50

Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest:
'Tis of some wreck.
Cer.

Set 't down, let's look upon 't.
Sec. Gent. 'Tis like a coffin, sir.
Cer.

Whate'er it be,
'Tis wondrous heavy. Wrench it open straight :
If the sea's stomach be o'ercharged with gold,
'Tis a good constraint of fortune it belches upon us.

Sec. Gent. 'Tis so, my lord.

Cer. How close 'tis caulk'd and bitumed !
Did the sea cast it up?

First Serv. I never saw so huge a billow, sir,
As toss'd it upon shore.
Cer.

Wrench it open ;
Soft! it smells most sweetly in my sense.

Sec. Gent. A delicate odour.

Cer. As ever hit my nostril. So, up with it.
O you most potent gods! what's here? a corse !

First Gent. Most strange !
Cer. Shrouded in cloth of state ; balm’d and

entreasured
With full bags of spices ! A passport too !
Apollo, perfect me in the characters !

[Reads from a scroll.
'Here I give to understand,
If e'er this coffin drive a-land,
I, King Pericles, have lost
This queen, worth all our mundane cost.
Who finds her, give her burying ;
She was the daughter of a king :
Besides this treasure for a fee,

The gods requite his charity!'
If thou livest, Pericles, thou hast a heart
That even cracks for woe! This chanced to-night.
55.

• Fortune has done well in forcing it to disgorge upon our coast.'

70

80

Sec. Gent. Most likely, sir.
Cer.

Nay, certainly to-night;
For look how fresh she looks! They were too

rough
That threw her in the sea. Make a fire within :
Fetch hither all my boxes in my closet.

[Exit a Servant.
Death may usurp on nature many hours,
And yet the fire of life kindle again
The o'erpress'd spirits. I heard of an Egyptian
That had nine hours lien dead,
Who was by good appliance recovered.

90

Re-enter a Servant, with boxes, napkins,

and fire. Well said, well said ; the fire and cloths. 'The rough and woeful music that we have, Cause it to sound, beseech you. The viol once more: how thou stirr'st, thou

block ! The music there !—I pray you, give her air. Gentlemen, This queen will live : nature awakes ; a warmth Breathes out of her: she hath not been entranced Above five hours : see how she gins to blow 84 f. This passage is probably Recover'd bodies nine hours lying

dead. corrupt. The corresponding place in the novel makes the (but lying for lien is clearly cure exercised by, not upon, wrong). 'Egyptians': 'I have read of

90. viol. The Ffand three later some Egyptians who, after four Qq have vial, i.e. ‘phial'; and it hours' death, have raised is possible that Wilkins underimpoverished bodies like to this,

stood it so, as he says : 'When unto their former health.' Hud- pouring a precious liquor into her son has plausibly restored the

mouth, he perceived warmth,' lines thus :

But the context strongly Of an Egyptian I have heard who had by good ap

suggests that the reference is to pliances

music.

etc.

100

Into life's flower again !
First Gent.

The heavens,
Through you, increase our wonder and set up
Your fame for ever.
Cer.

She is alive; behold,
Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels
Which Pericles hath lost,
Begin to part their fringes of bright gold;
The diamonds of a most praised water
Do appear, to make the world twice rich. Live,
And make us weep to hear your fate, fair creature,
Rare as you seem to be.

[She moves.
Thai.

O dear Diana,
Where am I? Where's my lord ? What world

is this?
Sec. Gent. Is not this strange ?
First Gent.

Most rare.
Cer.

Hush, my gentle neighbours ! Lend me your hands; to the next chamber bear

her. Get linen : now this matter must be look'd to, For her relapse is mortal.

Come, cone; And Æsculapius guide us !

[Exeunt, carrying her away.

ΙΙο

SCENE III.

Tarsus.

A room in Cleon's house.

Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, and LYCHO

RIDA with MARINA in her arms.
Per. Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be

gone;
My twelve months are expired, and Tyrus stands
106. Where

I ?

novel, Cerimon, with a physi. Thaisa's words are from Gower, cian's instinct, gives a reassuring Conf. Am. (bk. viii.). In the answer to her questions. VOL. IV

65

am

etc.

F

In a litigious peace. You, and your lady,
Take from my heart all thankfulness! The gods
Make up the rest upon you !
Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt

you mortally,
Yet glance full wanderingly on us.
Dion,

O your sweet queen! That the strict fates had pleased you had brought

her hither,
To have bless'd mine eyes with her!
Per.

We cannot but obey
The powers above us. Could I rage and roar
As doth the sea she lies in, yet the end
Must be as 'tis. My gentle babe Marina, whom,
For she was born at sea, I have named so, here
I charge your charity withal, leaving her
The infant of your care; beseeching you
To give her princely training, that she may be
Manner'd as she is born.
Cle.

Fear not, my lord, but think
Your grace, that fed my country with your corn,
For which the people's prayers still fall upon you,
Must in your child be thought on. If neglection
Should therein make me vile, the common body,
By you relieved, would force me to my duty:
But if to that my nature need a spur,
The gods revenge it upon me and mine,
To the end of generation !
Per.

I believe you;
Your honour and your goodness teach me to 't,
Without your vows.

Till she be married, madam,
By bright Diana, whom we honour, all
Unscissar'd shall this hair of mine remain,
Though I show ill in 't. So I take my leave.
Good madam, make me blessed in your care
In bringing up my child.

20,

- 30

Dion.

I have one myself,
Who shall not be more dear to my respect
Than yours, my lord.
Per.

Madam, my thanks and prayers.
Cle. We'll bring your grace e'en to the edge

o the shore,
Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune and
The gentlest winds of heaven.
Per.

I will embrace
Your offer. Come, dearest madam. O, no tears,
Lychorida, no tears :
Look to your little mistress, on whose grace
You may depend hereafter. Come, my lord.

[Exeunt.

40

SCENE IV. Ephesus. A room in Cerimon's

house.

Enter CERIMON and THAISA.
Cer. Madam, this letter, and some certain

jewels,
Lay with
you in your

coffer: which are now
At your command.

Know

you

the character ?
Thai. It is my lord's.
That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember,
Even on my eaning time; but whether there
Deliver'd, by the holy gods,
I cannot rightly say.

But since King Pericles,
My wedded lord, I ne'er shall see again,
A vestal livery will I take me to,
And never more have joy.

Cer. Madam, if this you purpose as ye speak,
36. the mask'd Neptun the was on the point of being de.
sea-god in his calmest aspect. livered.
6. on my eaning time, when I

10