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. Per. Ho, Helicanus! Hel. Calls my gracious lord? Per. Thou art a grave and noble counsellor, Most wise in general: Tell me, if thou caust, What this maid is, or what is like to be, That thus hath made me weep? Hel. I know not; but Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene, Speaks nobly of her. Lys. She would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, Per. O Helicanus, strike me, honour'd sir; 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 Tharsus, And found at sea again! O Helicanus, Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods, as loud What was thy mother's name? tell me but that, 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 king. doms, 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 Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus, Hel. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene, Per. I embrace you, sir. O'er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt, Per. None? The musick of the spheres: list, my Marina, Lys. It is not good to cross him; give him way. Per. Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear? Lys. Musick? My lord, I hear Per. Most heavenly musick : It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber Hangs on mine eye-lids; let me rest. Lys. A pillow for his head; [He sleeps. [The curtain before the pavilion of Pericles So leave him all.-Well, my companion-friends, I'll 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 thi ther, And do upon mine altar sacrifice. There, when my maiden priests are met together, Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife: Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe: Awake, and tell thy dream. [Diana disappears. Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentinet, I will obey thee!-Helicanus ! Enter Lysimachus, Helicanus, and Marina. Hel. Sir. Per. My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike The inhospitable Cleon; but I am For other service first: toward Ephesus Turn our blownt sails; eftsoons§ I'll tell thee why. [To Helicanus. Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore, And give you gold for such provision As our intents will need? Lys. With all my heart, sir; and when you come ashore, I have another suit. Repeat a lively narrative of your adventures. ti. e. Regent of the silver moon. + Swolleu. § Soon. Per. You shall prevail, Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems 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 has thriv'd, i. e. Pericles. + Confound here signifies to consume. [Exit. SCENE III. The temple of Diana at Ephesus: Thaisa standing near the altar, as high-priestess; a number of virgins on each side; Cerimon and other inhabitunts of Ephesus attending. Enter Pericles, with his train; Lysimachus, Helicanus, Marina, and a Ludy. 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 Thaísa, at Pentapolis. At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth Voice and favour! Thai. gentlemen! Cer. Noble sir, If you have told Diana's altar true, This is your wife. Per. 1 Reverend appearer, no; I threw her o'erboard with these very arms. 'Tis most certain. Cer. Look to the lady;-O, she's but o'erjoy'd. * i. e. Her white robe of innocence. |