Sim. Here, with a cup that's stored 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 awhile;
Yon 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.
O, attend, my daughter.
Princes, in this, should live like gods above,
Who freely give to every one that comes
To honor them; and princes, not doing so,
Are like to gnats, which make a sound, but killed
Are wondered at.1

Therefore to make his entrance 2 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 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.

1 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.

2 By his entrance appears to be meant his present trance, the reverie in which he is sitting.

VOL. VI.

58

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 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, 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 armors, as you are addressed,1
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.
So, this was well asked, 'twas so well performed.
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. [To PERICLES.] 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.

1 "As you are accoutred, prepared for combat."

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,-
Antiochus from incest lived 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 shrivelled up

Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes adored 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 curst be he that will not second it.

2 Lord. Follow me, then. Lord Helicane, a word.

1 i. e. which adored them.

not learn; logue.

2 To what this charge of partiality was designed to conduct, we do for it appears to have no influence over the rest of the dia

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 resolved,' 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

2

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,
We thus submit unto,―our sovereign.

All. Live, noble Helicane!

Hel. Try honor's cause, forbear your suffrages;
If that you love prince Pericles, forbear.
Take I your wish, I leap into the seat,3
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 expired, 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,

1 Satisfied.

2 i. e. "the most probable in our opinion." Censure is frequently used for judgment, opinion, by Shakspeare.

3 The old copy reads:

"Take I your wish, I leap into the seas," &c. Steevens contends for the old reading, that it is merely figurative.

4 Some word being omitted in this line in the old copy, Steevens thus supplied it:

"To forbear choice i'the absence of your king."

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 endeavor 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 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 vowed,
And on her virgin honor will not break it.

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

Sim. So,

They're well despatched; 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;