When I look back on my career of glory, My Pericles, you do belie and slander Your better self. There were far nobler purposes A few such aspirations. PERICLES. Well, perchance there were SOPHOCLES. I'll not hear you Speak that against yourself, which your worst foes Would smile to hear. PERICLES. Yet is it all too true; The blight of Heaven hangs o'er us; conscience tells me I've erred, and this cursed plague-this pestilence Which now rages at Athens, is the symbol Of divine anger. SOPHOCLES. Nay, the pestilence May have far other other causes. PERICLES. No, my Sophocles, Everything warns me. Is not Athens leagued In ruinous warfare with the states of Greece? Are not our Grecians armed against each other In fratricidal wars? while foreign enemies Laugh in their covert hate, waiting the hour Of our self-wrought exhaustion, for the assault Of their barbaric prowess. SOPHOCLES. List to me, Dear general-be advised by a steadfast friend; On the sea of heroism. You know the nature The hazard. Fame and infamy are merely To yourself: dash on like the storm-weathering ship Must fall, let him fall gloriously, the victim Of fate, without one stain of the mental weakness Be it so; we will go together. The hot clouds threaten thunder; but no matter, Rough weather shall not frighten us. SCENE III. Come on. A Thunderstorm among the Mountains of Phocis. Ay, my good master; Full many a time the priests have told me, that Great Jove is angered when the thunder peal With a strange joy. But I could cite a man, To whom the very name of thunder was Like a death-stroke. I did travel with him once To look at him. That man had a foul secret Made him confess it,-'twas a brother's murder,- That crash again-faith, 'tis a glorious peril, Henceforth-and trust the fables of our sires. GUIDE. These mountain tracks are not so delicate CHÆREPHON. Guide, thou hast served me Right faithfully; I'll answer thee as true. I'm going to consult the oracle Who is the wisest of men. GUIDE. A pretty question More easily asked than answered. I remember We once had seven wise men; now to find one, Can't your philosophers, with their grave brows CHÆREPHON. Yes, every thing But the thing you want, whatever that thing be. Is fairly evaporated; and just to atone For suffering their dull prosings, do we plunge That sting like scorpions. So I turned my back My steps to Delphi. GUIDE. My ignorance has often envied much You gentlemen of Athens. O, how sweet, Thought I, those hours must be, when learning breathes Wise saws with merry frolics! CHÆREPHON. Many things To the untried seem fair, which, once experienced, GUIDE. I'll bring you there; Rouse thee, and follow me;-here is the track. SCENE IV. Temple of Delphi. Enter Two PRIESTS. FIRST PRIEST. Brother, how liked you the storm? In all the years Such a battle of the clouds. Parnassus shook SECOND PRIEST. Peace to thy heart! Fear nothing!-knowest thou not that Delphi bears Cannot be violated. Great Apollo's self, Bright lord of the sweet, ever blooming heavens, Dread not the thunder; sooth to say-it bodes FIRST PRIEST. Prithee tell me how? SECOND PRIEST. There is a sympathy 'twixt heaven and earth- FIRST PRIEST. Nay, speak it freely to me; My tongue is never traitor to my ears. SECOND PRIEST. Elector is that name. Ay, keep it close Beneath the seal of silence ;-breathe it not Marvel of fools;-'tis unto thee the fame Of Delphi is most due. FIRST PRIEST. Thou speakest strangely; My heart warms in thy confidence ;—say on. SECOND PRIest. Thou knowest the rest. Thunder and lightning are Wooing the kindred elements of earth; And when the thunder bellows round the hills,- Doubly inspired. If my thoughts err not, Thus they interpret :-Well our ancient sires |