How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
Which to prevent he made a law,
To keep her still, and men in awe,
That whoso ask'd her for his wife,
His riddle told not, lost his life[...] (1.Prologue.35-38)
As we know, Antiochus is having an incestuous affair with his daughter and he doesn't want anyone to know about it. The thing about monarchs like Antioch is that they have enough power to hide their immoral behavior, and there's not much anyone can do about it. Here, we learn that Antioch doesn't want anyone to marry his daughter, so he's come up with a riddle for potential suitors to try to solve. Anyone who guesses incorrectly loses his life. (We're guessing the same thing happens if a suitor guesses correctly.)
Quote #2
[Aside to the Princess] Fair glass of light, I loved you,
and could still, Were not this glorious casket stored with ill: (1.1.76-77)
Before he learns the truth about Antiochus's daughter, Pericles is totally hot for her and assumes that she's a good person and worth risking his life for. Why? Because she's hot, that's why. Then he discovers the truth and learns a huge lesson about outward appearance vs. inner beauty.
Here, he uses two metaphors to describe the princess's deception. First, he calls her a "fair glass of light," or a mirror that reflects light on the outside but is totally dark on the inside. Then he refers to her as a "glorious casket," which is just another way of calling her a jewel box that looks gorgeous on the outside but is full of evil instead of something precious and valuable. Of course, his use of the word "casket" also reminds us of a coffin and makes us think of death.Quote #3
How courtesy would seem to cover sin,
When what is done is like an hypocrite,
The which is good in nothing but in sight! (1.1.121-123)
Pericles is totally disgusted when King Antiochus pretends to be courteous when it's obvious he's going to try to have Pericles murdered so he can keep his secret hidden. Pericles learns a really important lesson at Antiochus's court: just because you're a king and you know how to act polite and generous, it doesn't mean you're not totally corrupt on the inside.