The Complete Works of William Shakespeare · William Shakespeare
SCENE IV. Tyre. A room in the Governor’s house.
Enter Helicanus and Escanes. HELICANUS. No, Escanes, know this of me, Antiochus from incest lived not free: For which the most high gods not minding longer To withhold the vengeance that they had in store Due to this heinous capital offence, Even in the height and pride of all his glory, When he was seated in a chariot Of an inestimable value, and his daughter with him, A fire from heaven came and shrivell’d up Their bodies, even to loathing, for they so stunk, That all those eyes adored them ere their fall Scorn now their hand should give them burial. ESCANES. ’Twas very strange HELICANUS. And yet but justice; for though this king were great; His greatness was no guard to bar heaven’s shaft, But sin had his reward. ESCANES. ’Tis very true. Enter two or three Lords. FIRST LORD. See, not a man in private conference Or council has respect with him but he. SECOND LORD. It shall no longer grieve without reproof. THIRD LORD. And cursed be he that will not second it. FIRST LORD. Follow me, then. Lord Helicane, a word. HELICANUS. With me? and welcome: happy day, my lords. FIRST LORD. Know that our griefs are risen to the top, And now at length they overflow their banks. HELICANUS. Your griefs! for what? Wrong not your prince you love.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.