“The excelling 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
they not 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,
little hoping of better event, he put himself in poor raiment, and by
the help of some few crowns he took of {165} that nobleman, who full
of sorrow, though not knowing the secret of his intent, suffered 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 stepped unto him, and putting
the sword into his hand, not bound, a point of civility the officers
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 smiled, and Dorus the 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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