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  • William Shakespeare: Pericles, Act V, Scene I

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Scene IOn board Pericles’ ship, off Mytilene. A close pavilion on deck, with a curtain before it; Pericles within it, reclined on a couch. A barge lying beside the Tyrian vesselEnter two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrian vessel, the other to the barge; to them HelicanusTyrian SailorTo the Sailor of MytileneWhere is lord Helicanus? He can resolve you. O, here he is. Sir, there’s a barge put off from Mytilene, And in it is Lysimachus the governor, Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?HelicanusThat he have his. Call up some gentlemen.Tyrian SailorHo, gentlemen! my lord calls.Enter two or three GentlemenFirst GentlemanDoth your lordship call?HelicanusGentlemen, there’s some of worth would come aboard; I pray ye, greet them fairly.The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend, and go on board the bargeEnter, from thence, Lysimachus and Lords; with the Gentlemen and the two SailorsTyrian SailorSir, This is the man that can, in aught you would, Resolve you.LysimachusHail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!HelicanusAnd you, sir, to outlive the age I am, And die as I would do.LysimachusYou 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.HelicanusFirst, what is your place?LysimachusI am the governor of this place you lie before.HelicanusSir, 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 prorogue his grief.LysimachusUpon what ground is his distemperature?Helicanus’Twould be too tedious to repeat; But the main grief springs from the loss Of a beloved daughter and a wife.LysimachusMay we not see him?HelicanusYou may; But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any.LysimachusYet let me obtain my wish.HelicanusBehold him.Pericles discoveredThis was a goodly person, Till the disaster that, one mortal night, Drove him to this.LysimachusSir king, all hail! the gods preserve you! Hail, royal sir!HelicanusIt is in vain; he will not speak to you.First LordSir, We have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager, Would win some words of him.Lysimachus’Tis well bethought. She questionless with her sweet harmony And other chosen attractions, would allure, And make a battery through his deafen’d parts, Which now are midway stopp’d: She is all happy as the fairest of all, And, with her fellow maids is now upon The leafy shelter that abuts against The island’s side.Whispers a Lord, who goes off in the barge of LysimachusHelicanusSure, all’s effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit That bears recovery’s name. But, since your kindness We have stretch’d thus far, let us beseech you That for our gold we may provision have, Wherein we are not destitute for want, But weary for the staleness.LysimachusO, sir, a courtesy Which if we should deny, the most just gods For every graff would send a caterpillar, And so afflict our province. Yet once more Let me entreat to know at large the cause Of your king’s sorrow.HelicanusSit, sir, I will recount it to you: But, see, I am prevented.Re-enter, from the barge, Lord, with Marina, and a young LadyLysimachusO, here is The lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one! Is’t not a goodly presence?HelicanusShe’s a gallant lady.LysimachusShe’s such a one, that, were I well assured Came of a gentle kind and noble stock, I’ld 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 and artificial feat Can draw him but to answer thee in aught, Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay As thy desires can wish.MarinaSir, I will use My utmost skill in his recovery, Provided That none but I and my companion maid Be suffer’d to come near him.LysimachusCome, let us leave her; And the gods make her prosperous!Marina singsLysimachusMark’d he your music?MarinaNo, nor look’d on us.LysimachusSee, she will speak to him.MarinaHail, sir! my lord, lend ear.PericlesHum, ha!MarinaI am a maid, My lord, that ne’er before invited eyes, But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks, My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh’d. Though wayward fortune did malign my state, My derivation was from ancestors Who stood equivalent with mighty kings: But time hath rooted out my parentage, And to the world and awkward casualties Bound me in servitude.AsideI will desist; But there is something glows upon my cheek, And whispers in mine ear, ‘Go not till he speak.‘PericlesMy fortunes—parentage—good parentage— To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?MarinaI said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, You would not do me violence.PericlesI do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me. You are like something that—What country-woman? Here of these shores?MarinaNo, nor of any shores: Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am No other than I appear.PericlesI am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one My daughter might have been: my queen’s square brows; Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like And cased 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?MarinaWhere I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place.PericlesWhere were you bred? And how achieved you these endowments, which You make more rich to owe?MarinaIf I should tell my history, it would seem Like lies disdain’d in the reporting.PericlesPrithee, speak: Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look’st Modest as Justice, and thou seem’st a palace For the crown’d Truth to dwell in: I will believe thee, And make my senses credit thy relation To points that seem impossible; for thou look’st Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends? Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back— Which was when I perceived thee—that thou camest From good descending?MarinaSo indeed I did.PericlesReport thy parentage. I think thou said’st Thou hadst been toss’d from wrong to injury, And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine, If both were open’d.MarinaSome such thing I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Did warrant me was likely.PericlesTell 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.MarinaMy name is Marina.PericlesO, I am mock’d, And thou by some incensed god sent hither To make the world to laugh at me.MarinaPatience, good sir, Or here I’ll cease.PericlesNay, I’ll be patient. Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me, To call thyself Marina.MarinaThe name Was given me by one that had some power, My father, and a king.PericlesHow! a king’s daughter? And call’d Marina?MarinaYou said you would believe me; But, not to be a troubler of your peace, I will end here.PericlesBut are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born? And wherefore call’d Marina?MarinaCall’d Marina For I was born at sea.PericlesAt sea! what mother?MarinaMy mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Deliver’d weeping.PericlesO, stop there a little!AsideThis is the rarest dream that e’er dull 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.MarinaYou scorn: believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.PericlesI 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?MarinaThe 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.PericlesHo, Helicanus!HelicanusCalls my lord?PericlesThou 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?HelicanusI know not; but Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene Speaks nobly of her.LysimachusShe would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, She would sit still and weep.PericlesO 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.MarinaFirst, sir, I pray, What is your title?PericlesI 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.MarinaIs 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.PericlesNow, 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?HelicanusSir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene, Who, hearing of your melancholy state, Did come to see you.PericlesI 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 doubt, How sure you are my daughter. But, what music?HelicanusMy lord, I hear none.PericlesNone! The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.LysimachusIt is not good to cross him; give him way.PericlesRarest sounds! Do ye not hear?LysimachusMy lord, I hear.MusicPericlesMost heavenly music! It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.SleepsLysimachusA pillow for his head: So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends, If this but answer to my just belief, I’ll well remember you.Exeunt all but PericlesDiana appears to Pericles as in a visionDianaMy 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 livest in woe; Do it, and happy; by my silver bow! Awake, and tell thy dream.DisappearsPericlesCelestial Dian, goddess argentine, I will obey thee. Helicanus!Re-enter Helicanus, Lysimachus, and MarinaHelicanusSir?PericlesMy 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 LysimachusShall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore, And give you gold for such provision As our intents will need?LysimachusSir, With all my heart; and, when you come ashore, I have another suit.PericlesYou shall prevail, Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems You have been noble towards her.LysimachusSir, lend me your arm.PericlesCome, my Marina.Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Pericles, Act V

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William Shakespeare: Pericles, Act V, Scene III

  • William Shakespeare: Pericles, Act V, Scene III

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  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales