The Works of William Shakespeare

Though doubts did ever sleep Mar.

What is your title?

First, sir, I pray,

Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now (As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,) My drown'd queen's name, thou art the heir of kingdoms,

And another life to Pericles thy father.

Mar. 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.

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

Give me fresh garments. Mine own Helicanus,
(Not dead at Tharsus, 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?

Hel. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.

I embrace you, sir.

Per.
Give me my robes; I am wild in my beholding.
O heavens bless iny 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?
Hel. My lord, I hear none.

Per. None?

So leave him all.-Well, my companion-friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
P'li well remember you.

[Exeunt Lysimachus, Helicanus, Marina,
and attendant Lady.

SCENE II-The same. Pericles on the deck asleep; Diana appearing to him as in a vision.

Dia. 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 the crosses, with thy daughter's, call,
And give them repetition to the life.
Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in wo:
Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream.

[Diana disappears. Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, I will obey thee!-Helicanus!

Enter Lysimachus, Helicanus, and Marina. Hel.

Sir.

Gow. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then done.

This, as 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 Mitylin,

To greet the king. So he was thriv'd,
That he is promis'd to be wiv'd
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 boon.
SCENE III.-The temple of Diana at Ephesus:
Thaisa standing near the altar, as high priest-
ess; a number of virgins on each side; Ceri-
mon and other inhabitants of Ephesus attending.
Enter Pericles, with his train; Lysimachus,
Helicanus, Marina, and a lady.

[Exit.

Per. Hail Dian; to perform thy just command,
I here confess myself the king of Tyre;
Who, frighted from my country, did wed
The fair Thaisa, at Pentapólis.

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 Tharsus'
Was nurs'd with Cleon; whom at fourteen years
He sought to murder: but her better stars
Brought her to Mitylene; against whose shore
Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us,
Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she
Made known herself my daughter.

Thai.

Voice and favour!

'Tis most certain.

I threw her o'erboard with these very arms.
Cer. Upon this coast, I warrant vou.

Per.
Cer. Look to the lady ;-0, she's but o'erjoy'd.
Early, one blust'ring morn, this lady was

(5) i. e. Pericles.

(6) Confound here signifies to consume. (7) i. e. Her white robe of innocence.

Cer. Great sir, they shall be brought you to house,

Whither I invite you. Look! Thaisa is
Recover'd.

Thai. O, let me look!

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 speak,
Like him you are: Did you not name a tempest,
A birth, and death?
Per.

The voice of dead Thaisa!
Thai. That Thaisa am I, supposed dead,
And drown'd.

Per. Immortal Dian!
Thai.

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my queen,

We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves
Will in that kingdom spend our following days;
Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.
Lord Cerimon, we do our longing stay.

Now I know you better.-To hear the rest untold.-Sir, lead the way. [Exe.

When we with tears parted Pentapolis,
The king, my father, gave you such a ring.

[Shows a ring.

Enter Gower.

Gow. In Antioch,' and his daughter, you have heard

Per. This, this: no more, you gods! your pre-of monstrous lust the due and just reward:

sent kindness

Makes my past miseries sport: You shall do well, In Pericles, his queen and daughter, seen
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.
Mar.

My heart

Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom.

[Kneels to Thaisa. Per. Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa;

(Although assail'd with fortune fierce and keen,)
Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last.
In Helicanus may you well descry
A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty:
In reverend Cerimon there well appears,
The worth that learned charity aye wears.
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn;
That him and his they in his palace burn.
The gods for murder seemed so content
I know you not. To punish them; although not done, but meant.
Per. You have heard me say, when I did fly So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.

Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina,
For she was yielded there.
Thai.
Bless'd and mine own!
Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!
Thai.

from Tyre,

I left behind an ancient substitute.

Can you remember what I call'd the man?

I have nam'd him oft.

Thai.

'Twas Helicanus then.

Per. Still confirmation:
Embrace him, dear Thaisa; this is he.
Now do I long to hear how you were found;
How possibly preserv'd; and whom to thank,
Besides the gods, for this great miracle.

Thai. Lord Cerimon, my lord; this man
Through whom the gods have shown their power;

that can

From first to last resolve you.

Per.

Reverend sir,

The gods can have no mortal officer
More like a god than you. Will you deliver
How this dead queen re-lives?

Cer.

I will, my lord. Beseech you, first go with me to my house,

[Exit Gower.

That this tragedy has some merit, it were vain to deny; but that it is the entire composition of Shakspeare, is more than can be hastily granted. I shall not venture, with Dr. Farmer, to determine that the hand of our great poet only visible in the last act, for I think it appears in several passages dispersed over each of these divisions. I find it difficult, however, to persuade myself that he was the original fabricator of the plot, or the author of every dialogue, chorus, &c.

STEEVENS.

The story is of great antiquity; and is related by various ancient authors in Latin, French, and English.

(1) Sensual passion. (2) i. e. His beard.

(3) i. e. The king of Antioch.

(4) Ever

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The Works of William Shakespeare: Comprising His Dramatic and ..., Band 2