Nor ask advice of any other thought [He reads the Riddle.] I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh, which did me breed: Sharp physic is the last :* but O you powers! [Takes hold of the hand of the Princess. Would draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken; Good sooth, I care not for you. Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, As dangerous as the rest. Your time 's expired; Few love to hear the sins they love to act; To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts What being more known grows worse, to smother it. I. e. the last line. † (For). + Conical. Ant. Heaven, that I had thy head! He has found the meaning But I will gloze* with him. [Aside.] Young prince of Tyre, Your exposition misinterpreting, We might proceed to cancel of your days; [Exeunt ANTIOCHUS, his DAUGHTER, and Attendants. Per. How courtesy would seem to cover sin! When what is done is like a hypocrite, And both like serpents are, who though fed Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. [Exit. Ant. He hath found the meaning, for the which we mean To have his head. He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy, Nor tell the world, Antiochus doth sin In such a loathed manner: And therefore instantly this prince must die; For by his fall my honour must keep high. Enter THALIARD. Thal. Doth your highness call? Ant. Thaliard, you're of our chamber, and our mind Partakes her private actions to your secrecy; * Flatter. 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; Because we bid it. Say, is it done? Thal. My lord, 'Tis done. Ant. Enough; Enter a MESSENGER. Lest your breath cool yourself, telling your haste. Ant. As thou Wilt live, fly after: and, as an arrow, shot [Exit MESSENGER. From a well-experienced archer, hits the mark Unless thou say, Prince Pericles is dead. Thal. My lord, if I Can get him once within my pistol's length, I'll make him sure: so farewell to your highness [Exit. Ant. Thaliard, adieu! till Pericles be dead, My heart can lend no succour to my head. [Exit. SCENE II-Tyre. A Room in the Palace. Enter PERICLES, HELICANUS, and other Lords. Per. Let none disturb us: why this charge of thoughts? The sad companion, dull-eyed melancholy, By me so used a guest is, not an hour, In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night (The tomb where grief should sleep), can breed me quiet! Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them, And danger, which I fear'd, is at Antioch, Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here: Yet neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits, Nor yet the other's distance comfort me, And what was first but fear what might be done, If he suspect I may dishonour him: And what may make him blush in being known, * Takes care. Our men be vanquish'd, ere they do resist, And subjects punish'd, that ne'er thought offence: (Who am no more but as the tops of trees, Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them), 1 Lord. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast! 2 Lord. And keep your mind till you return to us, Peaceful and comfortable! Hel. Peace, peace, my lords, and give experience 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; Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err. Per. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook 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 myself; Do you but strike the blow. Per. Rise, pr'ythee rise; Sit down, sit down; thou art no flatterer; I thank thee for it; and high heaven forbid, That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid! Fit councillor, and servant for a prince, Who by thy wisdom makest a prince thy servant, 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 wouldst tremble to receive thyself. Attend me then: I went to Antioch, Where, as thou know'st, against the face of death, Which, by my knowledge found, the sinful father Seem'd not to strike, but smoothe: but thou know'st this, Under the covering of a careful night, Who seem'd my good protector; and being here, To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms, And make pretence of wrong that I have done him; When all, for mine, if I may call❜t offence, Must feel war's blow, who spares not innocence: 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; I 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, Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be. But should he wrong my liberties in absence- Per. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tharsus The care I had and have of subjects' good, On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it. * In our different spheres. [Exeunt. † Overcome. |