Shake off the golden slumber of repose.

'Tis most strange,

Nature should be so conversant with pain,
Being thereto not compell'd.

Cerimon.

I held it ever,

Virtue and cunning were endowments greater
Than nobleness and riches; careless heirs
May the two latter darken and expend,
But immortality attends the former,
Making a man a god. "T is known, I ever
Have studied physic, through which secret art,
By turning o'er authorities, I have,

Together with my practice, made familiar.
To me and to my aid the blest infusions
That dwell in vegetives, in metals, stones,

And I can speak of the disturbances

That nature works, and of her cures; which doth give me A more content in course of true delight

Than to be thirsty after tottering honour,

Or tie my treasure up in silken bags,

To please the fool and death.

2 Gentleman. Your honour has through Ephesus pour'd forth Your charity, and hundreds call themselves

Your creatures, who by you have been restor'd;

And not your knowledge, your personal pain, but even
Your purse, still open, hath built Lord Cerimon

Such strong renown as time shall never raze.

Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest ; 'Tis of some wrack.

50

Cerimon.

Set 't down, let's look upon 't.

2 Gentleman. 'T is like a coffin, sir. Cerimon.

Whate'er it be,

'Tis wondrous heavy. Wrench it open straight;
If the sea's stomach be o'ercharg'd with gold,
'Tis a good constraint of fortune it belches upon us.
2 Gentleman. "I is so, my lord.

Cerimon.

Did the sea cast it up?

How close 't is caulk'd and bitum'd!

1 Servant. I never saw so huge a billow, sir, As toss'd it upon shore.

Cerimon.

Wrench it open;

Soft! it smells most sweetly in my sense.

2 Gentleman. A delicate odour.

Cerimon. As ever hit my nostril. So up with it.

O you most potent gods! what's here? a corse!

I Gentleman. Most strange!

60

Cerimon. Shrouded in cloth of state; balm'd and en

treasur'd

With full bags of spices! A passport too!

Apollo, perfect me in the characters!

'Here I give to understand,

If e'er this coffin drive a-land,

I, King Pericles, have lost

[Reads from a scroll.

This queen, worth all our mundane cost.
Who finds her, give her burying;

She was the daughter of a king.
Besides this treasure for a fee,

The gods requite his charity!'

If thou liv'st, Pericles, thou hast a heart

That even cracks for woe! This chanc'd to-night.

2 Gentleman. Most likely, sir.

Cerimon.

Nay, certainly to-night;

For look how fresh she looks! They were too rough

That threw her in the sea.-Make a fire within:

70

80

Fetch hither all my boxes in my closet. [Exit a Servant.

Death may usurp on nature many hours,

And yet the fire of life kindle again

The o'erpress'd spirits. I heard of an Egyptian
That had nine hours lien dead,

Who was by good appliance recovered.

Re-enter a Servant, with boxes, napkins, and fire.

Well said, well said; the fire and cloths.—
The rough and woeful music that we have,
Cause it to sound, beseech you.—

The vial once more. -How thou stirr'st, thou block !-
The music there!-I pray you, give her air.—

Gentlemen,

This queen will live:
Breathes out of her.

nature awakes; a warmth

She hath not been entranc'd

Above five hours; see how she gins to blow

Into life's flower again!

I Gentleman.

The heavens,

Through you, increase our wonder and set up
Your fame for ever.

Cerimon.

She is alive; behold,

Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels
Which Pericles hath lost,

Begin to part their fringes of bright gold;
The diamonds of a most praised water

Do appear, to make the world twice rich.-Live,

And make us weep to hear your fate, fair creature,
Rare as you seem to be.

Thaisa.

Where am I?

O dear Diana,

90

100

[She moves.

Where's my lord? What world is this?

2 Gentleman. Is not this strange?

I Gentleman.

Cerimon.

Most rare.

Hush, my gentle neighbours!

Lend me your hands; to the next chamber bear her.

Get linen; now this matter must be look'd to,

Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, and LYCHORIDA with MARINA in her arms.

Pericles. Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be gone; My twelve months are expir'd, and Tyrus stands

In a litigious peace. You, and your lady,

Take from my heart all thankfulness! The gods

Make up the rest upon you!

Cleon. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you mor

tally,

Yet glance full wanderingly on us.

Dionyza.

O your sweet queen!

That the strict fates had pleas'd you had brought her

hither,

To have bless'd mine eyes with her!

Pericles.

We cannot but obey

The powers above us. Could I rage and roar
As doth the sea she lies in, yet the end

Must be as 't is. My gentle babe Marina-whom,
For she was born at sea, I have nam'd so—here
I charge your charity withal, leaving her
The infant of your care; beseeching you

To give her princely training, that she may be
Manner'd as she is born.

Cleon.
Fear not, my lord, but think
Your grace, that fed my country with your corn,
For which the people's prayers still fall upon you,
Must in your child be thought on. If neglection
Should therein make me vile, the common body,
By you reliev'd, would force me to my duty;
But if to that my nature need a spur,

20

The gods revenge it upon me and mine,

To the end of generation!

Pericles.

I believe you;

Your honour and your goodness teach me to 't,
Without your vow.-Till she be married, madam,
By bright Diana, whom we honour, all
Unscissar'd shall this hair of mine remain,
Though I show ill in 't. So I take my leave.
Good madam, make me blessed in your care
In bringing up my child.

Dionyza.

I have one myself,

Who shall not be more dear to my respect

Than yours, my lord.

Pericles.

Madam, my thanks and prayers.

30

Cleon. We'll bring your grace e'en to the edge o' the

shore,

Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune and

The gentlest winds of heaven.

Pericles.

Your offer.

I will embrace

Come, dear'st madam.-O, no tears,

Lychorida, no tears!

Look to your little mistress, on whose grace
You may depend hereafter.-Come, my lord.

40

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Ephesus. A Room in Cerimon's House.

Enter CERIMON and THAISA.

Cerimon. Madam, this letter, and some certain jewels,
Lay with you in your coffer, which are now

At your command. Know you the character?
Thaisa. It is my lord's.

That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember,

Even on my eaning time, but whether there
Deliver'd, by the holy gods,

I cannot rightly say.

But since King Pericles,

F