Even in the height and pride of all his glory,
When he was seated and his daughter with him,
In a chariot of inestimable value,
A fire from heaven came, and shriveld up
Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes ador'd them, ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.

Esca. 'Twas very strange.
Hel.

And yet but just; for though
This king were great, his greatness was no guard
To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward.
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

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.
If in the world he live, we'll seek him

out;
If in his grave he rest, we'll find him there;
And be resolvid, he lives to govern us,
Or dead, gives cause to mourn his faneral,
And leaves us to our free election,

[censure: 2 Lord. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our 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 honour's cause, forbear your suffrages : If that you love prince Pericles, forbear.

you love.

a

Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,
Where's bourly trouble for a minute's ease.
A twelvemonth longer, let me then entreat you
To forbear choice i'ihe absence of your king;
If in which time expir'd, 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 endeavour it.

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 kuow, 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 ber chamber, that it is impossible. One Twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery; This by the eye of Cynthia bath she vow'd, And on her virgin honour will not break it. 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

[Exeunt. Sim. So They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's lelter: She tells me here, she'll 'wed the stranger knight, Or never more to view nor day nor light. Mistress, ’lis well, your choice agrees with mine; I like that well:-nay, how absolute she's in't, Not ininding whether I dislike or no!

1

Well, I commend her choice;
And will no longer have it be delay'd.
Soft, here he comes :-I must disseinble 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 subtilly, to have my life. [Aside.
O, seek not to entrap, my gracious lord,
A stranger and distressed gentleman,
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 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.

Traitor!
Sim.

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 honour's cause,
And not to be a rebel to her state;
And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he's honour'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 inade 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.). [Aside.
Hear, therefore, mistress; frame your will to mine,
And you, sir, hear you.-Either be ruld 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 further grief,-God give you joy!
What, are you both pleas'd?
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.

a

[Excunt.

1

Enter GoWER.
Gow. Now sleep yslaked bath the rout;
No din but snores, the house about,
Made louder by the o'er-fed breast
Of this most pompous marriage-feast.
The cat, with eyne of burning coal,
Now couches 'fore the mouse's hole;
And crickets sing at the oven's inouih,
As the blither for their drouth.
Hymen hath brought the bride to bed,
Where, by the loss of maidenhead,
A babe is moulded ;-Be altent,
And time that is so briefly spent,
With

your fine fancies quaintly eche; What's dumb in show, I'll plain with speech. 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, nd LYCHORIDA. SIMONIDES

DUMB SHOW.