But, O the night of Canna's raging field!
When half the Roman senate lay in blood

Without our tent, and groan'd, as we carous'd!
Immortal gods! for such another hour!
Then throw my carcase to the dogs of Rome.

ANTIGONUS.

Sir, you forget your sons.

KING.

Let all withdraw.

[Exeunt all but the King and his sons.

Two passions only take up all my soul;
Hatred to Rome, and tenderness for them.-
Draw near, my sons, and listen to my age.
By what has pass'd, you see the state of things:
Foreign alliance must a king secure ;

And insolence sustain to serve his power:
And if alliances with Rome are needful,
Much more among ourselves. If I must bear,
Unmov'd, an insult from a stranger's brow,
Shall not a brother bear a brother's look
Without impatience? Whither all this tends,

I'm sorry that your conscious hearts can tell you:
Is it not most severe? Two sons alone

Have crown'd my bed;
and they two are not brothers.
Look here, and, from my kind regards to you,
Copy such looks as you should bear each other.
Why do I sigh? Do you not know, my sons?
And if you do-O let me sigh no more!
Let these white hairs put in a claim to peace!

2

1

PERSEUS.

Henceforth, my sole contention with my brother
Is this; which best obeys our father's will.

DEMETRIUS.

Father, if simple nature ever speaks

In her own language, scorning useless words,
You see her now; she swells into my eyes.

I take thee to my heart; I fold thee in it.

[Embracing Perseus. Our father bids; and that we drank one milk, Is now the smallest motive of my love,

KING.

Antigonus, the joy their mother felt

When they were born, was faint to what I feel.

DEMETRIUS.

See, brother, if he does not weep! His love
Runs o'er in venerable tears. I'm rude;
But nature will prevail-My king! My father!

PERSEUS. [Aside.]

Now cannot I let fall a single tear.

KING.

See the good man has caught it too.

ANTIGONUS.

[Embracing.

Such tears,

And such alone, be shed in Macedonia!

KING.

Be not thou, Perseus, jealous of thy brother;
Nor thou, Demetrius, prone to give him cause;

Nor either think of empire till I'm dead.

You need not; you reign now; my heart is yours.
Sheath your resentments in your father's peace;
Come to my bosom both, and swear it there.

ANTIGONU S.

[Embracing his sons.

Look down, ye gods, and change me, if you can,
This sight for one more lovely. What so sweet,
So beautiful, on earth, and, ah! so rare,

As kindred love, and family repose !

This, this alliance, Rome, will quite undo thee.
See this, proud Eastern monarchs! and look pale!
Armies are routed, realms o'er-run by this.

KING.

Or if leagu'd worlds superior forces bring,
I'd rather die a Father than a King.

Fathers alone, a father's heart can know;
What secret tides of still enjoyment flow,
When brothers love! But if their hate succeeds,
They wage the war; but 'tis the Father bleeds.

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

Enter PERSEUS.

PERSEUS.

WHY loiters my ambassador to Dymas?

His greatness will not sure presume to scorn
A friendship offer'd from an heir of empire.
But Pericles returns.

Is Dymas ours?

PERICLES.

[Enter Pericles.

He's cautious, Sir; he's subtle; he's a courtier ;

Dymas is now for

you, now for your brother;

For both, and neither: He's a summer insect,

And loves the sunshine: On his gilded wings,

While the scales waver, he'll fly doubtful round you;

And sing his flatteries to both alike:

The scales once fix'd, he'll settle on the winner,
And swear his pray'rs drew down the victory--
But what success had you, Sir, with your brother?

PERSEUS.

All, all my hopes are at the point of death?
The boy triumphant keeps his hold in love:
He's ever warbling nonsense in her ear,
With all th' intoxication of success.
Darkness incloses me; nor see I light
From any quarter dawn, but from his death.

PERICLES.

Why start at his death, who resolves on yours?

Resolves on mine!

PERSEUS.

PERICLES.

Have you not mark'd the princess?

You have: With what a beam of majesty

Her

eye strikes sacred awe! It speaks her mind Exalted, as it is. Whom loves she then?

Demetrius? no, Rome's darling; who, no doubt, Dares court her with your empire. And shall Perseus Survive that loss?-Thus he resolves your death.

PERSEUS.

Most true. What crime then to strike first? But how? Or when? or where? O Pericles! assist me.

Go, fool, and teach a cataract to creep!
Can thirst of empire, vengeance, beauty, wait?-

PERICLES.

In the mean time, accept a stratagem

That must secure your empire, or your love.
Your brother's Roman friendships gall no less
The king, than you: He dreads their consequence.
Dymas hates Rome; and Dymas has a daughter.
How can the king so powerfully fix