A gentleman of Tyre, who only by Of ships and men, and cast upon this shore. I will not have excuse, with saying, this [The Knights dance. So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd. Come, sir; Here is a lady that wants breathing too: And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre And that their measures are as excellent. Per. In those that practise them, they are, my lord. Sim. O, that's as much, as you would be denied [The Knights and Ladies dance. Of your fair courtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp; Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well; These knights unto their several lodgings: Yours, sir, Sim. Princes, it is too late to talk of love, As you are accoutred, prepared for combat.' Henry V : To morrow for the march are we address'd.' So in King SCENE IV. Tyre. A Room in the Governor's House. Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES. Hel. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me,— Antiochus from incest liv'd not free; For which, the most high gods not minding longer, To withhold the vengeance that they had in store, Due to this heinous capital offence, Even in the height and pride of all his glory, When he was seated, and his daughter with him, In a chariot of inestimable value, A fire from heaven came, and shrivel'd up Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk, And yet but just; for though This king were great, his greatness was no guard To bar heaven's shaft; but sin had his reward. Esca. "Tis very true. Enter Three Lords. 1 Lord. See, not a man in private conference, Or council, has respect with him but he2. 2 Lord. It shall no longer grieve without reproof. 3 Lord. And curst be he that will not second it. 2 Lord. Follow me then: Lord Helicane, a word. Hel. With me? and welcome: Happy day, my lords. 1 Lord. Know that our griefs are risen to the top, And now at length they overflow their banks. Hel. Your griefs, for what? wrong not the prince you love. 1 i. e. which ador'd them. To what this charge of partiality was designed to conduct we do not learn; for it appears to have no influence over the rest of the dialogue.'-Steevens. 1 Lord. Wrong not yourself then, noble Helicane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him, Or know what ground's made happy by his breath. 2 Lord. Whose death's indeed, the strongest in our censure4: And knowing this kingdom, if without a head (Like goodly buildings left without a roof), Will soon to ruin fall, your noble self, That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign, We thus submit unto,-our sovereign. All. Live, noble Helicane! Hel. Try honour's cause, forbear your suffrages: Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects, You shall like diamonds sit about his crown. 1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; 3 Satisfied. 4 i. e. the most probable in our opinion.' Censure is frequently used for judgment, opinion, by Shakspeare. 5 The old copy reads: "Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,' &c. Steevens contends for the old reading; that it is merely figurative, and means, I embark too hastily on an expedition in which ease is disproportioned to labour. 6 Some word being omitted in this line in the old copy, Steevens thus supplied it : To forbear choice i' the absence of your king.' And, since Lord Helicane enjoineth us, Hel. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands; When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands. SCENE V. [Exeunt. Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. Enter SIMONIDES, reading a Letter; the Knights meet him. 1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides. Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know, That for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake Her reason to herself is only known, Which from herself by no means can I get. 2 Knight. May we not get access to her, my lord? Sim. Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied her To her chamber, that it is impossible. One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery; This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd1, And on her virgin honour will not break it. 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves. Sim. So [Exeunt. They're well despatch'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. 1 'It were to be wished (says Steevens), that Simonides, who is represented as a blameless character, had hit on Some more ingenious expedient for the dismission of these wooers. Here he tells them, as a solemn truth, what he knows to be a fiction of his own.' Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with mine; And will no longer have it be dalay'd. Enter PERICLES. Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, For your sweet music this last night: my ears, I do protest, were never better fed With such delightful pleasing harmony. Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend; Not my desert. Sim. Sir, you are music's master. Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, sir, of My daughter? Per. As of a most virtuous princess. Sim. And she is fair too, is she not? Per. As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair. Sim. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you; Ay, so well, sir, that you must be her master, And she'll your scholar be; therefore look to it. Per. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster. Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else. A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? [Aside. That never aim'd so high, to love your daughter, But bent all offices to honour her. Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art A villain. Per. By the gods, I have not, sir. Never did thought ef mine levy offence; |