Act I

Gower, the Chorus, reveals that Antiochus, the king of Antioch, is engaged in an incestuous relationship with his daughter, and that both Antiochus and his daughter have grown accustomed to the situation and cease to consider it abnormal. The daughter of Antiochus is renowned for her great beauty, and princely suitors from around the world flock to Antioch to try and solve the riddle Antiochus insists they must solve if they are to wed his daughter. If they are unsuccessful in solving that riddle, they are put to death. Pericles, the prince of Tyre, arrives to try his luck. He is greatly impressed with the beauty of Antiochus's daughter and decides to risk his life. He solves the riddle but is reluctant to announce the solution because it refers to the incestuous relationship between father and daughter. He tells Antiochus's daughter that he no longer finds...