Thou practise well the lesson I have taught thee,
While I put on a solemn face of woe,

Afflicted for a brother's early fall.

Heaven knows with what regret.-But, Sir, your

You sign your apotheosis in that.

What scales the skies, but zeal for public good?

How god-like mercy?

PERSEUS.

By treason aw'd.

DYMAS.

Mercy to mankind,

KING. [To Perseus.]

Must then thy brother bleed?

[Dymas seeming at a loss, Perseus whispers him, and gives a letter.

DYMAS. [Looking on the letter.]

No, Sir; the king of Thrace.

KING.

Why that is true

Yet who, if not a father, should forgive?

DYMAS.

Who, Sir, if not a Philip, should be just?

KING. [To Dymas.]

Is't not my son?

It stabs, it gnaws, it harrows up my soul.
Is he not young? Was he not much indulg'd?
Gall'd by his brother? Doubted by his father?
Tempted by Rome? A nation to a boy?

DYMAS.

Yet scarce for him. Brutus was but a Roman :

[Speaking as if he would not have the king hear.

Yet like a Philip dar'd; and is immortal.

KING.

I hear thee, Dymas; give me then the mandate.

[Going to sign, he stops short.

DYMAS.

No wonder if his mother thus had paus'd.

PERSEUS. [Aside.]

Rank cankers on thy tongue; why mention her?

KING.

O gods! I see her now; what am I doing?

[Throws away the style.

I see her dying eye let fall a tear

In favour of Demetrius.Shall I stab
Her lovely image stampt on every feature?

His soul escap'd it, Sir.

DYMAS

KING.

Thou ly'st; begone.

[Perseus and Dymas in great confusion: Perseus whispers Dymas.

DYMAS. [Aside, to Perseus.]

True; that, or nought, will touch him.

If, Sir, your mercy—

[To the king.

PERSEUS.

O speak on of mercy;

Mercy, the darling attribute of heav'n.

If you should spare him

DYMAS.

KING.

What if I should spare

DYMAS.

I dare not say-Your wrath again may rise.

KING.

Yes, if thou'rt silent-What if I should spare him?

DYMAS.

him?

Why if you should-proud Rome would thank you for it.

KING.

Rome!-Her applause more shocks me than his death. O thou, death's orator! dread advocate

For bowelless severity! assist

My trembling hand, as thou hast steel'd my heart;
And if it is guilt in me, share the guilt.

He's dead. [Signs.] And if I blot it with one tear,
Perseus, though less affected, will forgive me.

PERSEUS.

Forgive! Sir, I applaud, and wish my sorrow

Was mild enough to weep.

[The King going out, meets Demetrius in mourning, introduced by Antigonus. The King starts back, and drops on Dymas. Recovering, speaks.

KING.

This, Fate, is the tenth wave, and quite o'erwhelms me It less had shock'd me, had I met his ghost.

This is a plot to sentence me to death.

What hast thou done, my mortal foe! thrown bars
[To Antigonus.
Athwart my glory? but thy scheme shall fail.
As rushing torrents sweep th' obstructed mound,
So Philip meets this mountain in his way,

Yet keeps his purpose still.

[Perseus and Pericles whisper aside.

PERICLES.

I can't but fear it.

PERSEUS.

I grant the danger great; yet don't despair:
Jove is against thee, Perseus on thy side.

ANTIGONUS.

The prince, dread Sir, low on his bended knee

KING.

This way, Antigonus.-Do'st mark his bloom?
Grace in his aspect, grandeur in his mien?

I do.

ANTIGONUS.

KING.

'Tis false; take a king's word.-He's dead.That darling of my soul would stab me sleeping. How dar'st thou start? Art thou the traitor's father? If thou art pale, what is enough for me?———— How his grave yawns: Oh! that it was my own.

Mourn not the guilty.

ANTIGONUS.

KING.

No; he's innocent:

Death pays his debt to justice; and that done,