William Shakspeare's Complete Works, Dramatic and Poetic

Lys. Why, your herb-woman; she that sets seeds and roots of shame and iniquity. O, you have heard something of my power, and so stand aloof for more serious wooing. But I protest to thee, pretty one, iny 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?-Some more ;be sage.

Mar. For me,

That am a maid, though most ungentle fortune
Hath plac'd me here within this loathsome sty,
Where, since I came, diseases have been sold
Dearer than physic,-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,

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! [Exit 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 painedst fiend
Of hell would not in reputation change:
Thou'rt the damn'd door-keeper to every coystrel2
That hither comes inquiring for his tib;
To the choleric fisting of each rogue thy ear

Thy speech had alter'd it. Hold, here's gold for Is liable; thy very food is such

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,

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 the loss of a leg, and have not money enough in the end to buy him a wooden one?

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.

That robs thee of thy goodness! If thou hear'st O that the gods would safely from this place

from me,

It shall be for thy good.

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

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.

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 them. But since my master and mistress have 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.

Her inkle, silk, twin with the tubied cherry:
That pupils lacks she none of noble race,
Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain
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 arriv'd
Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast
Suppose him now at anchor. The city striv'd
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 fervour hies.
In your supposing once more put your sight;
Of heavy Pericles think this the bark :
Where, what is done in action, more, might,
Shall be discover'd; please you, sit, and hark.

[Exit.

She, questionless, with her sweet harmony
And other choice attractions, would allure,
And make a battery through his deafen'd parts,3
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

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

SCENE 1.-On board Pericles' ship, off Mity-The island's side.
lene. 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.

[The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend,
and
go on board the barge.

Enter, from thence, Lysimachus and Lords; the
Tyrian Gentlemen, and the two Sailors.
Tyr. Sail. Sir,

This is the man that can, in aught you would,
Resolve you.

Lys. Hail, reverend sir! The gods preserve you! 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 proroguel 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.

ness

We have stretch'd thus far, let us beseech you fur ther,

That for our gold we may provision have,
Wherein we are not destitute for want,
But weary for the staleness.

Lys.
O, sir, a courtesy,
Which if we should deny, the most just God
For every graff would send a caterpillar,
And so inflict our province.-Yet once more
Let me entreat to know at large the cause
Of your king's sorrow.
Hel.

But see,

Sit, sir, I will recount it;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?

Hel.
A gallant lady.
Lys. She's such, that were I well assur'd she came
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 physic 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! [Mar. sings. Lys.

Mark'd he your music?

See, she will speak to him.

Mar. No, nor look'd on us.

Lys.

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,

You may, indeed, sir, My lord, that, may be, hath endur'd a grief

Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight;
As silver-voic'd; her eyes as jewel-like,
And cas'd as richly in pace another Juno;
Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them
hungry,

The more she gives them speech.-Where do you
live?

Mar. Where I am but a stranger; from the deck
You may discern the place.

Per.
Where were you bred?
And how achiev'd you these endowments, which
You make more rich to owe?!

Mar.
Should I tell my history,
'Twould seem like lies disdain'd in the reporting.

Some such thing indeed 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, sir, is Marina.
Per.

For I was born at sea.

Call'd Marina,

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
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
A villain to attempt it, who having drawn,
A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
Brought me to Mitylene. But now, 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 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
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,
Patience, good sir,|| For truth can never be confirm'd enough,

O, I am mock'd,
And thou by some incensed god sent hither
To make the world laugh at me.
Mar.

(1) Possess.

(2) i. e. No puppet dressed up to deceive me.

VOL. II.

Though doubts did ever sleep. Mar.

What is your title?

Turn our blown3 sails; eftsoons4 I'll tell thee why.[To Helicanus

First, sir, I pray,

Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore, And give you gold for such provision

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.

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;
When thou shalt kneel and justify in knowledge,
She is thy very princess.-Who is this?

Hel. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.

Per.

I embrace you, sir. 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, 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: 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.I
Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in wo:
Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream. [Diana disappears.
Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,2

I will obey thee !--Helicanus !

Enter Lysimachus, Helicanus, and Marina.
Hei.

Sir.

Per. My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike

The inhospitable Cleon; but I am

For other service first: toward Ephesus

(1) Repeat a lively narrative of your adventures. (2) i. e. Regent of the silver moon.

(3) Swollen. (4) Soon.

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.

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,6
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:
Thaisa standing near the altar, as high-priest-
ess; a number of virgins on each side; Ceri-
mon and other inhabitants of Ephesus attending.
Enter Pericles, with his train; Lysimachus,
Helicanus, Marina, and a lady.

[Exit.

Per. Hail Dian; to perform thy just command, 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 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.

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

Per. Immortal Dian! Thai.

Now I know you better. When we with tears parted Pentapolis, The king, my father, gave you such a ring. [Shows a ring. Per. This, this: no more, you gods! your present kindness

Makes my past miseries sport: You shall do well,
That on the touching of her lips I may
Melt, and no more be seen. come, be buried
A second time within these arms.
Mar.
My heart
Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom.

[Kneels to Thaisa. Per. Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa;

Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina,
For she was yielded there.
Thai.
Bless'd and mine own!
Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!
Thai.

I know you not. Per. You have heard me say, when I did fly from Tyre,

I left behind an ancient substitute.

Can you remember what I call'd the man?
I have nam'd him oft.

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,

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 ornament2 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.

Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there, my queen,

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. [Exe.
Enter Gower.

Gow. In Antioch,3 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 ending.
[Exit Gower.

That this tragedy has some merit, it were vain to deny; but that it is the entire composition of Shakspeare, is more than can be hastily granted. I shall not venture, with Dr. Farmer, to determine that the hand of our great poet is only visible in the last act, for I think it appears in several passages dispersed over each of these divisions. I find it difficult, however, to persuade myself that he was the original fabricator of the plot, or the author of every dialogue, chorus, &c.

STEEVENS.

The story is of great antiquity; and is related by various ancient authors in Latin, French, and English.

(1) Sensual passion.

(2) i. e. His beard. 55

(3) i. e. The king of Antioch.

(4) Ever.

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