Per. I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one My daughter might have been my queen's square brows; Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; And cased as richly; in pace another Juno; Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry, The more she gives them speech.-Where do you live? Mar. Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place. Per. Where were you bred? Should I tell my history, And how achieved you these endowments, which Mar. "Twould seem like lies disdain'd in the reporting. Per. Pr'ythee speak; 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 loved indeed. What were thy friends? 1 Possess. Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back, (Which was when I perceived thee) that thou camest From good descending? Mar. So indeed I did. Per. Report thy parentage. I think thou saidst Thou hadst been toss'd from wrong to injury, And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine, If both were open'd. Mar. Some such thing indeed Per. Tell thy story: If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part Have suffer'd like a girl: yet thou dost look Like Patience, gazing on kings' graves, and smiling Extremity1 out of act. How lost thou them? virgin? What were thy friends? Thy name, my most kind Recount, I do beseech thee; come, sit by me. Per. O, I am mock'd, And thou by some incensed god sent hither To make the world laugh at me. Mar. Or here I'll cease. Patience, good sir, The utmost of human suffering. Per. Nay, I'll be patient: Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me, 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? born, Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king, Who died the very minute I was born; As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Per. O, stop there a little. This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep My daughter's buried. [aside.] Well; where were you bred? No puppet dressed up to deceive me. I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story, Mar. You'll scarce believe me; 'twere best I did give o'er. Per. I will believe you by the syllable 1 1 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 to do 't, 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; I 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, 1 I will believe every word you say. Speaks nobly of her. Lys. She would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, Per. O Helicanus, strike me, honor'd sir; Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget; come Down on thy knees; thank the holy gods, as loud What was thy mother's name? tell me but that; Though doubts did ever sleep.1 Mar. What is your title? First, sir, I pray, Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now My drown'd queen's name, (as in the rest you said Thou hast been godlike perfect) the heir of kingdoms, And a mother like to Pericles thy father. Mar. Is it no more to be your daughter, than To say, my mother's name was Thaisa? 1 i. e. though nothing ever happened to awake a doubt concerning your veracity. |