DRAMATIS PERSONÆ'. ANTIOCHUS, King of Antioch. PERICLES, Prince of Tyre. HELICANUS, } two Lords of Tyre. ESCANES, SIMONIDES, King of Pentapolis. CLEON, Governor of Tharsus. LYSIMACHUS, Governor of Mitylene. CERIMON, a Lord of Ephesus. THALIARD, a Lord of Antioch. PHILEMON, Servant to Cerimon. A Pandar, and his Wife. BOULT, their Servant. GOWER, as Chorus. The Daughter of Antiochus. DIONYZA, Wife to Cleon. THAISA, Daughter to Simonides. MARINA, Daughter to Pericles and Thaisa. LYCHORIDA, Nurse to Marina. DIANA. Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen and Messengers, &c. SCENE, dispersedly in various Countries. 1 The play in the folio, 1664, is followed by a defective list of persons, under the title of "The Actors' Names." PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE. 1 ACT I. Enter GOWER. Before the Palace of Antioch. To sing a song that old was sung, To glad your ear, and please your eyes. On ember-eves, and holy ales', And lords and ladies in their lives Have read it for restoratives: The purpose is to make men glorious ; Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius. If you, born in these latter times, and holy ALES ;] Every old copy, quarto and folio, has "holy-days;" but as the speech was no doubt meant to rhyme, we have adopted Dr. Farmer's amendment by "holy ales," what were called church ales were probably intended. 2 The PURPOSE is-] In all the old copies it stands, "The purchase is;" and it may possibly be right, taking purchase in the sense of prize or reward. 3 This Antioch, then: Antiochus the great I tell you what my authors say: Bad child, worse father, to entice his own 4 By custom what they did begin Was with long use account no sin. What now ensues, to the judgment of your eye I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit. took a FEERE:] i. e. a mate or wife: the word also occurs in "Titus Andronicus," Vol. vi. p. 327. 4 By custom-] "But custom account'd for "account." in the old copies; and in the next line, As yond' grim looks do testify.] Referring to the heads of the unsuccessful suitors, exhibited to the audience over the gates of the palace at Antioch. That such was the case we have the evidence of the novel, founded upon the play, published under the title of "The painfull Adventures of Pericles Prince of Tyre," 1608, where the heading of the first chapter ends thus :-" placing their heads on the top of his castle gate, whereby to astonish all others that came to attempt the like." SCENE I. Antioch. A Room in the Palace. Enter ANTIOCHUS, PERICLES, and Attendants. Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large re ceiv'd The danger of the task you undertake. Per. I have, Antiochus, and with a soul Embolden'd with the glory of her praise, Think death no hazard, in this enterprise. [Music. Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride, To knit in her their best perfections. Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. Per. See, where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Of every virtue gives renown to men! Her face, the book of praises, where is read Ye gods, that made me man, and sway in love, • Music.] In every old copy, this word, which is evidently a stage-direction, is made part of the text, at the commencement of the speech of Antiochus. 7 For THE embracements-] All the old copies omit "the." * Sorrow were ever RAS'D,] In the quarto, 1609, it is "Sorrow were ever racte," which later editions altered to rackt, mistaking the word. VOL. VIII. T To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, Per. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught And by those fearful objects to prepare For death remember'd should be like a mirror, So, I bequeath a happy peace to you, And all good men, as every prince should do: 9 such a BOUNDLESS happiness!] The old editions, anterior to that of Rowe, by a misprint, have "bondless happiness." 1 all THY whole heap must die.] The old copies have the for "thy:" the change was made by Malone. Yond' sometime famous princes,] Referring, of course, to the heads of the unsuccessful suitors above the palace gates. |