William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition

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Sc. 7 ⌈A stately banquet is brought in.1 Enter King

Simonides, Thaisa ⌈and their train at one door⌉, and ⌈at another door⌉ a Marshal ⌈conducting⌉ Pericles and the other knights from tilting

KING SIMONIDES (to the knights)

To say you’re welcome were superfluous.

To place upon the volume of your deeds

As in a title page your worth in arms

Were more than you expect, or more than’s fit,

Since every worth in show commends itself.

Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast.

You’re princes, and my guests.

THAISA (to Pericles) But you, my knight and guest; To whom this wreath of victory I give, And crown you king of this day’s happiness.

PERICLES

’Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit.

KING SIMONIDES

Call it by what you will, the day is yours,

And here I hope is none that envies it.

In framing artists art hath thus decreed,

To make some good, but others to exceed.

You are her laboured scholar. (To Thaisa) Come,

queen o’th’ feast—

For, daughter, so you are—here take your place.

(To Marshal) Marshal the rest as they deserve their

grace.

KNIGHTS

We are honoured much by good Simonides.

KING SIMONIDES

Your presence glads our days; honour we love,

For who hates honour hates the gods above.

MARSHAL (to Pericles)

Sir, yonder is your place.

PERICLES Some other is more fit.

FIRST KNIGHT

Contend not, sir, for we are gentlemen

Have neither in our hearts nor outward eyes

Envied the great, nor shall the low despise.

PERICLES

You are right courteous knights.

KING SIMONIDES Sit, Sir, sit.

⌈Pericles sits directly over against the King and Thaisa. The guests feed apace. Pericles sits still and eats nothing⌉

⌈Aside⌉ By Jove I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates distaste me, he but thought upon.

THAISA ⌈aside⌉

By Juno, that is queen of marriage,

I am amazed all viands that I eat

Do seem unsavoury, wishing him my meat.

⌈To the King⌉ Sure he’s a gallant gentleman.

KING SIMONIDES

He’s but a country gentleman.

He’s done no more than other knights have done.

He’s broke a staff or so, so let it pass.

THAISA ⌈aside⌉

To me he seems like diamond to glass.

PERICLES ⌈aside⌉

Yon king’s to me like to my father’s picture,

Which tells me in what glory once he was—

Had princes sit like stars about his throne,

And he the sun for them to reverence.

None that beheld him but like lesser lights

Did vail their crowns to his supremacy;

Where now his son’s a glow-worm 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.

KING SIMONIDES What, are you merry, knights? ⌈THE OTHER KNIGHTS⌉

Who can be other in this royal presence?

KING SIMONIDES

Here with a cup that’s stored unto the brim,

As you do love, full to your mistress’ lips,

We drink this health to you.

⌈THE OTHER KNIGHTS⌉ We thank your grace.

KING SIMONIDES

Yet pause a while. Yon knight doth sit too

melancholy,

As if the entertainment in our court

Had not a show might countervail his worth.

Note it not you, Thaisa?

THAISA What is’t to me, my father?

KING SIMONIDES

O, attend, my daughter. Princes in this

Should live like gods above, who freely give

To everyone that come to honour them.

And princes not so doing are like gnats

Which make a sound but, killed, are wondered at.

Therefore to make his entertain more sweet,

Here bear this standing-bowl of wine to him.

THAISA

Alas, my father, it befits not me

Unto a stranger knight to be so bold.

He may my proffer take for an offence,

Since men take women’s gifts for impudence.

KING SIMONIDES

How? Do as I bid you, or you’ll move me else.

THAISA (aside)

Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.

KING SIMONIDES

Furthermore, tell him we desire to know

Of whence he is, his name and parentage.

⌈Thaisa bears the cup to Pericles⌉

THAISA

The King my father, sir, has drunk to you,

Wishing it so much blood unto your life.

PERICLES

I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.

He pledges the King

THAISA

And further he desires to know of you

Of whence you are, your name and parentage.

PERICLES

A gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles,

My education been in arts and arms,

Who, looking for adventures in the world,

Was by the rough unconstant seas bereft

Unfortunately both of ships and men,

And after shipwreck driven upon this shore.

⌈Thaisa returns to the King⌉

THAISA

He thanks your grace, names himself Pericles,

A gentleman of Tyre, who, seeking adventures,

Was solely by misfortune of the seas

Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.

KING SIMONIDES

Now by the gods I pity his mishaps,

And will awake him from his melancholy.

⌈Simonides, rising from his state, goes forthwith and embraces Pericles⌉

Be cheered, for what misfortune hath impaired you of,

Fortune by my help can repair to you.

My self and country both shall be your friends,

And presently a goodly milk-white steed

And golden spurs I first bestow upon you,

The prizes due your merit, and ordained

For this day’s enterprise.

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 world 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

Thy deaf‘ning dreadful thunders, gently quench

Thy nimble sulph’rous flashes.—O, ho, Lychorida!

How does my queen?—Thou stormest venomously.

Wilt thou spit all thyself The seaman’s whistle

Is as a whisper in the ears of death,

Unheard.—Lychorida!—Lucina, O!

Divinest patroness, and midwife gentle

To those that cry by night, convey thy deity

Aboard our dancing boat, make swift the pangs

Of my queen’s travails!—Now, Lychorida.

Enter Lychorida with an infant

LYCHORIDA

Here is a thing too young for such a place,

Who, if it had conceit, would die, as I

Am like to do. Take in your arms this piece

Of your dead queen.

PERICLES How, how, Lychorida?

LYCHORIDA

Patience, good sir, do not assist the storm.

Here’s all that is left living of your queen,

A little daughter. For the sake of it

Be manly, and take comfort.

PERICLES O 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.

LYCHORIDA Patience, good sir,

E’en for this charge.

She gives him the infant. ⌈Pericles, looking mournfully upon it, shakes his head, and weeps⌉

PERICLES Now mild may be thy life,

For a more blust‘rous birth had never babe;

Quiet and gentle thy conditions, for

Thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world

That e’er was prince’s child; happy what follows.

Thou hast as chiding a nativity

As fire, air, water, earth, and heav’n can make

To herald thee from th’ womb. Poor inch of nature,

Ev’n at the first thy loss is more than can

Thy partage quit with all thou canst find here.

Now the good gods throw their best eyes upon’t.

Enter ⌈the Master⌉ and a Sailor

⌈MASTER⌉ What, courage, sir! God save you.

PERICLES

Courage enough, I do not fear the flaw;

It hath done to me its worst. Yet for the love

Of this poor infant, this fresh new seafarer,

I would it would be quiet.

⌈MASTER⌉ (calling) Slack the bow-lines, there.—Thou wilt not, wilt thou? Blow, and split thyself.

SAILOR But searoom, an the brine and cloudy billow kiss the moon, I care not.

⌈MASTER⌉ (to Pericles) Sir, your queen must overboard. The sea works high, the wind is loud, and will not lie till the ship be cleared of the dead.

PERICLES

That’s but your superstition.

⌈MASTER⌉ Pardon us, sir; with us at sea it hath been still observed, and we are strong in custom. Therefore briefly yield ’er, for she must overboard straight.

PERICLES

As you think meet. Most wretched queen!

LYCHORIDA Here she lies, sir.

She ⌈draws the curtains and discovers⌉ the body of Thaisa in a ⌈bed. Pericles gives Lychorida the infant⌉

PERICLES (to Thaisa)

A terrible childbed hast thou had, my dear,

No light, no fire. Th‘unfriendly elements

Forgot thee utterly, nor have I time

To give thee hallowed to thy grave, but straight

Must cast thee, scarcely coffined, in the ooze,

Where, for a monument upon thy bones

And aye-remaining lamps, the belching whale