First Lord. Follow me, then.

a word.

Lord Helicane,

Hel. With me? and welcome: happy day, my lords.

First 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 your
prince you love.

First 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 resolved he lives to govern us,
Or dead, give's cause to mourn his funeral,
And leave us to our free election.

Sec. Lord. Whose death indeed's the strongest

in our censure:

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

Soon fall to ruin,-your noble self,

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

All. Live, noble Helicane!

Hel. For honour's cause, forbear your suffrages: If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear.

Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,
Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease.
A twelvemonth longer, let me entreat you
To forbear the absence of your king:
If in which time expired, he not return,

31. be resolved, obtain assur

ance.

34. censure, judgment.

30

40

43. seas, the troubled waters of sovereignty.

I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,

Go search like nobles, 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.
First Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will

not yield;

And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,

We with our travels will endeavour us.

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, at one door:
the Knights meet him.

First Knight. Good morrow to the good Si-
monides.

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 yet from her by no means can I get.

Sec. 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 'tis impossible.

50

One twelve moons more she 'll wear Diana's livery; 10

This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd,

And on her virgin honour will not break it.

Third Knight. Loath to bid farewell, we take [Exeunt Knights.

our leaves.

Sim. So,

They are well dispatch'd; now to my daughter's

letter:

She tells me here, she 'll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
'Tis well, mistress; 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 do 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 beholding

to you

For your sweet music this last night: I do

Protest my ears 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 you one thing:

What do you think of my daughter, sir?
Per. A most virtuous princess.

Sim. And she is fair too, is she not?

Per. As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.
Sim. Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you;
Ay, so well, that you must be her master,
And she will be your scholar: therefore look to it.
Per. I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.

20

30

40

Per. [Aside] 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 me, 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:
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.

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

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

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

62. her, i.e. honour's. But the corresponding passage in

50

60

Wilkins makes it probable that the word should be your.

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?
[Aside] I am glad on 't with all my heart.—
I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection.
Will you, not having my consent,
Bestow your love and your affections

Upon a stranger? [Aside] who, for aught I know,
May be, nor can I think the contrary,
As great in blood as I myself.—

Therefore hear you, mistress; either frame
Your will to mine,—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 further grief,-God give you joy !—
What, are you both pleased?

Thai.
Yes, if you love me,
Per. Even as my life my blood that fosters it.
Sim. What, are you both agreed?

Both. Yes, if it please your majesty.

sir.

Sim. It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed;

And then with what haste you can get you to

bed.

ACT III.

[Exeunt.

Enter GOWER.

Gow. Now sleep yslaked hath the rout;
No din but snores the house about,

1. yslaked, laid to rest.