The rest (hark in thine ear) as black as incest ; Which, by my knowledge found, the sinful father

Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: but thou know'st this,

'Tis time to fear, when tyrants seem to kiss. Which fear so grew in me, I hither fled, Under the covering of a careful night,

Who seem'd my good protector; and being here, Bethought me what was past, what might succeed.

I knew him tyrannous; and tyrants' fears
Decrease not, but grow faster than their years:
And should he doubt it, (as no doubt he doth)
That I should open to the listening air

How many worthy princes' bloods were shed,
To keep his bed of blackness unlaid ope,-
To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms,
And make pretence of wrong that I have done
him;

When all, for mine, if I may call't offence,
Must feel war's blow, who spares not inno-

cence:

Which love to all (of which thyself art one, Who now reprov'st me for it)

Hel. Alas, Sir!

Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks,

Musings into my mind; a thousand doubts
How I might stop this tempest, ere it canie ;
And, unding little comfort to relieve them,
I thought it princely charity to grieve them.
Hel. Well, my lord, since you have given me
leave to speak,

Freely I'll speak. Antiochus you fear;
And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant,
Who either by public war, or private treason,
Will take away your life.

Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while,
Till that his rage and anger be forgot,
Or Destinies do cut his thread of life.
Your rule direct to any; if to me,

Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be.
Per. I do not doubt thy faith:

But should he wrong my liberties in absenceHel. We'll mingle bloods together in the earth,

From whence we had our being and our birth.
Per. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to
Tharsus

Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee;
And by whose letters l'il dispose myself.
The care I had and have of subjects' good,
On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can
bear it.

I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath ; Who shuns not to break one, will sure crack both:

But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe, That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince, t Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a prince.

true [Exeunt. SCENE III.—Tyre.-An Ante-chamber in the

Palace.

Enter THALIARD.

Thal. So, this is Tyre, and this is the court. Here must I kill king Pericles; and if I do not, I am sure to be hanged at home: 'tis dangerous.-Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that being bid to ask what be would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets. Now do I see he had some reason for it; for if a king bid a man be a villain, he is bound by the indenture of his oath to be one.-Hush, here come the lords of Tyre. Enter HELICANUS, ESCANES, and other Lords. Hel. You shall not need, ry fellow peers of Tyre,

Further to question of your ing's departure. + Overcome.

• In our diferent spher

[Aside.

Hel. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not,)

Took some displeasure at him; at least he judg'd so:

And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd,
To show his sorrow, would correct himself;
So puts himself unto the shipman's toil,
With whom each minute threatens life or death.
Thal. Well, I perceive
[Aside.

I shall not be hang'd now, although I would:
But since he's gone, the king it sure must
please :

He scap'd the land, to perish on the seas,-
But I'll present me. Peace to the lords of

Tyre!

Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is wel

come.

Thal. From him I come

With message unto princely Pericles ;

But, since my landing, as I have understood,
Your lord has took himself to unknown travels,
My message must return from whence it came.
Hel. We have no reason to desire it, since
Commended to our master not to us :
Yet, ere you shall depart, this we desire,-
As friends to Antioch, we may feast in Tyre.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Tharsus.-A Room in the Governor's House.

Enter CLEO, DIONYza, and Attendants.
Cle. My Dinyza, shall we rest us here,
And by relating tales of others' griefs,
See if 'twill teach us to forget our own?
Dio. That were to blow at fire, in hope to
quench it:

For who digs hills because they do aspire-
Throws down one mountain, to cast up a higher.
O my distressed lord, even such our griefs;
Here they're but felt, and seen with mistful
[rise.

eyes,

But like to groves, being topp'd, they higher
Cle. O Dionyza,

Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it,
Or can conceal his hunger till he famish?
Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep our
woes

Into the air; our eyes do weep, till lungs
Fetch breath that may proclaim them louder ;
that,

If heaven slumber while their creatures want,
They may awake their helps to comfort them.
I'll then discourse our woes, felt several years,
And wanting breath to speak, help me with

tears.

Dio. I'll do my best, Sir.

Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have govern. ment,

(A city on whom plenty held full hand,
For riches, strew'd herself even in the streets;}
Whose towers bore heads so high, they kiss'd the
clouds,

And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at;
Whose men and dames so jetted ⚫ and adorn'd,
Like one another's glass to trim + them by :
Their tables were stor'd full, to glad the sight,
And not so much to feed on, as delight;
All poverty was scorn'd, and pride so great,
The name of help grew odious to repeat.
Dio. Oh! 'tis too true.

Cle. But see what heaven can do! By this our change, [air, These mouths whom but of late, earth, sea, and Were all too little to content and please,

Although they gave their creatures in abundance,

As houses are defiled for want of use;
They are now starv'd for want of exercise:
Those palates, who not yet too

younger,

summers

Must have inventions to delight the taste,
Would now be glad of bread, and beg for it:
Those mothers who, to nousie ap their babes,
Thought nought too curious, are ready now
To eat those little darlings whom they lov'd:
So sharp are hunger's teeth, that man and
wife

Draws lots who first shall die, to lengthen life :
Here stands a lord, and there a lady weeping;
Here many sink, yet those which see them fall,
Have scarce strength left to give them burial.
Is not this true?

Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it.

Cle. Oh let those cities, that of plenty's cup And her prosperities so largely taste, With their superfluous riots, hear these tears! The misery of Tharsus may be their's.

[comes, [Exit.

[sist; t

Lord. I go, my lord. Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace conIf wars we are unable to resist.

Enter PERICLES with Attendants. Per. Lord governor, (for so we hear you are) Let not our ships and number of our men, Be, like a beacen fir'd, to amaze your eyes. We have beard your miseries as far as Tyre, And seen the desolation of your streets; Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears, But to relieve them of their heavy load; And these our ships (you happily may think Are, like the Trojan horse, war-stuff'd within, With bloody views, expecting overthrow)

Are stor❜d with corn, to make your needy bread,

And give them life, who are hunger-starv'd, half dead.

All. The gods of Greece protect you.

And we'll pray for you.

Per. Rise, I pray you, rise:

We do not look for reverence but for love,
And harbourage for ourself, our ships, and men.
Cle. The which when any shall not gratify,
Or pay you with unthankfulness in thought,
Be it our wives, our children, or ourselves,

ACT 11.

Enter Gower.

[Exeunt.

Gow. Here have you seen a mighty ki g His child, I wis, to incest bring; A better prince, and benign lord, Prove awful both in deed and word. Be quiet then, as men should be, Till he hath pass'd necessity. I'll show you those in trouble's reign, Losing a mite, a mountain gain. The good in conversation t (To whom I give my benizon,) † Is still at Tharsus, where each man Thinks all is writ he spoken can : And, to remember what he does, Gild his statue glorious:

But tidings to the contrary

Are brought your eyes; what need speak 13

Dumb Show.

Enter at one door PERICLES, talking with CLEON; all the train with them. Enter ut another door, a GENTLEMAN with a Letter to PERICLES; PERICLES shows the letter to CLEON; then gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. Exeunt PERICLES, CLEON, &c. severally.

Gow. Good Helicane hath staid at home,
Not to eat honey, like a drone,
From others' labours; forth he strive
To killen bad, keep good alive;
And to fulfil his prince' desire,
Sends word of all that haps in Tyre:

[split;

How Thaliard came full bent with sin,
And hid intent, to murder him;
And that in Tharsus was not best
Longer for him to make his rest:
He knowing so, put forth to seas,
Where when men been, there's seldom ease;
For now the wind begins to blow;
Thunder above, and deeps below,
Make such unquiet, that the ship
Should house him safe, is wreck'd and
And he, good prince, having all lost,
By waves from coast to coast is tost:
All perishen of man, of pelf,
Ne aught escapen but himself;
Till fortune, tir'd with doing bad,
Threw him ashore, to give him glad :
And here he comes what shall be next,
Pardon old Gower; this 'longs the text.
[Exit.

SCENE I.-Pentapolis.$—An open Place by the Sea Side.

To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes; And having thrown him from your wat'ry grave,

Here to have death in peace, is all he'll crave.

Enter three FISHERMEN.

1 Fish. What, ho, Pilche!

2 Fish. Ho! come and bring away the nets. 1 Fish. What Patch-breech I say! 3 Fish. What say you, master?

1 Fish. Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion.

3 Fish. 'Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us, even

now.

1 Fish. Alas, poor souls, it griev'd my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves.

2 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when I saw the porpus, how he bounced and tumbled? they say, they are half fish half flesh : a plague on them, they ne'er come, but I look to be wash'd. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.

Per. I did but crave.

2 Fish. But crave? Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall 'scape whipping.

[then? Per. Why, are all your beggars whipp'd 2 Fish. Oh! not all, my friend, not all: for if all your beggars were whipp'd, I would wish no better office than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go draw up the net.

[Exeunt two of the FISHERMEN. Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour !

1 Fish. Hark you, Sir! do you know where you are?

Per. Not well.

1 Fish. Why, I'll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king, the good Simonides. Per. The good king Simonides, do you call him?

1 Fish. Ay, Sir, and he deserves to be so call'd, for his peaceable reign and good government.

3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry. 2 Fish. Why, man?

3 Fish. Because he should have swallow'd me

too: and when I had been in his belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should have never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish, up again. But if the good king Simonides were of my mindPer. Simonides!

3 Fish. We would purge the land of these drones that rob the bee of her honey.

Per. How from the finny subject of the sea
These fishers tell the infirmities of men ;
And from their watʼry empire recollect
All that may men approve, or men detect!
Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.

2 Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? if it be a day fits you, scratch it out of the calendar, and no body will look after it.

Per. Nay, see, the sea hath cast upon your

coast

2 Fish. What a drunken knave was the sea, to cast thee in our way!

Per. A man whom both the waters and the wind,

In that vast tennis-court, hath made the ball For them to play upon, entreats you pity him: He asks of you, that never us'd to beg.

1 Fish. No, friend, cannot you beg? here's them in our country of Greeee gets more with begging than we can do with working.

2 Fish. Canst thou catch any fishes then? Per. I never practis'd it.

2 Fish. Nay, then thou wilt starve sure; for here's nothing to be got now-a-days, unless thou canst fish for't.

Per. What I have been, I have forgot to know;

But what I am, want teaches me to think on:
A man shrunk up with cold; my veins are
chill,

And have no more of life than may suffice
To give my tongue that heat, to ask your help;
Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,
For I am a man, pray see me buried.

1 Fish. Die quoth-a? Now gods forbid! 1 have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we'll have fiesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo'er

1 Fish. Marry, Sir, half a day's journey; and I'll tell you he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birth-day; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world, to just and tourney + for her love.

Per. Did but my fo. nes equal my desires, I'd wish to make one the.e.

1 Fish. O Sir, things must be as they may; and what a man canust get, he may lawfully deal for-bis wife's boul

Re-enter the Two FISHERMEN, drawing up a

net.

2 Fish. Help, master, help; here's a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man's right in the law; 'twill hardly come out. Ha bots on't, 'tis come at last, and 'tis turn'd to a rusty ar

mour.

Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it.

Thanks, fortune, yet, that after all my crosses,
Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself;
And, though it was mine own, part of inine heri-
tage,

Which my dead father did bequeath to me,
With this strict charge, (even as he left his life,)
Keep it, my Pericles, it hath been a shield
'Twixt me and death: (and pointed to this
brace) +

For that it sav'd me, keep it ; in like necessity Which gods protect thee from ! it may dejend

thee.

It kept where I kept, I so dearly lov'd it;
Till the rough seas, that spare not any man,
Took it in rage, though calm'd, they give't
again :

I thank thee for't; my shipwreck's now no ill,
Since I have here my father's gift by will.
1 Fish. What mean you, Sir?

Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth,

For it was sometime target to a king;

I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly,
And for his sake I wish the having of it;
And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's
court,

Where with't I may appear a gentleman;
And if that ever my low fortunes better,
I'll pay your bounties; till then, rest your
debtor.

1 Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady f Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms.

1 Fish. Why, do ye take it, and the gods give thee good on't!

2 Fish. Ay, but hark you, my friend; 'twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the waters: there are certain condolemeuts, certain veils. I hope, Sir, if you thrive, you'll remember from whence you had it.

Per. Believe't, I will.

Now by your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel;
And, spite of all the rupture of the sea,
This jewel holds his biding on my arm :
Unto thy value will I mount myself
Upon a courser, whose delightful steps
Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.-
Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided
Of a pair of bases. +

2 Fish. We'll sure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I'll bring thee to the court myself.

Per. Then honour be but a goal to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill.

[Exeunt. SCENE II-The same.-A public Way, or Platform, leading to the Lists. A Pavilion by the Side of it, for the reception of the KING, PRINCESS, LORDS, &c.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, LORDS, and Atten

dants.

Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

1 Lord. They are, my liege: And stay your coming to present themselves. Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,

In honour of whose birth these triumphs are, Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

[Exit a LORD. Thai. It pleaseth you, my father, to express My commendations great, whose merit's less. Sim. 'Tis fit it should be so; for princes are A model, which heaven makes like to itself: As jewels lose their glory, if neglected, So princes their renown, if not respected. 'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain The labour of each knight, in his device. §

Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.

Enter a Knight; he passes over the Stage. and his Squire presents his Shield to the Princess.

Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer || himself?

Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;

And the device he bears upon his shield
Is a black Æthiop, reaching at the sun :
The word, Lux tua vita mihi.

Sim. He loves you well, that holds his life of you. [The second Knight passes. Who is the second, that presents himself? Tha. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; And the device he bears upon his shield Is an arm'd knight, that's conquer'd by a lady: The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulcura que per fuerca. **

[The third Knight passes. Sim. And what's the third ? Thai. The third, of Antioch; And his device, a wreath of chivalry: The word, Me pompa provexit apex.

The fourth Knight passes. Sim. What is the fourth? Thdi. A burning torch, that's turned upside down:

The word, Quod me alit, me extinguit.

The brace was fastened by a jewel, which the sea had not removed from its place.

of loose breaches.

Emblem on a shield.

1 Offer.

+ A kind

1 I. e. Tell them.

The motta.

I. c. More by sweetness than by force.

Sim. Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,

Which can as well inflame, as it can kill

[The fifth Knight passes. Thai. The fifth, a hand environed with clouds · Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried: The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides. [The sixth Knight passes. Sim. And what's the sixth and last, which the knight himself

With such a graceful courtesy deliver❜d?

Thai. He seems a stranger; but his present is A wither'd branch, that's only green at top: The motto, In hac spe vivo.

Sim. A pretty moral;

From the dejected state wherein he is,

He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.
1 Lord. He had need mean better than his
outward show

Can any way speak in his just commend:
For, by his rusty outside, he appears
To have practis'd more the whipstock, than the
lance.

2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he

To say you are welcome, were superfluous.
To place upon the volume of your deeds,
As in a title-page, your worth in arms,
Were more than you expect, or more than's fit,
Since every worth in show commends itself.
Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast :
You are my guests.

Thai. But you, my knight and guest :
To whom this wreath of victory I give,
And crown you king of this day's happiness.
Per. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my

merit.

Sim. Call it by what you will, the day is

yours;

And here, I hope, is none that envies it. In framing artists, art hath thus decreed, To make some good, but others to exceed ; And you're her labour'd scholar. Come, queen o'the feast, [place: (For, daughter, so you are,) here take your Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace. Knights. We are honour'd much by good Simonides.

Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we love,

For who hates honour, hates the gods above.
Marsh. Sir, yond's your place.

Per. Some other is more fit.

1 Knight, Contend not, Sir; for we are gentlemen,

That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes,
Envy the great, nor do the low despise.

Per. You are right courteous knights.
Sim. Sit, sit, Sir; sit.

Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,

These cates resist me, she not thought upon.
Thai. By Juno, that is queen

Of marriage, all the viands that I eat
Do seem unsavoury, wishing him my meat :
Sure he's a gallant gentleman.

• Handle of a whip.

↑ I. c. These delicacies go against my stomach.

Sim. He's but

A country gentleman :

He has done no more than other knights have
Broken a staff, or so: so let it pass. [done;
Thai. To me he seems like diamond to a glass.
Per. You' king's to me, like to my father's
picture,

Which teils me, in that glory once he was;
Had princes sit, like stars, about his throne,
And he the sun, for them to reverence.

None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights,
Did veil their crown to his supremacy;
Where now his son's a glow-worm in the night,
The which hath fire in darkness, none in light;
Whereby I see that time's the king of men,
For he's their parent, and he is their grave,
And gives them what he will, not what they

crave.

Sim. What, are you merry, knights?

1 Knight. Who can be other, in this royal presence?

Sim. Here, with a cup that's stor'd unto the brim,

(As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,) We drink this health to you.

Knights. We thank your grace.

Sim. Yet pause a while:

You knight, methinks, doth sit too melancholy,
As if the entertainment in our court

Had not a show might countervail his worth.
Note it not you, Thaisa?

Thai. What is it

To me, my father?

Sim. Oh! attend, my daughter; Princes, in this, should live like gods above, Who freely give to every one that comes

To honour them and princes, not doing so, Are like to gnats, which make a sound, kill'd

Are wonder'd at.

but

Therefore to inake's entrance more sweet, here say,

We drink this standing bowl of wine to him.
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 better.
[Aside.

Sim. And further tell him, we desire to know,

Of whence he is, his name and parentage.
Thai. The king my father, Sir, has drunk to

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
Pericles,

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, pity his misfor-
tune,

And will awake him from his melancholy.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other re-
vels.

Even in your armours, as you are address'd, t
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 bels.
[The KNIGHTS dance.
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. Oh that's as much as you would be deny'd

[The KNIGHTS and LADIES dance. Of your fair conrtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp: Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well; But you the best. [To PERICLES.] Pages and lights, conduct [Sir, These knights unto their several lodgings; Your's 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. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Tyre.-A Room in the Gover nor's House.

Enter HELICANES 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.