Enter Gower.⌜GOWER⌝ Imagine Pericles arrived at Tyre, Welcomed and settled to his own desire. His woeful queen we leave at Ephesus, Unto Diana there ’s a votaress.5 Now to Marina bend your mind, Whom our fast-growing scene must find At Tarsus, and by Cleon trained In ⌜music,⌝ letters; who hath gained Of education all the grace10 Which makes high both the art and place Of general wonder. But, alack, That monster envy, oft the wrack Of earnèd praise, Marina’s life ⌜Seeks⌝ to take off by treason’s knife.15 And in this kind our Cleon hath One daughter and a full grown wench, Even ⌜ripe⌝ for marriage ⌜rite.⌝ This maid Hight Philoten, and it is said For certain in our story she20 Would ever with Marina be. Be ’t when they weaved the sleided silk With fingers long, small, white as milk; Or when she would with sharp needle wound The cambric, which she made more sound
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25 By hurting it; or when to the lute She sung, and made the night ⌜bird⌝ mute, That still records with moan; or when She would with rich and constant pen Vail to her mistress Dian, still30 This Philoten contends in skill With absolute Marina. So ⌜With⌝ the dove of Paphos might the crow Vie feathers white. Marina gets All praises, which are paid as debts35 And not as given. This so darks In Philoten all graceful marks That Cleon’s wife, with envy rare, A present murderer does prepare For good Marina, that her daughter40 Might stand peerless by this slaughter. The sooner her vile thoughts to stead, Lychorida, our nurse, is dead, And cursèd Dionyza hath The pregnant instrument of wrath45 Prest for this blow. The unborn event I do commend to your content. Only I ⌜carry⌝ wingèd Time Post on the lame feet of my rhyme, Which never could I so convey50 Unless your thoughts went on my way. Dionyza does appear, With Leonine, a murderer.He exits.
Enter Dionyza with Leonine.DIONYZA Thy oath remember. Thou hast sworn to do ’t. ’Tis but a blow which never shall be known.
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Thou canst not do a thing in the world so soon To yield thee so much profit. Let not conscience,5 Which is but cold in flaming, thy bosom inflame Too nicely. Nor let pity, which even women Have cast off, melt thee; but be a soldier To thy purpose.LEONINE I will do ’t; but yet10 She is a goodly creature.DIONYZA The fitter, then, The gods should have her. Here she comes weeping For her only mistress’ death. Thou art resolved?LEONINE I am resolved.Enter Marina with a basket of flowers.MARINA 15 No, I will rob Tellus of her weed To strew thy green with flowers. The yellows, blues, The purple violets and marigolds Shall as a carpet hang upon thy grave While summer days doth last. Ay me, poor maid,20 Born in a tempest when my mother died, This world to me is ⌜as⌝ a lasting storm, Whirring me from my friends.DIONYZA How now, Marina? Why do you keep alone? How chance my daughter is not with you?25 Do not consume your blood with sorrowing. Have you a nurse of me! Lord, how your favor ’s Changed with this unprofitable woe. Come, give me your flowers. ⌜O’er the sea marge⌝ Walk with Leonine. The air is quick there,30 And it pierces and sharpens the stomach.—Come, Leonine, Take her by the arm. Walk with her.MARINA No, I pray you, I’ll not bereave you of your servant.
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DIONYZA 35Come, come. I love the king your father and yourself With more than foreign heart. We every day Expect him here. When he shall come and find Our paragon to all reports thus blasted,40 He will repent the breadth of his great voyage, Blame both my lord and me that we have taken No care to your best courses. Go, I pray you, Walk, and be cheerful once again. Reserve That excellent complexion, which did steal45 The eyes of young and old. Care not for me. I can go home alone.MARINA Well, I will go, But yet I have no desire to it.DIONYZA Come, come,50 I know ’tis good for you.—Walk half an hour, Leonine, at the least. Remember What I have said.LEONINE I warrant you, madam.DIONYZA I’ll leave you, my sweet lady, for a while.55 Pray walk softly; do not heat your blood. What, I must have care of you.MARINA My thanks, sweet madam.⌜Dionyza exits.⌝ Is this wind westerly that blows?LEONINE Southwest.MARINA 60 When I was born, the wind was north.LEONINE Was ’t so?MARINA My father, as nurse says, did never fear, But cried “Good seamen!” to the sailors, Galling his kingly hands haling ropes,65 And, clasping to the mast, endured a sea That almost burst the deck.LEONINE When was this?
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MARINA When I was born. Never was waves nor wind more violent,70 And from the ladder-tackle washes off A canvas-climber. “Ha!” says one, “Wolt out?” And with a dropping industry they skip From stern to stern. The Boatswain whistles, and The Master calls and trebles their confusion.LEONINE 75Come, say your prayers.⌜He draws his sword.⌝MARINA What mean you?LEONINE If you require a little space for prayer, I grant it. Pray, but be not tedious, for The gods are quick of ear, and I am sworn80 To do my work with haste.MARINA Why will you kill me?LEONINE To satisfy my lady.MARINA Why would she have me killed? Now, as I can remember, by my troth,85 I never did her hurt in all my life. I never spake bad word, nor did ill turn To any living creature. Believe me, la, I never killed a mouse, nor hurt a fly. I trod upon a worm against my will,90 But I wept for ’t. How have I offended Wherein my death might yield her any profit Or my life imply her any danger?LEONINE My commission Is not to reason of the deed, but do ’t.MARINA 95 You will not do ’t for all the world, I hope. You are well-favored, and your looks foreshow You have a gentle heart. I saw you lately When you caught hurt in parting two that fought. Good sooth, it showed well in you. Do so now.
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100 Your lady seeks my life. Come you between, And save poor me, the weaker.LEONINE I am sworn And will dispatch.⌜He seizes her.⌝Enter Pirates.FIRST PIRATE Hold, villain!⌜Leonine runs offstage.⌝SECOND PIRATE 105A prize, a prize!⌜He seizes Marina.⌝THIRD PIRATE Half-part, mates, half-part. Come, let’s have her aboard suddenly.⌜They⌝ exit, ⌜carrying Marina.⌝Enter Leonine.LEONINE These roguing thieves serve the great pirate Valdes, And they have seized Marina. Let her go.110 There’s no hope she will return. I’ll swear she’s dead, And thrown into the sea. But I’ll see further. Perhaps they will but please themselves upon her, Not carry her aboard. If she remain, Whom they have ravished must by me be slain.He exits.
Enter ⌜Pander, Bawd, and Bolt.⌝PANDER Bolt!BOLT Sir?PANDER Search the market narrowly. Mytilene is full of gallants. We lost too much money this mart by5 being too wenchless.BAWD We were never so much out of creatures. We have but poor three, and they can do no more than they can do; and they with continual action are even as good as rotten.
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PANDER 10Therefore let’s have fresh ones, whate’er we pay for them. If there be not a conscience to be used in every trade, we shall never prosper.BAWD Thou sayst true. ’Tis not our bringing up of poor bastards—as I think I have brought up some15 eleven—BOLT Ay, to eleven, and brought them down again. But shall I search the market?BAWD What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong wind will blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully20 sodden.PANDER Thou sayst true. There’s two unwholesome, a’ conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead that lay with the little baggage.BOLT Ay, she quickly pooped him. She made him25 roast-meat for worms. But I’ll go search the market.He exits.PANDER Three or four thousand chequins were as pretty a proportion to live quietly, and so give over.BAWD Why to give over, I pray you? Is it a shame to get30 when we are old?PANDER O, our credit comes not in like the commodity, nor the commodity wages not with the danger. Therefore, if in our youths we could pick up some pretty estate, ’twere not amiss to keep our door35 hatched. Besides, the sore terms we stand upon with the gods will be strong with us for giving o’er.BAWD Come, other sorts offend as well as we.PANDER As well as we? Ay, and better too; we offend worse. Neither is our profession any trade; it’s no40 calling. But here comes Bolt.Enter Bolt with the Pirates and Marina.BOLT Come your ways, my masters. You say she’s a virgin?⌜PIRATE⌝ O, sir, we doubt it not.
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BOLT Master, I have gone through for this piece you45 see. If you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.BAWD Bolt, has she any qualities?BOLT She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellent good clothes. There’s no farther necessity of50 qualities can make her be refused.BAWD What’s her price, Bolt?BOLT I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.PANDER Well, follow me, my masters; you shall have your money presently.—Wife, take her in. Instruct55 her what she has to do, that she may not be raw in her entertainment.⌜He exits with Pirates.⌝BAWD Bolt, take you the marks of her: the color of her hair, complexion, height, her age, with warrant of her virginity, and cry “He that will give most shall60 have her first.” Such a maidenhead were no cheap thing, if men were as they have been. Get this done as I command you.BOLT Performance shall follow.He exits.MARINA Alack that Leonine was so slack, so slow!65 He should have struck, not spoke. Or that these pirates, Not enough barbarous, had ⌜but⌝ o’erboard thrown me For to seek my mother.BAWD Why lament you, pretty one?MARINA 70That I am pretty.BAWD Come, the gods have done their part in you.MARINA I accuse them not.BAWD You are light into my hands, where you are like to live.MARINA 75The more my fault, to ’scape his hands where I was to die.BAWD Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.MARINA No.
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BAWD Yes, indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of all80 fashions. You shall fare well; you shall have the difference of all complexions. What, do you stop your ears?MARINA Are you a woman?BAWD What would you have me be, an I be not a85 woman?MARINA An honest woman, or not a woman.BAWD Marry, whip the gosling! I think I shall have something to do with you. Come, you’re a young foolish sapling, and must be bowed as I would90 have you.MARINA The gods defend me!BAWD If it please the gods to defend you by men, then men must comfort you, men must feed you, men stir you up. Bolt’s returned.⌜Enter Bolt.⌝95 Now, sir, hast thou cried her through the market?BOLT I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs. I have drawn her picture with my voice.BAWD And I prithee tell me, how dost thou find the inclination of the people, especially of the younger100 sort?BOLT Faith, they listened to me as they would have hearkened to their father’s testament. There was a Spaniard’s mouth watered an he went to bed to her very description.BAWD 105We shall have him here tomorrow with his best ruff on.BOLT Tonight, tonight! But, mistress, do you know the French knight that cowers i’ the hams?BAWD Who? Monsieur Verolles?BOLT 110Ay, he. He offered to cut a caper at the proclamation, but he made a groan at it and swore he would see her tomorrow.
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BAWD Well, well, as for him, he brought his disease hither; here he does but repair it. I know he will115 come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns in the sun.BOLT Well, if we had of every nation a traveler, we should lodge them with this sign.BAWD, ⌜to Marina⌝ Pray you, come hither awhile. You120 have fortunes coming upon you. Mark me: you must seem to do that fearfully which you commit willingly, despise profit where you have most gain. To weep that you live as you do makes pity in your lovers. Seldom but that pity begets you a good125 opinion, and that opinion a mere profit.MARINA I understand you not.BOLT O, take her home, mistress, take her home! These blushes of hers must be quenched with some present practice.⌜BAWD⌝ 130Thou sayst true, i’ faith, so they must, for your bride goes to that with shame which is her way to go with warrant.BOLT Faith, some do and some do not. But, mistress, if I have bargained for the joint—BAWD 135Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.BOLT I may so.BAWD Who should deny it? Come, young one, I like the manner of your garments well.BOLT Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.BAWD 140Bolt, spend thou that in the town. (⌜She gives him
money.⌝) Report what a sojourner we have. You’ll lose nothing by custom. When Nature framed this piece, she meant thee a good turn. Therefore say what a paragon she is, and thou hast the harvest145 out of thine own report.BOLT I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stirs up the lewdly inclined. I’ll bring home some tonight.
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BAWD, ⌜to Marina⌝ 150Come your ways. Follow me.MARINA If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep, Untied I still my virgin knot will keep. Diana aid my purpose!BAWD What have we to do with Diana, pray you? Will155 you go with us?⌜They⌝ exit.
Enter Cleon and Dionyza.DIONYZA Why, ⌜are⌝ you foolish? Can it be undone?CLEON O Dionyza, such a piece of slaughter The sun and moon ne’er looked upon!DIONYZA I think you’ll turn a child again.CLEON 5 Were I chief lord of all this spacious world, I’d give it to undo the deed. ⌜A⌝ lady Much less in blood than virtue, yet a princess To equal any single crown o’ th’ Earth I’ the justice of compare. O villain Leonine,10 Whom thou hast poisoned too! If thou hadst drunk to him, ’t had been a kindness Becoming well thy face. What canst thou say When noble Pericles shall demand his child?DIONYZA That she is dead. Nurses are not the Fates.15 To foster ⌜is⌝ not ever to preserve. She died at night; I’ll say so. Who can cross it Unless you play the impious innocent And, for an honest attribute, cry out “She died by foul play!”
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CLEON 20 O, go to. Well, well, Of all the faults beneath the heavens, the gods Do like this worst.DIONYZA Be one of those that thinks The petty wrens of Tarsus will fly hence25 And open this to Pericles. I do shame To think of what a noble strain you are, And of how coward a spirit.CLEON To such proceeding Whoever but his approbation added,30 Though not his ⌜prime⌝ consent, he did not flow From honorable courses.DIONYZA Be it so, then. Yet none does know but you how she came dead, Nor none can know, Leonine being gone.35 She did ⌜distain⌝ my child and stood between Her and her fortunes. None would look on her, But cast their gazes on Marina’s face, Whilst ours was blurted at and held a malkin Not worth the time of day. It pierced me through,40 And though you call my course unnatural, You not your child well loving, yet I find It greets me as an enterprise of kindness Performed to your sole daughter.CLEON Heavens forgive it.DIONYZA 45And as for Pericles, What should he say? We wept after her hearse, And yet we mourn. Her monument is Almost finished, and her epitaphs In glitt’ring golden characters express50 A general praise to her, and care in us At whose expense ’tis done.CLEON Thou art like the Harpy, Which, to betray, dost with thine angel’s face Seize with thine eagle’s talons.
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DIONYZA 55 You’re like one that superstitiously Do swear to the gods that winter kills the flies. But yet I know you’ll do as I advise.⌜They exit.⌝
⌜Enter Gower.⌝GOWER Thus time we waste, and long leagues make short, Sail seas in cockles, have and wish but for ’t, Making to take our imagination From bourn to bourn, region to region.5 By you being pardoned, we commit no crime To use one language in each several clime Where our scenes seems to live. I do beseech you To learn of me, who stand ⌜in the⌝ gaps to teach you The stages of our story. Pericles10 Is now again thwarting ⌜the⌝ wayward seas, Attended on by many a lord and knight, To see his daughter, all his life’s delight. Old Helicanus goes along. Behind Is left to govern it, you bear in mind,15 Old Escanes, whom Helicanus late Advanced in time to great and high estate. Well-sailing ships and bounteous winds have brought This king to Tarsus—think ⌜his⌝ pilot thought; So with his steerage shall your thoughts ⌜go on⌝—20 To fetch his daughter home, who first is gone. Like motes and shadows see them move awhile; Your ears unto your eyes I’ll reconcile.
⌜Dumb Show.⌝
Enter Pericles at one door, with all his train, Cleon and
Dionyza at the other. Cleon shows Pericles the tomb,
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whereat Pericles makes lamentation, puts on sackcloth,
and in a mighty passion departs. ⌜Cleon and Dionyza exit.⌝ See how belief may suffer by foul show! This borrowed passion stands for true old woe.25 And Pericles, in sorrow all devoured, With sighs shot through and biggest tears o’ershowered, Leaves Tarsus and again embarks. He swears Never to wash his face nor cut his hairs.30 He ⌜puts⌝ on sackcloth, and to sea. He bears A tempest which his mortal vessel tears, And yet he rides it out. Now please you wit The epitaph is for Marina writ By wicked Dionyza:35 The fairest, sweetest, and best lies here,
Who withered in her spring of year.
She was of Tyrus, the King’s daughter,
On whom foul death hath made this slaughter.
Marina was she called, and at her birth,
40 Thetis, being proud, swallowed some part o’ th’ earth.
Therefore the Earth, fearing to be o’erflowed,
Hath Thetis’ birth-child on the heavens bestowed.
Wherefore she does—and swears she’ll never stint—
Make raging battery upon shores of flint.45 No visor does become black villainy So well as soft and tender flattery. Let Pericles believe his daughter’s dead, And bear his courses to be orderèd By Lady Fortune, while our ⌜scene⌝ must play50 His daughter’s woe and heavy welladay In her unholy service. Patience, then, And think you now are all in Mytilene.He exits.
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Enter two Gentlemen.
FIRST GENTLEMAN Did you ever hear the like?
SECOND GENTLEMAN No, nor never shall do in such a
place as this, she being once gone.
FIRST GENTLEMAN But to have divinity preached there!
5 Did you ever dream of such a thing?
SECOND GENTLEMAN No, no. Come, I am for no more
bawdy houses. Shall ’s go hear the vestals sing?
FIRST GENTLEMAN I’ll do anything now that is virtuous,
but I am out of the road of rutting forever.
⌜They⌝ exit.
Enter ⌜Bawd, Pander, and Bolt.⌝PANDER Well, I had rather than twice the worth of her she had ne’er come here.BAWD Fie, fie upon her! She’s able to freeze the god Priapus and undo a whole generation. We must5 either get her ravished or be rid of her. When she should do for clients her fitment and do me the kindness of our profession, she has me her quirks, her reasons, her master reasons, her prayers, her knees, that she would make a puritan of the devil if10 he should cheapen a kiss of her.BOLT Faith, I must ravish her, or she’ll disfurnish us of all our cavalleria, and make our swearers priests.PANDER Now the pox upon her greensickness for me!BAWD Faith, there’s no way to be rid on ’t but by the15 way to the pox.Enter Lysimachus. Here comes the Lord Lysimachus disguised.
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BOLT We should have both lord and lown, if the peevish baggage would but give way to customers.LYSIMACHUS, ⌜removing his disguise⌝ How now! How a20 dozen of virginities?BAWD Now the gods to-bless your Honor!BOLT I am glad to see your Honor in good health.LYSIMACHUS You may so. ’Tis the better for you that your resorters stand upon sound legs. How now?25 Wholesome iniquity have you that a man may deal withal and defy the surgeon?BAWD We have here one, sir, if she would—but there never came her like in Mytilene.LYSIMACHUS If she’d do the deeds of darkness, thou30 wouldst say?BAWD Your Honor knows what ’tis to say, well enough.LYSIMACHUS Well, call forth, call forth.⌜Pander exits.⌝BOLT For flesh and blood, sir, white and red, you shall see a rose; and she were a rose indeed, if she had35 but—LYSIMACHUS What, prithee?BOLT O, sir, I can be modest.LYSIMACHUS That ⌜dignifies⌝ the renown of a bawd no less than it gives a good report to a number to be40 chaste.⌜Enter Pander with Marina.⌝BAWD Here comes that which grows to the stalk, never plucked yet, I can assure you. Is she not a fair creature?LYSIMACHUS Faith, she would serve after a long voyage45 at sea. Well, there’s for you.⌜He gives money.⌝ Leave us.BAWD I beseech your Honor, give me leave a word, and I’ll have done presently.LYSIMACHUS I beseech you, do.⌜He moves aside.⌝BAWD, ⌜to Marina⌝ 50First, I would have you note this is an honorable man.
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MARINA I desire to find him so, that I may worthily note him.BAWD Next, he’s the governor of this country and a55 man whom I am bound to.MARINA If he govern the country, you are bound to him indeed, but how honorable he is in that I know not.BAWD Pray you, without any more virginal fencing,60 will you use him kindly? He will line your apron with gold.MARINA What he will do graciously, I will thankfully receive.LYSIMACHUS, ⌜coming forward⌝ Ha’ you done?BAWD 65My lord, she’s not paced yet. You must take some pains to work her to your manage.—Come, we will leave his Honor and her together. Go thy ways.⌜Bawd, Pander, and Bolt exit.⌝LYSIMACHUS Now, pretty one, how long have you been at this trade?MARINA 70What trade, sir?LYSIMACHUS Why, I cannot ⌜name ’t⌝ but I shall offend.MARINA I cannot be offended with my trade. Please you to name it.LYSIMACHUS How long have you been of this profession?MARINA 75E’er since I can remember.LYSIMACHUS Did you go to ’t so young? Were you a gamester at five or at seven?MARINA Earlier too, sir, if now I be one.LYSIMACHUS Why, the house you dwell in proclaims80 you to be a creature of sale.MARINA Do you know this house to be a place of such resort, and will come into ’t? I hear say you’re of honorable parts and are the governor of this place.LYSIMACHUS Why, hath your principal made known85 unto you who I am?MARINA Who is my principal?
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LYSIMACHUS Why, your herbwoman, she that sets seeds and roots of shame and iniquity. O, you have heard something of my power, and so stand ⌜aloof⌝90 for more serious wooing. But I protest to thee, pretty one, my authority shall not see thee, or else look friendly upon thee. Come, bring me to some private place. Come, come.MARINA If you were born to honor, show it now;95 If put upon you, make the judgment good That thought you worthy of it.LYSIMACHUS How’s this? How’s this? Some more. Be sage.MARINA For me That am a maid, though most ungentle Fortune100 Have placed me in this sty, where, since I came, Diseases have been sold dearer than physic— That the gods Would set me free from this unhallowed place, Though they did change me to the meanest bird105 That flies i’ the purer air!LYSIMACHUS I did not think Thou couldst have spoke so well, ne’er dreamt thou couldst. Had I brought hither a corrupted mind,110 Thy speech had altered it. Hold, here’s gold for thee. Persevere in that clear way thou goest And the gods strengthen thee!⌜He gives her money.⌝MARINA The good gods preserve you.LYSIMACHUS For me, be you thoughten115 That I came with no ill intent, for to me The very doors and windows savor vilely. Fare thee well. Thou art a piece of virtue, And I doubt not but thy training hath been noble. Hold, here’s more gold for thee.⌜He gives her money.⌝120 A curse upon him, die he like a thief,
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That robs thee of thy goodness! If thou dost Hear from me, it shall be for thy good.⌜He begins to exit.⌝BOLT, ⌜at the door⌝ I beseech your Honor, one piece for me.LYSIMACHUS 125Avaunt, thou damnèd doorkeeper! Your house, but for this virgin that doth prop it, Would sink and overwhelm you. Away!⌜He exits.⌝BOLT How’s this? We must take another course with you! If your peevish chastity, which is not worth a130 breakfast in the cheapest country under the cope, shall undo a whole household, let me be gelded like a spaniel. Come your ways.MARINA Whither would you have me?BOLT I must have your maidenhead taken off, or the135 common hangman shall execute it. Come your way. We’ll have no more gentlemen driven away. Come your ways, I say.Enter ⌜Bawd and Pander.⌝BAWD How now, what’s the matter?BOLT Worse and worse, mistress. She has here spoken140 holy words to the Lord Lysimachus!BAWD O, abominable!BOLT He makes our profession as it were to stink afore the face of the gods.BAWD Marry, hang her up forever.BOLT 145The nobleman would have dealt with her like a nobleman, and she sent him away as cold as a snowball, saying his prayers too.BAWD Bolt, take her away, use her at thy pleasure, crack the glass of her virginity, and make the rest150 malleable.BOLT An if she were a thornier piece of ground than she is, she shall be plowed.MARINA Hark, hark, you gods!
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BAWD She conjures. Away with her! Would she had155 never come within my doors.—Marry, hang you!— She’s born to undo us.—Will you not go the way of womenkind? Marry come up, my dish of chastity with rosemary and bays!⌜Bawd and Pander exit.⌝BOLT Come, mistress, come your way with me.MARINA 160Whither wilt thou have me?BOLT To take from you the jewel you hold so dear.MARINA Prithee, tell me one thing first.BOLT Come, now, your one thing.MARINA What canst thou wish thine enemy to be?BOLT 165Why, I could wish him to be my master, or rather, my mistress.MARINA Neither of these are so bad as thou art, Since they do better thee in their command. Thou hold’st a place for which the pained’st fiend170 Of hell would not in reputation change. Thou art the damnèd doorkeeper to every Coistrel that comes enquiring for his Tib. To the choleric fisting of every rogue Thy ear is liable. Thy food is such175 As hath been belched on by infected lungs.BOLT What would you have me do? Go to the wars, would you, where a man may serve seven years for the loss of a leg, and have not money enough in the end to buy him a wooden one?MARINA 180 Do anything but this thou dost. Empty Old receptacles, or common shores, of filth; Serve by indenture to the common hangman. Any of these ways are yet better than this. For what thou professest, a baboon, could he speak,185 Would own a name too dear. That the gods Would safely deliver me from this place!
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Here, here’s gold for thee.⌜She gives him money.⌝ If that thy master would gain by me, Proclaim that I can sing, weave, sew, and dance,190 With other virtues which I’ll keep from boast, And will undertake all these to teach. I doubt not but this populous city Will yield many scholars.BOLT But can you teach all this you speak of?MARINA 195 Prove that I cannot, take me home again And prostitute me to the basest groom That doth frequent your house.BOLT Well, I will see what I can do for thee. If I can place thee, I will.MARINA 200But amongst honest ⌜women.⌝BOLT Faith, my acquaintance lies little amongst them. But since my master and mistress hath bought you, there’s no going but by their consent. Therefore I will make them acquainted with your205 purpose, and I doubt not but I shall find them tractable enough. Come, I’ll do for thee what I can. Come your ways.They exit.
Enter Gower.
⌜GOWER⌝
Marina thus the brothel ’scapes, and chances
Into an honest house, our story says.
She sings like one immortal, and she dances
As goddesslike to her admirèd lays.
5 Deep clerks she dumbs, and with her neele composes
Nature’s own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry,
That even her art sisters the natural roses.
Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry,
That pupils lacks she none of noble race,
10 Who pour their bounty on her, and her gain
She gives the cursèd bawd. Here we her place,
And to her father turn our thoughts again,
Where we left him, on the sea. We there him ⌜lost,⌝
Where, driven before the winds, he is arrived
15 Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast
Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived
God Neptune’s annual feast to keep, from whence
Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies,
His banners sable, trimmed with rich expense,
20 And to him in his barge with fervor hies.
In your supposing once more put your sight
Of heavy Pericles. Think this his bark,
Where what is done in action—more, if might—
Shall be discovered. Please you sit and hark.
He exits.
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Enter Helicanus, to him two Sailors, ⌜one from the
Tyrian ship and one from Mytilene.⌝TYRIAN SAILOR, ⌜(to Sailor from Mytilene)⌝ Where is Lord Helicanus? He can resolve you. O, here he is.— Sir, there is a barge put off from Mytilene, And in it is Lysimachus, the Governor,5 Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?HELICANUS That he have his.⌜Sailor from Mytilene exits.⌝ Call up some gentlemen.⌜TYRIAN⌝ SAILOR Ho, gentlemen, my lord calls.Enter two or three Gentlemen.GENTLEMAN Doth your Lordship call?HELICANUS 10 Gentlemen, There is some of worth would come aboard. I pray, greet him fairly.Enter Lysimachus, ⌜with Lords and Sailor from Mytilene.⌝SAILOR ⌜FROM MYTILENE, to Lysimachus⌝ Sir, This is the man that can, in aught you would,15 Resolve you.LYSIMACHUS, ⌜to Helicanus⌝ Hail, reverend sir. The gods preserve you.HELICANUS And you, to outlive the age I am, And die as I would do.LYSIMACHUS You wish me well.20 Being on shore, honoring of Neptune’s triumphs, Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us, I made to it to know of whence you are.HELICANUS First, what is your place?LYSIMACHUS I am the governor of this place you lie before.
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HELICANUS 25Sir, Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the King, A man who for this three months hath not spoken To anyone, nor taken sustenance But to prorogue his grief.LYSIMACHUS 30 Upon what ground is his distemperature?HELICANUS ’Twould be too tedious to repeat, But the main grief springs from the loss Of a belovèd daughter and a wife.LYSIMACHUS May we not see him?HELICANUS 35You may, But bootless is your sight. He will not speak To any.⌜LYSIMACHUS⌝ Yet let me obtain my wish.⌜HELICANUS⌝ Behold him. ⌜Pericles is revealed.⌝ This was a goodly40 person, Till the disaster that one mortal ⌜night⌝ Drove him to this.LYSIMACHUS Sir king, all hail! The gods preserve you. Hail, Royal sir!HELICANUS 45 It is in vain; he will not speak to you.LORD Sir, we have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager would win some words of him.LYSIMACHUS ’Tis well bethought. She, questionless, with her sweet harmony50 And other chosen attractions, would allure And make a batt’ry through his ⌜defended ports,⌝ Which now are midway stopped. She is all happy as the fairest of all, And, ⌜with⌝ her fellow ⌜maid, is⌝ now upon55 The leafy shelter that abuts against The island’s side.
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HELICANUS Sure, all effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit That bears recovery’s name.⌜Lysimachus signals to a Lord, who exits.⌝ But since your kindness60 We have stretched thus far, let us beseech you That for our gold we may provision have, Wherein we are not destitute for want, But weary for the staleness.LYSIMACHUS O, sir, a courtesy65 Which, if we should deny, the most just God For every graft would send a caterpillar, And so inflict our province. Yet once more Let me entreat to know at large the cause Of your king’s sorrow.HELICANUS 70 Sit, sir, I will recount it to you. But see, I am prevented.⌜Enter Lord with Marina and her companion.⌝LYSIMACHUS O, here’s the lady that I sent for.— Welcome, fair one.—Is ’t not a goodly ⌜presence?⌝HELICANUS She’s a gallant lady.LYSIMACHUS 75 She’s such a one that, were I well assured Came of a gentle kind and noble stock, ⌜I’d⌝ wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed.— Fair one, all goodness that consists in beauty: Expect even here, where is a kingly patient,80 If that thy prosperous and artificial ⌜feat⌝ Can draw him but to answer thee in aught, Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay As thy desires can wish.MARINA Sir, I will use85 My utmost skill in his recovery, provided That none but I and my companion maid Be suffered to come near him.
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ACT 5. SC. 1
LYSIMACHUS Come, let us Leave her, and the gods make her prosperous.⌜Lysimachus, Helicanus and others move aside.⌝⌜MARINA sings⌝The Song.LYSIMACHUS, ⌜coming forward⌝ 90 ⌜Marked⌝ he your music?MARINA No, nor looked on us.LYSIMACHUS, ⌜moving aside⌝ See, she will speak to him.MARINA, ⌜to Pericles⌝ Hail, sir! My lord, lend ear.PERICLES Hum, ha!⌜He pushes her away.⌝MARINA 95I am a maid, my lord, That ne’er before invited eyes, but have Been gazed on like a comet. She speaks, My lord, that may be hath endured a grief Might equal yours, if both were justly weighed.100 Though wayward Fortune did malign my state, My derivation was from ancestors Who stood equivalent with mighty kings. But time hath rooted out my parentage, And to the world and awkward casualties105 Bound me in servitude. ⌜Aside.⌝ I will desist, But there is something glows upon my cheek, And whispers in mine ear “Go not till he speak.”PERICLES My fortunes—parentage—good parentage, To equal mine! Was it not thus? What say you?MARINA 110 I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, You would not do me violence.PERICLES I do think so. Pray you turn your eyes upon me. ⌜You’re⌝ like something that—What115 ⌜countrywoman?⌝ Here of these ⌜shores?⌝
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ACT 5. SC. 1
MARINA No, nor of any ⌜shores.⌝ Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am No other than I appear.PERICLES 120 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 wandlike straight, as silver-voiced; her eyes125 As jewel-like, and cased 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?MARINA 130 Where I am but a stranger. From the deck you may discern the place.PERICLES Where were you bred? And how achieved you these Endowments which you make more rich to owe?MARINA If I should tell my history, it would seem135 Like lies disdained in the reporting.PERICLES Prithee, speak. Falseness cannot come from thee, for thou lookest Modest as Justice, and thou seemest a palace For the crownèd Truth to dwell in. I will believe thee140 And make ⌜my⌝ senses credit thy relation To points that seem impossible, for thou lookest Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends? Didst thou not ⌜say,⌝ when I did push thee back— Which was when I perceived thee—that thou cam’st145 From good descending?MARINA So indeed I did.PERICLES Report thy parentage. I think thou said’st Thou hadst been tossed from wrong to injury,
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Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 1
And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine,150 If both were opened.MARINA Some such thing I said, And said no more but what my thoughts Did warrant me was likely.PERICLES Tell thy story.155 If thine considered prove the thousand part Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I Have suffered like a girl. Yet thou dost look Like Patience gazing on kings’ graves and smiling Extremity out of act. What were thy friends?160 How lost thou ⌜them?⌝ Thy name, my most kind virgin, Recount, I do beseech thee. Come, sit by me.⌜She sits.⌝MARINA My name is Marina.PERICLES O, I am mocked,165 And thou by some incensèd god sent hither To make the world to laugh at me!MARINA Patience, good sir, Or here I’ll cease.PERICLES Nay, I’ll be patient.170 Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me To call thyself Marina.MARINA The name Was given me by one that had some power— My father, and a king.PERICLES 175 How, a king’s daughter? And called Marina?MARINA You said you would believe me. But not to be a troubler of your peace, I will end here.PERICLES 180 But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse, and are no fairy Motion? Well, speak on. Where were you born? And wherefore called Marina?
173
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 1
MARINA Called Marina185 For I was born at sea.PERICLES At sea? What mother?MARINA My mother was the daughter of a king, Who died the minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft190 Delivered weeping.PERICLES O, stop there a little! ⌜Aside.⌝ This is the rarest dream that e’er ⌜dull⌝ sleep Did mock sad fools withal. This cannot be My daughter, buried.—Well, where were you bred?195 I’ll hear you more, to the bottom of your story, And never interrupt you.MARINA You scorn. Believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.PERICLES I will believe you by the syllable Of what you shall deliver. Yet give me leave:200 How came you in these parts? Where were you bred?MARINA The King my father did in Tarsus leave me, Till cruel Cleon with his wicked wife Did seek to murder me; and having wooed a villain To attempt it, who, having drawn to do ’t,205 A crew of pirates came and rescued me, Brought me to Mytilene—But, good sir, Whither will you have me? Why do you weep? It may be you think me an impostor. No, good faith.210 I am the daughter to King Pericles, If good King Pericles be.⌜PERICLES⌝ Ho, Helicanus!HELICANUS Calls my lord?PERICLES Thou art a grave and noble counselor,
175
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 1
215 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.HELICANUS I know not; But here’s the regent, sir, of Mytilene220 Speaks nobly of her.LYSIMACHUS She never would tell Her parentage. Being demanded that, She would sit still and weep.PERICLES O, Helicanus! Strike me, honored sir.225 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,230 Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus, 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,235 For truth can never be confirmed enough, Though doubts did ever sleep.MARINA First, sir, I pray, what is your title?PERICLES I am Pericles of Tyre. But tell me now My drowned queen’s name, as in the rest you said240 Thou hast been godlike perfect, the heir of kingdoms, And another ⌜life⌝ to Pericles thy father.MARINA Is it no more to be your daughter than To say my mother’s name was Thaisa? Thaisa was my mother, who did end245 The minute I began.
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Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 1
PERICLES Now, blessing on thee! Rise. Thou ’rt my child.— Give me fresh garments.—Mine own Helicanus, She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should Have been, by savage Cleon. She shall tell thee all,250 When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge She is thy very princess. Who is this?HELICANUS Sir, ’tis the Governor of Mytilene, Who, hearing of your melancholy state, Did come to see you.PERICLES, ⌜to Lysimachus⌝ 255 I embrace you.— Give me my robes.—I am wild in my beholding.⌜They put fresh garments on him.⌝ O heavens bless my girl! But hark, what music? Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him o’er Point by point, for yet he seems to ⌜doubt,⌝260 How sure you are my daughter.—But what music?HELICANUS My lord, I hear none.PERICLES None? The music of the spheres!—List, my Marina.LYSIMACHUS It is not good to cross him. Give him way.PERICLES 265Rarest sounds! Do you not hear?LYSIMACHUS Music, my lord? I hear—PERICLES Most heavenly music. It nips me unto list’ning, and thick slumber Hangs upon mine eyes. Let me rest.⌜He sleeps.⌝LYSIMACHUS 270 A pillow for his head. So, leave him all.⌜Lysimachus and others begin to exit.⌝ Well, my companion friends, if this but answer To my just belief, I’ll well remember you.⌜All but Pericles exit.⌝
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Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 1
Diana ⌜descends.⌝DIANA My temple stands in Ephesus. Hie thee thither And do upon mine altar sacrifice.275 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.⌝280 Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe; Do ’t, and happy, by my silver bow. Awake, and tell thy dream.⌜She ascends.⌝PERICLES Celestial Dian, Goddess argentine, I will obey thee.—285 Helicanus!⌜Enter Helicanus, Lysimachus, Marina, and
Attendants.⌝HELICANUS Sir.PERICLES My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike The inhospitable Cleon, but I am For other service first. Toward Ephesus290 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?LYSIMACHUS Sir,295 With all my heart. And when you come ashore, I have another ⌜suit.⌝PERICLES You shall prevail Were it to woo my daughter, for it seems You have been noble towards her.LYSIMACHUS 300 Sir, lend me your arm.PERICLES Come, my Marina.They exit.
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Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 3
⌜Enter Gower.⌝
GOWER
Now our sands are almost run,
More a little, and then dumb.
This my last boon give me—
For such kindness must relieve me—
5 That you aptly will suppose
What pageantry, what feats, what shows,
What minstrelsy and pretty din
The regent made in Mytilene
To greet the King. So he thrived
10 That he is promised to be wived
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.
15 In feathered briefness sails are filled,
And wishes fall out as they’re willed.
At Ephesus the temple see
Our king and all his company.
That he can hither come so soon
20 Is by your fancies’ thankful doom.
⌜He exits.⌝
⌜Enter Cerimon and Diana’s Priestesses, including
Thaisa; at another door enter Pericles, Marina,
Helicanus, Lysimachus, and Attendants.⌝PERICLES Hail, Dian! To perform thy just command, I here confess myself the King of Tyre, Who, frighted from my country, did wed
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Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 3
At Pentapolis the fair Thaisa.5 At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth A maid child called Marina, whom, O goddess, Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tarsus Was nursed with Cleon, who at fourteen years He sought to murder. But her better stars10 Brought her to Mytilene, ’gainst whose shore riding, Her fortunes brought the maid aboard us, where, By her own most clear remembrance, she made known Herself my daughter.THAISA Voice and favor!15 You are, you are—O royal Pericles!⌜She falls in a faint.⌝PERICLES What means the ⌜nun?⌝ She dies! Help, gentlemen!CERIMON Noble sir, If you have told Diana’s altar true, This is your wife.PERICLES 20 Reverend appearer, no. I threw her overboard with these very arms.CERIMON Upon this coast, I warrant you.PERICLES ’Tis most certain.CERIMON Look to the lady. O, she’s but overjoyed.25 Early ⌜one⌝ blustering morn this lady was Thrown upon this shore. I oped the coffin, Found there rich jewels, recovered her, and placed her Here in Diana’s temple.PERICLES May we see them?CERIMON 30 Great sir, they shall be brought you to my house, Whither I invite you. Look, Thaisa Is recoverèd.⌜Thaisa rises.⌝THAISA O, let me look! If he be none of mine, my sanctity
185
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
ACT 5. SC. 3
35 Will to my sense bend no licentious ear, But curb it, spite of seeing.—O, my lord, Are you not Pericles? Like him you spake, Like him you are. Did you not name a tempest, A birth and death?PERICLES 40 The voice of dead Thaisa!THAISA That Thaisa am I, supposèd dead And drowned.PERICLES ⌜Immortal⌝ Dian!THAISA Now I know you better.⌜She points to the ring on his hand.⌝45 When we with tears parted Pentapolis, The king my father gave you such a ring.PERICLES This, this! No more, you gods! Your present kindness Makes my past miseries sports. You shall do well That on the touching of her lips I may50 Melt and no more be seen.—O, come, be buried A second time within these arms!⌜They embrace.⌝MARINA, ⌜kneeling⌝ My heart Leaps to be gone into my mother’s bosom.PERICLES Look who kneels here, flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa,55 Thy burden at the sea, and called Marina For she was yielded there.THAISA, ⌜embracing Marina⌝ Blessed, and mine own!HELICANUS Hail, madam, and my queen.THAISA I know you not.⌜PERICLES⌝ 60 You have heard me say, when I did fly from Tyre I left behind an ancient substitute. Can you remember what I called the man? I have named him oft.THAISA ’Twas Helicanus then.
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ACT 5. SC. 3
PERICLES 65Still confirmation! Embrace him, dear Thaisa. This is he.⌜They embrace.⌝ Now do I long to hear how you were found, How possibly preserved, and who to thank, Besides the gods, for this great miracle.THAISA 70Lord Cerimon, my lord, this man Through whom the gods have shown their power, that can From first to last resolve you.PERICLES Reverend sir,75 The gods can have no mortal officer More like a god than you. Will you deliver How this dead queen relives?CERIMON I will, my lord. Beseech you, first go with me to my house,80 Where shall be shown you all was found with her, How she came placed here in the temple, No needful thing omitted.PERICLES Pure Dian, ⌜I⌝ bless thee for thy vision, and Will offer night oblations to thee.—Thaisa,85 This prince, the fair betrothèd of your daughter, Shall marry her at Pentapolis.—And now this ornament Makes me look dismal will I clip to form, And what this fourteen years no razor touched,90 To grace thy marriage day I’ll beautify.THAISA Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit, sir, My father’s dead.PERICLES Heavens make a star of him! Yet there, my queen, We’ll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves95 Will in that kingdom spend our following days. Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.—
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Pericles, Prince of Tyre
EPILOGUE
Lord Cerimon, we do our longing stay To hear the rest untold. Sir, lead ’s the way.⌜They exit.⌝
⌜Enter Gower.⌝
GOWER
In Antiochus and his daughter you have heard
Of monstrous lust the due and just reward.
In Pericles, his queen, and daughter seen,
Although assailed with fortune fierce and keen,
5 Virtue ⌜preserved⌝ from fell destruction’s blast,
Led on by heaven, and crowned with joy at last.
In Helicanus may you well descry
A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty.
In reverend Cerimon there well appears
10 The worth that learnèd charity aye wears.
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread his cursèd deed ⌜to⌝ the honored name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn,
That him and his they in his palace burn.
15 The gods for murder seemèd so content
To punish, although not done, but meant.
So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you. Here our play has ending.
⌜He exits.⌝