Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. Per. See, where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Her face, the book of praises, where is read Ye gods that made me man, and sway in love, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, Per. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught My frail mortality to know itself, And by those fearful objects to prepare [6] She comes (says Pericles) adorned with all the colours of the spring; the Graces are proud to enroll themselves among her subjects; and the king, (i. e. the chief) of every virtue that ennobles humanity, impregnates her mind: Graces her subjects, in her thoughts the king In short she has no superior in beauty, yet still she is herself under the dominion of virtue. STEEVENS. [7] This is a bold expression:-----testy wrath could not well be a mild companion to any one; but by her mild companion, Shakespeare means the companion of her mildness. M. MASON. [8] Thy whole heap, thy body, must suffer for the offence of a part, thine eye. The word bulk like heap in the present passage, was used for body by Shakespeare and his contemporaries. K MALONE. VOL. X. This body, like to them, to what I must:9 For death remember'd, should be like a mirror, And all good men, as every prince should do; [To the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. Thus ready for the way of life or death, Ant. Read the conclusion then ; Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee thou thyself shalt bleed. Daugh. In all, save that, may'st thou prove prosperous ! In all, save that, I wish thee happiness! Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the lists, Nor ask advice of any other thought But faithfulness and courage. [He reads the Riddle.] I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh, which did me breed: Sharp physic is the last but O you powers! [Takes hold of the hand of the Princess. [9] That is,---to prepare this body for that state to which I must come. MALONE That knowing sin within, will touch the gate. Would draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken; Good sooth, I care not for you. Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expir'd ; Few love to hear the sins they love to act; He's more secure to keep it shut, than shown; To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts What being more known grows worse, to smother it. Then give my tongue like leave to love my head. Ant. Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found the meaning; But I will gloze 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; [1] That is, which blows dust, &c. The man who knows of the ill practices of princes, is unwise if he reveals what he knows; for the publisher of vicious actions resembles the wind, which, while it passes along, blows dust into men's eyes. When the blast is over, the eye that has been affected by the dust, suffers no farther pain, but can see as clearly as before; so by the relation of criminal acts, the eyes of mankind (though they are affected, and turn away with horror, are opened, and see clearly what before was not even suspected: but by expo sing the crimes of others, the relater suffers himself; as the breeze passes away, so the breath of the informer is gone; he dies for his temerity. Yet, to stop the course or ventilation of the air, would hurt the eyes; and to prevent informers from divulging the crimes of men would be prejudicial to mankind. Such, 1 think, is the meaning of this obscure passage. MALONE. Yet hope, succeeding from so fair a tree If, by which time our secret be undone, [Exe. ANTIOCHUS, his Daughter, and Attendants. And both like serpents are, who though they feed Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. [Exit. 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; [2] Where in this place has the power of whereas. * STEEVENS. The expression is here, as in many other places in this play, elliptical; for wis dom sees, that those who do not blush to commit actions blacker than the night, will not shun any course in order to preserve them from being made public. MALONE. Who attends on us there? Enter THALIARD. Thal. Doth your highness call? Ant. Thaliard, you're of our chamber, and our mind Because we bid it. Say, is it done? 'Tis done. Lest your breath cool yourself, telling your haste. Ant. As thou ; [Exit Mes. Wilt live, fly after: and, as an arrow, shot From a well-experienc'd archer, hits the mark Unless thou say, Prince Pericles is dead. 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. SCENE II. [Exit. 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: |