Enter GOWER.

SCENE I.-On board Pericles' Ship, off Mitylene. A close Pavilion on deck, with a Curtain before it; Pericles within it, reclined on a Couch. A Barge lying beside the Tyrian Vessel.

Enter Two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrian vessel, the other to the barge; to them HELICANUS.

Tyr. Sail. Where's the lord Helicanus? he can resolve you. To the Sailor of Mitylene. O here he is.

Sir, there's a barge put off from Mitylene,
And in it is Lysimachus the governor,

Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
Hel. That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
Tyr. Sail. Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
Enter Two Gentlemen.

1. Gent. Doth your lordship call?
Hel. Gentlemen,

Hel. And you, sir, to cut-live the age I am, And die as I would do.

Lys.

You wish me well. Being on shore, honouring of Neptune's triumphs Seeing this goedly vessel ride before us, I made to it, to know of whence you are.

Hel. First, sir, what is your place?

Lys. I am governor of this place you lie before.
Hel. Sir,

Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king;
A man, who for this three months hath not spoken
To any one, nor taken sustenance,

But to prorogue his grief.

Lys. Upon what ground is his distemperature?
Hel. Sir, it would be too tedious to repeat;

But the main grief of all springs from the loss
Of a beloved daughter and a wife

Lys. May we not see him, then?

you,

To greet them fairly.

Which if we should deny, the most just God And so afflict our province. - Yet once more Let me entreat to know at large the cause

and go on board the barge.

Sit, sir, I will recount it;

Hel.

Hel.

My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes,

But have been gaz'd on, comet-like: she speaks,
My lord, that, may be, hath endur'd a grief
Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh'd.
Though wayward fortune did malign my state,
My derivation was from ancestors
Who stood equivalent with mighty kings:
But time hath rooted out my parentage,
And to the world and aukward casualties
Bound me in servitude. - I will desist;
But there is something glows upon my cheek,
And whispers in mine ear, Go not till he speak.

For the crown'd truth to dwell in: I'll believe thee,
And make my senses credit thy relation,

To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
Like one I lov'd indeed. What were thy friends?
Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back,
(Which was when I perceiv'd thee,) that thou cam'st
From good descending?

Mar.

So indeed I did.

Nay, I'll be patient; Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me, To call thyself Marina. Mar.

The name Marina, Was given me by one that had some power; My father, and a king.

Per.

And call'd Marina?

Mar.

How! a king's daughter?

You said you would believe me;

But, not to be a troubler of your peace,
I will end here.

Per.

But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? No motion? Well; speak on. Where were you born?

And wherefore call'd Marina?

Mar.

For I was born at sea. Per.

Call'd Marina,

At sea? thy mother?

Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the very minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Deliver'd weeping.

Per.

O, stop there a little ! This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be.

My daughter's buried. [Aside.] Well: -where

were you bred?

I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.

Mar. You'll scarce believe me; 'twere best I did

Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now (As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,)

It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber Hangs on mine eye-lids; let me rest. [He sleeps. Lys. A pillow for his head;

[The curtain before the pavilion of PERICLES is

closed.

So leave him all. Well, my companion-friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
I'll well remember you.

[Exeunt LYSIMACHUS, HELICANUS, MARINA,

and attendant Lady.

SCENE II. - The same.

PERICLES on the deck asleep; DIANA appearing to him as in a vision.

Dia. 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.

Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe:
Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream. [DIANA disappears.
Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

I will obey thee! - Helicanus !

Enter LYSIMACHUS, HELICANUS, and MARINA. Hel.

Sir.

Per. My purpose was for Tharsus, 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 HELICANUS.

Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore, And give you gold for such provision

kingdoms,

And another life to Pericles thy father.

Mar. 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.

Per. Now, blessing on thee, rise; thou art my

Lys. With all my heart, sir; and when you come

[Exeunt.

You have been noble towards her.

Lys.

Per. Come, my Marina.

Enter Gower, before the temple of Diana at

Ephesus.

Gow. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then done.
This, as 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 Mitylin,

To greet the king. So he has thriv'd,
That he is promis'd to be wiv'd
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 boon.

Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND.

Kent. I thought, the king had more affected the duke of Albany, than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seen so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge : I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. - Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ?

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Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you

better.