SCENE III. Tyre. An ante-chamber in the palace. Enter THALIARD. Thal. So, this is Tyre, and this the court. Here must I kill King Pericles; and if I do it not, I am sure to be hanged at home: 'tis dangerous.-Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow and had good discretion, that, being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets now do I see he had some reason for 't; for if a king bid a man be a villain, he's bound by the indenture of his oath to be one.-Hush! here come the lords of Tyre. Enter HELICANUS, ESCANES, and other Lords. Hel. You shall not need, my fellow peers of Tyre, Thal. [aside] What from Antioch? Hel. Royal Antiochus-on what cause I know not— Took some displeasure at him,—at least he judg'd so; And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd, To show his sorrow, he'd correct himself; So puts himself unto the shipman's toil, With whom each minute threatens life or death. I shall not be hang'd now, although I would; I'll present myself.-Peace to the lords of Tyre! Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome. Thal. From him I come With message unto princely Pericles; But since my landing I have understood (38) Your lord has betook himself to unknown travels, My message must return from whence it came. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Tharsus. A room in the Governor's house. Enter CLEON, DIONYZA, and Attendants. Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, And by relating tales of others' griefs, See if 'twill teach us to forget our own? Dio. That were to blow at fire in hope to quench it; O my distressèd lord, even such our griefs are; Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it, Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep our woes Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have the government, A city on whom Plenty held full hand, For Riches strew'd herself even in the streets;(43) Whose towers bore heads so high they kiss'd the clouds, And strangers ne'er beheld but wonder'd at; Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'd, Like one another's glass to trim them by : All poverty was scorn'd, and pride so great, Dio. O, 'tis too true. Cle. But see what heaven can do! By this our change, Those mouths who but of late, earth, sea, and air, Were all too little to content and please, Although they gave their creatures in abundance, They are now starv'd for want of exercise : Those palates who, not yet two summers younger,(44) Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. With their superfluous riots, hear(45) these tears! Enter a Lord. Lord. Where's the lord governor? Cle. Here. Speak out thy sorrows which thou bring'st in haste, For comfort is too far for us t' expect. Lord. We have descried, upon our neighbouring shore, A portly sail of ships make hitherward. Cle. I thought as much. One sorrow never comes but brings an heir, That may succeed as his inheritor; And so in ours: some neighbouring nation, Taking advantage of our misery, Hath stuff'd these(46) hollow vessels with their power, To beat us down, the which are down already; Lord. That's the least fear; for, by the semblance Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor❜d to repeat: The ground's the lowest, and we're half-way there. To know for what he comes, and whence he comes, Lord. I go, my lord. Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist; If wars, we are unable to resist. Enter PERICLES with Attendants. Per. Lord governor, for so we hear you are, And we'll pray for you. Per. Rise, I pray you, rise:(50) [Exit. Till when, the which I hope shall ne'er be seen,- Per. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here awhile, [Exeunt. ACT II. Enter Gower. Gow. Here have you seen a mighty king His child, I wis, to incest bring; A better prince, and benign lord, That will prove awful both in deed and word. I'll show you those in troubles reign, To whom I give my benison- Build(52) his statue to make him glorious: But tidings to the contrary Are brought your eyes; what need speak I? DUMB-SHOW. Enter, from one side, PERICLES, talking with CLEON; their Trains with them. Enter, from the other side, a Gentleman, with a letter to PERICLES; who shows the letter to CLEON; then gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. Exeunt severally PERICLES and CLEON, with their Trains. Good Helicane, that(53) stay'd at home, Not to eat honey like a drone From others' labours; for though(54) he strive. To killen bad, keep good alive; And to fulfil his prince' desire, |