Hell. With me? and welcome; happy day, my lords. 1 Lord. Know that our griefs are risen to the top, And now, at length, they over-flow their banks. Hell. Your griefs, for what? wrong not your prince you love.

1 Lord. Wrong not yourself then, noble Hellican; But if the prince do live, let us salute him,

Or know what ground's made happy by his breath:
If in the world he live, we'll seek him out;
If in the grave he rest, we'll find him there,
And be resolv'd, he lives, to govern us!

Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral,
And leaves us to our free election.

2 Lord. Whose death indeed, the strongest in our

censure,

And knowing this kingdom is without a head,
Like goodly buildings left without a roof,
Soon fall to ruin your noble self,

That best knows how to rule, and how to reign,

We thus submit, unto our sovereign.

Omn. Live, noble Hellican.

Hell. Try honours' cause; forbear your suffrages:

If that you love prince Pericles, forbear:

(Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,

Where's hourly trouble, for a minute's ease.)
A twelve month longer, let me entreat you
To forbear the absence of your king:
If in which time expir'd he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,

Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,

And in your search, spend your adventurous worth, Whom if you find, and win unto return,

You shall, like Diamonds, sit about his crown.

I Lord. To wisdom, he's a fool that would not yield; And since Lord Hellican enjoineth us,

We with our travels will endeavour.

Hell. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands; When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

The Palace of Symonides. The King enters reading a Letter at one door, and the Knights meet him. 1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Symonides. King. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know, That for this twelve month, she'll not undertake A married life: her reason to her self is only known, Which yet from her by no means can I get.

2 Knight. May we not get access to her, my lord? King. Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly Ty'd her to her chamber, that 'tis impossible: One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery: This by the eye of Cynthia bath she vow'd, And on her virgin honour will not break.

3 Knight. Loth to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

[Exeunt.

King. So, they are well dispatch'd.

Now to my daughter's letter; she tells me here,
She'll wed the stranger knight,

Or never more to view, nor day, nor light.

'Tis well, mistress, your choice agrees with mine; I like that well; nay, how absolute she's in't, Not minding whether I dislike, or no.

Well, I do commend her choice, and will no longer Have it be delay'd: Soft, here he comes :

must dissemble it.

PERICLES enters.

Per. All fortune to the good Symonides.

King. To you as much: sir, I am beholden to you, For your sweet musick this last night:

I do protest, my ears were never fed

With such delightful pleasing harmony.

Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend,

Not my desert.

King. Sir, you are musick's master.

Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.

King. Let me ask you one thing.

What do you think of my daughter, sir?

Per. A most virtuous princess.

King. And she's fair too, is she not?

Per. As a fair day in summer: wondrous fair.
King. Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you;

I so well, that you must be her master,

And she will be your scholar; therefore look to it.

E

Per. I am unworthy to be her school-master.
King. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.

Per. What's here? a letter,

That she loves the knight of Tyre?

'Tis the king's subtilty to have my life:
Oh seek not to entrap me, gracious lord,
A stranger and distressed gentleman,

That never aim'd so high to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honour her.

King. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter;
And thou art a villain.

Per. By the gods I have not;

Never did thought of mine levy offence;
Nor never did my actions yet commence

A deed might gain her love, or your displeasure.
King. Traitor, thou liest.

Per. Traitor!

King. Ay, traitor.

Per. Even in his throat, unless it be a king,

That calls me traitor, I return the lie

King. Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts,

That never relish'd of a base descent:

I came unto the court for honour's cause,

And not to be a rebel to her state;

And he that otherwise accounts of me,

This sword shall prove, he's honour's enemy.

King. No! here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

THAISA enters.

Per. Then as you are as virtuous, as fair,
Resolve your angry father, if my tongue
Did e'er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable that made love to you?
Thai. Why, sir, if you had, who takes offence
At that would make me glad?

King. Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?
I am glad of it with all my heart.

I'll tame you, I'll bring you in subjection.
Will you, not having my consent,

Bestow your love, and your affections,

[Aside.

Upon a stranger?- -who, for ought I know, [Aside,
May be, nor can I think the contrary,

As great in blood as I myself?•

Therefore, hear you, mistress; either frame
Your will to mine; and you, sir, hear you,
Either be rul'd by me, or I'll make you
Man and wife; nay, come, your hands
And lips must seal it too: And being join'd,
I'll thus your hopes destroy, and for further grief,
God give you joy. What, are ye both pleas'd?
Thai. Yes, if you

love me, sir.

Per. Ev'n as my life, or blood, that fosters it.

King. What, are you both agreed?

Amb. Yes, if it please your majesty.

King. It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed.