She would sit still and weep.

PERICLES

O Helicanus, strike me, honoured sir,

Give me a gash, put me to present pain,

Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me

O‘erbear the shores of my mortality

And drown me with their sweetness! (To Marina) O,

come hither,

⌈Marina stands⌉

Thou that begett’st him that did thee beget,

Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus,

And found at sea again!—O Helicanus,

Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods as loud

As thunder threatens us, this is Marina!

(To Marina) What was thy mother’s name? Tell me

but that,

For truth can never be confirmed enough,

Though doubts did ever sleep.

MARINA First, sir, I pray, What is your title?

PERICLES I am Pericles

Of Tyre. But tell me now my drowned queen’s name.

As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,

So prove but true in that, thou art my daughter,

The heir of kingdoms, and another life

To Pericles thy father.

MARINA ⌈kneeling⌉ Is it no more

To be your daughter than to say my mother’s name?

Thaisa was my mother, who did end

The minute I began.

PERICLES

Now blessing on thee! Rise. Thou art my child.

⌈Marina stands. He kisses her⌉

⌈To attendants⌉ Give me fresh garments.—Mine own,

Helicanus!

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 (to Lysimachus) I embrace you, sir.—

Give me my robes.

⌈He is attired in fresh robes⌉

I am wild in my beholding.

O heavens, bless my girl!

⌈Celestial music⌉

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 (aside to the others)

It is not good to cross him. Give him way.

PERICLES Rar’st sounds. Do ye not hear?

LYSIMACHUS Music, my lord?

PERICLES I hear most heav’nly music.

It raps me unto list’ning, and thick slumber

Hangs upon mine eyelids. Let me rest.

He sleeps

LYSIMACHUS

A pillow for his head.

⌈To Marina and others⌉ Companion friends,

If this but answer to my just belief

I’ll well remember you. So leave him all.

Exeunt all but Pericles

Diana ⌈descends from the heavens⌉

DIANA

My temple stands in Ephesus. Hie thee thither,

And do upon mine altar sacrifice.

There when my maiden priests are met together,

At large discourse thy fortunes in this wise:

With a full voice 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.

Perform my bidding, or thou liv’st in woe;

Do’t, and rest happy, by my silver bow.

Awake, and tell thy dream.

⌈Diana ascends into the heavens⌉

PERICLES

Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

I will obey thee. (Calling) Helicanus!

Enter Helicanus, Lysimachus, and Marina

HELICANUS Sir?

PERICLES

My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike

Th’inhospitable Cleon, but I am

For other service first. Toward Ephesus

Turn our blown sails. Eftsoons I’ll tell thee why.

Exit Helicanus

Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,

And give you gold for such provision

As our intents will need?

LYSIMACHUS

With all my heart, sir,

And when you come ashore I have a 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.

⌈Exit Pericles with Lysimachus at one arm, Marina at the other⌉

Sc. 22 Enter Gower

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 well 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 int’rim, pray you, all confound.

In feathered briefness sails are filled,

And wishes fall out as they’re willed.

At Ephesus the temple see:

⌈An altar, Thaisa and other vestals are revealed⌉

Our king, and all his company.

⌈Enter Pericles, Marina, Lysimachus, Helicanus, Cerimon, with attendants⌉

That he can hither come so soon

Is by your fancies’ thankful doom.

⌈Gower stands aside⌉

PERICLES

Hail, Dian. To perform thy just command

I here confess myself the King of Tyre,