Pericles

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I CHORUS 
Enter Gower.Enter Gower Per chorus.I.1
GOWER 
TO sing a Song that old was sung,To sing a song that old was sung, Per Chorus.I.1
From ashes, auntient Gower is come,From ashes ancient Gower is come, Per Chorus.I.2
Assuming mans infirmities,Assuming man's infirmities, Per Chorus.I.3
To glad your eare, and please your eyes:To glad your ear and please your eyes.glad (v.)
gladden, brighten, cause to rejoice
Per Chorus.I.4
It hath been sung at Feastiuals,It hath been sung at festivals, Per Chorus.I.5
On Ember eues, and Holydayes:On ember-eves and holidays,ember-eve (n.)

old form: Ember eues
evening before ember-days [church quarterly 3-day period of fasting and prayer]
Per Chorus.I.6
And Lords and Ladyes in their liues,And lords and ladies in their lives Per Chorus.I.7
Haue red it for restoratiues:Have read it for restoratives.restorative (n.)

old form: restoratiues
healing power, medicinal cordial
Per Chorus.I.8
The purchase is to make men glorious,The purchase is to make men glorious,purchase (n.)
beneficial result, benefit, advantage
Per Chorus.I.9
glorious (adj.)
seeking glory, eager for renown
Et bonum quo Antiquius eo melius:Et bonum quo antiquius eo melius.et...
and the older a good thing is, the better
Per Chorus.I.10
If you, borne in those latter times,If you, born in these latter times Per Chorus.I.11
When Witts more ripe, accept my rimes;When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes,wit (n.)

old form: Witts
intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability
Per Chorus.I.12
ripe (adj.)
mature, sophisticated, refined
And that to heare an old man sing,And that to hear an old man sing Per Chorus.I.13
May to your Wishes pleasure bring:May to your wishes pleasure bring, Per Chorus.I.14
I life would wish, and that I mightI life would wish, and that I might Per Chorus.I.15
Waste it for you, like Taper light.Waste it for you like taper-light.taper-light (n.)

old form: Taper light
candle-light
Per Chorus.I.16
This Antioch, then Antiochus the great,This Antioch, then. Antiochus the GreatAntiochus the Great
[pron: an'tiyokus] Antiochus III; Syrian king in 2nd-c BC
Per Chorus.I.17
Buylt vp this Citie, for his chiefest Seat;Built up this city for his chiefest seat, Per Chorus.I.18
The fayrest in all Syria.The fairest in all Syria; Per Chorus.I.19
I tell you what mine Authors saye:I tell you what mine authors say.author (n.)
authority, source, informant
Per Chorus.I.20
This King vnto him tooke a Peere,This king unto him took a peer,peer (n.)

old form: Peere
mate, companion; wife
Per Chorus.I.21
Who dyed, and left a female heyre,Who died and left a female heir, Per Chorus.I.22
So bucksome, blith, and full of face,So buxom, blithe, and full of face,buxom (adj.)

old form: bucksome
lively, cheerful, bright
Per Chorus.I.23
As heauen had lent her all his grace:As heaven had lent her all his grace; Per Chorus.I.24
With whom the Father liking tooke,With whom the father liking took,liking (n.)
lustful affection, sexual attraction
Per Chorus.I.25
And her to Incest did prouoke:And her to incest did provoke. Per Chorus.I.26
Bad child, worse father, to intice his owneBad child, worse father, to entice his own Per Chorus.I.27
To euill, should be done by none:To evil should be done by none; Per Chorus.I.28
But custome what they did begin,But custom what they did begin Per Chorus.I.29
Was with long vse, account'd no sinne;Was with long use accounted no sin. Per Chorus.I.30
The beautie of this sinfull Dame,The beauty of this sinful dame Per Chorus.I.31
Made many Princes thither frame,Made many princes thither frameframe (v.)
direct one's steps, shape a course, betake oneself
Per Chorus.I.32
To seeke her as a bedfellow,To seek her as a bedfellow, Per Chorus.I.33
In maryage pleasures, playfellow:In marriage pleasures playfellow; Per Chorus.I.34
Which to preuent, he made a Law,Which to prevent he made a law, Per Chorus.I.35
To keepe her still, and men in awe:To keep her still and men in awe,still (adv.)
constantly, always, continually
Per Chorus.I.36
That who so askt her for his wife,That whoso asked her for his wife, Per Chorus.I.37
His Riddle tould, not lost his life:His riddle told not, lost his life.tell (v.)

old form: tould
disclose, reveal, explain
Per Chorus.I.38
So for her many of wight did die,So for her many a wight did die,wight (n.)
[archaism] person, human being
Per Chorus.I.39
As yon grimme lookes do testifie.As yon grim looks do testify. Per Chorus.I.40
What now ensues, to the iudgement of your eye,What now ensues, to the judgement of your eye, Per Chorus.I.41
I giue my cause, who best can iustifie.I give my cause, who best can justify. Per Chorus.I.42
Exit.Exit Per Chorus.I.42
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