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. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Tyre. A Room in the Governor's House. Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES. Hel. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me,- For which, the most high gods not minding longer Even in the height and pride of all his glory, A fire from heaven came, and shrivell❜d up Hel. 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. 6 See, not a man, &c.] To what this charge of partiality was designed to conduct, we do not learn; for it appears to have no influence over the rest of the dialogue. 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. 2 Lord. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure": 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, All. Live, noble Helicane! Hel. Try honour's cause; forbear your suffrages: I shall with aged patience bear your yoke. 7 And be resolv'd, he lives to govern us,] Resolv'd is satisfied, free from doubt. 8 Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure:] i. e. the most probable in our opinion. "the seat," - MALONE. But if I cannot win you to this love, Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects, And in your search, spend your adventurous worth; 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. SCENE V. Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. Enter SIMONIDES, reading a Letter, the Knights 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 ; And on her virgin honour will not break it. It were to be This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd,] wished that Simonides (who is represented as a blameless character) had hit on some more ingenuous 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. VOL. VII. K k 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: Well, I commend her choice; And will no longer have it be delay'd. Enter PERICLES. Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, With such delightful pleasing harmony. Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend ; Not my desert. Sim. Sir, you are musick'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? Per. Per. As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair. Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else. A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? [Aside. O, seek not to entrap, my gracious lord, A stranger and distressed gentleman, That never aim'd so high, to love your daughter, Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art A villain. Per. By the gods, I have not, sir. 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, I came unto your court, for honour's cause, This sword shall prove, he's honour's enemy. Here comes my daughter, she can witness it. Enter THAISA. Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, Who takes offence at that would make me glad? Sim. Yea, mistress, are you so perémptory ? [Aside. I am glad of it with all my heart. [Aside.] I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection. |