ACT III. Enter GOWER. Gow. Now fleep yflaked hath the rout; Dumb fhow. Enter PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with Attendants; a Meffenger meets them, kneels, and gives PERICLES a letter. PERICLES fhows it to SIMONIDES; the Lords kneel to the former. Then enter THAISA with child, and LYCHORIDA. SIMONIDES bows his daughter the letter; fhe rejoices: fbe and PERICLES take leave of her father, and depart. Then SIMONIDES, &c. retire. Gow. By many a dearn and painful perch, By the four oppofing coignes, That horse, and fail, and high expence, Are letters brought; the tenour thefe: The crown of Tyre, but he will none : Come not, in twice fix moons, home, He, obedient to their doom, Will take the crown. The fum of this, Brought hither to Pentapolis, Y-ravished the regions round, And every one with claps 'gan found, Who dream'd, who thought of fuch a thing? Hath their keel cut; but fortune's mood Difgorges such a tempest forth, The. The lady fhrieks, and, well-a-near! Conveniently the rest convey: Which might not what by me is told. This ftage, the fhip, upon whofe deck [Exit. SCENE I. Eater PERICLES, on a ship at fea. Per. Thou God of this great vast, rebuke these surges, Which wash both heaven and hell; and thou, that haft Upon the winds command, bind them in brass, Having call'd them from the deep! O ftill thy deaf'ning, How does my queen?-Thou ftorm, thou! venomously Unheard. Lychorida!-Lucina, O Divineft patronefs, and midwife, gentle Enter LYCHORIDA, with an infant, Lyc. Here is a thing D 4 Too Too young for fuch a place, who if it had Take in your arms this piece of your dead queen. Lyc. Patience, good fir; do not affift the ftorm. A little daughter: for the fake of it, Be manly, and take comfort. Per. O you gods! Why do you make us love your goodly gifts, And fnatch them ftraight away? We, here below Vie honour with yourselves. Lyc. Even for this charge. Per. Patience, good fir, Now, mild may be thy life! For a more bluft'rous birth had never babe : Quiet and gentle thy conditions! For thou'rt the rudelieft welcom'd to this world, As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make, Enter two Sailors. 1 Sail. What courage, fir? God fave you. 1 Sail. ■ Sail. Slack the bolins there; thou wilt not, wilt thou? Blow and split thyself. 2 Sail. But fea-room, an the brine and cloudy billow kifs the moon, I care not. Sail. Sir, your queen must overboard; the fea works high, the wind is loud, and will not lie till the fhip be clear'd of the dead. Per. That's your fuperftition. 1 Sail. Pardon us, fir; with us at fea it ftill hath been obferved; and we are strong in earnest. Therefore briefly yield her; for she must over-board straight. Per. Be it as you think meet.-Most wretched queen! Per. A terrible child-bed haft thou had, my dear To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight Bid Neftor bring me fpices, ink and paper, A prieftly farewell to her: fuddenly, woman. [Exit LYCHORIDA. 2 Sail. Sir, we have a cheft beneath the hatches, caulk'd and bitumed ready. Per. I thank thee. Mariner, fay what coaft is this? 2 Sail. We are near Tharfus. Per. Thither, gentle mariner, Alter thy course for Tyre. When can't thou reach it? 2 Sail. |