Daugh. In all, save that, may'st thou prove prosperous! In all, save that, I wish thee happiness12! Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the lists, Nor ask advice of any other thought But faithfulness, and courage13. [He reads the Riddle.] I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh, which did me breed: Sharp physic is the last14: but O you powers! 12 The old copy reads: Of all said yet, may'st thou prove prosperous; Of all said yet, I wish thee happiness!" The emendation is Mr. Mason's. 13 This is from the third book of Sidney's Arcadia:- Whereupon asking advice of no other thought but faithfulness and courage, he presently lighted from his own horse,' &c. 14 i. e. the intimation in the last line of the riddle, that his life depends on resolving it; which he properly enough calls sharp physic; or a bitter potion. 15 Thus in A Midsummer Night's Dream : 1111 who more engilds the night Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light. stars, hide your fires, 16 Let not light see,' &c. Macbeth. it i. e. he is no perfect or honest man, that knowing, &c. Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music, 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: Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not18, upon thy life, For that's an article within our law, As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expir'd; Few love to hear the sins they love to act; 18 This is a stroke of nature. The incestuous king cannot bear to see a rival touch the hand of the woman he loves. His jealousy resembles that of Antony : to let him be familiar with My play-fellow, your hand; this kingly seal Malefort, in Massinger's Unnatural Combat, expresses the like impatient jealousy, when Beaufort touches his daughter Theocrine, to whom he was betrothed. 19The man who knows the ill practices of princes is unwise if he reveals what he knows; for the publisher of vicious actions resembles the wind, which, while it passes along, blows dust into men's eyes. When the blast is over, the eyes that have been affected by the dust, though sore, see clear enough to stop for the future the air that would annoy them.' Pericles means by this similitude to show the danger of revealing the crimes of princes; for as they feel hurt by the publication of their shame, they will of course prevent a repetition of it, by destroying the person who divulged. He pursues the same idea in the instance of the mole. 20 Copp'd hills' are hills rising in a conical form, something of the shape of a sugarloaf. Thus in Horman's Vulgaria, 1519: 'Sometime men wear copped caps like a sugar loaf. So Baret: To make copped, or sharpe at top; cacumino. In A. S. cop is a head. See vol. iii. p. 405, note 3; and vol. vii, p. 324, note 6. By man's oppression21; and the poor worm22 doth die for't. Kings are earth's gods: in vice their law's their will; What being more known grows worse, to smother it. But I will gloze23 with him. [Aside.] Young prince of Tyre, Though by the tenour of our strict edíct, We might proceed to cancel of your days2+; [Exeunt ANT. his Daughter, and Attend. Then were it certain, you were not so bad, 21 The earth is oppressed by the injuries which crowd upon her. Steevens altered throng'd to wrong'd; but apparently without necessity. 22 The mole is called poor worm as a term of commiseration. In The Tempest, Prospero, speaking to Miranda, says, Poor worm, thou art infected." The mole remains secure till it has thrown up those hillocks which betray his course to the molecatcher. 23 Flatter, insinuate. 24 To the destruction of your life. 25 Where has here the power of whereas; as in other passages of these plays. See vol. i p 131; ii 308; iii. 69, &c. It occurs again with the same meaning in Act ii. Sc. 3, of this play. By your untimely claspings with your child, By the defiling of her parent's bed; And both like serpents are, who though they feed Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame: Then, lest my life be cropp'd to keep you clear27, By flight I'll shun the danger which I fear. [Exit. Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. Ant. He hath found the meaning, for the which we mean To have his head. He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy, In such a loathed manner: And therefore instantly this prince must die; Thal. Enter THALIARD. Doth your highness call? Ant. Thaliard, you're of our chamber, and our mind. 26 The old copy erroneously reads shew. The emendation is Malone's. The expression here is elliptical:For wisdom sees that those men who do not blush to commit actions blacker than the night, will not shun any course in order to preserve them from being made public. 27 To prevent any suspicion from falling on you.' So in Macbeth: always thought, that I Require a clearness." Partakes 28 her private actions to your secrecy; Because we bid it. Say, is it done? Thal. 'Tis done. Ant. Enough. Enter a Messenger. My lord, Let your breath cool yourself, telling your haste29. Mess. My lord, Prince Pericles is fled. [Exit Messenger. As thou Ant. Thal. My lord, if I Can get him once within my pistol's length, [Exit. Ant. Thaliard, adieu! till Pericles be dead, My heart can lend no succour to my head. [Exit. SCENE II. Tyre. A Room in the Palace. Enter PERICLES, HELICANUS, and other Lords. Per. Let none disturb us: Why should this change of thought1? 28 In The Winter's Tale the word partake is used in an active sense for participate : your exultation Partake to every one,' 29 These words are addressed to the Messenger, who enters in haste. 1-Why should this change of thought? of the old copies; which Steevens changed to, This is the reading Why this charge of |