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  • Title: Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)
  • Editor: Tom Bishop

  • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Tom Bishop
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)

    1990Enter Helicanus [at one door], to him [from the other door,] two sailors.
    1 Sailor
    Where is Lord Helicanus? He can resolve you. [Seeing Helicanus]
    Oh, here he is. [To Helicanus]
    Sir, there is a barge put off from Metalin,
    And in it is Lysimachus, the governor,
    Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
    1995Helicanus
    That he have his.
    [Exit 1 Sailor.]
    Call up some gentlemen.
    2 Sailor
    Ho, gentlemen! My lord calls!
    Enter two or three gentlemen.
    1 Gentleman
    Doth your lordship call?
    Helicanus
    Gentlemen, there is some of worth would come 2000aboard.
    I pray you, greet him fairly.
    Enter Lysimachus [with Lords, and 1 Sailor].
    1 Sailor
    [To Lysimachus] Sir,
    This is the man that can in aught you would
    Resolve you.
    Lysimachus
    [To Helicanus] Hail, reverend sir; the gods preserve you.
    2005Helicanus
    And you to outlive the age I am,
    And die as I would do.
    Lysimachus
    You wish me well.
    Being on shore, honoring of Neptune's triumphs,
    Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us,
    I made to it, to know of whence you are.
    2010Helicanus
    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.
    2015Lysimachus
    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 2020speak
    To any.
    Lysimachus
    Yet let me obtain my wish.
    2020.1[Helicanus reveals Pericles.]
    Helicanus
    Behold him. 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, 2025royal sir.
    Helicanus
    It is in vain. He will not speak to you.
    [To Lysimachus] Sir,
    We have a maid in Metalin, I durst wager,
    Would win some words of him.
    Lysimachus
    'Tis well bethought.
    She, questionless, with her sweet 2030harmony
    And other chosen attractions, would allure,
    And make a battery through his deafened ports
    Which now are midway stopped.
    She is all happy as the fair'st of all,
    And with her fellow maid is now upon
    The leavy shelter that abuts against
    The island's side.
    [He signs to Lord, who exits.]
    2035Helicanus
    Sure, all effectless. Yet nothing we'll omit
    That bears recovery's name. But since your kindness
    We have stretched 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.
    2040Lysimachus
    Oh, sir, a courtesy,
    Which if we should deny, the most just god
    For every graft would send a caterpillar,
    And so inflict 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 pre2045vented.
    [Enter Lord, with Marina and her companion.]
    Lysimachus
    Oh, here's the lady that I sent for.
    [To Marina] Welcome, fair one. [To Helicanus] Is't not a goodly presence?
    Helicanus
    She's a gallant lady.
    Lysimachus
    She's such a one that, were I well assured
    2050Came of a gentle kind and noble stock,
    I'd wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed.
    Fair one, all goodness that consists in beauty:
    Expect even here, where is a kingly patient --
    If that thy prosperous and artificial feat
    2055Can 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 suffered 2060to come near him.
    Lysimachus
    [To the others] Come, let us leave her,
    And the gods make her prosperous.
    2062.1 [Lysimachus, Helicanus and the other men withdraw some distance.]
    [Marina sings to Pericles.]
    Lysimachus
    [Coming forward, to Marina] Marked he your music?
    Marina
    No, nor looked on us.
    2064.1[Marina approaches Pericles.]
    2065Lysimachus
    [Falling back, to the others] See, she will speak to him.
    2065.1 [Exeunt Lysimachus, Helicanus, Lords and Gentlemen.]
    Marina
    [To Pericles] Hail, sir. My lord, lend ear.
    Pericles
    Hum, ha![He pushes her away violently.]
    Marina
    I am a maid,
    My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes,
    But have been gazed on like a comet. She speaks,
    2070My lord, that maybe hath endured a grief
    Might equal yours, if both were justly weighed.
    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 2075casualties
    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?
    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're like something that -- what countrywoman?
    Here of these shores?
    2085Marina
    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 2090stature to an inch, as wandlike-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?
    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 2100lies
    Disdained in the reporting.
    Pericles
    Prithee, speak.
    Falseness cannot come from thee, for thou
    Lookest modest as Justice, and thou seemest
    A palace for the crownèd Truth to dwell in.
    I will believe thee,
    And make my senses credit thy relation
    To points that seem impossible, 2105for 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 cam'st
    From good descending?
    Marina
    So indeed I did.
    Pericles
    Report thy parentage. I think thou saidst
    Thou hadst 2110been tossed from wrong to injury,
    And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine,
    If both were opened.
    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 considered prove the thou2115sand part
    Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I
    Have suffered 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, 2120sit by me.
    [Marina sits.]
    My name is Marina.
    Pericles
    Oh, I am mocked;
    And thou by some incensèd God sent hither
    To make the world to laugh at me.
    Marina
    Patience, good sir:
    Or here I'll cease.
    2125Pericles
    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 called Marina?
    2130Marina
    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?
    No motion? Well, speak on. Where were you born?
    2135And wherefore called Marina?
    Marina
    Called Marina
    For I was born at sea.
    Pericles
    At sea? What mother?
    My mother was the daughter of a king,
    Who died the minute I was born,
    As my good nurse Lychorida hath 2140oft
    Delivered weeping.
    Pericles
    Oh, stop there a little.
    [Aside] This is the rarest dream that e'er dulled sleep
    Did mock sad fools withal. This cannot be
    My daughter, buried. [To Marina] Well, where were you bred?
    I'll hear you more -- to th'bottom of your story,
    2145And never interrupt you.
    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?
    The king my father did in Tharsus leave me,
    'Til cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,
    Did seek to murder me and wooed a villain
    To attempt it, who having drawn to do't,
    A crew of pirates came and rescued me,
    2155Brought me to Metalin -- 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
    [Calling out] Ho, Helicanus!
    2159.1[Enter Helicanus, Lysimachus and attendants.]
    2160Helicanus
    [Coming forward] Calls my lord?
    Pericles
    Thou art a grave and noble counselor,
    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.
    2165Helicanus
    I know not.
    But here's the regent, sir, of Metalin,
    Speaks nobly of her.
    Lysimachus
    [Coming forward] She never would tell
    Her parentage. Being demanded that,
    She would sit still and weep.
    Pericles
    O Helicanus, strike me, honored sir.
    Give me a 2170gash, put me to present pain,
    Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me,
    O'er-bear the shores of my mortality,
    And drown me with their sweetness. [To Marina] O come hither,
    Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget,
    Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus,
    2175And found at sea again. O Helicanus,
    Down on thy knees; thank the holy gods as loud
    As thunder threatens us: this is Marina!
    [Helicanus kneels.]
    What was thy mother's name? Tell me but that,
    For truth can never be confirmed enough,
    2180Though doubts did ever sleep.
    First sir, I pray, what is your title?
    Pericles
    I am Pericles of Tyre! But tell me now
    My drowned queen's name, as in the rest you said
    Thou hast been god-like perfect, the heir of kingdoms,
    2185And another life to Pericles, thy father.
    [Kneeling] 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.
    [Marina rises.]
    2190Give me fresh garments. [Helicanus rises.] 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?
    Helicanus
    Sir, 'tis the governor of Metalin,
    Who, hearing of 2195your melancholy state,
    Did come to see you.
    Pericles
    [Greeting Lysimachus] I embrace you.
    [Attendants appear with robes.]
    Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.
    O heavens, bless my girl! [Music begins.] But hark! What music?
    Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him
    O'er point by point, for yet he seems to doubt,
    2200How 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
    [To the others] It is not good to cross him. Give him way.
    Pericles
    Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?
    2205Lysimachus
    Music, my lord? I hear --
    Pericles
    Most heavenly music.
    It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber
    Hangs upon mine eyes. Let me rest.
    [He lies down and sleeps.]
    Lysimachus
    A pillow for his head. [Attendants provide a pillow.] So, leave him all.
    2210[As they withdraw] Well, my companion friends,
    If this but answer to my just belief,
    I'll well remember you.
    2211.1[All but Pericles withdraw.]
    [Music continues.] Diana [descends.]
    My temple stands in Ephesus.Hie thee thither,
    And do upon mine altar sacrifice;
    2215There when my maiden priests are met together
    2215.1[At large discourse thy fortunes in this wise:
    With a full voice] 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.
    Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe;
    Do't, and happy, by my silver bow.
    Awake and 2220tell thy dream. [Diana ascends.]
    Pericles
    Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
    I will obey thee. [Calling] Helicanus!
    [Helicanus, Lysimachus and Marina appear.]
    Helicanus
    Sir?
    Pericles
    My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike
    The inhospitable Cleon, but I am
    For other service first. 2225Toward 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,
    2230I 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.