Loud musick is too harsh for ladies' heads; Here is a lady that wants breathing too: Per. In those that practice them, they are, my lord. Sim. O, that's as much as you would be denied [The Knights and Ladies dance. Unclasp, unclasp; Of your fair courtesy. conduct These knights unto their several lodgings: Yours, sir, We have given order to be next our own. Per. I am at your grace's pleasure. Sim. Princes, it is too late to talk of love. For that's the mark I know you level at: Therefore each one betake him to his rest; To-morrow, all for speeding do their best. [Ereunt. Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral, And leaves us to our free election. 2 Lord. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure: And knowing this kingdom, if without a head, All. Live, noble Helicane! Hel. Try honour's cause; forbear your suffrages: I shall with aged patience bear your yoke. Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects, You shall like diamonds sit about his crown. 1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; And, since lord Helicane enjoineth us, SCENE IV. - Tyre. A Room in the Governor's We with our travels will endeavour it. House. Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES. Hel. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me, — Antiochus from incest liv'd not free; For which, the most high gods not minding longer To withhold the vengeance that they had in store, Due to this heinous capital offence; Even in the height and pride of all his glory, A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up And yet but just; for though Enter Three Lords. 1 Lord. See, not a man in private conference, Or council, has respect with him but he. 2 Lord. It shall no longer grieve, without reproof. s Lord. And curs'd be he that will not second it. 1 Lord. Follow me then: Lord Helicane, a word. Hel. With me? and welcome: Happy day, my lords. 1 Lord. Know, that our griefs are risen to the top, And now at length they overflow their banks. Hel. Your griefs, for what? wrong not the prince you love. 1 Lord. Wrong not yourself then, noble Heli Hel. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands; When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. Enter SIMONIDES, reading a letter, the Knights meet him. 1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides. Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know, That for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake Her reason to herself is only known, 2 Knight. May we not get access to her, my lord? Sim. 'Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied her To her chamber, that it is impossible. 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take Sim. So They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter: She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight, Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! With such delightful pleasing harmony. Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend; Not my desert. Sim. Sir, you are musick's master. Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, sir, of My daughter? Per. As of a most virtuous princess. Sim. And she is fair too, is she not? Per. As a fair day in summer; wond'rous fair. Sim. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you; Ay, so well, sir, that you must be her master, And she'll your scholar be; therefore look to it. Per. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster. Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else. A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? [Aside. That never aim'd so high, to love your daughter, But bent all offices to honour her. Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou Enter GoWER. ACT III. Gow. Now sleep yslaked hath the rout; Enter PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with Attendants; a Messenger meets them, kneels, and gives PERICLES a letter. PERICLES shows it to SIMONIDES; the Lords kneel to the former. Then enter THAISA with child, and LYCHORIDA. MONIDES shows his daughter the letter; she rejoices: she and PERICLES take leave of her father, and depart. Then SIMONIDES, &c. retire. SI Gow. By many a dearn and painful perch, Of Pericles the careful search By the four opposing coignes, Are letters brought; the tenour these: The crown of Tyre, but he will none: Come not, in twice six moons, home, Will take the crown. The sum of this, And every one with claps, 'gan sound, Who dream'd, who thought of such a thing? Lychorida, her nurse, she takes, Which might not what by me is told. This stage, the ship, upon whose deck SCENE I. Enter PERICLES, on a ship at sea. [Exit. Enter Two Sailors. 1 Sail. What courage, sir? God save you. Per. Courage enough: I do not fear the flaw; It hath done to me the worst. Yet, for the love Of this poor infant, this fresh-new sea-farer, I would it would be quiet. 1 Sail. Slack the bolins there; thou wilt not, wilt thou? Blow, and split thyself. 2 Sail. But sea-room, an the brine and cloudy billow kiss the moon, I care not. 1 Sail. Sir, your queen must overboard; the sea works high, the wind is loud, and will not lie till the ship be cleared of the dead. Per. That's your superstition. 1 Sail. Pardon us, sir; with us at sea it still hath been observed; and we are strong in earnest. Therefore briefly yield her; for she must overboard straight. Per. Be it as you think meet. - Most wretched queen! Lyc. Per. Here she lies, sir. A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my No light, no fire: the unfriendly elements 2 Sail. Sir, we have a chest beneath the hatches, caulk'd and bitumed ready. Per. I thank thee. Mariner, say what coast is this? 2 Sail. We are near Tharsus. Per. Thither, gentle mariner, Alter thy course for Tyre. When can'st thou reach it? Cer. Get fire and meat for these poor men: Now the good Till now, I ne'er endur'd. Cer. Your master will be dead ere you return; There's nothing can be minister'd to nature, It is most strange, Nature should be so conversant with pain, Cer. That nature works, and of her cures; which gives me 2 Gent. Your honour has through Ephesus pour'd forth 2 Gent. A delicate odour. Cer. As ever hit my nostril; so,-up with it. O you most potent gods! What's here? a corse! 1 Gent. Most strange! Cer. Shrouded in cloth of state; balm'd and entreasur'd With bags of spices full! A passport too! [Unfolds a scroll For look, how fresh she looks! The musick there. – I pray you, give her air: Gentlemen, This queen will live: nature awakes; a warmth | Breathes out of her; she hath not been entranc'd Above five hours. See, how she 'gins to blow Into life's flower again! 1 Gent. The heavens, sir, Through you, increase our wonder, and set up Your fame for ever. Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels Begin to part their fringes of bright gold; Thai. O dear Diana, Where am I? Where's my lord? What world is this? 2 Gent. Is not this strange? 1 Gent. Cer. Most rare. Hush, gentle neighbours; Lend me your hands: to the next chamber bear her. Get linen; now this matter must be look'd to, For her relapse is mortal. Come, come, come; And Esculapius guide us! [Exeunt, carrying This away. Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, LYCHORIDA, and MARINA. Per. Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be My twelve months are expir'd, and Tyrus stands Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt Yet glance full wand'ringly on us. Dion. To have bless'd mine eyes! We cannot but obey Cle. Fear not, my lord: Your grace, that fed my country with your corn, Per. I believe you; Your honour and your goodness teach me credit, Without your vows. Till she be married, madam, By bright Diana, whom we honour all, Unscissar'd shall this hair of mine remain, Though I show ill in't. So I take my leave. Enter GoWER. Gow. Imagine Pericles at Tyre, Now to Marina bend your mind, Dion. Who shall not be more dear to my respect, Lay with you in your coffer: which are now That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember, I cannot rightly say: But since king Pericles, And never more have joy. Cer. Madam, if this you purpose as you speak, Diana's temple is not distant far, Where you may 'bide until your date expire. Thai. My recompense is thanks, that's all; Yet my good will is great, though the gift small. [Exeunt. ACT IV. Which makes her both the heart and place One daughter, and a wench full grown, Be't when she weav'd the sleided silk With the dove of Paphos might the crow |