Mar. If I should tell my history, it would seem
Like lies disdain'd in the reporting.

Per.
Prithee, speak;
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'st
From good descending?
So indeed I did.

Mar.

Per. 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.

Mar. Some such thing I said, and said no more
But what my thoughts did warrant me was likely.
Per. Tell thy story;

If thine, consider'd, prove the thousandth part
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?

Recount, I do beseech thee; come, sit by me.

Mar. My name is Marina.

O, I am mock'd,

Per.
And thou by some incensed god sent hither
To make the world to laugh at me.

Mar. Patience, good sir, or here I'll cease.
Per. Nay, I'll be patient;

Thou little knowest how thou dost startle me,
To call thyself Marina.

Mar.

The name was given me
By one that had some power; my father and a king.

Per. How! a king's daughter, and call'd Marina? Mar. 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-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? who was 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 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; 't were 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 murther 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 Mitylene. But, good sir, 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 lord?

Per. 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,

That thus hath made me weep?

Hel.

I know not; but

Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene

Speaks nobly of her.

Lys. She never would tell her parentage;

O come hither,

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.
Thou that begett'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. First, sir, I pray, what is your title?
Per. I am Pericles of Tyre; but tell me now
My drown'd queen's name: as in the rest you said,
Thou hast been god-like perfect, the heir of kingdoms,
And another like 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, she

is ;

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, 't is the governor of Mitylene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.

Per. I embrace you

Give me my robes;

am wild in my beholding.

O heavens bless my girl! But hark, what music 's this?
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?

The music 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. Music? My lord, I hear—

Per.

Most heavenly music :

[He sleeps.

It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber
Hangs on mine eyes; let me rest.

Lys. 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 LYSIMACHUS, HELICANUS, MARINA, and
attendant Lady.

SCENE II.-The same.

PERICLES on 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 like.

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.
My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike
Th' inhospitable Cleon; but I am

For other service first: toward Ephesus

Turn our blown 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. Sir, With all my

heart; and when you come ashore,

I have another suit.

Per. You shall prevail,

Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems

You have been noble towards her.

Lys. Sir, lend me your arm.

Per. Come, my Marina.

[Exeunt.

Enter GowER, before the Temple of DIANA at

Ephesus.

Gow. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then dumb.

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, what 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,