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  • Title: Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Quarto)
  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Quarto)

    Pericles Prince of Tyre.
    king. And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him
    Of whence he is, his name, and Parentage?
    Tha. The King my father (sir) has drunke to you.
    845Peri. I thanke him.
    Tha. Wishing it so much blood vnto your life.
    Peri. I thanke both him and you, and pledge him freely.
    Tha. And further, he desires to know of you,
    Of whence you are, your name and parentage?
    850Peri. A Gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles,
    My education beene in Artes and Armes:
    Who looking for aduentures in the world,
    Was by the rough Seas reft of Ships and men,
    and after shipwracke, driuen vpon this shore.
    855Tha. He thankes your Grace; names himselfe Pericles,
    A Gentleman of Tyre: who onely by misfortune of the seas,
    Bereft of Shippes and Men, cast on this shore.
    king. Now by the Gods, I pitty his misfortune,
    And will awake him from his melancholy.
    860Come Gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
    And waste the time which lookes for other reuels;
    Euen in your Armours as you are addrest,
    Will well become a Souldiers daunce:
    I will not haue excuse with saying this,
    865Lowd Musicke is too harsh for Ladyes heads,
    Since they loue men in armes, as well as beds.
    They daunce.
    So, this was well askt, t'was so well perform'd.
    Come sir, heer's a Lady that wants breathing too,
    870And I haue heard, you Knights of Tyre,
    Are excellent in making Ladyes trippe;
    And that their Measures are as excellent.
    Peri. In those that practize them, they are (my Lord.)
    king. Oh that's as much, as you would be denyed
    875Of your faire courtesie: vnclaspe, vnclaspe.
    They daunce.
    Thankes Gentlemen to all, all haue done well;
    But you the best: Pages and lights, to conduct
    These
    D 2.