I will not have excuse, with saying, this
Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads;
Since they love men in arms, as well as beds.
So, this was well ask'd; 't was so well perform'd.
Come, sir; here is a lady that wants breathing too :
And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip;

And that their measures are as excellent.
PER. In those that practise them, they are, my lord.
SIM. Oh, that's as much as you would be denied

645

[The Knights dance.

[The Knights and Ladies dance.

Of your fair courtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp;
Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well,

But you the best. [To PERICLES.] Pages and lights, to conduct
These knights unto their several lodgings: Yours, sir,

We have given order to be next our own.
PER. I am at your grace's pleasure.
SIM. Princes, it is too late to talk of love,

For that 's the mark I know you level at:
Therefore each one betake him to his rest;
To-morrow, all for speeding do their best.

SCENE IV.-Tyre.

Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES.

HEL. No, 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 in a chariot of

An inestimable value, and his daughter

With him, a fire from heaven came and shrivell'd
up
Those bodies, even to loathing: for they so stunk,
That all those eyes ador'd thema ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
ESCA. "T was very strange.

HEL.

And yet but justice; for though

For men in armour gestures made,

And leap'd, that so they might,

When need requires, be more prompt
In public weal to fight."

a An elliptical construction-all those eyes which ador'd them.

[Exeunt.

This king were great, his greatness was no guard To bar heav'n's shaft, but sin had his reward. ESCA. 'T is very true.

Enter three Lords.

1 LORD. See, not a man in private conference,
Or council, hath respect with him but he.
2 LORD. It shall no longer grieve without reproof.
3 LORD. And curs'd be he that will not second it.
1 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 your prince you love.
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.

If in the world he live, we 'll seek him out;

If in his 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 's, indeed, the strongest in our censurea: And knowing this kingdom is without a head,

(Like goodly buildings left without a roof

Soon fall to ruin,) your noble self,

That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign,
We thus submit unto,—our sovereign.

OMNES. Live, noble Helicane.

HEL. Try honour's 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 twelvemonth 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.

a Censure opinion. We believe, says the speaker, that the probability of the death of Pericles is the strongest. He then proceeds to assume that the kingdom is without a head. So the ancient readings, which we follow.

Seas. Malone proposed to read seat.

1 LORD. To wisdom he 's a fool that will not yield; And since lord Helicane enjoineth us,

We with our travels will endeavour it a.

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

SCENE V.-Pentapolis.

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 will not undertake

A married life:

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'd,
And on her virgin honour will not break.

3 KNIGHT. Loth to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
SIM. So,

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.

"T is 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;—I must dissemble it.

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: I do
Protest, my ears 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 you one thing. What do you think
Of my daughter, sir?

a It has been added to the old reading.

[Exeunt.

[Exeunt.

PER. A most virtuous princess.

SIM. And she is fair too, is she not?

PER. As a fair day in summer; wond'rous fair.
SIM. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you;

Ay, so well, that you must be her master,

And she will be your scholar; therefore look to it.
PER. I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
SIM. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
PER. What 's here!

A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre?

'T is 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.

SIM. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art
A villain.

[Aside.

I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection.
Will you, not having my consent, bestow
Your love and your affections upon a stranger?
(Who, for aught I know,

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 will 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 a further grief,-God give you joy!—
What, are you both pleas'd?

THAI. Yes, if you love me, sir.

PER. Even as my life, or a blood that fosters it.
SIM. What, are you both agreed?

BOTH. Yes, if it please your majesty.

SIM. It pleaseth me so well, that I'll see you wed:
Then, with what haste you can, get you to bed.

a Or, in the old copies. Malone reads-

"Even as my life my blood," &c.

[Aside.

[Exeunt.

Even as my life loves my blood. The original answer is clear enough-I love you, even as my life, or as my blood that fosters my life.