Had princes sit like stars about his throne,
And he the sun, for them to reverence.

None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights,
Did vail their crowns to his supremacy;

Where now his son 's like 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.
Sim. What, are you merry, knights?

1 Knight. Who can be other in this royal presence? Sim. Here, with a cup that 's stor'd unto the brim, (As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,)

We drink this health to you.

Knights.

We thank your grace.

Sim. Yet pause a while; yon knight doth sit too melancholy,

As if the entertainment in our court

Had not a show might countervail his worth.
Note it not you, Thaisa?

Thai. What is 't to me, my father?

Sim. O, attend, my daughter;

Princes, in this, should live like gods above,
Who freely give to every one that comes

To honour them :

And princes, not doing so, are like to gnats,

Which make a sound, but kill'd are wonder'd at.
Therefore to make his entrance more sweet,

Here say, we drink this standing bowl of wine to him.
Thai. Alas, my father, it befits not me

Unto a stranger knight to be so bold;
He may my proffer take for an offence,
Since men take women's gifts for impudence.

Sim. How! do as I bid you, or you 'll move me else.
Thai. Now, by the gods, he could not please me
[Aside.

better.

a Where-whereas.

Sim. And further tell him, we desire to know of him, Of whence he is, his name and parentage.

Thai. The king my father, sir, hath 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 has been in arts and arms;)
Who, looking for adventures in the world,

Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,

And, after shipwrack, driven upon this shore.

Thai. He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles, A gentleman of Tyre, who only by

Misfortune of the sea 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; 't was 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. Oh, 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,

to 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.

SCENE IV.-Tyre.

Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES.

Hel. No, Escanes, know this of me, Antiochus from incest liv'd not free;

[Exeunt.

For which, the most high gods not minding longer
To withhold the vengeance that they had in store,
Due to this heinous capital offence;

Even in the height and pride of all his glory,
When he was seated in a chariot of

An inestimable value, and his daughter

With him, a fire from heaven came and shrivell'd up
Those bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes ador'd thema ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
Esca. 'T was very strange.

Hel.

And yet but justice; for though This king were great, his greatness was no guard To bar heav'n's shaft, but sin had his reward. Esca. "T is very true.

Enter three Lords.

1 Lord. See, not a man in private conference,

Or council, hath respect with him but he.

a An elliptical construction-all those eyes which ador'd them.

2 Lord. It shall no longer grieve without reproof. 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, And now at length they overflow their banks.

Hel. Your griefs, for what? wrong not your prince you love.

1 Lord. Wrong not yourself then, noble Helicane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him,

Or know what ground 's made happy by his breath.
If in the world he live, we 'll seek him out;

If in his grave he rest, we 'll find him there;
And be resolv'd, he lives to govern us,
Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral,
And leaves us to our free election.

2 Lord. Whose death 's, indeed, the strongest in our

censure:a

And knowing this kingdom is without a head,
(Like goodly buildings left without a roof
Soon fall to ruin,) your noble self,

That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign,
We thus submit unto,-our sovereign.

Omn. 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 entreat you
To forbear the absence of your king;
If in which time expir'd, he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,

Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,

And in your search spend your adventurous worth;

a Censure-opinion.

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.

SCENE V.-Pentapolis.

[Exe.

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 will 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.

3 Knight. Loth to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

[Exeunt.

Sim. So, They 're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter: She tells me here, she 'll wed the stranger knight, Or never more to view nor day nor light.

'T is well, mistress, your choice agrees with mine; I like that well :-nay, how absolute she 's in 't, Not minding whether I dislike or no.