Patience, good sir, Nay, I'll be patient. Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me, Was given me by one that had some power, Per. And call'd Marina? Mar. How! a king's daughter? You said you would believe me ; My dearest wife was like this maid, and such My daughter might have been my queen's square brows; Per. But are you flesh and blood? Where were you [born? Call'd Marina, Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; look'st Per. O, stop there a little! [which [Aside.] This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep Should I tell my history, Modest as justice, and thou seem'st a palace And make my senses credit thy relation Mar. saidst Thou hadst been toss'd from wrong to injury, Mar. Some such thing [mine, I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Tell thy story; Extremity out of act. What were thy friends? Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me. I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story, Mar. You'll scarce believe me; 'twere best Per. I will believe you by the syllable Mar. The king, my father, did in Tharsus A crew of pirates came and rescu'd me; You think me an impostor: no, good faith; I know not; but Lys. 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, As thunder threatens us: this is Marina.— What is your title? said First, sir, I pray, Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now My drown'd queen's name, as in the rest you [doms, Thou hast been godlike perfect, the heir of kingAnd another life to Pericles thy father. Mar. Is it no more to be your daughter, than To say my mother's name was Thaisa? Per. Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art [licanus; Mine own, HeShe is not dead at Tharsus, as she should have been, Give me fresh garments. 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. I embrace you. Per. Give me my robes. I am wild in my behold[music? ing. O heavens, bless my girl! - But, hark! what Per. None? The music of the spheres!-list, my Marina. Lys. It is not good to cross him; give him way. Per. Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear? Per. [He sleeps. Lys. A 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. And do upon mine altar sacrifice. : [To Lys.] Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your And give you gold for such provision [shore, As our intents will need? Lys. Sir, with all my heart; and when you I have another suit. [come ashore, Per. You shall prevail, Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems You have been noble towards her. Lys. Sir, lend me your arm. Per. Come, my Marina. [Exeunt. Enter Gower, before the Temple of Diana at Ephesus. Gow. Now our sands are almost run; More a little, and then dumb. This, as my last boon, give me, (For such kindness must relieve me,) That you aptly will suppose What pageantry, what feats, what shows, To greet the king. So he thriv'd, As Dian bade: whereto being bound, [Exit. SCENE III.-The Temple of Diana at Ephe sus; Thaisa standing near the altar, as high-priestess; a number of Virgins on each side; Cerimon and other inhabitants of Ephesus attending. [Exeunt all except Pericles. Enter Pericles, with his train; Lysimachus, SCENE II.-The Same. Pericles on the deck asleep; Diana appearing to him in a vision. Dia. My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither, Helicanus, Marina, and a Lady. Per. Hail, Dian! to perform thy just command, I here confess myself the king of Tyre; At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth I left behind an ancient substitute : A maid-child call'd Marina; who, O goddess, years She at Tharsus whom at fourteen Voice and favour! You are, you are-O royal Pericles! [She faints. Per. What means the woman? she dies! Cer. Noble sir, [help, gentlemen! If you have told Diana's altar true, This is your wife. Per. Can you remember what I call'd the man? Thai. 'Twas Helicanus, then. Per. Still confirmation: 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, Cer. Reverend appearer, no; Per. Pure Dian, bless thee for thy vision! I Makes me look dismal, will I clip to form; Whither I invite you. Look, Thaisa is reco-To grace thy marriage-day, I'll beautify. Thai. O, let me look! [ver'd. Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good there, my queen, We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves Enter Gower. Gow. In Antiochus, and his daughter, you have heard If he be none of mine, my sanctity Mar. Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina, For she was yielded there. name Of Pericles, to rage the city turn, That him and his they in his palace burn; Blest, and mine own! The gods for murder seemed so content Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen! To punish them, although not done, but meant. Thai. I know you not. So on your patience evermore attending, Per. You have heard me say, when I did New joy wait on you! Here our play hath fly from Tyre, ending. POEMS. VENUS AND ADONIS. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLY, RIGHT HONOURABLE, I KNOW not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your Lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden: only, if your honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention proved deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your honour to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer your own wish, and the world's hopeful expectation. "Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed, And being set, I'll smother thee with kisses; Your Honour's in all duty, WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips; "If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never tears "And yet not cloy thy lips with loath'd satiety, He saith, she is immodest, blames her 'miss. 10. Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast. [bone 15. Upon this promise did he raise his chin, Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave, Who, being look'd on, ducks as quickly in; So offers he to give what she did crave; But when her lips were ready for his pay, He winks, and turns his lips another way. 16. Never did passenger in summer's heat [turn: More thirst for drink, than she for his good Her help she sees, but help she cannot get ; She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn: "O, pity," 'gan she cry, "flint-hearted boy! 'Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? 17. "I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now, Even by the stern and direful god of war, Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow, Who conquers where he comes, in every jar: Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have. 18. "Over my altars hath he hung his lance, His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest, And for my sake hath learn'd to sport and dance, To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest ; tasted; Make use of time, let not advantage slip: Beauty within itself should not be wasted: Fair flowers that are not gather'd in their prime, Rot and consume themselves in little time. 23. "Were I hard-favour'd, foul, or wrinkled-old, Ill-nurtur'd, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, O'er-worn, despised, rheumatic and cold, Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee; But having no defects, why dost abhor me? |