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made happy by his breath.

       If in the world he live, we’ll seek him there;

       And be resolved he lives to govern us,

       Or dead, give’s cause to mourn his funeral,

       And leave us to our free election.

       SECOND LORD.

       Whose death indeed ‘s the strongest in our censure:

       And knowing this kingdom is without a head, —

       Like goodly buildings left without a roof

       Soon fall to ruin, — your noble self,

       That best know how to rulle and how to reign,

       We thus submit unto, — our sovereign.

       ALL.

       Live, noble Helicane!

       HELICANUS.

       For honour’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 to

       Forbear the absence of your king;

       If in which time expired, he not return,

       I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.

       But if I cannot win you to this love,

       Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,

       And in your search spend your adventurous worth;

       Whom if you find, and win unto return,

       You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.

       FIRST LORD.

       To wisdom he’s a fool that will not yield;

       And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,

       We with our travels will endeavour us.

       HELICANUS.

       Then you love us, we you, and we’ll clasp hands:

       When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.

       [Exeunt.]

       SCENE V. Pentapolis. A room in the palace.

       Enter Simonides, reading a letter at one door: the Knights meet him.]

       FIRST KNIGHT.]

       Good morrow to the good Simonides.

       SIMONIDES.

       Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,

       That for this twelvemonth she’ll not undertake

       A married life.

       Her reason to herself is only known,

       Which yet from her by no means can I get.

       SECOND KNIGHT.

       May we not get access to her, my lord?

       SIMONIDES.

       ‘Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied

       Her to her chamber, that ‘tis impossible.

       One twelve moons more she’ll wear Diana’s livery;

       This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow’d,

       And on her virgin honour will not break it.

       THIRD KNIGHT.

       Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

       [Exeunt Knights.]

       SIMONIDES.

       So,

       They are well dispatch’d; now to my daughter’s letter:

       She tells me here, she’ll wed the stranger knight.

       Or never more to view nor day nor light.

       ‘Tis well, mistress; your choice agrees with mine;

       I like that well: nay, how absolute she’s in it,

       Not minding whether I dislike or no!

       Well, I do commend her choice;

       And will no longer have it delay’d.

       Soft! here he comes: I must dissemble it.

       [Enter Pericles.]

       PERICLES.

       All fortune to the good Simonides!

       SIMONIDES.

       To you as much, sir! I am beholding to you

       For your sweet music this last night: I do

       Protest my ears were never better fed

       With such delightful pleasing harmony.

       PERICLES.

       It is your grace’s pleasure to commend;

       Not my desert.

       SIMONIDES.

       Sir, you are music’s master.

       PERICLES.

       The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.

       SIMONIDES.

       Let me ask you one thing:

       What do you think of my daughter, sir?

       PERICLES.

       A most virtuous princess.

       SIMONIDES.

       And she is fair too, is she not?

       PERICLES.

       As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.

       SIMONIDES.

       Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you;

       Ay, so well, that you must be her master,

       And she will be your scholar: therefore look to it.

       PERICLES.

       I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.

       SIMONIDES.

       She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.

       PERICLES. [Aside.]

       A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre!

       ‘Tis the king’s subtilty to have my life.

       O, seek not to entrap me, gracious lord,

       A stranger and distressed gentleman,

       That never aim’d so high to love your daughter,

       But bent all offices to honour her.

       SIMONIDES.

       Thou hast bewitch’d my daughter, and thou art

       A villain.

       PERICLES.

       By the gods, I have not:

       Never did thought of mine levy offence;

       Nor never did my actions yet commence

       A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.

       SIMONIDES.

       Traitor, thou liest.

       PERICLES.

       Traitor!

       SIMONIDES.

       Ay, traitor;

       PERICLES.

       Even in his throat — unless it be the king —

       That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

       SIMONIDES. [Aside.]

       Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.

       PERICLES.

       My actions are as noble as my thoughts,

       That never relish’d of a base descent.

       I came unto your court for honour’s cause,

       And not to be a rebel to her state;

       And he that otherwise

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