Let none disturb us.

Let none disturb us. Why should this change of thoughts,

1.3.2225The sad companion, dull-eyed melancholy,

1.3.3226Be my so used a guest, as not an hour

1.3.4227In the day's glorious walk or peaceful night,

1.3.5228The tomb where grief should sleep, can breed me quiet?

1.3.6229Here pleasures court mine eyes and mine eyes shun them,

1.3.7230And danger which I feared is at Antioch,

1.3.8231Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here.

1.3.9232Yet neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits

1.3.10233Nor yet the other's distance comfort me.

1.3.11234Then it is thus: the passions of the mind,

1.3.12235That have their first conception by misdread,

1.3.13236Have after-nourishment and life by care,

1.3.14237And what was first but fear what might be done

1.3.15238Grows elder now, and cares it be not done.

1.3.16239And so with me: the great Antiochus --

1.3.17240'Gainst whom I am too little to contend,

1.3.18241Since he's so great, can make his will his act --

1.3.19242Will think me speaking, though I swear to silence;

1.3.20243Nor boots it me to say I honor him

1.3.21244If he suspect I may dishonor him.

1.3.22245And what may make him blush in being known,

1.3.23246He'll stop the course by which it might be known.

1.3.24247With hostile forces he'll o'er-spread the land,

1.3.25248And with th'ostent of war will look so huge

1.3.26249Amazement shall drive courage from the state,

1.3.27250Our men be vanquished ere they do resist,

1.3.28251And subjects punished that ne'er thought offence;

1.3.29252Which care of them, not pity of myself --

1.3.30253Who am no more but as the tops of trees,

1.3.31254Which fence the roots they grow by and defend them --

1.3.32255Makes both my body pine and soul to languish,

1.3.33256And punish that before that he would punish.

Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast!

And keep your mind 260peaceful and comfortable.

Peace! Peace, and give experience tongue!

1.3.37262They do abuse the king that flatter him,

1.3.38263For flattery is the bellows blows up sin,

1.3.39264The thing the which is flattered but a spark

1.3.40265To which that breath gives heat and stronger glowing,

1.3.41266Whereas reproof, obedient and in order,

1.3.42267Fits kings as they are men, for they may err.

1.3.43268When Signor Soothe here does proclaim peace,

1.3.44269He flatters you, makes war upon your life.

1.3.45270Prince, pardon me, or strike me, if you please,

1.3.46271I cannot be much lower than my knees.

All leave us else; but let your cares o'er-look

1.3.48273What shipping and what lading's in our haven,

1.3.49274And then return to us.

And then return to us. Helicanus, thou

1.3.50275Hast movèd us. What see'st thou in our looks?

An angry brow, dread lord.

If there be such a dart in princes' frowns,

1.3.53278How durst thy tongue move anger to our face?

How dares the plants look up to heaven 280from whence

1.3.55They have their nourishment?

Thou know'st I have power to take thy life from thee.

I have ground the axe myself; 283do but you strike the blow.

Rise, prithee rise. [Helicanus rises.] Sit down. Thou art no flatterer;

1.3.59285I thank thee for't; and heaven forbid

1.3.60286That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid.

1.3.61287Fit counselor, and servant for a prince,

1.3.62288Who by thy wisdom makes a prince thy servant,

1.3.63289What wouldst thou have me do?

What wouldst thou have me do? To bear with patience

1.3.64Such griefs as you 291do lay upon yourself.

Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus,

1.3.66293That ministers a potion unto me

1.3.67294That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself.

1.3.68295Attend me then: I went to Antioch,

1.3.69296Where, as thou know'st, against the face of death

1.3.70297I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty,

1.3.71298From whence an issue I might propagate,

1.3.72299Are arms to princes and bring joys to subjects.

1.3.73300Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder,

1.3.74301The rest, hark in thine ear, as black as incest.

1.3.75302Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father

1.3.76303Seemed not to strike, but smooth. But thou know'st this:

1.3.77304'Tis time to fear when tyrants seems to kiss.

1.3.78305Which fear so grew in me I hither fled,

1.3.79306Under the covering of a careful night,

1.3.80307Who seemed my good protector, and, being here,

1.3.81308Bethought me what was past, what might succeed.

1.3.82309I knew him tyrannous, and tyrants' fears

1.3.83310Decrease not, but grow faster than the years.

1.3.84311And should he doubt, as doubt no doubt he doth,

1.3.85312That I should open to the listening air

1.3.86313How many worthy princes' bloods were shed

1.3.87314To keep his bed of blackness unlaid-ope,

1.3.88315To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms,

1.3.89316And make pretence of wrong that I have done him,

1.3.90317When all, for mine -- if I may call -- offence,

1.3.91318Must feel war's blow, who spares not innocence.

1.3.92319Which love to all, of which thyself art one

1.3.93320Who now reproved'st me for't --

Who now reproved'st me for't -- Alas, sir.

Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks,

1.3.95323Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts

1.3.96324How I might stop this tempest ere it came.

1.3.97325And finding little comfort to relieve them

1.3.98326I thought it princely charity to grieve for them.

Well, my lord, since you have given me leave to speak,

1.3.100328Freely will I speak. Antiochus you fear,

1.3.101329And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant,

1.3.102330Who either by public war, or private treason

1.3.103331Will take away your life.

1.3.104Therefore, my lord, go travel for 332a while,

1.3.105Till that his rage and anger be forgot,

1.3.106Or till the De333stinies do cut his thread of life./

1.3.107Your rule direct to any; 334if to me,

1.3.108Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be.

I do not doubt thy faith.

1.3.110336But should he wrong my liberties in my absence?

We'll mingle our bloods together in the earth,

1.3.112338From whence we had our being and our birth.

Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tharsus

1.3.114340Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee,

1.3.115341And by whose letters I'll dispose myself.

1.3.116342The care I had, and have, of subjects' good

1.3.117343On thee I lay, whose wisdom's strength can bear it.

1.3.118344I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath:

1.3.119345Who shuns not to break one, will crack them both.

1.3.120346But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe

1.3.121347That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince:

1.3.122348Thou showed'st a subject's shine, I a true prince'.