Enter GOWER. Before the palace of Antioch. To sing a song that old was sung, To glad your ear, and please your eyes. On ember-eves and holy-ales; And lords and ladies in their lives Have read it for restoratives: The purchase is to make men glorious; Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius. If you, born in these latter times, When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes, - 10 I life would wish, and that I might I tell you what mine authors say: Bad child; worse father! to entice his own But custom what they did begin Was with long use account no sin. 20 80 40 [Exit. What now ensues, to the judgement of your eye SCENE I. Antioch. A room in the palace. Enter ANTIOCHUS, PRINCE PERICLES, and followers. Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large received The danger of the task you undertake. Per. I have, Antiochus, and, with a soul Embolden'd with the glory of her praise, Think death no hazard in this enterprise. Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride, For the embracements even of Jove himself; At whose conception, till Lucina reign'd, Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence, To knit in her their best perfections. Music. Enter the Daughter of Antiochus. 10 Of every virtue gives renown to men! You gods that made me man, and sway in love, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. Tell thee, with speechless tongues and semblance pale, Per. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught And by those fearful objects to prepare 20 309 40 For death remember'd should be like a mirror, Who tells us life's but breath, to trust it error. I'll make my will then, and, as sick men do Who know the world, see heaven, but, feeling woe, 50 So I bequeath a happy peace to you And all good men, as every prince should do; [To the daughter of Antiochu Thus ready for the way of life or death, I wait the sharpest blow, Antiochus. Ant. Scorning advice, read the conclusion, then: Daugh. Of all say'd yet, mayst thou prove prosperous! Of all say'd yet, I wish thee happiness! Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the lists, Nor ask advice of any other thought But faithfulness and courage. He reads the riddle. I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh which did me breed. I found that kindness in a father: 60 70 [Takes hold of the hand of the Princess. Would draw heaven down, and all the gods, to hearken; Good sooth, I care not for you. Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, For that's an article within our law, As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expired: Few love to hear the sins they love to act; 'Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell it. He's more secure to keep it shut than shown: To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts 80 90 99 And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth ill? What being more known grows worse, to smother it. Then give my tongue like leave to love my head. Ant. [Aside] Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found the meaning: But I will gloze with him.-Young prince of Tyre, We might proceed to cancel of your days; 110 120 [Exeunt all but Pericles. Per. How courtesy would seem to cover sin, When what is done is like an hypocrite, The which is good in nothing but in sight! If it be true that I interpret false, Then were it certain you were not so bad As with foul incest to abuse your soul; Where now you're both a father and a son, By your untimely claspings with your child, Which pleasure fits an husband, not a father; And she an eater of her mother's flesh, By the defiling of her parent's bed; And both like serpents are, who though they feed On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed. Will shun no course to keep them from the light. Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame: Then, lest my life be cropp'd to keep you clear, Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. 180 140 [Exit. Ant. He hath found the meaning, for which we mean To have his head. He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy, Nor tell the world Antiochus doth sin |