Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, That, without covering, save yon field of stars, Per. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught My frail mortality to know itself, And by those fearful objects to prepare This body, like to them, to what I must: For death remember'd, should be like a mirror, And all good men, as every prince should do; [To the Daughter of Antiochus. Ant. Read the conclusion then; Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, In all, save that, I wish thee happiness! Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the lists, Nor ask advice of any other thought [He reads the riddle.] I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh, which did me breed: Sharp physick is the last: but O you powers! [Takes hold of the hand of the princess. But, being play'd upon before your time, Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime: Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, For that's an article within our law, As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expir'd; Few love to hear the sins they love to act; T'would 'braid yourself too near for me to tell it. He's more secure to keep it shut, than shown; For vice repeated, is like the wand'ring wind, Blows dust in others' eyes, to spread itself; The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear: casts Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell, the earth is wrong'd By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't. Kings are earth's gods: in vice their law's their will; What being more known grows worse, to smother it. But I will glozet with him. [Aside.] Young prince of Tyre, Though by the tenour of our strict edíct, Your exposition misinterpreting, We might proceed to cancel of your days ‡; [Exeunt Antiochus, his Daughter, and Attend. Per. How courtesy would seem to cover sin ! When what is done is like an hypocrite, The which is good in nothing but in sight. If it be true that I interpret false, Then were it certain, you were not so bad, Rising to a top or head. +Flatter, insinuate. By your untimely claspings with your child And both like serpents are, who though they feed Re-enter Antiochus. Ant. He hath found the meaning, for the which we mean To have his head. He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy, In such a loathed manner: And therefore instantly this prince must die; Thal. Enter Thaliard. Doth your highness call? Ant. Thaliard, you're of our chamber, and our mind Partakes her private actions to your secresy; Because we bid it. Say, is it done? Thal. 'Tis done. My lord, Enter a Messenger. Ant. Enough; Lest your breath cool yourself, telling your haste. Mess. My lord, prince Pericles is fled. [Exit Messenger. Ant. As thou Wilt live, fly after: and, as an arrow, shot Thal. My lord, if I Can get him once within my pistol's length, I'll make him sure: so farewell to your highness. [Exit. Ant. Thaliard, adieu! till Pericles be dead, My heart can lend no succour to my head. [Erit. SCENE II. Tyre. A room in the palace. Enter Pericles, Helicanus, and other Lords. Per. Let none disturb us: Why this charge of thoughts? The sad companion, dull-ey'd melancholy, By me so us'd a guest is, not an hour, In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night (The tomb where grief should sleep), can breed me quiet! Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them, And danger, which I feared, is at Antioch, Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here: Nor yet the other's distance comfort me. |