The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1868. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 5ARCADIA.--Book II. 151 "ter 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 recommended 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 liberality, so tempered it that they all kept together like a beautiful flock, which so well could obey their master's pipe; without, somet...