ACT V SCENE I

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

ACT V SCENE I	PROLOGUE.
[Enter GOWER]
GOWER	Marina thus the brothel ‘scapes, and chances
	Into an honest house, our story says.
	She sings like one immortal, and she dances
	As goddess-like to her admired lays;
	Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her needle composes	5
	Nature’s own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry,
	That even her art sisters the natural roses;
	Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry:
	That pupils lacks she none of noble race,
	Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain	10
	She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place;
	And to her father turn our thoughts again,
	Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost;
	Whence, driven before the winds, he is arrived
	Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast	15
	Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived
	God Neptune’s annual feast to keep: from whence
	Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies,
	His banners sable, trimm’d with rich expense;
	And to him in his barge with fervor hies.	20
	In your supposing once more put your sight
	Of heavy Pericles; think this his bark:
	Where what is done in action, more, if might,
	Shall be discover’d; please you, sit and hark.
[Exit]
ACT V SCENE I	On 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 vessel.
[ Enter two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrian vessel, the other to the barge; to them HELICANUS ]
Tyrian Sailor	[To the Sailor of Mytilene] Where 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,	5
	Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
HELICANUS	That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
Tyrian Sailor	Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
[Enter two or three Gentlemen]
First Gentleman	Doth your lordship call?
HELICANUS	Gentlemen, there’s some of worth would come aboard;	10
	I pray ye, greet them fairly.
[ The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend, and go on board the barge ]
[ Enter, from thence, LYSIMACHUS and Lords; with the Gentlemen and the two Sailors ]
Tyrian Sailor	Sir,
	This is the man that can, in aught you would,
	Resolve you.
LYSIMACHUS	Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!	15
HELICANUS	And you, sir, to outlive the age I am,
	And die as I would do.
LYSIMACHUS	You wish me well.
	Being on shore, honouring of Neptune’s triumphs,
	Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us,	20
	I made to it, to know of whence you are.
HELICANUS	First, what is your place?
LYSIMACHUS	I am the governor of this place you lie before.
HELICANUS	Sir,
	Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king;	25
	A man who for this three months hath not spoken
	To any one, nor taken sustenance
	But to prorogue his grief.
LYSIMACHUS	Upon what ground is his distemperature?
HELICANUS	‘Twould be too tedious to repeat;	30
	But the main grief springs from the loss
	Of a beloved daughter and a wife.
LYSIMACHUS	May we not see him?
HELICANUS	You may;
	But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any.	35
LYSIMACHUS	Yet let me obtain my wish.
HELICANUS	Behold him.
[PERICLES discovered]
	This was a goodly person,
	Till the disaster that, one mortal night,
	Drove him to this.	40
LYSIMACHUS	Sir king, all hail! the gods preserve you!
	Hail, royal sir!
HELICANUS	It is in vain; he will not speak to you.
First Lord	Sir,
	We have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager,	45
	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,	50
	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.	55
[ Whispers a Lord, who goes off in the barge of LYSIMACHUS ]
HELICANUS	Sure, 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,	60
	But weary for the staleness.
LYSIMACHUS	O, 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	65
	Let me entreat to know at large the cause
	Of your king’s sorrow.
HELICANUS	Sit, sir, I will recount it to you:
	But, see, I am prevented.
[ Re-enter, from the barge, Lord, with MARINA, and a young Lady ]
LYSIMACHUS	O, here is	70
	The lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one!
	Is’t not a goodly presence?
HELICANUS	She’s a gallant lady.
LYSIMACHUS	She’s such a one, that, were I well assured
	Came of a gentle kind and noble stock,	75
	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,	80
	Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay
	As thy desires can wish.
MARINA	Sir, I will use
	My utmost skill in his recovery, Provided
	That none but I and my companion maid	85
	Be suffer’d to come near him.
LYSIMACHUS	Come, let us leave her;
	And the gods make her prosperous!
[MARINA sings]
LYSIMACHUS	Mark’d he your music?
MARINA	No, nor look’d on us.	90
LYSIMACHUS	See, she will speak to him.
MARINA	Hail, sir! my lord, lend ear.
PERICLES	Hum, ha!
MARINA	I am a maid,
	My lord, that ne’er before invited eyes,	95
	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	100
	Who stood equivalent with mighty kings:
	But time hath rooted out my parentage,
	And to the world and awkward casualties
	Bound me in servitude.
[Aside]
	I will desist;	105
	But there is something glows upon my cheek,
	And whispers in mine ear, ‘Go not till he speak.’
PERICLES	My fortunes–parentage–good parentage–
	To equal mine!–was it not thus? what say you?
MARINA	I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage,	110
	You would not do me violence.
PERICLES	I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me.
	You are like something that–What country-woman?
	Here of these shores?
MARINA	No, nor of any shores:	115
	Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
	No other than I appear.
PERICLES	I 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;	120
	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?	125
MARINA	Where I am but a stranger: from the deck
	You may discern the place.
PERICLES	Where were you bred?
	And how achieved you these endowments, which
	You make more rich to owe?	130
MARINA	If I should tell my history, it would seem
	Like lies disdain’d in the reporting.
PERICLES	Prithee, speak:
	Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look’st
	Modest as Justice, and thou seem’st a palace	135
	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?	140
	Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back–
	Which was when I perceived thee–that thou camest
	From good descending?
MARINA	So indeed I did.
PERICLES	Report thy parentage. I think thou said’st	145
	Thou hadst been toss’d from wrong to injury,
	And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine,
	If both were open’d.
MARINA	Some such thing
	I said, and said no more but what my thoughts	150
	Did warrant me was likely.
PERICLES	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	155
	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.
MARINA	My name is Marina.	160
PERICLES	O, I am mock’d,
	And thou by some incensed god sent hither
	To make the world to laugh at me.
MARINA	Patience, good sir,
	Or here I’ll cease.	165
PERICLES	Nay, I’ll be patient.
	Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me,
	To call thyself Marina.
MARINA	The name
	Was given me by one that had some power,	170
	My father, and a king.
PERICLES	How! a king’s daughter?
	And call’d Marina?
MARINA	You said you would believe me;
	But, not to be a troubler of your peace,	175
	I will end here.
PERICLES	But 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?	180
MARINA	Call’d Marina
	For I was born at sea.
PERICLES	At sea! what mother?
MARINA	My mother was the daughter of a king;
	Who died the minute I was born,	185
	As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
	Deliver’d weeping.
PERICLES	O, stop there a little!
[Aside]
	This is the rarest dream that e’er dull sleep
	Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be:	190
	My daughter’s buried. Well: where were you bred?
	I’ll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
	And never interrupt you.
MARINA	You scorn: believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.
PERICLES	I will believe you by the syllable	195
	Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave:
	How came you in these parts? where were you bred?
MARINA	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	200
	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,	205
	You think me an impostor: no, good faith;
	I am the daughter to King Pericles,
	If good King Pericles be.
PERICLES	Ho, Helicanus!
HELICANUS	Calls my lord?	210
PERICLES	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?
HELICANUS	I know not; but	215
	Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene
	Speaks nobly of her.
LYSIMACHUS	She would never tell
	Her parentage; being demanded that,
	She would sit still and weep.	220
PERICLES	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,	225
	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.	230
	What was thy mother’s name? tell me but that,
	For truth can never be confirm’d enough,
	Though doubts did ever sleep.
MARINA	First, sir, I pray,
	What is your title?	235
PERICLES	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.	240
MARINA	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.
PERICLES	Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.	245
	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?	250
HELICANUS	Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene,
	Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
	Did come to see you.
PERICLES	I embrace you.
	Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.	255
	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?
HELICANUS	My lord, I hear none.	260
PERICLES	None!
	The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.
LYSIMACHUS	It is not good to cross him; give him way.
PERICLES	Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?
LYSIMACHUS	My lord, I hear.	265
[Music]
PERICLES	Most heavenly music!
	It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber
	Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
[Sleeps]
LYSIMACHUS	A pillow for his head:
	So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,	270
	If this but answer to my just belief,
	I’ll well remember you.
[Exeunt all but PERICLES]
[DIANA appears to PERICLES as in a vision]
DIANA	My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither,
	And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
	There, when my maiden priests are met together,	275
	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;	280
	Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
	Awake, and tell thy dream.
[Disappears]
PERICLES	Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
	I will obey thee. Helicanus!
[Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, and MARINA]
HELICANUS	Sir?	285
PERICLES	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,	290
	And give you gold for such provision
	As our intents will need?
LYSIMACHUS	Sir,
	With all my heart; and, when you come ashore,
	I have another suit.	295
PERICLES	You shall prevail,
	Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems
	You have been noble towards her.
LYSIMACHUS	Sir, lend me your arm.
PERICLES	Come, my Marina.	300
[Exeunt]

Continue to Pericles, Act 5, Scene 2