Page images
PDF
EPUB

Lys.

Musick? My lord, I hear

Per. Most heavenly musick:

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
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 woe:
Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream. [DIANA disappears.
Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,1

I will obey thee!-Helicanus!

9 And give them repetition to the life.] i. e. Repeat your misfortunes so feelingly and so exactly, that the language of your narration may imitate to the life the transactions you relate.

goddess argentine,] That is, regent of the silver moon,

[ocr errors]

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

Turn our blown sails;

eftsoons I'll tell thee why.

[To HELICANUS.
Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,
And give you gold for such provision
As our intents will need?

Lys. With all my heart, sir; and when
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.

Per. Come, my Marina.

you

come

Sir, lend your arm. [Exeunt.

Enter GowER, before the Temple of DIANA at

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 has thriv'd,
That he is promis'd to be wiv'd
To fair Marina; but in no wise,
Till he had done his sacrifice,3

blown sails] i. e. swollen.

3

Till he had done his sacrifice,] That is, till Pericles 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.s

SCENE III.

[Exit.

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 command,
I here confess myself the king of Tyre;
Who, frighted from my country, did wed
The fair Thaisa, at Pentapolis.

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

4 The interim, pray you, all confound.] To confound here signi

fies to consume.

5 That he can hither come so soon,

Is by your fancy's thankful boon.] Thankful boon may signifythe licence you grant us in return for the pleasure we have afforded you in the course of the play; or, the boon for which we thank you. who, O goddess,

6

Wears yet thy silver livery.] i. e. her white robe of innocence, as being yet under the protection of the goddess of chastity.

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!-[She faints. Per. What means the woman? she dies! help, gentlemen!

Cer. Noble sir,

you have told Diana's altar true,

If

This is

Per.

your wife.

Reverend appearer, no;

I threw her o'erboard 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'erjoy'd. Early, one blust'ring morn, this lady was Thrown on this shore. I op'd the coffin, and Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and plac'd

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.s

7

to my sense-] Sense is here used for sensual passion.

Per. Immortal Dian!

Thai.
When we with tears parted Pentapolis,

Now I know you better.

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 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.

Leaps to be

My heart

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.

Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!

Thai.

Bless'd and mine own!

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 nam'd him oft.

Thai.

"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

supposed dead,

And drown'd.] Drown'd, in this instance, does not signify suffocated by water, but overwhelmed in it.

« PreviousContinue »