ABSTRACT
Antiochus, who as before is discoursed, having committed with his owne daughter so foule a sinne, shamed not in the same foulenesse to remaine in it with her, neither had shee that touch of grace, by repentaunce to constraine him to abstinence, or by perswasion to deny his continuance: long, like those miserable serpents did their greatnesse flourish, who use fairest shewes for fowlest evills, till one day himselfe seated with her in a Charriot, made of the purest golde, attended by his peeres, and gased on by his people, both apparrelled all in Jewells, to out face suspition, and beget wonder (as if that glorious outsides were a wall could keepe heavens eye from knowing our intents) in great magnificence rode they through Antioch: But see the Justice of the Highest, though sinne flatter, and man persevere, yet surely Heaven at length dooth punish. For as thus they rode, gazing to be gazed upon, and prowd to be accompted so, Vengeance with a deadly arrow drawne from foorth the quiver of his wrath, prepared by lightning, and shot on by thunder, hitte, and strucke dead these prowd incestuous creatures where they sate, leaving their faces blasted, and their bodies such a contemptfull object on the earth, that all those eyes, but now with reverence looked upon them, all hands that served them, and all knees adored them, scorned now to touch them, loathd now to looke upon them, and disdained now to give them buriall.2 Nay, such is heavens hate to these and such like sinnes, and such his indignation to his present evill, that twixt his stroke and death, hee lent not so much mercy to their lives, wherein they had time to crie out; Justice, be mercifull, for we repent us. They thus dead, thus contemned, and insteede of kingly monument for their bodies left, to be intoombed in the bowelles of ravenous fowles, if fowles would eate on them. The strangenesse3 of their deaths were soone rumored over that part of the world, and as soone brought to the eares of Helycanus, who was a carefull watchman to have knowledge of whatsoever hapned in Antioch, and by his knowledge to prevent what daunger might succeede, eyther to his Prince, or to his subjectes in his absence, of
5 which tragedy he having notice, presently he imparted the news thereof to his grave and familiar friend Lord Eschines,l and now told him what till now hee had concealed, namely of their incest together, and that onely for the displeasure which princely Pericles feared Antiochus bore towardes him, and might extend to his people, by his knowledge thereof, hee thus long by his counsell had discontinued from his kingdome.
