Therefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say,
We drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.3
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 bet

ter.

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

[Aside.

Thai. The king my father, sir, has 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 being in arts and arms ;)—

Who looking for adventures in the world,

Was, by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And, after shipwreck, driven upon this shore.

Thai. He thanks your grace; names himself Pertcles,

A gentleman of Tyre, who only by

Misfortune of the seas 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.

seem to have promised. The worthless monarch, and the idle gnat, have only lived to make an empty bluster; and when both alike are dead, we wonder how it happened that they made so much, or that we permitted them to make it :-a natural reflection on the death of an unserviceable prince, who having dispensed no blessings, can hope for no better character.

STEEVENS.

STEEVENS.

[3] A standing-bowl was a bowl resting on a foot. [4] i. e. the loud noise made by the clashing of their armour. MALONE

So, this was well ask'd, 'twas 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. O, 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. [TOPERICLES.] Pages and lights 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.

[Exeunt.

Tyre. A Room in the Governor's House. Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES.

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

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, and his daughter with him,
In a chariot of inestimable value,

A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up
Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes ador'd them, ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
Esca. 'Twas very strange.

Hel. And yet but just; for though

This king were great, his greatness was no guard
To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward.
Esca. 'Tis very true.

Enter Three Lords.

1 Lord. See, not a man in private conference, Or council, has respect with him but he.

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 the 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:5

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

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

All. 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 then entreat you
To forbear choice i'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 noblemen, like noble subjects,
And in your search spend your adventurous worth;
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. [Exeunt.

[5] i. e. the most probable in our opinion. Censure is thus used in King Richard III: "To give your censures in this weighty business." STEEVENS.

4

VOL. IX.

SCENE V.

Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. 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'll 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 it.

3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

Sim, So

[Exeunt.

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.

Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well :-nay, how absolute she 's in't,
Not minding whether I dislike or no !

Well, I commend her choice;

And will no longer have it be delay'd.

Soft, here he comes :-I must dissemble it.

Enter PERICLES.

Per. All fortune to the good Simonides!

Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, For your sweet music this last night: my ears,

I do protest, were never better fed

With such delightful pleasing harmony.

Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend ;

Not my desert.

Sim. Sir, you are music's master.

Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, sir, of My daughter?

[6] It were to be wished that Simonides (who is represented as a blameless character) had hit on some more ingenious expedient for the dismission of these wooers. Here he tells them as a solemn truth, what he knows to be a fiction of his own. STEEVENS.

39

Per. As of a most virtuous princess.
Sim. And she is fair too, is she not?

Per. As a fair day in summer; wond'rous fair.
Sim. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you;
Ay, so well, sir, that you must be her master,
And she'll your scholar be; therefore look to it.
Per. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster.

Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
Per. What's here!

A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre?
"Tis the king's subtilty, to have my life.
O, seek not to intrap, my gracious lord,
A stranger and distressed gentleman,

That never aim'd so high, to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honour her.

[Aside.

Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter," and thou art A villain.

Per. By the gods, I have not, sir.

Never did thought of mine levy offence;

Nor never did my actions yet commence

A deed might gain her love, or your displeasure.
Sim. Traitor, thou liest.

Per. Traitor !

Sim. Ay, traitor, sir.

Per. Even in his throat, (unless it be the king,) That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

Sim. Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.

Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts,
That never relish'd of a base descent.8
I came unto your court, for honour's cause,
And not to be a rebel to her state;

And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he's honour's enemy.
Sim. No!-

Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

Enter THAISA.

Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,
Resolve your angry father, if my tongue

[7] So, Brabantio, addressing himself to Othello:
"Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her."

[8] So, in Hamlet:

"That has no relish of salvation in't."

Again, in Macbeth:

"So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;
"They smack of honour both."

[Aside.

STEEVENS.

MALONE.