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.
