What secret tides of still enjoyment flow,
When brothers love; but if their hate succeeds,
They wage the war; but 'tis the father bleeds. [Exeunt.
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Peri. He's cautious, sir; he's subtle; he's a courtier.
Dymas is now for you, now for your brother; For both, and neither he's a summer-insect, And loves the sunshine: on his gilded wings, While the scales waver, he'll fly doubtful round you,
And sing his flatteries to both alike:
The scales once fixed, he'll settle on the winner, And swear his prayers drew down the victoryBut what success had you, sir, with your brother?
Per. All, all my hopes are at the point of death!
The boy triumphant keeps his hold in love:
He's ever warbling nonsense in her ear
With all the intoxication of success.
Darkness incloses me; nor see I light
From any quarter dawn, but from his death.
Peri. Why start at his death, who resolves on
your's?
Per. Resolves on mine!
Peri. Have you not marked the princess? You have with what a beam of majesty Her eye strikes sacred awe! It speaks her mind Exalted, as it is. Whom loves she then? Demetrius? No; Rome's darling; who, no doubt, Dares court her with your empire. And shall Perseus
Survive that loss?-Thus he resolves your death. Per. Most true. What crime then to strike first? But how?
Or when? or where? O Pericles! assist me.
Peri. 'Tis dangerous.
Per. The fitter for me.
Peri. Wait an occasion, that befriends your wishes.
Per. Go, fool, and teach a cataract to creep! Can thirst of empire, vengeance, beauty, wait? Peri. In the mean time, accept a stratagem, That must secure your empire, or your love. Your brother's Roman friendships gall no less The king, than you : he dreads their consequence. Dymas hates Rome; and Dymas has a daughter. How can the king so powerfully fix Demetrius' faith, as by his marriage there?
For Dymas thus, Rome's sworn, eternal foe,
Becomes a spy upon his private life,
And surety for his conduct.
Our art defeats itself. My brother gains
The favourite, and so strengthens in his treason.
Peri. Think you he will wed her? No, the
princess' eye
Makes no such short-lived conquest. He'll refuse,
And thus effect what I have strove in vain :
Yes, he'll refuse; and Dymas, in his wrath,
Will list for us, and vengeance. Then the king
Will, doubtless, much resent his son's refusal;
And thus we kindle the whole court against him.
Per. My precious friend, I thank thee. I take
On ardent hope: I think it cannot fail.
Go, make thy court to Dymas with this scheme :
Begone-Erixene! I'll feed her pride.
[Looking out.
Once more, but not expend my breath in vain.
This meeting stamps unalterable fate;
I will wed her, or vengeance-
Enter ERIXENE and DELIA.
O, Princess! colder than your Thracian snows!
See Perseus, who ne'er stooped but to the gods,
Prostrate before you. Fame and empire sue.
Why have I conquered? Because you are fair.
What's empire? but a title to adore you.
Why do I number in my lineage high
Heroes and gods? That you, scarce less divine,
Without a blush may listen to my vows.
My ancestor subdued the world. I dare
Beyond his pride, and grasp at more, in you.
Obdurate maid! or turn, or I expire.
Erix. If love, my lord, is choice, who loves in
Transpierce your soul, enamoured of dominion. Erir. Why now you shew me your profound esteem!
Demetrius' guilt alone has charms for me;
'Tis not the prince, but traitor wins my love.
Such insults are not brooked by royal minds,
Howe'er their fortunes ebb; and though I mourn,
Au orphan, and a captive, gods there are-
Fear then an orphan's, and a captive's wrong.
Per. Your cruel treatment of my passion-
But I'll not talk. This, madam; only this-
Think not the cause, the cursed cause of all,
Shall laugh secure, and triumph in my pangs.
No; by the torments of an heart on fire,
He gluts my vengeance, who defrauds my love!
[Erit.
Erix. What have I done! In what a whirl-
wind rage
Has snatched him hence on ill! I frown on Perseus,
And kill Demetrius.
Delia. Madam, see the prince.
Enter DEMETRIUS.
Erir. Ah, prince! the tempest, which so long has lowered,
Is now full ripe, and bursting o'er your head.
This moment Perseus' malice flamed before me;
Victorious rage broke through his wonted guard,
And menaced loud your ruin. Fly, O fly
This instant!
Dem. To what refuge?
Erix. Rome extends
Her longing arms to clasp you for her own.
Dem. Madam, 'tis prudent; I confess it is:
But is it loving as true lovers ought,
To be so very prudent in our love?
I boast not so much wisdom: I prefer
To study your delights, to chide the wind's
Too rude approach; to bid the ground be smooth;
To follow, like your shadow, where you go;
Tread in your steps; perhaps to touch your
hand!
O death! to minister in little things;
From half a glance to prophecy your will,
And do it, ere well formed in your own mind!
Gods! Gods! While worlds divide me from my
princess,
That, should she call, Demetrius might grow old
Ere he could reach her feet!
Erix. If Perseus' love
Pains you, it pains me more.
Is your heart Mine is tormented: but since Philip's self Is love's great advocate, a flat refusal But blows their rage, and hastens your destruc
Had I not that to fear! were you secure! I would ease my bosom of its full disdain, And dash this bold presumer on his birth. But, see! the grand procession.
Dem. We must join it.
Enter the KING, PERSEUS, Romans, ANTIGONUS, &c.
King. Let the procession halt! and here be paid,
Before yon flaming altar, thanks to Heaven,
That brings us safe to this auspicious day!
The great lustration of our martial powers,
Which from its distant birth to present time
Unfolds the glories of this antient empire,
And throngs the pride of ages in an hour.
Post. What figure's that? O Philip! which
precedes?
[Pointing.
King. The founder of our empire, furious son Of great Alcides. We are allied to Heaven; And you, I think, call Romulus a god. That, Philip, second of our name; and hereO bend with awe to him, whose red right hand Hurled proud Darius like a star from Heaven, With lesser lights around him, flaming down, And bid the laurelled sons of Macedonia Drink their own Ganges!
Per. Give him his helmet, brother. [Aside to Demetrius.
King. You lead the troops that join in mock
And in no other way you ever meet! [To his Sons. But march one way, and drive the world before
Death at your feet before the world without you. The victor, as our antient rites decree,
Erir. In danger thus extreme-
Dem. Oh! most beloved!
Loved you like me, like me you would discern
That I but execute my brother's. purpose
By such a flight. At that his clamour, rage,
And menace aim: to chase a rival hence,
And keep the field alone. Oh! shall I leave him
To gaze
whole days; to learn to read your eye;
Must hold a feast, and triumph in the bowl.
Dem. I long, my lord, to see the charge be-
gin;
The brandished faulchion, and the clashing helm:
Though but in sport, it is a sport for men.
Raw Alexander thus began his fame,
| And overthrew Darius, first, at home.
We'll practise o'er the plans of future conquests,
While neighbouring nations tremble at our play,
And own the fault in fortune, not in us,
That we but want a foe to be immortal.
Per. You have supplied my wants: I thank
you, brother.
King. [Rising, and coming forward. Music.]
How vain all outward efforts to supply
The soul with joy! The noon-tide sun is dark,
And music discord, when the heart is low!
Avert its omen! what a damp hangs on me!
These sprightly, tuneful airs, but skim along
The surface of my soul, not enter there:
She does not dance to this enchanting sound.
How, like a broken instrument, beneath
The skilful touch, my joyless heart lies dead,
Nor answers to the master's hand divine!
Antig. When men once reach their autumn,
sickly joys
Fall off apace, as yellow leaves from trees,
At every little breath misfortune blows;
Till, left quite naked of their happiness,
In the chill blasts of winter they expire.
This is the common lot. Have comfort, then :
Your grief will damp the triumph.
Hear too; the trumpet calls us to the field,
And now this phantom of a fight begins.
Fair princess, you and I will go together,
As Priam and bright Helen did of old,
To view the war. Your eyes will make them
bolder,
And raise the prize of victory itself.
[All go out but Perseus, who has observed Demetrius and Erixene all this time conversing, and stays behind, thoughtful and disturbed. Per. Before my face she feeds him with her smiles :
The king looks on, nor disapproves the crime;
And the boy takes them as not due to me,
Without remorse, as happy as she'll make him.
Perish all three! I'll seek allies elsewhere;
Father and brother, nay, a mistress too.
Destruction, rise! Though thou art black as
Night,
Thy mother, and as hideous as Despair,
I'll clasp thee thus, nor think of woman more.
How the boy doats, and drinks in at his eyes
Her poison! O to stab him in her arms!
And yet do less than they have done to me.
Per. Dare but another word, and not of vengeance,
And I will use thee, as I would-my brother.
Peri. Vengeance! on whom?
Per. On him.
Peri. What vengeance?
Per. Blood.
Peri. 'Tis your's.
Per. What god will give it me?
Peri. Your own right hand.
Per. I dare not-for my father.
Peri. You shall dare.
Per. Shalt thou dare give encouragement to
Perseus?
Unfold thy purpose; I'll outshoot the mark.
Peri. Where are you going?
Per. To the mock encounter.
Peri. What more like mock encounter than the true?
Per. Enough-He's dead! 'Twas accident; 'twas error.
No matter what. Ten thousand share the blame. Peri. Hold, sir! I had forgot: on this occa
The troops are searched; and foils alone are
worn, Instead of swords.
Per. An osier were enough.
Who pains my heart, plants thunder in my hand. Peri. But should this fail
Per. Impossible! Peri. But, should it, The banquet follows.
Per. Poison in his wine!
I thank the gods! my spirits are revived!
I draw immortal vigour from that bowl!
Peri. Nay, should both fail, the field and banquet too,
All fails not; fairer hopes to fair succeed:
For know, my lord, the king received, with joy,
The marriage-scheme, and sent for Dymas'
daughter.
Per. Then there's a second bowl of poison
for him.
Peri. Yet more: this evening those ambas-
sadors,
Which Philip sent to Rome, beneath the name
Of public business, but, in truth, to learn
Your brother's conduct, are expected home.
Per. Those whom I swore, before they parted
hence,
In dreadful sacraments of wine and blood,
Peri. Where is my prince? The nation's on To bring back such reports as should destroy
No bosom but exults; no hand but bears
A garland or a trophy: and shall Perseus-
Per. Vengeance!
Peri. Hear how with shouts they rend the
skies!
[Shouts within.
Per. Give me my vengeance!
Peri. Forty thousand men,
In polished armour, shine against the sun.
And what if, to complete our secret plan,
We feign a letter to his friend the consul,
To strengthen our ambassadors' report?
Peri. That care, my lord, be mine: I know a knave,
Grown fat on forgery; he'll counterfeit
Old Quintius' hand and seal, by former letters
Sent to the king; which you can gain with ease.
Sweet vengeance calls: nor ever called a God
Such swift obedience: like the rapid wheel
I kindle in the course; I am there already;
Snatch the bright weapon; bound into my seat;
Strike; triumph; see him gasping on the ground,
And life, love, empire, springing from his wound.
When god-like ends, by means unjust, succeed,
The great result adorns the daring deed.
Virtue's a shackle, under fair disguise,
To fetter fools, while we bear off the prize.
[Exeunt.
Per. Cowards in ill, like cowards in the field,
Are sure to be defeated. To strike home,
In both, is prudence: guilt, begun, must fly
To guilt consummate, to be safe.
Per. Disturb not my devotions; they decline
The beaten track, the common track of prayer.
Ye powers of darkness! that rejoice in ill;'
All sworn by Styx, with pestilential blasts
To wither every virtue in the bud;
To keep the door of dark conspiracy,
And snuff the grateful fumes of human blood!
From sulphur blue, or your red beds of fire,
On your black ebon thrones, auspicious rise;
And bursting through the barriers of this world,
Stand in dread contrast to the golden sun;
Fright day-light hence with your infernal smile;
And howl aloud your formidable joy,
While I transport you with the fair record
Of what your faithful minister has done,
Beyond your inspiration, self-impelled,
To spread your empire, and secure his own!
Hear, and applaud. Now, Pericles, proceed;
Speak, is the letter forged?
Peri. This moment; and might cheat
The cunning eye of jealousy itself.
To save a brother's blood; accusing him
As author of that conflict I declined,
And he pursued with ardour and success.
Peri. That's artful. What ensued?
Per. The banquet followed,
Held by the victor, as our rites require :
To which his easy nature, soon appeased,
Invited me. I went not; but sent spies
To learn what passed; which spies, by chance
detected,
(Observe me) were ill used.
Peri. By whom? your brother?
Per. No; by his sons of riot. He soon af-
ter,
Not knowing that my servants were abused,
Kind, and gay-hearted, came to visit me.
They, who misused my spies, for self-defence,
Concealed their arms beneath the robes of peace.
Of this informed, again my genius served me.
Peri. You took occasion, from these few in
To charge a murderous assault on all?
Per. True, Pericles; but mark my whole ad-
dress:
Against my brother swift I bar my gates;
Fly to my father; and with artful tears
Accuse Demetrius; first, of turning sports,
And guiltless exercise, to mortal rage;
Then of inviting me (still blacker guilt!)
To smiling death in an envenomed bowl;
And last, that, both these failing, mad with rage,
Peri. 'Tis well: Art thou apprised of what He threw his schemes of baffled art aside,
hath passed
Since we last parted?
Per. No, my lord.
Per. Then rouse
Thy whole attention: here we are in private:
Know, then, my Pericles, the mock encounter
I turned, as taught by thee, to real rage.
But, blasted be the cowards, whom I led!
They trembled at a boy.
Peri. Ha!
Per. Mark me well:
The villains filed; but soon my prudence turned
To good account that momentary shame.
Thus I pretend 'twas voluntary flight
And with armed men avowedly sought my life.
Peri. Three startling articles, and well-con-
certed,
Following each other in an easy train,
With fair similitude of truth! But, sir,
How bore your father?
Per. O he shook! he fell!
Nor was his fleeting soul recalled with ease.
Peri. What said he when recovered?
I know not yet; but see, his minion comes;
And comes, perhaps, to tell me. But I'll go;
Sustain my part, and echo loud my wrongs.
Nought so like innocence as perfect guilt
If he brings aught of moment, you'll inform me. [As Perseus goes off, he is seized by officers. Enter DYMAS.
Peri. How fares the king?
Dym. Even as an aged oak
Pushed to and fro, the labour of the storm;
Whose largest branches are struck off by thun-
der:
Yet still he loves, and on the mountain groans;
Strong in affliction, awful from his wounds,
And more revered in ruin than in glory.
Peri. I hear prince Perseus has accused his
brother.
Dym. True; and the king's commands are now gone forth
To throw them both in chains; for farther
thought
Makes Philip doubt the truth of Perseus' charge.
Peri. What then is his design?
Dym. They both this hour
And bring thee patterns thence of brothers' love,
The Quintii, and the Scipios; but in vain :
If I'm a monarch, where is your obedience?
If I'm a father, where's your duty to me?
If old, your veneration due to years?
But I have wept, and you have sworn, in vain!
I had your ear, and enmity your heart.
How was this morning's counsel thrown away!
How happy is your mother in the grave!
She, when she bore you, suffered less: her pangs,
Her pungent pangs, throb through the father's heart.
Dem. You can't condemn me, sir, to worse
than this.
King. Than what, thou young deceiver? While
I live,
You both, with impious wishes, grasp my sceptre:
Nothing is sacred, nothing dear, but empire.
Brother, nor father, can you bear; fierce lust
Of empire burns, extinguished all beside.
Why pant you for it? to give others awe?
Be therefore awed yourselves, and tremble at it,
Must plead their cause before him. Nay, al- While in a father's hand.
His nobles, judges, counsellors, are met,
And public justice wears her sternest form:
A more momentous trial ne'er was known;
Whether the pleaders you survey as brothers,
Or princes known in arts, or famed for arms;
Whether you ponder, in their awful judge,
The tender parent, or the mighty king.
Greece, Athens, hears the cause: the great result
Is life, or death; is infamy, or fame. [Trumpets.
Peri. What trumpets these?
Dym. They summon to the court.
Enter DYMAS, and takes his place by the KING.
King. Bring forth the prisoners.
Strange trial this! Here sit I to debate,
Which vital limb to lop, nor that to save,
But render wretched life more wretched still.
What see I, but heaven's vengeance, in my sons?
Their guilt a scourge for mine? 'tis thus ÏIeaven
writes
Its awful meaning, plain in human deeds,
And language leaves to man.
Enter PERSEUS and DEMETRIUS, in chains, from
different sides of the stage; PERSEUS follow-
ed by PERICLES, and DEMETRIUS by ANTI-
Dym. Dread, sir, your sons.
King. I have no sons; and that I ever had,
Is now my heaviest curse: and yet what care,
What pains, I took to curb their rising rage!
How often have I ranged through history,
To find examples for their private use?
The Theban brothers did I set before them-
What blood! what desolation! but in vain!
For thee, Demetrius, did I go to Rome,
VOL. I.
Dym. My lord, your warmth
Defers the business.
King. Am I then too warm?
They that should shelter me from every blast,
To be themselves the storm! O! how Rome
triumphs!
Oh! how they bring this hoary head to shame!
Conquest and fame, the labour of my life,
Now turn against me, and call in the world
To gaze at what was Philip, but who now
Wants even the wretch's privilege—a wish.
What can I wish? Demetrius may be guiltless.
What then is Perseus? Judgment hangs as yet
Doubtful o'er them; but I'm condeinned already;
For both are mine; and one-is foul as hell.
Should these two hands wage war, (these hands
What boots it which prevails? In both I bleed.
But I have done. Speak, Perseus, and at large;
You'll have no second hearing. Thou forbear.
[To Demetrius.
Per. Speak!-'Twas with utmost struggle I
forbore:
These chains were scarce designed to reach my tongue.
Their trespass is sufficient, stopping here.
[Shewing his arms. These chains! for what? Are chains for innocence?
Not so; for, see, Demetrius wears them too.
Fool that I was to trenible at vain laws,
Nor learn from him defiance of their frown;
Since innocence and guilt are used alike,
Blood-thirsty stabbers, and their destined prey;
Perseus, and -he-I will not call him brother:
[Pointing at Demetrius.
He wants not that enhancement of his guilt.
King. But closer to the point; and lay before
Your whole deportment this ill-fated day.
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