Thal. My lord, if I Can get him once within my pistol's length, I'll make him sure: so, farewell to your highness. Ant. Thaliard, adieu. — Till Pericles be dead, My heart can lend no succour to my head. SCENE II. Tyre. A Room in the Palace. Enter PERICLES, HELICANUS, and other Lords. [Exit. [Exit. Per. Let none disturb us: why should this change of thoughts? The sad companion, dull-ey'd melancholy, By me so us'd a guest is, not an hour, In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night, The tomb where grief should sleep, can breed me quiet. And what was first but fear what might be done, If he suspect I may dishonour him: And what may make him blush in being known, And subjects punish'd that ne'er thought offence: (Who am no more but as the tops of trees, Which fence the roots they grow by, and defend them) 1 Lord. Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast. Hel. Peace, peace! and give experience tongue. The thing the which is flatter'd, but a spark, Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err: I cannot be much lower than my knees. Per. All leave us else; but let your cares o'er-look What shipping, and what lading's in our haven, And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords.] Helicanus, thou Hel. An angry brow, dread lord. Per. If there be such a dart in prince's frowns, How durst thy tongue move anger to our face? Hel. How dare the plants look up to heaven, from whence They have their nourishment? I thank thee for it: and heaven forbid, That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid. Fit counsellor, and servant for a prince, Hel. To bear with patience Such griefs as you yourself do lay upon yourself. Per. Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus, That thou would'st tremble to receive thyself. Where, as thou know'st, against the face of death Seem'd not to strike, but smooth; but thou know'st this, Which fear so grew in me, I hither fled Who seem'd my good protector: and being here, Who now reprov'st me for it Hel. Alas, Sir! Per. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks, Musings into my mind, a thousand doubts How I might stop this tempest ere it came; Hel. 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, Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while, Or till the Destinies do cut his thread of life. 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? Hel. 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. [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 hanged at home: 't 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, desired 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 come the lords of Tyre. Hel. Enter HELICANUS, ESCANES, and other Lords. You shall not need, my fellow peers of Tyre, Hel. If farther yet you will be satisfied, [Aside.] What from Antioch? I shall not be hang'd now, although I would; Hel. [To them.] Peace to the lords of Tyre. Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome. Thal. From him I come, With message unto princely Pericles; But since my landing I have understood, Your lord hath betook himself to unknown travels, Hel. We have no reason to desire it, [Exeunt. |