Act 5, Scene 1: On board PERICLES' ship, off Mytilene. A close

SCENE I. On board PERICLES' ship, off Mytilene. 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

Tyrian Sailor

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

HELICANUS

    That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.

Tyrian Sailor

    Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.

    Enter two or three Gentlemen

First Gentleman

    Doth your lordship call?

HELICANUS

    Gentlemen, there's some of worth would come aboard;
    I pray ye, greet them fairly.

    The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend, and go on board the barge

    Enter, from thence, LYSIMACHUS and Lords; with the Gentlemen and the two Sailors

Tyrian Sailor

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

LYSIMACHUS

    Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!

HELICANUS

    And you, sir, to outlive the age I am,
    And die as I would do.

LYSIMACHUS

    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.

HELICANUS

    First, what is your place?

LYSIMACHUS

    I am the governor of this place you lie before.

HELICANUS

    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 grief.

LYSIMACHUS

    Upon what ground is his distemperature?

HELICANUS

    'Twould be too tedious to repeat;
    But the main grief springs from the loss
    Of a beloved daughter and a wife.

LYSIMACHUS

    May we not see him?

HELICANUS

    You may;
    But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any.

LYSIMACHUS

    Yet let me obtain my wish.

HELICANUS

    Behold him.

    PERICLES discovered
    This was a goodly 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

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

First 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 harmony
    And other chosen attractions, would allure,
    And make a battery through his deafen'd parts,
    Which now are midway stopp'd:
    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 side.

    Whispers a Lord, who goes off in the barge of LYSIMACHUS

HELICANUS

    Sure, all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit
    That bears recovery's name. But, since your kindness
    We have stretch'd 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 courtesy
    Which if we should deny, the most just gods
    For every graff would send a caterpillar,
    And so afflict our province. Yet once more
    Let me entreat to know at large the cause
    Of your king's sorrow.

HELICANUS

    Sit, sir, I will recount it to you:
    But, see, I am prevented.

    Re-enter, from the barge, Lord, with MARINA, and a young Lady

LYSIMACHUS

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

HELICANUS

    She's a gallant lady.

LYSIMACHUS

    She's such a one, that, were I well assured
    Came of a gentle kind and noble stock,
    I'ld wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed.
    Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty
    Expect even here, where is a kingly patient:
    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 use
    My utmost skill in his recovery, Provided
    That none but I and my companion maid
    Be suffer'd to come near him.

LYSIMACHUS

    Come, let us leave her;
    And the gods make her prosperous!

    MARINA sings

LYSIMACHUS

    Mark'd he your music?

MARINA

    No, nor look'd on us.

LYSIMACHUS

    See, she will speak to him.

MARINA

    Hail, sir! my lord, lend ear.

PERICLES

    Hum, ha!

MARINA

    I 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 weigh'd.
    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 casualties
    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

    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 are like something that--What country-woman?
    Here of these shores?

MARINA

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

PERICLES

    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 wand-like straight;
    As silver-voiced; her eyes 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

    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 seem
    Like lies disdain'd in the reporting.

PERICLES

    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 will
    believe thee,
    And make my senses credit thy relation
    To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
    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 camest
    From good descending?

MARINA

    So indeed I did.

PERICLES

    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.

MARINA

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

PERICLES

    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 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.

MARINA

    My name is Marina.

PERICLES

    O, I am mock'd,
    And thou by some incensed 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.
    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

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

MARINA

    You said you would believe me;
    But, not to be a troubler of your peace,
    I will end here.

PERICLES

    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 call'd Marina?

MARINA

    Call'd Marina
    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 oft
    Deliver'd 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's buried. Well: where were you bred?
    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:
    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 woo'd
    A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do't,
    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;
    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 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?

HELICANUS

    I know not; but
    Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene
    Speaks nobly of her.

LYSIMACHUS

    She would never tell
    Her parentage; being demanded that,
    She would sit still and weep.

PERICLES

    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. O, come hither,
    Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget;
    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,
    For truth can never be confirm'd 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 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.

MARINA

    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.

PERICLES

    Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art 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;
    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

    I embrace you.
    Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.
    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,
    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

    Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?

LYSIMACHUS

    My lord, I hear.

    Music

PERICLES

    Most heavenly music!
    It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber
    Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.

    Sleeps

LYSIMACHUS

    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 but PERICLES

    DIANA appears to PERICLES as in a vision

DIANA

    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 livest in woe;
    Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
    Awake, and tell thy dream.

    Disappears

PERICLES

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

    Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, and MARINA

HELICANUS

    Sir?

PERICLES

    My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike
    The 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?

LYSIMACHUS

    Sir,
    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

    Sir, lend me your arm.

PERICLES

    Come, my Marina.

    Exeunt
    SCENE II:

    Enter GOWER, before the temple of DIANA at Ephesus

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,
    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,
    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.
    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 doom.

    Exit