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 ; My education being in arts and arms;)

Who, looking for adventures in the world,
Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And, after shipwreck, driven upon this shore.

Thai. He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles,

A gentleman of Tyre, who only by
Misfortune of the seas has been bereft

Of ships and men, and cast upon this shore.
Sim. Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
And will awake him from his melancholy.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other revels.
Even in your armors, as you are addressed,'
Will very well become a soldier's dance.
I will not have excuse, with saying, this
Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads;
Since they love men in arms, as well as beds.

[The Knights dance. So, this was well asked, 'twas so well performed. Come, sir,

Here is a lady that wants breathing too;

And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip;

And that their measures are as excellent.

Per. In those that practise them, they are, my lord. Sim. O, that's as much, as you would be denied [The Knights and Ladies dance.

Of your fair courtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp;

Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well;

But you the best. [To PERICLES.] Pages and lights,

conduct

These knights unto their several lodgings. Yours, sir, We have given order to be next our own.

Per. I am at your grace's pleasure.

1 "As you are accoutred, prepared for combat."

Sim. Princes, it is too late to talk of love, For that's the mark I know you level at. Therefore each one betake him to his rest; To-morrow, all for speeding do their best.

[Exeunt.

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 lived 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,
When he was seated, and his daughter with him,
In a chariot of inestimable value,

A fire from heaven came, and shrivelled up
Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes adored them'ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
Esca. 'Twas very strange.

Hel. 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.

Enter three Lords.

1 Lord. See, not a man in private conference, Or council, has respect with him but he.2

2 Lord. It shall no longer grieve without reproof. 3 Lord. And curst be he that will not second it. 2 Lord. Follow me, then. Lord Helicane, a word.

1 i. e. which adored them.

2 To what this charge of partiality was designed to conduct, we do not learn; for it appears to have no influence over the rest of the dialogue.

Hel. With me? and welcome. Happy day, my

lords.

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 resolved,' 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; 2

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 honor's cause, forbear your suffrages;
If that you love prince Pericles, forbear.
Take I your wish, I leap into the seat,3
Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease.
A twelvemonth longer, let me then entreat you
To forbear choice i' the absence of your king;
If in which time expired, he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,

Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects,

! Satisfied.

2 i. c. "the most probable in our opinion." Censure is frequently used for judgment, opinion, by Shakspeare.

3 The old copy reads:

"Take I your wish, I leap into the seas," &c.

Steevens contends for the old reading, that it is merely figurative.

4 Some word being omitted in this line in the old copy, Steevens thus supplied it:

"To forbear choice i'the absence of your king."

And in your search spend your adventurous worth;
Whom if you find, and win unto return,

You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.

1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; And, since lord Helicane enjoineth us,

We with our travels will endeavor it.

Hel. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp

hands;

When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace.

Enter SIMONIDES, reading a letter; the Knights meet him.

1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides. Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,

That for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake
A married life.

Her reason to herself is only known,

Which from herself by no means can I get.

2 Knight. May we not get access to her, my lord? Sim. Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied her

To her chamber, that it is impossible.

One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery;
This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vowed,

And on her virgin honor will not break it.

3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

Sim. So,

[Exeunt.

They're well despatched; now to my daughter's letter.
She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger-knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.

Mistress, 'tis well; your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well. Nay, how absolute she's in't,
Not minding whether I dislike or no!

Well, I commend her choice;

And will no longer have it be delayed.

Soft, here he comes;-I must dissemble it.

Enter PERICLES.

Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, For your sweet music this last night. My ears, I do protest, were never better fed

With such delightful, pleasing harmony.

Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend; Not my desert.

Sim.

Sir, you are music's master.

Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, sir, of

My daughter?

Per.

As of a most virtuous princess.
Sim. And she is fair, too, is she not?

Per. As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair.
Sim. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you;
Ay, so well, sir, that you must be her master,
And she'll your scholar be; therefore look to it.
Per. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster.

Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
Per. What's here?

A letter that she loves the knight of Tyre!

'Tis the king's subtlety to have my life. O, seek not to entrap, my gracious lord, A stranger, and distressed gentleman,

[Aside.

That never aimed so high, to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honor her.

Sim. Thou hast bewitched my daughter, and thou

A villain.

art

Per. By the gods, I have not, sir. Never did thought of mine levy offence;

Nor never did my actions yet commence

A deed might gain her love, or your displeasure.
Sim. Traitor, thou liest.