Enter three Lords.

1 Lord. See, not a man in private conference, Or council, has respect with him but he.

2 Lord. It shall no longer grieve, without reproof. 3 Lord. And curs'd be he that will not fecond it. 1 Lord. Follow me then: Lord Helicane, a word. Hel. With me? and welcome: Happy day, my lords. Lord. Know, that our griefs are risen to the top, And now at length they overflow their banks.

Hel. Your griefs, for what? wrong not the prince you love.

1 Lord. Wrong not yourself then, noble Helicane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him,

Or know what ground's made happy by his breath.
If in the world he live, we'll feek him out;

If in his grave he reft, we'll find him there;
And be refolv'd, he lives to govern us,

Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral,
And leaves us to our free election.

2 Lord. Whofe death's, indeed, the ftrongeft in our cenfure:

And knowing this kingdom, if without a head, (Like goodly buildings left without a roof,)

Will foon to ruin fall, your noble self,

That best know'ft how to rule, and how to reign,
We thus fubmit unto,-our fovereign.

All. Live, noble Helicane!

Hel. Try honour's caufe; forbear your fuffrages:
If that you love prince Pericles, forbear.

Take I your wish, I leap into the feas,
Where's hourly trouble, for a minute's ease.
A twelvemonth longer, let me then entreat you

To

To forbear choice i'the absence of your king;
If in which time expir'd, he not return,

I fhall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,

Go fearch like noblemen, like noble fubjects,

And in your search, spend your adventurous worth;
Whom if you find, and win unto return,

You fhall like diamonds fit about his crown.

1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; And, fince lord Helicane enjoineth us,

We with our travels will endeavour it.

Hel. 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; the Knights meet him.

1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides. Sim. 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 from herself by no means can I get.

2 Knight: May we not get access to her, my lord? Sim. 'Faith, by no means; the hath so strictly tied her To her chamber, that it is impoffible.

One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery;
This by the eye of Cynthia hath fhe vow'd,

And on her virgin honour will not break it.

3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our

leaves.

D

[Exeunt.

Sim,

Sim. So

They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter:
She tells me here, fhe'll wed the stranger knight,

Or never more to view nor day nor light.
Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well :-nay, how abfolute she's in't,
Not minding whether I diflike or no !
Well, I commend her choice;

And will no longer have it be delay'd.
Soft, here he comes :-I must diffemble it.

Enter PERICLES.

Per. All fortune to the good Simonides!
Sim. To you as much, fir! I am beholden to you,
For your fweet mufick this last night: my ears,
I do proteft, were never better fed

With fuch delightful pleafing harmony.

Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend; Not my defert.

Sim.

Sir, you are mufick's mafter.

Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.

Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, fir, of My daughter?

Per.

As of a moft virtuous princess.
Sim. And fhe is fair too, is the not?

Per. As a fair day in fummer; wond'rous fair.
Sim. My daughter, fir, thinks very well of you;
Ay, fo well, fir, that you must be her master,
And fhe'll your fcholar be; therefore look to it.
Per. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster.

Sim. She thinks not fo; peruse this writing else.

Per. What's here!

A letter, that fhe loves the knight of Tyre?

Porter del

JJ. Van den Berghs feulp. 80.

Pericles Prince of Tyre

Act 2 Scene Last

Pub.Apr. 20.1802 by Vernor&Hood Poultry