Speeches (Lines) for (stage directions)
in "Pericles"
Total: 117

1

I,0,1

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER]

2

I,0,44

Gower. To sing a song that old was sung,
From ashes ancient Gower is come;
Assuming man's infirmities,
To glad your ear, and please your eyes.
It hath been sung at festivals,
On ember-eves and holy-ales;
And lords and ladies in their lives
Have read it for restoratives:
The purchase is to make men glorious;
Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius.
If you, born in these latter times,
When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes.
And that to hear an old man sing
May to your wishes pleasure bring
I life would wish, and that I might
Waste it for you, like taper-light.
This Antioch, then, Antiochus the Great
Built up, this city, for his chiefest seat:
The fairest in all Syria,
I tell you what mine authors say:
This king unto him took a fere,
Who died and left a female heir,
So buxom, blithe, and full of face,
As heaven had lent her all his grace;
With whom the father liking took,
And her to incest did provoke:
Bad child; worse father! to entice his own
To evil should be done by none:
But custom what they did begin
Was with long use account no sin.
The beauty of this sinful dame
Made many princes thither frame,
To seek her as a bed-fellow,
In marriage-pleasures play-fellow:
Which to prevent he made a law,
To keep her still, and men in awe,
That whoso ask'd her for his wife,
His riddle told not, lost his life:
So for her many a wight did die,
As yon grim looks do testify.
What now ensues, to the judgment of your eye
I give, my cause who best can justify.

(stage directions). [Exit]

3

I,1,45

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter ANTIOCHUS, Prince PERICLES, and followers]

4

I,1,57

Antiochus. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride,
For the embracements even of Jove himself;
At whose conception, till Lucina reign'd,
Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence,
The senate-house of planets all did sit,
To knit in her their best perfections.

(stage directions). [Music. Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS]

5

I,1,172

Antiochus. [Aside] Heaven, that I had thy head! he has found
the meaning:
But I will gloze with him.—Young prince of Tyre,
Though by the tenor of our strict edict,
Your exposition misinterpreting,
We might proceed to cancel of your days;
Yet hope, succeeding from so fair a tree
As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise:
Forty days longer we do respite you;
If by which time our secret be undone,
This mercy shows we'll joy in such a son:
And until then your entertain shall be
As doth befit our honour and your worth.

(stage directions). [Exeunt all but PERICLES]

6

I,1,195

Pericles. How courtesy would seem to cover sin,
When what is done is like an hypocrite,
The which is good in nothing but in sight!
If it be true that I interpret false,
Then were it certain you were not so bad
As with foul incest to abuse your soul;
Where now you're both a father and a son,
By your untimely claspings with your child,
Which pleasure fits an husband, not a father;
And she an eater of her mother's flesh,
By the defiling of her parent's bed;
And both like serpents are, who though they feed
On sweetest flowers, yet they poison breed.
Antioch, farewell! for wisdom sees, those men
Blush not in actions blacker than the night,
Will shun no course to keep them from the light.
One sin, I know, another doth provoke;
Murder's as near to lust as flame to smoke:
Poison and treason are the hands of sin,
Ay, and the targets, to put off the shame:
Then, lest my lie be cropp'd to keep you clear,
By flight I'll shun the danger which I fear.

(stage directions). [Exit]

7

I,1,196

(stage directions). [Exit]

(stage directions). [Re-enter ANTIOCHUS]

8

I,1,205

Antiochus. He hath found the meaning, for which we mean
To have his head.
He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy,
Nor tell the world Antiochus doth sin
In such a loathed manner;
And therefore instantly this prince must die:
For by his fall my honour must keep high.
Who attends us there?

(stage directions). [Enter THALIARD]

9

I,1,221

Messenger. My lord, prince Pericles is fled.

(stage directions). [Exit]

10

I,1,234

Antiochus. Thaliard, adieu!
[Exit THALIARD]
Till Pericles be dead,
My heart can lend no succor to my head.

(stage directions). [Exit]

11

I,2,235

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PERICLES]

12

I,2,270

Pericles. [To Lords without] Let none disturb us.—Why should
this change of thoughts,
The sad companion, dull-eyed melancholy,
Be my so used a guest as not an hour,
In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night,
The tomb where grief should sleep, can breed me quiet?
Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them,
And danger, which I fear'd, is at Antioch,
Whose aim seems far too short to hit me here:
Yet neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits,
Nor yet the other's distance comfort me.
Then it is thus: the passions of the mind,
That have their first conception by mis-dread,
Have after-nourishment and life by care;
And what was first but fear what might be done,
Grows elder now and cares it be not done.
And so with me: the great Antiochus,
'Gainst whom I am too little to contend,
Since he's so great can make his will his act,
Will think me speaking, though I swear to silence;
Nor boots it me to say I honour him.
If he suspect I may dishonour him:
And what may make him blush in being known,
He'll stop the course by which it might be known;
With hostile forces he'll o'erspread the land,
And with the ostent of war will look so huge,
Amazement shall drive courage from the state;
Our men be vanquish'd ere they do resist,
And subjects punish'd that ne'er thought offence:
Which care of them, not pity of myself,
Who am no more but as the tops of trees,
Which fence the roots they grow by and defend them,
Makes both my body pine and soul to languish,
And punish that before that he would punish.

(stage directions). [Enter HELICANUS, with other Lords]

13

I,2,371

Pericles. Tyre, I now look from thee then, and to Tarsus
Intend my travel, where I'll hear from thee;
And by whose letters I'll dispose myself.
The care I had and have of subjects' good
On thee I lay whose wisdom's strength can bear it.
I'll take thy word for faith, not ask thine oath:
Who shuns not to break one will sure crack both:
But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe,
That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince,
Thou show'dst a subject's shine, I a true prince.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

14

I,3,372

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter THALIARD]

15

I,3,382

Thaliard. So, this is Tyre, and this the court. Here must I
kill King Pericles; and if I do it not, I am sure to
be hanged at home: 'tis dangerous. Well, I perceive
he was a wise fellow, and had good discretion, that,
being bid to ask what he would of the king, desired
he might know none of his secrets: now do I see he
had some reason for't; for if a king bid a man be a
villain, he's bound by the indenture of his oath to
be one! Hush! here come the lords of Tyre.

(stage directions). [Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES, with other Lords of Tyre]

16

I,3,414

Helicanus. We have no reason to desire it,
Commended to our master, not to us:
Yet, ere you shall depart, this we desire,
As friends to Antioch, we may feast in Tyre.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

17

I,4,415

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter CLEON, the governor of Tarsus, with DIONYZA,]
and others]

18

I,4,472

Cleon. O, let those cities that of plenty's cup
And her prosperities so largely taste,
With their superfluous riots, hear these tears!
The misery of Tarsus may be theirs.

(stage directions). [Enter a Lord]

19

I,4,500

Lord. I go, my lord.

(stage directions). [Exit]

20

I,4,503

Cleon. Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist;
If wars, we are unable to resist.

(stage directions). [Enter PERICLES with Attendants]

21

I,4,529

Pericles. Which welcome we'll accept; feast here awhile,
Until our stars that frown lend us a smile.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

22

II,4,530

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER]

23

II,4,578

Gower. Here have you seen a mighty king
His child, I wis, to incest bring;
A better prince and benign lord,
That will prove awful both in deed and word.
Be quiet then as men should be,
Till he hath pass'd necessity.
I'll show you those in troubles reign,
Losing a mite, a mountain gain.
The good in conversation,
To whom I give my benison,
Is still at Tarsus, where each man
Thinks all is writ he speken can;
And, to remember what he does,
Build his statue to make him glorious:
But tidings to the contrary
Are brought your eyes; what need speak I?
DUMB SHOW.
[Enter at one door PERICLES talking with CLEON; all]
the train with them. Enter at another door a
Gentleman, with a letter to PERICLES; PERICLES
shows the letter to CLEON; gives the Messenger a
reward, and knights him. Exit PERICLES at one
door, and CLEON at another]
Good Helicane, that stay'd at home,
Not to eat honey like a drone
From others' labours; for though he strive
To killen bad, keep good alive;
And to fulfil his prince' desire,
Sends word of all that haps in Tyre:
How Thaliard came full bent with sin
And had intent to murder him;
And that in Tarsus was not best
Longer for him to make his rest.
He, doing so, put forth to seas,
Where when men been, there's seldom ease;
For now the wind begins to blow;
Thunder above and deeps below
Make such unquiet, that the ship
Should house him safe is wreck'd and split;
And he, good prince, having all lost,
By waves from coast to coast is tost:
All perishen of man, of pelf,
Ne aught escapen but himself;
Till fortune, tired with doing bad,
Threw him ashore, to give him glad:
And here he comes. What shall be next,
Pardon old Gower,—this longs the text.

(stage directions). [Exit]

24

II,1,579

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PERICLES, wet]

25

II,1,591

Pericles. Yet cease your ire, you angry stars of heaven!
Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man
Is but a substance that must yield to you;
And I, as fits my nature, do obey you:
Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks,
Wash'd me from shore to shore, and left me breath
Nothing to think on but ensuing death:
Let it suffice the greatness of your powers
To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes;
And having thrown him from your watery grave,
Here to have death in peace is all he'll crave.

(stage directions). [Enter three FISHERMEN]

26

II,1,674

Second Fisherman. O, not all, my friend, not all; for if all your
beggars were whipped, I would wish no better office
than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go draw up the
net.

(stage directions). [Exit with Third Fisherman]

27

II,1,694

First Fisherman. O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man
cannot get, he may lawfully deal for—his wife's soul.

(stage directions). [Re-enter Second and Third Fishermen, drawing up a net]

28

II,1,745

Pericles. Then honour be but a goal to my will,
This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

29

II,2,746

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). lists. A pavilion by the side of it for the
reception of King, Princess, Lords, &c.

30

II,2,748

(stage directions). lists. A pavilion by the side of it for the
reception of King, Princess, Lords, &c.

(stage directions). [Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, and Attendants]

31

II,2,756

Simonides. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,
In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat
For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

(stage directions). [Exit a Lord]

32

II,2,780

Thaisa. A prince of Macedon, my royal father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is an arm'd knight that's conquer'd by a lady;
The motto thus, in Spanish, 'Piu por dulzura que por fuerza.'

(stage directions). [The Third Knight passes over]

33

II,2,785

Thaisa. The third of Antioch;
And his device, a wreath of chivalry;
The word, 'Me pompae provexit apex.'

(stage directions). [The Fourth Knight passes over]

34

II,2,791

Simonides. Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,
Which can as well inflame as it can kill.

(stage directions). [The Fifth Knight passes over]

35

II,2,795

Thaisa. The fifth, an hand environed with clouds,
Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;
The motto thus, 'Sic spectanda fides.'

(stage directions). [The Sixth Knight, PERICLES, passes over]

36

II,2,817

Simonides. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan
The outward habit by the inward man.
But stay, the knights are coming: we will withdraw
Into the gallery.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

37

II,2,818

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

(stage directions). [Great shouts within and all cry 'The mean knight!']

38

II,3,819

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Attendants, and]
Knights, from tilting]

39

II,3,949

Simonides. Princes, it is too late to talk of love;
And that's the mark I know you level at:
Therefore each one betake him to his rest;
To-morrow all for speeding do their best.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

40

II,4,950

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES]

41

II,4,968

Escanes. 'Tis very true.

(stage directions). [Enter two or three Lords]

42

II,4,1011

Helicanus. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands:
When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

43

II,5,1012

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter SIMONIDES, reading a letter, at one door:]
the Knights meet him]

44

II,5,1027

Third Knight. Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Knights]

45

II,5,1038

Simonides. So,
They are well dispatch'd; now to my daughter's letter:
She tells me here, she'd wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
'Tis well, mistress; your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well: nay, how absolute she's in't,
Not minding whether I dislike or no!
Well, I do commend her choice;
And will no longer have it be delay'd.
Soft! here he comes: I must dissemble it.

(stage directions). [Enter PERICLES]

46

II,5,1085

Simonides. No?
Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

(stage directions). [Enter THAISA]

47

II,5,1117

Simonides. It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed;
And then with what haste you can get you to bed.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

48

III,0,1118

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER]

49

III,0,1189

Gower. Now sleep y-slaked hath the rout;
No din but snores the house about,
Made louder by the o'er-fed breast
Of this most pompous marriage-feast.
The cat, with eyne of burning coal,
Now crouches fore the mouse's hole;
And crickets sing at the oven's mouth,
E'er the blither for their drouth.
Hymen hath brought the bride to bed.
Where, by the loss of maidenhead,
A babe is moulded. Be attent,
And time that is so briefly spent
With your fine fancies quaintly eche:
What's dumb in show I'll plain with speech.
DUMB SHOW.
[Enter, PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with]
Attendants; a Messenger meets them, kneels, and
gives PERICLES a letter: PERICLES shows it
SIMONIDES; the Lords kneel to him. Then enter
THAISA with child, with LYCHORIDA a nurse. The
KING shows her the letter; she rejoices: she and
PERICLES takes leave of her father, and depart with
LYCHORIDA and their Attendants. Then exeunt
SIMONIDES and the rest]
By many a dern and painful perch
Of Pericles the careful search,
By the four opposing coigns
Which the world together joins,
Is made with all due diligence
That horse and sail and high expense
Can stead the quest. At last from Tyre,
Fame answering the most strange inquire,
To the court of King Simonides
Are letters brought, the tenor these:
Antiochus and his daughter dead;
The men of Tyrus on the head
Of Helicanus would set on
The crown of Tyre, but he will none:
The mutiny he there hastes t' oppress;
Says to 'em, if King Pericles
Come not home in twice six moons,
He, obedient to their dooms,
Will take the crown. The sum of this,
Brought hither to Pentapolis,
Y-ravished the regions round,
And every one with claps can sound,
'Our heir-apparent is a king!
Who dream'd, who thought of such a thing?'
Brief, he must hence depart to Tyre:
His queen with child makes her desire—
Which who shall cross?—along to go:
Omit we all their dole and woe:
Lychorida, her nurse, she takes,
And so to sea. Their vessel shakes
On Neptune's billow; half the flood
Hath their keel cut: but fortune's mood
Varies again; the grisly north
Disgorges such a tempest forth,
That, as a duck for life that dives,
So up and down the poor ship drives:
The lady shrieks, and well-a-near
Does fall in travail with her fear:
And what ensues in this fell storm
Shall for itself itself perform.
I nill relate, action may
Conveniently the rest convey;
Which might not what by me is told.
In your imagination hold
This stage the ship, upon whose deck
The sea-tost Pericles appears to speak.

(stage directions). [Exit]

50

III,1,1190

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PERICLES, on shipboard]

51

III,1,1234

Pericles. Now, mild may be thy life!
For a more blustrous birth had never babe:
Quiet and gentle thy conditions! for
Thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world
That ever was prince's child. Happy what follows!
Thou hast as chiding a nativity
As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
To herald thee from the womb: even at the first
Thy loss is more than can thy portage quit,
With all thou canst find here. Now, the good gods
Throw their best eyes upon't!

(stage directions). [Enter two Sailors]

52

III,1,1267

Pericles. A terrible childbed hast thou had, my dear;
No light, no fire: the unfriendly elements
Forgot thee utterly: nor have I time
To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight
Must cast thee, scarcely coffin'd, in the ooze;
Where, for a monument upon thy bones,
And e'er-remaining lamps, the belching whale
And humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse,
Lying with simple shells. O Lychorida,
Bid Nestor bring me spices, ink and paper,
My casket and my jewels; and bid Nicander
Bring me the satin coffer: lay the babe
Upon the pillow: hie thee, whiles I say
A priestly farewell to her: suddenly, woman.

(stage directions). [Exit LYCHORIDA]

53

III,1,1280

Pericles. O, make for Tarsus!
There will I visit Cleon, for the babe
Cannot hold out to Tyrus: there I'll leave it
At careful nursing. Go thy ways, good mariner:
I'll bring the body presently.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

54

III,2,1281

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter CERIMON, with a Servant, and some Persons who]
have been shipwrecked]

55

III,2,1284

Cerimon. Philemon, ho!

(stage directions). [Enter PHILEMON]

56

III,2,1296

Cerimon. Your master will be dead ere you return;
There's nothing can be minister'd to nature
That can recover him.
[To PHILEMON]
Give this to the 'pothecary,
And tell me how it works.

(stage directions). [Exeunt all but CERIMON]

57

III,2,1297

(stage directions). [Exeunt all but CERIMON]

(stage directions). [Enter two Gentlemen]

58

III,2,1340

Second Gentleman. Your honour has through Ephesus pour'd forth
Your charity, and hundreds call themselves
Your creatures, who by you have been restored:
And not your knowledge, your personal pain, but even
Your purse, still open, hath built Lord Cerimon
Such strong renown as time shall ne'er decay.

(stage directions). [Enter two or three Servants with a chest]

59

III,2,1410

Cerimon. She is alive; behold,
Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels
Which Pericles hath lost,
Begin to part their fringes of bright gold;
The diamonds of a most praised water
Do appear, to make the world twice rich. Live,
And make us weep to hear your fate, fair creature,
Rare as you seem to be.

(stage directions). [She moves]

60

III,2,1420

Cerimon. Hush, my gentle neighbours!
Lend me your hands; to the next chamber bear her.
Get linen: now this matter must be look'd to,
For her relapse is mortal. Come, come;
And AEsculapius guide us!

(stage directions). [Exeunt, carrying her away]

61

III,3,1421

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, and LYCHORIDA with]
MARINA in her arms]

62

III,3,1471

Pericles. I will embrace
Your offer. Come, dearest madam. O, no tears,
Lychorida, no tears:
Look to your little mistress, on whose grace
You may depend hereafter. Come, my lord.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

63

III,4,1472

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter CERIMON and THAISA]

64

III,4,1491

Thaisa. My recompense is thanks, that's all;
Yet my good will is great, though the gift small.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

65

IV,0,1492

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER]

66

IV,0,1545

Gower. Imagine Pericles arrived at Tyre,
Welcomed and settled to his own desire.
His woeful queen we leave at Ephesus,
Unto Diana there a votaress.
Now to Marina bend your mind,
Whom our fast-growing scene must find
At Tarsus, and by Cleon train'd
In music, letters; who hath gain'd
Of education all the grace,
Which makes her both the heart and place
Of general wonder. But, alack,
That monster envy, oft the wrack
Of earned praise, Marina's life
Seeks to take off by treason's knife.
And in this kind hath our Cleon
One daughter, and a wench full grown,
Even ripe for marriage-rite; this maid
Hight Philoten: and it is said
For certain in our story, she
Would ever with Marina be:
Be't when she weaved the sleided silk
With fingers long, small, white as milk;
Or when she would with sharp needle wound
The cambric, which she made more sound
By hurting it; or when to the lute
She sung, and made the night-bird mute,
That still records with moan; or when
She would with rich and constant pen
Vail to her mistress Dian; still
This Philoten contends in skill
With absolute Marina: so
With the dove of Paphos might the crow
Vie feathers white. Marina gets
All praises, which are paid as debts,
And not as given. This so darks
In Philoten all graceful marks,
That Cleon's wife, with envy rare,
A present murderer does prepare
For good Marina, that her daughter
Might stand peerless by this slaughter.
The sooner her vile thoughts to stead,
Lychorida, our nurse, is dead:
And cursed Dionyza hath
The pregnant instrument of wrath
Prest for this blow. The unborn event
I do commend to your content:
Only I carry winged time
Post on the lame feet of my rhyme;
Which never could I so convey,
Unless your thoughts went on my way.
Dionyza does appear,
With Leonine, a murderer.

(stage directions). [Exit]

67

IV,1,1546

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter DIONYZA and LEONINE]

68

IV,1,1560

Leonine. I am resolved.

(stage directions). [Enter MARINA, with a basket of flowers]

69

IV,1,1649

Leonine. I am sworn,
And will dispatch.

(stage directions). [He seizes her]

70

IV,1,1650

(stage directions). [He seizes her]

(stage directions). [Enter Pirates]

71

IV,1,1652

First Pirate. Hold, villain!

(stage directions). [LEONINE runs away]

72

IV,1,1656

Third Pirate. Half-part, mates, half-part.
Come, let's have her aboard suddenly.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Pirates with MARINA]

73

IV,1,1657

(stage directions). [Exeunt Pirates with MARINA]

(stage directions). [Re-enter LEONINE]

74

IV,1,1666

Leonine. These roguing thieves serve the great pirate Valdes;
And they have seized Marina. Let her go:
There's no hope she will return. I'll swear
she's dead,
And thrown into the sea. But I'll see further:
Perhaps they will but please themselves upon her,
Not carry her aboard. If she remain,
Whom they have ravish'd must by me be slain.

(stage directions). [Exit]

75

IV,2,1667

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter Pandar, Bawd, and BOULT]

76

IV,2,1690

Boult. Ay, she quickly pooped him; she made him roast-meat
for worms. But I'll go search the market.

(stage directions). [Exit]

77

IV,2,1705

Pandar. As well as we! ay, and better too; we offend worse.
Neither is our profession any trade; it's no
calling. But here comes Boult.

(stage directions). [Re-enter BOULT, with the Pirates and MARINA]

78

IV,2,1721

Pandar. Well, follow me, my masters, you shall have your
money presently. Wife, take her in; instruct her
what she has to do, that she may not be raw in her
entertainment.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Pandar and Pirates]

79

IV,2,1729

Boult. Performance shall follow.

(stage directions). [Exit]

80

IV,2,1813

Bawd. What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will you go with us?

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

81

IV,3,1814

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter CLEON and DIONYZA]

82

IV,3,1873

Dionyza. You are like one that superstitiously
Doth swear to the gods that winter kills the flies:
But yet I know you'll do as I advise.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

83

IV,4,1874

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER, before the monument of MARINA at Tarsus]

84

IV,4,1934

Gower. Thus time we waste, and longest leagues make short;
Sail seas in cockles, have an wish but for't;
Making, to take your imagination,
From bourn to bourn, region to region.
By you being pardon'd, we commit no crime
To use one language in each several clime
Where our scenes seem to live. I do beseech you
To learn of me, who stand i' the gaps to teach you,
The stages of our story. Pericles
Is now again thwarting the wayward seas,
Attended on by many a lord and knight.
To see his daughter, all his life's delight.
Old Escanes, whom Helicanus late
Advanced in time to great and high estate,
Is left to govern. Bear you it in mind,
Old Helicanus goes along behind.
Well-sailing ships and bounteous winds have brought
This king to Tarsus,—think his pilot thought;
So with his steerage shall your thoughts grow on,—
To fetch his daughter home, who first is gone.
Like motes and shadows see them move awhile;
Your ears unto your eyes I'll reconcile.
DUMB SHOW.
[Enter PERICLES, at one door, with all his train;]
CLEON and DIONYZA, at the other. CLEON shows
PERICLES the tomb; whereat PERICLES makes
lamentation, puts on sackcloth, and in a mighty
passion departs. Then exeunt CLEON and DIONYZA]
See how belief may suffer by foul show!
This borrow'd passion stands for true old woe;
And Pericles, in sorrow all devour'd,
With sighs shot through, and biggest tears
o'ershower'd,
Leaves Tarsus and again embarks. He swears
Never to wash his face, nor cut his hairs:
He puts on sackcloth, and to sea. He bears
A tempest, which his mortal vessel tears,
And yet he rides it out. Now please you wit.
The epitaph is for Marina writ
By wicked Dionyza.
[Reads the inscription on MARINA's monument]
'The fairest, sweet'st, and best lies here,
Who wither'd in her spring of year.
She was of Tyrus the king's daughter,
On whom foul death hath made this slaughter;
Marina was she call'd; and at her birth,
Thetis, being proud, swallow'd some part o' the earth:
Therefore the earth, fearing to be o'erflow'd,
Hath Thetis' birth-child on the heavens bestow'd:
Wherefore she does, and swears she'll never stint,
Make raging battery upon shores of flint.'
No visor does become black villany
So well as soft and tender flattery.
Let Pericles believe his daughter's dead,
And bear his courses to be ordered
By Lady Fortune; while our scene must play
His daughter's woe and heavy well-a-day
In her unholy service. Patience, then,
And think you now are all in Mytilene.

(stage directions). [Exit]

85

IV,5,1935

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter, from the brothel, two Gentlemen]

86

IV,5,1945

First Gentleman. I'll do any thing now that is virtuous; but I
am out of the road of rutting for ever.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

87

IV,6,1946

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter Pandar, Bawd, and BOULT]

88

IV,6,1964

Boult. We should have both lord and lown, if the peevish
baggage would but give way to customers.

(stage directions). [Enter LYSIMACHUS]

89

IV,6,1983

Lysimachus. That dignifies the renown of a bawd, no less than it
gives a good report to a number to be chaste.

(stage directions). [Exit BOULT]

90

IV,6,2007

Bawd. My lord, she's not paced yet: you must take some
pains to work her to your manage. Come, we will
leave his honour and her together. Go thy ways.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Bawd, Pandar, and BOULT]

91

IV,6,2059

Lysimachus. For me, be you thoughten
That I came with no ill intent; for to me
The very doors and windows savour vilely.
Fare thee well. Thou art a piece of virtue, and
I doubt not but thy training hath been noble.
Hold, here's more gold for thee.
A curse upon him, die he like a thief,
That robs thee of thy goodness! If thou dost
Hear from me, it shall be for thy good.

(stage directions). [Re-enter BOULT]

92

IV,6,2064

Lysimachus. Avaunt, thou damned door-keeper!
Your house, but for this virgin that doth prop it,
Would sink and overwhelm you. Away!

(stage directions). [Exit]

93

IV,6,2074

Boult. I must have your maidenhead taken off, or the common
hangman shall execute it. Come your ways. We'll
have no more gentlemen driven away. Come your ways, I say.

(stage directions). [Re-enter Bawd]

94

IV,6,2094

Bawd. She conjures: away with her! Would she had never
come within my doors! Marry, hang you! She's born
to undo us. Will you not go the way of women-kind?
Marry, come up, my dish of chastity with rosemary and bays!

(stage directions). [Exit]

95

IV,6,2142

Boult. 'Faith, my acquaintance lies little amongst them.
But since my master and mistress have bought you,
there's no going but by their consent: therefore I
will make them acquainted with your purpose, and I
doubt not but I shall find them tractable enough.
Come, I'll do for thee what I can; come your ways.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

96

V,0,2143

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER]

97

V,0,2168

Gower. Marina thus the brothel 'scapes, and chances
Into an honest house, our story says.
She sings like one immortal, and she dances
As goddess-like to her admired lays;
Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her needle composes
Nature's own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry,
That even her art sisters the natural roses;
Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry:
That pupils lacks she none of noble race,
Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain
She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place;
And to her father turn our thoughts again,
Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost;
Whence, driven before the winds, he is arrived
Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast
Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived
God Neptune's annual feast to keep: from whence
Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies,
His banners sable, trimm'd with rich expense;
And to him in his barge with fervor hies.
In your supposing once more put your sight
Of heavy Pericles; think this his bark:
Where what is done in action, more, if might,
Shall be discover'd; please you, sit and hark.

(stage directions). [Exit]

98

V,1,2169

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). pavilion on deck, with a curtain before it; PERICLES
within it, reclined on a couch. A barge lying
beside the Tyrian vessel.
[Enter two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrian]
vessel, the other to the barge; to them HELICANUS]

99

V,1,2182

Tyrian Sailor. Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.

(stage directions). [Enter two or three Gentlemen]

100

V,1,2235

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

(stage directions). [Whispers a Lord, who goes off in the barge of LYSIMACHUS]

101

V,1,2271

Lysimachus. Come, let us leave her;
And the gods make her prosperous!

(stage directions). [MARINA sings]

102

V,1,2451

Lysimachus. My lord, I hear.

(stage directions). [Music]

103

V,1,2455

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

(stage directions). [Sleeps]

104

V,1,2460

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

(stage directions). [Exeunt all but PERICLES]

105

V,1,2461

(stage directions). [Exeunt all but PERICLES]

(stage directions). [DIANA appears to PERICLES as in a vision]

106

V,1,2472

Diana. My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither,
And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
There, when my maiden priests are met together,
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.
Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe;
Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
Awake, and tell thy dream.

(stage directions). [Disappears]

107

V,1,2475

Pericles. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
I will obey thee. Helicanus!

(stage directions). [Re-enter HELICANUS, LYSIMACHUS, and MARINA]

108

V,1,2493

Pericles. Come, my Marina.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

109

V,2,2494

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER, before the temple of DIANA at Ephesus]

110

V,2,2515

Gower. Now our sands are almost run;
More a little, and then dumb.
This, my last boon, give me,
For such kindness must relieve me,
That you aptly will suppose
What pageantry, what feats, what shows,
What minstrelsy, and pretty din,
The regent made in Mytilene
To greet the king. So he thrived,
That he is promised to be wived
To fair Marina; but in no wise
Till he had done his sacrifice,
As Dian bade: whereto being bound,
The interim, pray you, all confound.
In feather'd briefness sails are fill'd,
And wishes fall out as they're will'd.
At Ephesus, the temple see,
Our king and all his company.
That he can hither come so soon,
Is by your fancy's thankful doom.

(stage directions). [Exit]

111

V,3,2516

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). near the altar, as high priestess; a number of
Virgins on each side; CERIMON and other Inhabitants
of Ephesus attending.
[Enter PERICLES, with his train; LYSIMACHUS,]
HELICANUS, MARINA, and a Lady]

112

V,3,2536

Thaisa. Voice and favour!
You are, you are—O royal Pericles!

(stage directions). [Faints]

113

V,3,2567

Thaisa. Now I know you better.
When we with tears parted Pentapolis,
The king my father gave you such a ring.

(stage directions). [Shows a ring]

114

V,3,2575

Marina. My heart
Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom.

(stage directions). [Kneels to THAISA]

115

V,3,2620

Pericles. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there, my queen,
We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves
Will in that kingdom spend our following days:
Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.
Lord Cerimon, we do our longing stay
To hear the rest untold: sir, lead's the way.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

116

V,3,2621

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER]

117

V,3,2640

Gower. In Antiochus and his daughter you have heard
Of monstrous lust the due and just reward:
In Pericles, his queen and daughter, seen,
Although assail'd with fortune fierce and keen,
Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last:
In Helicanus may you well descry
A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty:
In reverend Cerimon there well appears
The worth that learned charity aye wears:
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn,
That him and his they in his palace burn;
The gods for murder seemed so content
To punish them; although not done, but meant.
So, on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.

(stage directions). [Exit]