The Plays of William Shakspeare

heard something of my power, and so stand aloof
for more serious wooing. But I protest to thee,
pretty one, my authority shall not see thee, or else,
look friendly upon thee. Come, bring me to some
private place. Come, come.

Mar. If you were born to honour, show it now;
If put upon you, make the judgment good
That thought you worthy of it.

Lys. How's this? how's this?.

be sage.

Mar. For me,

Some more;

That am a maid, though most ungentle fortune
Hath plac'd me here within this loathsome stie,
Where, since I came, diseases have been sold
Dearer than physick, O that the good gods
Would set me free from this unhallow'd place,
Though they did change me to the meanest bird
That flies i'the purer air!

I did not think

Lys.
Thou could'st have spoke so well; ne'er dream'd
thou could'st.

Had I brought hither a corrupted mind,
Thy speech had alter'd it. Hold, here's gold for

thee:

Perséver still in that clear way thou goest,

And the gods strengthen thee!
Mar. The gods preserve you!
Lys.

For me, be you thoughten
That I came with no ill intent: for to me
The very doors and windows savour vilely.
Farewell. Thou art a piece of virtue, and
I doubt not but thy training hath been noble.
Hold; here's more gold for thee.
A curse upon him, die he like a thief,
That robs thee of thy goodness!
from me,

It shall be for thy good.

Boult. The nobleman would have dealt with her like a nobleman, and she sent him away as cold as a snowball; saying his prayers too.

Bawd. Boult, take her away; use her at thy pleasure crack the glass of her virginity, and make the rest malleable.

Boult. An if she were a thornier piece of ground than she is, she shall be ploughed.

Mar. Hark, hark, you gods!

Bawd. She conjures : away with her. Would she
had never come within my doors! Marry hang you!
She's born to undo us. Will you not go the way of
women-kind? Marry come up, my dish of chastity
with rosemary and bays!
[Erit Bawd
Boult. Come, mistress; come your way with me.
Mar. Whither would you have me?
Boult. To take from you the jewel you hold so
dear.

Mar. Pr'ythee, tell me one thing first.
Boult. Come now, your one thing.

Mar. What canst thou wish thine enemy to be? Boult. Why, I could wish him to be my master, or rather, my mistress.

Mar. Neither of these are yet so bad as thou art
Since they do better thee in their command.
Thou hold'st a place, for which the pained'st fiend
Of hell would not in reputation change:
Thou'rt the damn'd door-keeper to every coystrel
That hither comes enquiring for his tib;
To the cholerick fisting of each rogue thy ear
Is liable; thy very food is such

As hath been belch'd on by infected lungs.

Boult. What would you have me? go to the wars, would you? where a man may serve seven years for If thou hear'st the loss of a leg, and have not money enough in the end to buy him a wooden one?

[AS LYSIMACHUS is putting up his purse,
BOULT enters.

Boult. I beseech your honour, one piece for me.
Lys. Avaunt, thou damned door-keeper! Your
house,

But for this virgin that doth prop it up,
Would sink, and overwhelm you all.

Away!
[Erit LYSIMACHUS.

Boult. How's this? We must take another course with you. If your peevish chastity, which is not worth a breakfast in the cheapest country under the cope, shall undo a whole household, let me be gelded like a spaniel. Come your ways.

Mar. Whither would you have me?

Come

Boult. I must have your maidenhead taken off, or the common hangman shall execute it. your way. We'll have no more gentlemen driven Come your ways, I say.

away.

Re-enter Bawd.

Bawd. How now! What's the matter?

Mar. Do any thing but this thou doest. Empty
Old receptacles, common sewers, of filth;
Serve by indenture to the common hangman;
Any of these ways are better yet than this:
For that which thou professest, a baboon,
Could he but speak, would own a name too dear.
O that the gods would safely from this place
Deliver me! Here, here is gold for thee.
If that thy master would gain aught by me,
Proclaim that I can sing, weave, sew, and dance,
With other virtues, which I'll keep from boast;
And I will undertake all these to teach.
I doubt not but this populous city will
Yield many scholars.

Boult. But can you teach all this you speak of?
Mar. Prove that I cannot, take me home again,
And prostitute me to the basest groom
That doth frequent your house.

Boult. Well, I will see what I can do for thee: if
I can place thee, I will.

Mar. But, amongst honest women?
Boult. 'Faith, my acquaintance lies little amongst

Boult. Worse and worse, mistress; She has here them. But since my master and mistress have spoken holy words to the lord Lysimachus.

Bawd. O abominable!

Boult. She makes our profession as it were to stink afore the face of the gods.

Bawd. Marry, hang her up for ever!

bought you, there's no going but by their consent;
therefore I will make them acquainted with your
purpose, and I doubt not but I shall find them
tractable enough. Come, I'll do for thee what I
can; come your ways.
[Exeunt

Enter GOWER.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-On board Pericles' Ship, off Mitylene.
A close 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 Tyrian vessel,
the other to the barge; to them HELICANUS.
Tyr. Sail. Where's the lord Helicanus? he can
resolve you. [To the Sailor of Mitylene.
O here he is.
Sir, there's a barge put off from Mitylene,
And in it is Lysimachus the governor,
Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
Hel. That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
Tyr. Sail. Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.

Enter Two Gentlemen.

1. Gent. Doth your lordship call? Hel. Gentlemen,

There is some of worth would come aboard; I pray

you,

To greet them fairly.

Hel. And you, sir, to out-live the age I am, And die as I would do.

Lys.
You wish me well.
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.
Hel. First, sir, what is your place?

Lys. I am governor of this place you lie before.
Hel. 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.

Lys. Upon what ground is his distemperature? Hel. Sir, it would be too tedious to repeat; But the main grief of all springs from the loss Of a beloved daughter and a wife. Lys. May we not see him, then? Hel.

You may indeed, sir. But bootless is your sight; he will not speak To any.

Lys. Yet, let me obtain my wish.

Hel. Behold him, sir: [PERICLES discovered.] this was a goodly person,

Till the disaster, that, one mortal night,
Drove him to this.

Lys. Sir, king, all hail! the gods preserve you!
Hail!

Hail, royal sir!

Hel. It is in vain; he will not speak to you.

1 Lord. Sir, we have a maid in Mitylene, I durst wager, Would win some words of him. Lys. "Tis well bethought. She, questionless, with her sweet harmony And other choice attractions, would allure, And make a battery through his deafen'd parts, Which now are midway stopp'd: She, all as happy as of all the fairest, Is, with her fellow maidens, now within The leafy shelter that abuts against The island's side.

[He whispers one of the attendant Lords. · Exit Lord, in the barge of LYSIMACHUS. Hel. Sure all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit That bears recovery's name. But, since your kind

[The Gentlemen and the Two Sailors descend Of your king's sorrow.
and go on board the barge.

Enter, from thence, LYSIMACHUS and Lords; the
Tyrian Gentlemen, and the Two Sailors.

Hel.

Sit, sir, I will recount it; But, see, I am prevented.

Enter, from the barge, Lord, MArina, and a young Lady.

The lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one!

Is't not a goodly presence?

Of gentle kind, and noble stock, I'd 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 :
If that thy prosperous-artificial feat
Can draw him but to answer thee in aught
Thy sacred physick shall receive such pay
As thy desires can wish.
Mar.

Sir, I will use
My utmost skill in his recovery,
Provided none but I and my companion
Be suffer'd to come near him.
Lys.

Come, let us leave her, And the gods make her prosperous!

Lys.

[MARINA Sings. Mark'd he your musick?

Mar. No, nor look'd on us. Lys.

See, she will speak to him. Mar. Hail, sir! my lord, lend ear: Per. Hum! ha!

My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes,
But have been gaz'd on, comet-like she speaks,
My lord, that, may be, hath endur'd a grief
Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh'd.
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 aukward casualties
Bound me in servitude. — I will desist;
But there is something glows upon my cheek,
And whispers in mine ear, Go not till he speak.

Aside. - good parent

To equal mine! was it not thus? what say you? Mar. I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage,

You would not do me violence.

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'll believe thee,
And make my senses credit thy relation,
To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
Like one I lov'd indeed. What were thy friends?
Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back,
(Which was when I perceiv'd thee,) that thou cam's
From good descending?

You said you would believe me: But, not to be a troubler of your peace, I will end here.

Per. But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? No motion? Well; speak on. Where were you born? And wherefore call'd Marina?

Mar.

For I was born at sea.

Per.

Call'd Marina,

At sea? thy mother? Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the very minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Deliver'd weeping.

Per.

O, stop there a little!
This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep
Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be.
My daughter's buried. [Aside.] Well: -where
were you bred?

I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.

Mar. You'll scarce believe me; 'twere best I did give o'er.

Per. 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? Mar. The king, my father, did in Tharsus leave me; Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife, Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd

Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene,

Speaks nobly of her.

Lys.

She would never tell
Her parentage; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.

Per. 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,
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
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.
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.

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It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber
Hangs on mine eye-lids; let me rest. [He sleeps.
Lys. A pillow for his head;

[The curtain before the pavilion of PERICLES is

closed.

So leave him all. Well, my companion-friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
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 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 thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call,
And give them repetition to the life.

Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe:
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.

Lys.

Per. Come, my Marina.

Sir, lend your arm. [Exeunt.

Enter GowER, before the temple of Diana at

Ephesus.

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,
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; | Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina
For she was yielded there.
Thai.

THAISA standing near the Altar, as high Priestess;
a number of Virgins on each side; CERIMON and
other Inhabitants of Ephesus attending.
Enter PERICLES, with his Train; LYSIMACHUS,
HELICANUS, MARINA, and a Lady.

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 Pentapolis.

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.

Voice and favour!

Thai.
You are, you are
O royal Pericles! - [She faints.
Per. What means the woman? she dies! help,
gentlemen!

Cer. Noble sir,

Bless'd, and mine own

I know you not.

Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!
Thai.

[Tyre,

Per. You have heard me say, when I did fly from
I left behind an ancient substitute.
Can you remember what I call'd the man?
I have ram'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,

Where shall be shown you all was found with her;
How she came placed here within the temple;
No needful thing omitted.

Per.

Pure Diana!

I bless thee for thy vision, and will offer
My night oblations to thee. Thaisa,
This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,
Shall marry her at Pentapolis. And now,
This ornament that makes me look so dismal,
Will I, my lov'd Marina, clip to form;
And what this fourteen years no razor touch'd,
To grace thy marriage-day, I'll beautify.
Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit,
Sir, that my father's dead.
[my queen,

Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there,
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,
To hear the rest untold. Sir, lead the way.
[Exeunt.

Enter GOWER.

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

Of monstrous lust the due and just reward:
In Pericles, his queen and daughter, seen
(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
To punish them; although not done, but meant.
So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has
[Exit Gowns

ending.

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