Per.

I do think so.

I pray you, turn your eyes again upon me.-
You are like something that-What countrywoman?
Here of these shores?

Mar.

No, nor of any shores:
Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
No other than I appear.

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.
And how achiev'd you these endowments, which
You make more rich to owe?3

Where were you bred?

Should I tell my history,

Mar.
"Twould seem like lies disdain'd in the reporting.
Per. Pr'ythee speak;

Falseness cannot come from thee, for thou look'st
Modest as justice, and thou seem'st a palace-
For the crown'd truth to dwell in: I'll believe thee,

3 You make more rich to owe?] To owe in ancient language is to possess. The meaning of the compliment is:-These endowments, however valuable in themselves, are heighten'd by being in your possession. They acquire additional grace from their owner. STEEVENS.

For the crown'd truth to dwell in:] It is observable that our poet, when he means to represent any quality of the mind as emi

And make my senses credit thy relation,'

To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
Like one I lov'd indeed. What were thy friends?
Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back,
(Which was when I perceiv'd thee,) that thou cam'st
From good descending?
So indeed I did..

Mar.

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

Did warrant me was likely.

Per.
Tell thy story;
If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part
Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I
Have suffer'd like a girl: yet thou dost look
Like Patience, gazing on kings' graves, and smiling
Extremity out of act.5 What were thy friends?
How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind
virgin?

Recount, I do beseech thee; come, sit by me.
Mar. My name, sir, is Marina.

Per.

And thou by some incensed god sent hither

To make he world laugh at me.

Mar..

Or here I'll cease.

Per.

O, I am mock'd,

Patience, good sir,

Nay, I'll be patient;

nently perfect, furnishes the imaginary being whom he personifies, with a crown.

5

and smiling

Extremity out of act.] By her beauty and patient meekness disarming Calamity, and preventing her from using her up-lifted

sword.

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;
My father, and a king.

Per.

And call'd Marina?

Mar.

How! a king's daughter?

You said you would believe me;

But, not to be a troubler of your peace,

I will end here.

Per.

But are you flesh and blood?

Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?

No motion Well; speak on. Where were you

born?

Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the very minute I was born,

As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft

Deliver'd weeping.

Per.

O, stop there a little!

This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep
Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be.
My daughter's buried. [Aside.] Well:—where were
you bred?

I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.

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?

6 No motion?] i. e. no puppet dress'd up to deceive me.

7 I will believe you by the syllable, &c.] i. e. I will believe every word you say.

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
A villain to attempt it, who having drawn,
A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
Brought me to Mitylene. But, now good sir,
Whither will you
Why do you weep? It
may be,

have me?

You think me an impostor: no, good faith;
I am the daughter to king Pericles,

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: Teil me, if thou canst,
What this maid is, or what is like to be,
That thus hath made me weep?

I know not; but

Hel.
Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene,

Speaks nobly of her.

Lys.

She would never tell

Her parentage; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.

Per. O Helicanus, strike me, honour'd sir;

Give me a gash, put me to present pain;

Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me,

O'erbear the shores of my mortality,

And drown me with their sweetness. O, come

hither,

Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget;

Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus,
And found at sea again!-O Helicanus,

Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods, as loud
As thunder threatens us: This is Marina.-
What was thy mother's name? tell me but that,
For truth can never be confirm'd enough,

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.

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,
(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 musick?— 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 musick? Hel. My lord, I hear none.

Per. None?

The musick of the spheres: list, my Marina.
Lys. It is not good to cross him; give him way.
Per. Rarest sounds!

Do ye not hear?

8 Though doubts did ever sleep.] i. e. though nothing ever happened to awake a scruple or doubt concerning your veracity.

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