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
What were thy friends?

Extremity out of act.

How lost thou them?

virgin?

Thy name, my most kind

Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me.
Mar. My name is Marina.

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

Mar.

Or here I'll cease.

Per.

O, I am mock'd,

Patience, good sir,

Nay, I'll be patient.

Thou little know'st 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.

And call'd Marina ?

Mar.

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How a king's daughter?

You said you would believe me;

But are you flesh and blood?

But, not to be a troubler of your peace,

I will end here.

Per.

Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? Motion ! Well; speak on. Where were you

For I was born at sea.

Per.

At sea! what mother?

Mar. 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.

Per.

O, stop there a little!

[Aside] This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be :

My daughter's buried.

bred?

Well where were you

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

Mar. You scorn: 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 Tarsus 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 to do 't,
A crew of pirates came and rescued me;

Brought me to Mytilene. 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,

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180

That thus hath made me weep?

Hel.

I know not; but

Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene

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 Tarsus,
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.

First, sir, I pray,

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 godlike 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.

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prove in addition the heir of kingdoms and another Pericles.' Some such words as thou art then' are probably lost before the heir.

Per. 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 :

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

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

Per.

Give me my robes.

I embrace you.

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.

My lord, I hear. [Music.

Per. Most heavenly music!

It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber

Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.

Lys. A pillow for his head :

[Sleeps.

So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,

If this but answer to my just belief,

I'll well remember you.

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[Exeunt all but Pericles.

DIANA appears to PERICLES as in a vision.

Dia. My temple stands in Ephesus; hie thee

thither,

And do upon mine altar sacrifice.

217. should have been, was said to be.

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.

Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe;
Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
Awake, and tell thy dream.

[Disappears. 250

Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

I will obey thee. Helicanus !

Hel.

Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, and

MARINA.

Sir?

Per. My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike The inhospitable Cleon; but I am

For other service first: toward Ephesus

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?

Lys. Sir,

With all my heart; and, when you come ashore,
I have another suit.

Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems

You have been noble towards her.

260

Lys.

Sir, lend me your arm.

Per. Come, my Marina.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Enter GOWER, before the temple of
DIANA at Ephesus.

Gow. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then dumb.