As heaven had lent her all his grace; What now ensues, to th' judgment of your eye I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit. SCENE I-Antioch. A room in the palace. 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 soul Embolden'd with the glory of her praise, Think death no hazard in this enterprize. Music. Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride, For the embracements even of Jove himself; 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. Per. See, where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Could never be her mild companion. Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, That, without covering, save yon field of stars, woe, Gripe not at earthly joys, as erst they did; To the daughter of Antiochus. Ant. Read the conclusion then; Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee thou thyself shalt bleed. Daugh. In all, save that, may'st thou prove prosperous! In all, save that, I wish thee happiness! Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the lists, Nor ask advice of any other thought But faithfulness, and courage. [He reads the Riddle.] I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh, which did me breed: Sharp physic is the last: but, O you powers! Ye gods, that made me man, and sway in love, That give heaven countless eyes to view men's That have inflam'd desire in my breast, To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. acts, Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, [Takes hold of the hand of the Princess. Were not this glorious casket stor'd with ill: But I must tell you,-now, my thoughts revolt; For he's no man on whom perfections wait, That, knowing sin within, will touch the gate. You're a fair viol, and your sense the strings; Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music, Would draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken; But, being play'd upon before your time, Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, Few love to hear the sins they love to act; Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell, the earth is wrong'd By man's oppression: and the poor worm doth die for't. Kings are earth's gods: in vice their law's their will; And if Jove stray, who dares say, Jove doth ill? It is enough you know; and it is fit, What being more known grows worse, to smother it. All love the womb that their first beings bred, Then give my tongue like leave to love my head. Ant. Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found the meaning; But I will gloze with him. Aside.] Young prince of Tyre, Though by the tenour of our strict edíct, We might proceed to cancel of your days; [Exeunt Antiochus, his daughter, and Attendants. Per. How courtesy would seem to cover sin! When what is done is like an hypocrite, The which is good in nothing but in sight. If it be true that I interpret false, Then were it certain, you were not so bad, As with foul incest to abuse your soul; Where now you're both a father and a son, By your untimely claspings with your child, (Which pleasure fits an husband, not a father;) And she an eater of her mother's flesh, By the defiling of her parent's bed; And both like serpents are, who though they feed On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed. Antioch, farewell! for wisdom sees, those men Blush not in actions blacker than the night, Will shun no course to keep them from the light. One sin, I know, another doth provoke ; Murder's as near to lust, as flame to smoke. Poison and treason are the hands of sin, Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame: Then it is thus: the passions of the mind, Nor boots it me to say, I honour him, And what may make him blush in being known, He'll stop the course by which it might be known; With hostile forces he'll o'erspread the land, Makes both my body pine, and soul to languish, And punish that before, that he would punish. 1 Lord. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast! 2 Lord. And keep your mind, till you return to us, Peaceful and comfortable! Hel. Peace, peace, my lords, and give experience tongue. They do abuse the king that flatter him: Whereas reproof, obedient and in order, What shipping, and what lading's in our haven, And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords.] Helicanus, thou Hast mov'd us: what seest thou in our looks? Hel. An angry brow, dread lord. Per. If there be such a dart in princes' frowns, How durst thy tongue move anger to our face? Hel. How dare the plants look up to heaven, from whence They have their nourishment? Per. Thou know'st I have power To take thy life. I thank thee for it; and high heaven forbid, That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid! Fit counsellor, and servant for a prince, Hel. With patience bear Such griefs as you do lay upon yourself. Per. Thou speak'st like a physician, Helica nus; Who minister'st a potion unto me, ther Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: but thou know'st this, 'Tis time to fear, when tyrants seem to kiss. When all, for mine, if I may call❜t offence, Hel. Alas, sir! Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks, Musings into my mind, a thousand doubts Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, Hel. Kneeling] I have ground the axe my- Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be. self; Do you but strike the blow. Per. Rise, pr'ythee, rise; Sit down, sit down; thou art no flatterer: Per. I do not doubt thy faith; But should he wrong my liberties in absenceHel. We'll mingle bloods together in the earth, From whence we had our being and our birth. Thal. So, this is Tyre, and this is the court. Here must I kill king Pericles; and if I do 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 it for if a king bid a man be a villain, he is 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, Further to question of your king's departure. [Aside. Hel. If further yet you will be satisfied, Why, as it were unlicens'd of your loves, He would depart, I'll give some light unto you. Being at Antioch Thal. What from Antioch? [Aside. Hel. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not,) Took some displeasure at him; at least he judg'd só: And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd, I shall not be hang'd now, although I would; come. Thal. From him I come With message unto princely Pericles; But, since my landing, as I have understood Your lord has took himself to unknown travels, My message must return from whence it came. Hel. We have no reason to desire it, since Commended to our master, not to us: Yet, ere you shall depart, this we desire,— As friends to Antioch, we may feast in Tyre. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Tharsus. A room in the Gover nor's house. Enter CLEON, Dionyza, and Attendants. Dio. That were to blow at fire, in hope to quench it; For who digs hills because they do aspire, Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it, If heaven slumber, while their creatures want, Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have government, (A city, on whom plenty held full hand,) And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at; Cle. But see what heaven can do! By this our change, These mouths, whom but of late, earth, sea, and air, Were all too little to content and please, Here many sink, yet those which see them fall, Have scarce strength left to give them burial. Is not this true? Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. Cle. O, let those cities, that of Plenty's cup And her prosperities so largely taste, With their superfluous riots, hear these tears! The misery of Tharsus may be theirs. Enter a Lord. Lord. Where's the lord governor ? Cle. Here. Go tell their general, we attend him here, comes, And what he craves. Lord. I go, my lord. [Exit. 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, Speak out thy sorrows, which thou bring'st, in We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre, haste, For comfort is too far for us to expect. Lord We have descried, upon our neighbouring shore, A portly sail of ships make hitherward. One sorrow never comes, but brings an heir, And so in ours: some neighbouring nation, Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power, Lord. That's the least fear; for, by the semblance Of their white flags display'd, they bring us peace, Who makes the fairest show, means most deceit. But bring they what they will, what need we fear? The ground's the low'st, and we are half way there. And seen the desolation of your streets: All. The gods of Greece protect you! Per. Rise, I pray you, rise; We do not look for reverence, but for love, And harbourage for ourself, our ships, and men, Cle. The which when any shall not gratify, Or pay you with unthankfulness in thought, Be it our wives, our children, or ourselves, The curse of heaven and men succeed their evils! Till when, (the which, I hope, shall ne'er be seen, Your grace is welcome to our town and us. Per. Which welcome we'll accept ; feast here a while, Until our stars, that frown, lend us a smile. [Exeunt. ACT II. Enter GOWER. Gow. Here have you seen a mighty king But tidings to the contrary Are brought your eyes; what need speak I? Dumb show. Enter at one door PERICLES, talking with CLEON; |