Imatges de pàgina
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SCENE II.

The same.

PERICLES on the Deck asleep: DIANA appearing to him as in a vision.

Dia. My 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.”

Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe:
Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream.

[DIANA disappears.

Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

I will obey thee!-Helicanus!

Enter LYSIMACHUS, HELICANUS, and MARINA.

Hel.

Sir.

Per. My purpose was for Tharsus, 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.—

Shall we refresh us sir, upon your shore,

And give you gold for such provision

As our intents will need?

[TO HELICANUS.

Lys. With all my heart, sir; and when you come ashore,

I have another suit.

Per.

You shall prevail,

Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems
You have been noble towards her.

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And give them repetition to the life.] i. e. Repeat your misfortunes so feelingly and so exactly, that the language of your narration may imitate to the life the transactions you relate.-MALONE.

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goddess argentine,] That is, regent of the silver moon.—MALONE.
blown-] i. e. Swollen.

Enter GowER, before the Temple of Diana at Ephesus.

Gow. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then done.

This, as my last boon, give me,

(For such kindness must relieve me,)

That you aptly will suppose

What pageantry, what feats, what shows,
What minstrelsy, and pretty din,

The regent made in Mitylin,

To greet the king. So he has thriv'd,
That he is promis'd to be wiv'd
To fair Marina; but in no wise,
Till he had done his sacrifice,
As Dian bade: whereto being bound,
The interim, pray you, all confound."
In feather'd briefness sails are fill'd,
And wishes fall out as they're will'd.
At Ephesus the temple see,
Our king, and all his company.
That he can hither come so soon,
Is by your fancy's thankful boon."

SCENE III.

[Exit.

The Temple of Diana at Ephesus; THAISA standing near the Altar, as High-priestess; a number of Virgins on each side; CERIMON, and other Inhabitants of Ephesus attending.

Enter PERICLES, with his Train; LYSIMACHUS, HELICANUS, MARINA, and a Lady.

Per. Hail Dian! to perform thy just command,

I here confess myself the king of Tyre;

Who, frighted from my country, did wed

The fair Thaisa, at Pentapolis.

At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth
A maid-child call'd Marina; who, O goddess,

a He-Ji. e. Pericles.

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confound.]-here signifies consume. thankful boon.] i. e. The boon for which we thank you.-STEEVENS.

Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tharsus
Was nurs'd with Cleon; whom at fourteen years
He sought to murder: but her better stars
Brought her to Mitylene; against whose shore
Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us,
Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she
Made known herself my daughter.

Thai.

Voice and favour!

You are, you are-O royal Pericles!—

[She faints. Per. What means the woman? she dies! help, gen

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I threw her o'erboard with these very arms.
Cer. Upon this coast, I warrant you.

Per:

'Tis most certain.

Cer. Look to the lady;-O, she's but o'erjoy'd. Early, one blust'ring morn, this lady was

Thrown on this shore. I op'd the coffin, and

Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and plac'd her Here in Dian's temple.

Per.

May we see them?

Cer. Great sir, they shall be brought you to my house, Whither I invite you.

Recover'd.

Thai. O, let me look!

Look! Thaisa is

If he be none of mine, my sanctity

Will to my sense" bend no licentious ear,
But curb it spite of seeing. O, my lord,
Are you not Pericles? Like him you speak,
Like him you are: Did you not name a tempest,
A birth, and death?

Per.

The voice of dead Thaisa! Thai. That Thaisa am I, supposed dead,

And drown'd.

t · thy silver livery.] i. e. Her white robe of innocence, as being yet under the protection of the goddess of chastity.-PERCY.

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sense-] Here used for sensual passion.

Per. Immortal Dian!

Thai.

Now I know you better.-

When we with tears parted Pentapolis,

The king, my father, gave you such a ring.

[Shows a Ring. : Per. This, this: no more, you gods! your present

kindness

Makes my past miseries sport; You shall do well,

That on the touching of her lips I may

Melt, and no more be seen. O, come, be buried

A second time within these arms.

Mar.

My heart

Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom.

(Kneels to THAISA. Per. Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa; Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina,

For she was yielded there.

Thai.

Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!

Thai.

Bless'd, and mine own!

I know you not.

Per. You have heard me say, when I did fly from Tyre,

I left behind an ancient substitute.

Can you remember what I call'd the man?

I have nam'd him oft.

Thai.

"Twas Helicanus then.

Per. Still confirmation:

Embrace him, dear Thaisa; this is he.

Now do I long to hear how you were found;
How possibly preserv'd; and whom to thank,
Besides the gods for this great miracle.

Thai. Lord Cerimon, my lord; this man

Through whom the gods have shown their power; that can From first to last resolve you.

Per.

Reverend sir,

The gods can have no mortal officer

More like a god than you. Will you deliver

How this dead queen re-lives?

Cer.

I will, my lord.

Beseech you, first go with me to my house,

Where shall be shown you all was found with her;

How she came placed here within the temple;

• No needful thing omitted.

Per.

Pure Diana!

I bless thee for thy vision, and will offer
My night oblations to thee. Thaisa,

This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,
Shall marry her at Pentapolis.

And now

This ornament that makes me look so dismal,
Will I, my lov'd Marina, clip to form;

And what this fourteen years no razor touched,

To grace thy marriage-day, I'll beautify.

Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit,

Sir, that my father's dead.

Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there, my

queen,

We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves

Will in that kingdom spend our following days;
Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.
Lord Cerimon, we do our longing stay,

To hear the rest untold.-Sir, lead the way.

Enter GoWER.

[Exeunt.

Gow. In Antioch,' and his daughter, you have heard Of monstrous lust the due and just reward: In Pericles, his queen, and daughter, seen (Although assail'd with fortune fierce and keen,) Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast, Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last. In Helicanus may you well descry A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty: In reverend Cerimon there well appears The worth that learned charity aye wears. For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd name Of Pericles, to rage the city turn;

That him and his they in his palace burn.

The gods for murder seemed so content

To punish them; although not done, but meant.

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the fair-betrothed-] i, e. Fairly contracted, honourably affianced. y In Antioch,] i. e. Antiochus.

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