The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

to make the world laugh at me.

  MARINA

  Patience, good sir,

  Or here I'll cease.

  Be calm, good sir,

  or I won't speak.

  PERICLES

  Nay, I'll be patient.

  Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me,

  To call thyself Marina.

  I will be calm.

  You have no idea how much you startled me,

  calling yourself Marina.

  MARINA

  The name

  Was given me by one that had some power,

  My father, and a king.

  The name

  was given to me by a powerful man,

  my father, who was a king.

  PERICLES

  How! a king's daughter?

  And call'd Marina?

  What's that! 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.

  You said that you would believe me;

  but I won't disturb your peace any more,

  I'll stop here.

  PERICLES

  But are you flesh and blood?

  Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?

  Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born?

  And wherefore call'd Marina?

  But are you flesh and blood?

  Do you have a pulse? You are not a spirit?

  You are not a statue! Good; speak on. Where were you born?

  And why are you called Marina?

  MARINA

  Call'd Marina

  For I was born at sea.

  I was called Marina

  because I was born at sea.

  PERICLES

  At sea! what mother?

  At sea! Who was your mother?

  MARINA

  My mother was the daughter of a king;

  Who died the minute I was born,

  As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft

  Deliver'd weeping.

  My mother was the daughter of the King;

  she died in childbirth,

  as my good nurse Lychordia had often

  tearfully told me.

  PERICLES

  O, stop there a little!

  Aside

  This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep

  Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be:

  My daughter's buried. Well: where were you bred?

  I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,

  And never interrupt you.

  Oh, just pause for a moment!

  This is the strangest dream that stupid sleep

  ever used to mock sad fools: this cannot be:

  my daughter is in her grave. Well: where were you brought up?

  I want to hear more, right to the end,

  and I won't interrupt you.

  MARINA

  You scorn: believe me, 'twere best I did give o'er.

  You don't believe me: it would be best for me to stop.

  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?

  I shall believe you through hearing

  what you have to say. But, excuse me:

  how did you come to these parts? Where were you brought up?

  MARINA

  The king my father did in Tarsus 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 to do't,

  A crew of pirates came and rescued me;

  Brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir,

  Whither will you have 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.

  The king, my father, left me in Tarsus;

  until cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,

  tried to murder me: they had persuaded

  a villain to try it, and he had already drawn his sword

  when a crew of pirates came and rescued me;

  they brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir,

  what do you want from me? Why do you weep?

  It may be,

  that you think I am an impostor: I swear I'm not;

  I am the daughter of King Pericles,

  if good King Pericles still lives.

  PERICLES

  Ho, Helicanus!

  Helicanus, come here!

  HELICANUS

  Calls my lord?

  You called, my lord?

  PERICLES

  Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,

  Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst,

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

  That thus hath made me weep?

  You are a serious and noble counsellor,

  with great wisdom in all things: tell me, if you can,

  who this girl is, or what she may be,

  that has made me weep like this.

  HELICANUS

  I know not; but

  Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene

  Speaks nobly of her.

  I do not know; but

  here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene

  who speaks very well of her.

  LYSIMACHUS

  She would never tell

  Her parentage; being demanded that,

  She would sit still and weep.

  She would never say

  who her parents were; when she was asked,

  she would sit down and weep.

  PERICLES

  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 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.

  What was thy mother's name? tell me but that,

  For truth can never be confirm'd enough,

  Though doubts did ever sleep.

  Oh Helicanus, strike me, honoured sir;

  cut me, give me a pain to take my mind off

  this great sea of joy which is rushing over me,

  in case it should swamp the shores of my life,

  and drown me with its sweetness. Oh, come here,

  you who have given new life to the one who gave you life;

  you who was born at sea, buried at Tarsus,

  and found at sea again! Oh Helicanus,

  get down on your knees! Thank the holy gods as loud

  as thunder: this is Marina.

  What was your mother's name? If you can just tell me that,

  for there can never be enough proof of truth,

  even when there is no doubt.

  MARINA

  First, sir, I pray,

  What is your title?

  First, sir, I must ask you,

  what is your title?

  PERICLES

  I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now

  My drown'd queen's name, as in the rest you said

  Thou hast been godlike perfect,

  The heir of kingdoms and another like

  To Pericles thy father.

  I am Pericles of Tyre: but now tell me

  the name of my drowned queen, as everything else you've said

  has been divinely perfect, showing you

  to be the heir of kingdoms and of the same blood

  as Pericles your father.

  MARINA

&nb
sp; 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.

  Is all I have to do to be your daughter

  to say that my mother's name was Thaisa?

  Thaisa was my mother, who died

  the minute I came to life.

  PERICLES

  Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.

  Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus;

  She is 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?

  Now, blessings upon you! Rise; you are my child.

  Bring me fresh clothes. This is my child, Helicanus;

  she was not killed at Tarsus, as she should have been,

  by the wicked Cleon: she will tell you everything;

  then you shall kneel, satisfied in the knowledge

  that she is truly your princess. Who is this?

  HELICANUS

  Sir, 'tis the governor of Mytilene,

  Who, hearing of your melancholy state,

  Did come to see you.

  Sir, this is the governor of Mytilene,

  who, hearing of your melancholy state,

  came to see you.

  PERICLES

  I embrace you.

  Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.

  O heavens bless my girl! 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?

  I embrace you.

  Give me my robes. I'm almost mad with what I see.

  O heavens bless my girl! But, listen, what's that music?

  Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him

  again, point by point, for he still seems to doubt

  that you are definitely my daughter. But, what is that music?

  HELICANUS

  My lord, I hear none.

  My Lord, I can hear none.

  PERICLES

  None!

  The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.

  None!

  It's the music of the stars! Listen, my Marina.

  LYSIMACHUS

  It is not good to cross him; give him way.

  It's not good to contradict him; let him run on.

  PERICLES

  Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?

  Amazing sounds! Can't you hear it?

  LYSIMACHUS

  My lord, I hear.

  Music

  My Lord, I hear it.

  PERICLES

  Most heavenly music!

  It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber

  Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.

  Sleeps

  Most heavenly music!

  It forces me to listen, and heavy sleep

  weighs down my eyelids: let me rest.

  LYSIMACHUS

  A pillow for his head:

  So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,

  If this but answer to my just belief,

  I'll well remember you.

  Exeunt all but PERICLES

  DIANA appears to PERICLES as in a vision

  Put a pillow under his head:

  so, let's all leave him. Well, my dear friends,

  if all this is as true as I think,

  you will be well rewarded.

  DIANA

  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.

  Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe;

  Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!

  Awake, and tell thy dream.

  Disappears

  My temple stands in Ephesus: go there,

  and make a sacrifice at my altar.

  There, when my virgin priests are gathered together,

  in front of all the people,

  reveal how you lost your wife at sea:

  to mourn your misfortunes, with your daughter's,

  repeat them all, word for word.

  Do as I say, or you will live in sorrow;

  do it and you will be happy; by my silver bow!

  Wake up, and tell people your dream.

  PERICLES

  Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

  I will obey thee. Helicanus!

  Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, and MARINA

  Heavenly Diana, silver goddess,

  I shall obey you. Helicanus!

  HELICANUS

  Sir?

  Sir?

  PERICLES

  My purpose was for Tarsus, 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 LYSIMACHUS

  Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,

  And give you gold for such provision

  As our intents will need?

  I meant to make for Tarsus, to attack

  the evil Cleon; but I have

  another job to do first; turn the ships

  towards Ephesus; soon I'll tell you why.

  Shall we take refreshment, sir, upon your shore,

  and pay you for the provisions

  we shall need for our plans?

  LYSIMACHUS

  Sir,

  With all my heart; and, when you come ashore,

  I have another suit.

  Sir,

  with all my heart; and, when you come ashore,

  I have something to ask you.

  PERICLES

  You shall prevail,

  Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems

  You have been noble towards her.

  If you want permission to woo my daughter

  you shall succeed; for it seems

  you have treated her nobly.

  LYSIMACHUS

  Sir, lend me your arm.

  Sir, give me your arm.

  PERICLES

  Come, my Marina.

  Exeunt

  Come, my Marina.

  Enter GOWER, before the temple of DIANA at Ephesus

  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 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 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 doom.

  Exit

  Now our time is almost up;

  a little more and then we'll be silent.

  Please indulge me one more time,

  be kind enough

  to imagine

  the pageantry, the exploits, the shows,

  the songs, and happy music,

  the regent ordered in Mytilene

  to welcome the king. He had the fortune

  to gain the promise that he should marry

  f
air Marina, although certainly not

  until the sacrifice has been made

  as Diana ordered: they are going there,

  so please forget the interim.

  The sails hoisted and are speeding,

  and wishes will come to pass.

  At Ephesus you can see the temple

  and our king and all his company.

  That he can get there so quickly

  is thanks to your imaginations.

  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

  PERICLES

  Hail, Dian! to perform thy just command,

  I here confess myself the king of Tyre;

  Who, frighted from my country, did wed

  At Pentapolis the fair Thaisa.

  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 Tarsus

  Was nursed with Cleon; who at fourteen years

  He sought to murder: but her better stars

  Brought her to Mytilene; 'gainst whose shore

  Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us,

  Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she

  Made known herself my daughter.

  Hail to you, Diana! To do as you have ordered,

  I here reveal myself as king of Tyre;

  who, fled from my country, married

  the beautiful Thaisa at Pentapolis.

  She died in childbirth at sea, but delivered

  a girl child called Marina; who, oh goddess,