For who digs hills because they do aspire,
Throws down one mountain, to cast up a higher.
(my distressed lord, even such our griefs;
Here they're but felt, and seen with mistful eyes,
But like to groves, being topp'd, they higher rise.
Cle. O Diony za,

Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it,
Or can conceal his hunger, till he famish?
Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep our woes
Into the air: our eyes do weep, till lungs
Fetch breath that may proclaim them louder;
that,

If heaven slumber, while their creatures want,
They may awake their helps to comfort them.
I'll then discourse our woes, felt several years,
And wanting breath to speak, help me with tears.
Dio. I'll do my best, Sir.

Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have government, (A city, on whom plenty held full hand,) For riches strew'd herself even in the streets; Whose towers bore heads so high, they kiss'd the clouds,

And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at;
Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'd,
Like one another's glass to trim them by :
Their tables were stored full, to glad the sight,
And not so much to feed on, as delight;
All poverty was scorn'd, and pride so great,
The name of help grew odious to repeat,
Dio. O, 'tis too true.

Cfe. But see what heaven can do! By this our change,

These mouths, whom but of late, earth, sea, and air,

Were all too little to content and please,

Although they gave their creatures in abundance,
As houses are defiled for want of use,
They are now starved for want of exercise:
Those palates, who, not yet two summers younger,
Must have inventions to delight the taste,
Would now be glad of bread, and beg for it;
Those mothers who, to nousle up their babes,
Thought nought too curious, are ready now,
To eat those little darlings whom they loved.
So sharp are hunger's teeth, that man and wife
Draw lots, who first shall die to lengthen life:
Here stands a lord, and there a lady weeping;
Here many sink, yet those which see them fall,
Have scarce strength left to give them burial.
Is not this true?

Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. Cle. O, let those cities, that of Plenty's cup And her prosperities so largely taste,

With their superfluous riots, hear these tears!
The misery of Tharsus may be theirs.

shore,

A portly sail of ships make hitherward.

Cle. I thought as much.

One sorrow never comes, but brings an heir,

That may succeed as his inheritor ;

And so in ours; some neighbouring nation,

Taking advantage of our misery,

Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power ý,
To beat us down, the which are down already;
And make a conquest of unhappy me,
Whereas no glory's got to overcome.

Lord. That's the least fear: for, by the semblance

Of their white flags display'd, they bring us peace, And come to us as favourers, not as foes.

Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor'd to repeat, Who makes the fairest show, means most deceit. But bring they what they will, what need we fear?

The ground's the low'st, and we are half-way there.

Go tell their general, we attend him here,
To know for what he comes, and whence he comes,
And what he craves.

Lord. I go, my lord.

[Exit.

Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist ⚫; If wars, we are unable to resist.

Enter PERICLES, with Attendants.

Per. Lord governor, for so we hear you are, Let not our ships and number of our men, Be, like a beacon fired, to amaze your eyes. We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre, And seen the desolation of your streets : Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears, But to relieve them of their heavy load; And these our ships you happily may think Are, like the Trojan horse, war-stuff'd within, With bloody views, expecting overthrow, Are stored with corn, to make your needy bread, And give them life, who are hunger-starved, half

dead.

All. The gods of Greece protect you! And we'll pray for you.

Per. Rise, pray you, rise;

We do not look for reverence, but for love,
And harbourage for ourself, our ships, and men.
Cle. The which when any shall not gratify,
Or pay you with untbankfulness in thought,
Be it our wives, our children, or ourselves,
The curse of heaven and men succeed their evils!
Till when (the which, I hope, shall ne'er be seen,)
Your grace is welcome to our town and us.
Per. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here
awhile,

Until our stars that frown, lend us a smile.

АСТ ІІ.

Enter GoWER.

[Exeunt.

Gow. Here have you seen a mighty king
His child, I wist, to incest bring;
A better prince, and benign lord,
Prove awful both in deed and word.
Be quiet then, as men should be,
Till he hath pass'd necessity.
I'll shew you those in trouble's reign,
Losing a mite, a mountain gain.
The good in conversation

(To whom I give my benizon ),
Is still at Tharsus, where each man
Thinks all is writ he spoken can:
And, to remember what he does,
Gild his statue glorious:

But tidings to the contrary

Are brought your eyes; what need speak I?

Dumb Show.

Enter at one door PERICLES, talking with Cleon; all the Train with them.-Enter at another door, a Gentleman with a Letter to Pericles; Pericles shews the Letter to Cleon; then gives the Messenger a Reward, and knights him.-Exeunt Pericles, Cleon, &c. severally.

Gow. Good Helicane hath staid at home,
Not to eat honey, like a drone,
From others' labours; forth he strive

To killen bad, keep good alive;

And, to fulfil his prince' desire,

Sends word of all that haps in Tyre:

How Thaliard came full bent with sin,

And hid intent, to murder hip;

And that in Tharsus was not best
Longer for him to make his rest:

He knowing so, put forth to seas,

Where when men been, there's seldom ease;
For now the wind begins to blow;
Thunder above, and deeps below,
Make such unquiet, that the ship
Should house him safe, is wreck'd and split;
And he, good prince, having all lost,
By waves from coast to coast is tost:
All perishen of man, of pelf,
Ne aught escapen but himself;
Till fortune, tired with doing bad,
Threw him ashore, to give him glad:
And here he comes: what shall be next,
Pardon old Gower: this long's the text.
• If he stands on peace.
Know.
Blessing.

[Exit.

↑ Perhaps. i. c. Conduct, behaviour.

Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided
Of a pair of bases.

2 Fish. We'll sure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I'll bring thee to the court myself.

Per. Then honour be but a goal to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same.-A public Way, or Platform, leading to the Lists.-A Pavilion by the side of it, for the reception of the King, Princess, Lords, &c.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, LORDS, and Attendants. Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

1 Lord. They are, my liege;

And stay your coming to present themselves. Sim. Return themt, we are ready; and our daughter,

In honour of whose births these triumphs are, Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

[Exit a Lord. Thai. It pleaseth you, my father, to express My commendations great, whose merit's less. Sim. 'Tis fit it should be so; for princes are A model, which heaven makes like to itself: As jewels lose their glory, if neglected, So princes their renown, if not respected. 'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain The labour of each knight, in his device t.

Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.

Enter a Knight; he passes over the Stage, and his
Squire presents his Shield to the Princess.
Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer ý himself?
Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is a black Æthiop, reaching at the sun;
The word, Lux tua vita mihi.

Sim. He loves you well, that holds his life of you. [The second Knight passes. Who is the second, that presents himself? Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; And the device he bears upon his shield Is an arm'd knight, that's conquer'd by a lady: The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulçura que [The third Knight passes.

per fuerça¶

Sim. And what's the third?
Thai. The third, of Antioch;
And his device, a wreath of chivalry:
The word, Me pompa provexit apex.

[The fourth Knight passes. Sim. What is the fourth? Thai. A burning torch, that's turned upside down:

The word, Quod me alit, me extinguit.

Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan The outward habit by the inward man. But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw Into the gallery. [Exeunt. [Great Shouts, and all cry, The mean knight! SCENE III.-The same.-A Hall of State.-A Banquet prepared.

Attendants.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, LORDS, KNIGHTS, and
Sim. Knights,

To place upon the volume of your deeds,
To say you are welcome, were superfluous.
As in a title-page, your worth in arms,
Were more than you expect, or more than's fit,
Since every worth in show commends itself.
Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast:
You are my guests.

Thai. But you, my knight and guest;
To whom this wreath of victory 1 give,
And crown you king of this day's happiness.

Per. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit.
Sim. Call it by what you will, the day is yours;
And here, I hope, is none that envies it.
In framing artists, art hath thus decreed,
To make some good, but others to exceed;
And you're her labour'd scholar. Come, queen
o' the feast

(For, daughter, so you are), here take your place : Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace. Knights. We are honour'd much by good Simo

nides.

Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we love,

For who hates honour, hates the gods above.
Marsh. Sir, yond's your place.

Per. Some other is more fit.

1 Knight. Contend not, Sir; for we are gentlemen,

That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes,
Envy the great, nor do the low despise.

Per. You are right courteous knights.
Sim. Sit, sit, Sir; sit.

Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,
These cates resist me, she not thought upon.
Thai. By Juno, that is queen

Of marriage, all the viands that I eat

Do seem unsavoury, wishing him my meat!
Sure he's a gallant gentleman.

Sim. He's but

A country gentleman;

He has done no more than other knights have done; Broken a staff, or so; so let it pass.

Thai. To me he seems like diamond to a glass. Per. Yon king's to me, like to my father's pic

ture,

Which tells me, in that glory once he was; Had princes sit, like stars, about his throue,

and will,

Which can as well inflame, as it can kill.
[The fifth Knight passes.
Thai. The fifth, an hand environed with clouds;
Holding out gold, that's by the touchstone tried;
The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides.

[The sixth Knight passes. Sim. And what's the sixth and last, which the knight himself

With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd

Thai. He seems a stranger; but his present is A wither'd branch, that's only green at top; The motto, In hac spe vivo.

Sim. A pretty moral;

From the dejected state wherein he is,

He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.

1 Lord. He had need mean better than his outward show

Can any way speak in his just commend:
For, by his rusty outside, he appears

To have practised more the whipstock, than the

lance.

2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honour'd triumph, strangely furnished.

3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust, Until this day, to scour it in the dust.

A kind of loose breeches.

♦ i. e. Return them notice.

Emblem on a shield.

§ Offer.

The motto.

i. e. More by sweetness than by force

None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights,
Did vail their crowns to his supremacy;
Where now his son's a glow-worm in the night,
The which hath fire in darkness, none in light;
Whereby I see that time's the king of men,
For he's their parent, and he is their grave,
And gives them what he will, not what they

crave.

berefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say,
We drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.
Thai. Alas, my father, it befits not me
ato a stranger knight to be so bold;

He may my proffer take for an offence,
ace men take women's gifts for impudence.
Sim. How!

as I bid you, or you'll move me else.

That. Now, by the gods, he could not please me better. [Aside. Sim. And further tell him, we desire to know, Of whence he is, his name and parentage. Thai. The king my father, Sir, has drunk to you. Per. I thank him.

Thai. Wishing it so much blood unto your life. Per. I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.

Thai. And further he desires to know of you,
Of whence you are, your name and parentage.
Per. A gentleman of Tyre-(my name, Pericles;
My education being in arts and arms;)—
Who, looking for adventures in the world,
Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And, after shipwreck, driven upon this shore.
Thai. He thanks your grace; names himself Pe-
ricles,

Agentleman of Tyre, who only by
Misfortune of the seas has been bereft

Of ships and men, and cast upon this shore.
Sim. Now by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
And will awake him from his melancholy.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other revels.
Even in your armours, as you are address'd ",
Will very well become a soldier's dance.
I will not have excuse, with saying, this
Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads;
Since they love men in arms, as well as beds.
[The Knights dance.
So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd.
Come, Sir;

Here is a lady that wants breathing too:
And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre
Are, excellent in making ladies trip;

And that their measures are as excellent.

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; at 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 own.
Per. I am at your grace's pleasure.

Sim. Princes, it is too late to talk of love,
For that's the mark I know you level at:
Therefore each one betake him to his rest;
To-morrow, all for speeding do their best.

[Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Tyre.—A Room in the Governor's House.

Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES.

Hel. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me,Antiochus from incest lived not free;

And knowing this kingdom, if without a head
(Like goodly buildings left without a roof),
Will soon to ruin fall, 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. Try 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 then entreat you
To forbear choice i' the absence of your king;
If in which time expired, he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love;'

Go search like noblemen, 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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-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 from herself 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 loth to bid farewell, we take
our leaves.
[Exeunt.
Sim. So

To withhold the vengeance that they had in store,

Due to this heinons 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
Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes adored them, ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
Esca. Twas very strange.

was no guard

Hel. And yet but just; for though This king were great, his greatne To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward. Esca. 'Tis very true.

letter:

She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with mina;
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 beholden to

Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, Sir, of

My daughter?

Per. As of a most virtuous princess.

Sim. And she is fair too, is she not?

Per. As a fair day in summer; wond'rous 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. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster.
Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
Per. What's here ?

A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre?
'Tis the king's subtilty, to have my life.
O, seek not to intrap, my gracious lord,
A stranger and distressed gentleman,

[Aside.

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

And you, Sir, hear you.-Either be ruled 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 a further grief,-God give you joy!
What, are you both pleased?

Thai. Yes, if you love me, Sir.

Per. Even as my life, my blood that fosters it.
Sim. What, are you both agreed?
Both. Yes, '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.

Gow. Now sleep yslaked⚫ hath the rout; 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 th' oven's mouth, As 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 show, I'll plain with speech.

• Quenched.

Dumb Show.

Enter PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with Attendants; a Messenger meets him, kneels, and gives Pericles a Letter.-Pericles shews it to Simonides; the Lords kneel to the former.-Then enter Thaisa with child, and Lyckorida.-Simonides shews his Daughter the Letter; she rejoices : she and Pericles take leave of her Father, and depart. Then Simonides, &c. retire.

Gow. By many a dearn and painful perch
Of Pericles the careful search,
By the four opposing coignes 1,
Which the world together joins,

Is made, with all due diligence,

That horse, and sail, and high expence,
Can stead the quest §. At last from Tyre
(Fame answering the most strong inquire,)
To the court of king Simonides

Are letters brought; the tenour these:
Antiochus and his daughter's dead;
The men of Tyrus, on the head

Of Helicanus would set on

The crown of Tyre, but he will none:
The mutiny there he hastes t' appease:
Says to them, it king Pericles
Come not, in twice six moons, home,
He obedient to their doom,

Will take the crown. The sum of this,
Brought hither to Pentapolis,
Y-ravished the regions round,

And every one with claps 'gan sound,
Our heir apparent is a king:

Who dream'd, who thought of such a thing?
Brief, he must hence depart to Tyre:
His queen, with child, niakes her desire
(Which who shall cross?) along to go;
(Omit we all their dole and woe ;)
Lychorida, her nurse, she takes,
And so to sea. Their vessel shakes
On Neptune's billow; half the flood
Hath their keel cut; but fortune's mood [
Varies again; the grizzled north
Disgorges such a tempest forth,
That, as a duck for life that dives
So up and down the poor ship drives.
The lady shrieks, and, well-a-near ¶ !
Doth fall in travail with her fear:
And what ensue in this fell storm,
Shall, for itself, itself perform.
I nill relate; action may
Conveniently the rest convey:
Which might not what by me is told.
In your imagination bold

This stage, the ship, upon whose deck
The sea-tost prince appears to speak.

SCENE I.

[Exit.

Upon the winds command, bind them in brass, Having call'd them from the deep! O still thy deaf'ning,

Thy dreadful thunders; gently quench thy nimble,
Sulphureous flashes!—O how, Lychorida,
How does my queen?—Thou storm, thou! venom-
ously

Wilt thou spit all thyself?-The seaman's whistle
Is as a whisper in the cars of death,
Unheard.-Lychorida!—Lucina §§, O

Divinest patroness, and midwife, gentle
To those that cry by night, convey thy deity
Aboard our dancing boat; make swift the pangs
Of my queen's travails!-Now, Lychorida-

Enter LYCHORIDA, with an Infant.

Lyc. Here is a thing

Too young for ch a place, who if it had
Conceit, would die as I am like to do.
Take in your arms this piece of your dead queen.
Per. How! how! Lychorida!

+ Eke out.

The goddess of child-bearing.

Thought.