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, lest my life be cropp'd to keep you clear,
By flight I'll shun the danger which I fear.

[Exit.

And therefore instantly this prince must die;
For by his fall my honour must keep high.
Who attends on us there?

Enter THALIARD.

That. Doth your highness call ?

Aut. Thaliard, you're of our chamber, and our
mind

Partakes her private actions to your secrecy;
And for your faithfulness we will advance you.
Thaliard, behold, here's poison, and here's gold:
We hate the prince of Tyre, and thou must kill

him.

It fits thee not to ask the reason why,
Because we bid it. Say, is it done ?

That. My lord, 'Tis done.

fence:
Which care of them, not pity of myself,
(Who am no more but as the tops of trees,

Re-enter ANTIOCHUS.

Ant. He bath found the meaning, for the which Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend

them,)

we mean To have his head.

He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy,
Nor tell the word, Antiochus doth sin
In such a loathed mauner:

Yet neither p.casure's art can joy my spirits,
Nor yet the other's distance comfort me.
Then it is thus: the passions of the inind,
That have their first conception by mis-dread,
Have after-nourishment and life by care;
And what was first but fear what might be
done,

Grows elder now, and cares it be not done.⚫
And so with me -the great Antiochus
('Gainst whom I am too little to contend,
Since he's so great, can make his will his act,)
Will think me speaking, though I swear to
silence;

Nor boots it me to say, I honour him,
If he suspect I may dishonour him:
Aud 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,
And with the ostent of war will look so huge,
Amazement shall drive courage from the state;
Our men be vanquish'd, ere they do resist,
And subjects punish'd, that ne'er thought of

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
Peaceful and comfortable!
[to us,
Hel. Peace, peace, my lords, and give expe
rience tongue.

They do abuse the king, that flatter him
For flattery is the bellows blows up sin;
The thing the which is flatter'd, but a spark,
To which that breath gives heat and stronger
glowing:
Whereas reproof, obedient and in order,
Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err.
When signior Sooth here does proclaim a peace,
He flatters you, makes war upon your life:
Prince, pardon me, or strike me, if you please;
I cannot be much lower than my knees.

P'er. 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.] Heli

canus, thou

Hast moved us: what seest thou in our looks?
fiel. 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.

Hel. [Kneeling.] I have ground the axe my-
Do you but strike the blow.

[self;

Per. Rise, pr'ythee rise;

Sit down, sit down; thou art no flatterer:
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;

1. c. Takes care it be not done.

'Tis time to fear, when tyrants seem to kiss.
Which fear so grew in me, I hither fled,
Under the covering of a careful night,
Who seem'd my good protector; and being here,
Bethought me what was past, what might suc-
ceed.

I knew him tyrannous; and tyrants' fears
Decrease not, but grow faster than their years:
And should be doubt it, (as no doubt he doth)
That I should open to the listening air
How many worthy princes' bloods were shed,
To keep his bed of blackness nnlaid ope,-
To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms,
And make pretence of wrong that I have done
hin;
When all, for mine, if I may call't offence,
Must feel war's blow, who spares not

Took some displeasure at him; at least he
judg'd so:

And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd,
To show his sorrow, would correct himself;
So puts himself unto the shipman's toil,
With whom each minute threatens life or death.
Thal. Well, I perceive
[Aside.

I shall not be hang'd now, although I would:
But since he's gone, the king it sure must
please:

He scap'd the land, to perish on the seas,-inno-But I'll present me. Peace to the lords of Tyre!

Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is wel

cence:

Which love to all (of which thyself art one,
Who now reprov'st me for it)--
Hel. Alas, Sir !

Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from
my cheeks,

Musings into my mind; a thousand doubts
How I might stop this tempest, ere it came;
And, finding little comfort to relieve them,
thought it princely charity to grieve them.
Hel. Well, my lord, since you have given me
leave to speak,

Freely I'll speak. Antiochus you fear;
And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant,
Who either by public war, or private treason,
Will take away your life.

Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while,
Till that his rage and anger be forgot,
Or Destinies do cat his thread of life.
Your role direct to any; if to me,
Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be.
Per. I do not doubt thy faith:

But should he'wrong my liberties in absence--
Hel. We'll mingle bloods together in the
earth,

From whence we had our being and our birth.
Per. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to
Tharsus

Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee;
And by whose letters I'll dispose myself.
The care I had and have of subjects' good,
On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can
bear it.

I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath;
Who shuns not to break one, will sure crack

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,
Why, as it were unlicens'd of your loves,
He would depart, I'll give some light unto you.
Being at Antioch-

both:

But in our orbs we'll live so round and
That time of both this truth shall ne'er

vince, +

Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true
prince.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.-Tyre.~An Ante-chamber in the

Thal. What from Antioch?

[Aside.

Hel. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not,)

Palace.

Enter THALIARD.

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 banged at home: 'tis danger-Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that being bid to ask what be would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets. Now do I see he had some Trason for it; for if a king bid a man be a villain, be 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. † Overcome.

In our different spheres.

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 Go-
vernor's House.

woes

Into the air; our eyes do weep, till lungs
Fetch breath that may proclaim them louder ;
safe,
that,
con-If heaven slumber while their creatures want,
They may awake their helps to comfort them.
I'll then discourse our woes, felt several years,
And wanting breath to speak, help me with

tears.
Dio. I'll do my best, Sir.

Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have govern-
ment,

(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,

Enter CLEON, DIONYZA, and Attendants.
Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here,
And by relating tales of others' griefs,
See if 'twill teach us to forget our own?
Dio. That were to blow at fire, in hope to
quench it:

For who digs bills because they do aspire-
Throws down one mountain, to cast up a higher.
O my distressed lord, even such our griefs;
Here they're but felt, and seen with mistful
eyes,
[rise.
But like to groves, being topp'd, they higher
Cle. O Dionyza,

Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it,
Or can conceal his hunger till he famish?
Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep our

And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at;
Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'd,
Like one another's glass to trim + them by :
Their tables were stor'd full, to glad the sight,
And not so much to feed on, as delight;
All poverty was scorn'd, and pride so great,
The name of help grew odious to repeat.
Dio, Oh! 'tis too true.

+ I. e. In behaviour.

• I suppose. 1 Blessing. Although Pentapolis is found in an ancient map of the world, M. S. in the Cotton li brary, this is esteemed an imaginary name borrowed

from some romance.

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.

2 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when 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.

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
These fishers tell the infirmities of men;
And from their wat'ry empire recollect
All that may men approve, or men detect!
Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.

2 Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? If it be a day fits you, scratch it out of the calendar, and no body will look after it.

Per. Nay, see, the sea hath cast upon your

coast

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,

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 Greeee gets more with begging than we can do with working.

puddings and flap-jacks, and thou shalt be welcome.

Per. I thank you, Sir.

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 govern. ment.

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 He gains the name of good, by his government. bim, and at last devours them all at a mouth-How far is his court distant from this shore?

Per. He is a happy king, since from his sub-
jects

ful. 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.

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 tourney for her love.

3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry. 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 have never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish, up again. But if the good king Simonides were of my mindPer. Simonides!

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 Pish. Die quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I
ave a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee
arm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow!
te, thou shalt go home, and we'll have flesh
holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo'er

2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, you said you! could not be

Per. I did but crave.

2 Fish. But crave? Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall 'scape whipping. [then i

Per. Why, are all your beggars whipp'd 2 Fish. Oh! not all, my friend, not all: for if all your beggars were whipp'd, I would wish no better office than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go draw up the net.

[Exeunt two of the FISHERMEN. Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour !

1 Fish. Hark you, Sir! do you know where you are?

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-bis 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 ar

mour.

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;
And, though it was mine own, part of mine hert-

tage,

Which my dead father did bequeath to me,
With this strict charge, (even as he left his life,)
Keep it, my Pericles, it hath been a shield
'Twixt me and death: (and pointed to this
brace) t

For that it sav'd me, keep it; in like necessity
Which gods protect thee from! it may defend

thee.

It kept where I kept, I so dearly lov'd it;
Till the rough seas, that spare not any man,
Took it in rage, though calm'd, they give't

again :

I thank thee for't; my shipwreck's now no ill,
Since I have here my father's gift by will.
1 Fish. What mean you, Sir?

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.

156

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 I hope, Sir, if condolements, certain veils. you thrive, you'll remember from whence you bad it.

PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

Act II.
Sim. Which shows that beauty hath his power
and will,

[The fifth Knight passes.
Which can as well inflame, as it can kill
Thai. The fifth, a band environed with clouds;
Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried:
[The sixth Knight passes.
The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides.
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:
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.
1 Lord. He had need mean better than his
outward show

Per. Believe't, I will.

Now by your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel;
And, spite of all the rupture of the sea,
This jewel holds his biding on my arm:
Unto thy value will I mount myself
Upon a courser, whose delightful steps
Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.-
Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided
Of a pair of bases. +

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 goal to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 11.-The same.-A public Way, or
Platform, leading to the Lists. A Pavilion
by the Side of it, for the reception of the
KING, PRINCESS, LORDS, &c.

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, we are ready; and our
daughter,

In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat
For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

Can any way speak in his just commend:
For, by his rusty outside, he appears

To have practis'd more the whipstock, than the
lance.

2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, LORDS, and Atten-The outward habit by the inward man.

dants.

Thai. It pleaseth you, my father, to express My commendations great, whose merit's less.

comes

To an honour'd triumph strangely furnish'd.

3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust Until this day, to scour it in the dust.

Sim. 'Tis fit it should be so; for princes are
A model, which heaven makes like to itself:
As jewels lose their glory, if neglected,
So princes their renown, if not respected.
'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain
The labour of each knight, in his device. §
Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour,
perform.

Sim. Knights, [Exit a LORD.

But stay, the knights are coming; we'll with-
draw
[Exeunt.
Into the gallery.
[Great shouts, and all cry, The mean knight }
SCENE III.-The same.-A Hall of State.-
A Banquet prepared.

To say you are welcome, were superfluous.
To place upon the volume of your deeds,
As in a title-page, your worth in arms,
Were more than you expect, or more than's fit,
Since every worth in show commends itself.
Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast :
You are my guests.

I'll

Thai. But you, my knight and guest:
To whom this wreath of victory I give,
And crown you king of this day's happiness.
Per. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my
merit.

Sim. Call it by what you will, the day is

Stage.

Enter a Knight; he passes over the
and his Squire presents his Shield to the
Princess.

Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan

Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer him-
self?
Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renowned fa-
ther;

And the device he bears upon his shield
Is a black Ethiop, reaching at the sun :
The word, Lux tua vita mihi.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, LORDS, KNIGHTS,
and Attendants.

you.

Sim. He loves you well, that holds his life of
[The second Knight passes.
Who is the second, that presents himself?
Tha. A prince of Macedon, my royal father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is an arm'd knight, that's conquer'd by a lady:
The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulcura
que per fuerca.

**

[The third Knight passes.
Sim. And what's the third ?
Thai. The third, of Antioch;
And his device, a wreath of chivalry:
The word, Me pompa provexit apex.
The fourth Knight passes.

yours;

And here, I hope, is none that envies it.
In framing artists, art hath thus decreed,
To make some good, but others to exceed ;
And you're her labour'd scholar. Come, queen
[place:
o'the feast,
(For, daughter, so you are,) here take your
Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace.
Knights. We are honour'd much by good
Simonides.

Sim. What is the fourth?
Thdi. A burning torch, that's turned upside
down:

The word, Quod me alit, me extinguit.

• The brace was fastened by a jewel, which the sea
+ A kind
had not removed from its place.
↑ I.e. Tell them.
of loose breaches.
The motto.
1 Offer.
Emblem on a shield.
I. e. More by encetusss than by force.

Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour
we love,

For who hates honour, hates the gods above.
Marsh. Sir, yond's your place.
Per. Some other is more fit.

1 Knight. Contend not, Sir; for we are gen.

tlemen,
That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes,
Envy the great, nor do the low despise.
Per. You are right courteous knights.
Sim. Sit, sit, Sir; sit.

Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of
thoughts,
These cates resist me, she not thought upon.
Thai. By Juno, that is queen
Of marriage, all the viands that I eat
Do seem unsavoury, wishing him my mcat :
Sure he's a gallant gentleman.

• Handle of a whip.

↑ L. c. These delicacies go against my stomach.