SCENE I.
Enter Pericles on a ship at sea.
Per.
Thou God of this great vast, rebuke these surges4 note
,
Which wash both heaven and hell; and thou that hast
Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
Having call'd them from the deep! O still thy deafning note,
Dreadful, thunders; gently quench thy nimble,
Sulphurous, flashes!—O how, Lychorida,
How does my queen?—Thou storm, venomously5 note
,
-- 75 --
Wilt thou spit all thyself?—The seaman's whistle
Is as a whisper in the ear of death6 note
,
Unheard.—Lychorida!—Lucina, O
Divinest patroness, and midwife7 note
, gentle
To those that cry by night, convey thy deity
Aboard our dancing boat; make swift the pangs
Of my queen's travails!—Now, Lychorida—
Enter Lychorida.
Lyc.
Here is a thing too young for such a place,
-- 76 --
Who, if it had conceit8 note
, would die, as I
Am like to do: take in your arms this piece
Of your dead queen.
Per.
How! how, Lychorida!
Lyc.
Patience, good sir, do not assist the storm9 note
,
Here's all that is left living of your queen,
A little daughter; for the sake of it,
Be manly, and take comfort.
Per.
Oh ye gods!
Why do you make us love your goodly gifts,
And snatch them straight away? We, here below,
Recal not what we give, and therein may
Use honour with you1 note
.
Lyc.
Patience, good sir,
Even for this charge.
Per.
Now, mild may be thy life!
For a more blust'rous birth had never babe:
Quiet and gentle thy conditions2 note
!
-- 77 --
For thou art the rudeliest welcom'd to this world,
That e'er was prince's child. Happy what follows!
Thou hast as chiding a nativity3 note
,
As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
To herald thee from the womb4 note
:
Even at the first, thy loss is more than can
Thy portage quit5 note
, with all thou canst find here.—
Now the good gods throw their best eyes upon it!
Enter two Sailors.
1 Sail.
What! courage, sir. God save you.
Per.
Courage enough: I do not fear the flaw6 note
;
-- 78 --
It hath done to me the worst7 note
. Yet for the love
Of this poor infant, this fresh-new sea-farer8 note
,
I would it would be quiet.
1 Sail.
Slack the bolins there9 note
; thou wilt not, wilt
thou? Blow and split thyself1 note
.
2 Sail.
But sea-room, and the brine and cloudy
billow kiss the moon, I care not2 note.
1 Sail.
Sir, your queen must over-board; the sea
works high, the wind is loud, and will not lye till
the ship be clear'd of the dead.
Per.
That's your superstition.
1 Sail.
Pardon us, sir; with us at sea it still hath
been observ'd; and we are strong in eastern3 note
. Therefore
-- 79 --
briefly yield her; for she must over-board
straight4 note.
Per.
Be it, as you think meet.—Most wretched queen!
Lyc.
Here she lies, sir.
Per.
A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my dear;
No light, no fire: the unfriendly elements
Forgot thee utterly; nor have I time
To give thee hallow'd to thy grave5 note
, but straight
Must cast thee, scarcely coffin'd, in the ooze6 note
;
Where, for a monument upon thy bones,
The air-remaining lamps7 note
, the belching whale,
-- 80 --
And humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse,
Lying with simple shells. O, Lychorida,
Bid Nestor bring me spices, ink and paper8 note,
My casket and my jewels; and bid Nicander
Bring me the sattin coffer9 note
: lay the babe
Upon the pillow; hie thee, whiles I say
A priestly farewel to her: suddenly, woman.
2 Sail.
Sir, we have a chest beneath the hatches,
caulk'd and bitumed ready.
Per.
I thank thee. Mariner, say what coast is this?
-- 81 --
2 Sail.
We are near Tharsus.
Per.
Thither, gentle mariner,9Q1322
Alter thy course for Tyre1 note. When can'st thou reach it?
2 Sail.
By break of day, if the wind cease.
Per.
O make for Tharsus.
There will I visit Cleon, for the babe
Cannot hold out to Tyrus; there I'll leave it
At careful nursing. Go thy ways, good mariner;
I'll bring the body presently.
[Exeunt.
Edmond Malone [1780], Supplement to the edition of Shakspeare's plays published in 1778 By Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. In two volumes. Containing additional observations by several of the former commentators: to which are subjoined the genuine poems of the same author, and seven plays that have been ascribed to him; with notes By the editor and others (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10911].
