Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles, [The Knights dance. So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'dR. Come, sir; Here is a lady that wants breathing too : And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre And that their measures are as excellent. 6 Even IN YOUR ARMOURS, as you are ADDRESS'D, Will VERY Well become a SOLDIER'S DANCE.] As you are accoutered, prepared for combat. So, in King Henry V.: 66 To-morrow for the march are we address'd." The word very, in the next line, was inserted by the editor of the folio. MALONE. -- So, in Twine's translation ;- ." [ may not discourse at large of the liberall challenges made and proclaimed at the tilt, &c.-running afoote, and dauncing in armour," &c. STEEVENS. 7 I will not have excuse, with saying, THIS Loud musick is too harsh -] i. e. the loud noise made by the clashing of their armour. The dance here introduced is thus described in an ancient Dialogue Against the Abuse of Dancing, bl. 1. no date: "There is a dance called Choria, Which joy doth testify; "Another called Pyrricke "Which warlike feats doth try; "For men in armour gestures made, "And leapt, that so they might, "When need requires, be more prompt "In publique weale to fight." MALONE. 8 So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd.] i. e. the excellence of this exhibition has justified the solicitation by which it was obtained. STEEVENS. 9 And I have often heard,] I have inserted the word often, which was probably omitted by the carelessness of the compositor. MALONE. 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 own2. SIM. Princes, it is too late to talk of love, SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Tyre. A Room in the Governor's House. Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES. HEL. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me 3,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, I 2 conduct-] Old copy-to conduct. STEEVENS. to be next our own.] So, Gower: "The kynge his chamberleyne let calle, "And bad that he by all weye "A chamber for this man purvei "Which nigh his own chambre bee." MALONE. 3 NO, NO, MY Escanes ; &c.] The old copy: 66 No, Escanes, know this of me." But this line being imperfect, I suppose it should be read as I have printed it. STEEVENS. 66 No, Escanes; " I suspect the author wrote-Know, Escanes; &c. MALONE. 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 shrivell'd up 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 heo. 2 LORD. It shall no longer grieve without re proof. 3 LORD. And curs'd be he that will not second it. 1 LORD. Follow me then: Lord Helicane, a word. HEL. With me? and welcome: Happy day, my lords. 1 LORD. Know, that our griefs are risen to the top, 4 A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up Their bodies,] This circumstance is mentioned by Gower: they hym tolde, 66 "That for vengeance as God it wolde, "With thonder and lightnyng is forsmitte. MALONE. 5 That all those eyes ador'd them, ere their fall, Scorn now, &c.] The expression is elliptical: MALONE. "That all those eyes which ador'd them," &c. 6 See, not a man, &c.] 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. STEEVENS. 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 Heli cane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him, Or know what ground's made happy by his breath. Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral, 8 2 LORD. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure 9: And knowing this kingdom, if without a head', (Like goodly buildings left without a roof 2,) Will soon to ruin fall, your noble self, 7 And be RESOLV'D, he lives to govern us,] Resolv'd is satisfied, free from doubt. So, in a subsequent scene: "Resolve your angry father, if my tongue," &c. MAlone. 8 And LEAVES US-) The quarto, 1609, reads-And leave us, which cannot be right. MALONE. 9 Whose death's, indeed, THE STRONGEST IN our censure:] i. e. the most probable in our opinion. Censure is thus used in King Richard III. : "To give your censures in this weighty business." Steevens. The old copies read-whose death indeed, &c. MALONE. And knowing this kingdom, IF without a head,] They did not know that the kingdom had absolutely lost its governor; for in the very preceding line this Lord observes that it was only more probable that he was dead, than living. I therefore read, with a very slight change,-if without a head. The old copy, for if, has-is. In the next line but one, by supplying the word will, which I suppose was omitted by the carelessness of the compositor, the sense and metre are both restored. The passage, as it stands in the old copy, is not, by any mode of construction, reducible to grammar. MALONE. 2 (Like goodly buildings LEFT without a roof,)] The same thought occurs in King Henry IV. Part II. : 66 leaves his part-created cost "A naked subject to the weeping clouds, "And waste for churlish winter's tyranny." STEEVENS. 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 cause3; forbear your suffrages: If that you love prince Pericles, forbear. Take I your wish, I leap into the seat, Where's hourly trouble, for a minute's ease *. I shall with aged patience bear your yoke. 3 Try honour's CAUSE ;] Perhaps we should read: 66 Try honour's course STEEVENS. 4 Take I your wish, I leap into the SEAS, STEEVENS. It must be acknowledged that a line in Hamlet,— "Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,” As well as the rhyme, adds some support to this reading: yet I have no doubt that the poet wrote: 66 I leap into the seat "To prick the sides of my intent, but only 66 Vaulting ambition, which o'er-leaps itself," &c. On ship-board the pain and pleasure may be in the proportion here stated; but the troubles of him who plunges into the sea, (unless he happens to be an expert swimmer) are seldom of an hour's duration. MALONE. "Where's hourly trouble, for a minute's ease." So, in King Richard III.: "And each hour's joy wreck'd with a week of teen." MALONE. The expression is figurative, and by the words-"I leap into the seas," &c. I believe the speaker only means I embark too hastily on an expedition in which ease is disproportioned to labour.' s To forbear, &c.] Old copy: "To forbear the absence of your king." STEEVENS. Some word being omitted in this line, I read : STEEVENS. |
