Per. I am great with woe, and shall deliver weep ing. My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one My daughter might have been: my queen's square brows; Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; As silver-voic'd; her eyes as jewel-like, And cas'd as richly in pace another Juno; Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry, The more she gives them speech.-Where do you live? Mar. Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place. Per. Where were you bred? And how achiev'd you these endowments, which Mar. Should I tell my history, 'Twould seem like lies disdain'd in the reporting. Falseness cannot come from thee, for thou look’st For the crown'd truth to dwell in: I'll believe thee, To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st Mar. So indeed I did. Per. Report thy parentage. I think thou said'st Thou hadst been toss'd from wrong to injury, And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine, If both were open'd. Mar. Some such thing indeed I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Per. Tell thy story; If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part gin? Recount, I do beseech thee; come, sit by me. Mar. My name, sir, is Marina. Per. O, I am mock'd, And thou by some incensed god sent hither To make the world laugh at me. Mar. Patience, good sir, Or here I'll cease. Per. Nay, I'll be patient; Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me, To call thyself Marina. Mar. The name Marina, Was given me by one that had some power; Per. How! a king's daughter? And call'd Marina? Mar. You said you would believe me; Par. But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? born? And wherefore called Marina? Mar. Call'd Marina, For I was born at sea. Per. At sea! thy mother? Where were you Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king? Who died the very minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Per. O, stop there a little! This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep My daughter's buried. [Aside.] Well :--where were you bred? I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story, Mar. You'll scarce 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 Tharsus leave me; Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife, Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd You think me an impostor: no, good faith;" If good king Pericles be. Per. Ho, Helicanus! Hel. Calls my gracious 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, Hel. I know not; but Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene, Lys. She would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, Per. O Helicanus, strike me, honour'd sir; And drown me with their sweetness. O, come hither, Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods, as loud Mar. First, sir, I pray, What is your title? 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. 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, Hel. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene, Per. I embrace you, sir. Give me my robes; I am wild in my beholding. O'er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt, Per. None? The music of the spheres: list, my Marina. Per. Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear? Lys. Music? My lord, I hear Per. Most heavenly music: It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber Hangs on mine eye-lids; let me rest. Lys. A pillow for his head; [He sleeps. [The curtain before the pavilion of Pericles So leave him all.-Well, my companion-friends, 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, Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife: |