Go, tell their general we attend him here, Lord. I go, my lord. [Exit. Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist; 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, was stuff'd within With bloody veins, expecting overthrow, Are stor'd with corn to make your needy bread, Per. Arise, I pray you, arise: Per. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here a while, Until our stars that frown lend us a smile. [Exeunt. ACT II. Enter GOWER. Gow. Here have you seen a mighty king A better prince, and benign lord, That will prove awful both in deed and word. I'll show you those in trouble's reign, Is still at Tharsus, where each man Are brought your eyes; what need speak I? 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. Gow. Good Helicane hath stay'd at home, Should house him safe, is wreck'd and split; All perishen of man, of pelf, Ne aught escapen but himself; SCENE I.-Pentapolis. An open Place by the Sea-side. Enter PERICLES, wet. Per. Yet cease your ire, you angry stars of heaven! And I, as fits my nature, do obey you. 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 them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves. 3 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when I saw the porpus, how he bounced and tumbled? they say, they are half fish, half flesh: a plague on them! they ne'er come, but I look to be washed. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. 1 Fish. Why as men do a-land: the great ones eat up the little ones. I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. Such whales have I heard on the land, who never leave gaping, till they've swallowed the whole parish, church, steeple, bells and all. Per. A pretty moral. 3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry. 870 Per. Simonides? 3 Fish. We would purge the land of these drones, Per. How from the finny subject of the sea 2 Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? if it be a Per. Y' may see, the sea hath cast me upon your coast 2 Fish. What a drunken knave was the sea, to cast thee in our way. Per. A man whom both the waters and the wind, 1 Fish. No, friend, cannot you beg? here's them in our country of Greece, gets more with begging, than we can do with working. 2 Fish. Canst thou catch any fishes, then? 2 Fish. Nay, then thou wilt starve, sure; for here's 1 Fish. Die quoth-a? Now, gods forbid it! I have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we'll have flesh for holidays, fish for fastingdays, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks; and thou shalt be welcome. Per. I thank you, sir. 2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, not beg. Per. I did but crave. 2 Fish. But crave? you said you could Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall 'scape whipping. Per. Why, are all your beggars whipped, then? 2 Fish. O! not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipped, I would wish no better office than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go draw up the net. [Exeunt Two of the Fishermen. Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour ! 1 Fish. Hark you, sir; do you know where you are? Per. Not well. 1 Fish. Why, I'll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king, the good Simonides. Per. The good king Simonides, do you call him? 1 Fish. Ay, sir; and he deserves to be so called, for his peaceable reign, and good government. Per. He is a happy king, since he gains from his subjects the name of good by his government. How far is his court distant from this shore ? 1 Fish. Marry, sir, half a day's journey: and I'll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birth-day and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world, to joust and tourney for her love. Per. Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there. 1 Fish. O, sir! things must be as they may; and ACT II. wife's soul- Re-enter the Two Fishermen, drawing up a Net. 2 Fish. Help, master, help! here's a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man's right in the law; 'twill hardly come out. Ha! bots on't; 'tis come at last, and 'tis turned to a rusty armour. Thanks, fortune, yet, that after all crosses Keep it, my Pericles, it hath been a shield Till the rough seas, that spare not any man, For it was sometime target to a king; I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly, made up this garment through the rough seams of the Per. Believe it, I will. And spite of all the rapture of the sea, 2 Fish. We'll sure provide: thou shalt have my best [Exeunt. This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. A Platform leading to the In honour of whose birth these triumphs are, A model, which heaven makes like to itself: Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform. Enter a Knight: he passes over the Stage, and his Squire presents his Shield to the Princess. Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer himself? Sim. He loves you well that holds his life of you. Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; Is an arm'd knight, that's conquer'd by a lady: The third of Antioch; [The fourth Knight passes over. Sim. What is the fourth? [The fifth Knight passes over. [The sixth Knight passes over. Sim. And what's the sixth and last, the which the knight himself With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd? Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast: Thai. But you, [To PER.] my knight and guest; Per. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit. (For, daughter, so you are) here take your place: Knights. We are honour'd much by good Simonides. Per. Some other is more fit. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen, Sit, sir; sit. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts, Of marriage, all the viands that I eat Sim. He's but a country gentleman: He has done no more than other knights have done, Thai. To me he seems like diamond to glass. Thai. He seems to be a stranger; but his present is Did vail their crowns to his supremacy; A wither'd branch, that's only green at top: The motto, In hac spe vivo. Sim. A pretty moral: From the dejected state wherein he is, He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish. 1 Lord. He had need mean better, than his outward show Can any way speak in his just commend; For by his rusty outside he appears To have practis'd more the whipstock than the lance. 2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished. 3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust Until this day, to scour it in the dust. Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan [Exeunt. [Great Shouts, and all cry, The mean knight! SCENE III.-The Same. A Hall of State. A Banquet prepared. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Ladies, Lords, Knights, and Attendants. Where now his son, like a glow-worm in the night, 1 Knight. Who can be other, in this royal presence? We thank your grace. Sim. Yet pause a while; As if the entertainment in our court Had not a show might countervail his worth. Thai. Sim. What is it O! attend, my daughter: To make his entrance more sweet, here say, Sim. How! Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else. Thai. [Aside.] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better. Sim. And farther tell him, we desire to know, Of whence he is, his name, and parentage. Thai. The king my father, sir, has drunk to you. Per. I thank him. Thai. Wishing it so much blood unto your life. Per. A gentleman of Tyre (my name, Pericles, Thai. He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles, A gentleman of Tyre, Who only by misfortune of the seas Bereft of ships and men, cast on the shore. Sim. Now by the gods, I pity his misfortune, And waste the time which looks for other revels. [The Knights dance. So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd. Here is a lady that wants breathing too: And that their measures are as excellent. Per. In those that practise them, they are, my lord. Sim. O! that's as much, as you would be denied [The Knights and Ladies dance. Of your fair courtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp: Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well, But you the best. [TO PERICLES.] Pages and lights, to conduct These knights unto their several lodgings!-Yours, sir, Hel. No, Escanes; know this of me, [Exeunt. For which the most high gods, not minding longer Even in the height and pride of all his glory, A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up Esca. 'Tis very_true. 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. 3 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 Helicane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him, Or know what ground's made happy by his breath. 2 Lord. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure: And knowing this kingdom is without a head, Like goodly buildings left without a roof, That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign, All. Live, noble Helicane! Hel. Try honour's cause; forbear your suffrages: Go search like nobles, 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, We with our travels will endeavour. 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. 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? 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter. Sim. To you as much, sir. I am beholding to you And not to be a rebel to her state; For your sweet music this last night: I do Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend, Not my desert. Sim. Sir, you are music's master. Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. What do you think of my daughter, sir? Per. As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair. A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? [To him.] Ŏ! seek not to entrap me, gracious lord, That never aim'd so high to love your daughter, And he that otherwise accounts of me, Sim. No! Here comes my daughter, she can witness it. Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, Who takes offence at that would make me glad? Bestow your love and your affections Upon a stranger? [Aside.] who, for aught I know, As great in blood as I myself. [To her.] Therefore, hear you, mistress; either frame Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art And being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy; Per. By the gods, I have not, Never did thought of mine levy offence; A deed might gain her love, or your displeasure. Per. Sim. Traitor ! Ay, traitor. Enter Gower. And for farther grief,-God give you joy!— Thai. Yes, if you love me, sir. Per. Even as my life, my blood that fosters it. Both. Yes, if't please your majesty. Sim. It pleaseth me so well, I'll see you wed; ACT III. Gow. Now sleep yslaked hath the rout; Enter PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with At- Gow. By many a dern and painful perch Of Pericles the careful search By the four opposing coignes, That horse, and sail, and high expence, Are letters brought, the tenour these :— Of Helicanus would set on The crown of Tyre, but he will none : The mutiny he there hastes t' oppress; Says to them, if king Pericles Come not home in twice six moons, He, obedient to their dooms, Will take the crown. The sum of this, And every one with claps 'gan sound, Who dream'd, who thought of such a thing?" |