Pericles Prince of Tyre | Page 4

in her their best perfections.
[Music. Enter the Daughter of Antiochus.]
PERICLES See where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Graces her
subjects, and her thoughts the king Of every virtue gives renown to

men! Her face the book of praises, where is read Nothing but curious
pleasures, as from thence Sorrow were ever razed, and testy wrath
Could never be her mild companion. You gods that made me man, and
sway in love, That have inflamed desire in my breast To taste the fruit
of yon celestal tree, Or die in the adventure, be my helps, As I am son
and servant to your will, To compass such a boundless happiness!
ANTIOCHUS. Prince Pericles, --
PERICLES. That would be son to great Antiochus.
ANTIOCHUS. Before thee stands this fair Hesperides, With golden
fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd; For death-like dragons here affright
thee hard: Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view Her countless
glory, which desert must gain; And which, without desert, because
thine eye Presumes to reach, all thy whole heap must die. Yon
sometimes famous princes, like thyself, Drawn by report, adventurous
by desire, Tell thee, with speechless tongues and semblance pale, That
without covering, save yon field of stars, Here they stand Martyrs, slain
in Cupid's wars; And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist For going
on death's net, whom none resist.
PERICLES. 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, Who tells us life 's but breath, to trust it error. I'll make my
will then, and, as sick men do Who know the world, see heaven, but,
feeling woe, Gripe not at earthly joys as erst they did; So I bequeath a
happy peace to you And all good men, as every prince should do; My
riches to the earth from whence they came; But my unspotted fire of
love to you.
[To the daughter of Antiochus.]
Thus ready for the way of life or death, I wait the sharpest blow,
Antiochus.
ANTIOCHUS. Scorning advice, read the conclusion, then: Which read

and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee thou thyself shalt
bleed.
DAUGHTER. Of all say'd yet, mayst thou prove prosperous! Of all
say'd yet, I wish thee happiness!
PERICLES 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. I
sought a husband, in which labour I found that kindness in a father:
He's father, son, and husband mild; I mother, wife, and yet his child.
How they may be, and yet in two, As you will live, resolve it you.
Sharp physic is the last: but, O you powers That give heaven countless
eyes to view men's acts, Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, If
this be true, which makes me pale to read it? Fair glass of light, I loved
you, and could still,
[Takes hold of the hand of the Princess.]
Were not this glorious casket stored with ill: But I must tell you, now
my thoughts revolt; For he's no man on whom perfections wait That,
knowing sin within, will touch the gate, You are a fair viol, and your
sense the strings; Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music, Would
draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken; But being play'd upon
before your time, Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime. Good sooth, I
care not for you.
ANTIOCHUS. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, For that's an
article within our law, As dangerous as the rest. Tour time's expired:
Either expound now, or receive your sentence.
PERICLES. Great king, Few love to hear the sins they love to act;
'Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell it. Who has a book of all
that monarchs do, He's more secure to keep it shut than shown: For vice
repeated is like the wandering wind, Blows dust in others' eyes, to

spread itself; And yet the end of all is bought thus dear, The breath is
gone, and the sore eyes see clear To stop the air would hurt them. The
blind mole casts Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is
throng'd By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't. Kind
are earth's gods; in vice their law's their will; And if Jove stray, who
dares say Jove doth ill? It is enough you know; and it is fit, What being
more known grows worse, to smother it. All love the womb that their
first bred, Then give my