PERICLES
Your kingly courtesy I thankfully accept.
KING SIMONIDES
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time which looks for other revels.
Ev’n in your armours, as you are addressed,
Your limbs will well become a soldier’s dance.
I will not have excuse with saying this,
‘Loud music is too harsh for ladies’ heads’,
Since they love men in arms as well as beds.The knights dance
So this was well asked, ’twas so well performed.
Come, here’s a lady that wants breathing too.
(To Pericles) And I have heard, sir, that the knights of
Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip,
And that their measures are as excellent.
PERICLES
In those that practise them they are, my lord.
KING SIMONIDES
O, that’s as much as you would be denied
Of your fair courtesy. Unclasp, unclasp.
They dance
Thanks, gentlemen, to all. All have done well,
(To Pericles) But you the best.—Lights, pages, to
conduct
These knights unto their sev’ral lodgings.—Yours, sir,
We have giv’n order should be next our own.
PERICLES I am at your grace’s pleasure.
KING 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;
Tomorrow all for speeding do their best.
Exeunt ⌈severally⌉
Sc. 8 Enter Helicanus and Aeschines
HELICANUS
No, Aeschines, know this of me:
Antiochus from incest lived not free,
For which the most high gods, not minding longer
To hold the vengeance that they had in store
Due to this heinous capital offence,
Even in the height and pride of all his glory,
When he was seated in a chariot
Of an inestimable value, and
His daughter with him, both apparelled all in jewels,
A fire from heaven came and shrivelled up
Their bodies e’en to loathing, for they so stunk
That all those eyes adored them ere their fall
Scorn now their hands should give them burial.
AESCHINES
’Twas very strange.
HELICANUS And yet but justice, for though
This king were great, his greatness was no guard To bar heav’n’s shaft, but sin had his reward.
AESCHINES ’Tis very true.
Enter three Lords, and stand aside
FIRST LORD
See, not a man in private conference
Or council has respect with him but he.
SECOND LORD
It shall no longer grieve without reproof.
THIRD LORD
And cursed be he that will not second it.
FIRST LORD
Follow me, then.—Lord Helicane, a word.
HELICANUS
With me? And welcome. Happy day, my lords.
FIRST LORD
Know that our griefs are risen to the top,
And now at length they overflow their banks.
HELICANUS
Your griefs? For what? Wrong not your prince you love.
FIRST LORD
Wrong not yourself, then, noble Helicane,
But if the prince do live, let us salute him
Or know what ground’s made happy by his step,
And be resolved he lives to govern us,
Or dead, give ’s cause to mourn his funeral
And leave us to our free election.
SECOND LORD
Whose death indeed’s the strongest in our censure,
And knowing this—kingdoms without a head,
Like goodly buildings left without a roof,
Soon fall to utter ruin—your noble self,
That best know how to rule and how to reign,
We thus submit unto as sovereign.
ALL ⌈kneeling⌉ Live, noble Helicane!
HELICANUS
By honour’s cause, forbear your suffrages.
If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear.
⌈The lords rise⌉
Take I your wish I leap into the seas
Where’s hourly trouble for a minute’s ease,
But if I cannot win you to this love,
A twelvemonth longer then let me entreat you
Further to bear the absence of your king;
If in which time expired he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
Go, seek your noble prince like noble subjects,
And in your search spend your adventurous worth,
Whom if you find and win unto return,
You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.
FIRST LORD
To wisdom he’s a fool that will not yield,
And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,
We with our travels will endeavour us.
If in the world he live we’ll seek him out;
If in his grave he rest, we’ll find him there.
HELICANUS
Then you love us, we you, and we’ll clasp hands.
When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands. Exeunt
Sc. 8a Enter Pericles with Gentlemen with lights
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Here is your lodging, sir.
PERICLES Pray leave me private.
Only for instant solace pleasure me
With some delightful instrument, with which,
And with my former practice, I intend
To pass away the tediousness of night, 5
Though slumbers were more fitting.
FIRST GENTLEMAN Presently.
Exit First Gentleman
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Your will’s obeyed in all things, for our master
Commanded you be disobeyed in nothing.
Enter First Gentleman with a stringed instrument
PERICLES
I thank you. Now betake you to your pillows,
And to the nourishment of quiet sleep. 10
Exeunt Gentlemen
Pericles plays and sings
Day—that hath still that sovereignty to draw back
The empire of the night, though for a while
In darkness she usurp—brings morning on.
I will go give his grace that salutation
Morning requires of me.
Exit with instrument
Sc. 9 Enter King Simonides at one door reading of a letter, the Knights enter ⌈at another door⌉ and meet him
FIRST KNIGHT
Good morrow to the good Simonides.
KING SIMONIDES
Knights, from my daughter this I let you know:
That for this twelvemonth she’ll not undertake
A married life. Her reason to herself
Is only known, which from her none can get.
SECOND KNIGHT
May we not have access to her, my lord?
KING SIMONIDES
Faith, by no means. It is impossible,
She hath so strictly tied her to her chamber.
One twelve moons more she’ll wear Diana’s liv’ry.
This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vowed,
And on her virgin honour will not break it.
THIRD KNIGHT
Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
Exeunt Knights
KING SIMONIDES
So, they are well dispatched. Now to my daughter’s
letter.
She tells me here she’ll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
I like that well. Nay, how absolute she’s in‘t,
Not
minding whether I dislike or no!
Mistress, ’tis well, I do commend your choice,
And will no longer have it be delayed.
Enter Pericles
Soft, here he comes. I must dissemble that
In show, I have determined on in heart.
PERICLES
All fortune to the good Simonides.
KING SIMONIDES
To you as much, sir. I am beholden to you
For your sweet music this last night. My ears,
I do protest, were never better fed
With such delightful pleasing harmony.
PERICLES
It is your grace’s pleasure to commend,
Not my desert.
KING SIMONIDES Sir, you are music’s master.
PERICLES
The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
KING SIMONIDES
Let me ask you one thing. What think you of my daughter?
PERICLES
A most virtuous princess.
KING SIMONIDES And fair, too, is she not?
PERICLES
As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair.
KING SIMONIDES
My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you;
So well indeed that you must be her master
And she will be your scholar; therefore look to it.
PERICLES
I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
KING SIMONIDES
She thinks not so. Peruse this writing else.
He gives the letter to Pericles, who reads
PERICLES (aside)
What’s here?—a letter that she loves the knight of Tyre?
’Tis the King’s subtlety to have my life.
⌈He prostrates himself at the King’s feet⌉
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.
Never did thought of mine levy offence,
Nor never did my actions yet commence
A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.
KING SIMONIDES
Thou liest like a traitor.
PERICLES Traitor?
KING SIMONIDES Ay, traitor,
That thus disguised art stol’n into my court
With witchcraft of thy actions to bewitch
The yielding spirit of my tender child. 50
PERICLES ⌈rising⌉
Who calls me traitor, unless it be the King,
Ev’n in his bosom I will write the lie.
KING SIMONIDES (aside)
Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
PERICLES
My actions are as noble as my blood,
That never relished of a base descent. 55
I came unto your court in search of honour,
And not to be a rebel to your state;
And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he’s honour’s enemy.
KING SIMONIDES
I shall prove otherwise, since both your practice
And her consent therein is evident
There, by my daughter’s hand, as she can witness.
Enter Thaisa
PERICLES (to Thaisa)
Then as you are as virtuous as fair,
By what you hope of heaven or desire
By your best wishes here i‘th’ world fulfilled,
Resolve your angry father if my tongue
Did e’er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable made love to you.
THAISA Why, sir, say if you had,
Who takes offence at that would make me glad?
KING SIMONIDES
How, minion, are you so peremptory?
(Aside) I am glad on’t.—Is this a fit match for you?
A straggling Theseus, born we know not where,
One that hath neither blood nor merit
For thee to hope for, or himself to challenge
Of thy perfections e’en the least allowance.
THAISA (kneeling)
Suppose his birth were base, when that his life
Shows that he is not so, yet he hath virtue,
The very ground of all nobility,
Enough to make him noble. I entreat you
To remember that I am in love,
The power of which love cannot be confined
By th’ power of your will. Most royal father,
What with my pen I have in secret written
With my tongue now I openly confirm,
Which is I have no life but in his love,
Nor any being but in joying of his worth.
KING SIMONIDES
Equals to equals, good to good is joined.
This not being so, the bavin of your mind
In rashness kindled must again be quenched,
Or purchase our displeasure.—And for you, sir,
First learn to know I banish you my court,
And yet I scorn our rage should stoop so low.
For your ambition, sir, I’ll have your life.
THAISA (to Pericles)
For every drop of blood he sheds of yours
He’ll draw another from his only child.
KING SIMONIDES
I’ll tame you, yea, I’ll bring you in subjection.
Will you not having my consent
Bestow your love and your affections
Upon a stranger?—(aside) who for aught I know
May be, nor can I think the contrary,
As great in blood as I myself.
⌈He catches Thaisa rashly by the hand⌉
Therefore hear you, mistress: either frame your will to
mine—
⌈He catches Pericles rashly by the hand⌉
And you, sir, hear you: either be ruled by me—
Or I shall make you
⌈He claps their hands together⌉ man and wife. 105
Nay, come, your hands and lips must seal it too,Pericles and Thaisa kiss
And being joined, I’ll thus your hopes destroy,⌈He parts them⌉
And for your further grief, God give you joy. What, are you pleased?
THAISA Yes, (to Pericles) if you love me, sir.
PERICLES
Ev’n as my life my blood that fosters it.
KING SIMONIDES
What, are you both agreed?
PERICLES and THAISA Yes, if’t please your majesty.
KING SIMONIDES
It pleaseth me so well that I will see you wed,
Then with what haste you can, get you to bed. Exeunt
Sc. 10 Enter Gower
GOWER
Now sleep y-slacked hath the rout,
No din but snores the house about,
Made louder by the o‘erfed breast
Of this most pompous marriage feast.
The cat with eyne of burning coal
Now couches fore the mouse’s hole,
And crickets sing at th’oven’s mouth
As 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 comes ⌈hastily⌉ in to 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 take leave of her father and depart with I,,ychorida at one door; Simonides ⌈and attendants⌉ depart at another
By many a dern and painful perch
Of Pericles the care-full search,
By the four opposing coigns
Which the wor
ld 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 enquire,
To th’ 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 there he hastes t‘appease,
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-ravishèd the regions round,
And everyone with claps can sound
‘Our heir-apparent is a king!
Who dreamt, 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 grizzled 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-tossed Pericles appears to speke. Exit
Sc. 11 ⌈Thunder and lightning.⌉ Enter Pericles a-shipboard
PERICLES
The god of this great vast rebuke these surges
Which wash both heav’n and hell; and thou that hast
Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
Having called them from the deep. O still
The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works Page 344
