TPTT Pericles, Prince of Tyre: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
[Prologue]
SCENE I
SCENE II. Ephesus. A room in CERIMON's house.
SCENE III. Tarsus. A room in CLEON's house.
SCENE IV. Ephesus. A room in CERIMON's house.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE I
Enter PERICLES, on shipboard
PERICLES
      Thou god of this great vast, rebuke these surges,
      Which wash both heaven and hell; and thou, that hast
      Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
      Having call'd them from the deep! O, still
5     Thy deafening, dreadful thunders; gently quench
      Thy nimble, sulphurous flashes! O, how, Lychorida,
      How does my queen? Thou stormest venomously;
      Wilt thou spit all thyself? The seaman's whistle
      Is as a whisper in the ears of death,
10    Unheard. Lychorida!--Lucina, O
      Divinest patroness, and midwife gentle
      To those that cry by night, convey thy deity
      Aboard our dancing boat; make swift the pangs
      Of my queen's travails!

Enter LYCHORIDA, with an Infant

15    Now, Lychorida!
LYCHORIDA
      Here is a thing too young for such a place,
      Who, if it had conceit, would die, as I
      Am like to do: take in your arms this piece
      Of your dead queen.
PERICLES
20    How, how, Lychorida!
LYCHORIDA
      Patience, good sir; do not assist the storm.
      Here's all that is left living of your queen,
      A little daughter: for the sake of it,
      Be manly, and take comfort.
PERICLES
25    O you gods!
      Why do you make us love your goodly gifts,
      And snatch them straight away? We here below
      Recall not what we give, and therein may
      Use honour with you.
LYCHORIDA
30    Patience, good sir,
      Even for this charge.
PERICLES
      Now, mild may be thy life!
      For a more blustrous birth had never babe:
      Quiet and gentle thy conditions! for
35    Thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world
      That ever was prince's child. Happy what follows!
      Thou hast as chiding a nativity
      As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
      To herald thee from the womb: even at the first
40    Thy loss is more than can thy portage quit,
      With all thou canst find here. Now, the good gods
      Throw their best eyes upon't!
Enter two Sailors
First Sailor
      What courage, sir? God save you!
PERICLES
      Courage enough: I do not fear the flaw;
45    It hath done to me the worst. Yet, for the love
      Of this poor infant, this fresh-new sea-farer,
      I would it would be quiet.
First Sailor
      Slack the bolins there! Thou wilt not, wilt thou?
      Blow, and split thyself.
Second Sailor
50    But sea-room, an the brine and cloudy billow kiss
      the moon, I care not.
First Sailor
      Sir, your queen must overboard: the sea works high,
      the wind is loud, and will not lie till the ship be
      cleared of the dead.
PERICLES
55    That's your superstition.
First Sailor
      Pardon us, sir; with us at sea it hath been still
      observed: and we are strong in custom. Therefore
      briefly yield her; for she must overboard straight.
PERICLES
      As you think meet. Most wretched queen!
LYCHORIDA
60    Here she lies, sir.
PERICLES
      A terrible childbed hast thou had, my dear;
      No light, no fire: the unfriendly elements
      Forgot thee utterly: nor have I time
      To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight
65    Must cast thee, scarcely coffin'd, in the ooze;
      Where, for a monument upon thy bones,
      And e'er-remaining lamps, the belching whale
      And humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse,
      Lying with simple shells. O Lychorida,
70    Bid Nestor bring me spices, ink and paper,
      My casket and my jewels; and bid Nicander
      Bring me the satin coffer: lay the babe
      Upon the pillow: hie thee, whiles I say
      A priestly farewell to her: suddenly, woman.
Exit LYCHORIDA
Second Sailor
75    Sir, we have a chest beneath the hatches, caulked
      and bitumed ready.
PERICLES
      I thank thee. Mariner, say what coast is this?
Second Sailor
      We are near Tarsus.
PERICLES
      Thither, gentle mariner.
80    Alter thy course for Tyre. When canst thou reach it?
Second Sailor
      By break of day, if the wind cease.
PERICLES
      O, make for Tarsus!
      There will I visit Cleon, for the babe
      Cannot hold out to Tyrus: there I'll leave it
85    At careful nursing. Go thy ways, good mariner:
      I'll bring the body presently.
Exeunt
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