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| <title>SCENE I. Antioch. A room in the palace. | |
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| <tr><td class="play" align="center">Pericles, Prince of Tyre | |
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| | <A href="/Shakespeare/pericles/">Pericles</A> | |
| | Act 1, Scene 1 | |
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| <H3>SCENE I. Antioch. A room in the palace.</h3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter ANTIOCHUS, Prince PERICLES, and followers</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>Young prince of Tyre, you have at large received</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>The danger of the task you undertake.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>PERICLES</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=3>I have, Antiochus, and, with a soul</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>Embolden'd with the glory of her praise,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>Think death no hazard in this enterprise.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=6>Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>For the embracements even of Jove himself;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>At whose conception, till Lucina reign'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>The senate-house of planets all did sit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>To knit in her their best perfections.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Music. Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>PERICLES</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=12>See where she comes, apparell'd like the spring,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>Of every virtue gives renown to men!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>Her face the book of praises, where is read</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>Nothing but curious pleasures, as from thence</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>Sorrow were ever razed and testy wrath</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>Could never be her mild companion.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>You gods that made me man, and sway in love,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>That have inflamed desire in my breast</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>Or die in the adventure, be my helps,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>As I am son and servant to your will,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>To compass such a boundless happiness!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=25>Prince Pericles,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>PERICLES</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=26>That would be son to great Antiochus.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=27>Before thee stands this fair Hesperides,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>For death-like dragons here affright thee hard:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Her countless glory, which desert must gain;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>And which, without desert, because thine eye</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>Presumes to reach, all thy whole heap must die.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>Yon sometimes famous princes, like thyself,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>Drawn by report, adventurous by desire,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>Tell thee, with speechless tongues and semblance pale,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>That without covering, save yon field of stars,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>Here they stand martyrs, slain in Cupid's wars;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>For going on death's net, whom none resist.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>PERICLES</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=41>Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>My frail mortality to know itself,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>And by those fearful objects to prepare</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>This body, like to them, to what I must;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=45>For death remember'd should be like a mirror,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=46>Who tells us life's but breath, to trust it error.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=47>I'll make my will then, and, as sick men do</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=48>Who know the world, see heaven, but, feeling woe,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=49>Gripe not at earthly joys as erst they did;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=50>So I bequeath a happy peace to you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=51>And all good men, as every prince should do;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=52>My riches to the earth from whence they came;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=53>But my unspotted fire of love to you.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>To the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=54>Thus ready for the way of life or death,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=55>I wait the sharpest blow, Antiochus.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=56>Scorning advice, read the conclusion then:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=57>Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=58>As these before thee thou thyself shalt bleed.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>Daughter</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=59>Of all say'd yet, mayst thou prove prosperous!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=60>Of all say'd yet, I wish thee happiness!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>PERICLES</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=61>Like a bold champion, I assume the lists,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=62>Nor ask advice of any other thought</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=63>But faithfulness and courage.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>He reads the riddle</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=64>I am no viper, yet I feed</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=65>On mother's flesh which did me breed.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=66>I sought a husband, in which labour</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=67>I found that kindness in a father:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=68>He's father, son, and husband mild;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=69>I mother, wife, and yet his child.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=70>How they may be, and yet in two,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=71>As you will live, resolve it you.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=72>Sharp physic is the last: but, O you powers</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=73>That give heaven countless eyes to view men's acts,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=74>Why cloud they not their sights perpetually,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=75>If this be true, which makes me pale to read it?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=76>Fair glass of light, I loved you, and could still,</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Takes hold of the hand of the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=77>Were not this glorious casket stored with ill:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=78>But I must tell you, now my thoughts revolt</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=79>For he's no man on whom perfections wait</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=80>That, knowing sin within, will touch the gate.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=81>You are a fair viol, and your sense the strings;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=82>Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=83>Would draw heaven down, and all the gods, to hearken:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>But being play'd upon before your time,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=85>Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=86>Good sooth, I care not for you.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=87>Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=88>For that's an article within our law,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=89>As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expired:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=90>Either expound now, or receive your sentence.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>PERICLES</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=91>Great king,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=92>Few love to hear the sins they love to act;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=93>'Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell it.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=94>Who has a book of all that monarchs do,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=95>He's more secure to keep it shut than shown:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=96>For vice repeated is like the wandering wind.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=97>Blows dust in other's eyes, to spread itself;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=101>Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is throng'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=102>By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=103>Kings are earth's gods; in vice their law's</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>their will;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth ill?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=106>It is enough you know; and it is fit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=107>What being more known grows worse, to smother it.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=108>All love the womb that their first being bred,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=109>Then give my tongue like leave to love my head.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech14><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=110>[Aside] Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=111>the meaning:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=112>But I will gloze with him.--Young prince of Tyre,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=113>Though by the tenor of our strict edict,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=114>Your exposition misinterpreting,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=115>We might proceed to cancel of your days;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=116>Yet hope, succeeding from so fair a tree</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=117>As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=118>Forty days longer we do respite you;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=119>If by which time our secret be undone,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=120>This mercy shows we'll joy in such a son:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=121>And until then your entertain shall be</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=122>As doth befit our honour and your worth.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt all but PERICLES</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech15><b>PERICLES</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=123>How courtesy would seem to cover sin,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=124>When what is done is like an hypocrite,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=125>The which is good in nothing but in sight!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=126>If it be true that I interpret false,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=127>Then were it certain you were not so bad</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=128>As with foul incest to abuse your soul;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=129>Where now you're both a father and a son,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=130>By your untimely claspings with your child,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=131>Which pleasure fits an husband, not a father;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=132>And she an eater of her mother's flesh,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=133>By the defiling of her parent's bed;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=134>And both like serpents are, who though they feed</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=135>On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=136>Antioch, farewell! for wisdom sees, those men</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=137>Blush not in actions blacker than the night,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=138>Will shun no course to keep them from the light.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=139>One sin, I know, another doth provoke;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=140>Murder's as near to lust as flame to smoke:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=141>Poison and treason are the hands of sin,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=142>Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=143>Then, lest my lie be cropp'd to keep you clear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=144>By flight I'll shun the danger which I fear.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| <p><i>Re-enter ANTIOCHUS</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech16><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=145>He hath found the meaning, for which we mean</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=146>To have his head.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=147>He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=148>Nor tell the world Antiochus doth sin</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=149>In such a loathed manner;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=150>And therefore instantly this prince must die:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=151>For by his fall my honour must keep high.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=152>Who attends us there?</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter THALIARD</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech17><b>THALIARD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=153>Doth your highness call?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech18><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=154>Thaliard,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=155>You are of our chamber, and our mind partakes</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=156>Her private actions to your secrecy;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=157>And for your faithfulness we will advance you.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=158>Thaliard, behold, here's poison, and here's gold;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=159>We hate the prince of Tyre, and thou must kill him:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=160>It fits thee not to ask the reason why,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=161>Because we bid it. Say, is it done?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech19><b>THALIARD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=162>My lord,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=163>'Tis done.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech20><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=164> Enough.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter a Messenger</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=165>Let your breath cool yourself, telling your haste.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech21><b>Messenger</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=166>My lord, prince Pericles is fled.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech22><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=167>As thou</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=168>Wilt live, fly after: and like an arrow shot</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=169>From a well-experienced archer hits the mark</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=170>His eye doth level at, so thou ne'er return</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=171>Unless thou say 'Prince Pericles is dead.'</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech23><b>THALIARD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=172>My lord,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=173>If I can get him within my pistol's length,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=174>I'll make him sure enough: so, farewell to your highness.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech24><b>ANTIOCHUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=175>Thaliard, adieu!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit THALIARD</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=176>Till Pericles be dead,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=177>My heart can lend no succor to my head.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
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