Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)
Not Peer Reviewed
885.1
[2.4]
¶
Enter Helicanus and Escanes.
¶Helicanus No, Escanes, know this of me:
¶Antiochus from incest lived not free.
To withhold the vengeance that
¶they had in store,
¶they had in store,
Due to this heinous
¶capital offence,
¶capital offence,
Even in the height and pride
¶of all his glory,
¶of all his glory,
When he was seated in
¶a chariot
¶a chariot
Of an inestimable value, and his daughter
895with him,
895with him,
A fire from heaven came and shrivelled
¶up
¶up
Their bodies even to loathing, for they so stunk
¶That all those eyes adored them ere their fall
¶Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
| ¶Escanes | |
| 'Twas very strange. | |
| 900Helicanus | |
| And yet but justice; for though | |
This king were great,
¶his greatness was no guard
¶his greatness was no guard
To bar heaven's shaft,
¶but sin had his reward.
¶but sin had his reward.
¶Escanes 'Tis very true.
¶
[Enter three Lords.]
¶Or council, has respect with him but he!
¶2 Lord It shall no longer grieve without reproof.
¶3 Lord And cursed be he that will not second it.
910Helicanus 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.
9151 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
920And be resolved he lives to govern us,
¶Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral
¶And leaves us to our free election.
¶2 Lord Whose death indeed's the strongest in our censure;
¶And knowing this kingdom is without a head --
925Like goodly buildings left without a roof
¶Soon fall to ruin -- your noble self,
¶That best know how to rule and how to reign,
¶We thus submit unto, our sovereign.
930Helicanus Try honor'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 twelve-month longer, let me entreat you
935So to forbear the absence of your king,
¶If in which time expired he not return,
¶I shall with agèd patience bear your yoke.
¶But if I cannot win you to this love,
¶Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,
940And in your search, spend your adventurous worth,
¶Whom if you find and win unto return,
¶You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.
¶1 Lord To wisdom, he's a fool that will not yield.
¶And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,
945We with our travels will endeavor it.
¶Helicanus Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands:
[They take one another's hands.]
¶When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.
[Exeunt.]