Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen, Messengers, a Bawd, etc. SCENE, dispersedly in various Countries. This drama was printed in 4to. in 1609, 1611, 1619, 1630, and 1635, before it appeared in the third folio of 1664: it had found no place in the two earlier folios, though all the 4tos. assign it to Shakespeare. Rowe first printed a list of the characters. Before the Palace of Antioch. To sing a song that old was sung, To glad your ear and please your eyes. It hath been sung at festivals, On ember-eves, and holy ales,2 And lords and ladies in their lives Have read it for restoratives: The purpose is3 to make men glorious ; Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius. If you, born in these latter times, When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes, And that to hear an old man sing, May to your wishes pleasure bring, 2 -and holy ALES ;] Every old copy has "holy-days"; but we have adopted Dr. Farmer's emendation by "holy ales", what were then called church ales were probably intended. : 3 The PURPOSE is-] In the old copies the text stands, "The purchase is", and it might, perhaps, be strained to a meaning. I life would wish, and that I might This Antioch, then: Antiochus the great I tell you what mine authors say. Bad child, worse father, to entice his own But custom what they did begin Was with long use account' no sin. • —took a FEERE :] i. e., a mate, wife, or companion: see Titus Andronicus, act iv, sc. 1, p. 59. As yond' grim looks do testify.] Referring to the ghastly heads of the unsuccessful suitors, which were exhibited to the audience over the gates of the palace at Antioch. What now ensues to the judgment of your eye [Exit. SCENE I-Antioch. A Room in the Palace. Enter ANTIOCHUS, PERICLES, and Attendants. Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large receiv'd The danger of the task you undertake. Per. I have, Antiochus; and with a soul Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. [Music.6 Per. See where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Of every virtue gives renown to men! Her face the book of praises, where is read Nothing but curious pleasures, as from thence Ye gods-that made me man, and sway in love, That have inflam'd desire in my breast Music.] In every old copy, this word, for music to accompany the entrance of the bride, is absurdly made part of the text. To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, Per. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught For death remember'd should be like a mirror, '-all thy whole HEAD must die.] i. e., the head in which his offending eye was placed. In the old copies "head" is misprinted heap-a manifest and easy blunder. The other heads of unsuccessful suitors were in sight of the audience. |