She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight, And will no longer have it be delay'd. Soft, here he comes:-I must dissemble it. Enter PERICLES. Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. 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. Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend; Not my desert. Sim. Sir, you are music's master. Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. Per. As of a most virtuous princess. Sim. And she is fair too, is she not? Per. As a fair day in summer: wondrous fair. Sim. My daughter, Sir, thinks very well of you; Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else. A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? "Tis the king's subtilty, to have my life. O, seek not to entrap, my gracious lord, A stranger and distressed gentleman, That never aim'd so high, to love your daughter, Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art A villain. Per. By the gods, I have not, Sir. Never did thought of mine levy offence; Nor never did my actions yet commence A deed might gain her love, or your displeasure. Sim. Traitor, thou liest. Per. Traitor! Sim. Ay, traitor, Sir. That calls me traitor, I return the lie. Per. Even in his throat (unless it be the king), Sim. Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage. [Aside. [Aside. That never relish'd of a base descent. I came unto your court, for honour's cause, And he that otherwise accounts of me, Sim. No! Here comes my daughter, she can witness it. Enter THAISA. Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, Who takes offence at that would make me glad? I am glad of it with all my heart. [Aside.] I'll tame you; Will you, not having my consent, bestow Your love and your affections on a stranger? (Who, for aught I know to the contrary, Hear, therefore, mistress; frame your will to mine,- Nay, come; your hands and lips must seal it too.- Thai. Yes, if you love me, Sir. Per. Even as my life, or blood that fosters it. Both. Yes, 'please your majesty. Sim. It pleaseth me so well, I'll see you wed; Then, with what haste you can, get you to bed. [Aside. [Exeunt. ACT III. Enter GOWER. Gow. Now sleep yslaked* hath the rout;† * Quenched. + Company. A babe is moulded;-Be attent, And time that is so briefly spent, With your fine fancies quaintly eche;* Dumb Show. Enter PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with Attendants; a Messenger meets them, kneels, and gives PERICLES a letter. PERICLES shows it to SIMONIDES; the Lords kneel to the former. Then enter THAISA with child, and LYCHORIDA. SIMONIDES shows his daughter the letter; she rejoices: she and PERICLES take leave of her father, and depart. Then SIMONIDES, &c., retire. * Eke out. Gow. By many a dearnt and painful perch, § That horse, and sail, and high expense, Are letters brought; the tenour these: The crown of Tyre, but he will none : He, obedient to their doom, Will take the crown. The sum of this, Brought hither to Pentapolis, Y-ravished the regions round, And every one with claps 'gan sound, Our heir apparent is a king: Who dream'd, who thought of such a thing? Brief, he must hence depart to Tyre: + As having succeeded to the thrones of Tyre and Antioch. + Lonely. Help the search. The measure. **Half the distance. | Corners. That, as a duck for life that dives, This stage, the ship, upon whose deck SCENE I. Enter PERICLES, on a Ship at sea. Per. Thou God of this great vast, rebuke these surges, Having call'd them from the deep! O still thy deaf'ning, How does my queen ?-Thou storm, thou! venomously Divinest patroness, and midwife, gentle Enter LYCHORIDA, with an Infant. Lyc. Here is a thing Too young for such a place, who if it had Take in your arms this piece of your dead queen. Lyc. Patience, good Sir; do not assist the storm. A little daughter; for the sake of it, Be manly, and take comfort. Per. 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 Vie honour with yourselves. Lyc. Patience, good Sir, Even for this charge. Per. Now, mild may be thy life! For a more blust'rous birth had never babe: Quiet and gentle thy conditions! * Equivalent to "well-a-day." + Expanse. + I will not. [Exit. For thou'rt the rudeliest welcom'd to this world, As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make, Enter two SAILORS. 1 Sail. What courage, Sir? God save you. I would, it would be quiet. 1 Sail. Slack the bolins § there; thou wilt not, wilt thou? Blow, and split thyself. 2 Sail. But sea-room, an the brine and cloudy billow kiss the moon, I care not. 1 Sail. 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. Per. That's your superstition. 1 Sail. Pardon us, Sir; with us at sea it still hath been observed; and we are strong in custom. Therefore briefly yield her; for she must overboard straight. Per. Be it as you think meet.-Most wretched queen! Lyc. Here she lies, Sir. Per. A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my dear, No light, no fire: the unfriendly elements Forgot thee utterly; nor have I time To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight Bid Nestor bring me spices, ink, and paper, A priestly farewell to her: suddenly, woman. [Exit LYCHORIDA. 2 Sail. Sir, we have a chest beneath the hatches, caulk'd and bitumed ready. Per. I thank thee. Mariner, say, what coast is this? 2 Sail. We are near Tharsus. Per. Thither, gentle mariner, Alter thy course for Tyre. When canst thou reach it? 2 Sail. By break of day, if the wind cease. Per. O make for Tharsus. * Noisy. + Than thy entrance into life can requite. Bowlines. Ever-burning. |