And be resolved,1 he lives to govern us;
Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral,
And leaves us to our free election.

2 Lord. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in

And knowing this kingdom, if without a head,
Like goodly buildings left without a roof,

Will soon to ruin fall; your noble self,

That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign, We thus submit unto,—our sovereign.

All. Live, noble Helicane !

Hel. Try honor's cause; forbear your suffrages:
If that you love prince Pericles, forbear.
Take I your wish, I leap into the seat,

Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease.
A twelvemonth longer, let me then entreat you,
To forbear choice i' the absence of your king;
If in which time expired, he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,

Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects,
And in your search spend your adventurous worth;
Whom if you find, and win unto return,

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 endeavor it.

Satisfied.

2 The most probable in our opin

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
A married life.

Her reason to herself is only known,

Which from herself by no means can I get.

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.

One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery: This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd,

And on her virgin honor will not break it.

3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take [Exeunt.

our leaves

She tells me here, she 'll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well :-nay, how absolute she's in 't,
Not minding whether I dislike or no!
Well, I commend her choice;

And will no longer have it be delay'd.
Soft, here he comes: I must dissemble it.

Enter PERICLES.

Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, For your sweet music this last night: my ears, I do protest, were never better fed

With such delightful pleasing harmony.

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. 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; wondrous 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.

Per. What's here?

A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre?
'Tis the king's subtilty, to have my life.
O, seek not to entrap, my gracious lord,

A stranger and distressed gentleman,

[aside.

That never aim'd so high to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honor her.

Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art

A villain.

Per.

By the gods, I have not, sir.
Never did thought of mine levy offence;
Nor never did my actions yet commence

A deed, might gain her love, or your displeasure.
Sim. Traitor, thou liest.

Per.

Sim.

Traitor!

Ay, traitor, sir

Per. Even in his throat, unless it be the king That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

Sim. Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.

[aside. Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts, That never relish'd of a base descent.

I came unto your court for honor's cause,
And not to be a rebel to her state;

And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he's honor's enemy.
Sim. No!-

Here comes my daughter; she can witness it.

Enter THAISA.

Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,
Resolve your angry father, if my tongue
Did e'er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable that made love to you?
Thai. Why, sir, say if you had,

Who takes offence at that would make me glad! Sim. Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?

I am glad of it with all my heart. [aside.] I'll tame

you;

I'll bring you in subjection.

Will you, not having my consent, bestow
Your love and your affections on a stranger?
(Who, for aught I know to the contrary,
Or think, may be as great in blood as I.)
Hear, therefore, mistress; frame your will te

mine ;

[asid

And you, sir, hear you.-Either be ruled by me,
Or I will make you-man and wife.

Nay, come; your hands and lips must seal it too:
And, being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy:
And, for a farther grief,-God give you joy!

What, are you both pleased?

Thai.

Yes, if you love me, sir.

Per. Even as my life my blood that fosters it.
Sim. What, are you both agreed ?

Both.
Yes, please your majesty.
Sim. It pleaseth me so well, I'll see you wed;
Then, with what haste you can, get you to bed.

Exeunt.