Then were it certain you were not so bad And both like serpents are, who though they feed Murder's as near to lust as flame to smoke: Poison and treason are the hands of sin, Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame: Then, lest my life be cropp'd to keep you clear, Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. [Exit. Ant. He hath found the meaning, for the which(15) 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.- Thal. Ant. Thaliard, Enter THALIARD. Doth your highness call? You're of our chamber, and our mind partakes And for your faithfulness we will advance you. Thal. 'Tis done. Ant. Enough. My lord, Enter a Messenger. Let your breath cool yourself, telling your haste. As thou Ant. If I can get him within my pistol's length, [Exit. I'll make him sure enough: so, farewell to your highness. Ant. Thaliard, adieu! [Exit Thal.] Till Pericles be dead My heart can lend no succour to my head. [Exit. SCENE II. Tyre. A room in the palace. Enter PERICLES. Per. [to those without] Let none disturb us.-Why should this charge of thoughts, The sad companion, dull-ey'd melancholy, Be my so-us'd a guest as not an hour,(17) 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, 's at Antioch,(18) Whose aim seems far too short to hit me here:(19) Nor yet the other's distance comfort me. 'Gainst whom I am too little to contend, Since he's so great can make his will his act― If he suspect I may dishonour him: And what may make him blush in being known, Who am no more (22) but as the tops of trees, Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them,— Makes both my body pine and soul to languish, And punish that before that he would punish. Enter HELICANUS and other Lords.(23) First Lord. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast! Sec. Lord. And keep your mind, till you return to us, Peaceful and comfortable! Hel. Peace, peace, and give experience tongue.(24) 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 blast gives heat(25) and stronger glowing; Whereas reproof, obedient, and in order, Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err. When Signior Sooth here does proclaim a(26) peace, I cannot be much lower than my knees. Per. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook What shipping and what lading's in our haven, And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords.] Helicanus, thou Hast moved us: what seest thou in our looks? Hel. An angry brow, dread lord. 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. To take thy life from thee. Thou know'st I've power Hel. [kneeling] I've ground the axe myself; Do you but strike the blow. Per. Rise, prithee, rise. Sit down: thou art no flatterer: I thank thee for it; and heaven(27) forbid That kings should let their ears hear their faults chid !(28) Fit counsellor and servant for a prince, Who by thy wisdom mak'st a prince thy servant, What wouldst thou have me do? Hel. To bear with patience Such griefs as you yourself do lay upon yourself. (29) That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself. Where, as thou know'st, against the face of death, Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: but thou know'st this, Which fear so grew in me, I hither fled, Who seem'd my good protector; and, being here, When all, for mine, if I may call't(34) offence, Hel. Alas, sir! Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks, Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts How I might stop this tempest, ere it came; And finding little comfort to relieve them, I thought it princely charity to grieve them. Hel. Well, my lord, since you've given me leave to speak, Freely will I speak. Antiochus you fear, And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant, Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, Or till the Destinies do cut his thread of life. Your rule direct to any; if to me, Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be. Per. I do not doubt thy faith; But should he wrong my liberties in my absence? Hel. We'll mingle our bloods together in the earth, From whence we had our being and our birth. Per. Tyre, I now look from thee, then, and to Tharsus Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee; And by whose letters I'll dispose myself. The care I had and have of subjects' good On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it. I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath: Who shuns not to break one will sure crack both: But in our orbs we'll live(36) so round and safe, That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince, Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true prince. [Exeunt. |