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 What was thy mother's name? tell me but that, Though doubts did ever sleep. Mar. What is your title? First, sir, I pray, 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 Per. Now, blessing on thee, rise; thou art my child. Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus, Hel. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene, 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, How sure you are my daughter.—But what musick? Hel. My lord, I hear none, Per. None? The musick of the spheres: list, my Marina, Lys. It is not good to cross him; give him way. Per. Rarest sounds! [He sleeps. It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber Hangs on mine eye-lids; let me rest. Lys. A pillow for his head; [The Curtain before the Pavilion of PERICLES is 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. Dia. My temple stands in Ephesus; hie thee thither, And do upon mine altar sacrifice. 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: Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow. Awake, and tell thy dream. [DIANA disappears. Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,7 I will obey thee !-Helicanus! Repeat a lively narrative of your adventures. 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 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. 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, SCENE III. [Exit. 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 Per. Hail Dian! to perform thy just command, The fair Thaisa, at Pentapolis. At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth 1 . e. Pericles. 2 Confound here signifies to consume. 3 i. e. Her white robe of innocence. |