Pericles, Prince Of Tyre

1 deck, with a curtain before it; Pericles within it, reclined on a
2 couch. A barge lying beside the Tyrian vessel.
3 Enter two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrian vessel, the other to
4 the barge; to them Helicanus.
5 TYRIAN SAILOR.
6 [_To the Sailor of Mytilene._]
7 Where is lord Helicanus? He can resolve you.
8 O, here he is.
9 Sir, there’s a barge put off from Mytilene,
10 And in it is Lysimachus the governor,
11 Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
12 HELICANUS.
13 That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
14 TYRIAN SAILOR.
15 Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
16 Enter two or three Gentlemen.
17 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
18 Doth your lordship call?
19 HELICANUS.
20 Gentlemen, there is some of worth would come aboard;
21 I pray ye, greet them fairly.
22 [_The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend and go on board the
23 barge._]
24 Enter, from thence, Lysimachus and Lords; with the Gentlemen and the
25 two Sailors.
26 TYRIAN SAILOR.
27 Sir,
28 This is the man that can, in aught you would,
29 Resolve you.
30 LYSIMACHUS.
31 Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!
32 HELICANUS.
33 And you, sir, to outlive the age I am,
34 And die as I would do.
35 LYSIMACHUS.
36 You wish me well.
37 Being on shore, honouring of Neptune’s triumphs,
38 Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us,
39 I made to it, to know of whence you are.
40 HELICANUS.
41 First, what is your place?
42 LYSIMACHUS.
43 I am the governor of this place you lie before.
44 HELICANUS.
45 Sir, our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king;
46 A man who for this three months hath not spoken
47 To anyone, nor taken sustenance
48 But to prorogue his grief.
49 LYSIMACHUS.
50 Upon what ground is his distemperature?
51 HELICANUS.
52 ’Twould be too tedious to repeat;
53 But the main grief springs from the loss
54 Of a beloved daughter and a wife.
55 LYSIMACHUS.
56 May we not see him?
57 HELICANUS.
58 You may;
59 But bootless is your sight: he will not speak
60 To any.
61 LYSIMACHUS.
62 Yet let me obtain my wish.
63 HELICANUS.
64 Behold him.
65 [_Pericles discovered._]
66 This was a goodly person.
67 Till the disaster that, one mortal night,
68 Drove him to this.
69 LYSIMACHUS.
70 Sir king, all hail! The gods preserve you!
71 Hail, royal sir!
72 HELICANUS.
73 It is in vain; he will not speak to you.
74 FIRST LORD.
75 Sir, we have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager,
76 Would win some words of him.
77 LYSIMACHUS.
78 ’Tis well bethought.
79 She questionless with her sweet harmony
80 And other chosen attractions, would allure,
81 And make a battery through his deafen’d parts,
82 Which now are midway stopp’d:
83 She is all happy as the fairest of all,
84 And, with her fellow maids, is now upon
85 The leafy shelter that abuts against
86 The island’s side.
87 [_Whispers a Lord who goes off in the barge of Lysimachus._]
88 HELICANUS.
89 Sure, all’s effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit
90 That bears recovery’s name. But, since your kindness
91 We have stretch’d thus far, let us beseech you
92 That for our gold we may provision have,
93 Wherein we are not destitute for want,
94 But weary for the staleness.
95 LYSIMACHUS.
96 O, sir, a courtesy
97 Which if we should deny, the most just gods
98 For every graff would send a caterpillar,
99 And so inflict our province. Yet once more
100 Let me entreat to know at large the cause
101 Of your king’s sorrow.
102 HELICANUS.
103 Sit, sir, I will recount it to you:
104 But, see, I am prevented.
105 Re-enter from the barge, Lord with Marina and a young Lady.
106 LYSIMACHUS.
107 O, here is the lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one!
108 Is’t not a goodly presence?
109 HELICANUS.
110 She’s a gallant lady.
111 LYSIMACHUS.
112 She’s such a one, that, were I well assured
113 Came of a gentle kind and noble stock,
114 I’d wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed.
115 Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty
116 Expect even here, where is a kingly patient:
117 If that thy prosperous and artificial feat
118 Can draw him but to answer thee in aught,
119 Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay
120 As thy desires can wish.
121 MARINA.
122 Sir, I will use
123 My utmost skill in his recovery, provided
124 That none but I and my companion maid
125 Be suffer’d to come near him.
126 LYSIMACHUS.
127 Come, let us leave her,
128 And the gods make her prosperous!
129 [_Marina sings._]
130 LYSIMACHUS.
131 Mark’d he your music?
132 MARINA.
133 No, nor look’d on us.
134 LYSIMACHUS.
135 See, she will speak to him.
136 MARINA.
137 Hail, sir! My lord, lend ear.
138 PERICLES.
139 Hum, ha!
140 MARINA.
141 I am a maid,
142 My lord, that ne’er before invited eyes,
143 But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks,
144 My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief
145 Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh’d.
146 Though wayward Fortune did malign my state,
147 My derivation was from ancestors
148 Who stood equivalent with mighty kings:
149 But time hath rooted out my parentage,
150 And to the world and awkward casualties
151 Bound me in servitude.
152 [_Aside._] I will desist;
153 But there is something glows upon my cheek,
154 And whispers in mine ear ‘Go not till he speak.’
155 PERICLES.
156 My fortunes—parentage—good parentage—
157 To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?
158 MARINA.
159 I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage,
160 You would not do me violence.
161 PERICLES.
162 I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me.
163 You are like something that—what country-woman?
164 Here of these shores?
165 MARINA.
166 No, nor of any shores:
167 Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
168 No other than I appear.
169 PERICLES.
170 I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping.
171 My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one
172 My daughter might have been: my queen’s square brows;
173 Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight;
174 As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like
175 And cased as richly; in pace another Juno;
176 Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry,
177 The more she gives them speech. Where do you live?
178 MARINA.
179 Where I am but a stranger: from the deck
180 You may discern the place.
181 PERICLES.
182 Where were you bred?
183 And how achieved you these endowments, which
184 You make more rich to owe?
185 MARINA.
186 If I should tell my history, it would seem
187 Like lies disdain’d in the reporting.
188 PERICLES.
189 Prithee, speak:
190 Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look’st
191 Modest as Justice, and thou seem’st a palace
192 For the crown’d Truth to dwell in: I will believe thee,
193 And make my senses credit thy relation
194 To points that seem impossible; for thou look’st
195 Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends?
196 Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back—
197 Which was when I perceived thee—that thou cam’st
198 From good descending?
199 MARINA.
200 So indeed I did.
201 PERICLES.
202 Report thy parentage. I think thou said’st
203 Thou hadst been toss’d from wrong to injury,
204 And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine,
205 If both were open’d.
206 MARINA.
207 Some such thing,
208 I said, and said no more but what my thoughts
209 Did warrant me was likely.
210 PERICLES.
211 Tell thy story;
212 If thine consider’d prove the thousand part
213 Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I
214 Have suffer’d like a girl: yet thou dost look
215 Like Patience gazing on kings’ graves, and smiling
216 Extremity out of act. What were thy friends?
217 How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin?
218 Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me.
219 MARINA.
220 My name is Marina.
221 PERICLES.
222 O, I am mock’d,
223 And thou by some incensed god sent hither
224 To make the world to laugh at me.
225 MARINA.
226 Patience, good sir,
227 Or here I’ll cease.
228 PERICLES.
229 Nay, I’ll be patient.
230 Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me,
231 To call thyself Marina.
232 MARINA.
233 The name
234 Was given me by one that had some power,
235 My father, and a king.
236 PERICLES.
237 How! a king’s daughter?
238 And call’d Marina?
239 MARINA.
240 You said you would believe me;
241 But, not to be a troubler of your peace,
242 I will end here.
243 PERICLES.
244 But are you flesh and blood?
245 Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?
246 Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born?
247 And wherefore call’d Marina?
248 MARINA.
249 Call’d Marina
250 For I was born at sea.
251 PERICLES.
252 At sea! What mother?
253 MARINA.
254 My mother was the daughter of a king;
255 Who died the minute I was born,
256 As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
257 Deliver’d weeping.
258 PERICLES.
259 O, stop there a little! [_Aside._] This is the rarest dream that e’er
260 dull sleep
261 Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be:
262 My daughter, buried. Well, where were you bred?
263 I’ll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
264 And never interrupt you.
265 MARINA.
266 You scorn: believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.
267 PERICLES.
268 I will believe you by the syllable
269 Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave:
270 How came you in these parts? Where were you bred?
271 MARINA.
272 The king my father did in Tarsus leave me;
273 Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,
274 Did seek to murder me: and having woo’d
275 A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do’t,
276 A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
277 Brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir.
278 Whither will you have me? Why do you weep? It may be,
279 You think me an impostor: no, good faith;
280 I am the daughter to King Pericles,
281 If good King Pericles be.
282 PERICLES.
283 Ho, Helicanus!
284 Enter Helicanus and Lysimachus.
285 HELICANUS.
286 Calls my lord?
287 PERICLES.
288 Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,
289 Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst,
290 What this maid is, or what is like to be,
291 That thus hath made me weep.
292 HELICANUS.
293 I know not,
294 But here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene
295 Speaks nobly of her.
296 LYSIMACHUS.
297 She would never tell
298 Her parentage; being demanded that,
299 She would sit still and weep.
300 PERICLES.
301 O Helicanus, strike me, honour’d sir;
302 Give me a gash, put me to present pain;
303 Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me
304 O’erbear the shores of my mortality,
305 And drown me with their sweetness.
306 [_To Marina_] O, come hither,
307 Thou that beget’st him that did thee beget;
308 Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus,
309 And found at sea again! O Helicanus,
310 Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods as loud
311 As thunder threatens us: this is Marina.
312 What was thy mother’s name? tell me but that,
313 For truth can never be confirm’d enough,
314 Though doubts did ever sleep.
315 MARINA.
316 First, sir, I pray, what is your title?
317 PERICLES.
318 I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now
319 My drown’d queen’s name, as in the rest you said
320 Thou hast been godlike perfect,
321 The heir of kingdoms and another life
322 To Pericles thy father.
323 MARINA.
324 Is it no more to be your daughter than
325 To say my mother’s name was Thaisa?
326 Thaisa was my mother, who did end
327 The minute I began.
328 PERICLES.
329 Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.
330 Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus;
331 She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should have been,
332 By savage Cleon: she shall tell thee all;
333 When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge
334 She is thy very princess. Who is this?
335 HELICANUS.
336 Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene,
337 Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
338 Did come to see you.
339 PERICLES.
340 I embrace you.
341 Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.
342 O heavens bless my girl! But, hark, what music?
343 Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him
344 O’er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt,
345 How sure you are my daughter. But, what music?
346 HELICANUS.
347 My lord, I hear none.
348 PERICLES.
349 None!
350 The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.
351 LYSIMACHUS.
352 It is not good to cross him; give him way.
353 PERICLES.
354 Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?
355 LYSIMACHUS.
356 Music, my lord? I hear.
357 [_Music._]
358 PERICLES.
359 Most heavenly music!
360 It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber
361 Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
362 [_Sleeps._]
363 LYSIMACHUS.
364 A pillow for his head:
365 So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,
366 If this but answer to my just belief,
367 I’ll well remember you.
368 [_Exeunt all but Pericles._]
369 Diana appears to Pericles as in a vision.
370 DIANA.
371 My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither,
372 And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
373 There, when my maiden priests are met together,
374 Before the people all,
375 Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife:
376 To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter’s, call
377 And give them repetition to the life.
378 Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe:
379 Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
380 Awake and tell thy dream.
381 [_Disappears._]
382 PERICLES.
383 Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
384 I will obey thee. Helicanus!
385 Re-enter Helicanus, Lysimachus and Marina.
386 HELICANUS.
387 Sir?
388 PERICLES.
389 My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike
390 The inhospitable Cleon; but I am
391 For other service first: toward Ephesus
392 Turn our blown sails; eftsoons I’ll tell thee why.
393 [_To Lysimachus._] Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,
394 And give you gold for such provision
395 As our intents will need?
396 LYSIMACHUS.
397 Sir, with all my heart,
398 And when you come ashore I have another suit.
399 PERICLES.
400 You shall prevail, were it to woo my daughter;
401 For it seems you have been noble towards her.
402 LYSIMACHUS.
403 Sir, lend me your arm.
404 PERICLES.
405 Come, my Marina.
406 [_Exeunt._]