PERICLES

I have ( Antiochus ) and with a soul emboldened With the glory of her praise, think death no hazard, In this enterprise. Like a bold Champion I assume the Lists, Nor ask advise of any other thought, But faithfulness and courage. I am no Viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh which did me breed: I sought a Husband, in which labour, I found that kindness in a Father; He's Father, Son, and Husband mild ; I, Mother, Wife; and yet his Child: How they may be, and yet in two, As you will live resolve it you. Sharp Physic is the last: But o you powers! That gives heaven countless eyes to view men's acts Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, If this be true, which makes me pale to read it? Fair Glass of light, I loved you, and could still, Were not this glorious Casket stored with ill: But I must tell you, now my thoughts revolt, For he's no man on whom perfections wait, That knowing sin within, will touch the gate. You are a fair Viol, and your sense, the strings; Who fingered to make man his lawful music, Would draw Heaven down, and all the Gods to would ken: But being played upon before your time, Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime: Good sooth, I care not for you. Great King, Few love to hear the sins they love to act, T'wo ld braid your self too near for me to tell it: Who has a book of all that Monarchs do, He's more secure to keep it shut, then shown. For Vice repeated, is Like the wandering Wind, Blows dust in others eyes to spread it self; And yet the end of all is bought thus deer, The breath is gone, and the soar eyes see clear: To stop the Air would hurt them, the blind Mole cast Copt hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is thronged By men oppression, and the poor Worm does die for't: Kings are earth's Gods; in vice, their law's their will: And if oue stray, who dares say, oue does ll: It is enough you know, and it is fit; What being more known, grows worse, to smother it. All love the Womb that their first being bred, Then give my tongue Like leave, to love my head. How courtesy would seem to cover sin, When what is done, is Like and hypocrite, The which is good in nothing but in sighed. If it be true that I interpret false, Then were it certain you were not so bade, As with foul Incest to abuse your soul: Where now you both a Father and a Son, By your untimely claspings with your Child, (Which pleasures fits a husband, not a father) And she and eater of her Mother's flesh, By the defiling of her Parents 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 then the night, Will show no course to keep them from the light: One sin (I know) another does provoke; Murder's as near to Lust, as Flame to Smoke: Poison and Treason are the hands of Sin, I, and the targets to put off the shame, Then least my life be cropped, to keep you clear, By flight, I'll shun the danger which I fear. Which welcome we'll accept, feast here awhile, Until our Stars that frown, lend us a smile. 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 Seas hath cast me on the Rocks, Washed me from shore to shore, and left my breath Nothing to think on, but ensuing death: Let it suffice the greatness of your powers, To have bereft a Prince of all his Fortune's; And having thrown him from your watery grau , Here to have death in peace, is all he'll crave. A pretty moral. May see the Sea hath cast upon your coast: I never practizde it. To beg of you (kind friends) this Coat of worth, For it was sometime Target to a King; I know it by this mark: he loved me dearly, And for his sake, I wish the having of it; And that you'd guide me to your Sovereigns Court, Where with it, I may appear a Gentleman: And if that ever my low fortune's better, I'll pay your bounties; till then, rest your debtor. I'll show the virtue I have born in Arms. Then Honour be but a Goal to my Will, This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. 'Tis more by Fortune (Lady) then my Merit. Some other is more fit. You are right courteous Knights. You Kings to me, Like to my father's picture, Which tells in that glory once he was, Had Princes fit Like Stars about his Through ne, And he the Sun for them to reverence; None that beheld him, but Like lesser lights, Did veil their Crowns to his supremacy; Where now his son Like a Gloworme in the night, The which hath Fire in darkness, none in light: Whereby I see that Time's the King of men, He's both their Parent, and he is their Grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave. I thank him. I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely. A Gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles, My education been in Arts and Arms: Who looking for advent res in the world, Was by the rough Seas reft of Ships and men, and after shipwreck, driven upon this shore. In those that practice them, they are (my Lord) I am at your Graces pleasure. Princes, it is too late to talk of Lo e. 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. All fortune to the good Sy mid S. It is your Graces pleasure to commend, Not my desert. The worst of all her scholars (my good Lord.) A most virtuous Princess. As a fair day in Summer: wondrous fair. I am unworthy for her Schoolmaster. By the Gods I have not; never did thought Of mine levy offence; nor never did my actions Yet commence a deed might gain her love, Or your displeasure. Traitor? Even in his throat, unless it be the King, That calls me Traitor, I return the lie. My actions are as noble as my thoughts. That never relished of a base dissent: I came unto your Court for Honours cause, And not to be a Rebel to her state: And he that otherwise accounts of me, This Sword shall prove, he's Honours enemy. Then as you are as virtuous, as fair, Resolve your angry Father, if my tongue Did ere solicit, or my hand subscribe To any sillable that made love to you? Even as my life, my blood that fosters it. The God of this great Vast, rebuke these surges, Which wash both heaven and hell, and thou that hast Upon the Winds command, bind them in Brass; Having called them from the deep, o still Thy deam n ng dreadful thunders gently quench Thy ble sulphirous flashes: o How Lychorida! How does my Queen then? storm venomously, Wilt thou S eat all thy self? the seamans Whistle Is as a whi per in the ears of death, Unheard Lie h ri a? , o! Divinest patrionesse, and my wife gentle To those that cry by night convey thy deity Aboard our dancing Boat make swift the pangs Of my Queens travails? now Lychori . How? how Lychori a? A terrible Childbed hast thou had (my deer, No light, no fire, unfriendly elements, Forgotten thee utterly, nor have I time To give thee hallowd to thy graven, but straight, Must cast thee scarcely Cossind, in oar, Where for a monument upon thy bones, The air remaining lamps, the belching Whale, And humming Water must orewelme thy corpses, Lying with simple shells: o Lychorida, Bid Nes or bring me Spices, Ink, and Taper, My Casket, and my lewels; and bid Nicander Bring me the Satin Coffin: lay the Babe Upon the Pillow; High thee while I say A priestly farewell to her: suddenly, woman. Thither gentle Mariner, Altar thy course for : When canst thou reach it? Oh make for That sus, There will I visit Cle r, for the Babe Cannot hold out to ; there le leave it At careful nursing: go thy ways good Mariner, I'll bring the body presently. Madam, my thanks and prayers. I will embrace your offer, come dearest Madame, Oh no tears Licherida, no tears, look to your little Mistress, on whose grace you may depend hereafter: come my Lord. See where she comes, appareled Like the pring, Graces her subjects and her thoughts the King, Of every Virtue gives renown to men: Her face the book of pra ses, where is read, Nothing but curious pleasures as from thence, Sorrow were ever racte, and tasty wrath Could never be her mild companion. You Gods that made me man, and sway in love; That have inflame desire in my breast, To taste the fruit of yond celestial tree, (Or die in th'aduenture) be my helps, As I am son and servant to your will, To compass such a bondless happiness. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught, My frail mortality to know it self; And by those fearful objects, to prepare This body, Like to them, to what I must: For Death remembered should be Like a mirror, Who tells us, life's but breath, to trust it error: I'll make my Will then, and as sick men do, Who know the World, see Heaven, but feeling woe, Gripe not at earthly joys as arst they did; So I bequeathe a happy peace to you, And all good men, as eum ry Prince should do; My riches to the earth, from whence they came; But my unspotted fire of Love, to you: Thus ready for the way of li e or death, I wait the sharpest blow ( Antiochus ) Scorning advice; read the conclusion then: Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee, thou thy self shalt bleed. All leave us else: but let your cares overlook, What shipping, and what ladings in our haven, And then return to us, Hellicans thou hast Mooude us, what eest thou in our looks? If there be such a dart in Princes frowns, How durst thy tongue move anger to our face? Thou knowest I have power to take thy life from thee Rise, prithee rise, fit down, thou art no flatterer, I thank thee fort, and heave forbid That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid. Fit Counsellor, and servant for a Prince Who by thy wisdom makes a Prince thy servant, What wouldst thou have me do? Thou speakest Like a Physician Hellicanus, That ministers a potion unto me: That thou wouldst tremble to receive thy self, Attend me then, I went to Antioch, Whereas thou knowest against the face of death, I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty, From whence and issue I might propagate, Are arms to Princes, and bring joys to subjects, Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder, The rest hark in thine ear, as black as incest, Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father Seemed not to strike, but smooth, but thou knowest this, 'Tis time to fear when tyrants seems to kiss. Which fear so grew in me I hither fled, Under the covering of a careful night, Who seemed my good protector, and being here Bethought what was passed, what might succeed, I knew him tyrannous, and tyrants fear Decrease not, but grow faster then the years, And should he doo't, as no doubt he does, That I should open to the listening air, How m nigh worthy Princes bloods were shed, To keep his bed of blackness unlaid open, To lop that doubt, he'll fill this land with arms, And make pretence of wrong that I have done him, When all for mine, if I may call offence, Must feel wars blow, who spares not innocence, Which lou to all of which thy self art one, Who now reprou'dst me fort. Drew sleep out of mine eyes, blood from ̄ my cheeks, Musings into my mind, with thousand doubts How I might stop this tempest ere it came, And finding little comfort to relieve them, I thought it princely charity to grieve for them. I do not doubt thy faith. But should he wrong my liberties in my absence? Tyre I now look from thee then, and to Tharsus Intend my travail, where I'll hear from thee, And by whose Letters I'll dispose my self. The care I had and have of subjects good, On thee I lay, whose wisdoms strength can bear it, I'll take thy word, for faith not ask thine oath, Who shuns not to break one, will crack both. But in our orbs will live so round, and safe, That time of both this truth shall never convince, Thou shewdst a subjects S ine, I a true Prince. 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: t'is dangerous. Well, I perceive he was a with e fellow, and had good dis rest on, 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 inden ture of his oath to be one. Hushed, here comes the Lords of Tyre. Lord Governor, for so we hear you are, Let not our Ships and number of our men, Be Like a beacon fier'de, t'amaze your eyes, We have herd your Misery's as far as Tyre, And seen the desolation of your streets, Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears, But to relieve them of their heavy load, And these our Ships you happily may think, Are Like the Trojan Horse, was stuffed within With bloody veins expecting overthrow, Are stored with Corn to make your needy bred, And give them life, whom hunger-starved half dead. Arise I pray you, rise; we do not look for reuer nce, But for love and harborage for our self, our ships, & men. Simonides? How from the fenny subject of the Sea, These Fishers tell the infirmities of men, And from their watery empire recollect, All that may men approve, or men detect. Peace be at your labour, honest Fishermen. A man whom both the Waters and the Wind, In that vast Tennis-court hath made the Ball For them to play upon, intreats you pity him: He asks of you, that never us worser to beg. I did but crave. Why, are you Beggars whipped then? How well this honest mirth becomes their labour? Not ell. The good Symonides, do you call him? He is a happy King, since he gains from His subjects the name of good, by his government. How far is his Court distant from this shore? Were my Fortune's equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there. And Armour friends; I pray you let me see it? Thanks Fortune, yet that after all crosses, Thou givest me somewhat to repair my self: And though it was mine own partly of my heritage, Which my dead Father did bequeathe to me, With this strict charge even as he left his life, Keep it my Per cl S, it hath been a Shield Betwixt me and death, and pointed to this braise, For that it saved me, keep it in Like necessity: The which the Gods protect thee, Fame may defend thee: It kept where I kept, I so dearly loved it, Till the rough Seas, that spares not any man, Took it in rage, though calmed, have given it again: I thank thee for't, my shipwreck now's no ill, Since I have here my Father gave in his Will. Oh you Gods! Why do you make us love your goodly gifts, And snatch them straight away? we here below, Recall not what we give, and therein may Use honour with you. Now mild may be thy life, For a more blusterous birth had never Babe: Quiet and gentle thy conditions; for Thou art the rudelyest welcome to this world, That ever was Princes Child: happy what follows, Thou hast as chiding a nativity As Fire, Air, Water, Earth, and Heaven can make, To harould thee from the womb: Even at the first, thy lose is more then can Thy portage quit, with all thou canst find here: Now the good Gods throw their best eyes vpon't. Courage enough, I do not fear the law, It hath done to me the worst: yet for the love Of this poor Infant, this fresh new sea-farer, I would it would be quiet. That's your superstition. As you think meet; for she must over board straight; Most wretched Queen. Most honoured Cl on, I must needs be gone, my twelve months are expired, and stands in alitigious peace: You and your Lady take from my heart all thankfulness, The Gods make up the rest upon you. We cannot but obey the powers above us; Could I rage and roar as does the sea she lies in, Yet the end must be as 'tis: my gentle babe Marina, Whom, for she was born at sea, I have nam so, Here I charge your charity withal; leaving her The infant of your care, beseeching you to give her Princely training, that she may be manere'd as she is born. I belee e you, your honour and your goodness, Teach me too't without your vows, till she be married, Madame by bright Diana, whom we honour, All vnsule shall this heir of mine remain, Though I show will in't; so I take my leave: Good Madame, make me blessed in your care In bringing up my Child. Hum, would. My Fortune's, parentage, good parentage, to equal mine, was it not thus, what say you? I do think so, pray you turn your eyes upon me, your Like something that, what Country women hear of these shows? I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping: my dearest wife was Like this maid, and such one my Dam gh ter might have been: My Queens square brows, her stature to and inch, as wandlike-straight, as silver voyst, her eyes as Jewel-like, and cast as richly, in pace and oh there . Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry, the more she gives them speech, Where do you live? Where were you bred? and how achieved you these endowments which you make more rich to owe? Prithee speak, falseness cannot come from thee, for thou lookest modest as justice, & thou seemest a Pallas for the crowned truth to dwell in, I will believe thee & make senses credit thy relation, to points that seem impossible, for thou lookest Like one I loved indeed: what were thy friends? didst thou not stay when I did push thee back, which was when I perceived thee that thou camest from good descending. Report thy parentage, I think thou saidst thou hadst been tossed from wrong to injury, and that thou thoughts thy griefs might equal mine, if both were opened. Tell thy story, if thine considered prove the thou sand partly of my endurance, thou art a man, and I have suffered Like a girl, yet thou dost look Like patience, gazing on Kings graves, and smiling extremity out of act, what were thy friends? how lost thou thy name, my most kind Virgin? recount I do beseech thee, Come fit by me. O I am mocked, and thou by some incensed God sent hither to make the world to laugh at me. Nay I'll be patient: thou little knowest how thou dost startle me to call thy self Marina. How, a Kings daughter, and called Marina? But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pull e, and are no Fairy? Motion well, speak on, where were you born? And wherefore called Marina? Oh stop there a little, this is the rarest dream That ere dulled sleep did mock sad fools withal, This cannot be my daughter, buried, well, where were you bred? I'll hear you more oo'th bottom of your stone, and never interrupt you. I will believe ou by the syllable of what you shall deliver, yet give me leave, how came you in these parts? where were you bred? Thou art a graven and noble Counseller, Most wise in general, tell me if thou canst, what this maid is, or what is Like to be, that thus hath made me weep. O Hellicanus, strike me honoured sir, give me a gash, put me to present pain, least this great sea of joys ru shing upon me, overbear the shores of my mortality, and drown me with their sweetness: O come hither, thou that bege st him that did thee beget, Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus, And found at sea again, Oh Hellicanus, Down on thy knees, thank the holy Gods as loud As thunder threatens us, this is Marina. What was thy mother's name? tell me, but that for truth can never be confirmed enough, Though doubts did ever sleep. I am Pericles of Tyre, but tell me now my Drowned Queens name, as in the rest you said, Thou hast been Godlike perfect, the heir of kingdoms, And and other Like to Pericles thy father. I embrace you, give me my robes. I am lde in my beholding, Oh heavens bless my girl, But hark what Music tell, my Marina. Tell him over point by point, for yet he seems to do to. How sure you are my daughter, but what music? None, the Music of the Spheres, list my Marina. sounds, do you not hear? Most heavenly Music. It ips me unto stning, and thick slumber Would gs upon mine eyes, let me rest. Celestial Dian, Goddess Argentine I will obey thee Hellicanus. My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike, The inhospitable Cleon, but I am for other service first, Towards Ephesus turn our blown sails, Eftsoons lle tell thee why, shall we refresh us sir upon your shore, and give you gold for such provision as our in tents will need. You shall prevail were it to woo my daughter, for it seems you have been noble towards her. Come my Marina. Hail Dian, to perform thy joust commau , I here confe e my self the King of Tyre, Who frighted from my country did ed at P tapolis, the fair , at Sea in childbed died she, but broug to forth a Maid child Can ld Marina whom Oh Goddess wears yet thy silver livery, he at Tharsus was nursed with , who at fourteen years he sought to murder, but her better S ars brought her to Meteline, gainst whose shore riding, her For unes brought the maid aboard us, where by her own most clear remembrance, she made known her self my Daughter. What means the mum? she die's, help Gen to emen. R uerent appearer no, I threw her overboard with these very a mes. May we see them? I mortal jan. This, this, no more, you gods, your present kind nes makes my passed Misery's sports, you shall do well that on the touching of her lips I may melt, and no more be seen, Oh come, be buried a seco worser time within these ar es. Look who kneels here, flesh of thy flesh Thaisa, thy burden at the Sea, and called Marina, for she was yeel dead there. Still confirmation, embrace him deer Thaisa, this is he, now do I long to hear how you were found? how possibly pre erued? and who to thank (beside the gods) for this great miracle? Pure Dian bless thee for thy vision, and will offer night oblations to thee They a, this Prince, the air betro worser of your daughter, shall marry her at Pentapolis, and now this ornament makes me look dismal, will I clip to form, and what his fourteen years no razor touched, to grace thy marridge-day, I'll beautify. make a Star of him, yet there my Queen, celebrate their Nuptials, and our selves will in that kingdom spend our following day , our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign. Lord we do our longing stay, To hear the rest untold, Sir lead's the way. That would be son to great Antiochus. Let none disturb us, why should this cham ̄ ge of thoughts The sad companion dull eyed melancholy, By me so used a guest, as not and hour In the days glorious walk or peaceful night, The tomb where grief stould sleep can breed me quiet, Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them, And danger which I feared is at Antioch, Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here, Yet neither pleasures Art can joy my spirits, Nor yet the others distance comfort me, Then it is thus, the passion of the mind, That have their first conception by misdread, 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, If he susp ct I may dishonour him. And what may make him blush in being known, Heel stop the course by which it might be known, With hostile forces heel overspread the land, And with the stint of war will look so huge, Amazement shall driven courage from the state, Our men be vanquished ere they do resist, And subjects punished that never thought offence, Which care of them, not pity of my self, Who once 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. Now blessing on thee, rise th'art my child. Give me fresh garments, mine own Hellicanus, she is not dead at Tharsus as she should have been by savage Cl oh , she shall tell thee all, when thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge, she is thy very Princes, who is this? What I have been, I have forgotten to know; But what I am, want teaches me to think on: A man thronged up with cold, my Veins ar chill, And have no more of life then may suffice, To give my tongue that heat to ask your help: Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead, For that I am a man, pray you see me buried. I thank you sir. What's here, a letter that she loves the knight of Tyre T'is the Kings subtlety to have my life: O seek not to entrap me, gracious Lord, A Stranger, and distressed Gentleman, That never aimed so High, to love your Daughter, But bent all offices to honour her. At sea, what mother? The voice of dead Thaisa. R ucrent Sir, the gods can have no mortal officer more Like a God then you, will you deliver how this dead Queen relives? I thank thee: Mariner say, what Coast is this? T'is most certain. eleeue't, I will: By your furtherance I am clothed in Steel, And spite of all the rupture of the Sea, This Jewel holds his building on my arm: Unto thy valve I will mount my self Upon a Courser, whose delight steps, Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread; Only (my friend) I yet am unprovided of a pair of Bases.