ACT I Sc. I On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed. Murder's as near to lust as flame to smoke: Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame : Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. 140 [exit. ANT. He hath found the meaning, for which we mean To have his head. He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy, Nor tell the world Antiochus doth sin In such a loathed manner; And therefore instantly this Prince must die; For by his fall my honour must keep high. THAL. ANT. Thaliard, Enter THALIARD. Doth your Highness call? 150 You are of our chamber, and our mind partakes And for your faithfulness we will advance you. We hate the Prince of Tyre, and thou must kill him : Because we bid it. Say, is it done? THAL. 'Tis done. My Lord, ANT. Enough. 160 Enter a Messenger. Let your breath cool yourself, telling your haste. ANT. [exit. As thou Wilt live, fly after; and, like an arrow shot From a well-experienc'd archer hits the mark THAL. My Lord, If I can get him within my pistol's length, I'll make him sure enough: so, farewell to your High ness. ANT. Thaliard, adieu! [Exit THALIARD.] Till Pericles be dead My heart can lend no succour to my head. 170 [exit. PER. [to Lords without.] Let none disturb us.—Why should this change of thoughts, The sad companion, dull-ey'd Melancholy, Be my so us'd a guest, as 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 fear'd, is at Antioch, Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here: Yet neither Pleasure's art can joy my spirits, Nor yet the other's distance comfort me. And what was first but fear what might be done, ΤΟ ACT I Sc. I And so with me: The great Antiochus ('Gainst whom I am too little to contend, Since he's so great can make his will his act) Will think me speaking, though I swear to silence; If he suspect I may dishonour him : And what may make him blush in being known, 20 ACT I He'll stop the course by which it might be known; And subjects punish'd that ne'er thought offence: (Who am no more but as the tops of trees, 30 Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them) Enter HELICANUS, with other Lords. FIRST LORD. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast! HEL. Peace, peace! and give experience tongue. They do abuse the King that flatter him : For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing the which is flatter'd, but a spark, 40 To which that blast gives heat and stronger glowing; Whereas reproof, obedient, and in order, Fits Kings, as they are men, for they may err. PER. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook What shipping and what lading's in our haven, Hast moved us: what see'st thou in our looks? HEL. An angry brow, dread Lord. PER. If there be such a dart in Princes' frowns, How durst thy tongue move anger to our face? 50 HEL. How dare the plants look up to Heaven, from whence They have their nourishment? PER. To take thy life from thee. Thou know'st I have power HEL [kneeling.] I have ground the axe myself; ACT I Do you but strike the blow. PER. Rise, pr'ythee, rise. Sit down thou art no flatterer; I thank thee for it: and Heaven forbid That Kings should let their ears hear their faults hid! Fit Counsellor and Servant for a Prince, Who by thy wisdom mak'st a Prince thy servant, What would'st thou have me do? HEL. 60 To bear with patience Such griefs as you yourself do lay upon yourself. That thou would'st tremble to receive thyself. Where, as thou know'st, against the face of Death, The rest (hark in thine ear) as black as incest; Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father 70 Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: but thou know'st this, "Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss. Which fear so grew in me, I hither fled, Under the covering of a careful night, Who seem'd my good protector; and, being here, I knew him tyrannous; and tyrants' fears To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms, 80 And make pretence of wrong that I have done him; 90 When all, for mine, if I may call, offence, Must feel War's blow, who spares not innocence: Which love to all (of which thyself art one, Who now reprov'st me for it)— Sc. II ACT I HEL. Alas, Sir! PER. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks, I thought it princely charity to grieve them. HEL. Well, my Lord, since you have given me leave to speak, Freely will I speak. Antiochus you fear, Or till the Destinies do cut his thread of life. Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be. But, should he wrong my liberties in my absence- IIO 120 On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it. SCENE III. The Same. An Ante-chamber in the Palace. Enter THALIARD, THAL. So, this is Tyre, and this the Court. Here must I kill King Pericles; and, if I do it not, I am sure to be hang'd at home: 'tis dangerous. Well, I perceive |