PERICLES. Einleitung. -- Die früheste Ausgabe dieses Dramas ist eine Einzelausgabe in Quarto, die im Jahre 1609 mit folgendem telblatt erschien: The late, and much admired play, called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. With e true relation of the whole Historie, adventures and fortunes of the said Prince: As also e no lesse strange and worthy accidents, in the birth and life of his Daughter Mariana. it hath been divers and sundry times acted by his Maiesties Servants, at the Globe on e Banck-side. By William Shakespeare. Imprinted at London for Henry Gosson, and are be sold at the signe of the Sunne in Pater-noster row. 1609. In demselben Jahre erschien e zweite Quartausgabe, mit geringfügigen Abweichungen von der ersten. Vier andere Quartausgaben von 11, 1619, 1630 und 1635 folgten auf diese beiden, und aus der letzten dieser Ausgaben scheint das Drama in dritte Gesammtausgabe der Shakspere'schen Dramen in Folio vom Jahre 1664 übergegangen zu sein. Es steht elbst unter dem Titel: The much admired play, called Pericles Prince of Tyre, with the true lation of the whole History, Adventures and Fortunes of the said Prince. Written by lliam Shakespeare and published in his life time, und ist in Acte, aber nicht in Scenen eingetheilt 1 mit einem Personenverzeichniss versehen. — Der Text aller dieser Ausgaben ist corrumpirter als der irgend es andern Shakspere'schen Dramas in Quarto und Folio; verhältnissmässig am wenigsten verdorben ist noch der ersten Quarto von 1609, obwohl auch schon dieser von Entstellungen aller Art, wozu namentlich auch vielhe Verstümmlungen und Auslassungen gehören, wimmelt. Dass der Pericles, Prince of Tyre nicht in dem Sinne, wie die unzweifelhaft ächten sechsunddreissig amen, für ein Shakspere'sches Werk gelten kann, wird, abgesehen von den evidentesten innern Gründen, die dagen sprechen, schon durch die Nichtaufnahme des Stückes in die beiden ersten Folioausgaben von 1623 und 1632 dänglich bezeugt. Die Herausgeber dieser Folioausgaben, Shakspere's Freunde und Kunstgenossen, hätten gewiss Drama, das im Jahre 1608 auf ihrem eigenen Globustheater zur Darstellung gelangte, und dessen forternde Popularität durch die vielen folgenden Einzelausgaben beurkundet wird, nicht von ihrer vollständigen mmlung der Shakspere'schen Dramen ausgeschlossen, wenn ihnen dasselbe als ein wirklich und in allen Theilen Shakspere's Feder geflossenes Werk bekannt gewesen wäre. Dieses negative Argument kann auch durch den stand, dass die Quartausgaben sämmtlich auf dem Titelblatte Shakspere als Verfasser nennen, nicht entkräftet rden, denn auch anderen Dramen wurde schon zu Lebzeiten unseres Dichters auf dem Titelblatte der davon verstalteten Drucke Shakspere's Autorschaft in durchaus unbegründeter Weise und in betrügerischer Absicht zugerieben. So waren von den sieben Schauspielen, welche als Shakspere'sche zuerst die dritte Folioausgabe von 1664 1 sechsunddreissig Dramen der beiden früheren Folioausgaben hinzufügte, drei mit Shakspere's vollem Namen falschem Aushängeschilde schon vor dem Pericles in Einzelausgaben erschienen: Sir John Oldcastle im ire 1600, The London Prodigal im Jahre 1605, und A Yorkshire Tragedy im Jahre 1608; -- und die lern drei Pseudo-Shakspere'schen Stücke der späteren Folioausgaben tragen wenigstens auf dem Titelblatte ihrer artoeditionen Shakspere's Anfangsbuchstaben W. S., wohl in gleicher betrügerischer Absicht, um Käufer anzuken, zur Schau: Tragedy of Locrine im Jahre 1595, The Puritan im Jahre 1607, und Thomas Lord omwell im Jahre 1613.-Abgesehen von diesen an sich wenig glaubwürdigen Angaben des Titelblattes haben h directe Zeugnisse, dass Pericles für ein Shakspere'sches Werk gegolten, erst aus einer Nach-Shakspere'schen it beibringen lassen; Zeugnisse, aus denen hervorgeht, dass allerdings um die Mitte des 17. Jahrhunderts und iter von den Dichtern und Literaten Pericles für ein unzweifelhaftes Drama unseres Dichters angesehen wurde, e es scheint, auf Grund einer Tradition, die dem Pericles sicherer zur Seite gestanden, als den andern obennannten sechs Dramen, welche neben dem Pericles die späteren Folioausgaben im Jahre 1664 und 1685 in Chaufnahmen. Bei diesem Mangel an äusserer sicherer Begründung der Shakspere'schen Autorschaft bleibt nur eine Ergung des Gewichts innerer Gründe übrig, und diese sprechen bei der auffallenden Ungleichartigkeit des Pericles Styl und Vers, dessen Shakspere'sche Merkmale sich entschieden und unverkennbar charakteristisch nur in den zten Acten des Pericles vom dritten Acte an nachweisen lassen, für die Annahme, dass unser Dichter älteres Drama theilweise in der Art umgearbeitet haben mag, dass er sowohl ganze Scenen aus seiner Feder die Stelle der von seinem Vorgänger geschriebenen gesetzt, als auch die aus der früheren Arbeit beibehaltenen e und da mit einzelnen Shakspere'schen Phrasen und Wendungen ausgestattet hat. Dass aber dabei weder die ahl und Behandlung des Stoffes im Allgemeinen, in seiner Anordnung, noch der Gang der Handlung im Einzeluen von Shakspere modificirt, sondern vielmehr durchaus so beibehalten, wie der Vorgänger Beides mehr in chronikenartiger, als in künstlerisch dramatischer Gestaltung hingestellt hatte, das scheint ganz unzweifelhaf Wie an den beiden ersten Acten, in denen nur spärlich und vereinzelt hie und da Shakspere'sche Spuren sich ve rathen, so mag auch in den drei letzten Acten an den Chorusreden des alten Dichters Gower, an der dahin ei schlagenden Rede der Diana, sowie an einigen Uebergangsscenen, von Shakspere wenig oder nichts geändert hinzugefügt sein. Die unverkennbaren Shakspere'schen Zuthaten aber deuten unzweifelhaft auf die reifste späteste Periode in Shakspere's dichterischer Laufbahn hin, speciell auf die Epoche vor dem Jahre 1608, wo Monat Mai The booke of Pericles, Prynce of Tyre als ein beabsichtigter Verlagsartikel nebst Antony ar Cleopatra von Edward Blount in die Register der Buchhändlergilde eingetragen wurde, und wo ein unte geordneter Dichter, George Wilkins, eine Novelle erscheinen liess, die sich auf das Drama, als auf ein kürtü aufgeführtes, bezog und gründete. *) Diese Novelle, betitelt The Painfull Adventures of Pericles Prin of Tyre. Being the true History of the Play of Pericles, as it was lately presented by t worthy and ancient Poet John Gower. At London Printed by T. P. for Nat. Butter, 1608 erneutem, sorgsamem Abdruck herausgegeben von Tycho Mommsen, Oldenburg 1857), ist besonders desha interessant, weil sie, wie Collier zuerst im Einzelnen nachwies, theilweise die Worte des Dramatikers in pas phrasirender Prosa wiedergiebt, und wenn auch nicht wörtlich, so doch dem Sinne nach, manche Lücken ergir lässt, die sich in dem vielfach verstümmelten Texte des Dramas wenigstens vermuthen lassen. In den Anmerkung zu der nachfolgenden Ausgabe ist deshalb vielfach dieses bemerkenswerthe Verhältniss der Wilkins'schen Nove zu dem Drama hervorgehoben, und als eine grössere Probe davon möge hier das zehnte Capitel der Novelle folg das der 3., 5. und 6. Scene des 4. Actes des Dramas entspricht: Marina was no sooner thus concluded for, by the hee Baude, but the Pyrates were as soone braj home to his masters house, and received their payment, when after their departure, she giving comman to the Pander her man, that he should goe backe into the Market place, and there with open crity claime, what a picture of Nature they had at home, for euery lascivious eie to gaze vpon. The she Ea beganne to instruct her, with what complement she should entertaine her customers: she first asked he she were a virgine. When Marina replyed, she thanked the Gods, shee neuer knew what it was to be cti wi-e. In so being quoth the she bawde, you have beene well: but now in plaine tearmes I must teach y how to be worse. It is not goodnesse in you (quoth Marina) to teach me to be so: for goodnes answerd bawd, it is a Lecture, such as we vse seldome, & our consciences neuer reade one to another, & ther attend vnto me: you must now be like a stake for every man [to shoote] at, you must be like a foord t must receive all waters, you must have the benefite of all nations, and seeme to take delight in all s I thanke my starres, answered Marina, I am displeased with none: for by this answere it appeared a was the puritie of her minde, that she understoode not what this deuills sollicitor pleaded unto her: but quickely taking her off, told in more immodest phrase, that shee had payde for her, and that she and her body was hers, that will ye nill ye she must now be what she her selfe had beene, (and there is ee'di any bawde, but before time, hath beene a whoore) that to conclude, shee had bought her like a beast, é shee meant to hire her out. best When she vnderstanding vnwillingly what all these wordes tended vnto, she fell prostrate at feete, and with teares showred downe in aboundance, she intreated her, not to make hire of her bod so diseasefull a vse, which shee hoped the gods had ordained to a more happy purpose. When the ba answered her, Come, come, these droppes auaile thee not, thou arte now mine, and I will make my thee: and I must now learne you to know, we whom the worlde calles Bawdes, but more properly en be stiled Factors for men, are in this like the hangman, neither to regard prayers, nor teares, but i owne profile. So calling for her slave, which was gouernour ouer her she-houshold, this was her app ment vnto him, Goe quoth shee and take this Mayden, as shee is thus decked in costly apparell (for # to be remembred, that the former Pirates had no way dispoyled her of her ornaments, with purpos prise her at the higher rate) and leading her along, this be the crie thorow the whole Citty, That those desireth the purchase of so wondrous a beauty, shall for his first enioying her, pay tenne peeces of g and that afterward shee shall be common vnto the people for one peece at a time. Which will of Marina being no way able to resist, but with her sorrowe, onely desiring of the good gods, to be protect of her chastitie: She with this her slaue was hurried along, and who with the tenour of his priapint clamation, had so awaked the intemperaunce of the whole Cittie, that against her returne, of high and there was a full crowding at the doore, euery man carrying his money in his hand, and thinking his happiest man that might first haue accesse. But heauen who is still a protector of Vertue against Vi ordayned this for Marina, that the sending her abroad, with purpose, first to shew her, and after, to s sale of her to the worlde, was the onely meanes to defend her in the state of her virginitie. For as she (as before is saide) led along, and thousands of people wondring about her, and flocking as it had be so many flies, to infect so delicate a preseruatiue, it happened that Lysimachus the cheefe gouernour Meteline, looking out at his windowe, to obserue what strange occasion drew the giddy hauocke of pe to muster themselves into such throngs: he, not without great admiration obserued, that it was to th boote of so pretious a beauty, whose inflaming colours which Nature had with her best Arte placed tr her face, compelled him to censure, that she was rather a deseruing bedfellow for a Prince, than a pla fellow for so rascally an assembly: so pittying awhile her misfortune, that it was so hard to be three *) In einer Abhandlung, welche im dritten Jahrgang (1868) des Jahrbuchs der deutschen Shakespea Gesellschaft erschien: Ueber Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Von N. Delius ist der Versuch macht worden, die Shakspere'schen Bestandtheile dieses Dramas in eingehender Weise von den Nicht-Shakspere's zu sondern und letztere diesem George-Wilkins als dem ursprünglichen Verfasser des Pericles zu vindicirer. into the jaws of two such poisonous and devouring serpents, a Pandar, and a Baude, yet at last, being inflamed with a little sinnefull concupiscence, by the power of her face, he resolued himselfe that since shee must fall, it were farre more fitter, into his owne armes, whose authoritie could stretch to doe her good, than into the hote imbracements of many, to her vtter ruine; so presently dismissing away a seruant of his, he gave him charge, to giue in charge to the Bawd, that at the returne home, of this new peece of merchandise of hers, as shee respected, or in time of neede would be beholding to his favour, (and Heavens forfend but Bawdes nowe and then should stand in neede of authoritie) she should keepe her priuate from the conference of any, for hee himselfe that night late in the evening, in secret, and in some disguise, would (for her guests sake) visite her house. There needed no further incouragement to bid the Bawde stirre up her damnable limbes to make all fit. It was enough in this, that the Gouernour had sent worde, it was he that was to come. But having given the best garnish she could to her sinnefull habitation: and Marina being returned home againe by the Pandar, who had ledde her up and downe as Beare-heards leade beares for shew first, and to be baited after: Shee tooke her up with her into a priuate Chamber, when the fruite of her instructions were, how she should now learne to behaue her selfe, for she had fortunes comming vppon her, she was nowe to be received, respected, and regarded of a man that was honourable. Heaven graunt that I may finde him so, quoth Marina. Thou needest not doubt it sweete heart, quoth the Bawde, for though I tell it thee in priuate, which for a million he would not have to be knowne publikely: Hee is no woorse a man thou arte shortly to deale withall, than the Gouernour of this whole Citty, a Gentleman that is curteous, a fauourer of our calling, one that will as soone haue his hand in his pocket, as such a pretty dilling as thou shalt come in his eye, and not as most of our Gentlemen doe, drawe it out empty, but filling it full of golde, will most Joue-like rayne it downe into his Danaes lap. In briefe, he is a Nobleman, and, which is a thing which we respect more than his nobilitie, he is liberall: he is curteous, and thou mayest commaund him, he is vertuous and thou mayest learne of him. All these indeede, answered Marina, are properties, due vnto so worthy a Gentleman, whom you picture him to be: and if he be liberall in good, I shall be glad to taste of his bountie: if curteous, I shall as willingly become his seruant: and if vertuous, it shal be in me no way to make him vicious. Well, well, well, sayes the Bawde, we must have no more of this puling, and I must haue you learne to know, that vice is as hereditary to our house, as the olde barne to your countrey beggar. But as shee would haue proceded with more of these her diuelish counsells, hastily into the Chamber came the Pandar vnto them, who as hote as a toste, with his haste to bring the newes, he told them, that the Lorde Lysimachus was come, and as if the word Come had beene his kew, he entred the Chamber with the master bawde, when the whole frie of sinners cursying about him, he very largely, as the Prologue to his entertainment, distributed golde among them, and then as roundly demaunded, for that same fresh peece of stuffe, which by their proclamation they tolde, they had now to make sale of, and he of set purpose was come to have a sight of. When they all poynting toward Marina, told him there shee was, and for our selues, quoth they, we having done the office of right Chamberlaines, brought you together, we will shut the doore after vs, and so leave you. Who no sooner departed, but Lysimachus the Gouernour began to demaund of her the performaunce of that for which he came. When shee prostrating her selfe at his feete, intreated him to take pitty of her, and from poynt to poynt (excepting her birth, and death of her parents) discoursed vnto him the whole story of her misfortunes: as that by the practise of Dyonysa, and cruelty of Leonine, she should have beene murthered. And how it pleased the Gods to rescue her from that ruine by certaine Pyrates, who after solde her to this brothell, where, most vnhappy, he was witnesse she remayned. Then gentle Sir, quoth shee, since heauen hath beene so gratious, to restore me from death, let not their good to me, be a meanes for you, to be author of my more misfortune. But the Gouernour suspecting these teares, but to be some new cunning, which her matron the Bawde had instructed her in, to drawe him to a more large expence: He as freely tolde her so, and now beganne to be more rough with her, vrging her, that he was the Gouernour, whose authoritie coulde wincke at those blemishes, her selfe, and that sinnefull house could cast uppon her, or his displeasure punish at his owne pleasure, which displeasure of mine, thy beauty shall not priviledge thee from, nor my affection, which hath drawen me vnto this place abate, if thou with further lingering withstand me. By which wordes, she vnderstanding him to be as confident in euill, as she was constant in good, she intreated him but to be heard, and thus she beganne. If as you say (my Lorde) you are the Gouernour, let not your authoritie, which should teach you to rule others, be the meanes to make you mis-gouerne your selfe: If the eminence of your place came vnto you by discent, and the royalty of your blood, let not your life prooue your birth a bastard: If it were throwne vpon you by opinion, make good, that opinion was the cause to make you great. What reason is there in your justice, who hath power ouer all, to vndoe any? If you take from mee mine honour, you are like him, that makes a gappe into forbidden ground, after whome too many enter, and you are guiltie of all their euilles: my life is yet vnspotted, my chastitie vnstained in thought. Then if your violence deface this building, the workemanship of heauen, made up for good, and not to be the exercise of sinnes intemperaunce, you do kill your owne honour, abuse your owne iustice, and impouerish me. Why quoth Lysimachus, this house wherein thou liuest, is euen the receptacle of all mens sinnes, and nurse of wickednesse, and how canst thou then be otherwise then naught, that livest in it? It is not good, answered Marina, when you that are the Gouernour, who should liue well, the better to be bolde to punish euill, doe knowe that there is such a roofe, and yet come under it. Is there a necessitie (my yet good Lord) if there be firê before me, that I must strait then thither flie and burne my selfe? Or if suppose this house, (which too too many feele such houses are) should be the Doctors patrimony, and Surgeons feeding; folowes it therefore, that I must needs infect my self to give them maintenance? O my good Lord, kill me, but not deflower né, punish me how you please, so you spare my chastitie, and since it is all the dowry that both the Gods hau giuen, and men have left to me, do not you take it from me; make me your seruant, I will willingly obey you; make mee your bondwoman, I will accompt it freedome; let me be the worst that is called vile, so I may still live honest, I am content: or if you thinke it is too blessed a happinesse to haue me so, let me euen now, now in this minute die, and Ile accompt my death more happy than my birth. With which wordes (being spoken vpon her knees) while her eyes were the glasses that carried the water of her mishap, the good Gentlewoman being mooued, hee lift her vp with his hands, and even then imbraced her in his hart, saying aside: Now surely this is Virtues image, or rather, Vertues selfe, sent downe from heaven, a while to raigne on earth, to teach vs what we should be. So in steede of willing her to drie her eyes, ke wiped the wet himselfe off, and could have found in his heart, with modest thoughts to haue kissed her. but that hee feared the offer would offend her. This onely hee sayde, Lady, for such your vertues are, a farre more worthy stile your beuty challenges, and no way lesse your beauty can promise me that you are, I hither came with thoughtes intemperate, foule and deformed, the which your paines so well hath laued, that they are now white, continue still to all so, and for my parte, who hither came but to haue payd the price, a peece of golde for your virginitie, now give you twenty to releeue your honesty. It shall be come you still to be euen as you are, a peece of goodnesse, the best wrought uppe, that euer Nature made, and if that any shall inforce you ill, if you but send to me, I am your friend. With which promise, leaving her presence, she most humbly thanked the Gods for the preseruation of her chastitie, and the reformation of his mind. Lysimachus though departed, thus intended not to leave her so, but with diligent eyes to attend, how shee behaued her selfe to all other, who should have admittance to her, and for that purpose, having power to commaund the Bawde, hee placed himselfe in the next Chamber, where he might heare, euen to sillable, whatsoere passed, where he was no sooner setled with a former charge giuen to the bawd, that ar man should have accesse to her, but by turnes, he heard she had also won others, and preserued herse from them, as she had formerly done against him, gaining tenne times as much of profite by her praye and teares, as she should have doone by prostituting her beauty to their willes: at last, all of them be departed, and the house vnfrequented, onely of their owne housholde, and of the Gouernour, the borde standing ready at the doore, as hee should goe out, making his obeysaunce vnto him as hee should returne in hope of his fee or rewarde, hee with an angry brow turned towards him saying, Villaine, thou hast e house heere, the weight of whose sinne would sincke the foundation, euen vnto hell, did not the vertue of one that is lodged therein, keepe it standing; and so, as it were inraged, giving them nothing he departed. By which displeasure of his, the whole swarme of bawdes (as truely it was) ghessed, that their nee tenaunt, had not beene pliant to his will: and all rushing in hastily vppon her, first taking away the gold which the charitie (and not iniury) of all who had beene there, had given her to releeue her with, they cried against her, they should be all vndoone by her, their house would grow vncustomed, and their trading would fall to decay, by her squeamishnesse, and want of familliaritie to their Clients, resoluing now, tha there was no way to bring her vnto their bowe, but by hauing her rauished. For it is to be noted, not any that parted the house besides Lysimachus, but euen as he did, so they in like manner rayled against thes so forcibly had hir perswasions preuailed with them: whereupon, for that purpose they gave her up to th Pander, who first agreed for her, saying; That he that had bargained for the whole ioynt, it was fitter for him to cut a morsell from off the spit. So leauing them together, and telling him, they gave her up b his power, to doe euen what he would with her: the man and wife (though both bawdes) departed, whe the pandar going to her, tolde her, that he, his master, nor their antient family would as thus long they had beene, be vndoone by ere a Puritane peece of them all. And therefore quoth he; Come on and resolst your selfe without more whining, for I am but the bawdes seruant. The bawde hath commaunded me, and every seruant by the Indenture of his duety, is bound to obey his master: So catching her rashly by the hand, as he would haue inforced her to his will; she first calling on Diana patronesse of Chastitie to de fend her, fell likewise downe at his feete, and besought him but to heare her: which being graunted, the demaunded of him what thing he could wish himselfe to be, which was more vile than he was, or mort hatefull than he would make himselfe to be? Why my master or my mistris (quoth the villaine) I think, who have all the sinnes subiect to mankind raigning in them, and are (indeede) as bad as the Diuell hisselfe: yet (quoth Marina) thou goest about to be worse then they, and to doe an office at their setting which thy master himselfe hath more pitty then to attempt, to robbe me of mine honour, which in spite of them and thee, the Gods (who I hope will protect it still) haue till this breathing protected, to leprous my chast thoghts, with remembrance of so foule a deede, which thou then shalt have doone, to damne thing owne soule, by vndooing of mine. At which word, the Villaine being strucke into some remorce, and standing in a pawse, Marina went forward, and tolde him; If thou wantest golde, there is some for thee (part of that she had reserued which before was giuen hir, from the bawdes knowledge:) or if thou wanted maintenaunce, prouide mee but some residence in an honest house, and I have experience in many things which shall labour for thee, as namely, I am skilfull in the seauen Liberall Sciences, well excercised all studies, and dare approoue this, that my skill in singing and playing on Instruments exceeds any in the city: therefore (quoth she) as thou before didst proclame my beuty in the market to the open whereby to have made me a common prostitute, so now agayne proclame my vertues vnto them, and I doubt not but this honorable citty will affoord schollers sufficient, the instructing of whome will returns profite enough, both to repay the Maister what hee payed out for me, prouide an honester course for thee then this thou livest in; and give a quiet content vnto my selfe. Sooth (quoth the Villaine) being mooved vnto much more compassion of her; If you have (as you say) these qualities, I will labour with world |