Per. I do not doubt thy faith; But should he wrong my liberties in absence— Per. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee; The care I had and have of subjects' good, On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Tyre. An anti-chamber in the palace. Enter THALIARD. Thal. Se, 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 he 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, my fellow peers of Tyre, Further to question of your king's departure. His seal'd commission, left in trust with me, Doth speak sufficiently; he's gone to travel. Thal. How! the king gone! Hel. If further yet you will be satisfied, Why, as it were unlicens'd of your loves, [Aside. He would depart, I'll give some light unto you. Thal. What from Antioch? [Aside. Hel. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not,) With whom each minute threatens life or death. [Aside. I shall not be hang'd now, although I would; Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome. With message unto princely Pericles; Hel. We have no reason to desire it, since [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Tharsus. A room in the Governor's house. Enter CLEON, DIONYZA, and Attendants. Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, Dio. That were to blow at fire, in hope to quench it; For who digs hills because they do aspire, Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it, Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep our woes Fetch breath that may proclaim them louder; that, Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have government, (A city, on whom plenty held full hand,) For riches, strew'd herself even in the streets; And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at; Cle. But see what heaven can do! By this our change, These mouths, whom but of late, earth, sea, and air, Although they gave their creatures in abundance, They are now starv'd for want of exercise: Those palates, who not yet two summers younger, Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. Cle. O, let those cities, that of Plenty's cup And her prosperities so largely taste, With their superfluous riots, hear these tears! Enter a Lord. Lord. Where's the lord governor? Speak out thy sorrows, which thou bring'st, in haste, Lord. We have descried, upon our neighbouring shore, A portly sail of ships make hitherward. Cle. I thought as much. One sorrow never comes, but brings an heir, That may succeed as his inheritor; And so in ours: some neighbouring nation, Taking advantage of our misery, Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power, To beat us down, the which are down already; And make a conquest of unhappy me, Whereas no glory's got to overcome. Lord. That's the least fear; for, by the semblance Of their white flags display'd, they bring us peace, And come to us as favourers, not as foes. Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor❜d to repeat, Who makes the fairest show, means most deceit. But bring they what they will, what need we fear? The ground's the low'st, and we are half way there. Go tell their general, we attend him here, To know for what he comes, and whence he comes, And what he craves. Lord. I go, my lord. [Exit. Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist; If wars, we are unable to resist. Enter PERICLES, with Attendants. Per. Lord governor, for so we hear you are, Are stor❜d with corn, to make your needy bread, 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. |