Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Who stood equivalent with mighty kings:
But time hath rooted out my parentage,
And to the world and awkward 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.

Aside.
Per. My fortunes-parentage-good parentage-
To equal mine;-was it not thus? what say you?
Mar. I said, my lord, if you did know my parent-
age,

You would not do me violence.
Per.

I do think so.
I pray you, turn your eyes again upon me.—-
You are like something that-What countrywoman?
Here of these shores?

Mar.

No, nor of any shores :
Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
No other than I appear.

Per. I am great with wo, and shall deliver weep-
ing.

My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one
My daughter might have been: my queen's square

brows;

[blocks in formation]

Falseness cannot come from thee, for thou look'st
Modest as justice, and thou seem'st a palace
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!

[blocks in formation]

Some such thing indeed I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Did warrant me was likely.

Per.

Tell thy story;
If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part
Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I'
Have suffer'd like a girl: yet thou dost look
Like Patience, gazing on kings' graves, and smiling
Extremity out of act. What were thy friends?
How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind
virgin?

[blocks in formation]

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
give o'er.

Per. I will believe you by the syllable
Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave :-
How came you in these parts? where were you bred?
Mar. The king, my father, did in Tharsus leave

me;

Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,
Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd
A villain to attempt it, who having drawn,
A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
Brought me to Mitylene. But now, good sir,
Whither will you have me? Why do you weep? It
may be,

You think me an impostor; no, good faith;
am the daughter to king Pericles,
If good king Pericles be.
Per. Ho, Helicanus!

Hel.

Calls my gracious lord?
Per. Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,
Most wise in general: Tell me, if thou canst,
What this maid is, or what is like to be,
That thus hath made me weep?
Hel.
I know not; but
Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene,
Speaks nobly of her.

Lys.

She would never tell
Her parentage; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.

Per. O Helicanus, strike me, honour'd 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. O, come hither,
Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget;
Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus,
And found at sea again! O Helicanus,
Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods, as loud
As thunder threatens us: This is Marina-
What was thy mother's name? tell me but that,
Patience, good sir, || For truth can never be confirm'd enough,

Recount, I do beseech thee; come, sit by me.
Mar. My name, sir, is Marina.
Per..
O, I am mock'd,
And thou by some incensed god sent hither
To make the world laugh at me.

Mar.

[blocks in formation]

(2) i. e. No puppet dressed up to deceive me. 3 M

Though doubts did ever sleep. Mar.

What is your title?

First, sir, I pray,

Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now (As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,) My drown'd queen's name, thou art the heir of 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 child.

Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus,
(Not dead at Tharsus, 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?

Hel. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mitylene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.

Per.

sir.

I embrace you, Give me my robes; I am wild in my beholding. O heavens bless my girl! 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? Hel. My lord, I hear none.

Per. None?

The music of the spheres: list, my Marina.

Lys. It is not good to cross him; give him way. Per. Rarest sounds!

Do ye not hear? Lys.

Music? my lord, I hear

Per. Most heavenly music: 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.I
Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in wo:
Do't, and be happy, by my silver bow.

Awake, and tell thy dream. [Diana disappears.
Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,2

I will obey thee!-Helicanus !

Enter Lysimachus, Helicanus, and Marina.
Hel.

Sir.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

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.

[Exit.

SCENE III-The temple of Diana at Ephesus: Thaisa standing near the altar, as high-priestess; a number of virgins on each side; Cerimon and other inhabitants of Ephesus attending. Enter Pericles, with his train; Lysimachus, Helicanus, Marina, and a lady.

Per. Hail Dian; to perform thy just command, I here confess myself the king of Tyre; Who, frighted from my country, did wed The fair Thaísa, at Pentapolis. At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth A maid-child call'd Marina; who, O goddess, Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tharsus Was nurs'd with Cleon; whom at fourteen years He sought to murder: but her better stars Brought her to Mitylene; against whose shore Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us, Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she Made known herself my daughter.

Thai.

Voice and favour!

[blocks in formation]

Per.

Reverend appearer, no;

I threw her o'erboard with these very arms.
Cer. Upon this coast, I warrant you.
'Tis most certain.
Cer. Look to the lady;-O, she's but o'erjoy'd.
Early, one blust'ring morn, this lady was

(5) i. e. Pericles.

(6) Confound here signifies to consume. (7) i. e. Her white robe of innocence.

[blocks in formation]

Here in Diana's temple.

Per.

May we see them?

Cer. Great sir, they shall be brought you to my
house,

Whither I invite you. Look! Thaisa is
Recover'd.

Thai. O, let me look!

If he be none of mine, my sanctity
Will to my sensel bend no licentious ear,
But curb it, spite of seeing. O, my lord,
Are you not Pericles? Like him you speak,
Like him you are: Did you not name a tempest,
A birth, and death?

Per.

The voice of dead Thaisa! Thai. That Thaisa am I, supposed dead, And drown'd.

Per. Immortal Dian!
Thai.

[blocks in formation]

I bless thee for thy vision, and will offer
My night oblations to thee. Thaisa,
This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,
Shall marry her at Pentapolis. And now,
This ornament2 that makes me look so dismal,
Will I, my lov'd Marina, clip to form;
And what this fourteen years no razor touch'd,
To grace thy marriage day, I'll beautify.

Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit,
Sir, that my father's dead.

Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there,
my queen,

We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves
Will in that kingdom spend our following days;
Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.
Lord Cerimon, we do our longing stay,

Now I know you better.-To hear the rest untold.-Sir, lead the way. [Exe.

When we with tears parted Pentapolis,
The king, my father, gave you such a ring.
[Shows a ring.
Per. This, this: no more, you gods! your pre-
sent kindness

Makes my past miseries sport: You shall do well,
That on the touching of her lips I may
Melt, and no more be seen. O come, be buried
A second time within these arms.

Mar.

My heart Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom.

[Kneels to Thaisa. Per. Look, who kneels here! "Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa;

Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina,
For she was yielded there.
Thai.

Bless'd and mine own!
Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!
Thai.

I know you not. Per. You have heard me say, when I did fly from Tyre,

I left behind an ancient substitute.

Can you remember what I call'd the man?
I have nam'd him oft.

[blocks in formation]

Enter Gower.

Gow. In Antioch,3 and his daughter, you have
heard

Of monstrous lust the due and just reward:
In Pericles, his queen and daughter, seen
(Although assail'd with fortune fierce and keen,)
Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last.
In Helicanus may you well descry
A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty:
In reverend Cerimon there well appears,
The worth that learned charity aye4 wears.
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn;
That him and his they in his palace burn.
The gods for murder seemed so content
To punish them; although not done, but meant.
So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.
[Exit Gower.

:

That this tragedy has some merit, it were vain to deny but that it is the entire composition of Shakspeare, is more than can be hastily granted. I shall not venture, with Dr. Farmer, to determine that the hand of our great poet is only visible in the last act, for I think it appears in several passages dispersed over each of these divisions. I find it difficult, however, to persuade myself that he was the original fabricator of the plot, or the author of every dialogue, chorus, &c.

STEEVENS.

The story is of great antiquity; and is related by various ancient authors in Latin, French, and English.

(1) Sensual passion, (2) i. e. His beard.

(3) i. e. The king of Antioch.

(4) Ever.

[blocks in formation]

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

Glo. It did always seem 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.2

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord?

Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster.

Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exe. Glo. and Edm. Lear. Mean-time we shall express our darker4

purpose.

Give me the map there.-Know, that we have divided,

In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intents
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl toward death.-Our son of Corn-
wall,

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and
Burgundy,

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, in- Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, deed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a hus-Long in our court have made their amorous soband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.3

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?

Edm. No, my lord.

[ocr errors]

journ,

And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughters,

(Since now we will divest us, both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state,)
Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.

Gon.

Sir, I

Do love you more than words can wield the matter, Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereaf- Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty; ter as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found.

better.

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again:-The king is coming.

[Trumpets sound within.

[blocks in formation]

A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; Beyond all manner of so much I love you. Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. [Aside. Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, (4) More secret.

(5) Determined resolution.

« AnteriorContinuar »