Cleon. I thought as much.

One sorrow never comes, but brings an heir,
That may succeed as his inheritor ;

And so in ours: some neighboring nation,
Taking advantage of our misery,

Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power,1
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 favorers, not as foes.

Cleon. Thou speak'st like him's untutored to repeat:

Who makes the fairest show, 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.

[Exit.

Cleon. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist; If wars, we are unable to resist.

1 Forces.

i. e. if he stands on peace. A Latin sense.

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 add sorrow to your tears, But to relieve them of their heavy load; And these our ships, you happily1 may think Are, like the Trojan horse, war-stuff'd within, With bloody views, expecting overthrow,— Are stored with corn, to make your needy bread, 2

And give them life, who are hunger-starved, half

dead.

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 harborage for ourself, our ships, and men. Cleon. The which when any shall not gratify, Or pay you with unthankfulness in thought, 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.

1 For haply.

2 i. e. to make bread for your needy subjects.

Per. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here

awhile,

Until our stars that frown, lend us a smile.

ACT II.

[Exeunt.

Enter GOWER.

Gower. Here have you seen a mighty king

His child, I wis,1 to incest bring;

A better prince, and benign lord,

That will prove awful both in deed and word.

Be quiet then, as men should be,

Till he hath pass'd necessity.

I'll show you those in troubles reign,
Losing a mite, a mountain gain.
The good in conversation 2

3

4

(To whom I give my benizon) 3
Is still at Tharsus, where each man
Thinks all is writ he spoken can ;
And, to remember what he does,
Gild his statue to make it glorious:
But tidings to the contrary

Are brought your eyes; what need speak I?

1 Think.

2 Meaning Pericles.

Conversation is here used in the

sense of conduct or behavior.

3 Blessing.

+ Pays as much respect to whatever he says as if it were

holy writ.

Dumb show.

Enter at one door PERICLES, talking with CLEON; all the train with them. Enter at another door, a Gentleman, with a letter to Pericles; Pericles shows the letter to Cleon; then gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. Exeunt Pericles, Cleon, &c. severally.

Gower. Good Helicane hath stay'd at home. Not to eat honey, like a drone,

From others' labors; for though he strive

To killen bad, keep good alive;

And, to fulfil his prince' desire,
Sends word of all that haps in Tyre;

How Thaliard came full bent with sin,
And hid intent, to murder him;
And that in Tharsus was not best
Longer for him to make his rest:
He knowing so, put forth to seas,

Where when men been, there's seldom ease;
For now the wind begins to blow:
Thunder above, and deeps below,
Make such unquiet, that the ship,

Should house him safe, is wreck'd and split;

And he, good prince, having all lost,

By waves from coast to coast is toss'd:
All perishen of man, of pelf,

Ne aught escapen but himself;
Till Fortune, tired with doing bad,

Threw him ashore, to give him glad :

And here he comes: what shall be next,
Pardon oid Gower; this long's the text.

[Exit.

SCENE I.

Pentapolis. An open place by the sea side.
Enter PERICLES, wet.

Per. Yet cease your ire, ye angry stars of heaven!
Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man
Is but a substance that must yield to you;
And I, as fits my nature, do obey you.

Alas! the sea hath cast me on the rocks;
Wash'd me from shore to shore, and left me breath
Nothing to think on, but ensuing death.

Let it suffice the greatness of your powers,
To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes;
And having thrown him from your watery grave,
Here to have death in peace, is all he'll crave.

Enter THREE FISHERMEN.

1 Fish. What, ho, Pilche!

2 Fish. Ho! come, and bring away the nets. 1 Fish. What, Patch-breech, I say!

3 Fish. What say you, master?

1 Fish. Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion.

3 Fish. Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us, even now.

1 Fish. Alas, poor souls, it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us, to help