The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 352
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,