Cle.
My Dionyza, shall we rest us here,
And by relating tales of other's griefs,
See if 'twill teach us to forget our own?

Dio.
That were to blow at fire, in hope to quench it;
For who digs hills because they do aspire,
Throws down one mountain, to cast up a higher.
O my distressed lord, even such our griefs;
Here they're but felt, unseen with mischief's eyes^{6 note}

But like to groves, being topp'd, they higher rise.

Cle.
O Dionyza,
Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it,
Or can conceal his hunger, till he famish?
Our tongues and sorrows too^{7 note}

Fetch breath that may proclaim them louder; that,
If heaven slumber, while their creatures want,
They may awake their helps to comfort them^{9 note}

Dio.
I'll do my best, sir.

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^{1 note}

And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at;
Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'd^{3 note},
Like one another's glass to trim them by^{4 note}

Dio.
O, 'tis too true.

Cle.
But see what heaven can do! By this our change,
These mouths, whom but of late, earth, sea, and air,
Were all too little to content and please,
Although they gave their creatures in abundance,
As houses are defil'd for want of use,
They are now starv'd for want of exercise:
Those palates, who not us'd to hunger's savour^{5 note}

Must have inventions to delight the taste,
Would now be glad of bread, and beg for it;
Those mothers who, to nousle up their babes^{6 note}

Have scarce strength left to give them burial.
Is not this true?

Dio.
Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it.

Cle.
O, let those cities, that of Plenty's cup^{7 note}

Lord.
Where's the lord governor?

Cle.
Here.
Speak out thy sorrows^{8 note} which thou bring'st, in haste,
For comfort is too far for us to expect.

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^{9 note}

Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power^{1 note}

Lord.
That's the least fear; for, by the semblance^{4 note}

Cle.
Thou speak'st like him's untutor'd to repeat^{5 note}

Who makes the fairest show, means most deceit.
But bring they what they will, and what they can,
What need we fear^{6 note}

Lord.
I go, my lord. [Exit.

Cle.
Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist^{7 note};
If wars, we are unable to resist. Enter Pericles, with Attendants.

Per.
Lord governor, for so we hear you are,
Let not our ships and number of our men,
Be, like a beacon fir'd, to amaze your eyes.
We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre,
And seen the desolation of your streets:

Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears,
But to relieve them of their heavy load;
And these our ships you happily may think
Are, like the Trojan horse, war-stuff'd within,
With bloody views, expecting overthrow^{8 note}

All.
The gods of Greece protect you;
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.

Cle.
The which when any shall not gratify,
Or pay you with unthankfulness in thought^{1 note}

Be it our wives, our children, or ourselves,
The curse of heaven and men succeed their evils!
Till when, (the which, I hope, shall ne'er be seen,)
Your grace is welcome to our town and us.

Per.
Which welcome we'll accept; feast here a while,
Until our stars that frown, lend us a smile. [Exeunt.

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