Pericles by William Shakespeare

Act 5 - Scene 1

On board PERICLES’ ship, off Mytilene. A close

Tyrian Sailor : [To the Sailor of Mytilene] Where is lord Helicanus? [p]he can resolve
you. [p]O, here he is. [p]Sir, there's a barge put off from
Mytilene, [p]And in it is Lysimachus the governor, [p]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.

First Gentleman : Doth your lordship call?

Helicanus : Gentlemen, there's some of worth would come aboard; [p]I pray ye,
greet them fairly. [p][The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend, and
go] [p]on board the barge] [p][Enter, from thence, LYSIMACHUS and
Lords; with the] [p]Gentlemen and the two Sailors]

Tyrian Sailor : Sir, [p]This is the man that can, in aught you would, [p]Resolve you.

Lysimachus : Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!

Helicanus : And you, sir, to outlive the age I am, [p]And die as I would do.

Lysimachus : You wish me well. [p]Being on shore, honouring of Neptune's
triumphs, [p]Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us, [p]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, [p]Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king; [p]A man who for this
three months hath not spoken [p]To any one, nor taken
sustenance [p]But to prorogue his grief.

Lysimachus : Upon what ground is his distemperature?

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

Lysimachus : May we not see him?

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

Lysimachus : Yet let me obtain my wish.

Helicanus : Behold him. [p][PERICLES discovered] [p]This was a goodly
person, [p]Till the disaster that, one mortal night, [p]Drove him to
this.

Lysimachus : Sir king, all hail! the gods preserve you! [p]Hail, royal sir!

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

First Lord : Sir, [p]We have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager, [p]Would win some
words of him.

Lysimachus : 'Tis well bethought. [p]She questionless with her sweet harmony [p]And
other chosen attractions, would allure, [p]And make a battery through
his deafen'd parts, [p]Which now are midway stopp'd: [p]She is all
happy as the fairest of all, [p]And, with her fellow maids is now
upon [p]The leafy shelter that abuts against [p]The island's side.

Helicanus : Sure, all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit [p]That bears
recovery's name. But, since your kindness [p]We have stretch'd thus
far, let us beseech you [p]That for our gold we may provision
have, [p]Wherein we are not destitute for want, [p]But weary for the
staleness.

Lysimachus : O, sir, a courtesy [p]Which if we should deny, the most just
gods [p]For every graff would send a caterpillar, [p]And so afflict
our province. Yet once more [p]Let me entreat to know at large the
cause [p]Of your king's sorrow.

Helicanus : Sit, sir, I will recount it to you: [p]But, see, I am
prevented. [p][Re-enter, from the barge, Lord, with MARINA, and
a] [p]young Lady]

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

Helicanus : She's a gallant lady.

Lysimachus : She's such a one, that, were I well assured [p]Came of a gentle kind
and noble stock, [p]I'ld wish no better choice, and think me rarely
wed. [p]Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty [p]Expect even
here, where is a kingly patient: [p]If that thy prosperous and
artificial feat [p]Can draw him but to answer thee in aught, [p]Thy
sacred physic shall receive such pay [p]As thy desires can wish.

Marina : Sir, I will use [p]My utmost skill in his recovery, Provided [p]That
none but I and my companion maid [p]Be suffer'd to come near him.

Lysimachus : Come, let us leave her; [p]And the gods make her prosperous!

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, [p]My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes, [p]But have
been gazed on like a comet: she speaks, [p]My lord, that, may be, hath
endured a grief [p]Might equal yours, if both were justly
weigh'd. [p]Though wayward fortune did malign my state, [p]My
derivation was from ancestors [p]Who stood equivalent with mighty
kings: [p]But time hath rooted out my parentage, [p]And to the world
and awkward casualties [p]Bound me in servitude. [p][Aside] [p]I will
desist; [p]But there is something glows upon my cheek, [p]And whispers
in mine ear, 'Go not till he speak.'

Pericles : My fortunes--parentage--good parentage-- [p]To equal mine!--was it not
thus? what say you?

Marina : I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, [p]You would not do me
violence.

Pericles : I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me. [p]You are like
something that--What country-woman? [p]Here of these shores?

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

Pericles : I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. [p]My dearest wife was
like this maid, and such a one [p]My daughter might have been: my
queen's square brows; [p]Her stature to an inch; as wand-like
straight; [p]As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like [p]And cased as
richly; in pace another Juno; [p]Who starves the ears she feeds, and
makes them hungry, [p]The more she gives them speech. Where do you
live?

Marina : Where I am but a stranger: from the deck [p]You may discern the
place.

Pericles : Where were you bred? [p]And how achieved you these endowments,
which [p]You make more rich to owe?

Marina : If I should tell my history, it would seem [p]Like lies disdain'd in
the reporting.

Pericles : Prithee, speak: [p]Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou
look'st [p]Modest as Justice, and thou seem'st a palace [p]For the
crown'd Truth to dwell in: I will [p]believe thee, [p]And make my
senses credit thy relation [p]To points that seem impossible; for thou
look'st [p]Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends? [p]Didst
thou not say, when I did push thee back-- [p]Which was when I
perceived thee--that thou camest [p]From good descending?

Marina : So indeed I did.

Pericles : Report thy parentage. I think thou said'st [p]Thou hadst been toss'd
from wrong to injury, [p]And that thou thought'st thy griefs might
equal mine, [p]If both were open'd.

Marina : Some such thing [p]I said, and said no more but what my
thoughts [p]Did warrant me was likely.

Pericles : Tell thy story; [p]If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part [p]Of
my endurance, thou art a man, and I [p]Have suffer'd like a girl: yet
thou dost look [p]Like Patience gazing on kings' graves, and
smiling [p]Extremity out of act. What were thy friends? [p]How lost
thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin? [p]Recount, I do beseech
thee: come, sit by me.

Marina : My name is Marina.

Pericles : O, I am mock'd, [p]And thou by some incensed god sent hither [p]To
make the world to laugh at me.

Marina : Patience, good sir, [p]Or here I'll cease.

Pericles : Nay, I'll be patient. [p]Thou little know'st how thou dost startle
me, [p]To call thyself Marina.

Marina : The name [p]Was given me by one that had some power, [p]My father, and
a king.

Pericles : How! a king's daughter? [p]And call'd Marina?

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

Pericles : But are you flesh and blood? [p]Have you a working pulse? and are no
fairy? [p]Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born? [p]And
wherefore call'd Marina?

Marina : Call'd Marina [p]For I was born at sea.

Pericles : At sea! what mother?

Marina : My mother was the daughter of a king; [p]Who died the minute I was
born, [p]As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft [p]Deliver'd weeping.

Pericles : O, stop there a little! [p][Aside] [p]This is the rarest dream that
e'er dull sleep [p]Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be: [p]My
daughter's buried. Well: where were you bred? [p]I'll hear you more,
to the bottom of your story, [p]And never interrupt you.

Marina : You scorn: believe me, 'twere best I did give o'er.

Pericles : I will believe you by the syllable [p]Of what you shall deliver. Yet,
give me leave: [p]How came you in these parts? where were you bred?

Marina : The king my father did in Tarsus leave me; [p]Till cruel Cleon, with
his wicked wife, [p]Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd [p]A
villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do't, [p]A crew of pirates
came and rescued me; [p]Brought me to Mytilene. But, good
sir, [p]Whither will you have me? Why do you weep? [p]It may
be, [p]You think me an impostor: no, good faith; [p]I am the daughter
to King Pericles, [p]If good King Pericles be.

Pericles : Ho, Helicanus!

Helicanus : Calls my lord?

Pericles : Thou art a grave and noble counsellor, [p]Most wise in general: tell
me, if thou canst, [p]What this maid is, or what is like to
be, [p]That thus hath made me weep?

Helicanus : I know not; but [p]Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene [p]Speaks
nobly of her.

Lysimachus : She would never tell [p]Her parentage; being demanded that, [p]She
would sit still and weep.

Pericles : O Helicanus, strike me, honour'd sir; [p]Give me a gash, put me to
present pain; [p]Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon
me [p]O'erbear the shores of my mortality, [p]And drown me with their
sweetness. O, come hither, [p]Thou that beget'st him that did thee
beget; [p]Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus, [p]And found
at sea again! O Helicanus, [p]Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods
as loud [p]As thunder threatens us: this is Marina. [p]What was thy
mother's name? tell me but that, [p]For truth can never be confirm'd
enough, [p]Though doubts did ever sleep.

Marina : First, sir, I pray, [p]What is your title?

Pericles : I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now [p]My drown'd queen's name, as
in the rest you said [p]Thou hast been godlike perfect, [p]The heir of
kingdoms and another like [p]To Pericles thy father.

Marina : Is it no more to be your daughter than [p]To say my mother's name was
Thaisa? [p]Thaisa was my mother, who did end [p]The minute I began.

Pericles : Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child. [p]Give me fresh
garments. Mine own, Helicanus; [p]She is not dead at Tarsus, as she
should have been, [p]By savage Cleon: she shall tell thee all; [p]When
thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge [p]She is thy very
princess. Who is this?

Helicanus : Sir, 'tis the governor of Mytilene, [p]Who, hearing of your melancholy
state, [p]Did come to see you.

Pericles : I embrace you. [p]Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding. [p]O
heavens bless my girl! But, hark, what music? [p]Tell Helicanus, my
Marina, tell him [p]O'er, point by point, for yet he seems to
doubt, [p]How sure you are my daughter. But, what music?

Helicanus : My lord, I hear none.

Pericles : None! [p]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.

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

Lysimachus : A pillow for his head: [p]So, leave him all. Well, my companion
friends, [p]If this but answer to my just belief, [p]I'll well
remember you.

Diana : My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither, [p]And do upon mine
altar sacrifice. [p]There, when my maiden priests are met
together, [p]Before the people all, [p]Reveal how thou at sea didst
lose thy wife: [p]To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's,
call [p]And give them repetition to the life. [p]Or perform my
bidding, or thou livest in woe; [p]Do it, and happy; by my silver
bow! [p]Awake, and tell thy dream.

Pericles : Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, [p]I will obey thee. Helicanus!

Helicanus : Sir?

Pericles : My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike [p]The inhospitable Cleon;
but I am [p]For other service first: toward Ephesus [p]Turn our blown
sails; eftsoons I'll tell thee why. [p][To LYSIMACHUS] [p]Shall we
refresh us, sir, upon your shore, [p]And give you gold for such
provision [p]As our intents will need?

Lysimachus : Sir, [p]With all my heart; and, when you come ashore, [p]I have
another suit.

Pericles : You shall prevail, [p]Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems [p]You
have been noble towards her.

Lysimachus : Sir, lend me your arm.

Pericles : Come, my Marina.

Previous: Act 5 - Scene 0

Next: Act 5 - Scene 2

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