Pericles by William Shakespeare
Act 2 - Scene 5
Pentapolis. A room in the palace.
First Knight : Good morrow to the good Simonides.
Simonides : Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,
[p]That for this
twelvemonth she'll not undertake
[p]A married life.
[p]Her reason to
herself is only known,
[p]Which yet from her by no means can I get.
Second Knight : May we not get access to her, my lord?
Simonides : 'Faith, by no means; she has so strictly tied
[p]Her to her chamber,
that 'tis impossible.
[p]One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's
livery;
[p]This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd
[p]And on her
virgin honour will not break it.
Third Knight : Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
Simonides : So,
[p]They are well dispatch'd; now to my daughter's letter:
[p]She
tells me here, she'd wed the stranger knight,
[p]Or never more to view
nor day nor light.
[p]'Tis well, mistress; your choice agrees with
mine;
[p]I like that well: nay, how absolute she's in't,
[p]Not
minding whether I dislike or no!
[p]Well, I do commend her
choice;
[p]And will no longer have it be delay'd.
[p]Soft! here he
comes: I must dissemble it.
Pericles : All fortune to the good Simonides!
Simonides : To you as much, sir! I am beholding to you
[p]For your sweet music
this last night: I do
[p]Protest my ears were never better fed
[p]With
such delightful pleasing harmony.
Pericles : It is your grace's pleasure to commend;
[p]Not my desert.
Simonides : Sir, you are music's master.
Pericles : The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
Simonides : Let me ask you one thing:
[p]What do you think of my daughter, sir?
Pericles : A most virtuous princess.
Simonides : And she is fair too, is she not?
Pericles : As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.
Simonides : Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you;
[p]Ay, so well, that you
must be her master,
[p]And she will be your scholar: therefore look to
it.
Pericles : I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
Simonides : She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
Pericles : [Aside] What's here?
[p]A letter, that she loves the knight of
Tyre!
[p]'Tis the king's subtlety to have my life.
[p]O, seek not to
entrap me, gracious lord,
[p]A stranger and distressed
gentleman,
[p]That never aim'd so high to love your daughter,
[p]But
bent all offices to honour her.
Simonides : Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art
[p]A villain.
Pericles : By the gods, I have not:
[p]Never did thought of mine levy
offence;
[p]Nor never did my actions yet commence
[p]A deed might gain
her love or your displeasure.
Simonides : Traitor, thou liest.
Pericles : Traitor!
Simonides : Ay, traitor.
Pericles : Even in his throat--unless it be the king--
[p]That calls me traitor,
I return the lie.
Simonides : [Aside] Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
Pericles : My actions are as noble as my thoughts,
[p]That never relish'd of a
base descent.
[p]I came unto your court for honour's cause,
[p]And not
to be a rebel to her state;
[p]And he that otherwise accounts of
me,
[p]This sword shall prove he's honour's enemy.
Simonides : No?
[p]Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.
Pericles : Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,
[p]Resolve your angry father, if
my tongue
[p]Did ere solicit, or my hand subscribe
[p]To any syllable
that made love to you.
Thaisa : Why, sir, say if you had,
[p]Who takes offence at that would make me
glad?
Simonides : Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?
[p][Aside]
[p]I am glad on't
with all my heart.--
[p]I'll tame you; I'll bring you in
subjection.
[p]Will you, not having my consent,
[p]Bestow your love
and your affections
[p]Upon a stranger?
[p][Aside]
[p]who, for aught I
know,
[p]May be, nor can I think the contrary,
[p]As great in blood as
I myself.--
[p]Therefore hear you, mistress; either frame
[p]Your will
to mine,--and you, sir, hear you,
[p]Either be ruled by me, or I will
make you--
[p]Man and wife:
[p]Nay, come, your hands and lips must
seal it too:
[p]And being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy;
[p]And
for a further grief,--God give you joy!--
[p]What, are you both
pleased?
Thaisa : Yes, if you love me, sir.
Pericles : Even as my life, or blood that fosters it.
Simonides : What, are you both agreed?
Both : Yes, if it please your majesty.
Simonides : It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed;
[p]And then with what
haste you can get you to bed.
Previous: Act 2 - Scene 4
Next: Act 3 - Scene 0
