The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Pericles Prince of Tyre: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Antioch. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene II.—: Tyre. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene III.—: The Same. an Antechamber In the Palace.
• Scene IV.—: Tarsus. a Room In the Governor’s House.
• Act II.
• Dumb Show.
• Scene I.—: Pentapolis. an Open Place By the Sea-side.
• Scene II.—: The Same. a Public Way. Platform Leading to the Lists. a Pavilion Near It, For the Reception of Theking, Princess, Ladies, Lords, &c.
• Scene III.—: The Same. a Hall of State. a Banquet Prepared.
• Scene IV.—: Tyre. a Room In the Governor’s House.
• Scene V.—: Pentapolis. a Room In the Palace.
• Act III.
• Dumb Show.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.—: Ephesus. a Room Incerimon’shouse.
• Scene III.—: Tarsus. a Room Incleon’shouse.
• Scene IV.—: Ephesus. a Room Incerimon’shouse.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Tarsus. an Open Place Near the Sea-shore.
• Scene II.—: Mitylene. a Room In a Brothel.
• Scene III.—: Tarsus. a Room Incleon’shouse.
• Scene IV.—: Before the Monument Ofmarinaat Tarsus.
• Dumb Show.
• Scene V.—: Mitylene. a Street Before the Brothel.
• Scene VI.—: The Same. a Room In the Brothel.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: On Boardpericles’ Ship, Off Mitylene. a Pavilion On Deck, With a Curtain Before It;pericleswithin It, Reclined On a Couch. a Barge Lying Beside the Tyrian Vessel.
• Scene II.—: Before the Temple Ofdianaat Ephesus.
• Scene III.—: The Temple Ofdianaat Ephesus;thaisastanding Near the Altar, As High Priestess; a Number of Virgins On Each Side;cerimonand Other Inhabitants of Ephesus Attending.

ACT II.

EnterGower.

• Here have you seen a mighty king
• His child, I wis, to incest bring;
• A better prince and benign lord,
• That will prove awful both in deed and word.
• Be quiet, then, as men should be,
• Till he hath pass’d necessity.
• I’ll show you those in troubles reign,
• Losing a mite, a mountain gain.
• The good in conversation,
• To whom I give my benison,
• Is still at Tarsus, where each man
• Thinks all is writ he speken can;
• And, to remember what he does,
• Build his statue to make him glorious:
• But tidings to the contrary
• Are brought your eyes; what need speak I?

Dumb Show.

Enter, from one side,Pericles,talking withCleon;all their Train with them. Enter, at another door, a Gentleman, with a letter toPericles;who shows the letter toCleon;then gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. ExeuntPericles, Cleon,&c., severally.

• Good Helicane hath stay’d at home,
• Not to eat honey like a drone
• 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 had intent to murder him;
• And that in Tarsus was not best
• Longer for him to make his rest.
• He, doing so, put forth to seas,
• Where when men been, there’s seldom ease;
• For now the wind begins to blow;
• Thunder above and deeps below
• Make such unquiet, that the ship
• Should house him safe is wrack’d and split;
• And he, good prince, having all lost,
• By waves from coast to coast is tost.
• All perishen of man, of pelf,
• Ne aught escapen but himself;
• Till Fortune, tir’d with doing bad,
• Threw him ashore, to give him glad;
• And here he comes. What shall be next,
• Pardon old Gower, this longs the text.

[Exit.

Scene I.—

Pentapolis. An open Place by the Sea-side.

EnterPericles,wet.

Per.

Yet cease your ire, you angry stars of heaven!

Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man

Is but a substance that must yield to you;

And I, as fits my nature, do obey you.

Alas! the sea hath cast me on the rocks,

Wash’d me from shore to shore, and left me breath

Nothing to think on but ensuing death:

Let it suffice the greatness of your powers

To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes;

And having thrown him from your watery grave,

Here to have death in peace is all he’ll crave.

Enter three Fishermen.

First Fish.

What, ho, Pilch!

Sec. Fish.

Ha! come and bring away the nets.

First Fish.

What, Patch-breech, I say!

Third Fish.

What say you, master?

First Fish.

Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I’ll fetch thee with a wannion.

Third Fish.

Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us even now.

First 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.

Third 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.

First 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 o’ the land, who never leave gaping till they’ve swallowed the whole parish, church, steeple, bells, and all.

Per.

[Aside.] A pretty moral.

Third Fish.

But master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry.

Sec. Fish

Why, man?

Third Fish.

Because he should have swallowed me too; and when I had been in his belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should never have left till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish, up again. But if the good King Simonides were of my mind,—

Per.

[Aside.] Simonides!

Third Fish.

We would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey.

Per.

[Aside.] How from the finny subject of the sea

These fishers tell the infirmities of men;

And from their watery empire recollect

All that may men approve or men detect!

[Aloud.] Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.

Sec. Fish.

Honest! good fellow, what’s that? if it be a day fits you, search out of the calendar, and nobody look after it.

Per.

Y’ may see the sea hath cast me on your coast.

Sec. Fish.

What a drunken knave was the sea, to cast thee in our way!

Per.

A man whom both the waters and the wind,

In that vast tennis-court, have made the ball

For them to play upon, entreats you pity him;

He asks of you, that never us’d to beg.

First Fish.

No, friend, cannot you beg? here’s them in our country of Greece gets more with begging than we can do with working.

Sec. Fish.

Canst thou catch any fishes then?

Per.

I never practised it.

Sec. Fish.

Nay then thou wilt starve, sure; for here’s nothing to be got now-a-days unless thou canst fish for ’t.

Per.

What I have been I have forgot to know,

But what I am want teaches me to think on;

A man throng’d up with cold; my veins are chill,

And have no more of life than may suffice

To give my tongue that heat to ask your help;

Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,

For that I am a man, pray see me buried.

First Fish.

Die, quoth-a? Now, gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we’ll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo’er puddings and flap-jacks; and thou shalt be welcome.

Per.

I thank you, sir.

First Fish.

Hark you, my friend; you said you could not beg.

Per.

I did but crave.

Sec. Fish.

But crave! Then I’ll turn craver too, and so I shall ’scape whipping.

Per.

Why, are all your beggars whipped, then?

Sec. Fish.

O! not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipped, I would wish no better office than to be beadle. But, master, I’ll go draw up the net.

[Exit with Third Fisherman.

Per.

How well this honest mirth becomes their labour!

First Fish.

Hark you, sir; do you know where ye are?

Per.

Not well.

First Fish.

Why, I’ll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king the good Simonides.

Per.

The good King Simonides do you call him?

First Fish.

Ay, sir; and he deserves to be so called for his peaceable reign and good government.

Per.

He is a happy king, since he gains from his subjects the name of good by his government. How far is his court distant from this shore?

First Fish.

Marry, sir, half a day’s journey; and I’ll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birthday; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world to just and tourney for her love.

Per.

Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there.

First Fish.

O! sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully deal for his wife’s soul,—

Re-enter Second and Third Fishermen, drawing up a net.

Sec. Fish.

Help, master, help! here’s a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man’s right in the law; ’twill hardly come out. Ha! bots on ’t, ’tis come at last, and ’tis turned to a rusty armour.

Per.

An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it.

Thanks, Fortune, yet, that after all my crosses

Thou giv’st me somewhat to repair myself;

And though it was mine own, part of mine heritage,

Which my dead father did bequeath to me,

With this strict charge, even as he left his life,

‘Keep it, my Pericles, it hath been a shield

’Twixt me and death;’—and pointed to this brace;

‘For that it sav’d me, keep it; in like necessity—

The which the gods protect thee from!—’t may defend thee.’

It kept where I kept, I so dearly lov’d it;

Till the rough seas, that spare not any man,

Took it in rage, though calm’d they have given ’t again.

I thank thee for ’t; my shipwrack now ’s no ill,

Since I have here my father’s gift in ’s will.

First Fish.

What mean you, sir?

Per.

To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth,

For it was sometime target to a king;

I know it by this mark. He lov’d me dearly,

And for his sake I wish the having of it;

And that you’d guide me to your sovereign’s court,

Where with it I may appear a gentleman;

And if that ever my low fortunes better,

I’ll pay your bounties; till then rest your debtor.

First Fish.

Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady?

Per.

I’ll show the virtue I have borne in arms.

First Fish.

Why, do’e take it; and the gods give thee good on ’t!

Sec. Fish.

Ay, but hark you, my friend; ’twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the water; there are certain condolements, certain vails. I hope, sir, if you thrive, you’ll remember from whence you had it.

Per.

Believe it, I will.

By your furtherance I am cloth’d in steel;

And spite of all the rapture of the sea,

This jewel holds his biding on my arm:

Unto thy value will I mount myself

Upon a courser, whose delightful steps

Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.

Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided

Of a pair of bases.

Sec. Fish.

We’ll sure provide; thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair, and I’ll bring thee to the court myself.

Per.

Then honour be but a goal to my will! This day I’ll rise, or else add ill to ill.

[Exeunt.

Scene II.—

The Same. A public Way. Platform leading to the Lists. A Pavilion near it, for the reception of theKing, Princess, Ladies, Lords, &c.

EnterSimonides, Thaisa, Lords, and Attendants.

Sim.

Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

First Lord.

They are, my liege;

And stay your coming to present themselves.

Sim.

Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,

In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,

Sits here, like beauty’s child, whom nature gat

For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

[Exit a Lord.

Thai.

It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express

My commendations great, whose merit’s less.

Sim.

’Tis fit it should be so; for princes are

A model, which heaven makes like to itself:

As jewels lose their glory if neglected,

So princes their renowns if not respected.

’Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain

The labour of each knight in his device.

Thai.

Which, to preserve mine honour, I’ll perform.

Enter a Knight; he passes over the stage, and his Squire presents his shield to the Princess.

Sim.

Who is the first that doth prefer himself?

Thai.

A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;

And the device he bears upon his shield

Is a black Ethiop reaching at the sun;

The word, Lux tua vita mihi.

Sim.

He loves you well that holds his life of you.

[The Second Knight passes over.

Who is the second that presents himself?

Thai.

A prince of Macedon, my royal father;

And the device he bears upon his shield

Is an arm’d knight that’s conquer’d by a lady;

The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu por dulzura que por fuerza.

[The Third Knight passes over.

Sim.

And what’s the third?

Thai.

The third of Antioch;

And his device, a wreath of chivalry;

The word, Me pompæ provexit apex.

[The Fourth Knight passes over.

Sim

What is the fourth?

Thai

A burning torch that’s turned upside down;

The word, Quod me alit me extinguit.

Sim.

Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,

Which can as well inflame as it can kill.

[The Fifth Knight passes over.

Thai.

The fifth, a hand environed with clouds,

Holding out gold that’s by the touchstone tried;

The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides.

[The Sixth Knight, Pericles,passes over.

Sim.

And what ’s

The sixth and last, the which the knight himself

With such a graceful courtesy deliver’d?

Thai.

He seems to be a stranger; but his present is

A wither’d branch, that’s only green at top;

The motto, In hac spe vivo.

Sim.

A pretty moral;

From the dejected state wherein he is,

He hopes by you his fortune yet may flourish.

First Lord.

He had need mean better than his outward show

Can any way speak in his just commend;

For, by his rusty outside he appears

To have practis’d more the whipstock than the lance.

Sec. Lord.

He well may be a stranger, for he comes

To an honour’d triumph strangely furnished.

Third Lord.

And on set purpose let his armour rust

Until this day, to scour it in the dust.

Sim.

Opinion’s but a fool, that makes us scan

The outward habit by the inward man.

But stay, the knights are coming; we’ll withdraw

Into the gallery.

[Exeunt. Great shouts, and all cry, ‘The mean knight!’

Scene III.—

The Same. A Hall of State. A Banquet prepared.

EnterSimonides, Thaisa, Marshal, Ladies, Lords, Knights from tilting, and Attendants.

Sim.

Knights,

To say you’re welcome were superfluous.

To place upon the volume of your deeds,

As in a title-page, your worth in arms,

Were more than you expect, or more than’s fit,

Since every worth in show commends itself.

Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast:

You are princes and my guests.

Thai.

But you, my knight and guest;

To whom this wreath of victory I give,

And crown you king of this day’s happiness.

Per.

’Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit.

Sim.

Call it by what you will, the day is yours;

And here, I hope, is none that envies it.

In framing an artist art hath thus decreed,

To make some good, but others to exceed;

And you’re her labour’d scholar. Come, queen o’ the feast,—

For, daughter, so you are,—here take your place;

Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace.

Knights.

We are honour’d much by good Simonides.

Sim.

Your presence glads our days; honour we love,

For who hates honour, hates the gods above.

Marshal.

Sir, yonder is your place.

Per.

Some other is more fit.

First Knight.

Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen

That neither in our hearts nor outward eyes

Envy the great nor do the low despise.

Per.

You are right courteous knights.

Sim.

Sit, sir; sit.

Per.

By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,

These cates resist me, she but thought upon.

Thai.

[Aside.] By Juno, that is queen of marriage,

All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury,

Wishing him my meat. Sure, he’s a gallant gentleman.

Sim.

He’s but a country gentleman;

He has done no more than other knights have done;

He has broken a staff or so; so let it pass.

Thai.

To me he seems like diamond to glass.

Per.

Yon king’s to me like to my father’s picture,

Which tells me in that glory once he was;

Had princes sit, like stars, about his throne,

And he the sun for them to reverence.

None that beheld him, but like lesser lights

Did vail their crowns to his supremacy;

Where now his son’s like a glow-worm in the night,

The which hath fire in darkness, none in light:

Whereby I see that Time’s the king of men;

He’s both their parent, and he is their grave,

And gives them what he will, not what they crave.

Sim.

What, are you merry, knights?

First Knight.

Who can be other in this royal presence?

Sim.

Here, with a cup that’s stor’d unto the brim,

As you do love, fill to your mistress’ lips,

We drink this health to you.

Knights.

We thank your Grace.

Sim.

Yet pause awhile;

Yon knight doth sit too melancholy,

As if the entertainment in our court

Had not a show might countervail his worth.

Note it not you, Thaisa?

Thai.

What is it

To me, my father?

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 his entrance more sweet,

Here say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.

Thai.

Alas! my father, it befits not me

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.

[Aside.] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.

Sim.

And further tell him, we desire to know of him,

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 been in arts and arms;

Who, looking for adventures in the world,

Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,

And after shipwrack, driven upon this shore.

Thai.

He thanks your Grace; names himself Pericles,

A gentleman of Tyre,

Who only by misfortune of the seas

Bereft of ships and men, cast on 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 music is too harsh for ladies’ heads

Since they love men in arms as well as beds.

[The Knights dance.

So this was well ask’d, ’twas so well perform’d.

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

Of your fair courtesy.

[The Knights and Ladies dance.

Unclasp, unclasp;

Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well,

[ToPericles.] But you the best. Pages and lights, to conduct

These knights unto their several lodgings! Yours, sir,

We have given order to be next our own.

Per.

I am at your Grace’s pleasure.

Sim.

Princes, it is too late to talk of love,

And 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.

[Exeunt.

Scene IV.—

Tyre. A Room in the Governor’s House.

EnterHelicanusandEscanes.

Hel.

No, Escanes, know this of me,

Antiochus 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 in a chariot

Of an inestimable value, and his daughter with him,

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.

Esca.

’Twas very strange.

Hel.

And yet but just; for though

This king were great, his greatness was no guard

To bar heaven’s shaft, but sin had his reward.

Esca.

’Tis very true.

Enter two or three Lords.

First Lord.

See, not a man in private conference

Or council has respect with him but he.

Sec. Lord.

It shall no longer grieve without reproof.

Third Lord.

And curs’d be he that will not second it.

First Lord.

Follow me then. Lord Helicane, a word.

Hel.

With me? and welcome. Happy day, my lords.

First 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.

First 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 seek him out;

If in his grave he rest, we’ll find him there;

And be resolv’d he lives to govern us,

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

And leaves us to our free election.

Sec. Lord.

Whose death’s indeed 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’st how to rule and how to reign,

We thus submit unto, our sovereign.

All.

Live, noble Helicane!

Hel.

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 twelvemonth longer, let me entreat you

To forbear the absence of your king;

If in which time expir’d 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 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.

EnterSimonides,reading a letter; the Knights meet him.

First 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 yet from her by no means can I get.

Sec. Knight.

May we not get access to her, my lord?

Sim.

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.

Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

[Exeunt Knights.

Sim.

So,

They’re 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: how absolute she’s in ’t,

Not minding whether I dislike or no!

Well, I do commend her choice;

And will no longer have it be delay’d.

Soft! here he comes: I must dissemble it.

EnterPericles.

Per.

All fortune to the good Simonides!

Sim.

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

Per.

It is your Grace’s pleasure to commend,

Not my desert.

Sim.

Sir, you are music’s master.

Per.

The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.

Sim.

Let me ask you one thing.

What do you think of my daughter, sir?

Per.

A most virtuous princess.

Sim.

And she is fair too, is she not?

Per.

As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair.

Sim.

My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you;

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

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

Per.

I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.

Sim.

She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.

Per.

[Aside.] What’s here?

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.

Sim.

Thou hast bewitch’d my daughter, and thou art

A villain.

Per.

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.

Sim.

Traitor, thou liest.

Per.

Traitor!

Sim.

Ay, traitor.

Per.

Even in his throat, unless it be the king,

That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

Sim.

[Aside.] Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.

Per.

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 accounts of me,

This sword shall prove he’s honour’s enemy.

Sim.

No?

Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

EnterThaisa.

Per.

Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,

Resolve your angry father, if my tongue

Did e’er solicit, or my hand subscribe

To any syllable that made love to you.

Thai.

Why, sir, say if you had,

Who takes offence at that would make me glad?

Sim.

Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?

[Aside.] I am glad on ’t, with all my heart.

I’ll tame you; I’ll bring you in subjection.

Will you, not having my consent,

Bestow your love and your affections

Upon a stranger? [Aside.] who, for aught I know,

May be, nor can I think the contrary,

As great in blood as I myself.—

[Aloud.] Therefore, hear you, mistress; either frame

Your will to mine; and you, sir, hear you,

Either be rul’d by me, or I will make you—

Man and wife:

Nay, come, your hands and lips must seal it too;

And being join’d, I’ll thus your hopes destroy;

And for a further grief,—God give you joy!

What! are you both pleas’d?

Thai.

Yes, if you love me, sir.

Per.

Even as my life, or blood that fosters it.

Sim.

What! are you both agreed?

Thai.

Yes, if ’t please your majesty.

Per.

Yes, if ’t please your majesty.

Sim.

It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed;

Then with what haste you can get you to bed.

[Exeunt.