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