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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]
PERICLES
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, ,
Hail Di/an, to | perform | thy just | command,
,
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,
I here | confess | myself | the king | of Tyre.
Who frighted from my country, did wed at Pentapolis, the fair Thaisa, at sea
in childbed died she, but brought forth a maid-child called Marina, whom, O
goddess, wears yet thy silver livery, she at Tarsus was nursed with Cleon,
who at fourteen years he sought to murder, but her better stars brought her
to Mytilene, 'gainst whose shore riding, her fortunes brought the maid
aboard us, where by her own most clear remembrance, she made known herself
my daughter.
THAISA
Voice and favor, you are, you are, O royal Pericles.
PERICLES
What means the woman? She dies, help gentlemen.
CERIMON
Sir, if you have told Diana's altar true, this is your wife.
PERICLES
Reverend appearer, no, I threw her overboard with these very arms.
CERIMON
Upon this coast, I warrant you.
PERICLES
'Tis most certain.
CERIMON
Look to the lady; O she's but orejoyed.
Early in blustering morn, this lady was thrown upon this shore. I opened the
coffin, found there rich jewels, recovered her, and placed her
here in Diana's temple.
PERICLES
May we see them?
CERIMON
Great sir, they shall be brought you to my house, whither I invite you,
look, Thaisa is recovered.
THAISA
O let me look if he be none of mine, my sanctity will to my sense bend no
licentious ear, 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?
PERICLES
The voice of dead Thaisa.
THAISA
That Thaisa am I, supposed dead and drowned.
PERICLES
Immortal Dian!
THAISA
Now I know you better, when we with tears parted Pentapolis, the king my
father gave you such a ring.
PERICLES
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.
MARINA
My heart leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom.
PERICLES
Look who kneels here, flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa, thy burden at the sea, and
called Marina, for she was yielded there.
THAISA
Blessed, and mine own.
HELICANUS
Hail madam, and my queen.
THAISA
I know you not.
PERICLES
You have heard me say when I did fly from Tyre, I left behind an ancient
substitute; can you remember what I called the man, I have named him oft.
THAISA
'Twas Helicanus then.
PERICLES
Still confirmation, embrace him dear Thaisa, this is he, now do I long to
hear how you were found? How possibly preserved? And who to thank (besides
the gods) for this great miracle.
THAISA
Lord Cerimon, my lord, this man through whom the gods have shown their
power, that can from first to last resolve you.
PERICLES
Reverend sir, the gods can have no mortal officer more like a god than you,
will you deliver how this dead queen re-lives?
CERIMON
I will, my lord, beseech you first go with me to my house, where shall be
shown you all was found with her; how she came placed here in the temple, no
needful thing omitted.
PERICLES
Pure Dian bless thee for thy vision, I will offer night-oblations to thee;
Thaisa, this prince, the fair betrothed of your daughter, shall marry her at
Pentapolis, and now this ornament makes me look dismal, will I clip to form,
and what this fourteen years no razor touched, to grace thy marriage day,
I'll beautify.
THAISA
Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit, sir, my father's dead.
PERICLES
Heavens make a star of him, yet here, my queen, we'll celebrate their
nuptials, and ourselves will in that kingdom spend our following days; our
son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.
, ,
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Lord Cer|imon,| we do | our long|ing stay,
,
, , x
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To hear | the rest | untold,| sir, lead us | the
way.
[Exeunt. Enter GOWER]
GOWER
2 x
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In Antioch|us and | his daught|er, you | have
heard
,
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Of monst|rous lust,| the due | and just | reward:
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In Per|icles | his queen | and daught|er seen,
,
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Although | assailed | with fort|une fierce | and
keen,
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Virtue | preserved | from fell | destruc|tion's
blast,
, x
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Led^on | by heaven,| and crowned | with joy | at
last.
, ,
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In Hel|ican|us may | you well | descry,
, 2
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A fig|ure of truth,| of faith,| of loy|alty:
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In reve|rend Cer|imon | there well | appears,
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The worth | that learn|ed char|ity | aye wears.
, ,
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For wick|ed Cle|on and | his wife,| when fame
, ,
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Had spread | their curs|ed deed,| and hon|ored
name
,
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Of Per|icles,| to rage | the cit|y turn,
, ,
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That him | and his | they in his pal|ace burn:
,
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The gods | for murd|er seem|ed so | content,
,
, , , ___
To pun|ish, al/though not | done, but | meant.
,
, ,
, ,
o
So on | your pat|ience ev|ermore | attend|ing,
T T T
, ,
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New joy wait | on you,| here our | play hath |
ending.
[Exit]