Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease. Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects, 1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; And, since lord Helicane enjoineth us, We with our travels will endeavour it. Hel. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands; When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Pentapolis. A room in the palace. Enter Simonides, reading a letter, the Knights meet him. 1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides. Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know, That for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake Her reason to herself is only known, 2 Knight May we not get access to her, my lord? Sim. 'Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied her To her chamber, that it is impossible. 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves. [Exeunt. Sim. So They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter: She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight, And will no longer have it be delay'd. Enter Pericles. Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, For your sweet music this last night: my ears, I do protest, were never better fed With such delightful pleasing harmony. Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend; Not my desert. Sim. Sir, you are music's master. Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, sir, of My daughter? Per. As of a most virtuous princess. Sim. And she is fair too, is she not?" Per. As a fair day in summer; wond'rous fair. Sim. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you; Ay, so well, sir, that you must be her master, And she'll your scholar be; therefore, look to it. Per. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster. Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else. Per. What's here! A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? (1) Quenched. Per. By the gods, I have not, sir. Never did thought of mine levy offence; || Nor never did my actions yet commence A deed might gain her love, or your displeasure. Sim. Traitor, thou liest. Traitor! Per. Sim. Ay, traitor, sir. Per. Even in his throat (unless it be the king,) That calls me traitor, I return the lie. Sim. Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage. [Aside. Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts, That never relish'd of a base descent. I came unto your court, for honour's cause, Here comes my daughter, she can witness it. Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, Who takes offence at that would make me glad? I'll bring you in subjection. Will you, not having my consent, bestow Yes, if yon love me, Per. Even as my life, my blood that fosters it. Sim. What, are you both agreed? Both. Yes, 'please your majesty. Sim. It pleaseth me so well, I'll see you wed; Then, with what haste you can, get you to bed. [Exeunt. ACT III. Enter Gower. Gow. Now sleep yslaked! hath the rout; No din but snores, the house about, Made louder by the o'er-fed breast Of this most pompous marriage-feast. The cat, with eyne of burning coal, Now couches 'fore the mouse's hole; And crickets sing at th' oven's mouth, As the blither for their drouth. Hymen hath brought the bride to bed, Where, by the loss of maidenhead, A babe is moulded ;-Be attent, And time that is so briefly spent, Dumb show. Having call'd them from the deep! O still thy deaf'ning, Thy dreadful thunders; gently quench thy nimble, ously 10 Enter Pericles and Simonides at one door, with Attendants; a Messenger meets him, kneels, and Wilt thou spit all thyself?-The seaman's whistle gives Pericles a letter. Pericles shows it to Simon-Is as a whisper in the ears of death, ides; the Lords kneel to the former. Then enter Unheard.-Lychorida!-Lucina, Thaisa with child, and Lychorida. Simonides Divinest patroness, and midwife, gentle shows his daughter the letler; she rejoices: she To those that cry by night, convey thy deity and Pericles take leave of her father, and de-Aboard our dancing boat; make swift the pangs Of my queen's travails!-Now, Lychoridapart. Then Simonides, &c. retire. Gow. By many a dearn2 and painful perch,3 That horse, and sail, and high expense, The erown of Tyre, but he will none : Come not, in twice six moons, home, Will take the crown. The sum of this, Brought hither to Pentapolis, And every one with claps 'gan sound, Who dream'd, who thought of such a thing! up and down the poor ship drives. Conveniently the rest convey: [Exit. This stage, the ship, upon whose deck Per. Thou God of this great vast,9 rebuke,these Enter Lychorida, with an infant. Lyc. Here is a thing Too young for such a place, who if it had your dead queen. Lyc. Patience, good sir; do not assist the storm. Here's all that is left living of your queen, A little daughter; for the sake of it, Be manly, and take comfort. Per. O you gods! Vie honour13 with yourselves. Even for this charge. Per. Patience, good sir, Now, mild may be thy life! For a more blust'rous birth had never babe: For thou'rt the rudeliest welcom'd to this world, As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make, Enter two Sailors. 1 Sail. What courage, sir? God save you. 1 Sail. Slack the bolins17 there; thou wilt not, wilt thou? Blow, and split thyself. 2 Sail. But sea-room, an the brine and cloudy billow kiss the moon, I care not. 1 Sail. Sir, your queen must overboard; the sea works high, the wind is loud, and will not lie, till the ship be cleared of the dead. Per. That's your superstition. 1 Sail. Pardon us, sir; with us at sea it still hath been observed; and we are strong in earnest. Therefore briefly yield her; for she must overboard Lyc. Here she lies, sir. Per. A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my dear, To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight (11) The goddess of child-bearing. (12) Thought. (13) Contend with you in honour. (15) Than thy entrance into life can requite. Must cast thee, scarcely coffin'd, in the ooze; Per. I thank thee. Mariner, say, what coast is A more content in course of true delight 2 Gent. Your honour has through Ephesus pour'd forth Your charity, and hundreds call themselves Enter two Servants with a chest. Serv. Sir, even now Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest ; 'Tis of some wreck. Cer. Whate'er it be, Set 't down, let's look on it. 2 Gent. 'Tis like a coffin, sir. Cer. 'Tis wondrous heavy. Wrench it open straight; If the sea's stomach be o'ercharg'd with gold, It is a good constraint of fortune, that It belches upon us. 2 Gent. 'Tis so, my lord. Cer. How close 'tis caulk'd and bitum'd! Did the sea cast it up? Serv. I never saw so huge a billow, sir, As toss'd it shore. upon Cer. Come, wrench it open; Soft, soft!it smells most sweetly in my sense. 2 Gent. A delicate odour. Cer. As ever hit my nostril; so,-up with it. O you most potent god! what's here? a corse! 1 Gent. Most strange! Cer. Shrouded in cloth of state; balm'd and entreasur'd With bags of spices full! A passport too! Here I give to understand, [Unfolds a scroll. [Reads. (If e'er this coffin drive a-land,) I, king Pericles, have lost This queen, worth all our mundane cost. If thou liv'st, Pericles, thou hast a heart Nay, certainly to-night; For look, how fresh she looks!-They were too rough, That threw her in the sea. Make fire within ; The overpressed spirits. I have heard Enter a Servant, with boxes, napkins, and fire. The vial once more;-How thou stirr'st, thou The music there.-I pray you, give her air :— This queen will live nature awakes; a warmth 1 Gent. The heavens, sir, Through you, increase our wonder, and set up Cer. She is alive; behold, Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels Begin to part their fringes of bright gold; Most rare. [Exeunt, carrying Thaisa away. SCENE III.-Tharsus. A room in Cleon's house. Enter Pericles, Cleon, Dionyza, Lychorida, and Marina. Per. Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be gone; Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt Yet glance full wand'ringly on us. Dion. O your sweet queen That the strict fates had pleas'd you had brought her hither, To have bless'd mine eyes! Per. The powers above us. We cannot but obey Cle. I believe you; Per. Madam, my thanks and prayers. Cle. We'll bring your grace even to the edge Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune,4 and Per. Look to your little mistress, on whose grace That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember, I cannot rightly say: But since king Pericles, Cer. Madam, if this you purpose as you speak, Thai. My recompense is thanks, that's all; ACT IV. Enter Gower. Gow. Imagine Pericles at Tyre, Now to Marina bend your mind, Which makes her both the heart and place Be't when she weav'd the sleided? silk (4) Insidious waves that wear a treacherous smile. Groaning. (6) Called. (7) Untwisted. With fingers long, small, white as milk; With the dove of Paphos might the crow The pregnant4 instrument of wrath Prests for this blow. The unborn event I do commend to your content: Only I carry winged time Post on the lame feet of my rhyme; Unless your thoughts went on my way.→→ With Leonine, a murderer. [Exit. SCENE I-Tharsus. An open place near the sea-shore. Enter Dionyza and Leonine. Dion. Thy oath remember; thou hast sworn to 'Tis but a blow, which never shall be known. Leon. I'll do't; but yet she is a goodly creature. Here Enter Marina, with a basket of flowers. Mar. No, no, I will rob Tellus6 of her weed, To strew thy green with flowers: the yellows, blues, The purple violets, and marigolds, Shall, as a chaplet, hang upon thy grave, Mar. No, I pray you; I'll not bereave you of your servant. Dion. J Come, come; I love the king your father, and yourself, He will repent the breadth of his great voyage; of I can go home alone. Mar. Well, I will go; But yet I have no desire to it. Dion. Come, come, I know 'tis good for you. Waik half an hour, Leonine, at the least; Remember what I have said. Leon. I warrant you, madam. Dion. I'll leave you, my sweet lady, for a while; Pray you walk softly, do not heat your blood: What! I must have a care of you. Mar. Thanks, sweet madam.- Is this wind westerly that blows? Mar. My father, as nurse said, did never fear, Wash'd off a canvas-climber :9 Ha! says one, The master calls, and trebles their confusion. It was when I was born: Never was waves nor wind more violent. Mar. Why, will you kill me? Leon. To satisfy my lady. Mar. Why would she have me kill'd? Now, as I can remember, by my troth, I never did her hurt in all my life; I never spake bad word, nor did ill turn While summer days do last. Ah me! poor maid, To any living creature: believe me, la, Born in a tempest, when my mother died, Dion. How now, Marina! why do you keep How chance my daughter is not with you? Do not (1) Needle. (2) Sings. (4) Prepared. The earth. (7) Countenance, look. I never kill'd a mouse, nor hurt a fly : Leon. My commission Is not to reason of the deed, but do it. Mar. You will not do't for all the world, I hope. You are well-favour'd, and your looks foreshow You have a gentle heart. I saw you lately, When you caught hurt in parting two that fought · Good sooth, it show'd well in you; do so now : Your lady seeks my life; come you between, And save poor me, the weaker. (8) i. e. Ere the sea, by the coming in of the tide, mar your walk. (9) A ship-boy. |