| ACT V | Enter GOWER | |
| GOWER | Marina thus the brothel 'scapes, and chances | |
| | Into an honest house, our story says. | |
| | She sings like one immortal, and she dances | |
| | As goddess-like to her admired lays; | |
| | Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her needle composes | 5 |
| | Nature's own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry, | |
| | That even her art sisters the natural roses; | |
| | Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry: | |
| | That pupils lacks she none of noble race, | |
| | Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain | 10 |
| | She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place; | |
| | And to her father turn our thoughts again, | |
| | Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost; | |
| | Whence, driven before the winds, he is arrived | |
| | Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast | 15 |
| | Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived | |
| | God Neptune's annual feast to keep: from whence | |
| | Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies, | |
| | His banners sable, trimm'd with rich expense; | |
| | And to him in his barge with fervor hies. | 20 |
| | In your supposing once more put your sight | |
| | Of heavy Pericles; think this his bark: | |
| | Where what is done in action, more, if might, | |
| | Shall be discover'd; please you, sit and hark. | |
| | Exit | |
| ACT VSCENE I | On board PERICLES' ship, off Mytilene. A close | 25 |
| | pavilion on deck, with a curtain before it; PERICLES | |
| | within it, reclined on a couch. A barge lying | |
| | beside the Tyrian vessel. | |
| | Enter two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrianvessel, the other to the barge; to them HELICANUS | |
| Tyrian Sailor | To the Sailor of Mytilene | |
| | he can resolve you. | |
| | O, here he is. | 30 |
| | Sir, there's a barge put off from Mytilene, | |
| | And in it is Lysimachus the governor, | |
| | Who craves to come aboard. What is your will? | |
| HELICANUS | That he have his. Call up some gentlemen. | |
| Tyrian Sailor | Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls. | 35 |
| | Enter two or three Gentlemen | |
| First Gentleman | Doth your lordship call? | |
| HELICANUS | Gentlemen, there's some of worth would come aboard; | |
| | I pray ye, greet them fairly. | |
| | The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend, and goon board the barge | |
| | Enter, from thence, LYSIMACHUS and Lords; with theGentlemen and the two Sailors | |
| Tyrian Sailor | Sir, | |
| | This is the man that can, in aught you would, | 40 |
| | Resolve you. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you! | |
| HELICANUS | And you, sir, to outlive the age I am, | |
| | And die as I would do. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | You wish me well. | 45 |
| | Being on shore, honouring of Neptune's triumphs, | |
| | Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us, | |
| | I made to it, to know of whence you are. | |
| HELICANUS | First, what is your place? | |
| LYSIMACHUS | I am the governor of this place you lie before. | 50 |
| HELICANUS | Sir, | |
| | Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king; | |
| | A man who for this three months hath not spoken | |
| | To any one, nor taken sustenance | |
| | But to prorogue his grief. | 55 |
| LYSIMACHUS | Upon what ground is his distemperature? | |
| HELICANUS | 'Twould be too tedious to repeat; | |
| | But the main grief springs from the loss | |
| | Of a beloved daughter and a wife. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | May we not see him? | 60 |
| HELICANUS | You may; | |
| | But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | Yet let me obtain my wish. | |
| HELICANUS | Behold him. | |
| | PERICLES discovered | |
| | This was a goodly person, | 65 |
| | Till the disaster that, one mortal night, | |
| | Drove him to this. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | Sir king, all hail! the gods preserve you! | |
| | Hail, royal sir! | |
| HELICANUS | It is in vain; he will not speak to you. | 70 |
| First Lord | Sir, | |
| | We have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager, | |
| | Would win some words of him. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | 'Tis well bethought. | |
| | She questionless with her sweet harmony | 75 |
| | And other chosen attractions, would allure, | |
| | And make a battery through his deafen'd parts, | |
| | Which now are midway stopp'd: | |
| | She is all happy as the fairest of all, | |
| | And, with her fellow maids is now upon | 80 |
| | The leafy shelter that abuts against | |
| | The island's side. | |
| | Whispers a Lord, who goes off in the barge ofLYSIMACHUS | |
| HELICANUS | Sure, all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit | |
| | That bears recovery's name. But, since your kindness | |
| | We have stretch'd thus far, let us beseech you | 85 |
| | That for our gold we may provision have, | |
| | Wherein we are not destitute for want, | |
| | But weary for the staleness. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | O, sir, a courtesy | |
| | Which if we should deny, the most just gods | 90 |
| | For every graff would send a caterpillar, | |
| | And so afflict our province. Yet once more | |
| | Let me entreat to know at large the cause | |
| | Of your king's sorrow. | |
| HELICANUS | Sit, sir, I will recount it to you: | 95 |
| | But, see, I am prevented. | |
| | Re-enter, from the barge, Lord, with MARINA, and ayoung Lady | |
| LYSIMACHUS | O, here is | |
| | The lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one! | |
| | Is't not a goodly presence? | |
| HELICANUS | She's a gallant lady. | 100 |
| LYSIMACHUS | She's such a one, that, were I well assured | |
| | Came of a gentle kind and noble stock, | |
| | I'ld wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed. | |
| | Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty | |
| | Expect even here, where is a kingly patient: | 105 |
| | If that thy prosperous and artificial feat | |
| | Can draw him but to answer thee in aught, | |
| | Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay | |
| | As thy desires can wish. | |
| MARINA | Sir, I will use | 110 |
| | My utmost skill in his recovery, Provided | |
| | That none but I and my companion maid | |
| | Be suffer'd to come near him. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | Come, let us leave her; | |
| | And the gods make her prosperous! | 115 |
| | MARINA sings | |
| LYSIMACHUS | Mark'd he your music? | |
| MARINA | No, nor look'd on us. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | See, she will speak to him. | |
| MARINA | Hail, sir! my lord, lend ear. | |
| PERICLES | Hum, ha! | 120 |
| MARINA | I am a maid, | |
| | My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes, | |
| | But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks, | |
| | My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief | |
| | Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh'd. | 125 |
| | Though wayward fortune did malign my state, | |
| | My derivation was from ancestors | |
| | Who stood equivalent with mighty kings: | |
| | But time hath rooted out my parentage, | |
| | And to the world and awkward casualties | 130 |
| | Bound me in servitude. | |
| | Aside | |
| | I will desist; | |
| | But there is something glows upon my cheek, | |
| | And whispers in mine ear, 'Go not till he speak.' | |
| PERICLES | My fortunes--parentage--good parentage-- | 135 |
| | To equal mine!--was it not thus? what say you? | |
| MARINA | I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, | |
| | You would not do me violence. | |
| PERICLES | I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me. | |
| | You are like something that--What country-woman? | 140 |
| | Here of these shores? | |
| MARINA | No, nor of any shores: | |
| | Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am | |
| | No other than I appear. | |
| PERICLES | I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. | 145 |
| | My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one | |
| | My daughter might have been: my queen's square brows; | |
| | Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; | |
| | As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like | |
| | And cased as richly; in pace another Juno; | 150 |
| | Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry, | |
| | The more she gives them speech. Where do you live? | |
| MARINA | Where I am but a stranger: from the deck | |
| | You may discern the place. | |
| PERICLES | Where were you bred? | 155 |
| | And how achieved you these endowments, which | |
| | You make more rich to owe? | |
| MARINA | If I should tell my history, it would seem | |
| | Like lies disdain'd in the reporting. | |
| PERICLES | Prithee, speak: | 160 |
| | Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look'st | |
| | Modest as Justice, and thou seem'st a palace | |
| | For the crown'd Truth to dwell in: I will | |
| | believe thee, | |
| | And make my senses credit thy relation | 165 |
| | To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st | |
| | Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends? | |
| | Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back-- | |
| | Which was when I perceived thee--that thou camest | |
| | From good descending? | 170 |
| MARINA | So indeed I did. | |
| PERICLES | Report thy parentage. I think thou said'st | |
| | Thou hadst been toss'd from wrong to injury, | |
| | And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine, | |
| | If both were open'd. | 175 |
| MARINA | Some such thing | |
| | I said, and said no more but what my thoughts | |
| | Did warrant me was likely. | |
| PERICLES | Tell thy story; | |
| | If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part | 180 |
| | Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I | |
| | Have suffer'd like a girl: yet thou dost look | |
| | Like Patience gazing on kings' graves, and smiling | |
| | Extremity out of act. What were thy friends? | |
| | How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin? | 185 |
| | Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me. | |
| MARINA | My name is Marina. | |
| PERICLES | O, I am mock'd, | |
| | And thou by some incensed god sent hither | |
| | To make the world to laugh at me. | 190 |
| MARINA | Patience, good sir, | |
| | Or here I'll cease. | |
| PERICLES | Nay, I'll be patient. | |
| | Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me, | |
| | To call thyself Marina. | 195 |
| MARINA | The name | |
| | Was given me by one that had some power, | |
| | My father, and a king. | |
| PERICLES | How! a king's daughter? | |
| | And call'd Marina? | 200 |
| MARINA | You said you would believe me; | |
| | But, not to be a troubler of your peace, | |
| | I will end here. | |
| PERICLES | But are you flesh and blood? | |
| | Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? | 205 |
| | Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born? | |
| | And wherefore call'd Marina? | |
| MARINA | Call'd Marina | |
| | For I was born at sea. | |
| PERICLES | At sea! what mother? | 210 |
| 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. | |
| PERICLES | O, stop there a little! | 215 |
| | 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. | 220 |
| MARINA | You scorn: believe me, 'twere best I did give o'er. | |
| 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? | |
| MARINA | The king my father did in Tarsus leave me; | 225 |
| | 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, | 230 |
| | 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. | 235 |
| PERICLES | Ho, Helicanus! | |
| HELICANUS | Calls 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, | 240 |
| | That thus hath made me weep? | |
| HELICANUS | I know not; but | |
| | Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene | |
| | Speaks nobly of her. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | She would never tell | 245 |
| | Her parentage; being demanded that, | |
| | She would sit still 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 | 250 |
| | 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, | 255 |
| | 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. | 260 |
| MARINA | First, sir, I pray, | |
| | 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, | 265 |
| | The heir of kingdoms and another like | |
| | To Pericles thy father. | |
| MARINA | Is it no more to be your daughter than | |
| | To say my mother's name was Thaisa? | |
| | Thaisa was my mother, who did end | 270 |
| | The minute I began. | |
| 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; | 275 |
| | When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge | |
| | She is thy very princess. Who is this? | |
| HELICANUS | Sir, 'tis the governor of Mytilene, | |
| | Who, hearing of your melancholy state, | |
| | Did come to see you. | 280 |
| 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, | 285 |
| | How sure you are my daughter. But, what music? | |
| HELICANUS | My lord, I hear none. | |
| PERICLES | None! | |
| | The music of the spheres! List, my Marina. | |
| LYSIMACHUS | It is not good to cross him; give him way. | 290 |
| PERICLES | Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear? | |
| LYSIMACHUS | My lord, I hear. | |
| | Music | |
| PERICLES | Most heavenly music! | |
| | It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber | |
| | Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest. | 295 |
| | Sleeps | |
| 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 | |
| DIANA | My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither, | 300 |
| | 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 | 305 |
| | 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 | |
| PERICLES | Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, | 310 |
| | I will obey thee. Helicanus! | |
| | Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, and MARINA | |
| HELICANUS | Sir? | |
| PERICLES | My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike | |
| | The inhospitable Cleon; but I am | |
| | For other service first: toward Ephesus | 315 |
| | 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? | |
| LYSIMACHUS | Sir, | 320 |
| | With all my heart; and, when you come ashore, | |
| | I have another suit. | |
| PERICLES | You shall prevail, | |
| | Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems | |
| | You have been noble towards her. | 325 |
| LYSIMACHUS | Sir, lend me your arm. | |
| PERICLES | Come, my Marina. | |
| | Exeunt | |
