Complete Plays, The

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Complete Plays, The Page 354

by William Shakespeare


  Pericles

  I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now

  My drown’d queen’s name, as in the rest you said

  Thou hast been godlike perfect,

  The heir of kingdoms and another like

  To Pericles thy father.

  Marina

  Is it no more to be your daughter than

  To say my mother’s name was Thaisa?

  Thaisa was my mother, who did end

  The minute I began.

  Pericles

  Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.

  Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus;

  She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should have been,

  By savage Cleon: she shall tell thee all;

  When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge

  She is thy very princess. Who is this?

  Helicanus

  Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene,

  Who, hearing of your melancholy state,

  Did come to see you.

  Pericles

  I embrace you.

  Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.

  O heavens bless my girl! But, hark, what music?

  Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him

  O’er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt,

  How sure you are my daughter. But, what music?

  Helicanus

  My lord, I hear none.

  Pericles

  None!

  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.

  Music

  Pericles

  Most heavenly music!

  It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber

  Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.

  Sleeps

  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.

  Exeunt all but Pericles

  Diana appears to Pericles as in a vision

  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.

  Disappears

  Pericles

  Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

  I will obey thee. Helicanus!

  Re-enter Helicanus, Lysimachus, and Marina

  Helicanus

  Sir?

  Pericles

  My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike

  The inhospitable Cleon; but I am

  For other service first: toward Ephesus

  Turn our blown sails; eftsoons I’ll tell thee why.

  To Lysimachus

  Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,

  And give you gold for such provision

  As our intents will need?

  Lysimachus

  Sir,

  With all my heart; and, when you come ashore,

  I have another suit.

  Pericles

  You shall prevail,

  Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems

  You have been noble towards her.

  Lysimachus

  Sir, lend me your arm.

  Pericles

  Come, my Marina.

  Exeunt

  Scene II:

  Enter Gower, before the temple of Diana at Ephesus

  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.

  Exit

  SCENE III. THE TEMPLE OF DIANA AT EPHESUS; THAISA STANDING

  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

  Pericles

  Hail, Dian! to perform thy just command,

  I here confess myself the king of Tyre;

  Who, frighted from my country, did wed

  At Pentapolis the fair Thaisa.

  At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth

  A maid-child call’d Marina; who, O goddess,

  Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tarsus

  Was nursed with Cleon; who at fourteen years

  He sought to murder: but her better stars

  Brought her to Mytilene; ’gainst whose shore

  Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us,

  Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she

  Made known herself my daughter.

  Thaisa

  Voice and favour!

  You are, you are — O royal Pericles!

  Faints

  Pericles

  What means the nun? she dies! help, gentlemen!

  Cerimon

  Noble sir,

  If you have told Diana’s altar true,

  This is your wife.

  Pericles

  Reverend appearer, no;

  I threw her overboard with these very arms.

  Cerimon

  Upon this coast, I warrant you.

  Pericles

  ’Tis most certain.

  Cerimon

  Look to the lady; O, she’s but o’erjoy’d.

  Early in blustering morn this lady was

  Thrown upon this shore. I oped the coffin,

  Found there rich jewels; recover’d her, and placed her

  Here in Diana’s temple.

  Pericles

  May we see them?

  Cerimon

  Great sir, they shall be brought you to my house,

  Whither I invite you. Look, Thaisa is recovered.

  Thaisa

  O, let me look!

  If he be none of mine, my sanctity

  Will to my sense bend no licentious ear,

  But curb it, spite of seeing. O, my lord,

  Are you not Pericles? Like him you spake,

  Like him you are: did you not name a tempest,

  A birth, and death?

  Pericles

  The voice of dead Thaisa!

  Thaisa

  That Thaisa am I, supposed dead

  And drown’d.

  Pericles

  Immortal Dian!

  Thaisa

  Now I know you better.

  When we with tears parted Pentapolis,

  The king my father gave you such a ring.

  Shows a ring

  Pericles

  This, this: no more, you gods! your present kindness

  Makes my past miseries sports: you shall do well,

  Th
at on the touching of her lips I may

  Melt and no more be seen. O, come, be buried

  A second time within these arms.

  Marina

  My heart

  Leaps to be gone into my mother’s bosom.

  Kneels to Thaisa

  Pericles

  Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa;

  Thy burden at the sea, and call’d Marina

  For she was yielded there.

  Thaisa

  Blest, and mine own!

  Helicanus

  Hail, madam, and my queen!

  Thaisa

  I know you not.

  Pericles

  You have heard me say, when I did fly from Tyre,

  I left behind an ancient substitute:

  Can you remember what I call’d the man?

  I have named him oft.

  Thaisa

  ’Twas Helicanus then.

  Pericles

  Still confirmation:

  Embrace him, dear Thaisa; this is he.

  Now do I long to hear how you were found;

  How possibly preserved; and who to thank,

  Besides the gods, for this great miracle.

  Thaisa

  Lord Cerimon, my lord; this man,

  Through whom the gods have shown their power; that can

  From first to last resolve you.

  Pericles

  Reverend sir,

  The gods can have no mortal officer

  More like a god than you. Will you deliver

  How this dead queen re-lives?

  Cerimon

  I will, my lord.

  Beseech you, first go with me to my house,

  Where shall be shown you all was found with her;

  How she came placed here in the temple;

  No needful thing omitted.

  Pericles

  Pure Dian, bless thee for thy vision! I

  Will offer night-oblations to thee. Thaisa,

  This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,

  Shall marry her at Pentapolis. And now,

  This ornament

  Makes me look dismal will I clip to form;

  And what this fourteen years no razor touch’d,

  To grace thy marriage-day, I’ll beautify.

  Thaisa

  Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit, sir,

  My father’s dead.

  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.

  Exeunt

  Enter Gower

  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.

  Exit

  Cymbeline

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

  ACT I

  SCENE I. BRITAIN. THE GARDEN OF CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  SCENE II. THE SAME. A PUBLIC PLACE.

  SCENE III. A ROOM IN CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  SCENE IV. ROME. PHILARIO’S HOUSE.

  SCENE V. BRITAIN. A ROOM IN CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  SCENE VI. THE SAME. ANOTHER ROOM IN THE PALACE.

  ACT II

  SCENE I. BRITAIN. BEFORE CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  SCENE II. IMOGEN’S BEDCHAMBER IN CYMBELINE’S PALACE: A TRUNK IN ONE CORNER OF IT.

  SCENE III. AN ANTE-CHAMBER ADJOINING IMOGEN’S APARTMENTS.

  SCENE IV. ROME. PHILARIO’S HOUSE.

  SCENE V. ANOTHER ROOM IN PHILARIO’S HOUSE.

  ACT III

  SCENE I. BRITAIN. A HALL IN CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  SCENE II. ANOTHER ROOM IN THE PALACE.

  SCENE III. WALES: A MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY WITH A CAVE.

  SCENE IV. COUNTRY NEAR MILFORD-HAVEN.

  SCENE V. A ROOM IN CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  SCENE VI. WALES. BEFORE THE CAVE OF BELARIUS.

  SCENE VII. ROME. A PUBLIC PLACE.

  ACT IV

  SCENE I. WALES: NEAR THE CAVE OF BELARIUS.

  SCENE II. BEFORE THE CAVE OF BELARIUS.

  SCENE III. A ROOM IN CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  SCENE IV. WALES: BEFORE THE CAVE OF BELARIUS.

  ACT V

  SCENE I. BRITAIN. THE ROMAN CAMP.

  SCENE II. FIELD OF BATTLE BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND ROMAN CAMPS.

  SCENE III. ANOTHER PART OF THE FIELD.

  SCENE IV. A BRITISH PRISON.

  SCENE V. CYMBELINE’S TENT.

  CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

  Cymbeline, king of Britain.

  Cloten, son to the Queen by a former husband.

  Posthumus Leonatus, a gentleman, husband to Imogen.

  Belarius, a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan. Guiderius,Arviragus, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of Polydote and Cadwal, supposed sons to Morgan.

  Philario, friend to Posthumus, and Iachimo, friend to Philario, Italians.

  Caius Lucius, general of the Roman forces.

  Pisanio, servant to Posthumus.

  Cornelius, a physician.

  A Roman Captain. Two British Captains.

  A Frenchman, friend to Philario.

  Two Lords of Cymbeline's court.

  Two Gentlemen of the same.

  Two Gaolers.

  Queen, wife to Cymbeline.

  Imogen, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen.

  Helen, a lady attending on Imogen.

  Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a Dutchman, a Spaniard, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

  Apparitions.

  Scene: Britain; Rome.

  ACT I

  SCENE I. BRITAIN. THE GARDEN OF CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

  Enter two Gentlemen

  First Gentleman

  You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods

  No more obey the heavens than our courtiers

  Still seem as does the king.

  Second Gentleman

  But what’s the matter?

  First Gentleman

  His daughter, and the heir of’s kingdom, whom

  He purposed to his wife’s sole son — a widow

  That late he married — hath referr’d herself

  Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: she’s wedded;

  Her husband banish’d; she imprison’d: all

  Is outward sorrow; though I think the king

  Be touch’d at very heart.

  Second Gentleman

  None but the king?

  First Gentleman

  He that hath lost her too; so is the queen,

  That most desired the match; but not a courtier,

  Although they wear their faces to the bent

  Of the king’s look’s, hath a heart that is not

  Glad at the thing they scowl at.

  Second Gentleman

&n
bsp; And why so?

  First Gentleman

  He that hath miss’d the princess is a thing

  Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her —

  I mean, that married her, alack, good man!

  And therefore banish’d — is a creature such

  As, to seek through the regions of the earth

  For one his like, there would be something failing

  In him that should compare. I do not think

  So fair an outward and such stuff within

  Endows a man but he.

  Second Gentleman

  You speak him far.

  First Gentleman

  I do extend him, sir, within himself,

  Crush him together rather than unfold

  His measure duly.

  Second Gentleman

  What’s his name and birth?

  First Gentleman

  I cannot delve him to the root: his father

  Was call’d Sicilius, who did join his honour

  Against the Romans with Cassibelan,

  But had his titles by Tenantius whom

  He served with glory and admired success,

  So gain’d the sur-addition Leonatus;

  And had, besides this gentleman in question,

  Two other sons, who in the wars o’ the time

  Died with their swords in hand; for which their father,

  Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow

  That he quit being, and his gentle lady,

  Big of this gentleman our theme, deceased

  As he was born. The king he takes the babe

  To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,

  Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber,

  Puts to him all the learnings that his time

  Could make him the receiver of; which he took,

  As we do air, fast as ’twas minister’d,

  And in’s spring became a harvest, lived in court —

  Which rare it is to do — most praised, most loved,

  A sample to the youngest, to the more mature

  A glass that feated them, and to the graver

  A child that guided dotards; to his mistress,

  For whom he now is banish’d, her own price

  Proclaims how she esteem’d him and his virtue;

  By her election may be truly read

  What kind of man he is.

  Second Gentleman

  I honour him

  Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me,

  Is she sole child to the king?

  First Gentleman

  His only child.

  He had two sons: if this be worth your hearing,

  Mark it: the eldest of them at three years old,

  I’ the swathing-clothes the other, from their nursery

  Were stol’n, and to this hour no guess in knowledge

  Which way they went.

  Second Gentleman

  How long is this ago?

  First Gentleman

  Some twenty years.

  Second Gentleman

 

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