill, both in the general laws of nature, especially of 
 Greece, and particular of Arcadia (wherein I must confess 
 I am not unacquainted), I will not only see the past evils 
 duly punished, and your weal hereafter established, but, for 
 your defence in it, if need shall require, I will employ the 
 force and treasures of mine own countr}^ In the meantime, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 453 
 
 this shall be the first order I will take, that no man, under 
 pain of grievous punishment, name me by any other name 
 but protector of Arcadia. First, therefore, I mean the trying 
 which be guilty of the king's death, and those other heinous 
 trespasses ; and because your customs require such haste, I 
 will no longer delay it than till to-morrow, as soon as the sun 
 shall give us fit opportunity. You may therefore retire your- 
 self to your rest, that you may be readier to be present at 
 these so great important matters." 
 
 With many allowing tokens was Euarchus' speech heard, 
 who now by Philanax, that took the principal care of doing 
 all due services unto him, was offered a lodging made ready 
 for him, the rest of the people, as well as a small commodity 
 of that place would suffer, yielding their weary heads to sleep ; 
 when, lo ! the night throughly spent in these mixed matters, 
 was for that time banished the face of the earth, and Euarchus 
 seeing the day begin to disclose his comfortable beauties, de- 
 siring nothing more than to join speed with justice, willed 
 Philanax presently to make the judgment place be put in 
 order, and, as soon as the people, who yet were not fully 
 dispersed, might be brought together, to bring forth the pri- 
 soners and the king's body, which the manner was should 
 in such cases be held in sight, though covered with black 
 velvet, until they that were accused to be the murtherers 
 were quitted or condemned. 
 
 The friendly host of the two princes, the honest gentle- 
 man Kalander, seeking all means how to help them, had en- 
 deavoured to speak with them and to make them know who 
 should be their judge. But the curious* servant of Philanax 
 forbade him the entry upon pain of death. So that Kalander 
 was constrained to retire himself, having yet obtained thus 
 much, that he would deliver unto the two princes their apparel 
 
 * Curious — i.e.^ scrupulous, particular. 
 
454 ARCADIA.— Book V, 
 
 and jewels, which being left with him at Mantinea, wisely con- 
 sidering that their disguised weeds, which were all as then 
 they had, would make them more odious in the sight of the 
 judges, he had that night sent for and now brought unto 
 them. They accepted their own with great thankfulness, 
 knowing from whence it came, and attired themselves in it 
 against the next day, which being indeed rich and princely, 
 they accordingly determined to maintain the names of Palla- 
 dius and Daiphantus as before it is mentioned. 
 
 As soon as the morning had taken a full possession of the 
 element, Euarchus called unto him Philanax, and willed him 
 to draw out into the midst of the green, before the chief lodge, 
 the throne of judgment seat, in which Basilius was wonttosit, 
 and according to their customs was ever carried with the prince. 
 For Euarchus did wisely consider the people to be naturally 
 taken with exterior shows, far more than with inward con- 
 sideration of the material points. And therefore, in this new 
 entry into so entangled a matter, he would leave nothing which 
 might be either an armour or an ornament unto him ; and in 
 these pompous ceremonies he well knew a secret of govern- 
 ment much to consist. That was performed by the diligent 
 Philanax ; and therein Euarchus did set himself all clothed in 
 black, with the principal men who could in that suddenness 
 provide themselves of such mourning raiments. As for Phi- 
 lanax, Euarchus would have done him the honour to sit by 
 him, but he excused himself, desiring to be the accuser of 
 the prisoners in his master's behalf; and therefore, since he 
 m.ade himself a party,* it was not convenient for him to sit in 
 the judicial place. 
 
 Then was it a while deliberated whether the two young 
 ladies should be brought forth in open presence, but that was 
 stopped by Philanax, whose love and faith did descend from 
 
 * Party — One who takes or pursues one part or side in an affair. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 455 
 
 his master to his children, and only desired the smart should 
 light upon the others, whom he thought guilty of his death 
 and dishonour. Then the king's body being laid upon a 
 table just before Euarchus, and all covered over with black, 
 the prisoners — namely, the queen and two young princes — 
 were sent for to appear in the protector's name, which name 
 was the cause they came not to knowledge how near a 
 kinsman was to judge of them, but thought him to be 
 some nobleman chosen by the country in this extremity. So 
 extraordinary a course had the order of the heavens pro- 
 duced at this time that both nephew and son were not only 
 prisoners, but unknown to their uncle and father, who of many 
 years had not seen them ; and Pyrocles was to plead for his 
 life before that throne, in which throne lately before he had 
 saved the king's life. 
 
 But first was Gynecia led forth in the same weeds that the 
 day and night before she had worn, saving that, instead of 
 Zelmane's garment, in which she was found, she had cast on 
 a long cloak which reached to the ground, of russet coarse 
 cloth, with a poor felt hat which almost covered all her face, 
 most part of her goodly hair, on which her hands had laid 
 many a spiteful hold, so lying upon her shoulders as a man 
 might well see had no artificial carelessness. Her eyes down 
 on the ground, of purpose not to look on Pyrocles' face, which 
 she did not so much shun for the unkindness she conceived 
 of her own overthrow as for the fear those motions in this 
 short time of her hfe should be received which she had v/ith 
 the passage of infinite sorrows mortified. Great was the com- 
 passion the people felt to see their princess' state and beauty 
 so deformed by fortune and her own desert whom they had 
 ever found a lady most worthy of all honour. But by-and-by 
 the sight of the other two prisoners drew most of the eyes to 
 that spectacle. 
 
456 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 Pyrocles came out led by Sympathus, clothed, after the 
 Greek manner, in a long coat of white velvet reaching to the 
 small of his leg, with great buttons of diamonds all along upon 
 it ; his neck, without any collar, not so much as hidden with 
 a ruff, did pass the whiteness of his garments, which was not 
 much in fashion unlike to the crimson raiment our knights of 
 the Order* first put on. On his feet he had nothing but slippers, 
 which, after the ancient manner, were tied up with certain 
 laces, which were fastened under his knee, having wrapped 
 about with many pretty knots his naked legs. His fair auburn 
 hair, which he ware in great length, and gave at that time a 
 delightful show with being stirred up and down with the 
 breath of a gentle wind, had nothing upon it but white ribbon, 
 in those days used for a diadem, which, rolled once or twice 
 about the uppermost part of his forehead, fell down upon his 
 back, closed up at each end with the richest pearl were to be 
 seen in the world. After him followed another nobleman, 
 guiding the noble Musidorus, who had upon him a long cloak, 
 after the fashion of that which we call the Apostle's j\Iantle,t 
 
 * Knights of the Order — Probably of the Order of the Bath, which 
 Mr. Anstis, "with his usual precision and clearness, hath fully proved 
 that William the Conqueror and the succeeding kings of England 
 conferred." The learned Camden believed in the great antiquity of 
 this order (probably not older than the reign of Henry IV.), the vow 
 of which proceeding, says the oath, "from a pure mind and honest 
 intention," would have charmed the chivalric Sidney. The mantle 
 is of crimson taffeta, lined with white. The order was in great 
 esteem till the death of Charles XL, when it fell into such disuse that 
 no knight thereof was made till George II. revived it in the eleventh 
 year of his reign, May 1724. Sidney, in 1583, acted as proxy, being 
 previously knighted by Elizabeth, for Prince Casimir, who was thus 
 made a Knight of the Garter — but the mantle of that order is blue. 
 Sidney was knighted because no one, unless a knight, could stand a 
 proxy for the Garter. — See Bourne's Life of Sidney, p. 364. 
 
 + Apostle s Mantle — A long cloak fastened at the neck by a boss, 
 brooch, or fibula, and falling over the shoulders ; as seen on the 
 figures of saints in old glass paintings. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 457 
 
 made of purple satin ; not that purple which we now have 
 and is but a counterfeit of the Getulian purple, which yet was 
 far the meaner in price and estimation, but of the right Tyrian 
 purple, which was nearest to a colour betwixt our murrey* and 
 scarlet. On his head, which was black and curled, he ware a 
 Persian tiara, all set down with rows of so rich rubies as they 
 were enough to speak for him that they had to judge of no 
 mean personage. 
 
 In this sort, with erected countenances, did these unfor- 
 tunate princes suffer themselves to be led, showing aright by 
 the comparison of them and Gynecia how to divers persons 
 compassion is diversely to be stirred. And such effect in- 
 deed it wrought in the whole assembly, their eyes yet 
 standing as it were in balance to whether of them they 
 should most direct their sight. Musidorus was in stature 
 so much higher than Pyrocles as commonly is gotten by 
 one year's growth. His face, now beginning to have some 
 tokens of a beard, was composed to a kind of manlike beauty. 
 His colour was of a well-pleasing brownness, and the features 
 of it such as they carried both delight and majesty ; his 
 countenance severe, and promising a mind much given to 
 thinking. Pyrocles of a pure complexion, and of such a 
 cheerful favour as might seem either a woman's face in a boy, 
 or an excellent boy's face in a woman : his look gentle and 
 bashful, which bred the more admiration, having showed such 
 notable proofs of courage. Lastly, though both had both,t if 
 there were any odds, Musidorus was the more goodly, and 
 Pyrocles the more lovely. But, as soon as Musidorus saw 
 himself so far forth led among the people that he knew to a 
 great number of them his voice should be heard, misdoubting 
 their intention to the Princess Pamela, of whom he was more 
 
 * Murrey — A dark reddish brown. 
 
 t Both had both — i.e.^ goodliness and loveliness. 
 
458 ARCADIA.— Boole V. 
 
 careful than of his own life, even as he went, though his leader 
 sought to interrupt him, he with a loud voice spake unto them, 
 desiring the Arcadians to be true to the blood of Basilius, 
 to the Princess Pamela, the just inheritrix of this kingdom. 
 But Sympathus and the Arcadians assured him that they 
 acknowledged their sovereign lady, but until she was of age 
 s-he must have a protector whom by the state of the country 
 might be guided, and that eased Musidorus' heart of his most 
 vehement care. 
 
 But Pyrocles, as soon as the queen of the one side, he and 
 Musidorus of the other, were stayed before the face of their 
 judge, having only for their bar the table on which the king's 
 body lay, being nothing less vexed with the doubt of Philoclea 
 than Musidorus was for Pamela, in this sort, with a lowly 
 behaviour, and only then like a suppliant, he spake to the 
 protector : — 
 
 " Pardon me, most honoured judge," saith he, " since I tell 
 you in the sacred exercise of justice the naked truth freely set 
 down. I attest Heaven — to blaspheme which I am not now in 
 fit tune — that so much as my coming into the lady Philoclea's 
 chamber was not known to her. In the name of justice, which 
 compels me to use my tongue against myself, punish in me 
 that misfortune which by me hath fallen on her." 
 
 He had not spoken his last word, when all the whole people, 
 both of great and low estate, confirmed with an united mur- 
 mur Pyrocles' demand, longing, for the love generally was 
 borne Philoclea, to know what they might hope of her. 
 Euarchus, though neither regarding a prisoners passionate 
 prayer nor bearing over-plausible ears to a many-headed 
 motion, yet well enough content to win their liking with things 
 in themselves indifferent, he was content first to seek as much 
 as might be of Philoclea's behaviour in this matter, which 
 being cleared by Pyrocles and but weakly gainsaid by Philanax, 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 459 
 
 who had framed both his own and Dametas' evidence most 
 for her favour, and in truth could have gone no further 
 than conjecture, yet finding by his wisdom that she was not 
 altogether faultless, he pronounced she should all her life 
 long be kept prisoner among certain women of religion like 
 the vestal nuns, so to repay the touched honour of her house 
 with well observing a strict profession of chastity. Although 
 this were a great prejudicating of Pyrocles' case, yet was he 
 exceeding joyous of it, being assured of his lady's Hfe ; and 
 in the depth of his mind not sorry that, what end soever he 
 had, none should obtain the after enjoying that jewel whereon 
 he had set his hfe's happiness. 
 
 After it was by public sentence delivered what should be 
 done with the sweet Philoclea, the laws of Arcadia bearing 
 that what was appointed by the magistrates in the nonage of 
 the prince could not afterwards be repealed, Euarchus still 
 using to himself no other name but protector of Arcadia, 
 commanded those that had to say against the queen Gynecia 
 to proceed, because both her estate required she should be 
 first heard, and also for that she was taken to be the principal 
 in the greater matter they were to judge of. Philanax incon- 
 tinently stepped forth, and showing in his greedy eyes that he 
 did thirst for her blood, began a well-thought-on discourse 
 of her in his judgment execrable wickedness. But Gynecia 
 standing up before the judge, casting abroad her arms, with 
 her eyes hidden under the breadth of her unseemly hat, laying 
 open in all her gestures the despairful affliction to which all 
 the might of her reason was converted, with such like words 
 stopped Philanax as he was entering into his invective oration. 
 " Stay, stay, Philanax," said she : " do not defile thy honest 
 mouth with those dishonourable speeches thou art about to 
 utter against a woman, now most wretched, lately thy mistress. 
 Let either the remembrance how great she was move thy 
 
46o ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 heart to some reverence, or the seeing how low she is stir in 
 thee some pity. I say to thee, O just judge, that I and only 
 I was the worker of Basilius' death ; they were these hands 
 that gave unto him the poisonous potion that hath brought 
 death to him and loss to Arcadia ; it was I, and none but I, 
 that hastened his aged years to an unnatural end, and that 
 have made all his people orphans of their royal father. I am 
 the subject that have killed my prince, I am the wife that have 
 murdered my husband, I am a degenerate woman, an undoer 
 of this country, a shame of my children." With that she 
 crossed her arms and sat down upon the ground, attending 
 the judge's answer. 
 
 But Euarchus having well considered the abomination 
 of the fact, attending more the manifest proof of so hor- 
 rible a trespass, confessed by herself and proved by others, 
 than anything relenting to those tragical phrases of hers, 
 apter to stir a vulgar pity than his mind, which hated evil 
 in what colours soever he found it, having considered a 
 while with the principal men of the country, and demanded 
 their allowance, he definitively gave this sentence : That 
 whereas, both in private and public respects, this woman 
 had most heinously offended — in private, because marriage 
 being the most holy conjunction that falls to mankind, which 
 whoso breaks dissolves all humanity, no man living free from 
 the danger of so near a neighbour, she had not only broken 
 it, but broken it with death, and the most pretended* death 
 that might be ; in pubHc respect, the princes' persons being 
 in all monarchal governments the very knot of the people's 
 welfare and light of all her doings, to which they are not only 
 
 * Pretended — Intended or decided. This sense of using the word 
 " pretend " is to be met with in many of our old dramatic authors. 
 " I'll give her father notice 
 Of their disguising and /rd'/tvz^/tv/ flight." 
 
 — Two Gentlemen of Verona, act ii. sc. 6. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V, 461 
 
 in conscience but in necessity bound to be loyal, she had 
 traitorously empoisoned him, neither regarding her country's 
 profit, her own duty, nor the rigour of the laws : that there- 
 fore, as well for the due satisfaction to eternal justice and 
 accomplishment of the Arcadian statutes, as for the everlast- 
 ing example to all wives and subjects, she should presently be 
 conveyed to close prison, and there kept with such food as 
 might serve to sustain her alive until the day of her husband's 
 burial, at which time she should be buried quick* in the same 
 tomb with him, that so his murder might be a murder to 
 herself, and she forced to keep company with the body from 
 which she had made so detestable a severance, and lastly 
 death might redress their disjoined conjunction of marriage. 
 
 His judgment was received of the whole assembly, as not 
 with disliking, so with great astonishment, the greatness of 
 the matter and person as it were overpressing the might of 
 their conceits. But, when they did set it to the beam with the 
 monstrousness of her ugly misdeed, they could not but yield 
 in their hearts there was no overbalancing. As for Gynecia, 
 who had already settled her thoughts not only to look but 
 long for this event, having in this time of her vexation found 
 a sweetness in the rest she hoped by death, with a coun- 
 tenance witnessing she had beforehand so passed through all 
 the degrees of sorrow that she had no new look to figure 
 forth any more, rose up, and offered forth her fair hands to 
 be bound or led as they would, being indeed troubled with no 
 part of this judgment, but that her death was as she thought 
 long delayed. They that were appointed for it conveyed her 
 to the place she was in before, where the guard was relieved, 
 and the number increased to keep her more sure for the time 
 of her execution. 
 
 Then did Euarchus ask Philanax whether it were he that 
 
 * Buried quick — See note, p. 420. 
 
462 ARCADIA.— Book F. 
 
 would charge the two young prisoners, or that some other 
 should do it, and he sit according to his estate as an assistant 
 in the judgment. Philanax told him, as before he had done, 
 that he thought no man could lay manifest the naughtiness 
 of those two young men with so much either truth or zeal as 
 himself, and therefore he desired he might do this last service 
 to his faithfully-beloved master as to prosecute the traitorous 
 causers of his death and dishonour. Philanax thus being 
 ready to speak, the two princes were commanded to tell 
 their names, who answered, according to their agreements, 
 that they were Daiphantus of Lycia and Palladius, Prince 
 of Iberia ; which when they had said, they demanded to 
 know by what authority they could judge of them, since 
 they were not only foreigners, and so not born under their 
 laws, but absolute princes, and therefore not to be touched 
 by laws. But answer was presently made them that Arcadian, 
 laws were to have their force upon any were found in Arcadia, 
 since strangers have scope to know the customs of a country 
 before they put themselves in it, and when they once are 
 entered they must know that what by many was made must 
 not for one be broken ; and so much less for a stranger, as 
 he is to look for no privilege in that place to which in time of 
 need his service is not to be expected. As for their being 
 princes, whether they were so or no, the belief stood in their 
 own words, which they had so diversely falsified as they did 
 not deserve belief ; but, whatsoever they were, Arcadia was to 
 acknowledge them but as private men, since they were neither 
 by magistracy nor alliance to the princely blood to claim any- 
 thing in that region ; therefore, if they had offended, which 
 now by the plaintiff and their defence was to be judged, 
 against the laws of nations, by the laws of nations they were 
 to be chastised ; if against the peculiar ordinances of the 
 province, those peculiar ordinances were to lay hold of them. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 463 
 
 The princes stood a while upon that, demanding leisure to 
 give perfect knowledge of their greatness ; but when they 
 were answered that in a case of a prince's death the law of 
 that country had ever been that immediate trial should be 
 had, they were forced to yield, resolved that in those names 
 they would as much as they could cover the shame of their 
 royal parentage, and keep as long as might be, if evil were 
 determined against them, the evil news from their careful 
 kinsfolk. 
 
 Thus both sides ready, it was determined, because their 
 cases were separated, first Philanax should be heard against 
 Pyrocles, whom they termed Daiphantus, and that heard, the 
 other's cause should follow, and so receive together such 
 judgment as they should be found to have deserved. But 
 Philanax, that was even short-breathed at the first with the 
 extreme vehemency he had to speak against them, stroking 
 once or twice his forehead and wiping his eyes, which either 
 wept or he would at that time have them seem to weep, look- 
 ing first upon Pyrocles as if he had proclaimed ail hatefulness 
 against him, humbly turning to Euarchus, who with quiet 
 gravity showed great attention, he thus began his oration : 
 
 "That which all men, excellent protector, in accusing 
 another, most desire, manifold proofs of their wickedness, 
 most cumbers me. For this man, whom to begin withal I 
 know not how to name, hath come into this country like a 
 lost pilgrim, from a man grew to a woman, from a woman a 
 ravisher of women, thence a prisoner, now a prince. But this 
 Zelmane, this Daiphantus, this what you will, hath no restraint 
 of shame. Nay, what is to be thought of two such virtuous 
 creatures, whereof the one hath confessed murder, the other 
 rape, I leave to your wise consideration. I hasten to the 
 piteous murder of Basilius, for the compassing of which this 
 young nymph of Diana's bringing up feigned certain pretended 
 
464 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 rites, and having trained* Basilius to a cave to witness 
 them, in the meantime this Amazon hath gotten into the 
 chamber of the lady Philoclea, leaving Gynecia, a woman 
 witty though wicked, to attempt the king. We will leave her 
 to her punishment, and regard him, upon whom, O excellent 
 protector, pronounce judgment. For he far passes the arrant- 
 est strumpet in luxuriousness, the cunningest forger in false- 
 hood, a player in disguising, a tiger in cruelty, a dragon in 
 ingratefulness. Let us punish his hellish naughtiness, bring 
 back our prince by seeing his killers die, restore the excellent 
 Philoclea her honour by taking out of the world her dishonour. 
 Alas ! though I have much more to say, I can say no more ; 
 my tears and sighs interrupt my speech, and force me to give 
 myself over to my private sorrow." 
 
 Thus when Philanax had uttered the uttermost of his malice, 
 he made sorrow the cause of his conclusion. But, while Phila- 
 nax was in the course of his speech, and did with such bitter 
 reproaches defame the princely Pyrocles, it was well to be seen 
 his heart was unused to bear such injuries, and his thoughts 
 such as could arm themselves better against anything than 
 shame. For, sometimes blushing, his blood with divers 
 motions coming and going, sometimes closing his eyes and 
 laying his hand over them, sometimes giving such a look to 
 Philanax as might show he assured himself he durst not so 
 have spoken if they had been in an indifferent place, with 
 some impatiency he bare the length of his oration, which 
 being ended, with as much modest humbleness to the judge 
 as despiteful scorn to the accuser, with words to the purpose 
 he thus defended his honour : 
 
 " My accusers tale," said he, " shows in how hard a case 
 and how environed with many troubles I am. He has 
 mingled truth with falsehoods, surmises with certainties, 
 
 * Trained — Dragged, entrapped, drawn by false pretences. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 465 
 
 causes of no moment with matters capital." Then he told 
 his judge how he and Palladius, inflamed with love for the 
 peerless daughters of Basihus, had disguised themselves, how 
 Basihus, deceived in his sex, had plagued him with impor- 
 tunacy, how he had persuaded Gynecia the queen to take 
 his place, and had endeavoured to make Philoclea fly with 
 him, and how indeed he was guiltless of any horrible crime. 
 " If," said he, " in so inhuman a matter there remain any 
 doubt of it, I desire I may be granted the trial by combat. 
 Only I will not deny, nor ever will deny, the love of Philoclea, 
 whose violence wrought violent effects in me." 
 
 With that he finished his speech, casting up his eyes to 
 the judge, and crossing his hands, which he held in their 
 length before him, declaring a resolute patience in whatso- 
 ever should be done with him. Philanax, like a watchful ad- 
 versary, curiously marked all that he said, saving that in the 
 beginning he was interrupted by two letters were brought 
 him from the Princess Pamela and the lady Philoclea, who 
 having all that night considered and bewailed their estate, 
 careful for their mother likewise, of whom they could never 
 think so much evil, but considering with themselves that she 
 assuredly should have so due trial by the laws as either she 
 should not need their help or should be past their help, they 
 looked to that which nearliest touched them, and each wrote 
 in her own sort for him in whom their lives' joy consisted. 
 But Philanax, utterly suppressing them, sent a spiteful care to 
 Pyrocles, and, as soon as he had ended, with a very willing 
 heart, desired Euarchus he might accept the combat, although 
 it would have framed but evil with him, Pyrocles having 
 never found any match near him besides Musidorus. But 
 Euarchus made answer that bodily strength should not be 
 made judge over reason. Then would he also have replied 
 in words unto him, but Euarchus, who knew what they could 
 
 H H 
 
466 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 say was already said, taking their arguments into his mind, 
 commanded Philanax to proceed against the other prisoner, 
 and that then he would sentence them both together. 
 
 Philanax, nothing the milder for Pyrocles purging himself, 
 but rather, according to the nature of arguing, especially 
 when it is bitter, so much more vehement, entered into his 
 speech against Musidorus, being so overgone with rage that 
 he forgat in his oration his precise method of oratory. Musi- 
 dorus, while Philanax was speaking against his cousin and 
 him, had looked round about him, to see whether by any 
 means he might come to have caught him in his arms 
 and have killed him, so much had his disgracing words filled 
 his breast with rage. But perceiving himself so guarded as 
 he should rather show a passionate act than perform his re- 
 venge, his hand trembling with desire to strike, and all the 
 veins in his face swelling, casting his eyes over the judgment 
 seat : '' O gods," said he, " and have you spared my life to 
 bear these injuries of such a drivel ! Is this the justice of 
 this place, to have such men as we are submitted not only to 
 apparent falsehood, but most shameful reviling. But mark, 
 I pray you, the ungratefulness of the wretch, how utterly he 
 hath forgotten the benefits both he and all this country hath 
 received of us. For if ever men may remember their own 
 noble deeds, it is then when their just defence and other's 
 unjust unkindness doth require it. I omit our services done 
 to BasiHus in the late war with Amphialus, importing no less 
 than his daughters' lives and his state's preservation. Were 
 not we the men that killed the wild beasts which otherwise 
 had killed the princesses if we had not succoured them ? 
 Consider, if it please you, where had been Daiphantus' rape, 
 or my treason, if the sweet beauties of the earth had then been 
 devoured ? Either think them now dead, or remember they 
 live by us. And yet full often this tell-tale can acknowledge 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 467 
 
 the loss they should have by their taking away, while mali- 
 ciously he overpasseth who were their preservers. Neither 
 let this be spoken of me, as if I meant to balance this evil 
 with that good — for I must confess that saving of such crea- 
 tures was rewarded in the act itself — but only to manifest the 
 partial jangling of this vile pickthank." 
 
 While this matter was thus handling, a silent and, as it 
 were, astonished attention possessed all the people. A kindly 
 compassion moved the noble gentleman Sympathus, but as 
 for Kalander, everything was spoken either by or for his own 
 dear guests moved an effect in him ; sometimes tears, some- 
 times hopeful looks, sometimes whispering persuasions in 
 their ears that stood by him to seek the saving the two young 
 princes. But the general multitude waited the judgment of 
 Euarchus, who showed in his face no motions, either at the 
 one's or other's speech, letting pass the flowers of rhetoric and 
 only marking whither their reasons tended ; having made the 
 question to be asked of Gynecia, who continued to take the 
 whole fault upon herself, and having called Dametas, with 
 Miso and Mopsa, who by Philanax's order had been held in 
 most cruel prison, to make a full declaration, how much they 
 knew of these past matters, and then gathering as assured 
 satisfaction to his own mind as in that case he could, not 
 needing to take leisure for that whereof a long practice had 
 bred a well-grounded habit in him, with a voice and gesture 
 directed to the universal assembly, he pronounced sentence : 
 " I do, in the behalf of justice, and by the force of Arcadian 
 laws, pronounce that Daiphantus shall be thrown out of a 
 high tower to receive his death by his fall. Palladius shall 
 be beheaded : the time, before the sun set : the place, in Man- 
 tinea : the executioner, Dametas ; which office he shall ex- 
 ecute all the days of his life, for his beastly forgetting the 
 careful duty he owed to his charge." 
 
 H H 2 
 
468 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 This said, he turned himself to Philanax and two of the 
 other noblemen, commanding them to see the judgment pre- 
 sently performed. Philanax, more greedy than any hunter of 
 his prey, went straight to lay hold of the excellent prisoners, 
 who, casting a farewell look one upon the other, represented 
 in their faces as much unappalled constancy as the most ex- 
 cellent courage can deliver in outward graces. Yet, if at all 
 there were any show of change in them, it was that Pyrocles 
 was somewhat nearer to a bashfulness, and Musidorus to 
 anger, both overruled by reason and resolution. But as, 
 with great number of armed men, Philanax was descend- 
 ing unto them, and that Musidorus was beginning to say 
 something in Pyrocles' behalf, behold Kalander, that with 
 arms cast abroad and open moutli came crying to Euar- 
 chus, holding a stranger in his hand that cried much 
 more than he, desiring they might be heard speak before 
 the prisoners were removed ; even the noble gentleman Sym- 
 pathus aided them in it, and, taking such as he could com- 
 mand, stopped Philanax, betwixt entreaty and force, from 
 carrying away the princes, until it were heard what new 
 matters these men did bring. So again mounting to the 
 tribunal, they hearkened to the stranger's vehement speech, 
 or rather appassionate* exclaiming. 
 
 It was indeed Kalodulus, the faithful friend of Musidorus, 
 to whom his master, when, in despite of his best grounded 
 determinations, he first became a slave to affection, had sent 
 the shepherd Menalcas to be arrested, by the help of whose 
 raiment in the meantime he advanced himself to that estate 
 which he accounted most high, because it might be service- 
 able to that fancy which he had placed most high in his mind. 
 
 * Appassionate — Obstinately steadfast. ' ' Gower remained appas- 
 sionated in the opinion of the Pope's supremacy." — Letter in Strype's 
 Annals, iii. 135. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 469 
 
 For Menalcas, having faithfully performed his errand, was as 
 faithfully imprisoned by Kalodulus. But as Kalodulus per- 
 formed the first part of his duty in do.ing the commandment 
 of the prince, so was he with abundance of sincere loyalty 
 extremely perplexed when he understood of Menalcas the 
 strange disguising of his beloved master. For, as the acts he 
 and his cousin Pyrocles had done in Asia had filled all the 
 ears of the Thessalians and Macedonians with no less joy 
 than admiration, so was the fear of their loss no less grievous 
 unto them, when by the noise of report they understood of 
 their lonely committing themselves to the sea, the issue of 
 which they had no way learned. But now that by Menalcas 
 he perceived where he was, guessing the like of Pyrocles, 
 comparing the unusedness of this act with the unripeness of 
 their age, seeing in general conjecture they could do it for 
 nothing that might not fall out dangerous, he was some- 
 while troubled with himself what to do, betwixt doubt of 
 their hurt and doubt of their displeasure. Often he was 
 minded, as his safest and honestest way, to reveal it to the 
 king Euarchus, that both his authority might prevent any 
 damage to them, and under his wings he himself might remain 
 safe. But, considering a journey to Byzantium, whereas yet 
 he supposed Euarchus lay, would require more time than 
 he was willing to remain doubtful of his prince's estate, 
 he resolved at length to write the matter to Euarchus, and 
 himself the while to go into Arcadia, uncertain what to do 
 when he came thither, but determined to do his best service 
 to his dear master, if by any good fortune he might find him. 
 And so it happened that, being even this day come to Man- 
 tinea, and as warily and attentively as he could giving ear to 
 all reports, in hope to hear something of them he sought, he 
 straight received a strange rumour of these things, but so un- 
 certainly as popular reports carry so rare accidents. But 
 
470 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 this by all men he was willed, to seek out Kalander, a great 
 gentleman of that country, Avho would soonest satisfy him of all 
 occurrents.* Thus instructed he came, even about the midst 
 of Euarchus' judgment, to the desert, where, seeing great 
 multitudes, and hearing unknown names of Palladius and 
 Daiphantus, and not able to press to the place where Euar- 
 chus sate, he inquired for Kalander, and was soon brought 
 unto him, partly because he was generally known unto all 
 men, and partly because he had withdrawn himself from the 
 press, when he perceived by Euarchus' words whither they 
 tended, being not able to endure his guests' condemnation. 
 He requireth forthwith of Kalander the cause of the assembly, 
 and whether the same were true of Euarchus' presence, who 
 with many tears made a doubtful recital unto him, both of 
 the Amazon and shepherd, setting forth their natural graces, 
 and lamenting their pitiful undoing. But this description 
 made Kalodulus immediately know the shepherd was his 
 duke ; and so judging the other to be Pyrocles, and speedily 
 communicating it to Kalander, who he saw did favour their 
 case, they brake the press with astonishing every man with 
 their cries. And being come to Euarchus, Kalodulus fell at 
 his feet, telling him those he had judged were his own son 
 and nephew, the one the comfort of Macedon, the other 
 the only stay of Thessalia. With many such like words, 
 but as from a man that assured himself in that matter 
 he should need small speech, while Kalander made it known 
 to all men what the prisoners were, to whom he cried they 
 should salute their father, and joy in the good hap the gods 
 had sent them ; who were no less glad than all the people 
 amazed at the strange event of these matters. Even Phila- 
 nax's own revengeful heart was mollified when he saw from 
 divers parts of the world so near kinsmen should meet in such 
 
 * Occur rents — i.e.^ all that had happened. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 471 
 
 a necessity. And withal the fame of Pyrocles and Musi- 
 dorus greatly drew him to a compassionate conceit, and had 
 already unclothed his face of all show of malice. 
 
 ButEuarchus stayed agood while upon himself, like a valiant 
 man that should receive a notable encounter, being vehe- 
 mently stricken with the fatherly love of so excellent children, 
 and studying with his best reason what his office required. 
 At length, with such a kind of gravity as was near to sorrow, 
 he thus uttered his mind : " I take witness of the immortal 
 gods," said he, " O Arcadians, that what this day I have said 
 hath been out of my assured persuasion what justice itself and 
 your just laws require. Though strangers then to me, I had 
 no desire to hurt them, but, leaving aside all considerations 
 of the persons, I weighed the matter which you committed 
 into my hands with my most unpartial and farthest reach of 
 reason, and thereout have condemned them to lose their 
 lives, contaminated with so many foul breaches of hospitality, 
 civility, and virtue. Now, contrary to all expectations, I find 
 them to be my only son and nephew, such upon whom you 
 see what gifts nature hath bestowed ; such who have so to the 
 wonder of the world heretofore behaved themselves as might 
 give just cause to the greatest hopes that in an excellent 
 youth may be conceived ; lastly, in few words, such in whom 
 I placed all my mortal joys, and thought myself, now near 
 my grave, to recover a new life. But, alas ! shall justice halt, 
 or shall she wink in one's cause that had lynx's eyes in 
 another's, or rather shall all private respects give place to 
 that holy name ? Be it so, be it so ; let my gray hairs be laid 
 in the dust with sorrow, let the small remnant of my life be 
 to me an inward and outward desolation, and to the world a 
 gazing-stock of wretched misery ; but never, never let sacred 
 rightfulness fall : it is immortal, and immortality ought to be 
 preserved. If rightly I have judged, then rightly I have 
 
472 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 judged mine own children — unless the name of a child should 
 have force to change the never-changing justice. No, no, 
 Pyrocles and Musidorus, I prefer you much before my life, 
 but I prefer justice as far before you. While you did like 
 yourselves, my body should willingly have been your shield, 
 but I cannot keep you from the effects of your own doing ; 
 nay, I cannot in this case acknowledge you for mine, for 
 never had I shepherd to my nephew, nor ever had woman to 
 my son. Your vices have degraded you from being princes, 
 and have disannulled your birthright. Therefore, if there 
 be anything left in you of princely virtue, show it in constant 
 suffering that your unprincely dealing hath purchased unto 
 you. For my part, I must tell you you have forced a father 
 to rob himself of his children. Uo you therefore, O Philanax, 
 and you my other lords of this country, see the judgment 
 be rightly performed in time, place, and manner as before 
 appointed." 
 
 With that, though he would have refrained them, a man 
 might perceive the tears drop down his long white beard, 
 which moved not only Kalodulus and Kalander to roaring 
 lamentations, but all the assembly dolefully to record that 
 pitiful spectacle. Philanax himself could not abstain from 
 great shows of pitying sorrow, and manifest withdrawing 
 from performing the king's commandment. 
 
 But, as this pitiful matter was entering into, those that 
 were next the duke's* body might hear from under the velvet 
 wherewith he was covered a great voice of groaning, whereat 
 every man astonished, and their spirits appalled with these 
 former miseries, apt to take any strange conceit, when they 
 might perfectly perceive the body stir, then some began to 
 
 * Duke, here, means the king — dux, reigning sovereign. The 
 word is constantly so used by Shakespeare. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 473 
 
 fear spirits, some to look for a miracle, most to imagine they 
 knew not what. But Philanax and Kalander, whose eyes 
 honest love, though to divers parties, held most attentive, 
 leaped to the table, and putting off the velvet cover, might 
 discern, with as much wonder as gladness, that the duke 
 lived. For so it was that the drink he received was neither, 
 as Gynecia first imagined, a love potion, nor, as it was after 
 thought, a deadly poison, but a drink made by notable art, 
 and, as it was thought, not without natural magic, to procure 
 for thirty hours such a deadly sleep as should oppress all 
 show of life. 
 
 The cause of the making of this drink had first been, that 
 a princess of Cyprus, grandmother to Gynecia, being not- 
 ably learned, and yet not able with all her learning to answer 
 the objections of Cupid, did furiously love a young noble- 
 man of her father's court, who fearing the king's rage, 
 and not once daring either to attempt or accept so high a 
 place, she made that sleeping drink, and found means by a 
 trusty servant of hers, who of purpose invited him to his 
 chamber, to procure him, that suspected no such thing, to 
 receive it. Which done, he, no way able to resist, was secretly 
 carried by him into a pleasant chamber, in the midst of a 
 garden she had of purpose provided for this enterprise, where 
 that space of time pleased herself with seeing and cherishing 
 of him, when the time came of the drink's end of working, 
 and he more astonished than if he had fallen from the clouds, 
 she bade him choose either then to marry her, and to pro- 
 mise to fly away with her in a bark she had made ready, or 
 else she would presently cry out, and show in what place he 
 was, with oath he was come thither to ravish her. The no- 
 bleman in these straits, her beauty prevailed ; he married her, 
 and escaped the realm with her, and after many strange 
 adventures were reconciled to the king her father, after whose 
 
474 ARCADIA.— Book V, 
 
 death they reigned. But she, gratefully remembering the 
 service that drink had done her, preserved in a bottle, made 
 by singular art long to keep it without perishing, great quan- 
 tity of it, with the foretold inscription, which, wrongly inter- 
 preted by her daughter-in-law the queen of Cyprus, was 
 given by her to Gynecia at the time of her marriage, and 
 the drink, finding an old body of Basilius, had kept him 
 some hours longer in the trance than it would have done a 
 younger. 
 
 But a while it was before good Basihus could come again 
 to himself, in which time Euarchus, more glad than of the 
 whole world's monarchy to be rid of his miserable magis- 
 tracy, which even in justice he was now to surrender to the 
 lawful prince of that country, came from the throne unto him, 
 and there with much ado made him understand how these 
 intricate matters had fallen out. Many garboils* passed 
 through his fancy before he could be persuaded Zelmane was 
 other than a woman. At length remembering the oracle, 
 which now indeed was accomplished, not as before he had 
 imagined, considering all had fallen out by the highest provi- 
 dence, and withal weighing in all these matters his own fault 
 had been the greatest, the first thing he did was with all 
 honourable pomp to send for Gynecia, who, poor lady, thought 
 she was leading forth to her living burial, and when she came 
 to recount before all the people the excellent virtue was in 
 her, which she had not only maintained all her life most un- 
 spotted, but now was content so miserably to die, to follow 
 her husband. He told them how she had warned him to 
 take heed of that drink ; and so with all the exaltings of her 
 that might be, publicly desired her pardon for those errors 
 
 * Garhoils — Fr. garbouille — uproav; here meaning mental confusion 
 and commotion. 
 
ARCADIA.— Book V. 475 
 
 he had committed, and so kissing her, left her to receive the 
 most honourable fame of any princess throughout the world, 
 all men thinking, saving only Pyrocles and Philoclea, who 
 never betrayed her, that she was the perfect mirror of all 
 wifely love. Which though in that point undeserved, she did 
 in the remnant of her life duly purchase, with observing all 
 duty and faith to the example and glory of Greece ; so un- 
 certain are mortal judgments, the same person most infamous, 
 and most famous, and neither justly. 
 
 Then with princely entertainment to Euarchus, and many 
 kind words to Pyrocles, whom still he dearly loved, though 
 in a more virtuous kind, the marriage was concluded, to the 
 inestimable joy of Euarchus, betwixt the peerless princes and 
 princesses, Philanax for his singular faith ever held dear of 
 Basihus while he lived, and no less of Musidorus, who was to 
 inherit that kingdom, and therein confirmed to him and his 
 the second place of that province, with great increase of his 
 living to maintain it. Which like proportion he used to Kalo- 
 dulus in Thessalia ; highly honouring Kalander while he 
 lived, and after his death continuing in the same measure to 
 love and advance his son Clitophon. But as for Sympathus, 
 Pyrocles, to whom his father in his own time gave the whole 
 kingdom of Thrace, held him always about him, giving him 
 in pure gift the great city of Abdera. 
 
 But the solemnities of these marriages, with the Arcadian 
 pastorals, full of many comical adventures happening to those 
 rural lovers ; the strange stories of Artaxia and Plexirtus, 
 Erona and Plangus, Helen and Amphialus, with the won- 
 derful chances that befel them ; the shepherdish loves of 
 Menalcas with Kalodulus' daughter ; the poor hopes of the 
 poor Philisides in the pursuit of his affections ; the strange 
 continuance of Klaius and Strephon's desire ; lastly, the 
 son of Pyrocles, named Pyrophilus, and Melidora, the fair 
 
476 
 
 ARCADIA.— Book V. 
 
 daughter of Pamela by jMusidorus, who even at their 
 
 birth entered into admirable fortunes, may awake some 
 
 other spirit to exercise his pen* in that wherewith mine 
 is already dulled. 
 
 * Exercise his pen — This is all that Sidney wrote ; and here the 
 romance properly ends. But, although the preface of the original 
 says that " S'^ Philip Sidneie's writings can no more bee perfected 
 without S"" Philip Sidneie than Apelles' picture without Apelles, 
 although there are those that think otherwise, for never was Arcadia 
 free from the comber of such cattel," Mr. R(i chard) B(eling) did add 
 "a limn to Apelles' picture" in a sixth book, on which the author's 
 modest preface shall prevent us passing an opinion. Mr. Beling, 
 who was a young gentleman of Lincoln's Inn, says that he does not 
 follow " Pythagoras his opinion," and that he is "well assured that 
 the divine Sidney's soul is not infused into him " — nor indeed was 
 his art, his matter, or manner, of v/hich he has caught but a faint 
 echo. 
 
 The End. 
 
 "WILLIAM STEVEKS, PBIKTEB, 37, BELL YAED, TEMPLE BAB. 
 
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