Look here, and, from my kind regards to you,
Copy such looks as you should bear each other.
Why do I sigh? Do you not know, my sons?
And if you do-O let me sigh no more!
Let these white hairs put in a claim to peace!
Perseus. Henceforth, my soul contention with my
brother

Is this; which best obeys our father's will.
Demetrius. Father, if simple nature ever speaks
In her own language, scorning useless words,
You see her now; she swells into my eyes.
I take thee to my heart; I fold thee in it.

[Embracing Perseus. Our father bids; and that we drank one milk, Is now the smallest motive of my love.

King. Antigonus, the joy their mother felt When they were born, is faint to what I feel.

Demetrius. See, brother, if he does not weep! His love Runs o'er in venerable tears. I'm rude;

But nature will prevail-My king! My father!

[Embracing. Perseus. [Aside.] Now cannot I let fall a single tear. King. See! The good man has caught it too. Antigonus.

And such alone, be shed in Macedonia!

Such tears,

King. Be not thou, Perseus, jealous of thy brother;
Nor thou, Demetrius, prone to give him cause;
Nor either think of empire till I'm dead.

You need not; you reign now; my heart is yours.
Sheath your resentments in your father's peace;
Come to my bosom both, and swear it there.

Embracing his sons. Antigonus. Look down, ye gods, and change me, if you

can,

This sight for one more lovely. What so sweet,
So beautiful, on earth, and, ah! so rare,

As kindred love, and family repose!

This, this alliance, Rome, will quite undo thee.

See this, proud Eastern monarchs! and look pale! Armies are routed, realms o'er-run by this.

King. Or if leagu'd worlds superior forces bring, I'd rather die a Father than a King.

Father's alone, a Father's heart can know ;
What secret tides of still enjoyment flow,
When brothers love! But if their hate succeeds,
They wage the war; but 'tis the father bleeds.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Enter PERSEUS.

Perseus. WHY loiters my ambassador to Dymas?
His greatness will not sure presume to scorn
A friendship offer'd from an heir of empire.

But Pericles returns.

Is Dymas ours?

[Enter Pericles.

Pericles. He's cautious, Sir; he's subtle; he's a courtier ;

Dymas is now for you, now for your brother;
For both, and neither: He's a summer-insect,
And loves the sunshine: On his gilded wings,

While the scales waver, he'll fly doubtful round you;
And sing his flatteries to both alike :

The scales once fix'd, he'll settle on the winner,
And swear his pray'rs drew down the victory-
But what success had you, Sir, with your brother?
Perseus. All, all my hopes are at the point of death?
The boy triumphant keeps his hold in love:
He's ever warbling nonsense in her ear,
With all th' intoxication of success.
Darkness encloses me; nor see I light

From any quarter dawn, but from his death.

Pericles. Why start at his death, who resolves on

Pericles.

Have you not mark'd the princess?

You have: With what a beam of majesty

Her eye strikes sacred awe! It speaks her mind
Exalted, as it is. Whom loves she then?

Demetrius? no; Rome's darling; who, no doubt,
Dares court her with your empire. And shall Perseus
Survive that loss?-Thus he resolves your death.
Perseus. Most true. What crime then to strike first?
But how?

Or when? or where? O Pericles! assist me.

Pericles. 'Tis dangerous.

Perseus.

The fitter then for me.

Pericles. Wait an occasion that befriends your wishes.
Perseus. Go, fool, and teach a cataract to creep!
Can thirst of empire, vengeance, beauty, wait?
Pericles. In the mean time, accept a stratagem
That must secure your empire, or your love.
Your brother's Roman friendship gall no less
The king, than you: He dreads their consequence.
Dymas hates Rome; and Dymas has a daughter.
How can the king so powerfully fix

Demetrius' faith, as by his marriage there?
For Dymas thus (Rome's sworn, eternal foe)
Becomes a spy upon his private life,.

And surety for his conduct.

Perseus.

True

But thus

Our art defeats itself. My brother gains

The favourite, and so strengthens in his treason.

Pericles. Think you, he'll wed her? No; the prin

cess' eye

Makes no such short-liv'd conquest. He'll refuse,
And thus effect what I have strove in vain :

Yes, he'll refuse; and Dymas, in his wrath,
Will list for us, and vengeance

Then the king

Will, doubtless, much resent his son's refusal ;
And thus we kindle the whole court against him.
Perseus. My precious friend, I thank thee.
wing

On ardent hope: I think it cannot fail.

Go, make thy court to Dymas with this scheme :
Begone. Erixine !-I'll feed her pride

I take

[Looking out. Once more; but not expend my breath in vain. This meeting stamps unutterable fate;

I will wed her, or vengeance. [Enter Erixine and Delia.
O Erixine!

O princess! colder than your Thracian snows!
See Perseus, who ne'er stoop'd but to the gods,
Prostrate before you. Fame and Empire sue.

Why have I conquer'd ?-Because you are fair.
What's empire?—But a title to adore you.
Why do I number in my lineage high

Heroes and gods?--That you, scarce less divine,
Without a blush may listen to my vows.
My ancestor subdu'd the world. I dare
Beyond his pride, and grasp at more, in you.
Obdurate maid! or turn, or I expire.

Erixine. If love, my lord, is choice, who loves in vain Should blame himself alone; and if 'tis fate,

'Tis fate in all: Why then your blame on me?
My crown's precarious, thro' the chance of war;
heart's
my own. Each villager

But sure my

Is

queen of her affections, and can vent

Her arbitrary sighs where-e'er she pleases.

Shall then the daughter of a race of kings-

Perseus. Madam, you justly blame the chance of war : The gods have been unkind: I am not so.

No! Perseus comes to counterbalance fate;

Thrace ne'er was conquer'd-if you smile on me.—
Silent! obdurate still! as cold as death!

But 'tis Demetrius

Erixine.

Prince, I take your meaning.

No, Madam, no ;

But, if you truly think his worth prevails,
How strange is your request !

Perseus.

Tho' love has hurt my mind, I still can judge
What springs the passions of the great controul.
Ambition is first minister of state;

Love's but a second in the cabinet;

Nor can he feather there his unfledg'd shaft
But from ambition's wing: But you conceive

Than me.

throne;

More sanguine hopes from him whom Rome supports,
You view Demetrius on my
And thence he shines indeed. His charms from thence
Transpierce your soul, enamour'd of dominion.

Erixine. Why now you shew me your profound esteem!