Page 141 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

As you will live, resolve it you.

(Aside) Sharp physic is the last. But O you powers
That gives heaven countless eyes to view men’s acts,
Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, [75]
If this be true which makes me pale to read it?

Fair glass of light, I loved you, and could still,
Were not this glorious casket stored with ill.
But I must tell you now my thoughts revolt;

For he’s no man on whom perfections wait [80]
That, knowing sin within, will touch the gate.
You are a fair viol, and your sense the strings,
Who, fingered to make man his lawful music,
Would draw heaven down and all the gods to hearken,

But, being played upon before your time, [85]
Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime.
Good sooth, I care not for you.

ANTIOCHUS
Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life,

For that’s an article within our law
As dangerous as the rest. Your time’s expired; [90]
Either expound now or receive your sentence.

PERICLES
Great King,
Few Iove to hear the sins they love to act.

’Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell it.
Who has a book of all that monarchs do, [95]
He’s more secure to keep it shut than shown,

For vice repeated is like the wandering wind,
Blows dust in others’ eyes to spread itself;
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear [100]
To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts

Copped hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is thronged
By man’s oppression, and the poor worm doth die for’t.
Kings are earth’s gods; in vice, their law’s their will;