It is remarkable, that many of our ancient writers were ambitious to exhibit Sidney's worthies on the stage; and when his fubordinate agents were advanced to fuch honour, how happened it that Pyrocles, their leader, should be overlooked? Mufidorus, (his companion,) Argalus and Parthenia, Phalantus and Eudora, Andromana, &c. furnished titles for different tragedies; and perhaps Pyrocles, in the present instance, was defrauded of a like distinction. The names invented or employed by Sidney, had once fuch popularity, that they were sometimes borrowed by poets who did not profets to follow the direct current of his fables, or attend to the strict preservation of his characters. Nay, so high was the credit of this romance, that many a fashionable, word and glowing phrase selected from it, was applied, like a Promethean torch, to contemporary fonnets, and gave a transient life even to those dwarfish and enervate bantlings of the reluctant Muse. 1 must add, that the Appolyn of the Story-book and Gower, could have been rejected only to make room for a more favourite name; yet, however conciliating the name of Pyrocles might have been, that of Pericles could challenge no advantage with regard to general predilection. I am aware, that a conclufive argument cannot be drawn from the false quantity in the second syllable of Pericles; and yet if the Athenian was in our author's mind, he might have been taught by repeated tranflations from fragments of fatiric poets in Sir Thomas North's Nutarch, to call his hero Pericles; as for instance, in the following couplet : "O Chiron, tell me, first, art thou indeede the man can." &c. &c. Such therefore was the pronunciation of this proper name, in the age of Shakspeare. The address of Perfius to a youthful orator-Magni pupille Pericli, is familiar to the ear of every classical reader. All circumftances therefore considered, it is not improbable that our author designed his chief character to be called Pyrocles, not Pericles, however ignorance or accident might have thuffled the latter (a name of almost similar found) into the place of the former. The true name, when once corrupted or changed in the theatre, was effectually withheld from the publick; and every commentator on this play agrees in a belief that it must have been printed by means of a copy " far as Deucalion off" from the manufcript which had received Shakspeare's revisal and improvement. STEEVENS. * Such a theatrical mistake will not appear improbable to the reader who recollects that in the fourth scene of the first act of the Third Part of King Henry VI, instead of "tigers of Hircania," the players have given us" tigers of Arcadia." Instead of "an Ate," in King John," an ace." Instead of "Panthino," in The Two Gentlemen of Verona," Panthion." Instead of "Polydore," in Cymbeline," Paladour" was continued through all the editions till that of 1773 ANTIOCHUS, king of Antioch. HELICANUS, ESCANES, } two lords of Tyre. SIMONIDES, king of Pentapolis. A Pander, and his wife. The daughter of Antiochus. MARINA, daughter to Pericles and Thaifa. LYCHORIDA, nurse to Marina. DIANA. Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen, and Meffengers, &c. SCENE, difperfedly in various countries. ACT I. T Enter GOWER. Before the Palace of ANTIOCH. O fing a fong of old was fung, On ember-eves, and holy-ales; So buxom, blithe, and full of face, SCENE I. Antioch. A Room in the Palace. Enter ANTIOCHUS, PERICLES, and Attendar Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large r The danger of the task you undertake. Per. I have, Antiochus, and with a foul Embolden'd with the glory of her praise, Think death no hazard, in this enterprize. Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride For the embracements even of love himself. [ At whose conception, (till Lucina reign'd,) Enter the daughter of ANTIOCHUS. Per. See, where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Of every virtue gives renown to men! Her face, the book of praises, where is read Nothing but curious pleasures, as from thence Sorrow were ever ras'd, and testy wrath Could never be her mild companion. Ye gods that made me man, and sway in love, That have inflam'd defire in my breast, To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree, Or die in the adventure, be my helps, As I am fon and servant to your will, To compass such a boundless happiness! Ant. Prince Pericles, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. Ant. Before thee stands this fair Hesperides, Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, That, without covering, save yon field of stars, They here stand martyrs, flain in Cupid's wars; |