William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (487 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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Exit with instrument
Enter King Simonides at one door reading of a letter, the Knights enter
⌈
at another door
⌉
and meet
him
FIRST KNIGHT
Good morrow to the good Simonides.
KING SIMONIDES
Knights, from my daughter this I let you know:
That for this twelvemonth she’ll not undertake
A married life. Her reason to herself
Is only known, which from her none can get.
That for this twelvemonth she’ll not undertake
A married life. Her reason to herself
Is only known, which from her none can get.
SECOND KNIGHT
May we not have access to her, my lord?
KING SIMONIDES
Faith, by no means. It is impossible,
She hath so strictly tied her to her chamber.
One twelve moons more she’ll wear Diana’s liv’ry.
This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vowed,
And on her virgin honour will not break it.
She hath so strictly tied her to her chamber.
One twelve moons more she’ll wear Diana’s liv’ry.
This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vowed,
And on her virgin honour will not break it.
THIRD KNIGHT
Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
Exeunt Knights
KING SIMONIDES
So, they are well dispatched. Now to my daughter’s
letter.
She tells me here she’ll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
I like that well. Nay, how absolute she’s in‘t,
Not minding whether I dislike or no!
Mistress, ’tis well, I do commend your choice,
And will no longer have it be delayed.
letter.
She tells me here she’ll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
I like that well. Nay, how absolute she’s in‘t,
Not minding whether I dislike or no!
Mistress, ’tis well, I do commend your choice,
And will no longer have it be delayed.
Enter Pericles
Soft, here he comes. I must dissemble that
In show, I have determined on in heart.
In show, I have determined on in heart.
PERICLES
All fortune to the good Simonides.
KING SIMONIDES
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.
For your sweet music this last night. My ears,
I do protest, were never better fed
With such delightful pleasing harmony.
PERICLES
It is your grace’s pleasure to commend,
Not my desert.
Not my desert.
KING SIMONIDES Sir, you are music’s master.
PERICLES
The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
KING SIMONIDES
Let me ask you one thing. What think you of my daughter?
PERICLES
A most virtuous princess.
KING SIMONIDES And fair, too, is she not?
PERICLES
As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair.
KING SIMONIDES
My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you;
So well indeed that you must be her master
And she will be your scholar; therefore look to it.
So well indeed that you must be her master
And she will be your scholar; therefore look to it.
PERICLES
I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
KING SIMONIDES
She thinks not so. Peruse this writing else.
He gives the letter to Pericles, who reads
PERICLES (
aside
)
aside
)
What’s here?—a letter that she loves the knight of Tyre?
’Tis the King’s subtlety to have my life.
’Tis the King’s subtlety to have my life.
⌈
He prostrates himself at the King’s feet
⌉
O, seek not to entrap me, gracious lord,
A stranger and distressed gentleman
That never aimed so high to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honour her.
Never did thought of mine levy offence,
Nor never did my actions yet commence
A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.
A stranger and distressed gentleman
That never aimed so high to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honour her.
Never did thought of mine levy offence,
Nor never did my actions yet commence
A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.
KING SIMONIDES
Thou liest like a traitor.
PERICLES Traitor?
KING SIMONIDES Ay, traitor,
That thus disguised art stol’n into my court
With witchcraft of thy actions to bewitch
The yielding spirit of my tender child. 50
With witchcraft of thy actions to bewitch
The yielding spirit of my tender child. 50
PERICLES ⌈
rising
⌉
rising
⌉
Who calls me traitor, unless it be the King,
Ev’n in his bosom I will write the lie.
Ev’n in his bosom I will write the lie.
KING SIMONIDES (aside)
Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
PERICLES
My actions are as noble as my blood,
That never relished of a base descent. 55
I came unto your court in search of honour,
And not to be a rebel to your state;
And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he’s honour’s enemy.
That never relished of a base descent. 55
I came unto your court in search of honour,
And not to be a rebel to your state;
And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he’s honour’s enemy.
KING SIMONIDES
I shall prove otherwise, since both your practice
And her consent therein is evident
There, by my daughter’s hand, as she can witness.
And her consent therein is evident
There, by my daughter’s hand, as she can witness.
Enter Thaisa
PERICLES (
to Thaisa
)
to Thaisa
)
Then as you are as virtuous as fair,
By what you hope of heaven or desire
By your best wishes here i‘th’ world fulfilled,
Resolve your angry father if my tongue
Did e’er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable made love to you.
By what you hope of heaven or desire
By your best wishes here i‘th’ world fulfilled,
Resolve your angry father if my tongue
Did e’er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable made love to you.
THAISA Why, sir, say if you had,
Who takes offence at that would make me glad?
KING SIMONIDES
How, minion, are you so peremptory?
(Aside) I am glad on’t.—Is this a fit match for you?
A straggling Theseus, born we know not where,
One that hath neither blood nor merit
For thee to hope for, or himself to challenge
Of thy perfections e’en the least allowance.
(Aside) I am glad on’t.—Is this a fit match for you?
A straggling Theseus, born we know not where,
One that hath neither blood nor merit
For thee to hope for, or himself to challenge
Of thy perfections e’en the least allowance.
THAISA (
kneeling
)
kneeling
)
Suppose his birth were base, when that his life
Shows that he is not so, yet he hath virtue,
The very ground of all nobility,
Enough to make him noble. I entreat you
To remember that I am in love,
The power of which love cannot be confined
By th’ power of your will. Most royal father,
What with my pen I have in secret written
With my tongue now I openly confirm,
Which is I have no life but in his love,
Nor any being but in joying of his worth.
Shows that he is not so, yet he hath virtue,
The very ground of all nobility,
Enough to make him noble. I entreat you
To remember that I am in love,
The power of which love cannot be confined
By th’ power of your will. Most royal father,
What with my pen I have in secret written
With my tongue now I openly confirm,
Which is I have no life but in his love,
Nor any being but in joying of his worth.
KING SIMONIDES
Equals to equals, good to good is joined.
This not being so, the bavin of your mind
In rashness kindled must again be quenched,
Or purchase our displeasure.—And for you, sir,
First learn to know I banish you my court,
And yet I scorn our rage should stoop so low.
For your ambition, sir, I’ll have your life.
This not being so, the bavin of your mind
In rashness kindled must again be quenched,
Or purchase our displeasure.—And for you, sir,
First learn to know I banish you my court,
And yet I scorn our rage should stoop so low.
For your ambition, sir, I’ll have your life.
THAISA (
to Pericles
)
to Pericles
)
For every drop of blood he sheds of yours
He’ll draw another from his only child.
He’ll draw another from his only child.
KING SIMONIDES
I’ll tame you, yea, I’ll bring you in subjection.
Will you not having my consent
Bestow your love and your affections
Upon a stranger?—(
aside
) who for aught I know
May be, nor can I think the contrary,
As great in blood as I myself.
Will you not having my consent
Bestow your love and your affections
Upon a stranger?—(
aside
) who for aught I know
May be, nor can I think the contrary,
As great in blood as I myself.
⌈
He catches Thaisa rashly by the hand
⌉
Therefore hear you, mistress: either frame your will to
mine—
⌈
He catches Pericles rashly by the hand
⌉
And you, sir, hear you: either be ruled by me—
Or I shall make you
mine—
⌈
He catches Pericles rashly by the hand
⌉
And you, sir, hear you: either be ruled by me—
Or I shall make you
⌈
He claps their hands together
⌉ man and wife. 105
Nay, come, your hands and lips must seal it too,
Pericles and Thaisa kiss
And being joined, I’ll thus your hopes destroy,
⌈
He parts them
⌉
And for your further grief, God give you joy. What, are you pleased?
THAISA Yes, (
to Pericles
) if you love me, sir.
to Pericles
) if you love me, sir.
PERICLES
Ev’n as my life my blood that fosters it.
KING SIMONIDES
What, are you both agreed?
PERICLES
and
THAISA Yes, if’t please your majesty.
and
THAISA Yes, if’t please your majesty.
KING SIMONIDES
It pleaseth me so well that I will see you wed,
Then with what haste you can, get you to bed. Exeunt
Sc. 10Then with what haste you can, get you to bed. Exeunt
Enter Gower
GOWER
Now sleep y-slacked hath the rout,
No din but snores the house about,
Made louder by the o‘erfed breast
Of this most pompous marriage feast.
The cat with eyne of burning coal
Now couches fore the mouse’s hole,
And crickets sing at th’oven’s mouth
As the blither for their drouth.
Hymen hath brought the bride to bed,
Where by the loss of maidenhead
A babe is moulded. Be attent,
And time that is so briefly spent
With your fine fancies quaintly eche.
What’s dumb in show, I’ll plain with speech.
No din but snores the house about,
Made louder by the o‘erfed breast
Of this most pompous marriage feast.
The cat with eyne of burning coal
Now couches fore the mouse’s hole,
And crickets sing at th’oven’s mouth
As the blither for their drouth.
Hymen hath brought the bride to bed,
Where by the loss of maidenhead
A babe is moulded. Be attent,
And time that is so briefly spent
With your fine fancies quaintly eche.
What’s dumb in show, I’ll plain with speech.
Dumb show
.Enter Pericles and Simonides at one door with attendants. A messenger comes
⌈
hastily
⌉
in to them, kneels, and gives Pericles a letter. Pericles shows it Simonides; the lords kneel to him. Then enter Thaisa with child, with Lychorida, a nurse. The King shows her the letter. She rejoices. She and Pericles take leave of her father and depart with I,,ychorida at one door; Simonides
⌈
and attendants
⌉
depart at another
By many a dern and painful perch
Of Pericles the care-full search,
By the four opposing coigns
Which the world together joins,
Is made with all due diligence
That horse and sail and high expense
Can stead the quest. At last from Tyre
Fame answering the most strange enquire,
To th’ court of King Simonides
Are letters brought, the tenor these:
Antiochus and his daughter dead,
The men of Tyrus on the head
Of Helicanus would set on
The crown of Tyre, but he will none.
The mutiny there he hastes t‘appease,
Says to ’em if King Pericles
Come not home in twice six moons
He, obedient to their dooms,
Will take the crown. The sum of this
Brought hither to Pentapolis
Y-ravishèd the regions round,
And everyone with claps can sound
‘Our heir-apparent is a king!
Who dreamt, who thought of such a thing?’
Brief he must hence depart to Tyre;
His queen with child makes her desire—
Which who shall cross?—along to go.
Omit we all their dole and woe.
Lychorida her nurse she takes,
And so to sea. Their vessel shakes
On Neptune’s billow. Half the flood
Hath their keel cut, but fortune’s mood
Varies again. The grizzled north
Disgorges such a tempest forth
That as a duck for life that dives,
So up and down the poor ship drives.
The lady shrieks, and well-a-near
Does fall in travail with her fear,
And what ensues in this fell storm
Shall for itself itself perform;
I nill relate; action may
Conveniently the rest convey,
Which might not what by me is told.
In your imagination hold
This stage the ship, upon whose deck
The sea-tossed Pericles appears to speke. Exit
Sc. 11Of Pericles the care-full search,
By the four opposing coigns
Which the world together joins,
Is made with all due diligence
That horse and sail and high expense
Can stead the quest. At last from Tyre
Fame answering the most strange enquire,
To th’ court of King Simonides
Are letters brought, the tenor these:
Antiochus and his daughter dead,
The men of Tyrus on the head
Of Helicanus would set on
The crown of Tyre, but he will none.
The mutiny there he hastes t‘appease,
Says to ’em if King Pericles
Come not home in twice six moons
He, obedient to their dooms,
Will take the crown. The sum of this
Brought hither to Pentapolis
Y-ravishèd the regions round,
And everyone with claps can sound
‘Our heir-apparent is a king!
Who dreamt, who thought of such a thing?’
Brief he must hence depart to Tyre;
His queen with child makes her desire—
Which who shall cross?—along to go.
Omit we all their dole and woe.
Lychorida her nurse she takes,
And so to sea. Their vessel shakes
On Neptune’s billow. Half the flood
Hath their keel cut, but fortune’s mood
Varies again. The grizzled north
Disgorges such a tempest forth
That as a duck for life that dives,
So up and down the poor ship drives.
The lady shrieks, and well-a-near
Does fall in travail with her fear,
And what ensues in this fell storm
Shall for itself itself perform;
I nill relate; action may
Conveniently the rest convey,
Which might not what by me is told.
In your imagination hold
This stage the ship, upon whose deck
The sea-tossed Pericles appears to speke. Exit
⌈
Thunder and lightning.
⌉
Enter Pericles a-shipboard
PERICLES
The god of this great vast rebuke these surges
Which wash both heav’n and hell; and thou that hast
Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
Having called them from the deep. O still
Thy deaf‘ning dreadful thunders, gently quench
Thy nimble sulph’rous flashes.—O, ho, Lychorida!
How does my queen?—Thou stormest venomously.
Wilt thou spit all thyself The seaman’s whistle
Is as a whisper in the ears of death,
Unheard.—Lychorida!—Lucina, O!
Divinest patroness, and midwife gentle
To those that cry by night, convey thy deity
Aboard our dancing boat, make swift the pangs
Of my queen’s travails!—Now, Lychorida.
Which wash both heav’n and hell; and thou that hast
Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
Having called them from the deep. O still
Thy deaf‘ning dreadful thunders, gently quench
Thy nimble sulph’rous flashes.—O, ho, Lychorida!
How does my queen?—Thou stormest venomously.
Wilt thou spit all thyself The seaman’s whistle
Is as a whisper in the ears of death,
Unheard.—Lychorida!—Lucina, O!
Divinest patroness, and midwife gentle
To those that cry by night, convey thy deity
Aboard our dancing boat, make swift the pangs
Of my queen’s travails!—Now, Lychorida.
Enter Lychorida with an infant
LYCHORIDA
Here is a thing too young for such a place,
Who, if it had conceit, would die, as I
Am like to do. Take in your arms this piece
Of your dead queen.
Who, if it had conceit, would die, as I
Am like to do. Take in your arms this piece
Of your dead queen.
PERICLES How, how, Lychorida?
LYCHORIDA
Patience, good sir, do not assist the storm.
Here’s all that is left living of your queen,
A little daughter. For the sake of it
Be manly, and take comfort.
Here’s all that is left living of your queen,
A little daughter. For the sake of it
Be manly, and take comfort.
PERICLES 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
Use honour with you.
And snatch them straight away? We here below
Recall not what we give, and therein may
Use honour with you.
LYCHORIDA Patience, good sir,
E’en for this charge.
She gives him the infant
. ⌈
Pericles
,
looking mournfully upon it, shakes his head, and weeps
⌉
PERICLES Now mild may be thy life,
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