9

A fire from heaven came, and shrivel'd up Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk, That all those eyes adored them ere their fall Scorn now their hand should give them burial. Esca. 'Twas very strange.

Hel.

And yet but justice; for though This king were great, his greatness was no guard

To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward. Esca. 'Tis very true.

Enter two or three Lords.

First Lord. See, not a man in private conference
Or council has respect with him but he.
Sec. Lord. It shall no longer grieve without re-

proof.

Third Lord. And cursed be he that will not second

it.

20

First Lord. Follow me then. Lord Helicane, a

word.

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 Heli

cane;

But if the prince do live, let us salute him,

Or know what ground's made happy by his breath.

11. "those eyes adored them"; that is, which ador'd them.-H. N. H.

If in the world he live, we 'll seek him out;

If in his grave he rest, we 'll find him there; 30
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's indeed 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 honor's cause, forbear your suffrages: If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear. Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,

40

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,
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.

50

First Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not

yield;

41. "For honor's cause"; Dyce's reading; Qq., Ff. 3, 4, "Try honours cause"; Steevens conj. "Try honour's course"; Jackson conj. "Cry, honour's cause!"; Anon. conj. "By honour's cause."-I. G. 43. "seas"; the troubled waters of sovereignty.-C. H. H.

And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,

We with our travels will endeavor it.

Hel. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands:

When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.

.)

SCENE V

[Exeunt.

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 Simonides. 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 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. 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 honor will not break it. Third Knight. Loath to bid farewell, we take our [Exeunt Knights.

leaves.

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.

20

Sir, you are music's master. 30 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,
Aye, 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.
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,

40

That never aim'd so high to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honor her.

Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou

art

A villain.

Per. By the gods, I have not:

50

Never did thought of mine levy offense; Nor never did my actions yet commence A deed might gain her love or your displeasure. Sim. Traitor, thou liest.

Per.

Sim.

Traitor!

Aye, 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 honor's cause,
And not to be a rebel to her state;
And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he's honor's enemy.
Sim. No?

Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

60

62. "her"; i. e. honor's. But the corresponding passage in Wilkins makes it probable that the word should be your.-C. H. H.