Tyre. An ante-chamber in the palace.
Enter THALIARD
THALIARD
1 So, this is Tyre, and this the court. Here must I
2 kill King Pericles; and if I do it not, I am sure to
3 be hanged at home: 'tis dangerous. Well, I perceive
4 he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that,
5 being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired
6 he might know none of his secrets: now do I see he
7 had some reason for't; for if a king bid a man be a
8 villain, he's bound by the indenture of his oath to
9 be one! Hush! here come the lords of Tyre.
Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES, with other Lords of Tyre
HELICANUS
10 You shall not need, my fellow peers of Tyre,
11 Further to question me of your king's departure:
12 His seal'd commission, left in trust with me,
13 Doth speak sufficiently he's gone to travel.
THALIARD
14 Aside How! the king gone!
HELICANUS
15 If further yet you will be satisfied,
16 Why, as it were unlicensed of your loves,
17 He would light unto you.
18 Being at Antioch--
THALIARD
19 Aside What from Antioch?
HELICANUS
20 Royal Antiochus--on what cause I know not--
21 Took some displeasure at him; at least he judged so:
22 And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd,
23 To show his sorrow, he'ld correct himself;
24 So puts himself unto the shipman's toil,
25 With whom each minute threatens life or death.
THALIARD
Aside Well, I perceive
27 I shall not be hang'd now, although I would;
28 But since he's gone, the king's seas must please:
29 He 'scaped the land, to perish at the sea.
30 I'll present myself. Peace to the lords of Tyre!
HELICANUS
31 Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome.
THALIARD
32 From him I come
33 With message unto princely Pericles;
34 But since my landing I have understood
35 Your lord has betook himself to unknown travels,
36 My message must return from whence it came.
HELICANUS
37 We have no reason to desire it,
38 Commended to our master, not to us:
39 Yet, ere you shall depart, this we desire,
40 As friends to Antioch, we may feast in Tyre.
Exeunt