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?

Mar.

So indeed I did.

Per. Report thy parentage. I think thou saidst 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.

Per.

O! I am mock'd,

And thou by some incensed god sent hither

To make the world to laugh at me,

7 Didst thou not say,]

The name

All the old copies misprint," Didst thou not stay.” 8 How lost thou THEM?] Malone added "them" to the text, and it seems

necessary.

VOL. VIII.

A a

Was given me by one that had some power;

My father, and a king.

Per.

And call'd Marina?

Mar.

How! a king's daughter?

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.

And wherefore call'd Marina?

Mar.

For I was born at sea.

Per.

Where were you born,

Call'd Marina,

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.

This is the rarest dream that e'er dull'd sleep

Did mock sad fools withal; this cannot be.

My daughter's buried.-Well:—where were you bred? 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 Tharsus leave me,
Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,

9 At sea! what mother?] So the quarto, 1609, completing the line: later editions have "At sea! who was thy mother?" In the next line but one, modern editors have silently foisted very into the verse, though not found in a single ancient edition.

1 You SCORN :]

So every old copy, and rightly, with reference to what Pericles has just said. Malone altered the text to "You'll scarce believe me," &c., but quite unnecessarily.

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 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 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,
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,

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 father2.

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

Per.

I embrace you,

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 doubt3,
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 upon mine eyes: let me rest'.

[He sleeps.

2 And ANOTHER LIKE to Pericles thy father.] This is the ancient text: Monck Mason would change "like" to life, and Malone would read "A mother like," &c. We see no sufficient reason for alteration.

3 - for yet he seems to DOUBT,] In the old copies, " doubt" is printed doat. The mistake is evident.

Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.] Malone, without even the excuse that it corrects the measure, much less that there was any corruption, reads

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 Lady.

SCENE II.

The Same.

PERICLES on the Deck asleep; DIANA appearing to him

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'.

Or 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!

Hangs on mine eye-lids." Other modern editors adhere more nearly, though not closely, to the text, by giving "Hang on mine eyes." This variation, where the measure is generally so uncertain and irregular, is of trifling importance. - repetition to the LIFE.] In the old copies it stands "to the like," which was most probably an error of the press. This mistake gives more countenance to Monck Mason's conjecture respecting a former line, p. 356.

5

Do't, and BE happy,] "Be," necessary to the sense and measure, is omitted in all the old editions.