Peace, peace, and give experience tongue. They do abuse the king that flatter him: For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing which is flatter’d, but a spark, To which that blast gives heat and stronger glowing; Whereas reproof, obedient and in order, Fits kings, as they are men, for they may err. When Signior Sooth here does proclaim a peace, He flatters you, makes war upon your life. Prince, pardon me, or strike me, if you please; I cannot be much lower than my knees.
Peace, peace, and let experience speak. They deceive the king who flatter him: For flattery is like the bellows that stokes sin; The thing being flattered is just a spark, Which the blast makes hotter and burns stronger; But reproof, given with respect and in order, Is what kings need, as they are men, and can make mistakes. When Signior Sooth here declares peace, He flatters you, but makes war on your life. Prince, forgive me, or strike me, if you wish; I can’t go much lower than on my knees.
Helicanus · Act 1, Scene 2
Helicanus kneels before Pericles and defends honest counsel over flattery, willing to be struck for speaking truth. The passage matters because it shows that the truest loyalty is not obedience but the willingness to wound with words if it saves the king from himself. It defines honor as service to the person, not the crown.
We’ll mingle our bloods together in the earth, From whence we had our being and our birth.
We’ll mix our bloods together in the earth, From which we came into life.
Helicanus · Act 1, Scene 2
Helicanus swears he will die alongside Pericles if his rule is threatened, binding himself to the earth itself. The line is brief but absolute: it says that loyalty is not conditional and that devotion can outlast doubt. It shows what it means to be a subject willing to become the king's equal in death.
For honour’s cause, forbear your suffrages: If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear. Take I your wish, I leap into the seas, Where’s hourly trouble for a minute’s ease. A twelvemonth longer, let me entreat you to Forbear the absence of your king: If in which time expired, he not return, I shall with aged patience bear your yoke. But if I cannot win you to this love, Go search like nobles, like noble subjects, And in your search spend your adventurous worth; Whom if you find, and win unto return, You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.
For honor’s sake, hold back your votes: If you love Prince Pericles, hold back. Take my wish, and I’ll leap into the sea, Where there’s constant trouble for a moment’s peace. A year longer, let me ask you to Hold back from the absence of your king: If in that time he doesn’t return, I’ll bear your burden with patience. But if I can’t win you to this cause, Go search like nobles, like loyal subjects, And spend your worth on the journey; If you find him, and bring him back, You’ll sit like diamonds on his crown.
Helicanus · Act 2, Scene 4
Helicanus persuades the lords to give Pericles twelve more months before choosing a new king, offering himself as regent in the meantime. The speech matters because it asks men to believe in absence rather than presence, and to trust in return rather than accept loss. It is loyalty not tested by proximity but proven by faith.
