Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest; "Tis of some wreck. Cer. Set 't down, let's look on it. 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, It is a good constraint of fortune, that It belches upon us. 2 Gent. 'Tis so, my lord. Cer. How close 'tis caulk'd and bitum'd!Did the sea cast it up? Serv. I never saw so huge a billow, sir, As toss'd it upon shore. Cer. Come, wrench it open; Soft, 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 most potent god! what's here? a corse! 1 Gent. Most strange! Cer. Shrouded in cloth of state; balm'd and en treasur'd With bags of spices full! A passport too! Apollo, perfect me i'the characters! Here I give to understand, [Unfolds a scroll. [Reads. (If e'er this coffin drive a-land,) I, king Pericles, have lost This queen, worth all our mundane cost. Who finds her, give her burying, If thou liv'st, Pericles, thou hast a heart That even cracks for woe!-This chanc'd to-night. Nay, certainly to-night; 2 Gent. Most likely, sir. Cer. For look, how fresh she looks!-They were too rough, That threw her in the sea. Make fire within; Fetch hither all the boxes in my closet. Enter a Servant, with Boxes, Napkins, and Fire. Well said, well said; the fire and the cloths.- The vial once more;-How thou stirr'st, thou block! The musick there.-I pray you, give her air:- This queen will live: nature awakes; a warmth 1 Gent. The heavens, sir, Through you, increase our wonder, and set up Your fame for ever. Cer. She is alive; behold, Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels Which Pericles hath lost, Begin to part their fringes of bright gold; Appear, to make the world twice rich. O live, Thai. VOL. IX. O dear Diana, Y Where am I? Where's my lord? What world is this? 2 Gent. Is not this strange? 1 Gent. Cer. Most rare. Hush, gentle neighbours; Lend me your hands: to the next chamber bear her. Get linen; now this matter must be look'd to, For her relapse is mortal. Come, come, come; And Esculapius guide us! [Exeunt, carrying THAISA away. SCENE III. Tharsus. A Room in Cleon's House. Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, LYCHORIDA, and MARINA. Per. Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be gone; My twelve months are expir'd, and Tyrus stands In a litigious peace. You, and your lady, Take from my heart all thankfulness! The gods Make up the rest upon you! Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you mortally, Yet glance full wand'ringly on us. Dion. O your sweet queen! That the strict fates had pleas'd you had brought her hither, To have bless'd mine eyes! Per. We cannot but obey The powers above us. Could I rage and roar As doth the sea she lies in, yet the end Must be as 'tis. My babe Marina (whom For she was born at sea, I have nam'd so,) here I charge your charity withal, and leave her The infant of your care; beseeching you To give her princely training, that she may be Cle. The gods revenge it upon me and mine, Per. I believe you; Unscissar'd shall this hair of mine remain, In bringing up my child. Dion. blessed in your care I have one myself, Who shall not be more dear to my respect, Than yours, my lord. Per. Madam, my thanks and prayers. Cle. We'll bring your grace even to the edge o'the shore; Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune,' and I will embrace Per. Look to your little mistress, on whose grace [Exeunt. 7-mask'd Neptune,] i. e. insidious waves that wear a treacherous smile. SCENE IV. Ephesus. A Room in Cerimon's House. Enter CERIMON and THAISA. Cer. Madam, this letter, and some certain jewels, That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember, I cannot rightly say: But since king Pericles, And never more have joy. Cer. Madam, if this you purpose as you speak, Diana's temple is not distant far, Where you may 'bide until your date expire." Shall there attend you. Thai. My recompense is thanks, that's all; Yet my good will is great, though the gift small. [Exeunt. ACT IV. Enter Gower. Gow. Imagine Pericles at Tyre, & Where you may 'bide until your date expire.] Until you die. |