Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the

lists,
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.
I sought a husband, in which labor
I found that kindness in a father :
He's father, son, and husband mild ;
I mother, wife, and yet his child.
How they may be, and yet in two, 70

As you will live, resolve it you.
Sharp physic is the last : but, O you powers
That give heaven countless eyes to view men's

acts, Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, If this be true, which makes me pale to read

it ? Fair glass of light, I loved you, and could

still,

[Takes hold of the hand of the Princess. Were not this glorious casket stored with ill : But I must tell you, now my thoughts revolt; For he's no man on whom perfections wait 79 That, knowing sin within, will touch the gate. You are a fair viol, and your sense the strings; Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music, Would draw heaven down, and all the gods,

to hearken : But being play'd upon before your time, Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime. Good sooth, I care not for you. Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy

life, For that's an article within our law, As dangerous as the rest. Your time's ex

pired : Either expound now, or receive your sentence.

90 Per. Great king, Few love to hear the sins they love to act; "Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell

it. Who has a book of all that monarchs do, He's more secure to keep it shut than shown : For vice repeated is like the wandering wind, Blows dust in others' eyes, to spread itself ; And yet the end of all is bought thus dear, The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear: To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts

100 Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth

is throng'd By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth

dio for't. Kings are earth's gods ; in vice their law's

; their will ; And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth

ill? It is enough you know ; and it is fit, What being more kuown grows worse, to

smother it. All love the womb that their first being bred, Then give my tongue like leave to love my

head.

Ant. [Aside] Heaven, that I had thy head!

he has found the meaning : But I will gloze with him.-Young prince of Tyre,

110 Though by the tenor of our strict edict, Your exposition misinterpreting, We might proceed to cancel of your days ; Yet hope, succeeding from so fair a tree As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise : Forty days longer we do respite you ; If by which time our secret be undone, This mercy shows we'll joy in such a son : And until then your entertain shall be As doth befit our honor and your worth. 120

[Exeunt all but Pericles. Per. How courtesy would seem to cover

sin, When what is done is like an hypocrite, The which is good m nothing but in sight ! If it be true that I interpret false, Then were it certain you were not so bad As with foul incest to abuse your soul; Where now you're both a father and a son, By your untimely claspings with your child, Which pleasure fits an husband, not a father ; And she an eater of her mother's flesh, 130 By the defiling of her parent's bed ; And both like serpents are, who though they

feed On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed. Antioch, farewell! for wisdom sees, those men Blush not in actions blacker than the night, Will shun no course to keep them from the

light. One sin, I know, another doth provoke; 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 : 140 Then, lest my life be cropp'd to keep you

clear, By flight I'll shun the danger which I fear.

[Exit. Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. Ant. He hath found the meaning, for which

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 honor must keep high. Who attends us there ?

Enter THALIARD. Thal. Doth your highness call ? 150

Ant. Thaliard, You are of our chamber, and our mind par

takes Her private actions to your secrecy; 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 ;

ure :

From whence an issue I might propagate, † Are arms to princes, and bring joys to sub

jects. Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder ; The rest-hark in thine ear-as black as incest :

(father Which by my knowledge found, the sinful Seein'd not to strike, but smooth : but thou

know'st this, 'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss, Which fear so grew in me, I hither fed, 80 Under the covering of a careful night, Who seem'd my good protector ; and, being

here, Bethought me what was past, what might

succeed. I knew him tyrannons; and tyrants' fears Decrease not, but grow faster than the years : And should he doubt it, as no doubt he doth, That I should open to the listening air How many worthy princey' bloods were shed, To keep his bed of blackness unlaid ope, To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms,

90 And make pretence of wrong that I have done

him : When all, for mine, if I may call offence, Must feel war's blow, who spares not in

nocence :
Which love to all, of which thyself art one,
Who now reprovest me for it,
Hel.

Alas, sir !
Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood

from my cheeks,
Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts
Ilow I might stop this tempest ere it came ;
And finding little comfort to relieve them,
I thought it princely charity to grieve them. 100
Hel. Well, my lord, since you have given

me leave to speak, Freely will I speak. Antiochus you fear, And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant, Who either by public war or private treason Will take away your life. Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, Till that his rage and anger be forgot, Or till the Destivies do cut his thread of life. Your rule direct to any ; if to me.

109 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 ab

sence ? 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 Tarsus 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. l'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath :

120 W1.o shuns not to break one will sure crack

both :

But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe, That time of both this truth shall ne'er con

vince, Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true prince.

[Ereunt. SCENE III. Tyre. An ante-chamber in the

palace.

Enter THALIARD. Thal. So, this is Tyre, and this the court. Here must I kill King Pericles ; and if I do it not, I am sure to be hanged at home: 'tis dangerous. Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that, being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets : now do I see he had some reason for 't ; for if a king bid a man be a villain, he's bound by the indenture of his oath to be one! Hush ! here come the lords of Tyre. Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES, with other

Lords of Tyre. Hel. You shall not need, my fellow peers

of Tyre. Further to question me of your king's departHis seal'd commission, left in trust with me, Doth speak sufficiently he's gone to travel.

Thal. [Aside] How ! the king gone ! Hel. If further yet you will be satisfied, Why, as it were unlicensed of your loves, He would depart, I'll give some light unto

you. Being at Antioch

Thal. [Aside] What from Antioch ? llel. Royal Antiochus-on what cause I know not

20 Took some displeasure at him ; at least he

judged so : And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd, To show his sorrow, he'ld correct himself ; So puts himself unto the shipman's toil, With whom each minute threatens life or

death. Thal. [Aside] Well, I perceive I shall not be hang'd now, although I would ; But since he's gone, the king's seas must

please : He 'scaped the land, to perish at the sea. l'll present myself. Peace to the lords of Tyre!

30 Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is wel

come. Thal. From him I come With message unto princely Pericles ; But since my landing I have understood Your lord has betook himself to unknown

travels, My message must return from whence it came.

Hel. We have no reason to desire it, Commended to our master, not to us : Yet, ere you shall depart, this we desire, As friends to Antioch, we may feast in Tyre.

(Exeunt. 40

Enter Cleon, the governor of Tarsus, with

DIONYZA, and others. Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, And by relating tales of others' griefs, See if 'twill teach us to forget our own? Dio. That were to blow at fire in hope to

quench it ; For who digs hills because they do aspire Throws down one mountain to cast up a

higher. O my distressed lord, even such our griefs

are; Here they're but felt, and seen with mischief's

eyes, But like to groves, being topp'd, they higher

rise. C'le. O Dionyza,

10 Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants

it, Or can conceal his liunger till he famish ? Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep Our woes into the air ; our eyes do weep, Till tongues 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.

20 Cle. This Tarsus, o'er which I have the

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. 31

Dio. 0, 'tis too true.
Cle. But see what heaven can do ! By this

our change, These mouths, who but of late, earth, sea,

and air, Were all too little to content and please, Although they gave their creatures in abund

ance, 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, 40 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 weep

ing ; 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 wit

ness 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 Tarsus may be theirs.

Enter a Lord.
Lord. Where's the lord governor ?

Cle. Here.
Speak out thy sorrows which thou bring'st in

haste, For comfort is too far for us to expect. Lord. We have descried, upon our neigh

boring 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 neighboring nation, Taking advantage of our misery, Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their

power, To beat us down, the which are down al

ready ; And make a conquest of unhappy me, Whereas no glory's got to overcome. 70 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 favorers, not as foes. Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor'd to

repeat : Who makes the fairest show means most de

ceit. But bring they what they will and what they

can, What need we fear ? The ground's the lowest, and we are half Go tell their general we attend him here, To know for what he comes, and whence he comes,

80 And what he craves. Lord. I go, my lord.

(Erit. Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace con

sist; If wars, we are unable to resist.

Enter PERICLES with Attendants. Per. Lord governor, for so we hear you Let not our ships and number of our 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 •

way there,

are,

Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears, 90
But to relieve them of their heavy load ;
And these our ships, you bappily may think
Are like the Trojan horse was stuff' d within
With bloody veins, expecting overthrow,
Are stored with corn to make your needy

bread, And give them life whom hunger starved

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

Arise, I pray you, rise : We do not look for reverence, but for love, And barborage for ourself, our ships, and

100 Cle. The which when any shall not gratify, Or pay you with unthankfulness 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,

(Exeunt.

men.

man

ACT II.

Enter GOWER.
Goro. Here have you seen a mighty king
His child, I wis, to incest bring ;
A better prince and benign lord,
That will prove awful both in deed aud

word.
Be quiet then as men should be,
Till he hath pass'd necessity.
I'll show you those in troubles reign,
Losing a mite, a mountain gain.
The good in conversation,
To whom I give my benison,

10
Is still at Tarsus, where each man
Thiuks all is writ he speken can ;
And, to remember what he does,
Build his statue to make him 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 shows the letter to CLEON ; gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. Erit PERICLES at one door, and CLEON at another. Good Helicane, that stay'd at home, Not to eat honey like a drone From others' labors ; for though he strive To killen bad, keep good alive;

20 And to fulfil his prince' desire, Sends word of all that haps in Tyre : How Thaliard came full bent with sin

And had intent to murder him ;
And that in Tarsus was not best
Longer for him to make his rest.
He, doing 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

30
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 longs the text. 40

[Exit. SCENE I. Pentapolis. An open place by the

sea-side.

Enter PERICLES, wet.
Per. Yet cease your ire, you angry stars of

heaven !
Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly
Is but a substance that must yield to you ;
And I, as fits my nature, do obey you :
Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks,
Wash'd me from shore to shore, and left me

breath Nothing to think on but ensuing death : Let it suffice the greatness of your powers To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes ; And having thrown him from your watery grave,

10 Here to have death in peace is all he'll crave.

Enter three Fishermen First Fish. What, ho, Pilch ! Sec. Fish. Ha, come and bring away the

nets ! First Fish. What, Patch-breech, I say ! Third Fish. What say you, master ?

First Fish. Look how thou stirrest now ! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wanion.

Third Fish. 'Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before is even now.

20 First Fish. Alas, poor souls, it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves.

Third Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much when I saw the porpus how he bounced and tumbled ? they say they're half fish, half flesh : a plague on them, they ne'er come but I look to be washed. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.

30 First Fish. Why, as men do a-land ; the great ones eat up the little ones : I can compare our rich misers to pothing so fitly as to a whale ; a' plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful : such whales have I heard