It is remarkable, that many of our ancient writers were ambitious to exhibit Sidney's worthies on the stage ; and when his subordinate agents were advanced to such honour, how happened it that Pyrocles, their leader, should be overlooked ? Mufidorus, (his companion,) Argalus and Parthenia, Phalantus and Eudora, Andromana, &c. furnished titles for different tragedies; and perhaps Pyrocles, in the present instance, was defrauded of a like distinction. The names invented or employed by Sidney, had once such popularity, that they were sometimes borrowed by poets who did not profets to follow the direct current of his fables, or aitend to the Itrict preservation of his characters. Nay, so high was the credit of this romance, that many a fashionable, word and glowing phrase selected from it, was applied, like a Promethean torch, to contemporary sonnets, and gave a transient life even to those dwarfish and enervate bantlings of the reluctant Muse.

I must add, that the Appolyn of the Story-book and Gower, could have been rejected only to make room for a more favourite name; yet, however conciliating the name of Pyrocles might have been, that of Pericles could challenge no advantage with regard to general predilection.

I am aware, that a conclusive argument cannot be drawn from the false quantity in the second syllable of Perựcles; and yet if the Athenian was in our author's mind, he might have been taught by repeated translations from fragments of satiric poets in Sir Thomas North's Nutarch, to call his hero Perīcles; as for instance, in the following couplet :

“ O Chiron, tell me, first, art thou indecde the man
“ Which did instruct Pericles thus ? make answer if thou

can.” &c. &c. Such therefore was the pronunciation of this proper name, in the age • of Shakspeare. The address of Persius to a youthful orator—Magni pupille Perīcli, is familiar to the car of every classical reader.

All circumstances therefore considered, it is not improbable that our author designed his chief character to be called Pyrocles, not Pericles, * however ignorance or accident might have thuffled the latter (a name of almost similar sound) into the place of the former.

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ANTIOCHUS, king of Antioch.
Pericles, prince of Tyre.
HELICANUS,

two lords of Tyre.
ESCANES,
SIMONIDES, king of Pentapolis.
CLEON, governor of Thai sus.
LYSIMACHUS, governor of Mitylene.
CERIMON, a lord of Ephesus.
THALIARD, a lord of Antioch.
PHILEMON, servant to Cerimon.
LEONINE, fervant to Dionyza.
Marsball.
d Pander, and his wife.
Boult, their feruant.
Gower, as chorus.

The daugbter of Antiochus.
DIONYZA, wife to Cleon.
THAISA, daughter to Simonides.
MARINA, daughter to Pericles and Thaila.
LYCHORIDA, nurse to Marina.
DIANA.

Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen,

and Messengers, &c.

SCENE, disperjedly in various countries.

PERICLES.

ACT I.

Enter GowER.

Before the Palace of ANTIOCH.
Ting a song of old was fung,

From ashes ancient Gower is come;
Assuming man's infirmities,
To glad your ear, and please your eyes.
It hath been sung at festivals,
On ember-eves, and holy-ales ;
And lords and ladies of their lives
Have read it for restoratives :
'Purpose to make men glorious ;
Et quo antiquius, eo melius.
If you, born in these latter times,
When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes,
And that to hear an old man sing,
May to your wishes pleasure bring,
I life would wish, and that I might
Waste it for you, like taper-light.-
This city then, Antioch the great
Built up for his chiefest seat;
The fairest in all Syria ;
(I tell you what mine authors fay :)
This king unto him took a pheere,
Who died and left a female heir,

B

So

So buxom, blithe, and full of face,
As heaven had lent her all his grace;
With whom the father liking took,
And her to incest did provoke :
Bad father! to entice his own
To evil, should be done by none.
By custom, what they did begin,
Was, with long use, account no fin.
The beauty of this sinful dame,
Made many princes thither frame,
To seek her as a bed-fellow,
In marriage-pleasures play-fellow :
Which to prevent, he made a law,
(To keep her still, and men in awe,)
That whoso ask'd her for his wife,
His riddle told not, lost his life :
So for her many a wight did die,
As yon grim looks do testify.
What now ensues, to the judgment of your eye
I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit.

SCENE I.

Antioch. A Room in the Palace.

a

Enter ANTIOCHUS, PERICLES, and Attendants. Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large receiv'd The danger of the task you undertake.

Per. I have, Antiochus, and with a foul Embolden'd with the glory of her praise, Think death no hazard, in this enterprize. [Mufick.

Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride, For the embracements even of "Jove himself;

At

a

At whose conception, (till Lucina reign'd,)
Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence,
The senate-house of planets all did sit,
To knit in her their best perfections.

Enter the daughter of Antiochus.

a

Per. See, where she comes, apparelld like the spring,
Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king
Of every virtue gives renown to men !
Her face, the book of praises, where is read
Nothing but curious pleasures, as from thence
Sorrow were ever ras'd, and testy wrath
Could never be her mild companion.
Ye gods that made me man, and sway in love,
That have inflam'd desire in my breast,
To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree,
Or die in the adventure, be my helps,
As I am son and servant to your will,
To compass such a boundless happiness!

Ant. Prince Pericles,-
Per. That would be son to great Antiochus.

Ant. Before thee stands this fair Hesperides,
With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd ;
For death-like dragons here affright thee hard :
Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view
A countless glory, which desert must gain :
And which, without desert, because thine eye
Presumes to reach, all thy whole heap must die,
Yon sometime famous princes, like thyself,
Drawn by report, advent'rous by desire,
Tell thee with speechless tongues, and femblance pale,
That, without covering, save yon field of stars,
They here stand martyrs, flain in Cupid's wars;

And

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