Per. I have, Antiochus, and with a soul Imboldened with the glory of her praise, Think death no hazard, in this enterprise. [Music. Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride," For the embracements even of Jove himself; At whose conception, (till Lucina reigned, Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence,)2 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, apparelled like the spring, Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Her face the book of praises, where is read Ye gods that made me man, and sway in love, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. 1 In the old copy this line stands :— "Music, bring in our daughter clothed like a bride." Malone thinks it a marginal direction inserted in the text by mistake. Mr. Boswell thinks it only an Alexandrine. 2 The words whose and her refer to the daughter of Antiochus. 3 "The Graces are her subjects, and her thoughts the sovereign of every virtue that gives renown to men." 4 By "her mild companion" "the companion of her mildness" is meant. 5 Hesperides is here taken for the name of the garden in which the golden apples were kept; as we find it in Love's Labor's Lost, Act iv. And which, without desert, because thine eye Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, And by those fearful objects to prepare For death remembered, should be like a mirror, And all good men, as every prince should do: [To the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. Thus ready for the way of life or death, I wait the sharpest blow, Antiochus. Ant. Scorning advice.-Read the conclusion then, Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee thou thyself shalt bleed. Daugh. In all, save that, mayst thou prove prosperous! In all, save that, I wish thee happiness! 4 1 i. e. "for fear of going," or "lest they should go." 2 That is, "to prepare this body for that state to which I must come.” 3 "I will act as sick men do; who, having had experience of the pleasures of the world, and only a visionary and distant prospect of heaven, have neglected the latter for the former; but at length, feeling themselves decaying, grasp no longer at temporal pleasures, but prepare calmly for futurity." 4 The old copy reads :— Of all said yet, mayst thou prove prosperous; The emendation is Mr. Mason's. 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. 1 Sharp physic is the last. But O you powers! [Takes hold of the hand of the Princess Would draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken; Good sooth, I care not for you. Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, For that's an article within our law, As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expired; Either expound now, or receive your sentence. Per. Great king, Few love to hear the sins they love to act; "Twould 'braid yourself too near for me to tell it. 1 i. e. the intimation in the last line of the riddle, that his life depends on resolving it. 2 i. e. he is no perfect or honest man that knowing, &c. 1 Who has a book of all that monarchs do, casts Copped 2 hills towards heaven, to tell, the earth is thronged 3 By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't. Kings are earth's gods; in vice their law's their will; What being more known grows worse, to smother it. Ant. Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found the meaning; But I will gloze with him. [Aside.] Young prince of Though by the tenor of our strict edict, We might proceed to cancel of your days; 4 [Exeunt ANT., his Daughter, and Attend. 1 Pericles means by this similitude to show the danger of revealing the crimes of princes; for as they feel hurt by the publication of their shame, they will of course prevent the repetition of it, by destroying the person who divulged. He pursues the same idea in the instance of the mole. 2 "Copped hills" are hills rising in a conical form, something of the shape of a sugarloaf. In Anglo-Saxon, cop is a head. 3 Steevens altered thronged to wronged; but apparently without necessity. 4 To the destruction of your life. Per. How courtesy would seem to cover sin! Then were it certain, you were not so bad, And both like serpents are, who though they feed Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. [Exit. Ant. He hath found the meaning, for the which we mean To have his head. He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy, Nor tell the world, Antiochus doth sin In such a loathed manner. And therefore instantly this prince must die; For by his fall my honor must keep high. Thal. Enter THALIARD. Doth your highness call? 1 Where has here the power of whereas. It occurs again in Act ii. Sc. 3. 2 The old copy erroneously reads show. The emendation is Malone's. |