Pericles

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Is it no more to be your daughter than
To say my mother’s name was Thaisa?
Thaisa was my mother, who did end
The minute I began.

Pericles

Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.
Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus;
She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should have been,
By savage Cleon: she shall tell thee all;
When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge
She is thy very princess. Who is this?

Helicanus

Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.

Pericles

I embrace you.
Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding.
O heavens bless my girl! But, hark, what music?
Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him
O’er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt,
How sure you are my daughter. But, what music?

Helicanus My lord, I hear none. Pericles

None!
The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.

Lysimachus It is not good to cross him; give him way. Pericles Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear? Lysimachus My lord, I hear. Music. Pericles

Most heavenly music!
It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber
Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest. Sleeps.

Lysimachus

A pillow for his head:
So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
I’ll well remember you. Exeunt all but Pericles.

Diana appears to Pericles as in a vision. Diana

My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither,
And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
There, when my maiden priests are met together,
Before the people all,
Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife:
To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter’s, call
And give them repetition to the life.
Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe;
Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
Awake, and tell thy dream. Disappears.

Pericles

Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
I will obey thee. Helicanus!

Re-enter Helicanus, Lysimachus, and Marina. Helicanus Sir? Pericles

My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike
The inhospitable Cleon; but I am
For other service first: toward Ephesus
Turn our blown sails; eftsoons I’ll tell thee why.
To Lysimachus. Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,
And give you gold for such provision
As our intents will need?

Lysimachus

Sir,
With all my heart; and, when you come ashore,
I have another suit.

Pericles

You shall prevail,
Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems
You have been noble towards her.

Lysimachus Sir, lend me your arm. Pericles Come, my Marina. Exeunt.

Scene II

Enter Gower, before the temple of Diana at Ephesus.

Gower

Now our sands are almost run; More a little, and then dumb. This, 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 Mytilene To greet the king. So he thrived, That he is promised to be wived To fair Marina; but in no wise Till he had done his sacrifice, As Dian bade: whereto being bound, The interim, pray you, all confound. 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.
Pericles	Hail, Dian! to perform thy just command, 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 call’d Marina; who, 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 favour! You are, you are⁠—O royal Pericles! Faints.
Pericles	What means the nun? she dies! help, gentlemen!
Cerimon	Noble 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 o’erjoy’d. Early in blustering morn this lady was Thrown upon this shore. I oped the coffin, Found there rich jewels; recover’d 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 spake, 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 drown’d.
Pericles	Immortal Dian!
Thaisa	Now I know you better. When we with tears parted Pentapolis, The king my father gave you such a ring. Shows a ring.
Pericles	This, this: no more, you gods! your present kindness Makes my past miseries sports: 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. Kneels to Thaisa.
Pericles	Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa; Thy burden at the sea, and call’d Marina For she was yielded there.
Thaisa	Blest, 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 call’d 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