We also depart from editorial tradition in sometimes admitting uncertainty and thus printing permissive stage directions, such as an Aside? (often a line may be equally effective as an aside or a direct address—it is for each production or reading to make its own decision) or a may exit or a piece of business placed between arrows to indicate that it may occur at various different moments within a scene.
Line Numbers are editorial, for reference and to key the explanatory and textual notes.
Explanatory Notes explain allusions and gloss obsolete and difficult words, confusing phraseology, occasional major textual cruces, and so on. Particular attention is given to nonstandard usage, bawdy innuendo, and technical terms (e.g. legal and military language). Where more than one sense is given, commas indicate shades of related meaning, slashes alternative or double meanings.
Textual Notes take the following form: the reading of our text is given in bold and its source given after an equals sign. “Q” signifies a reading from the First Quarto of 1609, “Q2” a correction introduced in the Second Quarto text of 1609, “Q3” one from the Third Quarto text of 1611, “Q4” one from the Fourth Quarto text of 1619, “Q5” one from the Fifth Quarto text of 1630, “F3” a correction from the Third Folio text, second issue, of 1664, “F4” a correction from the Fourth Folio text of 1685, “PA” a reading in George Wilkins’ novel The Painfull Adventures of Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608), and “Ed” one introduced by a later editor. Thus, for example: “1.1.25 boundless = Ed. Q = bondlesse” indicates that at Act 1 Scene 1 line 25 we have accepted the editorial correction “boundless,” which makes better contextual sense within the line, “To compass such a boundless happiness.”
KEY FACTS
MAJOR PARTS: (with percentage of lines/number of speeches/scenes onstage) Pericles (25%/121/10), Gower (13%/8/8), Marina (8%/63/5), Simonides (6%/42/3), Helicanus (5%/37/5), Cleon (5%/19/3), Cerimon (4%/23/3), Lysimachus (4%/40/2), Bawd (4%/43/2), Dionyza (4%/19/4), Thaisa (3%/32/6), Bolt (3%/38/2), Antiochus (3%/12/1).
LINGUISTIC MEDIUM: 80% verse, 20% prose.
DATE: 1608. Registered for publication May 1608; Wilkins’ novel The Painfull Adventures of Pericles, cashing in on the success of the play, published 1608; performance seen by Venetian and French ambassadors, probably between April and July 1608. Frequency of editions and subsequent allusions suggest that the play was a considerable popular success.
SOURCES: Based primarily on the story of Apollonius of Tyre (an ancient romance) in book 8 of John Gower’s fourteenth-century poem Confessio Amantis; some use of Lawrence Twine’s version of the same story in the 1607 novella The Patterne of Painefull Aduentures, which was also borrowed from extensively by Wilkins in his novelization of the play.
TEXT: Not in the First Folio, perhaps because the editors knew that Shakespeare contributed only the second half. Added to the second issue of the Third Folio (1664), together with a number of “apocryphal” plays. Though originally registered in 1608 by Edward Blount, who would eventually publish the Folio, Pericles appeared in Quarto in 1609 under the imprint of a different publisher, with the title THE LATE, and much admired Play, called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. With the true Relation of the whole Historie, aduentures, and fortunes of the said Prince: As also, The no lesse strange, and worthy accidents, in the Birth and Life, of his Daughter MARIANA. As it hath been diuers and sundry times acted by his Maiesties Seruants, at the Globe on the Banckside. By William Shakespeare. The printing is of poor quality, with many corruptions and incomprehensible sequences, thus requiring more editorial intervention than is necessary in any Folio play. Wilkins’ novelization assists in the interpretation of some passages, but since we do not know the exact status of his treatment in relation to Shakespeare’s, it is unsafe to incorporate its readings into the text, as some editors have done. The Quarto went through six editions (two in 1609 alone), attesting to the play’s popularity. The Sixth Quarto of 1635, together with the 1634 Quarto of The Two Noble Kinsmen, may have been intended to supplement the 1632 Second Folio.
PERICLES
LIST OF PARTS
GOWER, the Chorus
PERICLES, Prince of Tyre
MARINA, his daughter
Antioch
ANTIOCHUS, King of Antioch
Antiochus’ DAUGHTER
THALIARD, a lord
MESSENGER
Tyre
FIRST LORD
SECOND LORD
HELICANUS, a grave and wise counselor
ESCANES, an old counselor
THIRD LORD
Tarsus
CLEON, governor of Tarsus
DIONYZA, Cleon’s wife
LORD
OTHER TARSIANS
LEONINE
FIRST PIRATE
SECOND PIRATE
THIRD PIRATE
Pentapolis
FIRST FISHERMAN, the master
SECOND FISHERMAN
THIRD FISHERMAN
SIMONIDES, King of Pentapolis
THAISA, Simonides’ daughter
FIRST KNIGHT, of Sparta
SECOND KNIGHT, of Macedon
THIRD KNIGHT, of Antioch
FOURTH KNIGHT
FIFTH KNIGHT
FIRST LORD
SECOND LORD
THIRD LORD
MARSHAL
On the ship
FIRST SAILOR, the ship’s master
SECOND SAILOR
LYCHORIDA, Marina’s nurse
Ephesus
Lord CERIMON
PHILEMON, his attendant
FIRST SERVANT
A survivor of the storm
FIRST GENTLEMAN
SECOND GENTLEMAN
CERIMON’S SERVANT
DIANA, goddess of chastity
Mytilene
PANDER
BAWD, pander’s wife
BOLT, pander and bawd’s servant
FIRST GENTLEMAN
SECOND GENTLEMAN
LYSIMACHUS, governor of Mytilene
SAILOR OF TYRE
SAILOR OF MYTILENE
FIRST GENTLEMAN, of Tyre
LORD, of Mytilene
Marina’s companion
Followers, Attendants, Gentlemen, Messengers, Lords, Servants, Priests of Diana
[Prologue]
running scene 1
Enter Gower
GOWER To sing a song that old1 was sung
From ashes ancient2 Gower is come,
Assuming man’s infirmities3
To glad your ear and please your eyes.
It hath been sung at festivals,
On ember eves and holidays6,
And lords and ladies in their lives
Have read it for restoratives8.
The purchase is to make men glorious9,
Et bonum quo antiquius eo melius10.
If you — born in these latter times,
When wit’s more ripe12 — accept my rhymes,
And that to hear an old man sing
May to your wishes pleasure bring,
I life would wish15, and that I might
Waste it for you like taper light16.
This Antioch17, then: Antiochus the great
Built up this city for his chiefest seat18 —
The fairest in all Syria.
I tell you what mine authors20 say:
This king unto him took a peer21,
Who died and left a female heir,
So buxom, blithe and full of face
As23 heaven had lent her all his grace,
With whom the father liking25 took
And her to incest did provoke:
Bad child, worse father, to entice his own
To evil should be done by none.
But custom29 what they did begin
Was with long use account’30 no sin.
The beauty of this sinful dame
Made many princes thither frame32
To seek her as a bedfellow,
In marriage pleasures, playfellow,
Which to prevent he made a law
To keep her still, and men in awe36:
That whoso asked her for37 his wife,
His riddle told not38, lost his life.
Points to the heads on display above, or reveals them
So for her many a wight39 did die,
As yon grim looks40 do testify.
What now ensues, to the judgement of your eye
I give my cause, who best can justify.42
Exit
running scene 1 continues
Enter Antiochus, Prince Pericles and Followers
ANTIOCHUS Young Prince of Tyre, you have at large received1
The danger of the task you undertake?
PERICLES I have, Antiochus, and with a soul
Emboldened with the glory of her praise
Think death no hazard in this enterprise.
Music plays
ANTIOCHUS Music!
Bring in our daughter, clothèd like a bride
For embracements even of Jove8 himself,
At whose conception, till Lucina9 reigned,
Nature this dowry gave: to glad her presence10
The senate house11 of planets all did sit,
To knit in her their best perfections12.
Enter Antiochus’ Daughter
PERICLES See where she comes, apparelled like the spring13,
Graces her subjects14, and her thoughts the king
Of every virtue gives renown15 to men:
Her face the book of praises16, where is read
Nothing but curious pleasures, as17 from thence
Sorrow were ever razed, and testy18 wrath
Could never be her mild companion19.
You gods that made me man and sway20 in love,
That have inflamed desire in my breast
To taste the fruit of yon22 celestial tree
Or die in the adventure, be my helps,
As I am son and servant to your will,
To compass25 such a boundless happiness.
ANTIOCHUS Prince Pericles—
PERICLES That would be son27 to great Antiochus.
ANTIOCHUS Before thee stands this fair Hesperides,
With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touched,29
For deathlike dragons30 here affright thee hard.
Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view
Her countless glory, which desert32 must gain,
And which without desert, because thine eye
Presumes to reach, all the whole heap34 must die.
Points to the heads
Yon sometimes35 famous princes, like thyself
Drawn by report, adventurous36 by desire,
Tell thee with speechless tongues and semblance37 pale
That without covering save yon38 field of stars
Here they stand, martyrs slain in Cupid’s wars,
And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist
From going on death’s net41, whom none resist.
PERICLES Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught
My frail mortality43 to know itself,
And by those fearful objects44 to prepare
This body, like to them, to what I must:
For death remembered46 should be like a mirror
Who tells us life’s but breath47, to trust it error.
I’ll make my will, then, and as sick men do
Who know the world, see heaven, but feeling woe
Grip not at earthly joys as erst they did.50
So I bequeath a happy peace to you
And all good men, as every prince should do,
My riches to the earth from whence they came,—
To Daughter
But my unspotted54 fire of love to you.—
To Antiochus
Thus ready for the way of life or death,
I wait the sharpest blow.
Gives Pericles the riddle
ANTIOCHUS Scorning advice, read the conclusion57 then,
Which read and not expounded, ’tis decreed,
As these59 before thee, thou thyself shalt bleed.
To Pericles
DAUGHTER Of all ’ssayed60 yet, mayst thou prove prosperous,
Of all ’ssayed yet, I wish thee happiness.
PERICLES Like a bold champion I assume the lists62,
Nor63 ask advice of any other thought
But faithfulness and courage.
Reads
The riddle
‘I am no viper, yet I feed65
On mother’s flesh which did me breed.
I sought a husband, in which labour67
I found that kindness68 in a father.
He’s father, son and husband mild,
I mother, wife and yet his child:
How they may be, and yet in two71,
As you will live resolve it you.’
Aside
Sharp physic is the last73!— But O, you powers
That gives heaven countless eyes74 to view men’s acts,
Why cloud they not their sights75 perpetually
If this be true, which makes me pale to read it?—
To Daughter
Fair glass of light77, I loved you, and could still
Were not this glorious casket78 stored with ill.
But I must tell you, now my thoughts revolt,
For he’s no man on whom perfections wait80,
That knowing sin within will touch the gate81.
You are a fair viol, and your sense82 the strings,
Who, fingered to make man his lawful music83,
Would draw heaven down, and all the gods to hearken.
But being played upon85 before your time,
Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime86.
Good sooth87, I care not for you.
Pericles gestures towards the Daughter
ANTIOCHUS Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life,
For that’s an article89 within our law
As dangerous as the rest. Your time’s expired:
Either expound now or receive your sentence.
PERICLES Great king,
Few love to hear the sins they love to act,
’Twould braid94 yourself too near for me to tell it.
Who95 has a book of all that monarchs do,
He’s more secure to keep it shut than shown.
For vice repeated is like the wandering wind
Blows dust in others’ eyes to spread itself.98
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone and the sore eyes see clear
To stop the air would hurt them.101 The blind mole casts
Copped hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is thronged102
By man’s oppression, and the poor worm103 doth die for’t.
Kings are earth’s gods: in vice, their law’s their will,
And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth ill?
It is enough you know, and it is fit,
What being more known grows worse, to smother it107.
All love the womb that their first being bred,
Then give my tongue like leave109 to love my head.
Aside
ANTIOCHUS Heaven, that I had thy head! He has found the meaning,
To Pericles
But I will gloze with111 him.— Young prince of Tyre,
Though by the tenor of your strict edict112,
Your exposition113 misinterpreting,
We might proceed to cancel of114 your days,
Yet hope, succeeding from so fair a tree
As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise116.
Forty days longer we do respite you,
If by which time our secret be undone118,
This mercy shows we’ll joy119 in such a son.
And until then your entertain120 shall be
As doth befit our honour and your worth.
[Exeunt.] Pericles remains alone
PERICLES How courtesy would seem to122 cover sin,
When what is done is like an hypocrite,
The which is good in nothing but in sight124.
If it be true that I interpret false,
Then were it certain you were not so bad
As with foul incest to abuse your soul:
Where now you’re both a father and a son
By your untimely129 claspings with your child —
Which pleasures fits a husband, not a father —
And she an eater of her mother’s flesh
By the defiling of her parents’ bed.
And both like serpents are, who though they feed
On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed.134
Antioch farewell, for wisdom sees those men135
Blush not in actions blacker than the night
Will ’schew no course to keep them from the light137.
One sin, I know, another doth provoke:
Murder’s as near to lust as flame to smoke.
Poison and treason are the hands of sin —
Ay, and the targets to put off141 the shame.
Then lest my life be cropped, to keep you clear142,
By flight, I’ll shun the danger which I fear.
Exit
Enter Antiochus
ANTIOCHUS He hath found the meaning,
For which we mean to have his head:
He must not live to trumpet forth146 my infamy,
Nor tell the world Antiochus doth sin
In such a loathèd manner.
And therefore instantly this prince must die,
For by his fall my honour must keep high.
Who attends us there?
Enter Thaliard151
THALIARD Doth your highness call?
ANTIOCHUS Thaliard, you are of our chamber153, Thaliard,
And our mind partakes154 her private actions
To your secrecy, and for your faithfulness
We will advance you, Thaliard.
Behold, here’s poison and here’s gold:
We hate the Prince of Tyre, and thou must kill him.
It fits thee not to ask the reason why:
Because we bid it. Say, is it done?
THALIARD My lord, ’tis done.
Enter a Messenger
running
ANTIOCHUS Enough.—
To Messenger
Let your breath cool yourself, telling your haste163.
MESSENGER My lord, Prince Pericles is fled. [Exit]
To Thaliard
ANTIOCHUS As thou wilt live, fly after, and like an arrow
Shot from a well experienced archer hits
The mark his eye doth level167 at,
So thou never return unless thou say
Prince Pericles is dead.
THALIARD My lord, if I can get him within my pistol’s length170
I’ll make him sure171 enough, so farewell to your highness.
ANTIOCHUS Thaliard adieu.— Till Pericles be dead,
[Exit Thaliard]
My heart can lend no succour to my head173.
[Exit]
running scene 2
Enter Pericles with his Lords
PERICLES Let none disturb us!
[Exeunt the Lords]
Why should this change of thoughts2,
The sad companion, dull-eyed3 melancholy,
Be my so used a guest as4 not an hour
In the day’s glorious walk5 or peaceful night,
The tomb where grief should sleep, can breed me quiet6?
Here pleasures court mine eyes and mine eyes shun them,
And danger which I feared is at Antioch,
Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here.
Yet neither pleasure’s art can joy my spirits10,
Nor yet the other’s11 distance comfort me.
Then it is thus: the passions of the mind12,
That have their first conception by misdread13,
Have after-nourishment and life by care14,
And what was first but fear what might be done,
Grows elder now, and cares16 it be not done.
And so with me. The great Antiochus,
Gainst whom I am too little to contend,
Since he’s so great can make his will his act19,
Will think me speaking though I swear to silence.
Nor boots it me21 to say ‘I honour’,
If he suspect I may dishonour him.
And what may make him blush in being known,
He’ll stop the course24 by which it might be known.
With hostile forces he’ll o’erspread the land,
And with th’ostent26 of war will look so huge,
Amazement27 shall drive courage from the state,
Our men be vanquished ere28 they do resist,
And subjects punished that ne’er thought offence29.
Which care of them, not pity of myself,
Who am no more but as the tops of trees,
Which fence the roots they grow by and defend them,32
Makes both my body pine and soul to languish,
And punish that before that he would punish34.
Enter [Helicanus and] all the Lords to Pericles
FIRST LORD Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast.
SECOND LORD And keep your mind peaceful and comfortable.
HELICANUS Peace, peace, and give experience tongue37!
They do abuse the king that flatter him,
For flattery is the bellows blows up39 sin,
The thing the which is flattered, but a spark
To which that breath41 gives heat, and stronger
Glowing, whereas reproof, obedient and in order42,
Fits kings as they are men, for they may err.
When Signior Sooth44 here does proclaim ‘peace’,
He flatters you, makes war upon your life45.
Prince, pardon me, or strike me if you please,
Kneels
I cannot be much lower than my knees.
To Lords
PERICLES All leave us else, but let your cares o’erlook48
What shipping, and what lading’s49 in our haven,
And then return to us.— Helicanus,
[Exeunt Lords]
Thou hast moved51 us, what see’st thou in our looks?
HELICANUS An angry brow52, dread lord.
PERICLES If there be such a dart53 in princes’ frowns,
How durst thy tongue move54 anger to our face?
HELICANUS How dares the plants look up to heaven,
From whence they have their nourishment?
PERICLES Thou know’st I have power to take thy life from thee.
HELICANUS I have ground58 the axe myself,
Do but you strike the blow.
Helicanus rises
PERICLES Rise, prithee rise! Sit down. Thou art no flatterer,
I thank thee for’t, and heaven forbid
That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid62.
Fit63 counsellor and servant for a prince,
Who by thy wisdom makes a prince thy servant,
What wouldst thou have me do?
HELICANUS To bear with patience
Such griefs as you do lay upon yourself.
PERICLES Thou speak’st like a physician, Helicanus,
That ministers69 a potion unto me
That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself.
Attend me71 then: I went to Antioch,
Where, as thou know’st, against the face of death
I sought the purchase73 of a glorious beauty
From whence an issue74 I might propagate,
Are arms to princes, and bring joys to subjects75.
Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder,
The rest — hark in thine ear — as black as incest,
Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father
Seemed not to strike, but smooth79. But thou know’st this:
’Tis time to fear when tyrants seems to kiss.
Which fear so grew in me I hither fled
Under the covering of a careful82 night,
Who83 seemed my good protector, and, being here,
Bethought me what was past, what might succeed84.
I knew him tyrannous, and tyrants’ fears
Decrease not, but grow faster than the years.
And should he doubt87 — as doubt no doubt he doth —
That I should open to the list’ning air
How many worthy princes’ bloods were shed
To keep his bed of blackness unlaid ope90,
To lop that doubt he’ll fill this land with arms91,
And make pretence of wrong that I have done him,
When all for mine — if I may call’t — offence93
Must feel war’s blow, who94 spares not innocence.
Which love to all of which thyself art one,
Who now reproved’st96 me for’t—
HELICANUS Alas, sir—
PERICLES Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks,
Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts99
How I might stop this tempest ere it came,
And finding little comfort to relieve them,
I thought it princely charity to grieve for them.
HELICANUS Well, my lord, since you have given me leave to speak,
Freely will I speak. Antiochus you fear —
And justly too, I think, you fear the tyrant
Who either by public war or private
Treason will take away your life:
Therefore, my lord, go travel for a while,
Till that his rage and anger be forgot, or till
The Destinies110 do cut his thread of life:
Your rule direct111 to any, if to me,
Day serves not light more faithful than I’ll be.
PERICLES I do not doubt thy faith.
But should he wrong my liberties114 in my absence?
HELICANUS We’ll mingle our bloods together in the earth115
From whence we had our being and our birth.
PERICLES Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tarsus117
Intend118 my travel, where I’ll hear from thee,
And by whose letters I’ll dispose119 myself.
The care I had and have of subjects’ good
On thee I lay, whose wisdom’s strength can bear it.
I’ll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath122:
Who123 shuns not to break one, will crack both.
But in our orbs we’ll live so round124 and safe
That time of both this truth shall ne’er convince125:
Thou showed’st a subject’s shine126, I a true prince.
Exeunt
[Act 1 Scene 3]
running scene 2 continues
Enter Thaliard alone
THALIARD So this is Tyre, and this the court. Here must I kill
King Pericles, and if I do it not, I am sure to be hanged at
home: ’tis dangerous. Well, I perceive he was a wise fellow,3
and had good discretion, that being bid to ask what he would4
of the king, desired he might know none of his secrets. Now
do I see he had some reason for’t: for if a king bid a man be a
villain, he’s bound by the indenture7 of his oath to be one.
Thaliard stands aside
Husht8, here comes the lords of Tyre.
Enter Helicanus, Escanes, with other Lords
HELICANUS You shall not need, my fellow peers of Tyre,
Further to question me of your king’s departure:
His sealed commission11 left in trust with me,
Does speak sufficiently12 he’s gone to travel.
Aside
THALIARD How? The king gone?
HELICANUS If further yet you will be satisfied
Why — as it were unlicensed of your loves15 —
He would depart, I’ll give some light16 unto you.
Being at Antioch—
Aside
THALIARD What, from Antioch?
HELICANUS Royal Antiochus, on what cause I know not,
Took some displeasure at him — at least he judged so —
And doubting lest21 he had erred or sinned,
To show his sorrow, he’d correct22 himself:
So puts himself unto the shipman’s toil23,
With whom each minute threatens life or death.
Aside
THALIARD Well, I perceive I shall not be hanged now
although I would. But since he’s gone, the king’s ears this
must please: he scaped the land to perish at the sea. I’ll27
Aloud
present myself.— Peace to the lords of Tyre!
HELICANUS Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome.
THALIARD From him I come with message unto princely
Pericles, but since my landing I have understood your lord
has betook himself to unknown travels, now message32 must
return from whence it came.
HELICANUS We have no reason to desire it34,
Commended35 to our master, not to us,
Yet ere you shall depart, this we desire:
As friends to Antioch we may feast in Tyre.
Exeunt
running scene 3
Enter Cleon the governor of Tarsus, with his wife [Dionyza] and others
CLEON My Dionyza, shall we rest us here
And by relating tales of others’ griefs
See if ’twill teach us to forget our own?
DIONYZA That were to blow at fire in hope to quench it.
For who digs5 hills because they do aspire,
Throws down one mountain to cast up a higher.
O, my distressèd lord, even such our griefs are:
Here they are but felt, and seen with mischief’s eyes8,
But like to groves, being topped9 they higher rise.
CLEON O, Dionyza,
Who wanteth11 food and will not say he wants it,
Or can conceal his hunger till he famish?
Our tongues our sorrows do sound deep,
Our woes into the air, our eyes to weep
Till tongues fetch breath that may proclaim them louder,
That if heaven slumber while their creatures want,
They may awake their helpers to comfort them.17
I’ll then discourse18 our woes, felt several years,
And wanting breath to speak19, help me with tears.
DIONYZA I’ll do my best, sir.
CLEON This Tarsus, o’er which I have the government,
A city o’er whom plenty held full hand22,
For riches23 strewed herself even in her streets,
Whose towers bore heads so high they kissed the clouds,
And strangers ne’er beheld, but wondered at25.
Whose men and dames so jetted and adorned26,
Like one another’s glass to trim them by27,
Their tables were stored full to glad28 the sight,
And not so much to feed on as delight.
All poverty was scorned, and pride so great
The name of help grew odious to repeat31.
DIONYZA O, ’tis too true.
CLEON But see what heaven can do by this our change33.
These mouths who but of late earth, sea and air
Were all too little to content and please,
Although they gave their creatures in abundance,
As houses are defiled for want37 of use,
They are now starved for want of exercise.
Those palates who, not yet two summers younger39,
Must have inventions40 to delight the taste
Would now be glad of bread and beg for it.
Those mothers who to nuzzle up42 their babes
Thought nought too curious43, are ready now
To eat those little darlings whom they loved.
So sharp are hunger’s teeth, that man and wife,
Draw lots who first shall die to lengthen life46.
Here stands a lord, and there a lady, weeping.
Here many sink, yet those which see them fall,
Have scarce strength left to give them burial.
Is not this true?
DIONYZA Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it.
CLEON O, let those cities that of plenty’s cup
And her prosperities so largely53 taste
With their superfluous riots, hear these tears54!
The misery of Tarsus may be theirs.
Enter a Lord
LORD Where’s the lord governor?
CLEON Here.
Speak out thy sorrows, which thou bring’st in haste,
For comfort is too far for us to expect.
LORD We have descried60 upon our neighbouring shore,
A portly sail of ships make hitherward61.
CLEON 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 stuffed the hollow vessels with their power67,
To beat us down, the which are down already,
And make a conquest of unhappy69 me,
Whereas no glory’s got to overcome70.
LORD That’s the least fear71, for by the semblance
Of their white flags72 displayed, they bring us peace,
And come to us as favourers73, not as foes.
CLEON Thou speak’st like him’s untutored to repeat74:
Who75 makes the fairest show means most deceit.
But bring they what they will and what they can,
What need we fear?
The ground’s the lowest, and we are halfway there78.
Go tell their general we attend him here,
To know from whence he comes and what he craves.
LORD I go, my lord.
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