Ant.
Young prince of Tyre^{1 note}

The danger of the task you undertake.

Per.
I have, Antiochus, and with a soul
Embolden'd with the glory of her praise,
Think death no hazard, in this enterprize. [Musick.

Ant.
Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride^{2 note}

The senate-house of planets all did sit,
To knit in her their best perfections^{4 note}

Enter the Daughter of Antiochus.

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^{5 note}

Her face, the book of praises, where is read
Nothing but curious pleasures^{6 note}

Sorrow were ever ras'd^{7 note}

Ant.
Prince Pericles,—

Per.
That would be son to great Antiochus.

Ant.
Before thee stands this fair Hesperides^{2 note}

With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd;
For death-like dragons here affright thee hard:
Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view
Her countless glory^{3 note}

Drawn by report, advent'rous by desire,
Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale,
That, without covering, save yon field of stars^{6 note}
,
They here stand martyrs, slain in Cupid's wars;
And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist^{7 note}

,
For going on death's net^{8 note}

Per.
Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught
My frail mortality to know itself,
And by those fearful objects to prepare
This body, like to them, to what I must^{9 note}:
For death remember'd, should be like a mirror,
Who tells us, life's but breath; to trust it, error.
I'll make my will then; and as sick men do,
Who know the world, see heaven, but feeling woe^{1 note}

Gripe not at earthly joys, as erst they did;
So I bequeath a happy peace to you,
And all good men, as every prince should do;
My riches to the earth from whence they came;
But my unspotted fire of love to you. [To the Daughter of Antiochus.
Thus ready for the way of life or death,
I wait the sharpest blow.

Ant.
Scorning advice.—Read the conclusion then^{2 note}

Daugh.
In all, save that, may'st thou prove prosperous!
In all, save that, I wish thee happiness^{3 note}

Per.
Like a bold champion, I assume the lists,
Nor ask advice of any other thought
But faithfulness, and courage^{4 note}
.
[He reads the Riddle^{5 note}









.]
I am no viper, yet I feed
On mother's flesh, which did me breed:

I sought a husband, in which labour,
I found that kindness in a father^{6 note}

If this be true, which makes me pale to read it?
Fair glass of light, I lov'd you, and could still, [Takes hold of the hand of the Princess.
Were not this glorious casket stor'd with ill:
But I must tell you,—now, my thoughts revolt;
For he's no man on whom perfections wait^{2 note}
That knowing sin within, will touch the gate.
You're a fair viol, and your sense the strings;
Who, finger'd to make man his lawful musick^{3 note},
Would draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken;
But, being play'd upon before your time,
Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime^{4 note}



;
Good sooth, I care not for you.

Ant.
Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life^{5 note}

Per.
Great king,

Few love to hear the sins they love to act;
'Twould 'braid yourself too near for me to tell it.
Who has a book of all that monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut, than shown:
For vice repeated, is like the wand'ring wind,
Blows dust in others' eyes, to spread itself^{6 note}

Copp'd hills^{8 note}

Ant.
Heaven, that I had thy head^{2 note}! he has found the meaning;
But I will gloze with him^{3 note}





. [Aside.] Young prince of Tyre,
Though by the tenour of our strict edíct^{4 note},
Your exposition misinterpreting^{5 note},
We might proceed to cancel of your days^{6 note}

As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise;
Forty days longer we do respite you^{7 note}

Per.
How courtesy would seem to cover sin!
When what is done is like an hypocrite,
The which is good in nothing but in sight.
If it be true that I interpret false,
Then were it certain, you were not so bad,
As with foul incest to abuse your soul;
Where now you're both a father and a son^{9 note}

By your untimely claspings with your child,
(Which pleasure fits an husband not a father;)
And she an eater of her mother's flesh,
By the defiling of her parent's bed;
And both like serpents are, who though they feed
On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed.
Antioch, farewell! for wisdom sees, those men
Blush not in actions blacker than the night,
Will shun no course to keep them from the light^{1 note}

Re-enter Antiochus.

Ant.
He hath found the meaning^{3 note}, for the which we mean
To have his head.
He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy,
Nor tell the world, Antiochus doth sin
In such a loathed manner:
And therefore instantly this prince must die;
For by his fall my honour must keep high.
Who attends on us there? Enter Thaliard^{4 note}.

Thal.
Doth your highness call?

Ant.
Thaliard, you're of our chamber^{5 note}, and our mind
Partakes her private actions^{6 note}

to your secresy:
And for your faithfulness we will advance you.
Thaliard, behold, here's poison, and here's gold;
We hate the prince of Tyre, and thou must kill him;
It fits thee not to ask the reason why,
Because we bid it. Say, is it done^{7 note}

?

Thal.
My lord,
Tis done. Enter a Messenger.

Ant.
Enough.
Let your breath cool yourself, telling your haste^{8 note}

Mess.
My lord, prince Pericles is fled. [Exit Messenger.

Ant.
As thou
Wilt live, fly after: and, as^{9 note} an arrow, shot
From a well-experienc'd archer, hits the mark
His eye doth level at, so ne'er return,
Unless thou say, Prince Pericles is dead.

Thal.
My lord, if I
Can get him once within my pistol's length,
I'll make him sure: so farewell to your highness. [Exit.

Ant.
Thaliard, adieu! till Pericles be dead,
My heart can lend no succour to my head^{1 note}

. [Exit.

SCENE II. Tyre. A Room in the Palace. Enter Pericles, Helicanus, and other Lords.

Per.
Let none disturb us: Why should this charge of thoughts^{2 note}

In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night,
(The tomb where grief should sleep,) can breed me quiet!
Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them,
And danger, which I feared, is at Antioch,
Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here:
Yet neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits,
Nor yet the other's distance comfort me.
Then it is thus: the passions of the mind,
That have their first conception by mis-dread,
Have after-nourishment and life by care;
And what was first but fear what might be done^{4 note},
Grows elder now, and cares it be not done^{5 note}.
And so with me;—the great Antiochus
('Gainst whom I am too little to contend,
Since he's so great^{6 note}

Amazement shall drive courage from the state;
Our men be vanquish'd, e'er they do resist,
And subjects punish'd, that ne'er thought offence:
Which care of them, not pity of myself,
(Who wants no more but as the tops of trees,
Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them,)
Makes^{9 note}

1 Lord.
Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast.

2 Lord.
And keep your mind, till you return to us,
Peaceful and comfortable!

Hel.
Peace, peace, my lords, and give experience tongue.
They do abuse the king, that flatter him:
For flattery is the bellows blows up sin;
The thing the which is flatter'd, but a spark,
To which that breath gives heat and stronger glowing^{1 note}

Per.
All leave us else; but let your cares o'er-look
What shipping, and what lading's in our haven,
And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords.] Helicanus, thou
Hast moved us: what seest thou in our looks?

Hel.
An angry brow, dread lord.

Per.
If there be such a dart in prince's frowns,

How durst thy tongue move anger to our face?

Hel.
How dare the plants look up to heaven, from whence
They have their nourishment^{3 note}

Per.
Thou know'st I have power
To take thy life.

Hel. [Kneeling.]
I have ground the axe myself;
Do you but strike the blow.

Per.
Rise, pr'ythee rise;
Sit down, sit down; thou art no flatterer:
I thank thee for it; and high heaven forbid,
That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid^{4 note}

Hel.
With patience bear
Such griefs as you do lay upon yourself.

Per.
Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus;
Who minister'st a potion unto me,
That thou would'st tremble to receive thyself.
Attend me then: I went to Antioch,

Where, as thou know'st, against the face of death,
I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty,
From whence an issue I might propagate,
Are arms to princes, and bring joys to subjects^{6 note}

Who seem'd my good protector; and being here,
Bethought me what was past, what might succeed.
I knew him tyrannous; and tyrants' fears
Decrease not, but grow faster than their years^{8 note}:
And should he doubt it, (as no doubt he doth^{9 note}

Hel.
Alas, sir!

Per.
Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks,
Musings into my mind, a thousand doubts
How I might stop this tempest, ere it came;
And finding little comfort to relieve them,

I thought it princely charity to grieve them^{3 note}.

Hel.
Well, my lord, since you have given me leave to speak,
Freely I'll speak. Antiochus you fear,
And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant,
Who either by publick war, or private treason,
Will take away your life.
Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while,
Till that his rage and anger be forgot,
Or Destinies do cut his thread of life.
Your rule direct to any; if to me,
Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be.

Per.
I do not doubt thy faith;
But should he wrong my liberties in absence—

Hel.
We'll mingle bloods together in the earth,
From whence we had our being and our birth.

Per.
Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tharsus
Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee;
And by whose letters I'll dispose myself.
The care I had and have of subjects' good,
On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it^{4 note}.
I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath;
Who shuns not to break one, will sure crack both^{5 note}:
But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe^{6 note}

That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince^{7 note},
Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true prince^{8 note}

SCENE III. Tyre. An Ante-chamber in the Palace. Enter Thaliard.

Thal.

So, 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^{9 note}. 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.

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! [Aside.

Hel.
If further yet you will be satisfied,
Why, as it were unlicens'd of your loves,
He would depart, I'll give some light unto you.
Being at Antioch—

Thal.
What from Antioch? [Aside.

Hel.
Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not,)
Took some displeasure at him; at least he judg'd so:
And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd,
To show his sorrow, would correct himself;
So puts himself unto the shipman's toil^{1 note}

Thal.
Well, I perceive [Aside.
I shall not be hang'd now, although I would^{2 note};
But since he's gone, the king's seas must please:
He 'scap'd the land, to perish at the sea^{3 note}

Hel.
Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome.

Thal.
From him I come
With message unto princely Pericles;
But, since my landing, as I have understood,
Your lord has took himself to unknown travels,

My message must return from whence it came.

Hel.
We have no reason to desire it^{4 note}