Pericles Prince of Tyre | Page 6

and soul to languish, And punish that before
that he would punish.
[Enter Helicanus, with other Lords.]
FIRST LORD. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast!
SECOND LORD. And keep your mind, till you return to us, Peaceful
and comfortable!

HELICANUS. 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, 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. When Signior Sooth here does
proclaim a peace, He flatters you, makes war upon your life. Prince,
pardon me, or strike me, if you please; I cannot be much lower than my
knees.
PERICLES. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook What shipping
and what lading is in our haven, And then return to us.
[Exeunt Lords.]
Helicanus, thou Hast moved us: what seest thou in our looks?
HELICANUS. An angry brow, dread lord.
PERICLES. If there be such a dart in princes' frowns, How durst thy
tongue move anger to our face?
HELICANUS. How dare the plants look up to heaven, from whence
They have their nourishment?
PERICLES. Thou know'st I have power To take thy life from thee.
HELICANUS. [Kneeling.] I have ground the axe myself; Do you but
strike the blow.
PERICLES. Rise, prithee, 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
makest a prince thy servant, What wouldst thou have me do?
HELICANUS. To bear with patience Such griefs as you yourself do lay
upon yourself.
PERICLES. Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus, That minister'st
a potion unto me That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself. Attend

me, then: I went to Antioch, And there as thou know'st, against the face
of death, I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty, From whence an
issue I might propagate, Are arms to princes, and bring joys to subjects.
Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder; The rest -- hark in thine
ear -- as black as incest: Which by my knowledge found, the sinful
father 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, Bethought me what was past, what might
succeed. I knew him tyrannous; and tyrants' fears Decrease not, but
grow faster than the years: And should he doubt it, as no doubt he doth,
That I should open to the listening air How many worthy princes'
bloods were shed, To keep his bed of blackness unlaid ope, To lop that
doubt, he'll fill this land with arms, And make pretence of wrong that I
have done him; 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 reprovest me for it, --
HELICANUS. Alas, sir!
PERICLES. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks,
Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts How I might stop this
tempest ere it came; And finding little comfort to relieve them, I
thought it princely charity to grieve them.
HELICANUS. Well, my lord, since you have given me leave to speak,
Freely will I speak. Antiochus you fear, And justly too, I think, you
fear the tyrant, Who either by public war or private treason Will take
away your life. Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, Till that his
rage and anger be forgot, Or till the Destinies do cut his thread of life.
Your rule direct to any; if to me, Day serves not light more faithful than
I'll be.
PERICLES. I do not doubt thy faith; But should he wrong my liberties
in my absence?
HELCANUS. We'll mingle our bloods together in the earth, From
whence we had our being and our birth.

PERICLES. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tarsus Intend my
travel, where I'll hear from thee; And by whose letters I'll dispose
myself. The care I had and have of subjects' good On thee I lay, whose
wisdom's strength can bear it. I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine
oath: Who shuns not to break one will sure crack both: But in our orbs
we'll live so round and safe, That time of both this truth shall ne'er
convince, Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true prince.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III. Tyre. An ante-chamber in