Scena Prima. Enter Gower.
To sing a song that old was sung,
From ashes ancient Gower is come,
Assuming mans infirmities,
To glad your ear and please your eyes;
It hath been sung at Festivals,
On Ember eves, and holy-dayes,
And Lords and Ladies in their lives,
Have read it for restoratives.
The purchase is to make men glorious.
Et bonum quo Antiquius, eo melius.
If you, born in these latter times,
When wits more ripe, accept my Rimes;
And that to hear an old man sing,
May to your wishes pleasure bring:
I life would wish, and that I might
Waste it for you like Taper-light.
This Antioch, then, Antiochus the great,
Built up this City for his chiefest seat;
The fairest in all Syria.
I tell you what mine Authors say:
This King unto him took a Peer,
Who died, and left a female heir,
So bucksome, blithe, and full of face,
As heaven had lent her all his grace:
With whom the Father liking took,
And her to incest did provoke.
Bad childe, worse father, to entice his own.
To evil should be done by none:
But custome, what they did begin,
Was with long use, counted no sin.
The beauty of this sinfull Dame,
Made many Princes thither frame,
To seek her as a bed-fellow,
In marriage pleasures, play-fellow:
Which to prevent, he made a Law,
To keep her still, and men in awe,
That who so askt her for his wife,
His Riddle told not, lost his life:
So for her many a wight did die,
As yon grim looks do testifie.
What ensues to the judgement of your eye,
I give my cause, who best can testifie. Exit. Enter Antiochus, Prince Pericles, and followers.

Ant.
Young Prince of Tyre, you have at large receiv'd
The danger of the task you undertake.

Per.
I have (Antiochus) and with a soul emboldned
With the glory of her praise, think death no hazard,
In this enterprize.

Ant.
Musick bring in our daughter, cloathed like a bride
For embracements, even of Jove himself;
At whose conception, till Lucina reign'd,
Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence,
The Senate house of Planets all did fit,
To knit in her their best perfections. Enter Antiochus Daughter.

Per.
See where she comes, apparell'd like the Spring,
Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the King,
Of every vertue gives renown to men:
Her face the book of praises, where is read.
Nothing but curious pleasures as from thence,
Sorrow were ever rackt, and testy wrath
Could never be her mild companion.

you gods that made me man, and sway in love,
That have inflam'd desire with in my brest,
To taste the fruite of yon celestiall tree,
(Or die in the adventure) be my helpes,
As I am sonne and servant to your will,
To compasse such a bondlesse happinesse.

Anti.
Prince Pericles.

Per.
That would be sonne to great Antiochus.

Anti.
Before thee stands this faire Hesperides,
With golden fruite, but dangerous to be toucht:
For death like Dragons here affright thee hard?
Her face like heaven enticeth thee to view
Her countlesse glory, which desert must gaine:
And which without desert, because thine eye
Presumes to reach, all the whole heape must dye,
Yon sometimes famous Princes like thy selfe
Drawn by report, adventurous by desire,
Tell thee with speechlesse tongues, and semblance pale,
That without covering save yon field of starres,
Here they stand martyrs slaine in Cupids warres:
And with dead cheeks advise the to desist,
For going on deaths net, whome none resist.

Per.
Antiochus I thank thee, who hath taught
My frail mortality to know it selfe,
And by those fearefull objects to prepare
This body, like to them, to what I must:
For death remembred, should be like a Myrrour,
Who tels us, life's but breath, to trust in error:
Ile make my will then, and as sicke men do,
Who know the world, see heaven, but feeling woe,
Gripe not at earthly joyes, 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 vnspotted fire of Love to you,
Thus ready for the way of life or death,
I waite the sharpest blow (Antiochus)
Scorning advice. Reade the conclusion then.

Ant.
Which read and not expounded, tis decreed
As these before thou thy selfe shalt bleed.

Daugh.
Of all said yet, thou prove prosperous,
Of all said yet, I wish Thee happinesse.

Per.
Like a bold champion I assume the listes,
Nor aske advice of any other thought,
But faithfullnesse and courage.

The Riddle.
I am no Viper, yet I feed
On mothers flesh which did me breed:
I sought a husband, in which labour,
I found that kindnesse in a father.
Hee's father, sonne, and husband milde,
I Mother, Wife, and yet his child.
How they may be, and yet in two,
As you will live, resolve it you.
Sharp physick is the last? but O you Powers!
That gives heaven countleste eyes to view mens actes
Why could they not their sights perpetually?
If this be true, which makes me pale to read it,
Faire glasse of light, I loved you, and could still,
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;
That knowing sinne within, will touch the gate:
You are a fair Vyol, and your sence the strings,
Who finger'd to make man his lawfull musick,
Would draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken,
But being plaid upon before your time,
Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime:
Good sooth I care not for you.

Anti.
Prince Pericles, touch not upon thy life,
For that's an Article within our Law,
As dangerous as the rest: your times expir'd,
Either expound now, or receive your sentence.

Peri.
Great King,
Few love to hear the sins they love to act,
'Twould braid your self too near for me to tell it:
Who hath a book of all that Monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut, then shewn:
For vice repeated, is like the wandring wind,
Blows dust in others eyes, to spread it self;
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear.
To stop the aire would hurt them, the blind Mole cast
Copt hills toward heaven, to tell the earth is throng'd
By mans oppression, and the poor worme doth die for't.
Kings are earths Gods: in vice their law's their will,
And if Jove stray, who dares say, Jove doth ill.
It is enough you know it, and 'tis fit;
What being more known, grows worse to smother it.
All love the womb that their Being bred,
Then give my tongue like leave to love my head.

Ant.
Heaven that I had it; he has found the meaning,
But I will gloze with him. Young Prince of Tyre,
Though by the tenour of our strict edict,
Your exposition mis-interpreting,
We might proceed to cancel off your daies;
Yet hope, succeeding from so fair a tree,
As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise:
Forty daies longer we do respite you,
If by which time our secret be undone,
This mercy shews, we'll joy in such a son:
And untill then, your entertain shall be
As doth befit our honour, and your worth. Exit. Manet Pericles solus.

Per.
How curtesie 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 the foul Incest to abuse your soul:
Where now you'r both a father and a son,
By your untimely claspings with your child,
(Which pleasures fits an husband, not a father)
And she an eater of her mothers flesh,
By the defiling of her parents bed,
And both like serpents are, who though they feed
On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed.
Antioch farewell, for wisdome sees, those men
Blush not in actions blacker then the night,
Will shew no course to keep them from the light:
One sin (I know) another doth provoke;
Murder's as near to lust, as flame to smoak.
Poyson and treason are the hands of sin,
I, and the Targets to put off the shame;
Then least my life be cropt to keep you clear,
By flight I'le shun the danger which I fear. Exit. Enter Antiochus.

Anti.
He hath found the meaning,
For which we mean to have his head,

He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy,
Nor tell the world Antiochus doth sinne
In such a loathed manner.
And therefore instantly this Prince must die,
For by his fall my honour must keep high.
Who attends us here? Enter Thaliard.

Thal.
Doth your Highnesse call?

Anti.
Thaliard, you are of our Chamber,
And our mind pertakes her private actions
To your secresie; 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?

Thal.
My Lord, 'tis done. Enter a Messenger.

Ant.

Enough. Let your breath cool your self, telling your haste.

Mess.

My Lord, Prince Pericles is fled.

Ant.

As thou wilt live, flye after; and as an arrow, shot from a well experient Archer, hits the mark his eye doth level at: so do thou never return, unless thou say, Prince Pericles is dead.

Tha.

My Lord, if I can get him within my pistols length, I'le make him sure enough: so farewell to your Highness.

Anti.
Thaliard adieu, till Pericles be dead,
My heart can lend no succour to my head. Exit. Enter Pericles, Hellicanus, with other Lords.

Per.
Let none disturb us:
Why should this change of thoughts,
The sad companion dull-ey'd melancholly,
By me so us'd, a guest as not an hour,
In the dayes glorious walk or peacefull night,
The tombe where grief should sleep, can breed me quiet,
Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them,
And danger which I fear'd, is at Antioch,
Whose arme seems far too short to hit me here,
Yet neither pleasures art can joy my spirits,
Nor yet the others distance comfort me:
Then it is thus, that 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,
Grows elder now, and cares it be not done.
And so 'tis with me, the great Antiochus,
'Gainst whom I am too little to contend,
Since he's so great, can make his will his act,
Will think me speaking, though I swear to silence,
Nor boots it me to say I honour,
If he suspect I may dishonor him.
And what may make him blush in being known,
He'll stop the course by which it might be known,
With hostile forces he'll ore-spread the Land,
And with the stint of war will look so huge,
Amazement shall drive courage from the state:
Our men be vanquish'd, ere they do resist,
And subjects punisht, that never thought offence,
Which care of them, not pitty of my self,
Who once no more but as the tops of trees,
Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them,
Make both my body pine, and soul to languish,
And punish that before that he would punish.

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

2. Lord.
And keep your mind till ye return to us peacefull and comfortable.

Hell.
Peace, peace, 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 flattered, but a spark,
To which that spark gives heart and stronger glowing;
Whereas reproof obedient and in order,
Fits Kings as they are men, for they may erre,
When Signior Sooth here doth proclaim peace,
He flatters you, makes war upon your life.
Prince, pardon me, or strike me if you please,
I cannot be much lower then my knees.

Per.
All leave us else: but let your cares ore-look
What shipping, and what ladings in our Haven,
And then return to us: Hellicanus thou hast
Moov'd us: what seest thou in our looks:

Hell.
An angry brow, dread Lord.

Per.
If there be such a dart in Princes frowns,
How durst thy tongue move anger to our face?

Hell.
How dares the planets look up unto heaven,
From whence they have their nourishment?

Per.
Thou know'st I have power to take thy life from thee

Hell.
I have ground the axe my self,
Do you but strike the blow.

Per.
Rise, prithee rise, sit down, thou art no flatterer,
I thank thee for it, and heaven forbid,
That Kings should let their ears hear their faults hid.
Fit Councellor, and servant for a Prince,
Who by thy wisdome makes a Prince thy servant,
What would'st thou have me do:

Hell.
To bear with patience such griefs,
As you your self do lay upon your self.

Per.
Thou speak'st like a Physitian, Hellicanus,
That minister's a potion unto me,
That thou would'st tremble to receive thy self.
Attend me then; I went to Antioch,
Whereas thou know'st (against the face of death)
I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty,
From whence an issue I might propigate,
Are armes to Princes, and bring joyes to Subjects.
Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder,
The rest (hark in thine ear) as black as incest,
Which by my knowledge found, the sinfull father,
Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: But thou know'st this,
'Tis time to fear, when tyrants seem to kiss.
Which fear so grew in me, I hither fled,
Under the covering of a carefull night,
Who seem'd my good Protector: and being here,
Bethought what was past, what might succeed;
I knew him tyrannous, and tyrants fear
Decrease not, but grow faster then the years:
And should he think, as no doubt he doth,
That I should open to the listening air,
How many worthy Princes bloud were shed,
To keep his bed of blackness unlaid ope,
To lop that doubt, he'll fill this Land with armes,
And make pretence of wrong that I have done him,
When all for mine, if I may call offence,
Must feel warrs blow, who fears not innocence:
Which love to all, of which thy self art one,
Who now reproved'st me for it.

Hell.
Alas, sir.

Per.
Drew sleep out of mine eyes, bloud from my cheeks,
Musings into my mind, with a thousand doubts
How I might stop their tempest ere it came,
And finding little comfort to relieve them,
I thought it princely charity to grieve for them.

Hell.
Well, my Lord, since you have given me leave to speak,
Freely will I 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 till the Destinies do cut the thred of his life: your Rule direct to any, if unto me, day serves not light more faithfull then I'le be.

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

Hell.
We'll mingle our blouds 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'le hear from thee;
And by whose Letters I'le dispose my self,
The care I had and have of Subjects good,
On thee I lay, whose wisdomes strength can bear it,
I'le take thy word for faith, not ask thine hath,
Who shuns not to break one, will sure crack both:
But in our orbes we live so round and safe,
That time of both this truth shall nere convince,
Thou shewest a subjects shine, I a true Prince. Enter Thaliard solus.

Thal.

So, this is Tyre, and this is the Court, here must I kill King Pericles, and if I do it not, I am sure to be hang'd at home: it is 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.

Husht, here comes the Lords of Tyre.

Hell.

You shall not need my fellow-Peers of Tyre, further to question me of your Kings departure. His sealed Commission left in trust with me, doth speak sufficiently, he's gone to travel.

Thal.

How the King gone?

Hell.

If further yet you will be satisfied, why (as it were unlicenc'd of your loves) he would depart? I'le give some light unto you: Being at Antioch.

Thal.

What from Antioch?

Hell.

Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not) took some displeasure at him, at least he judged so: and doubting that he had erred or sinned, to shew his sorrow, he would correct himself; so puts himself unto the shipmans toyl, with whom each minute threatens life or death.

Thal.

Well, I perceive I shall not be hanged now, although I would; but since he's gone, the Kings Seas must please: he scapte the Land, to perish at the Sea: I'le present my self, Peace to the Lords of Tyre.

Hell.

Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome.

Thal.

From him I come with message unto Princely Pericles; but since my landing I have understood, your Lord hath betook himself to unknown travels, my message must return from whence it came.

Hell.

We have no reason to desire it, commended to our Master, not to us; yet ere you shall depart, this we desire as friends to Antioch, we may feast in Tyre.

Cleon.
My Dionisia, shall we rest us here,
And by relating tales of others griefs,
See if 'twill teach us to forget our own?

Dion.
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 are,
Here they are but felt, and seen with mischiefs eyes,
But like to groves being topt, they higher rise.

Cleon.
O Dionisia,
Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it,
Or can conceal his hunger till he famish?
Our tongues and sorrowes do sound deep:
Our woes into the air, our eyes to weep,
Till tongues fetch breath than may proclaim
Them louder, that if heaven slumber, while
Their creatures want, they may awake
Their helpers, to comfort them.
I'le then discourse our woes felt several years,
And wanting breath to speak, help me with tears.

Dion.
I'le do my best, sir.

Cle.
This Tharsus, ore which I have the government,
A City, on whom plenty held full hand,
For riches strew'd her self even in the streets,
Whose towers bore heads, so high, they kist the clouds,
And strangers nere beheld, but wonder'd at,
Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'd,
Like one anothers glasse to trim them by:
Their tables were stor'd full, to glad the sight,
And not so much to feed on, as delight,
All poverty was scorn'd and pride so great,
The name of help grew odious to repeat.

Dion.
Oh 'tis true.

Cleon.
But see what heaven can do by this our change:
These mouths, who but of late, earth, sea, and ayre,
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 pallats, who, not yet to savers younger,
Must have inventions to delight the taste,
Would now be glad of bread, and beg for it:
These mothers who to nouzle up their babes,
Thought nought too curious, are ready now
To eat those little darlings whom they loved,
So sharp are hungers teeth, that man and wife,
Draw lots who first shall die to lengthen life.
Here stands a Lord, and there a Lady weeping,
Here many sink, yet those which see them fall,
Have scarce strength left to give them burial.
Is not this true?

Dion.
Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witnesse it.

Cleon.
O let those Cities that of plenties cup,
And her prosperities so largely taste,
With their superfluous ryots hear these tears,
The misery of Tharsus may be theirs. Enter a Lord.

Lord.

Where's the Lord Governor?

Cleon.

Here, speak out thy sorrows, 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.

Cleon.
I thought as much.
One sorrow never comes but brings an heir,
That may succeed as his inheritour:
And so in ours; some neighbouring Nation,
Taking advantage of our misery,
That stuft the hollow vessels with their power,
To beat us down, the which are down already,
And make a conquest of unhappy me,
Whereas no glory is got to overcome.

Lord.
That's the least fear.

For by the semblance of their flags displaid, they bring us peace, and come to us as favourers, not as foes.

Cleon.
Thou speak'st like hymnes untuter'd to repeat,
Who makes the fairest shew, means most deceit.
But bring they what they will, and what they can,
What need we fear, the ground's the lowest,

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.

Cleon.
Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist;
If warrs, 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 fired, to amaze your eyes,
We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre,
And seen the desolation of your streets;
Nor come we to adde sorrow to your tears,
But to release them of their heavy load,
And these our ships, you happily may think
Are like the Trojan horse, was stuft within
With bloudy veins expecting overthrow,
Are stor'd with corn, to make your needy bread,
And give them life, whom hunger starv'd half dead.

Omnes.
The gods of Greece protect you,
And we'll pray for you.

Per.

Arise, I pray you, arise; we do not look for reverence, but for love, and harbourage for our self, our ships, and men.

Cleon.
The which when any shall not gratifie,
Or pay you with unthankfulnesse in thought,
Be it our wives, our children or our selves,
The curse of heaven and men succeed their evils:
Till when, the which (I hope) shall ne're be seen,
Your Grace is welcome to our Town and us.

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

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