So puts himself unto the shipman's toil, I shall not be hang'd now although I would; I'll present myself.-Peace to the lords of Tyre! With message unto princely Pericles; But since my landing I have understood Your lord has betook himself to unknown travels, [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-THARSUS. A Room in the Governor's House. Enter CLEON, DIONYZA, and Attendants. Cle. My Dionyza, shall we rest us here, And by relating tales of others' griefs See if 'twill teach us to forget our own? Dio. That were to blow at fire in hope to quench it; Throws down one mountain to cast up a higher. Here they're but felt, and seen with mischief's eyes, Who wanteth food, and will not say he wants it, Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep Our woes into the air; our eyes do weep, Till tongues fetch breath that may proclaim them louder; That, if heaven slumber while their creatures want, They may awake their helps to comfort them. I'll then discourse our woes, felt several years, And, wanting breath to speak, help me with tears. Dio. I'll do my best, sir. Cle. This Tharsus, o'er which I have the government, A city on whom plenty held full hand, For riches strew'd herself even in the streets; Whose towers bore heads so high they kiss'd the clouds, And strangers ne'er beheld but wonder'd at; Dio. O 'tis too true. Cle. But see what heaven can do! By this our change, Although they gave their creatures in abundance, Dio. Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. With their superfluous riots, hear these tears! The misery of Tharsus may be theirs. Enter a Lord. Lord. Where's the lord governor? Cle. Here. Speak out thy sorrows which thou bring'st in haste, For comfort is too far for us to expect. Lord. We have descried, upon our neighbouring shore, A portly sail of ships make hitherward. Cle. I thought as much. One sorrow never comes but brings an heir That may succeed as his inheritor; And so in ours: some neighbouring nation, Taking advantage of our misery, Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power, And make a conquest of unhappy we, Lord. That's the least fear; for by the semblance Cle. Thou speak'st like him's untutor'd to repeat: The ground's the lowest, and we are half way there. To know for what he comes, and whence he comes, Lord. I go, my lord. Cle. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist; If wars, we are unable to resist. Enter PERICLES, with Attendants. Per. Lord governor, for so we hear you are, And we'll pray for you. Per. Rise, I pray you, rise: Or The curse of heaven and men succeed their evils! [Exit. Per. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here a while, Until our stars that frown lend us a smile. [Exeunt. ACT II. Enter GOWER. Gow. Here have you seen a mighty king A better prince, and benign lord, That will prove awful both in deed and word. I'll show you those in troubles reign, Is still at Tharsus, where each man But tidings to the contrary Are brought your eyes: what need speak I? Dumb show. Enter, at one side, PERICLES, talking with CLEON; their Trains with them. Enter, at the other, a Gentleman with a letter to PERICLES, who shows it to CLEON, then gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. Exeunt PERICLES and CLEON with their Trains, severally. Good Helicane hath stay'd at home, From others' labours; for though he strive To killen bad, keep good alive; And, to fulfil his prince' desire, Sends word of all that haps in Tyre: How Thaliard came full bent with sin And hid intent to murder him; And that in Tharsus was not best Longer for him to make his rest. Where when men been, there's seldom ease; All perishen of man, of pelf, Ne aught escapen but himself; SCENE I-PENTAPOLIS. [Exit. An open Place by the Sea-side. Enter PERICLES, wet. Per. Yet cease your ire, you angry stars of heaven! Enter three Fishermen. 1 Fish. What, ho, Pilch! 2 Fish. Ho, come and bring away the nets! 1 Fish. What, Patchbreech, I say! 3 Fish. What say you, master? 1 Fish. Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wanion. 3 Fish. Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us even now. 1 Fish. Alas, poor souls, it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves. 3 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much when I saw the porpus how he bounced and tumbled? they say they're half fish half flesh: a plague on them, they ne'er come but I look to be washed. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. 1 Fish. Why, as men do a-land,—the great ones eat up the little ones: I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful: such whales have I heard on the land, who never leave H |