8

By the four opposing coignes,
Which the world together joins,
Is made, with all due diligence,
That horse, and sail, and high expence,
Can stead the quest. At last from Tyre
(Fame answering the most strange inquire ?,)
To the court of king Simonides
Are letters brought, the tenour these :-
Antiochus and his daughter dead :
The men of Tyrus on the head
Of Helicanus would set on
The crown of Tyre, but he will none:
The mutiny he there hastes t' appease;
Says to them, if king Pericles
Come not home in twice six moons,
He, obedient to their dooms,
Will take the crown. The sum of this,
Brought hither to Pentapolis,
Yravished the regions round,
And every one with claps 'gan sound,
“Our heir apparent is a king !
Who dream’d, who thought of such a thing?"
Brief, he must hence depart to Tyre:
His queen, with child, makes her desire
(Which who shall cross ?) along to go.
Omit we all their dole and woe :
Lychorida, her nurse, she takes,
And so to sea.

Then, vessel shakes
On Neptune's billow; half the flood
Hath their keel cut; but fortune’s mood'
Varies again: the grizly north
Disgorges such a tempest forth
That, as a duck for life that dives,
So up and down the poor ship drives.

7

а

the most strange inquire,)] Modern editors alter this epithet to strong : what is strony inquire ?” The “inquire" was “strange" (the word in every old copy), because it was for a lost king-a most unusual circumstance.

8 The mutiny he there bastes t' APPEASE ;] Here, not only does the rhyme show that "

appease is right (it is oppress in the old copies), but such is the very word in Wilkins' novel, where we read, “ Helicanus had not without much labour appeased the stubborne mutiny of the Tyrians.” Sign. E 3 b.

but fortune's MOOD] All the old editions misprint it, “but fortune mov'd.” We have had the expression “fortune's mood " in Vol. ii. p. 615.

9

The lady shrieks, and well-a-near,
Does fall in travail with her fear:
And what ensues in this self storm'
Shall for itself itself perform.
I nill relate', action may
Conveniently the rest convey,
Which might not what by me is told.
In your imagination hold
This stage the ship, upon whose deck
The seas-tost Pericles appears to speak.

[Exit.

SCENE I.

Enter PERICLES, on shipboard.
Per. Thou God of this great vast, rebuke these surges,
Which wash both heaven and hell; and thou, that hast
Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
Having call'd them from the deep. Oh! still
Thy deafening, dreadful thunders; gently quench'
Thy nimble, sulphurous flashes !-Oh! how, Lychorida,
How does my queen ?—Thou storm, venomously *
Wilt thou spit all thyself ?- The seaman's whistle
Is as a whisper in the ears of death,
Unheard.-Lychorida !-Lucina, oh!
Divinest patroness, and midwife', gentle
To those that cry by night, convey thy deity
Aboard our dancing boat; make swift the pangs
Of my queen's travails !-Now, Lychorida-

1

3

- in this self storm] i. e. In this same or self-same storm : all modern editors (some without any notice) here corrupt the ancient text of the 4tos. and folios to “fell storm.” We have had “self” used in the same way—“that self hand”-in “ Antony and Cleopatra,” A. v. sc. 1 (this Vol. p. 286), where Dercetas brings an account of the death of the hero. 2 I nill relate,) i. e. I ne will or will not relate, because action may, &c.

Enter LYCHORIDA, with an Infant. Lyc. Here is a thing too young for such a place, Who, if it had conceit, would die, as I Am like to do. Take in your arms this piece Of your dead queen. . Per.

How! how, Lychorida ! Lyc. Patience, good sir; do not assist the storm. Here's all that is left living of your queen, A little daughter: for the sake of it, Be manly, and take comfort. Per.

Oh you gods!
Why do you make us love your goodly gifts,
And snatch them straight away? We, here below,
Recall not what we give, and therein may
Use honour with you.
Lyc.

Patience, good sir,
Even for this charge.
Per.

Now, mild may be thy life!
For a more blust'rous birth had never babe:
Quiet and gentle thy conditions ;
For thou’rt the rudeliest welcome to this world,
That e'er was prince's child'. Happy what follows !
Thou hast as chiding a nativity,
As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
To herald thee from the womb: even at the first,
Thy loss is more than can thy portage quit,
With all thou canst find here.—Now the good gods
Throw their best eyes upon

it!

Enter tiro Sailors. 1 Sail. What courage, sir? God save you. Per. Courage enough. I do not fear the flaw?;

It hath done to me the worst : yet, for the love
Of this poor infant, this fresh new sea-farer,
I would it would be quiet.

1 Sail. Slack the bowlines there! thou wilt not, wilt thou ? -Blow, and split thyself.

2 Sail. But sea-room, an the brine and cloudy billow kiss the moon, I care not.

1 Sail. Sir, your queen must overboard: the sea works high, the wind is loud, and will not lie till the ship be cleared of the dead.

Per. That's your superstition.

1 Sail. Pardon us, sir; with us at sea it hath been still observed, and we are strong in custom'. Therefore, briefly yield her, for she must overboard straight'.

Per. As you think meet.—Most wretched queen!
Lyc. Here she lies, sir.

Per. A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my dear;
No light, no fire: the unfriendly elements
Forgot thee utterly; nor have I time
To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight
Must cast thee, scarcely coffin'd, in the ooze;
Where, for a monument upon thy bones,
And aye-remaining lamps ", the belching whale,
And humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse,
Lying with simple shells.—Oh Lychorida !
Bid Nestor bring me spices, ink and paper,
My casket and my jewels; and bid Nicander
Bring me the satin coffer': lay the babe
Upon the pillow. Hie thee, whiles I say
A priestly farewell to her: suddenly, woman.

[Exit LYCHORIDA. 2 Sail. Sir, we have a chest beneath the hatches, caulk'd and bitumed ready.

Per. I thank thee. Mariner, say what coast is this?
2 Sail. We are near Tharsus.

Per. Thither, gentle mariner,
Alter thy course for Tyre?. When canst thou reach it ?

2 Sail. By break of day, if the wind cease.

Per. Oh! make for Tharsus.—
There will I visit Cleon, for the babe
Cannot hold out to Tyrus : there I'll leave it
At careful nursing.–Go thy ways, good mariner :
I'll bring the body presently.

[Exeunts.

SCENE II.

Ephesus. A Room in CERIMON's House.

Enter CERIMON, a Servant, and some Persons who have been

shipwrecked. Cer. Philemon, ho !

Enter PHILEMON.

Phil. Doth my lord call'?
Cer. Get fire and meat for these

poor men : It has been a turbulent and stormy night.

Serv. I have been in many ; but such a night as this,
Till now I ne'er endur'd.

Cer. Your master will be dead ere you return:
There's nothing can be minister'd to nature,
That can recover him. Give this to the 'pothecary,
And tell me how it works.

[To PHILEMON. [Exeunt PhilEMON, Servant, and the rest.