LORD

That’s the least fear, for by the semblance

Of their white flags displayed they bring us peace,

And come to us as favourers, not foes.

CLEON

Thou speak‘st like him’s untutored to repeat;

Who makes the fairest show means most deceit.

But bring they what they will and what they can,

What need we fear?

Our grave’s the low’st, and we are half-way there.

Go tell their gen’ral we attend him here

To know for what he comes, and whence he comes.

LORD I go, my lord. Exit

CLEON

Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist;

If wars, we are unable to resist.

Enter ⌈the Lord again conducting⌉ Pericles with attendants

PERICLES (to Cleon)

Lord Governor, for so we hear you are,

Let not our ships and number of our men

Be like a beacon fixed t’amaze your eyes.

We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre,

Since entering your unshut gates have witnessed

The widowed desolation of your streets;

Nor come we to add sorrow to your hearts,

But to relieve them of their heavy load;

And these our ships, you happily may think

Are like the Trojan horse was fraught within

With bloody veins importing overthrow,

Are stored with corn to make your needy bread,

And give them life whom hunger starved half dead.

ALL OF TARSUS ⌈falling⌉on their knees and weeping⌉

The gods of Greece protect you, and we’ll pray for you!

PERICLES Arise, I pray you, rise.

We do not look for reverence but for love,

And harbourage for me, my ships and men.

CLEON

The which when any shall not gratify,

Or pay you with unthankfulness in thought,

Be it our wives, our children, or ourselves,

The curse of heav’n and men succeed their evils!

Till when—the which I hope shall ne’er be seen—

Your grace is welcome to our town and us.

PERICLES

Which welcome we’ll accept, feast here a while,

Until our stars that frown lend us a smile. Exeunt

Sc. 5 Enter Gower

GOWER

Here have you seen a mighty king

His child, iwis, to incest bring;

A better prince and benign lord

Prove awe-full both in deed and word.

Be quiet then, as men should be,

Till he hath passed necessity.

I’ll show you those in trouble’s 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

His statue build 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. Pericles gives the messenger a reward, and knights him. Exeunt with their trains Pericles at one door and Cleon at another

Good Helicane that stayed at home,

Not to eat honey like a drone

From others’ labours, for that he strive

To killen bad, keep good alive,

And to fulfil his prince’ desire

Sent word of all that haps in Tyre;

How Thaliart came full bent with sin

And hid intent to murdren him,

And that in Tarsus was not best

Longer for him to make his rest.

He deeming 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

Makes such unquiet that the ship

Should house him safe is wrecked and split,

And he, good prince, having all lost,

By waves from coast to coast is tossed.

All perishen of man, of pelf,

Ne aught escapend but himself,

Till fortune, tired with doing bad,

Threw him ashore to give him glad.

[Enter Pericles wet and half-naked]

And here he comes. What shall be next

Pardon old Gower; this ’longs the text. Exit

[Thunder and lightning]

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 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 fortunes,

And, having thrown him from your wat’ry grave,

Here to have death in peace is all he’ll crave.

He sits.Enter two poor Fishermen: one the Master, the other his man

MASTER calling What ho, Pitch!

SECOND FISHERMAN calling Ha, come and bring away the nets.

MASTER calling What, Patchbreech, I say!

Enter a Third rough Fisherman with a hood upon his head and a filthy leathern pelt upon his back, unseemly clad, and homely to behold. He brings nets to dry and repair

THIRD FISHERMAN What say you, master?

MASTER Look how thou stirrest now. Come away, or I’ll fetch th’ with a wanion.