SIM.

O, attend, my daughter; Princes, in this, should live like gods above, Who freely give to every one that comes To honour them: and princes, not doing so, Are like to gnats, which make a sound, but kill'd Are wonder'd at.'

Therefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say,1 We drink this standing-bowl of wine to him." THAI. Alas, my father, it befits not me

and princes, not doing so,

Are like to gnats, which make a sound, but kill'd

Are wonder'd at.] i. e. when they are found to be such small insignificant animals, after making so great a noise.

PERCY.

The sense appears to be this.-When kings, like insects, lie dead before us, our admiration is excited by contemplating how in both instances the powers of creating bustle were superior to those which either object should seem to have promised. The worthless monarch, and the idle gnat, have only lived to make an empty bluster; and when both alike are dead, we wonder how it happened that they made so much, or that we permitted them to make it :-a natural reflection on the death of an unserviceable prince, who having dispensed no blessings, can hope for no better character.

I cannot, however, help thinking that this passage is both corrupted and disarranged, having been originally designed for one of those rhyming couplets with which the play abounds:

1

"And princes, not doing so, are like the gnat,

"Which makes a sound, but kill'd is wonder'd at.”

STEEVENS.

Therefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say,] Old.

сору

Therefore to make his entrance more sweet,

Here say, &c. STEEVENS.

Entrance was sometimes used by our old poets as a word of three syllables. MALONE.

By his entrance, I believe, is meant his present trance, the reverie in which he is supposed to be sitting. STEEvens.

3

2- this standing-bowl of wine to him.] A standing-bowl was a bowl resting on a foot. STEEVENS.

Unto a stranger knight to be so bold;
He may my proffer take for an offence,
Since men take women's gifts for impudence.
SIM. HOW!

Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.

THAI. Now, by the gods, he could not please me

better.3

[Aside. SIM. And further tell him, we desire to know, Of whence he is, his name and parentage.*

THAI. The king my father, sir, has drunk to you. PER. I thank him.

THAI. Wishing it. so much blood unto your life. PER. I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.

THAI. And further he desires to know of you, Of whence you are, your name and parentage. PER. A gentleman of Tyre-(my name, Pericles; My education being in arts and arms ;)— Who looking for adventures in the world,

3 Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.] Thus, in Twine's translation: "Then Lucina having already in her heart professed to do him good, and now perceiving very luckily her father's mind to be inclined to the desired purpose," &c.

Of whence he is, his name and parentage.] So, in the Confessio Amantis:

"His doughter

"He bad to go on his message,

"And fond for to make him glade,
"And she did as her fader bade;
"And goth to him the softe paas,

"And asketh whens and what he was,

"And praithe he shulde his thought leve." MALONE.

being in arts and arms;] The old copies have been. I am responsible for the correction; and for the introduction of the words has been in the following speech. MALONE.

.

Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And, after shipwreck, driven upon this shore. H
THAI. He thanks your grace; names himself
Pericles,

A gentleman of Tyre, who only by
Misfortune of the seas has been bereft
Of ships and men, and cast upon this shore.
SIM. Now by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
And will awake him from his melancholy.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other revels.
Even in your armours, as you are address'd,
Will very well become a soldier's dance."
I will not have excuse, with saying, this
Loud musick is too harsh' for ladies' heads
Since they love men in arms, as well as beds.
[The Knights dance.

• Even in your armours, as you are address'd, Will very well become a soldier's dance.] As you are accoutered, prepared for combat. So, in King Henry V:

"To-morrow for the march are we address'd."

The word very, in the next line, was inserted by the editor of the folio. MALONE.

So, in Twine's translation :-" I may not discourse at large of the liberall challenges made and proclaimed at the tilt &c.-running afoote, and dauncing in armour" &c. STEEVENS.

7 I will not have excuse, with saying, this

Loud musick is too harsh-] i. e. the loud noise made by the clashing of their armour.

The dance here introduced is thus described in an ancient Dialogue against the Abuse of Dancing, bl. 1. no date:

"There is a dance called Choria,

"Which joy doth testify;

"Another called Pyrricke
"Which warlike feats doth try;

"For men in armour gestures made,

"And leapt, that so they might,

"When need requires, be more prompt

"In publique weale to fight." MALONE.

So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd.s Come, sir;

Here is a lady that wants breathing too:

And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip;

And that their measures are as excellent.

PER. In those that practise them, they are, my lord.

SIM. O, that's as much, as you would be denied [The Knights and Ladies dance. Of your fair courtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp; Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well, But you the best. [TO PERICLES.] Pages and lights, conduct1

These knights unto their several lodgings: Yours,

sir,

We have given order to be next our own.3
PER. I am at your grace's pleasure.

SIM. Princes, it is too late to talk of love,
For that's the mark I know you level at:
Therefore each one betake him to his rest;
To-morrow, all for speeding do their best.

8 So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd.] i. e. the excellence of this exhibition has justified the solicitation by which it was obtained. STEEVENS.

And I have often heard,] I have inserted the word often, which was probably omitted by the carelessness of the compositor.

1

2

conduct-] Old copy-to conduct.

to be next our own.] So, Gower:

"The kynge his chamberleyne let calle,
"And bad that he by all weye

"A chamber for this man purvei

STEEVENS.

"Which nigh his own chambre bee." MALONE.

SCENE IV.

Tyre. A Room in the Governor's House.

Enter HELICANUS and Escanes.

HEL. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me,3Antiochus from incest liv'd not free;

For which, the most high gods not minding longer To withhold the vengeance that they had in store, Due to this heinous capital offence;

Even in the height and pride of all his glory,
When he was seated, and his daughter with him,
In a chariot of inestimable value,

A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up
Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes ador'd them, ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.5

3 No, no, my Escanes ; &c.] The old copy:

No, Escanes, know this of me,

But this line being imperfect, I suppose it should be read as I have printed it. STEEVENS.

No, Escanes;] I suspect the author wrote-Know, Escanes; &c. MALONE.

4

A fire from heaven came, and shrivell❜d up

Their bodies,] This circumstance is mentioned by Gower:

66

they hym tolde,

"That for vengeance as God it wolde,

"Antiochus, as men maie witte,

"With thonder and lightnyng is forsmitte.
"His doughter hath the same chance,
"So ben thei both in o balance."

MALONE.

That all those eyes ador'd them, ere their fall,

Scorn now &c.] The expression is elliptical:

That all those eyes which ador'd them &c. MALOne.