Pericles
Page 12
1.1.18 razed = Ed. Q = racte 25 boundless = Ed. Q = bondlesse 41 From = Ed. Q = For 50 Grip spelled Gripe in Q 57 SH ANTIOCHUS = Ed. Q prints (Antiochus) at the end of the preceding line. Some editors, noting Pericles’ frequent repetition of the king’s name, print I wait the sharpest blow, Antiochus followed by Antiochus’ reply. 60, 61 ’ssayed = Ed. Q = sayd 114 cancel = Q3. Q = counsell 128 you’re = Q3. Q = you 137 ’schew = Ed. Q = shew 172 SH ANTIOCHUS = Ed. Not in Q
1.2.4 Be my = Ed. Q = By me 6 should = Ed. Q = stould 17 me. The = Ed. Q = me the 26 th’ostent = Ed. Q = the stint 31 am = Ed. Q = once 36 And … comfortable = Ed. Q = And keepe your mind till you returne to vs peacefull and comfortable 41 breath = Ed. Q = sparke. Sometimes emended to wind 46 pardon = Ed. Q = paadon 61 heaven = Ed. Q = heaue 67 Such … yourself = Ed. Q = such griefes as you your selfe doe lay vpon your selfe 72 Where, as = Ed. Q = Whereas 84 me = Ed. Not in Q 85 fears = F4. Q = feare 87 he doubt = Ed. Q = he doo’t as doubt no = Ed. Q = as no 93 call’t = Ed. Q = call 124 we’ll = Ed. Q = will
1.3.1 SH THALIARD = Ed. Not in Q 26 king’s ears this = Ed. Q = Kings seas. Sometimes emended to king’s ears it 27 sea = Q. Sometimes emended to seas 29 SH HELICANUS = Ed. Not in Q 32 betook = Ed. Q = betake travels spelled trauailes in Q
1.4.13 our = Ed. Q = and do = Ed. Q = to 22 o’er = Ed. Q = on 36 they = Ed. Q = thy 39 two summers = Ed. Q = too sauers. Sometimes emended to two savours. The analogous passage in PA reads: this their City … not two summers younger, did so excell in pompe 58 thou = Q4. Q = thee 67 Hath = Ed. Q = That 74 him’s = Ed. Q = himnes 77 fear = Q4. Q = leaue 78 The = Q4. Q = our 80 from … craves = Ed. Q = for what he comes, and whence / he comes, and what he craues 96 SH ALL TARSIANS = Ed. Q = Omnes.
2 Chorus 1 SH GOWER = Q4. Not in Q 11 Tarsus = Ed. Q = Tharstill 12 speken = Ed. Q = spoken 17 SH GOWER = Ed. Not in Q Helicane = Ed. Q = Helicon 19 though = Ed. Q = for though. Sometimes emended to forthy or for that 20 keeps = Ed. Q = keepe 22 Sends word = Ed. Q = Sau’d one. Sometimes emended to Sent word 24 had intent = Q (corrected). Q = hid in Tent to murder = Q (corrected). Q = murdred. Sometimes emended to murdren 25 Tarsus = Ed. Q = Tharsis 34 tossed = Ed. Q = tost 40 ’longs = Ed. Q = long’s
2.1.12 What ho, Pilch! = Ed. Q = What, to pelch 31 devours = Ed. Q = deuowre 39 SH THIRD FISHERMAN = Ed. Q = I. 47 finny subject = Ed. Q = fenny subiect. PA = finny subjects 53 search’t = Ed. Q = Search nobody will = Ed. Q = no body 76 quotha = Ed. Q = ke-tha an = Ed. Q = and 79 holidays = Ed. Q = all day 80 moreo’er = Ed. Q = more; or 87 your = Ed. Q = you 94 is called Pentapolis = Q2. Q = I cald Pantapoles 105 joust = Ed. Q = Iust 123 thee from, may’t = Ed. Q = thee, Fame may. Sometimes emended to the Gods forfend, the same 140 d’ye = Ed. Q (corrected) = do’e. Q (uncorrected) = di’e 141 on’t = Ed. Q = an’t 148 rapture = Ed. Q = rupture. PA = a Iewel, whom all the raptures of the sea could not bereaue from his arme 151 delightful = Ed. Q = delight. Sometimes emended to delightsome 158 goad = Ed. Q = Goale. Sometimes emended to equal
2.2.1 SH SIMONIDES = Ed. Q = King (throughout) 4 daughter = Ed. Q = daughter heere 27 Piùe per dolcezza che per forza = Ed. Q = Pue Per doleera kee per forsa. Sometimes emended to Piu per dulcura que per fuerça 30 chivalry = Ed. Q = Chiually 31 Me pompae provexit apex = Ed. Q = Me Pompey prouexit apex 57 for = Ed. Q = by. PA = as Uertue was not to be approoued by wordes, but by actions, so the outward habite was the least table of the inward minde
2.3.3 To = F4. Q = I 13 yours = Q3. Q = your 15 artists = Ed. Q = an Artist 31 but = Ed. Q = not 36 He’s = Ed. Q = ha’s 39 Yon = Q2. Q = You 40 me = Q4. Not in Q 45 son’s = Ed. Q = sonne 52 stored = Ed. Q = stur’d. F3 = stirr’d 53 you do = Q4. Q = do you 66 entertain = Ed. Q = entraunce 74 And, further = Ed. Q = And furthermore. Sometimes emended to Furthermore know = Ed. Q = know of him 83 education being = Q5. Q = education beene. Sometimes emended to education’s been or education has been 113 SH SIMONIDES = Ed. Not in Q
2.4.8 Of = Ed. Q = of an 19 council has = Ed. Q = counsaile, ha’s 27 Helicane spelled Hellican in Q 32 We’ll = Ed. Q = And 35 death’s indeed = Ed. Q = death in deed. Sometimes emended to death indeed’s 57 endeavour it = Ed. Q = endeauour. Sometimes emended to endeavour us
2.5.77 SD Aside printed on the following line in Q 94 SH BOTH spelled Ambo in Q
3 Chorus 1 SH GOWER = Ed. Not in Q rouse = Ed. Q = rout 7 crickets sing = Ed. Q = Cricket sing. Sometimes emended to crickets 13 eche = Ed. Q = each 15 SH GOWER = Ed. Not in Q 17 coigns = Ed. Q = Crignes 29 t’appease = Ed. Q = t’oppresse. PA = appeased the stubborne mutiny of the Tyrians 34 Pentapolis spelled Penlapolis in Q 35 Y-ravishèd = Ed. Q = Iranyshed 46 Fortune, moved = Ed. Q = fortune mou’d. Sometimes emended to fortune’s mood 57 not what = Ed. Q = not? what 60 sea-tossed = Ed. Q = seas tost
3.1.0 SD on = Q4. Q = a 7 Thou stormest = Ed. Q = then storme 8 spit = Ed. Q = speat. F3 = spet. Sometimes emended to split, spite, or speak 11 midwife = Ed. Q = my wife 46 Slack = Q (corrected). Q (uncorrected) = Slake bowlines = Ed. Q = bolins 55 custom = Ed. Q = easterne. Sometimes emended to In ease or in earnest 63 the ooze = Ed. Q = oare. Sometimes emended to care 65 And = Ed. Q = The aye-remaining = Ed. Q = ayre remayning. Sometimes emended to e’er remaining 68 paper = Q2. Q = Taper 70 coffer = Ed. Q = Coffin 76 SH FIRST SAILOR = Ed. Q = 2.
3.2.4 ’T has = Ed. Q = T’as 18 quit = Ed. Q = quite 38 I = Ed. Not in Q 51 SD chest = Ed. Q = Chist SH CERIMON’S SERVANT = Ed. Q = Seru. (throughout) 54 chest = Ed. Q = Chist 63 bitumed = Ed. Q = bottomed 71 corpse = Ed. Q = Corse 74–75 too! Apollo = Ed. Q = to Apollo 85 even = Q4. Q = ever. PA = thou hast a body even drowned with woe 94 lain spelled lien in Q 96 cloths = Ed. Q = clothes. Q4 = cloathes 101 warm = Q2. Q = warmth
3.3.0 SD at Tarsus spelled Atharsus in Q 6 haunt = Ed. Q = hant. Sometimes emended to hurt 29–30 all … remain = Ed. Q = All vnsisterd shall this heyre of mine remayne. PA = his head should grow unscissored 31 ill = Ed. Q = will 42 Lychorida spelled Licherida in Q
3.4.0 SD Thaisa spelled Tharsa in Q 5 eaning = F3. Q = learning. Sometimes emended to groaning, bearing, yearning, or yielding 9 vestal = Ed. Q = vastall 16 SH THAISA= Ed. Q = Thin.
4 Chorus 1 SH GOWER = Q4. Not in Q 8 music’s letters = Q. Sometimes emended to music, letters 10 her = Ed. Q = hie. Sometimes emended to high heart = Ed. Q = art 14 Seeks = Ed. Q = Seeke 17 ripe = Ed. Q = right marriage-rite = Ed. Q = marriage light 21 Be’t spelled Beet in Q 23 nee’le = Ed. Q = needle 26 night-bird = Ed. Q = night bed 32 With = Ed. Q = The. Sometimes emended to With the the = Ed. Q = with the 38 murder = Ed. Q = murderer 47 carry = Ed. Q = carried 48 on = Ed. Q = one
4.1.5 inflame … bosom = Ed. Q = in flaming, thy loue bosome, enflame too nicelie. Sometimes emended to inflaming love in thy bosom, /Inflame or or fanning love thy bosom / Unflame or or flaming love thy bosom / Enslave or in flaming, thy love-bosom / Inflame 19 as = Ed. Not in Q 26 o’er … margent = Ed. Q = ere the sea marre it 68 stem = Ed. Q = sterne 82 la = Ed. Q = law 84 trod spelled trode in Q
4.2.4 much = Q2. Q = much much 18 they’re too = Ed. Q = ther’s two 23 chequins spelled Checkins in Q 37 SH FIRST PIRATE = Ed. Q = Sayler 56 struck = Ed. Q = strooke 57 but = Ed. Q = not 65 like = Q4. Not in Q 92 i’th’ = Ed. Q = ethe 93 Veroles spelled Verollus in Q 106 lovers. Seldom = Ed. Q = Louers sel-dome 111 SH BAWD = F3. Q = Mari. 130 Untried = Ed. Q = Vntide
4.3.1 are = Q4. Q = ere 4 child = Ed. Q = chidle 30 prime = Ed. Q = prince. Q4 = whole 38 malkin = Ed. Q = Mawkin 39 through spelled thorow in Q 53 talons spelled talents in Q 54 Ye’re = Ed. Q = Yere
4 Second Chorus 8 i’th’ = Ed. Q = with. Q4 = in 10 the = Q2. Q = thy 12 life’s = Ed. Q = liues 13 along: behind = Ed. Q = along behind, 14 if = Ed. Q = it 18 his = Ed. Q = this 19 go on = Ed. Q = grone. Sometimes emended to groan or grow on 29 puts = Ed. Q = put 48 scene = Ed. Q = Steare. Sometimes emended to stir
4.5.11 cavalleria = Ed. Q = Caualereea 15 loon = Ed. Q = Lowne 33 dignifies = Q4. Q = dignities 53 paced spelled pac’ste in Q 59 name’t = Ed. Q = name. Sometimes emended to name it 77 aloof = Ed. Q = aloft. Sometimes e
mended to off aloof 116 ways = Ed. Q = way 138 womankind = Ed. Q = wemen-kinde 153 Coistrel = Ed. Q = custerell 166 O, that = Q4. Q = that 180 women = Q3. Q = woman
5 Chorus 1 SH GOWER = Ed. Not in Q 5 nee’le = Ed. Q = neele 8 twin = Ed. Q = Twine 10 pour = Ed. Q = powre 13 We … lost = Ed. Q = wee there him left. Q4 = tumbled and tost. Sometimes emended to Waves there him tossed 14 Whence = Ed. Q = Where. Q4 = And
5.1.1 SH SAILOR OF TYRE = Ed. Q = I. Say. 7 SH SAILOR OF TYRE = Ed. Q = 2. Say. 11 SH SAILOR OF MYTILENE = Ed. Q = I. Say. 34 SH LYSIMACHUS = Q4. Not in Q (this line is part of Helicanus’ speech) 35 SH HELICANUS = Q4. Q = Lys 36 Till = Ed. Q = SH Hell. Till night = Ed. Q = wight 46 deafened = Ed. Q = defend 48–49 She … upon = Ed. Q = shee is all happie as the fairest of all, and her fellow maides, now vpon. Sometimes emended to She in all happy, / As the fair’st of all, among her fellow maids / Dwells now i’th 50 leafy = Ed. Q = leauie 59 gods = Ed. Q = God 60 graft = Ed. Q = graffe 71 I’d = Ed. Q = I do wed = Ed. Q = to wed 72 one = Ed. Q = on 74 feat = Ed. Q = fate 84 Marked = Ed. Q = Marke 98 awkward = Ed. Q = augward 107 You’re = Ed. Q = your countrywoman = Ed. Q = Countrey women 108 Here = Ed. Q = heare shores = Ed. Q = shewes 117 cased = Ed. Q = caste 129 seem’st spelled seemest in Q palace = Ed. Q = Pallas 132 look’st spelled lookest in Q 134 say = Ed. Q = stay 139 tossed spelled tost in Q 140 thought’st = Ed. Q = thoughts 148 dost = Ed. Q = doest 151 them? Thy = Ed. Q = thy 172 Motion? Well, = Ed. Q = Motion well, Sometimes emended to Motion as well? 193 and wooed = Ed. Q = and hauing wooed 201 SH PERICLES = Ed. Q = Hell. 230 another = Ed. Q = an other life = Ed. Q = like 236 garments … Helicanus = Ed. Q = garments, mine owne Hellicanus 240 princess = Ed. Q = Princes 248 doubt = Ed. Q = doat. Sometimes emended to dote 269 life = Ed. Q = like 270 Perform = Ed. Q = or performe 271 Do it = Ed. Q = doo’t 284 suit = Ed. Q = sleight
5 Second Chorus 16 willed = Ed. Q = wild
5.2.10 against = Ed. Q = gainst 16 nun = Ed. Q = mum 19 Reverend = Q2. Q = Reuerent 23 o’erjoyed spelled ouer-joyde in Q 24 one = Ed. Q = in 41 Immortal = Ed. Q = I mortall 58 SH PERICLES = Q4. Q = Hell 71 Reverend = F3. Q = Reuerent 81 I bless = Ed. Q = blesse
Epilogue = Ed. Q = FINIS. 5 preserved = Ed. Q = preferd 12 deed to th’honoured = Ed. Q = deede, the honor’d
Marina’s Song in Act 5 Scene 1
Wilkins’ Painfull Adventures provides the following words for the song (spelling modernized):
Amongst the harlots foul I walk,
Yet harlot none am I:
The rose amongst the thorns doth grow,
And is not hurt thereby.
The thief that stole me, sure I think,
Is slain before this time.
A bawd me bought, yet am I not
Defiled by fleshly crime:
Nothing were pleasanter to me,
Than parents mine to know.
I am the issue of a king,
My blood from kings doth flow.
In time the heavens may mend my state,
And send a better day,
For sorrow adds unto our griefs,
But helps not any way:
Show gladness in your countenance,
Cast up your cheerful eyes,
That God remains, that once of nought
Created earth and skies.
SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
PROLOGUE
The play’s Chorus, Gower, enters and tells the audience that he has returned from the grave and taken mortal form again to tell the story “that old was sung” of Pericles. It begins in Antioch in Syria, where the widowed King Antiochus has entered into an incestuous relationship with his daughter, and, to prevent her numerous suitors from winning her, has devised a riddle that they must answer correctly or be put to death. Gower points to numerous severed heads onstage as evidence that none has yet succeeded.
ACT 1 SCENE 1
Lines 1–64: Pericles, Prince of Tyre, enters the palace of Antiochus to undertake the challenge, resolving that death is a small price to pay to win Antiochus’ daughter’s hand in marriage. The girl is brought in wearing a bridal gown and Antiochus reminds Pericles of the perils he faces. Undeterred, Pericles resolves to face the trial, and Antiochus’ daughter wishes that “Of all ’ssayed yet” Pericles may prove “prosperous.”
Lines 65–143: Pericles reads the riddle and understands its meaning: the king is both father and lover to the girl, and the “I” of the puzzle is incest. When pressed for an answer, Pericles states that he knows the truth but that it were better kept concealed. Antiochus knows that Pericles knows the truth, but does not confess as much, claiming that as Pericles has failed to solve the riddle he must die, but he grants him a further forty days to solve it. Antiochus and the others exit, and Pericles, in soliloquy, speaks with disgust about the king’s incestuous love for his daughter, revealing that he knows his life is in danger and resolving to leave the city. He exits.
Lines 144–173: Antiochus returns, and privately admits that he knows Pericles has discovered the secret and “therefore instantly this prince must die.” Thaliard enters and Antiochus offers him gold to kill Pericles, but a Messenger arrives informing them of Pericles’ escape. Antiochus orders Thaliard after him, and Thaliard promises to do what he has been commanded. Antiochus states that he can never be calm until he knows Pericles is dead.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
Back in Tyre (a city in modern-day Lebanon), Pericles reveals in soliloquy that he is consumed by melancholy and by the fear that Antiochus, not content with Pericles’ silence about his dark secret, will make war against him and his people, against whom they will not be able to offer resistance. Helicanus, Pericles’ trusted counselor, enters with other Lords, whom he chastises for offering flattery to Pericles when plain, truthful advice is what is needed. Pericles sends the Lords away and confides everything he has experienced at Antiochus’ court to Helicanus. They agree that war is likely, and Helicanus urges Pericles to leave Tyre until the danger is past, leaving the throne to Helicanus’ stewardship. Pericles agrees, believing Helicanus trustworthy, and resolves to go to Tarsus (an ancient city in modern-day Turkey).
ACT 1 SCENE 3
Thaliard arrives in Tyre, and though he speaks well of Pericles, he knows that he will be hanged upon his return to Antioch if he does not fulfill his task. He hears Helicanus and other Lords entering and withdraws to overhear their conversation. Helicanus tells the Lords that Pericles has displeased Antiochus, and so has gone to live the dangerous life of a sailor as penance. Thaliard resolves to tell Antiochus that Pericles has perished at sea, and comes forward to greet Helicanus. He says he has a message for Pericles, but has heard that the Prince has gone on “unknown travels” and so he will return to Antioch. Helicanus asks him to stay and feast with them before he goes.
ACT 1 SCENE 4
Cleon, the governor of Tarsus, and his wife, Dionyza, bewail the famine that has gripped their city for the last two years. A Lord enters to tell them that a ship has been spotted off the coast, and Cleon fears it is “some neighbouring nation, / Taking advantage of our misery.” The Lord, however, says that the ship was flying the white flag of peace, and Cleon sends him to greet its crew. Pericles enters with his shipmates to deliver corn to the starving city. Cleon and the citizens of Tarsus kneel to Pericles with their thanks, but he humbly asks them to rise, seeking “love” rather than “reverence,” asking for safe harborage for his ships and men. Cleon welcomes them and Pericles resolves to stay until “our stars that frown, lend us a smile.”
ACT 2 CHORUS
Gower reenters and tells us of Pericles’ enormous popularity among the people of Tarsus, who have made a statue of him. In a dumb show, Pericles receives a letter, which he shows to Cleon. Gower goes on to tell us that Helicanus has been as good as his word, and sends Pericles regular letters relating all that goes on in Tyre. Helicanus’ letter tells Pericles of Thaliard’s journey to Tyre to murder him, and advises him to leave Tarsus for a safer place. While at sea, Gower tells us, Pericles’ ship is wrecked in a s
torm and Pericles himself is stranded alone on the perilous ocean until at last he is washed up on a strange shore.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Lines 1–109: Pericles enters alone and begs the elements to cease their anger and leave him to die in peace. Three Fishermen enter and speak of the storm and the boat they saw shipwrecked, before going on to discuss how the food chain in the sea resembles life in human communities: “the great ones eat up the little ones.” Pericles, impressed with them and the metaphor through which they “tell the infirmities of men,” comes forward and greets them. He asks for their help, and tells them he is not used to begging. They ask him if he can fish, and he tells them no, asking that if they will not help him that they will at least see him buried when he is dead. They offer him warm hospitality, and tell him he is in Pentapolis in Greece, which is ruled by the benevolent King Simonides. They tell Pericles that tomorrow is the king’s daughter’s birthday, and many princes and knights will come to joust in a tournament to win her love. Pericles wishes he could take part in it.
Lines 110–159: Two of the Fishermen reenter with a suit of armor that they found caught in their nets and Pericles thanks the goddess Fortune, telling them he had lost it in the wreck, and that it was given to him by his late father. He asks them for it so that he might wear it and try his luck in the tournament. They agree, asking only that he remember their kindness and reward them if he is successful, which he promises to do. He resolves to buy as good a horse as the bracelet on his arm will afford, and the Fishermen agree to help supply him in all other points of clothing and weaponry.