Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my Musings into my mind, a thousand doubts 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; 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 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 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. [Aside. Hel. If further yet you will be satisfied, Thal. 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. Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome. With message unto princely Pericles; SCENE IV.-Tharsus. A room in the Gov- Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, Dio. That were to blow at fire, in hope to 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 And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at ; Cle. But see what heaven can do! By this our These mouths, whom but of late, earth, sea, and air, Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. (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 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,' Whereas no glory's got to overcome. Lord. That's the least fear: for, by the semblance Of their white flags display'd, they bring us peace, And come to us as favourers, not as foes. Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor'd to repeat, 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. Go tell their general, we attend him here, To know for what he comes, and whence he comes, And what he craves. 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, Let not our ships and number of our men, Be, like a beacon fir'd, to amaze your eyes. We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre, And seen the desolation of your streets : Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears, But to relieve them of their heavy load; And these our ships you happilys may think Are, like the Trojan horse, war-stuff'd within, With bloody views, expecting overthrow, Are stor'd with corn, to make your needy bread, And give them life, who are hunger-starv'd, half dead. All. The gods of Greece protect you! And we'll pray for you. Per. any 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 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. [Exe. ACT II. Enter Gower. Gow. Here have you seen a mighty king His child, I wis,4 to incest bring; A better prince, and benign lord, (1) Forces. (2) If he stands on peace. (3) Perhaps. (4) Know. 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 with Cleon; all the train with them. Enter at another door, a Gentleman with a letter to Pericles; Pericles shows the letter to Cleon; then gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. Exeunt Pericles, Cleon, &c. severally. Gow. Good Helicane hath staid at home, SCENE L-Pentapolis. An open place by the sea-side. Enter Pericles, wet. Per. Yet cease your ire, ye angry stars of heaven! Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man Is but a substance that must yield to you; And I, as fits my nature, do obey you; Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks, Wash'd me from shore to shore, and left me breath Nothing to think on, but ensuing death: Let it suffice the greatness of your powers, To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes; And having thrown him from your wat'ry grave, Here to have death in peace, is all he'll crave. Enter three Fishermen. 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 ourselves. (5) 2. 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 as to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at Jast 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 belfry. 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 Pentapois, 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? 1 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 for— his 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, yet, 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 Which my dead father did bequeath to me, cast thee in our way! Per. A man whom both the waters and the wind,|| 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; With this strict charge (even as he left his life,) Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of For it was sometime target to a king; I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly, 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.thee good on't! fish for fasting-days, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks, and thou shalt be welcome. Per. I thank you, sir. 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 rememnot 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? 2 Fish. O, not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipp'd, I would wish no bet-Upon a courser, whose delightful steps ter office, than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.(4) Keeping. (1) Pancakes. (2) To tilt, mock-fight. (3) Armour for the arm. 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. Sim. A pretty moral; 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. Sim. Return them,2 we are ready; and our daughter, In honour of whose birth these triumphs are, [Exit a Lord. 2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honour'd triumph, strangely furnished. 3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust, Until this day, to scour it in the dust. Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan The outward habit by the inward inan. But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw Into the gallery. [Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry, The mean knight! SCENE III-The same. A hall of state.-A banquet 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 Squire presents his shield to the Princess. Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; Thai. 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; yours; And here, I hope, is none that envies it. (For, daughter, so you are,) here take your place: ides. Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we For who hates honour, hates the gods above. Per. Some other is more fit. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentle men, That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes, Sim. Of marriage, all the viands that I eat Sim. A country gentleman; He's but He has done no more than other knights have done, Thai. To me he seems like diamond to glass. (6) i. e. More by sweetness than by force. (8) i. e. These delicacies go against my stomach. Which tells me, in that glory once he was; 1 Knight. Who can be other, in this royal presence? Sim. Here, with a cup that's stor'd unto the brim (As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,) We drink this health to you. Knights. Sim. Yet pause a while; We thank your grace. To me, my father? Sim. What is it O, attend, my daughter; Therefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say, Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else. Sim. And further tell him, we desire to know, Of whence he is, his name and parentage. Thai. The king my father, sir, has drunk to you. Per. I thank him. Thai. Wishing it so much blood unto your life. Per. I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely. Thai. And further he desires to know of you, Of whence you are, your name and parentage. Per. A gentleman of Tyre-(my name, Pericles; A gentleman of Tyre, who only by | Here is a lady that wants breathing too: Sim. O, that's as much, as you would be deny'd your conduct These knights unto their several lodgings: Yours, sir, We have given orders to be next our own. SCENE IV.-Tyre. A room in the Governor's house. Enter Helicanus and Escanes. Hel. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me,Antiochus from incest liv'd not free; For which, the most high gods not minding longer To withhold the vengeance that they had in store, Due to this heinous capital offence, Even in the height and pride of all his glory, A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up And yet but just; for though This king were great, his greatness was no guard To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward. Esca. 'Tis very true. 1 Lord Know that our griefs are risen to the top, And now at length they overflow their banks. Hel. Your griefs, for what? wrong not the prince you love. 1 Lord Wrong not yourself then, noble Helicane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him, Or know what ground's made happy by his breath. If in the world he live, we'll seek him out; If in his grave he rest, we'll find him there; And be resolv'd,5 he lives to govern us, Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral, And leaves us to our free election. 2 Lord. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure:6 And knowing this kingdom, if without a head (Like goodly buildings left without a roof,) Will soon to ruin fall, your noble self, That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign, We thus submit unto, our sovereign. All. Live, noble Helicane! Hel. Try honour's cause, forbear your suffrages: If that you love prince Pericles, forbear. Take I your wish, I leap into the seas, (4) Which adored them. (5) Satisfied. (6) Judgment, opinion. |