Per. I do not doubt thy faith; But should he wrong my liberties in absence- Per. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee; On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it. Who shuns not to break one, will sure crack both: 1 But in our orbs 1 we 'll live so round and safe, That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince,2 Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true prince. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Tyre. An antechamber in the palace. Enter THALIARD. Tha. So, this is Tyre, and this is the court. Here must I kill king Pericles; and if I do not, I am sure to be hanged at home: 'tis dangerous. Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets. Now do I see he had some reason for it: for if in our different spheres. 2 Overcome. king bid a man be a villain, he is bound by the indenture of his oath to be one.-Hush, here come the lords of Tyre. Enter HELICANUS, ESCANES, and other Lords. Hel. You shall not need, my fellow peers of Tyre, Farther to question of your king's departure. [aside. Hel. If farther yet you will be satisfied, Tha. What from Antioch? [aside. Hel. Royal Antiochus, on what cause I know not, Took some displeasure at him, at least he judged so: And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd, So put himself unto the shipman's toil, With whom each minute threatens life or death. [aside. I shall not be hang'd now, although I would: i. e. must do their pleasure, treat him as they will. But I'll present me. Peace to the lords of Tyre! Hel. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome. Tha. From him I come With message unto princely Pericles; But, since my landing, as I have understood, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Tharsus. A room in the governor's house. Cleon. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, See if 'twill teach us to forget our own? Dio. That were to blow at fire, in hope to quench it; For who digs hills because they do aspire, Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it, Our tongues and sorrows too sound deep our woes Into the air; our eyes do weep, till lungs Fetch breath that may proclaim them louder; that, They may awake their helps to comfort them. Cleon. This Tharsus, o'er which I have government, (A city, on whom plenty held full hand) For riches, strew'd herself even in the streets; Whose towers bore heads so high, they kiss'd the clouds, And strangers ne'er beheld, but wonder'd at; 1 Whose men and dames so jetted 1 and adorn'd, All poverty was scorn'd; and pride so great, Dio. O, 'tis too true. Cleon. But see what Heaven can do! By this our change, These mouths, whom but of late, earth, sea, and air Were all too little to content and please, Although they gave their creatures in abundance, As houses are defiled for want of use, 1 Strutted. They are now starved for want of exercise: Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. Cleon. O, let those cities, that of Plenty's cup And her prosperities so largely taste, With their superfluous riots, hear these tears! Enter LORD. Lord. Where's the lord governor ? Cleon. Here. Speak out thy sorrows which thou bring'st, in baste. For comfort is too far for us to expect. Lord. We have descried, upon our neighboring shore, A portly sail of ships make hitherward. 1 Nurse fondly. |