Thal. My lord, If I Can get him once within my pistol's length, The sad companion, dull-ey'd melancholy, Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine shun them, And danger, which Lfeared, is at Antioch, eyes And what was first but fear what might be done, And what may make him blush in being known, Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them,) Makes both my body pine, and soul to lauguish, 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, Per. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook What shipping, and what lading's in our haven, And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords.] Helicanus, Rise, pr'ythee, rise; Sit down, sit down; thou art no flatterer: 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, Who by thy wisdom mak'st a prince thy servant, What would'st thou have me do? Hel. With patience bear Such griefs as you do lay upon yourself. Per. Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus; Who minister'st a potion unto me, That thou would'st tremble to receive thyself. Attend me then: I went to Antioch, Where, as thou know'st, against the face of death, I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty, From whence an issue I might propagate, Bring arms to princes, and to subjects joys. Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder; The rest (hark in thine ear,) as black as incest; Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: but thou know'st this, 'Tis time to fear, when tyrants seem to kiss. Hel. Alas, sir! Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks, Musings into my mind, a thousand doubts Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome. With message unto princely Pericles; Hel. Well, my lord, since you have given me leave Commended to our master, not to us: to speak, Freely I'll speak. Antiochus you fear, Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, But should he wrong my liberties in absence- Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee; I Thal. So, this is Tyre, and this is the court. Here must I kill king Pericles; and, if I do not, am sure to be hang'd 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 villian, 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. His seal'd commission, left in trust with me, Doth speak sufficiently, he's gone to travel. Thal. How! the king gone! [Aside. Hel. If further yet you will be satisfied, What from Antioch? [Aside. Hel. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not,) Took some displeasure at him; at least he judg'd so: [Aside. I shall not be hang'd now, although I would; (1) In our different spheres. (2) Overcome. 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 Governor's house. Enter Cleon, Dionyza, and Attendants. Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, 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, Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have government (A city, on whom plenty held full hand,) For riches, strew'd herself even in the streets; Whose towers bore heads so high, they kiss'd the clouds, 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, Is not this true? Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eves 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! (4) To dress them by. (5) Nurse fondly. The misery of Tharsus may be theirs. Lord. Where's the lord governor ? Speak out thy sorrows which thou bring'st, in haste, Lord. We have descried, upon our neighbouring 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 Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor'd to repeat, To know for what he comes, and whence he comes, Lord. I go, my lord. [Exit. Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist;2 If wars, we are unable to resist. Enter Pericles, with Attendants. Per. Lord governor, for so we hear you are, All. The gods of Greece protect you! Per. Per. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here Until our stars that frown, lend us a smile. ACT II. Enter Gower. [Exe. Prove awful both in deed and word. But tidings to the contrary Are brought your eyes; what need speak I? Dumb show. Enter at one door Pericles, talking Gow. Good Helicane hath staid at home, Ne aught escapen but himself; Threw him ashore, to give him glad: And here he comes: what shall be next, Pardon old Gower: this long's the text. [Ere. SCENE I.-Pentapolis. An open place by the Per. Yet cease your ire, ye angry stars of heaven! 1 Fish. What, ho, Pilche! 2 Fish. Ho! come, and bring away the nets. 1 Fish. What, Patch-breech, I say! 3 Fish. What say you, master? 1 Fish. Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion. 3 Fish. 'Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us, even now. 1 Fish. Alas, poor souls, it griev'd my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us, to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help our selves. (5) i. e. Conduct, behaviour. (6) Blessing. [Exeunt two of the Fishermen. Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour ! 3 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when draw up the net. I saw the porpus, how he bounced and tumbled? they say, they are half fish, half flesh; a plague on them, they ne'er come, but I look to be wash'd. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. 1 Fish. Why, as men do a-land: the great ones eat up the little ones: I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly s to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. Such whales have I heard on a'the land, who never leave gaping, till they've swallow'd the whole parish, church, steeple, bells and all. Per. A pretty moral. 3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the beitry. 2 Fish. Why, man? 3 Fish. Because he should have swallow'd me too: and when I had been in his belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish, up again. But if the good king Simonides were of my mind- Per. Simonides! 3 Fish. We would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey. Per. How from the finny subject of the sea 2 Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? if it be a day fits you, scratch it out of the calendar, and nobody will look after it. 1 Fish. Hark you, sir; do you know where you are ? Per. Not well. 1 Fish. Why, I'll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king, the good Simonides. Per. The good king Simonides, do you call him? 1 Fish. Ay, sir; and he deserves to be so call'd, for his peaceable reign, and good government. Per. He is a happy king, since from his subjects He gains the name of good, by his government. How far is his court distant from this shore? Fish. Marry, sir, half a day's journey; and I'll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birth-day; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world, to just and tourney2 for her love. Per. Did but my fortunes equal my desires, I'd wish to make one there. 1 Fish. O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully deal forhis wife's soul. Re-enter the two Fishermen, drawing up a net. 2 Fish. Help, master, help; here's a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man's right in the law; 'twill hardly come out. Ha! bots on't, 'tis come at last, and 'tis turn'd to a rusty armour. Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it. Thanks, fortune, vet, that after all my crosses, Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself; Per. Nay, see, the sea hath cast upon your coast-And, though it was mine own, part of mine heritage, 2 Fish. What a drunken knave was the sea, to cast thee in our way! Per. A man whom both the waters and the wind, In that vast tennis-court, hath made the ball For them to play upon, entreats you pity him; He asks of you, that never us'd to beg. 1 Fish. No, friend, cannot you beg? here's them in our country of Greece, gets more with begging, than we can do with working. 2 Fish. Canst thou catch any fishes then? Per. I never practis'd it. 2 Fish. Nay, then thou wilt starve sure; for here's nothing to be got now a-days, unless thou canst fish for't. Per. What I have been, I have forgot to know; But what I am, want teaches me to think on; A man shrunk up with cold: my veins are chill, And have no more of life, than may suffice To give my tongue that heat, to ask your help; Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead, For I am a man, pray see me buried. 1 Fish. Die, quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we'll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting days, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks,' and thou shalt be welcome. Per. I thank you, sir. Which my dead father did bequeath to me, Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth, For it was sometime target to a king; I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly, And for his sake, I wish the having of it; And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's court, Where with't I may appear a gentleman; And if that ever my low fortunes better, I'll pay your bounties; till then, rest your debtor. 1 Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady? Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms. 1 Fish. Why, do ye take it, and the gods give thee good on't! 2 Fish. Ay, but hark you, my friend; 'twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the waters: there are certain condolements, cer 2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, you said you could tain vails. I hope, sir, if you thrive, you'll remem not beg. Per. I did but crave. 2 Fish. But crave? Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall 'scape whipping. ber from whence you had it. Per. Believe't, I will. Now, by your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel; Per. Why, are all your beggars whipp'd then? Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.(4) Keeping. (3) Armour for the arm. 3 K Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided 2 Fish. We'll sure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair, and I'll bring thee to the court myself. Per. Then honour be but a gaol to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt. The motto, In hac spe vivo. From the dejected state wherein he is, He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish. Can any way speak in his just commend: lance. SCENE II.-The same. A public way, or plat-To have practis'd more the whipstock," than the form, leading to the lists. A pavilion by the side of it, for the reception of the King, Princess, Lords, &c. Enter Simonides, Thaisa, Lords, and Attendants. Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph? 1 Lord. They are, my liege; And stay your coming to present themselves. To an honour'd triumph, strangely furnished. Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan The outward habit by the inward man. Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw daughter, Into the gallery. 2 In honour of whose birth these triumphs are, [Exit a Lord. [Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry, The mean knight! SCENE III.-The same. A hall of state.-A ban quet prepared. Enter Simonides, Thaisa, Lords, Knights, and Attendants. Sim. Knights, To say you are welcome, were superfluous. Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll per- You are my guests. Enter a Knight; he passes over the stage, and his Sim. He loves you well, that holds his life of you. [The second Knight passes. Who is the second, that presents himself? Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; Sim. What is the fourth? Which can as well inflame, as it can kill. [The sixth Knight passes. Sim. And what's the sixth and last, which the knight himself With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd? Thai. He seems a stranger; but his present is A wither'd branch, that's only green at top; (1) A kind of loose breeches. (2) i. e. Return them notice. (3) Emblem on a shield. The motto. (4) Offer. Thai. yours; And here, I hope, is none that envies it. o'the feast (For, daughter, so you are,) here take your place: Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace. Knights. We are honour'd much by good Simo nides. Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we Per. Some other is more fit. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentle |