224Pe. Let none disturb vs, why shold this chãge of thoughts

225The sad companion dull eyde melancholie,

226By me so vsde a guest, as not an houre

227In the dayes glorious walke or peacefull night,

228The tombe where griefe stould sleepe can breed me quiet,

229Here pleasures court mine eies, and mine eies shun them,

230And daunger which I fearde is at Antioch,

231Whose arme seemes farre too short to hit me here,

232Yet neither pleasures Art can ioy my spirits,

233Nor yet the others distance comfort me,

234Then it is thus, the passions of the mind,

235That haue their first conception by misdread,

236Haue after nourishment and life, by care

237And what was first but feare, what might be done,

238Growes elder now, and cares it be not done.

239And so with me the great Antiochus,

240Gainst whom I am too little to contend,

241Since hee's so great, can make his will his act,

242Will thinke me speaking, though I sweare to silence,

243Nor bootes it me to say, I honour,

244If he suspect I may dishonour him.

245And what may make him blush in being knowne,

246Heele stop the course by which it might be knowne,

247With hostile forces heele ore-spread the land,

248And with the stint of warre will looke so huge,

249Amazement shall driue courage from the state,

250Our men be vanquisht ere they doe resist,

251And subiects punisht that nere thought offence,

252Which care of them, not pittie of my selfe,

253Who once no more but as the tops of trees,

254Which fence the rootes they grow by and defend them,

255Makes both my bodie pine, and soule to languish,

256And punish that before that he would punish.

2581.Lord. Ioy and all comfort in your sacred brest.

2592.Lord. And keepe your mind till you returne to vs

260peacefull and comfortable.

261Hel. Peace, peace, and giue experience tongue,

262They doe abuse the King that flatter him,

263For flatterie is the bellowes blowes vp sinne,

264The thing the which is flattered, but a sparke,

265To which that sparke giues heate, and stronger

266Glowing, whereas reproofe obedient and in order,

267Fits kings as they are men, for they may erre,

268When signior sooth here does proclaime peace,

269He flatters you, makes warre vpon your life.

270Prince paadon me, or strike me if you please,

271I cannot be much lower then my knees.

272Per. All leaue vs else: but let your cares ore-looke,

273What shipping, and what ladings in our hauen,

274And then returne to vs, Hellicans thou hast

275Mooude vs, what seest thou in our lookes?

276Hel. An angrie brow, dread Lord.

277Per. If there be such a dart in Princes frownes,

278How durst thy tongue moue anger to our face?

279Hel. How dares the plants looke vp to heauen,

280From whence they haue their nourishment?

281Per. Thou knowest I haue power to take thy life from(thee.

282Hel. I haue ground the Axe my selfe,

283Doe but you strike the blowe.

284Per. Rise, prethee rise, sit downe, thou art no flatterer,

285I thanke thee fort, and heaue forbid

286That kings should let their eares heare their faults hid.

287Fit Counsellor, and seruant for a Prince,

288Who by thy wisdome makes a Prince thy seruant,

289What wouldst thou haue me doe?

290Hel. To beare with patience such griefes as you your

291selfe doe lay vpon your selfe.

292Per. Thou speakst like a Physition Hellicanus,

293That ministers a potion vnto me:

294That thou wouldst tremble to receiue thy selfe,

295Attend me then, I went to Antioch,

296Where as thou knowst against the face of death,

297I sought the purchase of a glorious beautie,

298From whence an issue I might propogate,

299Are armes to Princes, and bring ioies to subiects,

300Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder,

301The rest harke in thine eare, as blacke as incest,

302Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father

303Seemde not to strike, but smooth, but thou knowst this,

304Tis time to feare when tyrants seemes to kisse.

305Which feare so grew in me I hither fled,

306Vnder the couering of a carefull night,

307Who seemd my good protector, and being here,

308Bethought what was past, what might succeed,

309I knew him tyrannous, and tyrants feare

310Decrease not, but grow faster then the yeares,

311And should he doo't, as no doubt he doth,

312That I should open to the listning ayre ,

313How many worthie Princes blouds were shed,

314To keepe his bed of blacknesse vnlayde ope,

315To lop that doubt, hee'le fill this land with armes,

316And make pretence of wrong that I haue done him,

317When all for mine, if I may call offence,

318Must feel wars blow, who spares not innocence,

319Which loue to all of which thy selfe art one,

320Who now reprou'dst me fort.

321Hell. Alas sir.

322Per. Drew sleep out of mine eies, blood frõmy cheekes,

323Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts

324How I might stop this tempest ere it came,

325And finding little comfort to relieue them,

326I thought it princely charity to griue for them.

327Hell. Well my Lord, since you haue giuen mee leaue to(speake,

328Freely will I speake, Antiochus you feare,

329And iustly too, I thinke you feare the tyrant,

330Who either by publike warre, or priuat treason,

331Will take away your life: therfore my Lord, go trauell for

332a while, till that his rage and anger be forgot, or till the De-

333stinies doe cut his threed of life: your rule direct to anie,

334if to me, day serues not light more faithfull then Ile be.

335Per. I doe not doubt thy faith.

336But should he wrong my liberties in my absence?

337Hel. Weele mingle our bloods togither in the earth,

338From whence we had our being, and our birth.

339Per. Tyre I now looke from thee then, and to Tharsus

340Intend my trauaile, where Ile heare from thee,

341And by whose Letters Ile dispose my selfe.

342The care I had and haue of subiects good,

343On thee I lay, whose wisdomes strength can beare it,

344Ile take thy word, for faith not aske thine oath,

345Who shuns not to breake one, will cracke both.

346But in our orbs will liue so round, and safe,

347That time of both this truth shall nere conuince,

348Thou shewdst a subiects shine, I a true Prince. Exit.