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Like goodly buildings left without a roof,
Soon fall to ruin, 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. For honour's cause; forbear your suffrages: If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear. Take I your wish, I leap into the seas, Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease. A twelvemonth longer, let me entreat you To forbear the absence of your king; If in which time expir'd he not return, I shall with aged patience bear your yoke. But if I cannot win you to this love,

Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,

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 endeavour it.

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

hands :

When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

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 yet from her 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 vow'd,

And on her virgin honour will not break it.

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

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They're well dispatch'd; 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.

'Tis well, mistress; 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 delay'd.

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 beholding to you,

For your sweet music this last night: I do

Protest, my ears 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.
The worst of all her scholars, my good

Per.

lord.

Sim. Let me ask one thing.

What do you think of my daughter, sir?
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. I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.

Sim.

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

A letter that she loves the knight of Tyre?

'Tis the king's subtilty, to have my life.

[To him.] O, seek not to entrap me, gracious lord, A stranger and distressed gentleman,

That never aim'd so high to love your daughter,

But bent all offices to honour her.

Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou

art

A villain.

Per. By the gods, I have not,
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.

Per.

Sim.

Traitor!

Ay, traitor.

Per. Even in his throat, unless it be the king, That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

Sim. [Aside.] Now, by the gods, I do applaud

his courage.

Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts,

That never relish'd of a base descent.

I came unto your Court for honour's cause,

And not to be a rebel to her state;

And he that otherwise accounts of me,

This sword shall prove he's honour's enemy.
Sim. No!

Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

Enter THAISA.

Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,
Resolve your angry father, if my tongue
Did e'er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable that made love to you?
Thai. Why, sir, if you had,

Who takes offence at that would make me glad?
Sim. Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?
[Aside.] I am glad on 't with all my heart.
[To her.] I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection.

Will you, not having my consent,

Bestow your love and your affections

Upon a stranger? [aside.] who, for aught I know,
May be (nor can I think the contrary)
As great in blood as I myself.—

Therefore, hear you, mistress; either frame
Your will to mine; and you, sir, hear you,
Either be rul'd by me, or I will make you
Man and wife.

Nay, come; your hands and lips must seal it too;

And being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy;

And for farther grief, God give you joy!

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What, are you both pleas'd?

Thai.

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Yes, if you love me, sir. Per. Even as my life, my blood that fosters it. Sim. What! are you both agreed?

Both. Yes, if 't please your majesty.

Sim. It pleaseth me so well, I'll see you wed; Then, with what haste you can, get you to bed.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

Enter GowER.

GOWER.

OW sleep yslaked hath the rout;

Now

out.
No din but snores the house about,
Made louder by the o'er-fed breast
Of this most pompous marriage feast.
The cat with eyne of burning coal,
Now couches 'fore the mouse's hole;
And crickets sing at the oven's mouth,
E'er the blither for their drouth.
Hymen hath brought the bride to bed,
Where, by the loss of maidenhead,
A babe is moulded. Be attent,
And time that is so briefly spent,
With your fine fancies quaintly eche;
What's dumb in shew, I'll plain with speech.

Dumb shew.

Enter, from one side, PERICLES and SIMONIDES, with Attendants; a Messenger meets them, kneels, and gives PERICLES a letter: PERICLES shews it to SIMONIDES; the Lords kneel to PERICLES. Then, enter THAISA with child, and LYCHORIDA: SIMONIDEs shews his Daughter the letter; she rejoices: she and PERICLES take leave of her father, and all depart.

By many a dearn and painful perch

Of Pericles the careful search

By the four opposing coignes,

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