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<tr><td class="play" align="center">Pericles, Prince of Tyre
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    | Act 2, Scene 4
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<H3>SCENE IV. Tyre. A room in the Governor's house.</h3>

<p><blockquote>
<i>Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES</i>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech1><b>HELICANUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=1>No, Escanes, know this of me,</A><br>
<A NAME=2>Antiochus from incest lived not free:</A><br>
<A NAME=3>For which, the most high gods not minding longer</A><br>
<A NAME=4>To withhold the vengeance that they had in store,</A><br>
<A NAME=5>Due to this heinous capital offence,</A><br>
<A NAME=6>Even in the height and pride of all his glory,</A><br>
<A NAME=7>When he was seated in a chariot</A><br>
<A NAME=8>Of an inestimable value, and his daughter with him,</A><br>
<A NAME=9>A fire from heaven came and shrivell'd up</A><br>
<A NAME=10>Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,</A><br>
<A NAME=11>That all those eyes adored them ere their fall</A><br>
<A NAME=12>Scorn now their hand should give them burial.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech2><b>ESCANES</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=13>'Twas very strange.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech3><b>HELICANUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=14>And yet but justice; for though</A><br>
<A NAME=15>This king were great, his greatness was no guard</A><br>
<A NAME=16>To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech4><b>ESCANES</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=17>'Tis very true.</A><br>
<p><i>Enter two or three Lords</i></p>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech5><b>First Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=18>See, not a man in private conference</A><br>
<A NAME=19>Or council has respect with him but he.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech6><b>Second Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=20>It shall no longer grieve without reproof.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech7><b>Third Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=21>And cursed be he that will not second it.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech8><b>First Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=22>Follow me, then. Lord Helicane, a word.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech9><b>HELICANUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=23>With me? and welcome: happy day, my lords.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech10><b>First Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=24>Know that our griefs are risen to the top,</A><br>
<A NAME=25>And now at length they overflow their banks.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech11><b>HELICANUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=26>Your griefs! for what? wrong not your prince you love.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech12><b>First Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=27>Wrong not yourself, then, noble Helicane;</A><br>
<A NAME=28>But if the prince do live, let us salute him,</A><br>
<A NAME=29>Or know what ground's made happy by his breath.</A><br>
<A NAME=30>If in the world he live, we'll seek him out;</A><br>
<A NAME=31>If in his grave he rest, we'll find him there;</A><br>
<A NAME=32>And be resolved he lives to govern us,</A><br>
<A NAME=33>Or dead, give's cause to mourn his funeral,</A><br>
<A NAME=34>And leave us to our free election.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech13><b>Second Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=35>Whose death indeed's the strongest in our censure:</A><br>
<A NAME=36>And knowing this kingdom is without a head,--</A><br>
<A NAME=37>Like goodly buildings left without a roof</A><br>
<A NAME=38>Soon fall to ruin,--your noble self,</A><br>
<A NAME=39>That best know how to rule and how to reign,</A><br>
<A NAME=40>We thus submit unto,--our sovereign.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech14><b>All</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=41>Live, noble Helicane!</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech15><b>HELICANUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=42>For honour's cause, forbear your suffrages:</A><br>
<A NAME=43>If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear.</A><br>
<A NAME=44>Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,</A><br>
<A NAME=45>Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease.</A><br>
<A NAME=46>A twelvemonth longer, let me entreat you to</A><br>
<A NAME=47>Forbear the absence of your king:</A><br>
<A NAME=48>If in which time expired, he not return,</A><br>
<A NAME=49>I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.</A><br>
<A NAME=50>But if I cannot win you to this love,</A><br>
<A NAME=51>Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,</A><br>
<A NAME=52>And in your search spend your adventurous worth;</A><br>
<A NAME=53>Whom if you find, and win unto return,</A><br>
<A NAME=54>You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech16><b>First Lord</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=55>To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield;</A><br>
<A NAME=56>And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,</A><br>
<A NAME=57>We with our travels will endeavour us.</A><br>
</blockquote>

<A NAME=speech17><b>HELICANUS</b></a>
<blockquote>
<A NAME=58>Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands:</A><br>
<A NAME=59>When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.</A><br>
<p><i>Exeunt</i></p>
</blockquote>
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