Pericles, Prince of Tyre.
To sing a song that old was sung
23From ashes ancient Gower is come,
34Assuming man's infirmities
45To glad your ear, and please your eyes.
56It hath been sung at festivals,
67On ember-eves and holidays,
78And lords and ladies in their lives
89Have read it for restoratives.
910The purchase is to make men glorious
1011et bonum quo antiquius eo melius. 1112If you, born in those latter times
1213When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes,
1314And that to hear an old man sing
1415May to your wishes pleasure bring,
1516I life would wish, and that I might
1617Waste it for you like taper light.
1718This Antioch, then. Antiochus the Great
1819Built up this city for his chiefest seat,
1920The fairest in all Syria.
2021I tell you what mine authors say.
2122This king unto him took a fere,
2223Who died and left a female heir
2324So buxom, blithe and full of face
2425As heaven had lent her all his grace,
2526With whom the father liking took,
2627And her to incest did provoke.
2728Bad child, worse father to entice his own
2829To evil should be done by none.
2930But custom what they did begin
3031Was with long use account' no sin.
3132The beauty of this sinful dame
3233Made many princes thither frame
3334To seek her as a bedfellow,
3435In marriage pleasures playfellow,
3536Which to prevent, he made a law
3637To keep her still and men in awe:
3738That whoso asked her for his wife,
3839His riddle told not, lost his life.
3940So for her many a wight did die
4041As yon grim looks do testify.
40.1[He indicates the heads of unsuccessful suitors visible to the audience.] 4142What now ensues, to th'judgment of your eye
4243I give, my cause who best can justify.