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Act 1, Scene 1
Pericles Translation Act 1, Scene 2
Enter PERICLES
PERICLES
[To Lords without] Let none disturb us.— Why should this change of thoughts, The sad companion, dull-eyed melancholy, Be my so used a guest as not an hour, In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night, The tomb where grief should sleep, can breed me quiet? Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them, And danger, which I fear'd, is at Antioch, Whose aim seems far too short to hit me here: Yet neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits, Nor yet the other's distance comfort me. Then it is thus: the passions of the mind, That have their first conception by mis-dread, Have after-nourishment and life by care; And what was first but fear what might be done, Grows elder now and cares 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 act, Will think me speaking, though I swear to silence; Nor boots it me to say I honour him. If he suspect I may dishonour him: And what may make him blush in being known, He'll stop the course by which it might be known; With hostile forces he'll o'erspread the land, And with the ostent of war will look so huge, Amazement shall drive courage from the state; Our men be vanquish'd ere they do resist, And subjects punish'd that ne'er thought offence: 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, Makes both my body pine and soul to languish, And punish that before that he would punish.
PERICLES
[Speaking to Lords outside] Don't let anyone come in here.
[To himself] Why am I so changed? Why am I sad, downcast, and melancholy every hour of every day? Neither a beautiful day nor a quiet night (which should be where I put my worries to rest) can give me peace. Even when I'm surrounded by things I should enjoy, I can't get rid of this fear of danger waiting for me at Antioch—but there's no way the king could reach me here! And yet, nothing can cheer me up, not even the reality of distance. That's the way the mind works: once we start worrying about something, it only gets worse and worse, until we convince ourselves that the danger is real. Just like that, my fear of Antiochus, who is a much more powerful king than I am—and can put his desires into action—has been blown out of proportion. Even though I haven't said a word, he'll assume I've told his secret. And it won't help for me to say I'm loyal to him, if he's already decided I'm not. If he's determined to keep his secret under wraps, all he has to do is kill me. He'll infiltrate my country with his armies, wage war, and overthrow the government. He'll punish my subjects, too, even though they never did anything to hurt him. I'm more worried about them than I am about myself; I'm just the treetops that protect the roots by which the people grow, and help defend them. It's concern for them that makes my body sick and my soul tired with wanting to punish Antiochus before he punishes us.
Enter HELICANUS, with other Lords
FIRST LORD
Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast!
FIRST LORD
God bless you, sir!
SECOND LORD
And keep your mind, till you return to us,Peaceful and comfortable!
SECOND LORD
And good luck on your journey!
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HELICANUS
Peace, peace, and give experience tongue. They do abuse the king that flatter him: For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing which is flatter'd, but a spark, To which that blast gives heat and stronger glowing; Whereas reproof, obedient and in order, Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err. When Signior Sooth here does proclaim a peace, He flatters you, makes war upon your life. Prince, pardon me, or strike me, if you please; I cannot be much lower than my knees.
HELICANUS
Quiet, please. Let someone who knows what he's talking about speak up. These men are just flattering you, sir, and flattery only fans the fire of sin. When a king's fault is just a spark, flattery is the blast that gives it heat and makes it glow stronger. On the other hand, wise advice is the best tool a king can make use of, since even kings make mistakes sometimes. When Mr. Yes-man over here wishes you good luck, he's flattering you and, really, threatening your life.
[He kneels] Forgive me, sir. Hit me if you want. I can't get much lower than here, on my knees.
PERICLES
All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlookWhat shipping and what lading's in our haven,And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords] Helicanus, thouHast moved us: what seest thou in our looks?
PERICLES
Everyone else leave. But take care to see what ships are coming in and out of the harbor and report back to me.
[The LORDS leave]
Helicanus, you've got my attention. How do I look?
HELICANUS
An angry brow, dread lord.
HELICANUS
You look angry, sir.
PERICLES
If there be such a dart in princes' frowns,How durst thy tongue move anger to our face?
PERICLES
You know that kings' moods can have serious consequences, right? How dare you make me angry?
HELICANUS
How dare the plants look up to heaven, from whenceThey have their nourishment?
HELICANUS
How dare plants grow up toward the sky, from which they receive rain and sun?
PERICLES
Thou know'st I have powerTo take thy life from thee.
PERICLES
You know I have the power to kill you.
HELICANUS
[Kneeling] I have ground the axe myself;Do you but strike the blow.
HELICANUS
[Kneeling and exposing his neck] I sharpened the axe myself. Just strike the blow.
PERICLES
Rise, prithee, rise. Sit down: thou art no flatterer: I thank thee for it; and heaven forbid That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid! Fit counsellor and servant for a prince, Who by thy wisdom makest a prince thy servant, What wouldst thou have me do?
PERICLES
Get up, please. Get up. Sit down. I'm glad you're not a flatterer. Kings shouldn't be surrounded by men who make excuses for their faults! You're a wise counsellor and servant fit for a prince; by your wisdom, you've made me your servant, ready to do your will. What should I do?
HELICANUS
To bear with patienceSuch griefs as you yourself do lay upon yourself.
HELICANUS
Be patient, and don't be so hard on yourself.
PERICLES
Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus, That minister'st a potion unto me That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself. Attend me, then: I went to Antioch, Where as thou know'st, against the face of death, I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty. From whence an issue I might propagate, Are arms to princes, and bring joys to subjects. 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 Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: but thou know'st this, 'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss. Such fear so grew in me, I hither fled, Under the covering of a careful night, Who seem'd my good protector; and, being here, Bethought me what was past, what might succeed. I knew him tyrannous; and tyrants' fears Decrease not, but grow faster than the years: And should he doubt it, as no doubt he doth, That I should open to the listening air How many worthy princes' bloods were shed, To keep his bed of blackness unlaid ope, To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms, And make pretence of wrong that I have done him: When all, for mine, if I may call offence, Must feel war's blow, who spares not innocence: Which love to all, of which thyself art one, Who now reprovest me for it,—
PERICLES
You sound like a doctor, Helicanus, but what you're prescribing me is something you'd hardly do yourself. You see, I went to Antioch where, as you know, I faced death for the chance to win a famously beautiful woman. I had hoped we would get married and have children together, heirs for my throne that would strengthen my rule in this country and delight my subjects. I thought she was beautiful in person, but listen: they were committing incest. Once I figured it out, her sinful father didn't lash out; he suddenly became very smooth. As you well know, it's time to be afraid when tyrants kiss you. I ran away in the dark of night and, once I got here, thought I was safe. I know Antiochus is a tyrant, and that he's probably getting increasingly paranoid about what I know. And if he suspects that I've told the world how he killed all of those princes, and slept with his own daughter, then there's no doubt that he'll invade our country on the pretense of me having offended him. Then the country will be plunged into war for my so—called offense, and many innocent people will die, and everyone I love, yourself included, will blame me for it—
HELICANUS
Alas, sir!
HELICANUS
Oh, sir!
PERICLES
Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from my cheeks, Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts How I might stop this tempest ere it came; And finding little comfort to relieve them, I thought it princely charity to grieve them.
PERICLES
I can't sleep. I'm pale and sick. I can't stop thinking about it, can't stop trying to come up with ways to stop this storm before it happens. And since there's no solution, I'm just letting myself be sad about it.
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 Destinies do cut his thread of life. Your rule direct to any; if to me. Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be.
HELICANUS
Well, sir, since you've given me permission to speak, I will. You're right to be afraid of Antiochus, since he'll either wage a public war or kill you privately. So, I recommend that you get away and don't come back until he either gets over his anger or dies. You can trust me to rule the country while you're gone; I'll be as faithful as day is to the sun.
PERICLES
I do not doubt thy faith;But should he wrong my liberties in my absence?
PERICLES
I do trust you, but what if Antiochus attacks while I'm gone?
HELICANUS
We'll mingle our bloods together in the earth,From whence we had our being and our birth.
HELICANUS
We'll shed each other's blood into the earth from which we came.
PERICLES
Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tarsus Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee; And by whose letters I'll dispose 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 oath: Who shuns not to break one will sure crack both: But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe, That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince, Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true prince.
PERICLES
Well, then, I'll leave Tyre and head to Tarsus. I'lll wait for a letter from you there. Take care of my subjects while I'm gone; I leave it up to the strength of your wisdom. I'll take whatever you say as truth; I won't ask you to swear, since you either mean what you say or you don't. We'll each do our jobs, safe and surrounded in our own spheres. Time will tell how you'll be the best subject you can be, and how I'll be the best prince.
Exeunt
