Per.

I do think so.

I pray you, turn your eyes again upon me.

You are like something that-What countrywoman?

Here of these shores?

Mar.

No, nor of any shores:

Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
No other than I appear.

Per. 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;

Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight;

As silver-voic'd; her eyes as jewel-like,

And cas'd 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? Mar. Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place.

Where were you bred?

Per.
And how achiev'd you these endowments, which
You make more rich to owe?3

Mar.

Should I tell my history,

'Twould seem like lies disdain'd in the reporting.

Per. Pr'ythee 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 in4: I'll believe thee,
And make my senses credit thy relation,

3 You make more rich to owe?] To owe in ancient language is to possess. The meaning of the compliment is: These endowments, however valuable in themselves, are heightened by being in your possession. They acquire additional grace from their owner.

a palace

STEEVENS.

For the crown'd truth to dwell in:] It is observable that our poet, when he means to represent any quality of the mind as eminently perfect, furnishes the imaginary being whom he personifies, with a crown.

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 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.

Mar.

Some such thing indeed 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 king's graves, and smiling
Extremity out of acts. 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, sir, is Marina.

Per.

And thou by some incensed god sent hither

To make the world laugh at me.

Mar.

Or here I'll cease.

Per.

O, I'm mock'd,

Patience, good sir,

Nay, I'll be patient;

Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me,

To call thyself Marina.

Mar.

The name Marina

Was given me by one that had some power;

My father, and a king.

5

and smiling

Extremity out of act.] By her beauty and patient meekness disarming Calamity, and preventing her from using her up-lifted sword.

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?

No motion ?6 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? thy mother?

Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king;

Who died the very 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 ere dull sleep

Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be.

My daughter's buried. [Aside.] Well:-where were you bred?

I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,

And never interrupt you.

Mar. You'll scarce believe me; 'twere best I did give

o'er.

Per. I will believe you by the syllable 7

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,

Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd
A villain to attempt it, who having drawn,†
A crew of pirates came and rescued me;

6 No motion?] i. e. no puppet dress'd up to deceive me.

7 I will believe you by the syllable, &c.] i. e. I will believe every word you say.

+ "drawn to do't," - MALONE.

Brought me to Mitylene. But, now, 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?

8

First, sir, I pray,

Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now (As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,)

8 Though doubts did ever sleep.] i. e. though nothing ever happened

to awake a scruple or doubt concerning your veracity.

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 mother's name was Thaisa?

To say, my

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,
(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, sir.

Give me my robes; I am wild in my beholding.

O heavens bless my girl! But hark, what musick? — 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 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!

Do ye not hear?

Lys.

Musick? My lord, I hear

Per. Most heavenly musick:

[He sleeps.

It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber

Hangs on mine eyelids; let me rest.

Lys. A pillow for his head;

[The Curtain before the Pavilion of PERICLES is closed.

" tell me now

My drowned queen's name (as in the rest you said
Thou hast been godlike perfect) the heir of kingdoms,
And a mother like to Pericles thy father." MALONE.