Mar. Called Marina, For I was born at sea. Per. 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 Delivered weeping. Per. O, stop there a little! This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story, 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.1 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 wooed A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do't, Brought me to Mitylene. But now, good sir, You think me an impostor. If good king Pericles be. Hel. No, good faith; Pericles, Calls my gracious 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 1 That is, I will believe every the minutest part of what you say. Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene, Speaks nobly of her. She would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, Per. O Helicanus, strike me, honored sir; And drown me with their sweetness. O, come hither, 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, Mar. What is your title? First, sir, I pray, Per. I am Pericles of Tyre; but tell me now My drowned queen's name, (as in the rest thou hast Been godlike perfect,) thou'rt the heir of kingdoms, And another life to Pericles thy father.2 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, (Not dead at Tharsus, as she should have been, By savage Cleon,) she shall tell thee all; 1 i. e. "though nothing ever happened to awake a scruple or doubt." 2 This passage is very much corrupted in the old copies: in the last line we have, "another like." The emendation is founded upon that of Mason. Malone reads: "Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now When thou shalt kneel and justify in knowledge, Per. I embrace you, sir. Give me my robes; I am wild in my beholding. O'er point by point, for yet he seems to doubt, Per. None? The music of the spheres; list, my Marina. Lys. A pillow for his head; [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.2 Dia. My temple stands in Ephesus; hie thee thither, And do upon mine altar sacrifice. 1 Malone would give these lines to Marina, reading— 2 This vision appears to be founded on a passage in Gower. There, when my maiden priests are met together, Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife; To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call, Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe; [DIANA disappears. Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,2 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 blown 3 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. Per. You shall prevail, Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems You have been noble towards her. 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.* 1 In the old copy we have here like for life again. 2 i. e. regent of the silver moon. 3 That is, "our swollen sails." 4 The old copy reads dum; and in the last line of this chorus doom instead of boon. This, as my last boon, give me, (For such kindness must relieve me,) What pageantry, what feats, what shows, To greet the king. So he has thrived, [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 Inhabitants of Ephesus attending. Enter PERICLES, with his Train; LYSIMACHUS, HELICANUS, MARINA, and a Lady. Per. Hail, Dian! to perform thy just command, Who, frighted from my country, did wed 3 At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth 1 i. e. Pericles. 2 Confound here signifies to consume. 3 i. e. her white robe of innocence. |