For other service first: toward Ephesus

Turn our blown sails; eftsoons 1 I'll tell thee why.

[to Helicanus.

Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,

And give you gold for such provision

As our intents will need?

Lys. With all my heart, sir; and when you come ashore,

I have another suit.

Per.

You shall prevail,

Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems,

You have been noble towards her.

Lys.

Per. Come, my Marina.

Sir, lend your arm.

[Exeunt.

Enter GOWER, before the temple of Diana at Ephesus.

Gower. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then dumb.

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 thrived,
That he is promised to be wived

To fair Marina; but in no wise,
Till he had done his sacrifice,

2

As Dian bade; whereto being bound,
The interim, pray you, all confound.1
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 doom.

[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 Thaisa, 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.2 She at Tharsus
Was nursed 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,

1 Consume.

2 i. e. her white robe of innocence.

Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she
Made known herself my daughter.

Thai.

You are, you are-O royal Pericles !

If

Voice and favor!

[she faints.

Per. What means the woman? she dies! help, gentlemen!

Cer. Noble sir,

you have told Diana's altar true,

This is your wife.

Per.

Reverend appearer, no:

I threw her o'erboard with these very arms.

Cer. Upon this coast, I warrant you.

Per.

'Tis most certain.

Cer. Look to the lady.-O, she's but o'erjoy'd.

Early, one blustering morn, this lady was

Thrown on this shore. I oped the coffin, and

Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and placed

her

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 sense 1 bend no licentious ear,

1 Sensual passion.

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.

Now I know you

better.

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 present

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 !

I know you not.

Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!

Thai.

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 named him oft.

Thai.

'Twas Helicanus then.

Per. Still confirmation:

Embrace him, dear Thaisa; this is he.

Now do I long to hear how you were found;
How possibly preserved; and whom to thank,
Besides the gods, for this great miracle.

Thai. Lord Cerimon, my lord; this man,

Through whom the gods have shown their power; that can

From first to last resolve you.

Per.
The gods can have no mortal officer

More like a god than you.

Reverend sir,

Will you deliver

I will, my lord.

How this dead queen relives?

Cer.

Beseech you, first go with me to my house,

Where shall be shown you all was found with her;

How she came placed here within the temple;

No needful thing omitted.

Per.

Pure Diana!

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 ornament,1 that makes me look so dismal,
Will I, my loved Marina, clip to form;

1 This beard.