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a

A gentleman of Tyre,
Who only by misfortune of the seas
Bereft of ships and men, cast on 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 armours, as you are address'd,
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 ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd.
Come, sir;
Here is a lady that wants breathing too :
And I have 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
Of your fair courtesy.

[The Knights and Ladies dance.

Unclasp, unclasp : Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well, [To Per.) But you the best. Pages and lights, to

conduct These knights unto their several lodgings ! [TO

Per.] Yours, sir,
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; And that's the mark I know you level at :

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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, 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 in a chariot
Of an inestimable value, and his daughter with him,
A fire from heaven came and shrivell’d 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 justice ; 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.

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Enter two or three Lords.

First Lord. See, not a man in private confer

ence

Or council has respect with him but he.
Sec. Lord. It shall no longer grieve without

reproof.
Third Lord. And cursed be he that will not

second it.

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VOL. IV

49

E

First Lord. Follow me, then. Lord Helicane,

a word. Hel. With me? and welcome: happy day, my

lords. First Lord. Know that our griefs are risen to

the top,

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And now at length they overflow their banks.
Hel. Your griefs ! for what? wrong not your

prince you love.
First 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, give 's cause to mourn his funeral,
And leave us to our free election.
Sec. Lord. Whose death indeed 's the strongest

in our censure :
And knowing this kingdom is without a head,
Like goodly buildings left without a roof
Soon fall to ruin,-your noble self,
That best know how to rule and how to reign,
We thus submit unto,-our sovereign.

All. Live, noble Helicane!

Hel. For honour's cause, forbear your suffrages : If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear. Take I your wish, I leap into the seas, Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease. A twelvemonth longer, let me entreat you To forbear the absence of your king : If in which time expired, he not return,

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I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,
Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,
And in your search spend your adventurous worth ;
Whom if you find, and win unto return,
You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.
First Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will

not yield;
And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,
We with our travels will endeavour us.
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, at one door :

the Knights meet him. First Knight. Good morrow to the good Si

monides. 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 yet from her by no means can I get. Sec. 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 'tis impossible. One twelve moons more she 'll wear Diana's livery; so This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd, And on her vir honour will not break it.

Third Knight. Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

[Exeunt Knights.
Sim. So,
They are well dispatch’d; 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.
'Tis well, mistress ; 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 do commend her choice;
And will no longer have it be delay'd.
Soft! here he comes : I must dissemble it.

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Enter PERICLES. Per. All fortune to the good Simonides ! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholding

I

to you

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For your sweet music this last night : I do
Protest my ears were never better fed
With such delightful pleasing harmony.

Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend ;
Not my desert.
Sim.

Sir, you are music's master.
Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good

lord.
Sim. Let me ask you one thing :
What do you think of my daughter, sir?

Per. A most virtuous princess.
Sim. And she is fair too, is she not?
Per. As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.

Sim. Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you;
Ay, so well, that you must be her master,
And she will be your scholar : therefore look to it..

Per. I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
Sim. She thinks not so ; peruse this writing else.

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