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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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ACT V. Enter Gower.

Gow.
Marina thus the brothel scapes, and chances
Into an honest house, our story says.
She sings like one immortal, and she dances
As goddess-like to her admired lays8 note





:
Deep clerks she dumbs9 note










, and with her neeld composes1 note

-- 184 --


Nature's own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry;
That even her art sisters the natural roses2 note




;
Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry3 note





:

-- 185 --


That pupils lacks she none of noble race,
Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain
She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place4 note;
And to her father turn our thoughts again,
Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost5 note


;
Whence, driven before the winds, he is arriv'd
Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast
Suppose him now at anchor. The city striv'd
God Neptune's annual feast to keep6 note



: from whence
Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies,
His banners sable, trimm'd with rich expence;
And to him in his barge with fervour hies7 note.
In your supposing once more put your sight;
Of heavy Pericles think this the bark8 note

















:

-- 186 --


Where, what is done in action, more, if might9 note



,
Shall be discover'd; please you, sit, and hark. [Exit.

-- 187 --

SCENE I. On board Pericles' Ship, off Mitylene. 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.

Tyr. Sail.
Where's the lord Helicanus? he can resolve you. [To the Sailor of Mitylene.
O here he is.—
Sir, there's a barge put off from Mitylene.
And in it is Lysimachus the governor,
Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?

Hel.
That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.

Tyr. Sail.
Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
Enter Two Gentlemen.

1 Gent.
Doth your lordship call?

Hel.
Gentlemen,
There is some of worth would come aboard; I pray you,
To greet them fairly1 note.
[The Gentlemen and the Two Sailors descend, and go on board the Barge.

-- 188 --

Enter, from thence, Lysimachus and Lords; the Tyrian Gentlemen, and the Two Sailors.

Tyr. Sail.
Sir,
This is the man that can, in aught you would,
Resolve you.

Lys.
Hail, reverend sir! The gods preserve you!

Hel.
And you, sir, to out-live the age I am,
And die as I would do.

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

Hel.
First, sir, what is your place?

Lys.
I am governor of this place you lie before.

Hel.
Sir,
Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king;
A man, who for this three months hath not spoken
To any one, nor taken sustenance,
But to prorogue his grief2 note




.

Lys.
Upon what ground is his distemperature?

Hel.
Sir, it would be too tedious to repeat3 note;
But the main grief of all springs from the loss
Of a beloved daughter and a wife.

Lys.
May we not see him, then?

Hel.
You may indeed, sir,
But bootless is your sight; he will not speak
To any.

-- 189 --

Lys.
Yet, let me obtain my wish.

Hel.
Behold him, sir: [Pericles discovered4 note




.] this was a goodly person,
Till the disaster, that, one mortal night,
Drove him to this5 note

.

Lys.
Sir, king, all hail! the gods preserve you! Hail,
Hail, royal sir!

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

1 Lord.
Sir, we have a maid in Mitylene6 note, I durst wager,
Would win some words of him.

Lys.
'Tis well bethought.
She, questionless, with her sweet harmony
And other choice attractions, would allure,

-- 190 --


And make a battery through his deafen'd parts,
Which now are midway stopp'd7 note












:
She is all happy as the fairest of all,
And, with her fellow maids, is now upon
The leafy shelter that abuts against
The island's side8 note












. [He whispers one of the attendant Lords.— Exit Lord, in the Barge of Lysimachus9 note.

-- 191 --

Hel.
Sure, all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit
That bears recovery's name. But, since your kindness

-- 192 --


We have stretch'd thus far, let us beseech you further,
That for our gold we may provision have,
Wherein we are not destitute for want,
But weary for the staleness.

Lys.
O, sir, a courtesy,
Which if we should deny, the most just God
For every graff would send a caterpillar,
And so inflict our province1 note.—Yet once more
Let me entreat to know at large the cause
Of your king's sorrow.

Hel.
Sit, sir2 note, I will recount it;—
But see, I am prevented.
Enter, from the Barge, Lord, Marina, and a young Lady.

Lys.
O, here is
The lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one!
Is't not a goodly presence3 note




?

-- 193 --

Hel.
A gallant lady.

Lys.
She's such, that were I well assur'd she came
Of gentle kind, and noble stock, I'd wish
No better choice, and think me rarely wed.
Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty
Expect even here, where is a kingly patient4 note


:
If that thy prosperous and artificial feat5 note








-- 194 --


Can draw him but to answer thee in aught,
Thy sacred physick shall receive such pay
As thy desires can wish.

Mar.
Sir, I will use
My utmost skill in his recovery,
Provided none but I and my companion
Be suffer'd to come near him.

Lys.
Come, let us leave her,
And the gods make her prosperous!
[Marina sings6 note



































.

-- 195 --

Lys.
Mark'd he your musick?

Mar.
No, nor look'd on us.

Lys.
See, she will speak to him.

Mar.
Hail, sir! my lord, lend ear:—

Per.
Hum! ha!

Mar.
I am a maid,
My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes,

-- 196 --


But have been gaz'd on like a comet7 note




: she speaks
My lord, that, may be, hath endur'd a grief
Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh'd.
Though wayward fortune did malign my state,
My derivation was from ancestors
Who stood equivalent with mighty kings8 note


:
But time hath rooted out my parentage,
And to the world and aukward casualties9 note


Bound me in servitude.—I will desist;
But there is something glows upon my cheek,
And whispers in mine ear, Go not till he speak. [Aside.

Per.
My fortunes—parentage—good parentage—
To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?

Mar.
I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage,
You would not do me violence1 note.

Per.
I do think so.
I pray you, turn your eyes again upon me.—

-- 197 --


You are like something that—What country-woman?
Here of these shores2 note


?

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

Per.
I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping3 note




.
My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one
My daughter might have been4 note




: my queen's square brows;

-- 198 --


Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight;
As silver-voic'd; her eyes as jewel-like,
And cas'd as richly5 note









: in pace another Juno6 note

;
Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry,
The more she gives them speech7 note






.—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 owe8 note




?

-- 199 --

Mar.
Should I tell my history,
'Twould seem like lies disdain'd in the reporting.

Per.
Pry'thee 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 in9 note









: I'll believe thee,
And make my senses credit thy relation,
To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
Like one I lov'd indeed. What were thy friends?
Didst thou not say1 note, 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.

-- 200 --

Mar.
Some such thing indeed2 note
I said, and said no more but what my thoughts
Did warrant me was likely.

Per.
Tell thy story;
If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part
Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I
Have suffer'd like a girl3 note


: yet thou dost look
Like Patience, gazing on kings' graves4 note





, and smiling
Extremity out of act5 note






. What were thy friends?
How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin?
Recount, I do beseech thee; come, sit by me6 note


.

-- 201 --

Mar.
My name, sir, is Marina.

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

Mar.
Patience, good sir,
Or here I'll cease.

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

Mar.
The name Marina,
Was given me by one that had some power;
My father, and a king.

Per.
How! a king's daughter?
And call'd Marina?

Mar.
You said you would believe me;
But, not to be a troubler of your peace7 note



,
I will end here.

Per.
But are you flesh and blood?
Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?
No motion8 note






?—Well; speak on. Where were you born?
And wherefore call'd Marina?

-- 202 --

Mar.
Call'd Marina,
For I was born at sea.

Per.
At sea? thy mother?

Mar.
My mother was the daughter of a king;
Who died the very minute I was born9 note


,
As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
Deliver'd weeping.

Per.
O, stop there a little!
This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep1 note
Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be.
My daughter's buried. [Aside.] Well:—where were you bred?

-- 203 --


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'er2 note





.

Per.
I will believe you by the syllable3 note




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 drawn4 note














to do't,

-- 204 --


A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
Brought me to Mitylene. But, now 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 gracious 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.
I know not; but
Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene,
Speaks nobly of her.

Lys.
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;

-- 205 --


Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me,
O'erbear the shores of my mortality,
And drown me with their sweetness5 note



. O, come hither,
Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget;
Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus,
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,
For truth can never be confirm'd enough,
Though doubts did ever sleep6 note.

Mar.
First, sir, I pray,
What is your title?

Per.
I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now
My drowned queen's name, (as in the rest you said
Thou hast been godlike perfect,) the heir of kingdoms,
And a mother like to Pericles thy father7 note











.

-- 206 --

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 began8 note



.

Per.
Now, blessing on thee, rise; thou art my child.
Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus,
(Not dead at Tharsus, as she should have been,
By savage Cleon,) she shall tell thee all9 note:
When thou shalt kneel and justify in knowledge,
She is thy very princess.—Who is this?

Hel.
Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene,

-- 207 --


Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.

Per.
I embrace you, sir.
Give me my robes; I am wild in my beholding.
O heavens bless my girl! But hark, what musick?—
Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him1 note



O'er, point by point2 note



, for yet he seems to doubt3 note,
How sure you are my daughter.—But what musick?

Hel.
My lord, I hear none.

Per.
None?
The musick of the spheres: list, my Marina.

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

Per.
Rarest sounds!
Do ye not hear.

Lys.
Musick? My lord, I hear—

Per.
Most heavenly musick:
It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber
Hangs on mine eye-lids; let me rest4 note











. [He sleeps.

-- 208 --

Lys.
A pillow for his head; [The Curtain before the Pavilion of Pericles is closed.
So leave him all.—Well, my companion-friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
I'll well remember you5 note






. [Exeunt Lysimachus, Helicanus, Marina, and attendant Lady.

-- 209 --

SCENE II. The Same. Pericles on the Deck asleep; Diana appearing to him as in a vision.

Dia.
My temple stands in Ephesus6 note











; 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 life7 note














.

-- 210 --


Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe:
Do't, and be happy8 note, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream. [Diana disappears.

Per.
Celestial Dian, goddess argentine9 note



,
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

-- 211 --


For other service first: toward Ephesus
Turn our blown sails1 note
; eftsoons I'll tell thee why.— [To Helicanus.
Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,
And give you gold for such provision
As our intents will need?

Lys.
With all my heart, sir; and when you come ashore,
I have another suit2 note


.

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

Lys.
Sir, lend 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 dumb3 note




.

-- 212 --


This, as my last boon, give me4 note


,
(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 sacrifice5 note,
As Dian bade: whereto being bound,
The interim, pray you, all confound6 note





.
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 doom7 note









. [Exit.

-- 213 --

SCENE III. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus; Thaisa standing near the Altar, as high Priestess8 note


; 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 wed9 note
The fair Tha&ibar;sa, at Pentapolis.
At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth
A maid-child call'd Marina; who, O goddess,

-- 214 --


Wears yet thy silver livery1 note



. 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 Pericles2 note!—
[She faints.

Per.
What means the woman3 note? she dies! help, gentlemen!

Cer.
Noble sir,
If you have told Diana's altar true,
This is your wife.

Per.
Reverend appearer, no;
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 morn4 note, this lady was
Thrown on this shore. I op'd the coffin, and

-- 215 --


Found there rich jewels5 note; recover'd her, and plac'd her
Here in Diana's temple6 note.

Per.
May we see them;

Cer.
Great sir, they shall be brought you to my house,
Whither I invite you7 note
. Look! Thaisa is
Recover'd.

Thai.
O, let me look!
If he be none of mine, my sanctity
Will to my sense8 note



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'd9 note

.

-- 216 --

Per.
Immortal Dian!

Thai.
Now I know you better.—
When we with tears parted Pentapolis,
The king, my father, gave you such a ring.
[Shews a Ring.

Per.
This, this: no more, you gods! your present kindness
Makes my past miseries sport:2 note


You shall do well,
That on the touching of her lips I may
Melt, and no more be seen3 note





. O come, be buried
A second time within these arms4 note


.

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.

-- 217 --

Thai.
Bless'd, and mine own5 note


!

Hel.
Hail, madam, and my queen!

Thai.
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 thee6 note for thy vision, and will offer
My night oblations to thee. Thaisa,
This prince, the fair-betrothed7 note of your daughter,

-- 218 --


Shall marry her at Pentapolis8 note




. 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 touch'd,
To grace thy marriage-day, I'll beautify9 note









.

Thai.
Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit,
Sir, that my father's dead.

-- 219 --

Per.
Heavens make a star of him1 note




! 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 way2 note. [Exeunt. Enter Gower.

Gow.
In Antioch, and his daughter3 note, 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 last4 note


.

-- 220 --


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 name5 note



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 meant6 note.
So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending. [Exit Gower7. note

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Previous section


James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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