Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The Play of
    1. Sir your Queene must ouer board, the sea workes hie,
    The Wind is lowd, and will not lie till the Ship
    1165Be cleard of the dead.
    Per. That's your superstition.
    1. Pardon vs, sir; with vs at Sea it hath bin still obserued.
    And we are strong in easterne, therefore briefly yeeld'er,
    Per. As you thinke meet; for she must ouer board straight:
    1170Most wretched Queene.
    Lychor. Heere she lyes sir.
    Peri. A terrible Child-bed hast thou had (my deare,
    No light, no fire, th'vnfriendly elements,
    Forgot thee vtterly, nor haue I time
    1175To giue thee hallowd to thy graue, but straight,
    Must cast thee scarcly Coffind, in oare,
    Where for a monument vpon thy bones,
    The ayre remayning lampes, the belching Whale,
    And humming Water must orewelme thy corpes,
    1180Lying with simple shels: ô Lychorida,
    Bid Nestor bring me Spices, Incke, and Taper,
    My Casket, and my Iewels; and bid Nicander
    Bring me the Sattin Coffin: lay the Babe
    Vpon the Pillow; hie thee whiles I say
    1185A priestly farewell to her: sodainely, woman.
    2. Sir, we haue a Chist beneath the hatches,
    Caulkt and bittumed ready.
    Peri. I thanke thee: Mariner say, what Coast is this?
    2. Wee are neere Tharsus.
    1190Peri. Thither gentle Mariner,
    Alter thy course for Tyre: When canst thou reach it?
    2. By breake of day, if the Wind cease.
    Peri. O make for Tharsus,
    There will I visit Cleon, for the Babe
    1195Cannot hold out to Tyrus; there Ile leaue it
    At carefull nursing: goe thy wayes good Mariner,
    Ile bring the body presently. Exit..
    Enter