Mar.

No, nor of any shores: Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am

No other than I appear.

Per. I'm 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 wand-like straight;

As silver-voic'd; her eyes as jewel-like,

And cas'd 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?

Mar. Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place.

Per.

Where were you bred? And how achiev'd you these endowments, which You make more rich to owe?

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

Per.
Prithee, speak:
Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look'st
Modest as Justice, and thou seem'st a palace
For the crown'd Truth to dwell in: I'll believe thee,
And make my senses credit thy relation
To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
Like one I loy'd indeed. What were thy friends?
Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back,
Which was when I perceiv'd thee, that thou cam'st
From good descending?

Mar.

So indeed I did.

Per. Report thy parentage. I think thou said'st
Thou hadst been toss'd from wrong to injury,

And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine,
If both were open'd.

Mar.

Some such thing

I said, and said no more but what my thoughts

Did warrant me was likely.

Per. Shakespeare. VII.

Tell thy story;

5

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

Mar. My name is Marina.

Per.
And thou by some incensed god sent hither
To make the world to laugh at me.

Mar.

Or here I'll cease.

Per.

O, I am mock'd,

Patience, good sir,

Nay, I'll be patient.

Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me,
To call thyself Marina.

Was given me by one that had some power,
My father, and a king.

Per.

And call'd Marina?

Mar.

-

How! a king's daughter?

You said you would believe me;

But, not to be a troubler of your peace,

I will end here.

Per.
But are you flesh and blood?
Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?
Motion! - Well; speak on.

And wherefore call'd Marina?

Mar.

For I was born at sea.

Per.

.

Where were you born?

Call'd Marina

At sea! what mother?

Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the very minute I was born,

As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft

Deliver'd weeping.

Per.

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's buried.

Well: where were you bred?

I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.

Mar.

You'll scarce believe me;

'Twere best I did give o'er.

Per. I will believe you by the syllable

Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave:
How came you in these parts? where were you bred?
Mar. The king my father did in Tharsus leave me;
Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,

Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd

A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do't,
A crew of pirates came and rescu'd 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;

I am the daughter to King Pericles,

If good King Pericles be.

Per. Ho, Helicanus!

Hel. Calls my lord?

Per. Thou art a grave and noble counsellor, 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?

Hel.
Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene

Speaks nobly of her.

Lys.

I know not; but

She would never tell

Her parentage; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.

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
O'erbear the shores of my mortality,
And drown me with their sweetness.
Thou that begett'st him that did thee beget;

O, come hither,

Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus,
And found at sea again! — O Helicanus,
Down on thy knees, thank th' holy gods as loud
As thunder threatens us: this is Marina.
What was thy mother's name? tell me but that,
For truth can never be confirm'd enough,

Though doubts did ever sleep.

Mar.

What is your title?

First, sir, I pray,

Per. I'm Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now My drown'd queen's name,

as in the rest you said

Thou hast been godlike perfect,

The heir of kingdoms, and another like

To Pericles thy father.

Mar. Is it no more to be your daughter than
To say my mother's name was Thaisa?
Thaisa was my mother, who did end

The minute I began.

Per. Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.
Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus,
She is not dead at Tharsus, as she should have been,
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 Mytilene, Who, hearing of your melancholy state, Did come to see you.

Per.

Give me my robes.

I embrace you,

sir.

I'm wild in my beholding.

O heavens bless my girl!

Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him

But, hark, what music?

But, what music?

O'er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt,

How sure you are my daughter.

Hel. My lord, I hear none.

Per.

None!

The music of the spheres!

List, my Marina.

Lys. It is not good to cross him; give him way.

Per. Rar'st sounds! Do ye not hear?

Lys.

Per. Most heavenly music!

My lord, I hear.

[Music.

[Sleeps.

It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber

Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
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.

[Exeunt all except Pericles.

DIANA appears.

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.

Or perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe;
Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!

Awake, and tell thy dream.

Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, I will obey thee. Helicanus!

Hel.

[Disappears.

Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, MARINA, &c.

Sir?

Per. My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike

Th' inhospitable Cleon; but I am

For other service first: toward Ephesus

Turn our blown sails; eftsoons I'll tell thee why.

[To Lysimachus] Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,

And give you gold for such provision

As our intents will need?

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