And with dead cheeks advise thee to defift, And by thofe fearful objects to prepare This body, like to them, to what I must: And all good men, as every prince should do ; [To the daughter of ANTIOCHUS. Thus ready for the way of life or death, Ant. Read the conclufion then; Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee, thou thyself shalt bleed. Daugh. In all, fave that, may'st thou prove profperous ! In all, fave that, I wish thee happiness ! Per. Like a bold champion, I affume the lifts, Nor ask advice of any other thought But faithfulness, and courage. [He reads the Riddle.] I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh, which did me breed: He's He's father, Son, and husband mild, Sharp phyfick is the laft: but O you powers! Were not this glorious casket stor'd with ill : Who, finger'd to make man his lawful mufick, Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, As dangerous as the relt. Your time's expir'd; Few love to hear the fins they love to act; 'Twould 'braid yourself too near for me to tell it. He's more fecure to keep it shut, than shown; To ftop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts What being more known grows worse, to fmother it. Then give my tongue like leave to love my head. Ant. Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found the meaning; But I will gloze with him. [Afide.] Young prince of Tyre, Though, by the tenour of our strict edict, We might proceed to cancel of your days; As doth befit our honour, and your worth. [Exeunt ANTIOCHUS, his daughter, and Attend. Then were it certain, you were not fo bad, By By the defiling of her parent's bed; And both like serpents are, who though they feed Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame : 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 fin In fuch a loathed manner: And therefore instantly this prince must die; For by his fall my honour must keep high. Thal. Enter THALIARD.. Doth your highness call? Ant. Thaliard, you're of our chamber, and our mind Partakes her private actions to your fecrecy; 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 ; It fits thee not to ask the reason why, Because we bid it. Say, is it done? Thal. 'Tis done. Ant. Enough; My lord, Enter a Meffenger. Left your breath cool yourself, telling your hafte. Mef. My lord, prince Pericles is fled. [Exit Meffenger. Ant. As thou Wilt live, fly after: and, as an arrow, shot From a well-experienc'd archer, hits the mark His eye doth level at, fo thou ne'er return, Unless thou fay, Prince Pericles is dead. Thal. My lord, if I Can get him once within my pistol's length, I'll make him fure: fo farewell to your highness. [Exit, Ant, Thaliard, adieu! till Pericles be dead, My heart can lend no fuccour 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 fad companion, dull-ey'd melancholy, By me fo us'd 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 fhun them, And danger, which I feared, is at Antioch, Whofe arm feems far too short to hit me here: Nor |