Though doubts did ever sleep
Mar.

What is your title?

First, sir, I pray,

Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now (As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,) My drown'd queen's name, thou art the heir of kingdoms,

And another life to Pericles thy father.

Mur. 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,
(Not dead at Tharsus, 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, sir.
Give me my robes; I am wild in my beholding.
O 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?

is closed.

So leave him all.-Well, my companion-friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
I'll well remember you.

[Exeunt Lysimachus, Helicanus, Marina,
and attendant Lady.

SCENE II.-The same. Pericles on the deck
asleep; Diana appearing to him 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.
Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in wo:
Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow.

Awake, and tell thy dream. [Diana disappears.
Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

I will obey thee!-Helicanus !

Enter Lysimachus, Helicanus, and Marina. Hel.

Sir.

Per. My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike

The inhospitable Cleon; but I am

For other service first: toward Ephesus

(1) Repeat a lively narrative of your adventures.
(2) i. e. Regent of the silver moon.
(3) Swollen,
(4) Soon,

Enter Gower, before the temple of Diana of
Ephesus.

Gow. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then done.

This, as 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 Mitylin,

To greet the king. So he was thriv'd,
That he is promis'd to be wiv'd
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.
In feather'd briefness sails are fill'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 boon.
SCENE III.-The temple of Diana at Ephesus:
Thaisa standing near the altar, as high priest-
ess; a number of virgins on each side; Ceri-
mon and other inhabitants of Ephesus attending.
Enter Pericles, with his train; Lysimachus,
Helicanus, Marina, and a lady.

[Exit.

Per. Hail Dian; to perform thy just command,
I here confess myself the king of Tyre;
Who, frighted from my country, did wed
The fair Thaisa, at Pentapólis.

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 Tharsus
Was nurs'd with Cleon; whom at fourteen years
He sought to murder: but her better stars
Brought her to Mitylene; against 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!

Thrown on this shore. I op'd the coffin, and

Where shall be shown you all was found with her; Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and plac'd How she came placed here within the temple, her

Here in 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
Recover'd.

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.

No needful thing omitted.
Per.

Pure Diana!
I bless thee for thy vision, and will offer
My night oblations to thee. Thaisa,
This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,
Shall marry her at Pentapolis. And now,
This ornament that makes me look so dismal,
Will I, my lov'd Marina, clip to form;
And what this fourteen years no razor touch'd,
To grace thy marriage day, I'll beautify.

Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit,
Sir, that my father's dead.

Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there,
my queen,

We'll 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.

Now I know you better.-To hear the rest untold.-Sir, lead the way. [Ex.
Enter Gower.

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 pre-

sent kindness

Makes my past miseries sport: 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;

Gow. In Antioch,' 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 keen,)
Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy 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;

Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina,
For she was yielded there.
Thai.
Bless'd and mine own! That him and his they in his palace burn.
Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!
The gods for murder seemed so content
Thai.
I know you not. To punish them; although not done, but meant.
Per. You have heard me say, when I did fly So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.

from Tyre,

I left behind an ancient substitute.

Can you remember what I call'd the man?

I have nam'd him oft.

Thai.

'Twas Helicanus then.

[Exit Gower.

That this tragedy has some merit, it were rain to deny; but that it is the entire composition of Shakspeare, is more than can be hastily granted. I shall not venture, with Dr. Farmer, to determine that the hand of our great poet is only visible in the last act, for I think it appears in several passages dispersed over each of these divisions. I find it difficult, however, to persuade myself that he was the original fabricator of the plot, or the author of every dialogue, chorus, &c.

STEEVENS.

The story is of great antiquity; and is related by various ancient authors in Latin, French, and English.

I will, my lord.

(2) i. e. His beard.

Fool.

Oswald, steward to Goneril.

ACT I.

SCENE I-A room in state in King Lear's palace. Enter Kent, Gloster, and Edmund. Kent.

I THOUGHT, the king had more affected the

duke of Albany, than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weigh'd, that curiosity' in neither can make choice of either's moiety.2

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord?

Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

Give me the map there.-Know, that we have di
vided,

In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intents
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl toward death.-Our son of Corn
wall,

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and
Burgundy,

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, in- Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, deed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a hus-Long in our court have made their amorous soband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

journ,

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daugh of it being so proper.3

Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.-Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord.

ters,

(Since now we will divest us, both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state,)
Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.
Sir, I

Gon.
Do love you more than words can wield the matter,

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty; as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found. better.

A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be si-
lent.
[Aside.
Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line
to this,

Ay, good my lord. Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
Lear.

To come betwixt our sentence and our power
(Which nor our nature nor our place can bear ;)
Our potency make good, take thy reward.

liege,-Five days we do allot thee, for provision
To shield thee from diseases of the world;
And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back'
Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,

On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight!-Thy banish'd trunk be found in o dominions,

Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt | A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue

appear,

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.-
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
[To Cordelia.
That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!-
And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
[To Regan and Goneril.
That good effects may spring from words of love.
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
He'll shape his old course' in a country new. [Ex.
Re-enter Gloster; with France, Burgundy,

Attendants.

and

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

We first address towards you, who with this king
Hath rivall'd for our daughter; What, in the least
Will you require in present dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love?2
Bur.

Most royal majesty,
I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd,
Nor will you tender less.

Lear.

Right noble Burgundy,
When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;
But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there she stands;
If aught within that little, seeming substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd,
And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
She's there, and she is yours.

Bur.

Lear. Sir,

I know no answer.

Will you, with those infirmities she owes,4
Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,

That I am glad I have not, though not to have it,
Hath lost me in your liking.

Lear.

Better thou

Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd me
better.

France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature,
Which often leaves the history unspoke,
That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Love is not love,
When it is mingled with respects, that stand
Aloof from the entire point.10
She is herself a dowry.
Will you have her?

Bur.

Royal Lear,
Give but that portion which yourself propos'd,
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.
Bur. I am sorry then you have so lost a father,
That you must lose a husband.
Cor.
Peace be with Burgundy!
Since that respects of fortune are his love,
I shall not be his wife.

France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich,
being poor;

Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd!
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon :
Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st
neglect

My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.-
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.-

Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:

oath,

Take her, or leave her?

Bur.

Pardon me, royal sir;
Election makes not up' on such conditions.
Lear. Then leave her, sir; for by the power that
made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king,
[To France.
I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
To avert your liking a more worthier way,
Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd
Almost to acknowledge hers.
France.

This is most strange!
That she, that even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time
Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree,

That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd' affection
Fall into taint: which to believe of her,
Must be a faith, that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me.
Cor.

I yet beseech your majesty
(If for I want that glib and oily art,
To speak and purpose not; since what I well
intend,

I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,
That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour:
But even for want of that, for which I am richer;

(1) Follow his old mode of life.

(2) Amorous expedition. (3) Specious.
(4) Owns, is possessed of. (5) Concludes not.
(6) Turn. (7) Former declaration of.

Thou losest here, a better where to find.

Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine;
for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of hers again :-Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our benizon. 12
Come, noble Burgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall,
Albany, Gloster, and Attendants.

France. Bid farewell to your sisters.

Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;
And, like a sister, am most loath to call
Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well our father:
To your professed bosoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.

Gon. Prescribe not us our duties.
Reg.

Let your study

Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited13 cunning
hides;

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
Well may you prosper!
France.

Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night.

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.