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?
5 he can resolve you.
O, here he is.
Sir, there's a barge put off from Mytilene,
8 And in it is Lysimachus the governor,
9 Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?

HELICANUS
10 That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.

Tyrian Sailor
Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
Enter two or three Gentlemen

First Gentleman
12 Doth your lordship call?

HELICANUS
Gentlemen, there's some of worth would come aboard;
14 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,
16 This is the man that can, in aught you would,
Resolve you.

LYSIMACHUS
Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!

HELICANUS
19 And you, sir, to outlive the age I am,
20 And die as I would do.

LYSIMACHUS
21 You wish me well.
22 Being on shore, honouring of Neptune's triumphs,
23 Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us,
24 I made to it, to know of whence you are.

HELICANUS
First, what is your place?

LYSIMACHUS
26 I am the governor of this place you lie before.

HELICANUS
Sir,
28 Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king;
29 A man who for this three months hath not spoken
30 To any one, nor taken sustenance
31 But to prorogue his grief.

LYSIMACHUS
32 Upon what ground is his distemperature?

HELICANUS
'Twould be too tedious to repeat;
34 But the main grief springs from the loss
35 Of a beloved daughter and a wife.

LYSIMACHUS
36 May we not see him?

HELICANUS
37 You may;
38 But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any.

LYSIMACHUS
39 Yet let me obtain my wish.

HELICANUS
40 Behold him.
PERICLES discovered 41 This was a goodly person,
42 Till the disaster that, one mortal night,
43 Drove him to this.

LYSIMACHUS
44 Sir king, all hail! the gods preserve you!
Hail, royal sir!

HELICANUS
46 It is in vain; he will not speak to you.

First Lord
Sir,
48 We have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager,
49 Would win some words of him.

LYSIMACHUS
'Tis well bethought.
51 She questionless with her sweet harmony
52 And other chosen attractions, would allure,
53 And make a battery through his deafen'd parts,
54 Which now are midway stopp'd:
55 She is all happy as the fairest of all,
And, with her fellow maids is now upon
57 The leafy shelter that abuts against
58 The island's side.
Whispers a Lord, who goes off in the barge of LYSIMACHUS

HELICANUS
Sure, all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit
60 That bears recovery's name. But, since your kindness
61 We have stretch'd thus far, let us beseech you
62 That for our gold we may provision have,
63 Wherein we are not destitute for want,
64 But weary for the staleness.

LYSIMACHUS
O, sir, a courtesy
66 Which if we should deny, the most just gods
67 For every graff would send a caterpillar,
68 And so afflict our province. Yet once more
69 Let me entreat to know at large the cause
70 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
74 The lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one!
75 Is't not a goodly presence?

HELICANUS
76 She's a gallant lady.

LYSIMACHUS
77 She's such a one, that, were I well assured
78 Came of a gentle kind and noble stock,
79 I'ld wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed.
80 Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty
Expect 81 even here, where is a kingly patient:
82 If that thy prosperous and artificial feat
83 Can draw him but to answer thee in aught,
84 Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay
85 As thy desires can wish.

MARINA
Sir, I will use
87 My utmost skill in his recovery, Provided
88 That none but I and my companion maid
89 Be suffer'd to come near him.

LYSIMACHUS
Come, let us leave her;
91 And the gods make her prosperous!
MARINA sings

LYSIMACHUS
92 Mark'd he your music?

MARINA
No, nor look'd on us.

LYSIMACHUS
See, she will speak to him.

MARINA
Hail, sir! my lord, lend ear.

PERICLES
Hum, ha!

MARINA
97 I am a maid,
98 My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes,
99 But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks,
100 My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief
101 Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh'd.
102 Though wayward fortune did malign my state,
103 My derivation was from ancestors
104 Who stood equivalent with mighty kings:
105 But time hath rooted out my parentage,
106 And to the world and awkward casualties
107 Bound me in servitude.
Aside 108 I will desist;
109 But there is something glows upon my cheek,
110 And whispers in mine ear, 'Go not till he speak.'

PERICLES
111 My fortunes--parentage--good parentage--
112 To equal mine!--was it not thus? what say you?

MARINA
113 I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage,
114 You would not do me violence.

PERICLES
115 I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me.
116 You are like something that--What country-woman?
117 Here of these shores?

MARINA
No, nor of any shores:
119 Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
120 No other than I appear.

PERICLES
121 I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping.
122 My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one
123 My daughter might have been: my queen's square brows;
124 Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight;
125 As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like
126 And cased as richly; in pace another Juno;
127 Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry,
128 The more she gives them speech. Where do you live?

MARINA
129 Where I am but a stranger: from the deck
130 You may discern the place.

PERICLES
131 Where were you bred?
132 And how achieved you these endowments, which
133 You make more rich to owe?

MARINA
134 If I should tell my history, it would seem
135 Like lies disdain'd in the reporting.

PERICLES
Prithee, speak:
137 Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look'st
138 Modest as Justice, and thou seem'st a palace
139 For the crown'd Truth to dwell in: I will
140 believe thee,
141 And make my senses credit thy relation
142 To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
143 Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends?
144 Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back--
145 Which was when I perceived thee--that thou camest
146 From good descending?

MARINA
147 So indeed I did.

PERICLES
148 Report thy parentage. I think thou said'st
149 Thou hadst been toss'd from wrong to injury,
150 And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine,
151 If both were open'd.

MARINA
152 Some such thing
153 I said, and said no more but what my thoughts
154 Did warrant me was likely.

PERICLES
155 Tell thy story;
156 If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part
157 Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I
158 Have suffer'd like a girl: yet thou dost look
159 Like Patience gazing on kings' graves, and smiling
160 Extremity out of act. What were thy friends?
161 How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin?
Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me.

MARINA
163 My name is Marina.

PERICLES
O, I am mock'd,
165 And thou by some incensed god sent hither
166 To make the world to laugh at me.

MARINA
Patience, good sir,
168 Or here I'll cease.

PERICLES
Nay, I'll be patient.
170 Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me,
171 To call thyself Marina.

MARINA
172 The name
173 Was given me by one that had some power,
174 My father, and a king.

PERICLES
How! a king's daughter?
176 And call'd Marina?

MARINA
177 You said you would believe me;
But, not to be a troubler of your peace,
179 I will end here.

PERICLES
180 But are you flesh and blood?
181 Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?
Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born?
183 And wherefore call'd Marina?

MARINA
184 Call'd Marina
185 For I was born at sea.

PERICLES
186 At sea! what mother?

MARINA
187 My mother was the daughter of a king;
188 Who died the minute I was born,
189 As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
190 Deliver'd weeping.

PERICLES
O, stop there a little!
Aside 192 This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep
193 Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be:
194 My daughter's buried. Well: where were you bred?
195 I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
196 And never interrupt you.

MARINA
197 You scorn: believe me, 'twere best I did give o'er.

PERICLES
198 I will believe you by the syllable
199 Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave:
200 How came you in these parts? where were you bred?

MARINA
201 The king my father did in Tarsus leave me;
202 Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,
203 Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd
204 A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do't,
205 A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
206 Brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir,
207 Whither will you have me? Why do you weep?
208 It may be,
209 You think me an impostor: no, good faith;
210 I am the daughter to King Pericles,
211 If good King Pericles be.

PERICLES
Ho, Helicanus!

HELICANUS
213 Calls my lord?

PERICLES
214 Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,
215 Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst,
216 What this maid is, or what is like to be,
217 That thus hath made me weep?

HELICANUS
218 I know not; but
219 Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene
220 Speaks nobly of her.

LYSIMACHUS
221 She would never tell
222 Her parentage; being demanded that,
223 She would sit still and weep.

PERICLES
224 O Helicanus, strike me, honour'd sir;
225 Give me a gash, put me to present pain;
226 Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me
227 O'erbear the shores of my mortality,
228 And drown me with their sweetness. O, come hither,
229 Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget;
230 Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus,
231 And found at sea again! O Helicanus,
232 Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods as loud
233 As thunder threatens us: this is Marina.
234 What was thy mother's name? tell me but that,
235 For truth can never be confirm'd enough,
236 Though doubts did ever sleep.

MARINA
First, sir, I pray,
238 What is your title?

PERICLES
239 I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now
240 My drown'd queen's name, as in the rest you said
241 Thou hast been godlike perfect,
242 The heir of kingdoms and another like
243 To Pericles thy father.

MARINA
244 Is it no more to be your daughter than
245 To say my mother's name was Thaisa?
246 Thaisa was my mother, who did end
247 The minute I began.

PERICLES
Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.
249 Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus;
250 She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should have been,
251 By savage Cleon: she shall tell thee all;
252 When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge
253 She is thy very princess. Who is this?

HELICANUS
Sir, 'tis the governor of Mytilene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
256 Did come to see you.

PERICLES
257 I embrace you.
258 Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.
259 O heavens bless my girl! But, hark, what music?
260 Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him
O'er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt,
262 How sure you are my daughter. But, what music?

HELICANUS
263 My lord, I hear none.

PERICLES
None!
265 The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.

LYSIMACHUS
266 It is not good to cross him; give him way.

PERICLES
267 Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?

LYSIMACHUS
268 My lord, I hear.
Music

PERICLES
269 Most heavenly music!
270 It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber
271 Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
Sleeps

LYSIMACHUS
272 A pillow for his head:
So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,
274 If this but answer to my just belief,
275 I'll well remember you.
Exeunt all but PERICLES DIANA appears to PERICLES as in a vision

DIANA
276 My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither,
277 And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
There, when my maiden priests are met together,
279 Before the people all,
280 Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife:
281 To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call
282 And give them repetition to the life.
283 Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe;
284 Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
Awake, and tell thy dream.
Disappears

PERICLES
286 Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
287 I will obey thee. Helicanus!
Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, and MARINA

HELICANUS
288 Sir?

PERICLES
289 My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike
290 The inhospitable Cleon; but I am
291 For other service first: toward Ephesus
Turn 292 our blown sails; eftsoons I'll tell thee why.
To LYSIMACHUS 293 Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,
294 And give you gold for such provision
295 As our intents will need?

LYSIMACHUS
Sir,
297 With all my heart; and, when you come ashore,
298 I have another suit.

PERICLES
299 You shall prevail,
300 Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems
301 You have been noble towards her.

LYSIMACHUS
Sir, lend me your arm.

PERICLES
Come, my Marina.
Exeunt


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