must I kill king Pericles; and if I do not, I am sure to be hanged at home: 'tis dangerous. Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets. Now do I see he had some reason for it: for if a king bid a man be a villain, he is bound by the indenture of his oath to be one.Hush, here come the lords of Tyre. Enter HELICANUS, ESCANES, and other Lords. Hel. You shall not need, my fellow peers of Tyre, Further to question of your king's departure. His sealed commission, left in trust with me, Doth speak sufficiently, he's gone to travel. Thal. How! the king gone! Hel. If further yet you will be satisfied, Why, as it were unlicensed of your loves, He would depart, I'll give some light unto you. Thal. What from Antioch? [Aside. [Aside. Hel. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not,) Took some displeasure at him; at least he judged so: So puts himself into the shipman's toil, With whom each minute threatens life or death. Thal. Well, I perceive [Aside. I shall not be hang'd now, although I would; Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome. Thal. From him I come With message unto princely Pericles; Yet, ere you shall depart, this we desire, As friends to Antioch, we may feast in Tyre. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Tharsus. A Room in the Governor's House. Enter CLEON, DIONYZA, and Attendants. Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, And by relating tales of other's griefs, Dio. That were to blow at fire, in hope to quench it; For who digs hills because they do aspire, Here they're but felt, and seen with mistful eyes, Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it, I'll then discourse our woes, felt several years, Cle. This Tharsus, over which I have government, (A city, on whom plenty held full hand,) For riches, strew'd herself even in the streets; Whose towers bore heads so high, they kiss'd the clouds, Dio. O, 'tis too true. Cle. But see what Heaven can do! By this our change, These mouths, whom but of late, earth, sea, and air, Although they gave their creatures in abundance, They are now starv'd for want of exercise: Those palates, who, not yet two summers younger, Is not this true? Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. With their superfluous riots, hear these tears! Enter a Lord. Lord. Where's the lord governor? Cle. Here. Speak out thy sorrows, which thou bring'st, in haste, For comfort is too far for us to expect. Lord. We have descried, upon our neighbouring shore, A portly sail of ships make hitherward. Cle. I thought as much. One sorrow never comes, but brings an heir, That may succeed as his inheritor; And so in ours: some neighbouring nation, Taking advantage of our misery, Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power, Whereas no glory's got to overcome. Lord. That's the least fear; for, by the semblance Of their white flags display'd, they bring us peace, And come to us as favourers, not as foes. Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor'd to repeat: Who makes the fairest show, means most deceit. But bring they what they will, what need we fear? The ground's the low'st, and we are half way there. Go tell their general, we attend him here, To know for what he comes, and whence he comes, And what he craves. 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, Are stor❜d with corn, to make your needy bread, And give them life, who are hunger-starv'd, half dead. All. [kneeling.] The gods of Greece protect you! And we'll pray for you. Per. Rise, I pray you, rise; We do not look for reverence, but for love, Per. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here a while, Until our stars, that frown, lend us a smile. [Exeunt. |