Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell, the earth is wrong'd By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't. Kings are earth's gods: in vice their law's their will; What being more known grows worse, to smother it. But I will gloze with him. [Aside.] Young prince of Tyre, Though, by the tenour of our strict edict, Your exposition misinterpreting, We might proceed to cancel of your days; [Exeunt Antiochus, his daughter, and Attendants. Per. How courtesy would seem to cover sin! When what is done is like an hypocrite, The which is good in nothing but in sight. If it be true that I interpret false, Then were it certain, you were not so bad, And both like serpents are, who though they feed Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame: Then, lest my life be cropp'd to keep you clear, 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 sin In such a loathed manner: And therefore instantly this prince must die; Thal. Enter THALIARD. Doth your highness call? Ant. Thaliard, you're of our chamber, and our mind Partakes her private actions to your secresy; We hate the prince of Tyre, and thou must kill him; Because we bid it. Say, is it done? Thal. 'Tis done. My lord, Enter a Messenger. Ant. Enough; Lest your breath cool yourself, telling your haste". Ant. [Exit Messenger. As thou Wilt live, fly after: and, as an arrow, shot Thal. My lord, if I Can get him once within my pistol's length, I'll make him sure: so farewell to your highness. [Exit. Ant. Thaliard, adieu! till Pericles be dead, My heart can lend no succour 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 sad companion, dull-ey'd melancholy, By me so 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 shun them, And danger, which I feared, is at Antioch, Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here: And what was first but fear what might be done, And what may make him blush in being known, (Who am no more but as the tops of trees, them,) Makes both my body pine, and soul to languish, 1 Lord. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast! 2 Lord. And keep your mind, till you return to ús, Peaceful and comfortable! Hel. Peace, peace, my lords, and give experience tongue. They do abuse the king, that flatter him: For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing the which is flatter'd, but a spark, To which that breath gives heat and stronger glowing; Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err. Per. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook |