Sim. It pleaseth me so well, that I will see
you wed ;
Then with what haste you can get you to bed.
Exeunt.
Act HI.
Enter Gower.
Oow. Now sleep yslaked hath the rout ;
No din but snores the house about,
Made louder by the o'er-fed breast
Of this most pompous marriage-feast.
The cat, with eyne of burning coal,
Now couches fore the mouse's hole ;
And crickets sing at the oven's mouth,
E'er the blither for their drouth,.
Hymen hath brought the bride to bed,
Where, by the loss of maidenhead,
A babe is moulded. Be attent,
And time, that is so briefly spent,
With your fine fancies quaintly eche :
What's dumb in show I'll plain ivith speech,
[Dumb Show.]
Enter Pericles and Simonides with Attendants
at one door ; a Messenger meets them, kneels,
and gives Pericles a letter : Pericles shows it
to Simonides ; the Lords kneel to Pericles,
Then enter Thaisa with child, and Lychorida :
Simonides shows his daughter the letter;
she rejoices: she and Pericles take leave of
her father, and all depart.
By many a dern and painful perch
Of Pericles the careful search,
By the four opposing coigns.
Which the world together joins,
Is made with all due .diligence
That horse and sail and high expense,
Can stead the quest. At last from Tyre,
Fame answering the most strange inquire,
To the court of King Simonides
Are letters brought, the tenour these :
Antiochus and his daughter dead ;
The men of Tyrus on the head
Of Helicanus would set on
The crown of Tyre, but he will none :
The mutiny he there hastes t' oppress j
Says to 'em, if King Pericles
ACT III., Sc. 1.
PERICLES.
1073
Come not home in twice six moons,
He, obedient to their dooms,
Will take the crown. The sum of this,
Brought hither to Pentapolis,
Y-ravished the regions round,
And every one with claps can sound,
' Our heir-apparent is a king !
Who dream' d, who thought of such a thing ? '
Brief, he must hence depart to Tyre :
J/i.s queen with child makes her desire
\\~l>. ich who shall cross ? along to go :
Omit ice all their dole and woe :
Lychorida, her nurse, she takes,
And so to sea. Their vessel shakes
On Neptune's "billow ; half the flood
Hath their If eel cut : but Fortune's mood
Varies again : the grisled north
Disgorges such a tempest forth,
That, as a duck for life that dives,
So up and down the poor ship drives :
The lady shrieks, and ivell-a-near
Does fall in travail ivith her fear ;
And what ensues in this fell storm
Shall for itself itself perform.
I nill relate, action may
Conveniently the rest convey ;
Which might not what by me is told.
In your imagination hold
This stage the ship, upon whose deck
The sea-tost Pericles appears to speak. Exit.
Scene I.
Enter Pericles, on Shipboard.
Per. Thou God of this great vast, rebuke these
surges,
Which wash both heaven and hell ; and thou,
that hast
Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
Having call'd them from the deep ! 0, still
Thy deafening, dreadful thunders ; gently quench
Thy nimble, sulphurous flashes ! 0, how, Lycho-
rida,
How does my queen? Thou stormest venom-
ously ;
Wilt thou spit all thyself ? The seaman's whistle
Is as a whisper in the ears of death,
Unheard. Lychorida ! Lucina,
Divinest patroness, and midwife gentle
To those that cry by night, convey thy deity
Aboard our dancing boat ; make swift the pangs
Of my queen's travails !
Enter Lychorida, with an Infant.
Now, Lychorida !
Lye. Here is a thing too young for such a
place,
Who, if it had conceit, would die, as I
Am like to do : take in your arms this piece
Of your dead queen.
Per. How, how, Lychorida !
Lye. Patience, good sir ; do not assist the
storm.
il-r<> 's all that is left living of your queen,
A little daughter : for the sake of it,
Be manly, and take comfort.
Per. you gods !
Why do you make us love your goodly gifts,
And snatch them straight away ? We here below
Recall not what we give, and therein may
Use honour with you.
Lye. Patience, good sir,
Even for this charge.
Per. Now, mild may be thy life !
For a more blustrous birth had never babe :
Quiet and gentle thy conditions !
For thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world
That e'er was prince's child. Happy what fol-
lows !
Thou hast as chiding a nativity
As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
To herald thee from the womb : even at the first.,
Thy loss is more than can thy portage quit,
With all thou canst find here. Now, the good
gods
Throw their best eyes upon 't !
Enter two Sailors.
1 Sail. What courage, sir ? God save you !
Per. Courage enough : I do not fear the flaw ;
It hath done to me the worst. Yet, for the love
Of this poor infant, this fresh-new sea-farer,
I would it would be quiet.
1 Sail. Slack the bolins there ! thou wilt not,
wilt thou ? Blow, and split thyself.
2 Sail. But sea-room, an the brine and cloudy
billow kiss the moon, I care not.
1 Sail. Sir, your queen must overboard : the
sea works high, the wind is loud, and will not
lie till the ship be cleared of the dead.
Per. That 's your superstition.
1 Sail. Pardon us, sir ; with us at sea it hath
been still observed : and we are strong in custom.
Therefore briefly yield herj for she must over-
board straight.
Per. As you think meet. Most wretched
queen !
Lye. Here she lies, sir.
Per. A terrible childbed hast thou had, my
dear ;
No light, no fire : the unfriendly elements
Forgot thee utterly : nor have I* time
To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight
Must cast thee, scarcely coffin'd, in the ooze,
Where, for a monument upon thy bones,
And aye-remaining lamps, the belching whale
And humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse,
Lyin.c: with simple shells. Lychorida.
Bid Nestor bring me spices, ink and paper,
My casket and my jewels ; and bid Nicander
Bring me the satin coffer : lay the babe
Upon the pillow : hie thee, whiles I ny
A priestly farewell to her : suddenly, woman.
2 Sail. Sir, we have a chest beneath the
hatches, caulked and bitumed ready.
Per. I thank thee. Mariner, sav what coast is
this ?
2 Sail. We are near Tarsus.
Per. Thither, gentle mariner.
Alter thy course for Tyre. When canst then
reach it r
2 Sail. By break of day, if the wind cease.
Per. O, make for Tarsus !
There will I visit Cleon. for the hal>e
Cannot hold out to Tyrus : there I '11 leave it
At careful nursinir. Go thy ways, good mariiier :
I '11 bring the body presently. Exviint.
1074
PERICLES.
ACT III., Sc. 2.
Scene II. Ejihesus. A Room in Cerimon s
House.
Enter Cerimon, with a Servant, and some
Persons ivho have been shipwrecked.
Cer. Philemon, ho !
Enter Philemon.
Phil. Doth my lord call ?
Cer. Get fire and meat for these poor men :
'T has been a turbulent an'd stormy night.
Serv. I have been in many ; but such a night as
this,
Till now, I ne'er endured.
Cer. Your master will be dead ere you return ;
There 's nothing can be minister 'd to nature
That can recover him. [To Philemon.'] Give
this to the 'pothecary,
And tell me how it works.
Exeunt all but Cerimon.
Enter two Gentlemen.
1 Gent. Good morrow.
2 Gent. Good morrow to your lordship.
Cer. Gentlemen,
Why do you stir so early ?
1 Gent. Sir,
Our lodgings, standing bleak upon the sea,
Shook as the earth did quake j
The very principals did seem to rend,
And all -to topple : pure surprise and fear
Made me to quit the house.'
2 Gent. That is the cause we trouble you
so early ;
'Tis not our husbandry.
Cer. 0, you say well.
1 Gent. But I much marvel that your lordship,
having
Eich tire about you, should at these early hours
Shake off the golden slumber of repose.
'Tis most strange,
Nature should be so conversant with pain,
Being thereto not compell'd.
Cer. I hold it ever,
Virtue and cunning were endowments greater
Than nobleness and riches : careless heirs
May the two latter darken and expend ;
B.ut immortality attends the former,
Making a man a god. 'Tis known, I ever
Have studied physic, through which secret art,
By turning o'er authorities, I have,
Together with my practice, made familiar
To me and to my aid the blest infusions
That dwell in vegetives, in metals, stones ;
And I can speak of the disturbances
That nature works, and of her cures; which doth
give me
A more content in course of true delight
Than to be thirsty after tottering honour,
Or tie my treasure up in silken bags,
To please the fool and death.
2 Gent. Your honour has through Ephesus
pour'd forth
Your charity, and hundreds call themselves
Your creatures, who by you have been restored :
And not your knowledge, your personal pain, but
even
Your purse, still open, hath built Lord Cerimon
Such strong renown as time shall ne'er decay.
Enter two or three Servants, ivith a chest.
1 Serv. So;, lift there.
Cer. What is that ?
1 Serv. Sir, even now
Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest :
'Tis of some wrack.
Cer. Set 't down, let 's look upon 't.
2 Gent. 'Tis like a coffin, sir.
Cer. Whate'er it be,
'Tis wondrous heavy. Wrench it open straight :
If the sea's stomach be o'ercharg'd with gold,
'Tis a good constraint of fortune it belches upon us.
2 Gent. 'Tis so, my lord.
Cer. How close 'tis caulk' d and bitumed !
Did the sea cast it up ?
1 Serv. I never saw so huge a billow, sir,
As toss'd it upon shore.
Cer. Wrench it open ;
Soft ! it smells most sweetly in my sense.
2 Gent. A delicate odour.
Cer. As ever hit my nostril. So, up with it.
O you must potent gods ! what 's here ? a corse !
1 Gent. Most strange !
Cer. Shrouded in cloth of state, balm'd and
entreasured
With full bags of spices ! A passport too !
Apollo, perfect me in the characters !
Reads from a scroll.
Here I give to understand,
If e'er this coffin drive a-land,
j, King Pericles, have lost
This queen, worth all our mundane cost.
Who finds her, give her burying ;
She was the daughter of a Icing :
Besides this treasure for a fee,
The gods requite his charity !
If thou liv'st, Pericles, thou hast a heart
That even cracks for woe ! This chanc'd to-
night.
2 Gent. Most likely, sir.
Cer. Nay, certainly to-night ;
For look how fresh she looks ! They were too
rough
That threw her in the sea. Make a fire within :
Fetch hither all my boxes in my closet.
Exit a Servant.
Death may usurp on nature many hours,
And yet the fire of life kindle again
The o'erpress'd spirits. I heard
Of an Egyptian that had nine hours lien dead,
Who was by good appliance recovered.
Re-enter a Servant, with boxes, napkins, and
fire.
Well said, well said ; the fire and the cloths.
The rough and woeful music that we have,
Cause it to sound, beseech you.
The viol once more : how thou stirr'st, thou
block !
The music there ! I pr.ay you, give her air.
Gentlemen,
This queen will live : nature awakes ; a warmth
Breathes out of her : she hath not been entranc'd
Above five hours : see how she 'gins to blow
Into life's flower again !
1 Gent. The heavens,
Through you, increase our wonder and set up
Your fame for ever.
ACT V., Sc. 1.
PERICLES.
1083
Per. Nay, I '11 be patient.
Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me,
To call thyself Marina.
Mar. The name
Was given me by one that had some power,
My father, and a king.
Per. How ! a king's daughter?
And call'd Marina ?
Mar. You said you would believe me ;
But, not to be a troubler of your peace,
I will end here.
Per. But are you flesh and blood ?
Have you a working pulse ? and are no fairy ?
Motion ! Well ; speak on. Where were you born ?
And wherefore call'd Marina.
Mar. Call'd Marina
For I was born at sea.
Per. At sea ! what mother ?
Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king ;
Who died the minute I was born,
As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
Deliver' d weeping.
Per. O, stop there a little !
[Aside] This is the rarest dream that e'er dull
sleep
Did mock sad fools withal : this cannot be :
My daughter's buried. Well: where were you
bred?
I '11 hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.
Mar. You scorn to believe me, 'twere best I
did give o'er.
Per. I will believe you by the syllable
Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave :
How came you in these parts ? where were you
bred?
Mar. The king my father did in Tarsus leave
me;
Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,
Did seek to murder me : and having woo'd
A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to
do 't,
A crew of pirates came and rescu'd me ;
Brought me to Mitylene. But, good sir,
Whither will you have me ? Why do you weep ?
It may be,
You think me an impostor : no, good faith ;
I am the daughter to King Pericles,
If good King Pericles be.
Per. Ho, Helicanus !
Hel. Calls my lord?
Per. Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,
Most wise in general : tell me, if thou canst,
What this maid is, or what is like to be,
That thus hath made me weep ?
Hel. I know not ; but
Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene,
Speaks nobly of her.
Lys. She would never tell
Her parentage ; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.
Per. Helicanus, strike me, honour'd sir ;
Give me a gash, put me to present pain ;
Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me
O'erbear the shores of my mortality,
And drown me with their sweetness. O, come
hither,
Thou that begett'st him that did thee beget ;
Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus,
And found at sea again ! O Helicanus,
Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods as loud
As thunder threatens us : this is Marina.
What was" thy mother's name ? tell me but that,
For truth can never be confirm' d enough,
Though doubts did ever sleep.
Mar. First, sir, I pray,
What is your title ?
Per. I am Pericles of Tyre : but tell me now
My drown' d queen's name, as in the rest you said
Thou hast been godlike perfect,
Thou 'rt heir of kingdoms, and another life
To Pericles thy father.
Mar. Is it no more to be your daughter than
To say my mother's name was Thaisa ?
Thaisa was my mother, who did end
The minute I began.
Per. Now, blessing on thee ! rise ; thou art
my child.
Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus ;
She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should have been,
By savage Cleon : she shall tell thee all ;
When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge
She is thy very princess. Who is this ?
Hel. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.
Per. I embrace you.
Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.
heavens bless my girl! But, hark, what
music ?
Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him
O'er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt,
How sure you are my daughter. But, what
music ?
Hel. My lord, I hear none.
Per. None !
The music of the spheres ! List, my Marina.
Lys. It is not good to cross him ; give him way.
Per. Rarest sounds ! Do ye not hear ?
Lys. My lord, I hear. Music.
Per. Most heavenly music !
It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber
Hangs upon mine eyes : let me rest.
Lys. A pillow for his head :
So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
1 '11 well remember you.
Exeunt all lut Pericles.
Diana appears to Pericles as in a vision.
Dia. My temple stands in Ephesus : hie thee
thither,
And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
There, when my maiden priests are met together.
Before the people all,
Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife :
To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call
And give them repetition to the life.
Or perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe ;
Do it, and happy ; by my silver bow !
Awake, and tell thy dream. Disappears.
Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
I will obey thee. Helicanus !
Re-enter Helicanus, Lysimachits, and Marina.
Hel. Sir ?
Per. My purpose was for Tarsus, there to
strike
Nn
1084
PERICLES.
ACT V., Sc. 3.
The inhospitable Cleon ; but I am
For other service first : toward Ephesus
Turn our blown sails ; eftsoons I '11 tell thee
why.
[To Lysimachus'] Shall we refresh us, sir, upon
your shore,
And give you gold for such provision
As our intents will need ?
Lys. Sir,
With all my heart ; and, when you come ashore,
I have another suit.
Per. You shall prevail,
Were it to woo my daughter ; for it seems
You have been noble towards her.
Lys. Sir, lend me your arm.
Per. Come, my Marina. Exeunt.
Scene II. Before the Temple of Diana at
Ephesus.
Enter Gower.
Oow. Now our sands are almost run ;
More a little, and then dumb.
This, my last boon, give me,
For such kindness must relieve me,
That you aptly will suppose
What pageantry, what feats, what shows,
What minstrelsy, and pretty din,
The regent made in Mitylene
To greet the king. So he thrived,
That he is promised to be wived.
To fair Marina ; but in no wise
Till he had done his sacrifice,
As Dian bade : whereto being "bound,
The interim,, pray you, all confound.
Infeather'd briefness sails arejill'd,
And wishes fall out as they 're will d.
At Ephesus, the temple see,
Our king and all his company.
That he can hither come so soon,
Is by your fancy's thankful doom. Exit.
Scene III. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus;
Thaisa standing near the altar, as high
priestess ; a number of Virgins on each side ;
Cerimon and other Inhabitants of Ephesus
attending.
Enter Pericles, with his train ; Lysimachus,
Helicanus, Marina, and a Lady.
Per. Hail, Dian ! to perform thy .just com-
mand,
I here confess myself the king of Tyre ;
Who, frighted from my country, did wed
At Pentapolis the fair Thaisa.
At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth
A maid-child call'd Marina ; who, O goddess,
Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tarsus
Was nursed with Cleon ; who at fourteen years
He sought to murder : but her better stars
Brought her to Mitylene ; 'gairist whose shore
Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us,
Where, by her own most clear remembrance,
she
Made known herself my daughter.
Thai. Voice and favour !
You are, you are O royal Pericles ! Faints.
Per. What means the woman ? she dies ! help,
gentlemen !
Cer. Noble sir,
If you have told Diana's altar true,
This is your wife.
Per. Eeverend appearer, no ;
I threw her overboard with these very arms.
Cer. Upon this coast, I warrant you.
Per. 'Tis most certain.
Cer. Look to the lady ; O, she 's but o'er-
joy'd.
Early in blustering morn this lady was
Thi-own upon this shore. I oped the coffin,
Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and
placed her
Herein Diana's temple.
Per. May we see them ?
Cer. Great sir, they shall be brought you to
my house,
Whither I invite you. Look, Thaisa is
Recovered.
Thai. O, let me look !
If he be none of mine, my sanctity
Will to my sense bend no licentious ear,
But curb it, spite of seeing. O, my lord,
Are you not Pericles ? Like him you speak,
Like him you are : did you not name a tempest,
A birth, and death ?
Per. The voice of dead Thaisa !
Thai. That Thaisa am I, supposed dead
And drown'd.
Per. Immortal Dian !
Thai. Now I know you better.
When we with tears parted Pentapolis,
The king my father gave you such a ring.
Shows a ring.
Per. This, this : no more, you gods ! your
present kindness
Makes my past miseries sports : you shall do well,
That on the touching of her lips I may
Melt and no more be seen. O, come, be buried
A second time within these arms.
Mar. My heart
Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom.
Kneels to Thaisa.
Per. Look, who kneels here ! Flesh of thy
flesh, Thaisa ;
Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina,
For she was yielded there.
Thai. Blest, and mine own !
Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen !
Thai. I know you not.
Per. You have heard me say, when I did fly
from Tyre,
I left behind an ancient substitute :
Can you remember what I call'd the man ?
I have named him oft.
Thai. f 'Twas Helicanus then.
Per. Still confirmation :
Embrace him, dear Thaisa ; this is he.
Now do I long to hear how you were found ;
How possibly preserv'd, and whom to thank,
Besides the gods, for this great miracle.
Thai. Lord Cerimon, my lord ; this man,
Through whom the gods have shown their
power ; that can
From first to last resolve you.
Per. Reverend sir,
The gods can have no mortal officer
ACT V., Sc. 3
PERICLES.
1085
More like a god than you. Will you deliver
How this dead queen re-lives ?
Cer. I will, my lord.
Beseech you, first go with me to my house,
Where shall be shown you all was found with
her ;
How she came placed here in the temple ;
No needful thing omitted.
Per. Pure Dian, bless thee for thy vision ! I
Will offer night- oblations to thee. Thaisa,
This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,
Shall marry her at Pentapolis. And now,
This ornament
Makes me look dismal will I clip to form ;
And what this fourteen years no razor touch'd,
To grace thy marriage-day, I '11 beautify.
Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good
credit, sir,
My father 's dead.
Per. Heavens make a star of him ! Yet there,
my queen,
We '11 celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves
Will in that kingdom spend our following
days :
Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.
Lord Cerimon, we do our longing stay
To hear the rest untold : sir, lead 's the way.
Exeunt.
Enter Goiver.
Gow. In Antiochus and his daughter you have
heard
Of monstrous lust the due and just reward :
In Pericles, his queen and daughter, seen
Although assail' d with fortune fierce and Jceen
Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crown' d ivith jcy at last.
In Helicanus may you well descry
A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty :
In reverend Cerimon there well appears
The worth that learned charity aye wears.
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd
name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn,
That him and his they in his palace burn ;
The gods for murder seemed so content
To punish them ; although not done, but meant.
So, on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on o/oi: / Here our play has
ending. Exit.
LONDON :
EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE,
Her Majesty's Printers',
DOWNS PARK ROAD, HACKNEY, N.E.
14 DAY USE
RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED
LOAN DEPT.
This book is due on the last date stamped below, or
on the date to which renewed.
Renewed books are subject to immediate recall.
. 4Apr'88^
REC'O UD
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| lAAft 8 ^ 1983
LD 21A-50m-ll '62 General Library
(D3279slO)476B UmverS j, t I,Kl,? lifornia
YC 14126