Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. |
|
Enter SIMONIDES, 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. |
|
Enter PERICLES. |
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. |
|
Enter THAISA. |
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. 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. |
Design © 1995-2007 ZeFLIP.com All rights reserved.