The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  Would win some words of him.

  LYSIMACHUS ’Tis well bethought.

  She questionless, with her sweet harmony

  And other choice attractions, would alarum

  And make a batt‘ry through his deafened ports,

  Which now are midway stopped. She in all happy,

  As the fair’st of all, among her fellow maids

  Dwells now i’th’ leafy shelter that abuts

  Against the island’s side. Go fetch her hither.

  ⌈Exit Lord⌉

  HELICANUS

  Sure, all effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit

  That bears recov’ry’s name. But since your kindness

  We have stretched thus far, let us beseech you

  That for our gold we may provision have,

  Wherein we are not destitute for want,

  But weary for the staleness.

  LYSIMACHUS O sir, a courtesy

  Which if we should deny, the most just gods

  For every graft would send a caterpillar,

  And so inflict our province. Yet once more

  Let me entreat to know at large the cause

  Of your king’s sorrow.

  HELICANUS Sit, sir. I will recount it.

  ⌈Enter Lord with Marina and another maid⌉

  But see, I am prevented.

  LYSIMACHUS

  O, here’s the lady that I sent for.—

  Welcome, fair one.—Is’t not a goodly presence? HELICANUS She’s a gallant lady.

  LYSIMACHUS

  She’s such a one that, were I well assured

  Came of gentle kind or noble stock, I’d wish

  No better choice to think me rarely wed.—

  Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty

  Expect e’en here, where is a kingly patient;

  If that thy prosperous and artificial feat

  Can draw him but to answer thee in aught,

  Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay

  As thy desires can wish.

  MARINA Sir, I will use

  My utmost skill in his recure, provided

  That none but I and my companion maid

  Be suffered to come near him.

  LYSIMACHUS (to the others) Let us leave her,

  And the gods prosper her. ⌈The men stand aside⌉

  The Song

  LYSIMACHUS ⌈coming forward⌉ Marked he your music? ⌈MAID⌉

  No, nor looked on us.

  LYSIMACHUS (to the others) See, she will speak to him.

  MARINA (to Pericles)

  Hail, sir; my lord, lend ear.

  PERICLES Hmh, ha!

  ⌈He roughly repulses her⌉

  MARINA I am a maid,

  My lord, that ne‘er before invited eyes,

  But have been gazed on like a comet. She speaks,

  My lord, that maybe hath endured a grief

  Might equal yours, if both were justly weighed.

  Though wayward fortune did malign my state,

  My derivation was from ancestors

  Who stood equivalent with mighty kings,

  But time hath rooted out my parentage,

  And to the world and awkward casualties

  Bound me in servitude. (Aside) I will desist.

  But there is something glows upon my cheek,

  And whispers in mine ear ‘Stay till he speak.’

  PERICLES

  My fortunes, parentage, good parentage,

  To equal mine? Was it not thus? What say you?

  MARINA

  I said if you did know my parentage,

  My lord, you would not do me violence.

  PERICLES

  I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me.

  You’re like something that—what countrywoman?

  Here of these shores?

  MARINA No, nor of any shores,

  Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am

  No other than I seem.

  PERICLES ⌈aside⌉

  I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping.

  My dearest wife was like this maid, and such

  My daughter might have been. My queen’s square

  brows,

  Her stature to an inch, as wand-like straight,

  As silver-voiced, her eyes as jewel-like,

  And cased 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?

  MARINA

  Where I am but a stranger. From the deck

  You may discern the place.

  PERICLES

  Where were you bred, And how achieved you these endowments which You make more rich to owe?

  MARINA If I should tell My history, it would seem like lies Disdained in the reporting.

  PERICLES Prithee speak.

  Falseness cannot come from thee, for thou look‘st

  Modest as justice, and thou seem’st a palace

  For the crowned truth to dwell in. I will believe thee,

  And make my senses credit thy relation

  To points that seem impossible. Thou show‘st

  Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends?

  Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back—

  Which was when I perceived thee—that thou cam’st

  From good descending?

  MARINA So indeed I did.

  PERICLES

  Report thy parentage. I think thou said‘st

  Thou hadst been tossed from wrong to injury,

  And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine,

  If both were opened.

  MARINA Some such thing I said,

  And said no more but what my circumstance

  Did warrant me was likely.

  PERICLES Tell thy story.

  If thine considered prove the thousandth part

  Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I

  Have suffered like a girl. Yet thou dost look

  Like patience gazing on kings’ graves, and smiling

  Extremity out of act. What were thy friends?

  How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin?

  Recount, I do beseech thee. Come, sit by me.

  She sits

  MARINA

  My name, sir, is Marina.

  PERICLES

  O, I am mocked,

  And thou by some incensed god sent hither

  To make the world to laugh at me.

  MARINA Patience, good sir,

  Or here I’ll cease.

  PERICLES

  Nay, I’ll be patient.

  Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me

  To call thyself Marina.

  MARINA

  The name

  Was given me by one that had some power:

  My father, and a king.

  PERICLES

  How, a king’s daughter, And called Marina?

  MARINA

  You said you would believe me, But not to be a troubler of your peace I will end here.

  PERICLES

  But are you flesh and blood?

  Have you a working pulse and are no fairy?

  Motion as well? Speak on. Where were you born,

  And wherefore called Marina?

  MARINA

  Called Marina

  For I was born at sea.

  PERICLES At sea? What mother?

  MARINA

  My mother was the daughter of a king,

  Who died when I was born, as my good nurse

  Lychorida hath oft recounted weeping.

  PERICLES

  O, stop there a little! ⌈Aside⌉ This is the rarest dream

  That e’er dulled sleep did mock sad fools withal.

  This cannot be my daughter, buried. Well.

  (To Marina) Where were you bred? I’ll hear you more

  to th’ bottom

  Of your story, and never interrupt you.

&nb
sp; MARINA

  You will scarce believe me. ‘Twere best I did give o’er.

  PERICLES

  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?

  MARINA

  The King my father did in Tarsus leave me,

  Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,

  Did seek to murder me, and wooed a villain

  To attempt the deed; who having drawn to do’t,

  A crew of pirates came and rescued me.

  To Mytilene they brought me. But, good sir,

  What will you of me? Why do you weep? It may be

  You think me an impostor. No, good faith,

  I am the daughter to King Pericles,

  If good King Pericles be.

  PERICLES rising Ho, Helicanus!

  HELICANUS (coming forward) Calls my lord?

  PERICLES

  Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,

  Most wise in gen’ral. Tell me if thou canst

  What this maid is, or what is like to be,

  That thus hath made me weep.

  HELICANUS

  I know not.

  But here’s the regent, sir, of Mytilene

  Speaks nobly of her.

  LYSIMACHUS She would never tell

  Her parentage. Being demanded that,

  She would sit still and weep.

  PERICLES

  O Helicanus, strike me, honoured 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! (To Marina) O,

  come hither,

  ⌈Marina stands⌉

  Thou that begett’st him that did thee beget,

  Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus,

  And found at sea again!—O Helicanus,

  Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods as loud

  As thunder threatens us, this is Marina!

  (To Marina) What was thy mother’s name? Tell me

  but that,

  For truth can never be confirmed enough,

  Though doubts did ever sleep.

  MARINA First, sir, I pray, What is your title?

  PERICLES I am Pericles

  Of Tyre. But tell me now my drowned queen’s name.

  As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,

  So prove but true in that, thou art my daughter,

  The heir of kingdoms, and another life

  To Pericles thy father.

  MARINA ⌈kneeling⌉ Is it no more

  To be your daughter than to say my mother’s name?

  Thaisa was my mother, who did end

  The minute I began.

  PERICLES

  Now blessing on thee! Rise. Thou art my child.

  ⌈Marina stands. He kisses her⌉

  ⌈To attendants⌉ Give me fresh garments.—Mine own,

  Helicanus!

  Not dead at Tarsus, 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?

  HELICANUS

  Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene,

  Who, hearing of your melancholy state,

  Did come to see you.

  PERICLES (to Lysimachus) I embrace you, sir.—

  Give me my robes.

  ⌈He is attired in fresh robes⌉

  I am wild in my beholding.

  O heavens, bless my girl!

  ⌈Celestial music⌉

  But hark, what music?

  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 music?

  HELICANUS My lord, I hear none.

  PERICLES

  None? The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.

  LYSIMACHUS (aside to the others)

  It is not good to cross him. Give him way.

  PERICLES Rar’st sounds. Do ye not hear?

  LYSIMACHUS Music, my lord?

  PERICLES I hear most heav’nly music.

  It raps me unto list’ning, and thick slumber

  Hangs upon mine eyelids. Let me rest.

  He sleeps

  LYSIMACHUS

  A pillow for his head.

  ⌈To Marina and others⌉ Companion friends,

  If this but answer to my just belief

  I’ll well remember you. So leave him all.

  Exeunt all but Pericles

  Diana ⌈descends from the heavens⌉

  DIANA

  My temple stands in Ephesus. Hie thee thither,

  And do upon mine altar sacrifice.

  There when my maiden priests are met together,

  At large discourse thy fortunes in this wise:

  With a full voice 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 rest happy, by my silver bow.

  Awake, and tell thy dream.

  ⌈Diana ascends into the heavens⌉

  PERICLES

  Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

  I will obey thee. (Calling) Helicanus!

  Enter Helicanus, Lysimachus, and Marina

  HELICANUS Sir?

  PERICLES

  My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike

  Th’inhospitable Cleon, but I am

  For other service first. Toward Ephesus

  Turn our blown sails. Eftsoons I’ll tell thee why.Exit Helicanus

  Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,

  And give you gold for such provision

  As our intents will need?

  LYSIMACHUS

  With all my heart, sir,

  And when you come ashore I have a suit.

  PERICLES

  You shall prevail, were it to woo my daughter,

  For it seems you have been noble towards her.

  LYSIMACHUS

  Sir, lend me your arm.

  PERICLES

  Come, my Marina.

  ⌈Exit Pericles with Lysimachus at one arm, Marina at the other⌉

  Sc. 22 Enter Gower

  GOWER

  Now our sands are almost run;

  More a little, and then dumb.

  This 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 Mytilene

  To greet the King. So well he thrived

  That he is promised to be wived

  To fair Marina, but in no wise

  Till he had done his sacrifice

  As Dian bade, whereto being bound

  The int’rim, pray you, all confound.

  In feathered briefness sails are filled,

  And wishes fall out as they’re willed.

  At Ephesus the temple see:⌈An altar, Thaisa and other vestals are revealed⌉

  Our king, and all his company.⌈Enter Pericles, Marina, Lysimachus, Helicanus, Cerimon, with attendants⌉

  That he can hither come so soon

  Is by your fancies’ thankful doom.⌈Gower stands aside⌉

  PERICLES

  Hail, Dian. To perform thy just command

  I here confess myself the King of Tyre,

  Who, frighted from my country, did espouse

  The fair Thaisa

  ⌈Thaisa starts⌉

  at Pentapolis.

  At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth

  A maid child called Marina, who, O goddess,

  Wears yet
thy silver liv‘ry. She at Tarsus

  Was nursed with Cleon, whom at fourteen years

  He sought to murder, but her better stars

  Bore her to Mytilene, ’gainst whose shore riding

  Her fortunes brought the maid aboard our barque,

  Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she

  Made known herself my daughter.

  THAISA

  Voice and favour—

  You are, you are—O royal Pericles! She falls

  PERICLES

  What means the nun? She dies. Help, gentlemen!

  CERIMON Noble sir,

  If you have told Diana’s altar true,

  This is your wife.

  PERICLES Reverend appearer, no.

  I threw her overboard with these same arms.

  CERIMON

  Upon this coast, I warr’nt you.

  PERICLES ’Tis most certain.

  CERIMON

  Look to the lady. O, she’s but o’erjoyed.

  Early one blustering morn this lady

  Was thrown upon this shore. I oped the coffin,

  Found there rich jewels, recovered her, and placed her

  Here in Diana’s temple.

  PERICLES May we see them?

  CERIMON

  Great sir, they shall be brought you to my house,

  Whither I invite you. Look, Thaisa is

  Recovered.

  THAISA O, let me look upon him!

  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 spake,

  Like him you are. Did you not name a tempest,

  A birth and death?

  PERICLES The voice of dead Thaisa! THAISA That Thaisa

  Am I, supposed dead and drowned.

  PERICLES ⌈taking Thaisa’s hand⌉ Immortal Dian!

  THAISA Now I know you better.

  When we with tears parted Pentapolis,

  The King my father gave you such a ring.

  PERICLES

  This, this! No more, you gods. Your present kindness

  Makes my past miseries sports; 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.

  ⌈They embrace and kiss⌉

  MARINA (kneeling to Thaisa) My heart Leaps to be gone into my mother’s bosom.