Of an inestimable value, and his daughter with him, HEL. Enter two or three Lords FIRST LORD. See, not a man in private conference Or council has respect with him but he. 10 SEC. LORD. It shall no longer grieve without reproof. THIRD LORD. And cursed be he that will not second it. 20 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, 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 Heli cane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him, Or know what ground's made happy by his breath. 30 Or dead, give 's cause to mourn his funeral, And leave us to our free election. SEC. LORD. Whose death's indeed 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: Take I your wish, I leap into the seas, Go search like nobles, like noble subjects, 40 50 And in your search spend your adventurous worth; You shall like diamonds sit about his crown. FIRST LORD. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; 34 the strongest in our censure] the most probable in our opinion. 41 For honour's cause] A reasonable emendation for the original reading Try honours cause. 52-53 if you . . crown] if you can bring him back, you shall be acknowledged the brightest ornaments of his crown. And since Lord Helicane enjoineth 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 FIRST 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 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 't is impossible. One twelve moons more she 'll wear Diana's livery; This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd, And on her virgin honour will not break it. THIRD KNIGHT. Loath to bid farewell, we take our [Exeunt Knights. leaves. SIM. So, They are well dispatch'd; now to my daughter's letter: 10 Or never more to view nor day nor light. "T is well, mistress; your choice agrees with mine; And will no longer have it be delay'd. Soft! here he comes: I must dissemble it. Enter PERICLES PER. All fortune to the good Simonides! SIM. To you as much, sir! I am beholding to you 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. of my daughter, sir? PER. A most virtuous princess. SIM. And she is fair too, is she not? think PER. As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair. A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre! 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: Never did thought of mine levy offence; Nor never did my actions yet commence A deed might gain her love or your displeasure. PER. SIM. Traitor! Ay, traitor. PER. Even in his throat - unless it be the king— That calls me traitor, I return the lie. SIM. [Aside] Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage. PER. My actions are as noble as my thoughts, That never relish'd of a base descent. I came unto your court for honour's cause, And not to be a rebel to her state; And he that otherwise accounts of me, This sword shall prove he 's honour's enemy. 49 Thou hast . . . daughter] Cf. Mids. N. Dr., I, i, 27, “This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child," and Othello, I, ii, 73, “thou hast practised on her with foul charms." 61 her state] Thus the old text. Wilkins's Novel supports the proposed change, "your state." 50 60 |