Page:Pericles, Prince of Tyre - Shakespeare (1609).djvu/15

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Pericles Prince of Tyre.
From whence they haue their nourishment?

Per.Thou knowest I have power to take thy life from thee.

Hel.I have ground the Axe my selfe,
Doe but you strike the blowe.

Per.Rise, prethee rise, sit downe, thou art no flatterer,
I thanke thee fort, and heaue forbid
That kings should let their cares heare their faults hid.
Fit Counsellor, and seruant for a Prince,
Who by thy wisdome makes a Prince thy seruant,
What wouldst thou haue me doe?

Hel.To beare with patience such griefes as you your selfe doe lay vpon your selfe.

Per.Thou speakst like a Physition Hellicanus,
That ministers a potion vnto me:
That thou wouldst tremble to receive thy selfe,
Attend me then, I went to Antioch,
Whereas thou knowst against the face of death,
I sought the purchase of a glorious beautie,
From whence an issue I might propogate,
Are armes to Princes, and bring ioies to subiects,
Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder,
The rest harke in thine eare, as blacke as incest,
Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father
Seemde not to strike, but smooth, but thou knowst this,
Tis time to feare when tyrants seemes to kisse.
Which feare so grew in me I hither fled,
Vnder the couering of a carefull night,
Who seemd my good protector, and being here,
Bethought what was past, what might succeed,
I knew him tyrannous, and tyrants feare
Decrease not, but grow faster then the yeares,
And should he doo't, as no doubt he doth,
That I should open to the listning ayre,
How many worthie Princes blouds were shed,
To keepe his bed of blacknesse vnlayde ope,

To