Yet neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits,
Nor yet the other's distance comfort me :
Then it is thus, that passions of the mind,
That have their first conception by mis-dread,
Have after-nourishment and life by care;
And what was first by fear, what might be done,
Grows elder now, and cares it be not done.
And so 'tis 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;
Nor boots it me to say I honour him,

If he suspect I may dishonour him.

And what may make him blush in being known,
He'll stop the course by which it might be known;
With hostile forces he'll o'er-spread the land,
And with the stint of war will look so huge,
Amazement shall drive courage from the state;
Our men be vanquish'd ere they do resist,
And subjects punish'd, that ne'er thought offence.
Which care of them, not pity of myself,

Who once no more but as the tops of trees,

Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them, Make not my body pine, and soul to languish,

And punish that before that he would punish.

1 Lord. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast. 2 Lord. And keep your mind, 'till ye return to us, Peaceful and comfortable.

Hell. 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 spark gives heart and stronger glowing;
Whereas reproof obedient, and in order,

Fits kings as they are men, for they may err;
When signior Sooth here doth proclaim peace,
He flatters you, makes war upon your life.
Prince, pardon me, or strike me, if

I cannot be much lower than my

you please, knees.

Per. All leave us else: but let your cares o'erlook What shipping, and what lading's in our haven, And then return to us. Hellicanus, thou hast Mov'd us: what seest thou in our looks? Hell. An angry brow, dread lord.

Per. If there be such a dart in princes' frowns, How durst thy tongue move anger to our face? Hell. How dare the planets look up unto Heav'n, From whence they have their nourishment?

Per. Thou know'st I have power to take thy life from thee.

Hell. I have ground the ax myself,

Do you but strike the blow

Per. Rise, pr'ythee rise; sit down; thou art no flatterer; I thank thee for it, and Heav'n forbid

That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid.
Fit counsellor, and servant for a prince,

Who by thy wisdom makes a prince thy servant,
What would'st thou have me do?

Hell. To bear with patience such griefs,

As you yourself do lay upon yourself.

Per. Thou speak'st like a physician, Hellicanus,
That ministers a potion unto me

That thou would'st tremble to receive thyself.
Attend me then: I went to Antioch,

Where, 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 think, as no doubt he doth,
That I should open to the listening air,
How many worthy princes' blood 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 wars blow, who fears not innocence:
Which love to all, for which thyself art one,

Who now reproved'st me for it

Hell. Alas! sir.

Per. Drew sleep out of my eyes, blood from my
cheeks,

Musings into my mind, with a thousand doubts
How I might stop their tempest ere it came;
And finding little comfort to relieve them,
I thought it princely charity to grieve for them.
Hell. 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 publick 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 the thread of his life:
Your rule direct to any, if to me,

Day serves not light more faithful, than I'll be.
Per. I do not doubt thy faith,

But should he wrong my liberties in my absence?
Hell. We'll mingle our bloods together in the earth,
From whence we had our being and our birth.

Per. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tharsus
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 live so round and safe,
C

That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince,
Thou shewest a subject's shine, I a true prince.

THALIARD enters solus.

[Exeunt.

Thal. 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 hang'd at home; it is dangerous. Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that being bid to ask what he would of the king, desir'd he might know none of his secrets. Now do I see he had some reason for it: for if a king bid a man be a villain, he is bound by the indenture of his oath to be one. Hush! here comes the lords of Tyre.

HELLICANUS, ESCANES enter, with other Lords of Tyre.

Hell. You shall not need, my fellow-peers of Tyre, Further to question me of your king's departure. His seal'd commission left in trust with me, Doth speak sufficiently, he's gone to travel. Thal. How, the king gone?

Hell. If further yet you will be satisfied,

Why (as it were unlicens'd of your loves)
He would depart? I'll give some light unto you.
Being at Antioch-

Thal. What from Antioch?

Hell. Royal Antiochus (on what cause I know not) Took some displeasure at him, at least he judg'd so; And doubting that he had erred or sinned,