Your purse, still open, hath built lord Cerimon Enter two Servants, with a chest. Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest; 'Tis of some wreck. Serv. So; lift there. Cer. What is that? Serv. Sir, even now Set't down; let's look on it. Whate'er it be, Cer. 2 Gent. 'Tis like a coffin, sir. 'Tis wondrous heavy. Wrench it open straight; It belches upon us. 2 Gent. 'Tis so, my lord. Cer. How close 'tis calked and bitumed!— Did the sea cast it up? Serv. I never saw so huge a billow, sir, As tossed it upon shore. Cer. Come, wrench it open; Soft, soft!-it smells most sweetly in my sense. 2 Gent. A delicate odor. Cer. As ever hit my nostril; so,-up with it. O you most potent god! what's here? a corse! 1 Gent. Most strange! Cer. Shrouded in cloth of state; balmed and en treasured With bags of spices full! A passport too! Apollo, perfect me i' the characters! [Unfolds a scroll. Here I give to understand, [Reads. (If e'er this coffin drive a-land,)1 I, king Pericles, have lost This queen, worth all our mundane cost. 1 In Twine's Translation of the story of Apollonius of Tyre, this uncommon phrase, a-land, is repeatedly used. Who finds her, give her burying; If thou liv'st, Pericles, thou hast a heart That even cracks for woe!-This chanced to-night. 2 Gent. Most likely, sir. Cer. Nay, certainly to-night; For look, how fresh she looks!—They were too rough, That threw her in the sea. Make fire within; Enter a Servant, with boxes, napkins, and fire. The vial once more;-how thou stirrest, thou block! This queen will live. Nature awakes; a warmth 1 Gent. The Heavens, sir, Through you, increase our wonder, and set up Your fame forever. Cer. She is alive; behold, Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels Which Pericles hath lost, Begin to part their fringes of bright gold; Appear to make the world twice rich. O, live, VOL. VI. 60 And make us weep to hear your fate, fair creature, O dear Diana, [She moves. Rare as you seem to be! 2 Gent. Is not this strange? Hush, gentle neighbors ; Lend me your hands; to the next chamber bear her. [Exeunt, carrying THAISA away. SCENE III. Tharsus. A Room in Cleon's House. Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, LYCHORida, and MARINA. Per. Most honored Cleon, I must needs be gone; Take from my heart all thankfulness! The gods Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you mortally,1 Yet glance full wanderingly on us. Dion. O, your sweet queen! That the strict fates had pleased you had brought her hither, To have blessed mine eyes! Per. The powers above us. We cannot but obey Could I rage and roar As doth the sea she lies in, yet the end Must be as 'tis. My babe Marina (whom, 1 The old copy reads: "Your shakes of fortune, though they haunt you mortally, Yet glance full wonderingly," &c. The folios have "though they hate you." The emendation is by Steevens. For she was born at sea, I have named so) here To give her princely training, that she may be Cle. The gods revenge it upon me and mine, Per. I believe you; Your honor and your goodness teach me credit,2 Without your vows. Till she be married, madam, By bright Diana, whom we honor all, Unscissored shall this hair of mine remain, In bringing up my child. Dion. Who shall not be more dear to my respect, Than yours, my lord. Per. I have one myself, Madam, my thanks and prayers. Cle. We'll bring your grace even to the edge o' the shore; Then give you up to the masked Neptune,' and The gentlest winds of heaven. Per. I will embrace Your offer. Come, dear'st madam.-O, no tears, 1 i. e. be satisfied that we cannot forget the benefits you have bestowed on us. 2 The old copy reads, "teach me to it:" the alteration was made by Steevens. 3 i. e. appear wilful, perverse by such conduct. The old copy reads in the preceding line: "Unsistered shall this heir of mine," &c. Lychorida, no tears; Look to your little mistress, on whose grace [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Ephesus. A Room in Cerimon's House. Enter CERIMON and THAISA. Cer. Madam, this letter, and some certain jewels, Lay with you in your coffer; which are now At your command. Know you the character? Thai. It is my lord's. 1 That I was shipped at sea, I well remember, I cannot rightly say. But since king Pericles, My wedded lord, I ne'er shall see again, A vestal livery will I take me to, And never more have joy. Cer. Madam, if this you purpose as you speak, Diana's temple is not distant far, Where you may 'bide until your date expire.2 Thai. My recompense is thanks, that's all; [Exeunt. 1 The quarto, 1619, and the folio, 1664, which was probably printed from it, both read eaning. The first quarto reads learning. To ean or yean, in our elder language, as in the Anglo-Saxon, signified to bring forth young, without any particular reference to sheep. 2 i. e. until you die. |