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 will becomes thy 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 resolution; but the more he
thought the more he knew not what to think, armies of objections
rising against any accepted opinion.
Then as careful he was what to do himself: at length determined never
to leave seeking him till his search should be either by meeting
accomplished, or by death ended. Therefore (for all the unkindness
bearing tender respect that his friend’s secret determination should
be kept from any suspicion 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 {47} 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 a 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 dissuade nor hope to persuade, received the things with mind of a
keeper, not of an owner; but, before he went, desired he might have
the happiness fully to know what they were, which, he said, he had
ever till then delayed, fearing to be importune: but now he would not
be so much an enemy to his desires as any longer to imprison them in
silence. Palladius told him that the matter was not so secret but that
so worthy a friend deserved the knowledge, and should have it as soon
as he might speak with his friend, without whose consent (because
their promise bound him otherwise) he could not reveal it; but bade
him hold for most assured that if they lived but a while he should
find that they which bore the names of Diaphantus and Palladius would
give him and his cause to think his noble courtesy well employed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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