Chest as it were she then receiuing fresh aire he might perceue a new but calm glowing to recspire in her chéeks with which being somewhat amazed Now surely Gentlemen quoth hée turning to them who were gréedily set round about him this Quéene hath not long béene intraunced and I haue read of some Egyptians who after foure houres death if man may call it so haue raised impouerished bodies like to this vnto their former health nor can it be disparagement to me to vse my best practise on this Quéene to which by the Gentlemen that accompanyed him hée was incouraged to attempt since that the recouery of her could not but appeare to be a worke of wonder and since that his fortune was so successefull in his ministring that all Fphesus was repleate with his helpe so calling for a seruant of his to attend him with certayne boxes which he named were in his studie as also with fire and necessary linnen inuoking Apollo to be gratious to his empericke and the worke in hand he began to apply to her First pulling downe the clothes from off the Ladies bosome he powred vppon her a most precious oyntment and bestowing it abroad with his hand perceiued some warmth in her breast and that there was life in the body whereat somewhat astonished he felt her pulses layde his chéeke to her mouth and examining all other tokens that he could deuise he perceiued how death stroue with life within her and that the conflict was dangerous and doubtfull who should preuaile Which béeing done he chased the body against the fire vntill the bloud which was congealed with colde was wholly dissolued when powring a precious liquor into her mouth hée perceiued warmth more more to encrease in her and the golden fringes of her eyes alitle to part then calling softly to the Gentlemen who were witnesses about him he bade them that they should commaund some still musicke to found For certainely quoth he I thinke this Quéene will liue and suppose that she hath bin much abused for she hath not béene long intraunced condemning them for rashnesse so hassily to throwe her ouer boorde And when he had so said he tooke the body reuerently into his armes and bare it into his owne Chamber and layed it vpon his bed groueling vpon the breast then tooke hée certaine hote and comfortable oiles and warming them vpon the coles he dipped faire wooll therein and fomented all the bodie ouer therewith vntill such time as the congealed bloud and humours were thorowly resolued and the spirites in due forme recouered their woonted course the veines waxed warme the arteries beganne to beate and the lungs drew in the fresh ayre againe and being perfectly come to her selfe lifting vp those now againe pricelesse diamonds of her eyes O Lord quoth shée where am I for it séemeth to me that I haue béene in a strange Countrey And where 's my Lord I pray you I long to speake with him But Cerimon who best knew that now with any thing to discomfort her might bréede a relapse which would be vnrecouerable intreated her to be chéered for her Lord was well and that anone when the time was more fitting and that her decayed spirites were repayred hée would gladly speake with her So as it were being but newly awaked from death to the great amasement of the beholders she presently tell into a most comfortable slumber which Lord Cerimon giuing charge none should disturbe her of he in the meane time and against she should awake prouided cherishing meates and as her strength grew gaue wholesome clothes to refresh her with But not long after weakenesse being banished from her and Cerimon by communication knew that shée came of the stocke of a King he sent for many of his friendes to come vnto him and adopted her for his owne daughter and related vnto her howe after so gréeuous a tempest in what manner shée was found In which tempest she supposing her kingly husband to be shipwrecked shée with many teares intreated that since he had giuen her life he would be pleased to giue her leaâ—s to liue vnknowne to any man To which Cerimon accorded and for that intent placed her in the Temple of Diana which was there consecrated at Ephesus The eight Chapter How Pericles arriuing at Tharsus deliuereth his yoong daughter Marina vnto Cleon and Dyonysa to be fostered vp and how Lycorida the Nurse lying vppon her death-bed declareth vnto Marina who were her parents HAuing thus left the recouered Thaysa amongst the holy Nunnes in the Temple of Diana at Ephesus our Storie biddeth vs looke backe vnto sorrowfull Pericles whose shippe with fortunate winde fauour of the heauens and prouidence of his pylate arriued at the shoare of Tharsus where vpon his landing hée was curteously receiued by Cleon and Dyonysa whome he as curteously saluted telling them the heauie chaunces which had befallen him both of the great stormes and tempests on the Sea which he with patience had indured as also of the death of the good Lady Thaysa which he not without much sorrow suffered onely quoth he I haue héere left a little picture of her who for it was giuen vnto me at Sea I haue named Marina and I thanke the heauens is so like vnto her that I neuer doe looke vppon it but with much comfort in whose protection and education I meane to vse your friendship while I goe on in trauell to receiue the kingdome of Antiochus which is reserued for mée And if you will euer shew your gratitude for my former charitie extended towardes you and all this Citty in a former distresse the gods haue giuen this cause to prooue your thankefulnesse When both vowing by solemne oath their care should be on her as reason vnto themselues who is the guider of mans life he satisfied with that their promise thanked them telling them moreouer that with them also he woulde leaue Lycorida her mothers nurse and giuen vnto him by her good father Symomdes that shée might be a nurse vnto her child only further requesting them and so charging Lycorida that if it pleased the gods to lend her life to the yéeres of vnderstanding they should not till his returne make knowne vnto her that she was a braunch sproong from him but onely be brought vppe as the daughter of Cleon and Dyonysa lest that the knowledge of her high birth should make her growe prowd to their instructions Of which hauing likewise promise he deliuered the infant and the nurse to Cleon and therewithall great sums of golde siluer and apparrell and vowing solemnely by othe to himselfe his head should grow vncisserd his beard vntrimmed himselfe in all vncomely since he had lost his Quéene and till he had married his daughter at ripe years When they much wondring at so strange a resolue and promising to be most faithfull with all diligence according to his directions Pericles tooke his leaue departed with his Ship sayling euen to the vttermost parts
vpon them and disdained now to giue them buriall Nay such is heauens hate to these and such like sinnes and such his indignation to his present euill that twixt his stroke and death hée lent not so much mercy to their liues wherein they had time to crie out Iustice be mercifull for we repent vs. They thus dead thus contemned and instéede of kingly monument for their bodies left to be intoombed in the bowâ—lâ—es of rauenous fowles if fowles would eate on them The strangenesse of their deaths were soone rumored ouer that part of the world and as soone brought to the eares of Helycanus who was a carefull watchman to haue knowledge of whatsoeuer hapned in Antioch and by his knowledge to preuent what daunger might succeede eyther to his Prince or to his subiectes in his absence of which tragedy he hauing notice presently he imparted the news thereof to his graue and familiar friend Lord Eschines and now told him what till now hée had concealed namely of their incest together and that onely for the displeasure which princely Pericles feared Antiochus bore towardes him and might extend to his people by his knowledge thereof hée thus long by his counsell had discontinued from his kingdome Now it hapned that these tydings arriued to his eares iust at the instant when his graue counsell could no longer alay the head-strong multitude from their vnciuil and giddy muteny and the reason of them who most commonly are vnreasonable in their actions to drawe themselues to this faction was that they supposed their prince was dead and that being dead the kingdome was left without a successefull inheritor that they had bin onelie by Helicanus with vaine hope of Pericles returne deluded and that euen now the power being by his death in their hands they would create to themselues a new soueraigne and Helycanus should be the man Many reasons hée vsed to perswade them many Arguments to withstand them nothing but this onely preuailed with them that since he only knew their Prince was gone to trauell and that that trauell was vndertaken for their good they would abstaine but for thrée months longer from bestowing that dignity which they calld their loue though it was his dislike vpon him and if by that time which they with him should still hope for the gods were not pleased for their perpetuall good to restore vnto them their absent Prince hée then with all willingnesse would accept of their suffrages This then though with much trouble was at last by the whole multitude accepted and for that time they were all pacified when Helicanus assembling all the péeres vnto him by the aduise of all chose some from the rest and after his best instructions or rather by perswasions and graue counsell giuen hée sent them to inquire of their Prince who lately left at Pentapolis was highly honoured by good Symonides The sixt Chapter How Prince Pericles is married to Thaysa king Symonides daughter and how after he hath heard newes of Antiochus death hee with his wife departeth toward his owne Country of Tyre PRince Pericles hauing had as before is mentioned his lodging directed next adioyning to the kings bed-chamber whereas all the other Princes vppon their comming to their lodgings betooke themselues to their pillowes and to the nourishment of a quiet sléepe he of the Gentlemen that attended him for it is to be noted that vpon the grace that the king had bestowed on him there was of his Officers toward him no attendance wanting hée desired that hée might be left priuate onely that for his instant solace they would pleasure him with some delightfull Instrument with which and his former practise hée intended to passe away the tediousnesse of the night insteade of more fitting slumbers His wil was presently obeyed in all things since their master had commaunded he should be disobeyed in nothing the Instrument is brought him and as hée had formerly wished the Chamber is disfurnished of any other company but himselfe where presently hée beganne to compell such heauenly voyces from the sencelesse workemanship as if Apollo himselfe had now béene fingering on it and as if the whole Sinode of the gods had placed their deities round about him of purpose to haue beene delighted with his skill and to haue giuen prayses to the excellencie of his art nor was this sound only the rauisher of al hearers but from his owne cléere breast hée sent such chéerefull notes which by him were made vp so answerable to the others sound that they séemed one onely consort of musike and had so much delicacie and out of discordes making vp so excellent a coniunction that they had had power to haue drawne backe an eare halfe way within the graue to haue listned vnto it for thus much by our story we are certaine of that the good Symonides being by the height of night and the former dayes exercise in the ripenesse of his contentfull sléepe hée reioyced to be awakend by it and not accompting it a disease that troubled him in the hearing but a pleasure wherewith hée still wished to be delighted In briefe hée was so satisfied to heare him thus expresse his excellence that hée accompted his Court happy to entertaine so worthy a guest and himselfe more happy in his acquaintance But day that hath still that soueraigntie to drawe backe the empire of the night though a while shée in darkenesse vsurpe brought the morning on and while the king was studying with what aunswerable present wherewith to gratifie this noble Prince for his last nights musicke a Gentlewoman whose seruice was thither commaunded by his Daughter brought him a Letter whose in-side had a sute to him to this purpose The Lady Thaysaes Letter to the King her Father MY most noble Father what my blushing modesty forbids me to speake let your fatherly loue excuse that I write I am subdude by loue yet not inthralld through the licentiousnes of a loose desire but made prisoner in that noble battell twixt Affection and Zeale I haue no life but in this liberty neither any liberty but in this thraldome nor shall your tender selfe weighing my affections truely in the Scale of your Iudgement haue cause to contradict me since him I loue hath as much merite in him to challenge the title of a Sonne as I blood of yours to inherite the name of a daughter then if you shall refuse to giue him me in marriage deny not I pray you to make ready for my funerall T is the stranger Pericles Which request of hers when the king her father had thus vnderstood of hée beganne first to examine with him selfe what vertue was in this choice that should bind her thoughts to this liking and what succéeding comfort hée might expect the expectation of which might inuite him to his consent First hée beganne to remember himselfe that he came vnto his Court but poore and for pouerty quoth the good king t is a woorkemanship that Nature makes
while suffering for the sorow wherwith he knew his Quéene was imburthened he chid the contrary storme as if it had béen sensible of hearing to be so vnmanerly in this vnfitting season and when so good a Quéene was in labor to kéep such a blustering thus while the good Prince remayned reproouing the one and pittying the other vp comes Lycorida the Nurse sent along by good Symonides with his daughter and into his armes deliuers his Sea-borne Babe which he taking to kisse and pittying it with these words Poore inch of Nature quoth he thou arte as rudely welcome to the worlde as euer Princesse Babe was and hast as chiding a natiuitie as fire ayre earth and water can affoord thée when as if he had forgot himselfe he abruptly breaks out but say Licorida how doth my Quéene O sir quoth she she hath now passed all daungers and hath giuen vppe her griefes by ending her life At which wordes no tongue is able to expresse the tide of sorrowe that ouer-bounded Pericles first looking on his Babe and then crying out for the mother pittying the one that had lost her bringer ere shée had scarce saluted the worlde lamenting for himselfe that had béene bereft of so inestimable a Iewell by the losse of his wife in which sorrowe as he would haue procéeded vppe came the Maister to him who for that the storme continued still in his tempestuous height brake off his sorrowe with these sillables Sir the necessitie of the time affoordes no delay and we must intreate you to be contented to haue the dead body of your Quéene throwne ouer-boorde How varlet quoth Pericles interrupting him wouldest thou haue me cast that body into the sea for buriall who being in misery receiued me into fauour We must intreate you to temperance sir quoth the Maister as you respect your owne safety or the prosperitie of that prety Babe in your armes At the naming of which word Babe Pericles looking mournfully vpon it shooke his head and wept But the Maister going on tolde him that by long experience they had tried that a shippe may not abide to carry a dead carcasse nor would the lingering tempest cease while the dead body remayned with them But the Prince séeking againe to perswade them tolde them that it was but the fondnes of their superstition to thinke so Call it by what you shal please sir quoth the Maister but we that by long practise haue tried the proofe of it if not with your graunt then without your consent for your owne safety which wée with all duety tender must so dispose of it So calling for his seruants about him he willed one of them to bring him a chest which he foorthwith caused to be well bitumed and well leaded for her coffin then taking vp the body of his euen in death faire Thaysa he arrayed her in princely apparrell placing a Crowne of golde vppon her head with his owne hands not without store of funerall teares he layed her in that Toombe then placed̄ hée also store of golde at her head and great treasure of siluer at her féete and hauing written this Letter which he layd vpon her breast with fresh water flowing in his eyes as loath to leaue her sight he nayled vp the Chest the Tenor of which writing was in forme as followeth If ere it hap this Chest be driuen On any shoare on coast or hauen I Pericles the Prince of Tyre That loosing her lost all desire Intreate you giue her burying Since she was daughter to a King This golde I giue you as a fee The Gods requite your charitie The Chest then being nayled vp close he commaunded it to be lifted ouer-boorde and then naming his Childe Marina for that she was borne vppon the Sea he directed his Maister to alter the course from Tyre being a shorter cutte to Tharsus and for whose safety he thither intended where with his hoste Cleon and Dionysa his wife he intended to leaue his little infant to be fostered and brought vp The dead body being thus throwne ouerboorde when as if Fortune had bethought her that shée had wrought her vtmost spight to him by bereauing him of so great a comfort euen in the instant the tempest ceaseth where we will leaue Prince Pericles vppon calme waters though not with a calme winde sayling to Tharsus and beholde the next morning by which time the waues had rouled from waue to waue this Chest to land and cast it ashoare on the coast of Ephesus in which Citty liued a Lord called Cerimon who though of noble bloud and great possessions yet was he so addicted to studie in searching out the excellencie of Arts that his felicitie consisted in contemplation wisely fore-knowing so icie is the state of riches that it is thawed to nothing by the least aduersitie that carelesse heires may dispend and riot consume them when one vertue and our deserued fame attendeth immortality this consideration made him so to apply his time in Letters and in searching out the nature of Simples that he grew so excellent in the secret of Physicke as if Apollo himselfe or another Aesculapius had béene his Schoolemaister nor was he of this plentie a niggard to the néedie but so bountifull to the distressed that his house and hand were accompted the hospitalls for the diseased This Lord Cerimon had his residence built so neare the shoare that in his windowes he ouer-looked the Sea and being this morning in conference with some that came to him both for helpe for themselues and reliefe for others and some that were relating the crueltie of the last nights tempest on a sodayne casting his eye from foorth his casement towards the maine he might espie the waters as it were playing with the Chest wherein the dead Quéene was incoffind and which was vpon the sodayne by a more eager billow cast on his bankes when presently thinking it to be the remnant of some shippewracke caused in the last nights storme calling for his seruants hée foorthwith commaunded them to haue it brought vppe to him as forseited vnto him being cast on his ground which accordingly performed hée as presently gaue charge it should be opened when not without much wonder he straitway viewed the dead body of the Quéene so crowned so royally apparelled so intreasured as before and taking vp the writing which he likewise found placed vpon her breast hée read it to the Gentlemen who at that time accompanied him and knowing it thereby to be the dead Quéene to Prince Pericles Now surely quoth Pericles thou hast a bodie euen drowned with woe for the losse of so goodly a creature for Gentlemen sayde he as you may perceiue such was the excellencie of her beauty that grimme Death himselfe hath not power to suffer any deformitie to accompany it Then laying his hand gently vpon her chéeke he bethought him that life had not lost all the workemanshippe that Nature had bestowed vppon her for euen at the opening of the
THE Painfull Aduentures of Pericles Prince of Tyre Being The true History of the Play of Pericles as it was lately presented by the worthy and ancient Poet Iohn Gower AT LONDON Printed by T. P. for Nat Butter 1608. The Argument of the whole Historie ANtiochus the Great who was the first founder of Antioch the most famous Citty in all Syria hauing one onelie daughter in the prime and glory of her youth fell in most vnnaturall loue with her and what by the power of his perswasions and feare of his tyranny he so preuailed with her yeelding heart that he became maister of his desires which to continue to himself his daughter being for her beauty desired in marriage of many great princes he made this law That whoso presumed to desire her in marriage and could not vnfold the meaning of his questions for that attempt should loose his life Fearelesse of this Lawe many Princes aduentured and in their rashnesse perished amongst the number PERICLES the Prince of Tyre and neighbour to this tyrant King Antiochus was the last who vndertooke to resolue this Riddle which he accordingly through his great wisedome performed and finding both the subtiltie and sinne of the Tyrant for his owne safetie fled secretly from Antioch backe to Tyre and there acquainted Helycanus a graue Counsell our of his with the proceedings as also with his present feare what might succeed from whose counsell he tooke aduise for a space to leaue his kingdome and betake himselfe to trauell to which yeelding Pericles puts to sea ariues at Tharsus which he finds thorow the dearth of corne in much distresse he there relieues Cleon and Dyonysa with their distressed City with the prouision which he brought of purpose but by his good Counsellour Helycanus hearing newes of Antiochus death he intends for Tyre puts againe to Sea suffers shipwracke his shippes and men all lost till as it were Fortune tyred with his mis-happes he is throwne vpon the shoare releeued by certaine poore Fishermen and by an Armour of his which they by chaunce dragged vp in their nettes his mis-fortunes being a little repaired Pericles arriues at the Court of good Symonides King of Pentapolis where through his noblenesse both in Armes and Arts he winnes the loue of faire Thaysa the kings daughter and by her fathers consent marries her In this absence of his and for which absence the Tyrians his subiects muteny would elect Helycanus whome Pericles ordained his substitute in his absence their King which passion of theirs Helycanus by his graue perswasions subdewed and wonne them to goe in quest of their lost Prince Pericles In this search he is found and with his wife Thaysa who is now with childe and Lycorida her Nurse hauing taken leaue of his kingly Father puts againe for Tyre but with the terrour of a tempest at Sea his Queene falles in trauell is deliuered of a daughter whome hee names Marina in which childe-birth his Queene dies she is throwne ouer boorde at departure of whome Pericles altereth his course from Tyre being a shorter cut to his hoste Cleon in Tharsus hee there leaues his yoong daughter to be fostered vp vowing to himselfe a solitary pensiue life for the losse of his Queene Thaysa thus supposed dead and in the seas buried is the next morning on the shore taken vp at Ephesus by Cerimon a most skilfull Physition who by his Arte practised vpon this Queene so preuailed that after fiue houres intraunced she is by his skill brought to able health againe and by her owne request by him placed to liue a Votary in Dianaes Temple at Ephesus Marina Pericles sea-borne daughter is by this growen to discreete yeares she is enuied of Dyonysa Cleons wife her foster mother for that Marinaes perfection exceedeth a daughter of hers Marina by this enuy of hers should haue beene murthered but being rescued by certaine Pyrates is as it were reserued to a greater mishap for by them she is caried to Metelyne sold to the deuils broker a bawd to haue bin trained vp in that infection shee is courted of many and how wonderfully she preserues her chastitie Pericles returnes from Tyre toward Tharsus to visite the hospitable Cleon Dyonysa and his yoong daughter Marina where by Dyonysaes dissembling teares and a Toombe that was erected for her Pericles is brought to beleeue that his Marina lies there buryed and that shee died of her naturall death for whose losse hee teares his haire throwes off his garments forsweares the societie of men or any other comfort In which passion for many moneths continuing hee at last arriues at Metelyne when being seene and pittied by Lysimachus the Gouernour his daughter though of him vnknowen so is by the Gouernour sent for who by her excellent skill in Song and pleasantnesse in discourse with relating the story of her owne mishap shee so winnes againe her fathers lost sences that hee knowes her for his childe shee him for her father in which ouer-ioy as if his sences were nowe all confounded Pericles falles asleepe where in a dreame is by Diana warned to goe to Ephesus and there to make his sacrifice Pericles obayes and there comes to the knowledge of Thaysa his wife with their seuerall Ioyes that they three so strangely diuided are as strangely mette Lysimachus the Gouernour marrieth Marina and Pericles leauing his mourning causeth the bawde to be burned Of his reuenge to Cleon and Dyonysa his rewarding of the Fishermen that releeued him his iustice toward the Pyrats that made sale of his daughter his returne backe to his kingdome and of him and his wifes deaths Onely intreating the Reader to receiue this Historie in the same maner as it was vnder the habite of ancient Gower the famous English Poet by the Kings Maiesties Players excellently presented The names of the Personages mentioned in this Historie Iohn Gower the Presenter Antiochus that built Antioch His daughter Pericles Prince of Tyre Thalyart a villaine Twoo graue Counsellors Helycanus Eschines Cleon Gouernor of Tharsus Dyonysa his wife Two or three Fishermen Symonides king of Pentapolis Thaysa his daughter Fiue Princes Lycorida a Nurse Cerimon a Phisition Marina Pericles daughter A Murtherer Pirates A Bawde A Leno A Pander Lysimachus Gouernour of Meteline Diana Goddesse of chastitie THE Painfull Aduentures of PERICLES Prince of Tyre The first Chapter WHerein Gower describes how Antiochus surnamed the Great committed incest with his daughter and beheaded such as sued to her for marriage if they could not resolue his question placing their heades vpon the top of his Castle gate whereby to astonish all others that came to attempt the like THe great and mighty king Antiochus who was as cruell in tyranny as hée was powerfull in possessions séeking more to enrich himselfe by she wes than to renown his name by vertue caused to be built the goodly Cittie of Antioch in Syria and called it after his owne name as the chiefest seate of all his Dominions and principall place
for the receiuing of him the Lords and Peeres in their richest ornaments to intertaine him The people with their gréedy and vnsatisfied eyes to gaze vpon him for in that part of the world there was in those dayes no Prince so noble in Armes or excellent in Artes and had so generall and deserued a report by fame as Pericles Prince of Tyre Which drew both Péere and People with a ioyfull and frée desire to allow him their imbracements and to wish him happy successe requiring no other but such a happy Soueraigne to hope in for so cunningly had Antiochus dealt in this incest with his daughter that it was yet vnsuspected of the néerest that attended him With which solemnity and suffrages being brought into the presence of the tyrant and by him demaunded the cause of his arriuall at Antioch and being by the Prince answered that it was in loue to his daughter and in hope to enioy her by resoluing of his question Antiochus then first beganne to perswade him from the enterprise and to discourage him from his procéedings by shewing him the frightfull heads of the former Princes placed vpon his Castle wall and like to whome he must exspect himselfe to be if like them as it was most like hée failed in his attempt But Pericles armed with these noble armours Faithfulnesse and Courage and making himselfe fitte for Death if Death prooued fitte for him replyed That he was come now to méete Death willingly if so were his misfortune or to be made euer fortunate by enioying so glorious a beauty as was inthrond in his princely daughter and was there now placed before him which the tyrant receiuing with an angry brow threw downe the Riddle bidding him since perswasions could not alter him to reade and die being in himselfe confident the mysterie thereof was not to be vnfolded which the Prince taking vp read aloude the purpose of which was in these wordes I am no viper yet I feede On mothers flesh that did me breede I sought a husband in which labour I found that kindnesse from a father Hee 's Father Sonne and Husband milde I Mother Wife and yet his Childe How this may be and yet in two As you will liue resolue it you Which secret whilest Prince Pericles was reading Antiochus daughter whether it were that shée now lothed that vnnecessary custome in which shee had so long continued or that her owne affection taught her to be in loue with his perfections our storie leaues vnmentioned but this for certaine all the time that the Prince was studying with what trueth to vnfolde this darke Enigma Desire flew in a robe of glowing blushes into her chéekes and loue inforced her to deliuer thus much from hir owne tongue that he was sole soueraigne of all her wishes and he the gentleman of all her eies had euer yet behelde to whome shée wished a thriuing happinesse By which time the Prince hauing fully considered vpon what he had read and found the meaning both of the secret and their abhominable sinnes Antiochus rising vp demanded the solution of his Question or to attend the sentence of his death But the gentle Prince wisely foreknowing that it is as dangerous to play with tyrants euills as the Flie to sport with the Candles flame rather séemed to dissemble what he knew than to discouer his insight to Antiochus knowledge yet so circumspectly that Antiochus suspected or at least his owne knowen guilf made him so suspect that hée had found the meaning of his foule desire and their more foule actions and séeming as it were then to pitty him whom now in soule he hated and that he rather required his future happinesse than any blemish to his present fortunes he tolde him that for the honour of his name the noblenesse of his woorth nay his owne déere and present loue to him were it not against the dignity and state of his owne loue in his tender and princely disposition he could from the whole world select him as a choice husband for his daughter since hée found him so farre wide from reuealing of the secret yet thus farre hée should perceiue his loue should extend towardes him which before time had not béene séene to stretch it selfe to any of those decaied princes of whose falls his eies were carefull witnesses that for forty dayes he gaue him onely longer respite if by which time and with all the indeuours counsell and aduise hée could vse he can finde out what was yet concealed from him it should be euident how gladly he would reioyce to ioy in such a sonne rather than haue cause of sorrow by his vntimely ruine And in the meane time in his owne Court by the royaltie of his entertainment hée should perceiue his welcom With which and other such like gratulations their presences being diuided Antiochus betooke himselfe to his Chamber and princely Pericles to diligent consultations of his present estate where when hée had a while considered with himselfe that what he had foūnd was true and this substantially was the true meaning of his Riddle hée was become both father sonne and husband by his vncomely and abhorred actions with his owne child and shée a deuourer of her mothers flesh by the vnlawful couplings with her owne father and the defiling of her mothers bed and that this curtesie of Antiochus toward him was but his hypocrisie to haue his sinne concealed till he found fit occasion to take fit reuenge by the instrumēts of tyrants poyson treason or by any meanes he resolued himselfe with all expedition the next darknesse being his best conductor to flie backe to Tyre which he effecting and Antiochus being now priuate in his loeging and ruminating with himselfe that Pericles had found out the secret of his euill which hée in more secret had committed and knowing that he had no power to rip him open to the world and make his name so odious that as now heauen did so at the knowledge thereof all good men would contemne him And in this study not knowing how otherwise to helpe himselfe from this reproofe he hastily calleth for one Thalyart who was Steward of his housholde and in many things before had receiued the imbracement of his minde this Thalyart as Pericles fore-thought hée presently bribde with gold and furthered with poyson to be this harmles gentlemans executioner To which purpose as hée was about to receiue his othe there came hastily a Messenger that brought him newes the Tyrian shippes were that night departed his harbor and that by intelligence hée had learned the Prince also was fled for Tyre at whose escape Antiochus storming but not desisting from his former practise hée commaunded his murthering minister Thalyart to dispatch his best performance after him sometime perswading him at others threatning him in Tyre to sée him in Tyre to kil him or back to Antioch neuer to returne which villainous mind of his as ready to yéeld as the tyrant was to commaund Thahart in
of all Egypt while his yoong daughter Marina grew vp to more able discretion and when she was fully attaind to 5. yéers of age being to her selfe knowne no other but to be frée borne she was set to Schoole with other frée children alwayes ioyntly accompanied with one onely daughter that Dionysa had being of the same time that she was of where growing vp aswel in learning as in number of yéeres vntill she came to the reckoning of fouretéene one day when she returned from Schoole she found Lycorida her Nurse sodainely fallen sicke and sitting beside her vpon the bed she as in care of her demaunded the cause and manner of her sickenesse when the Nurse finding her disease to haue no hope of recouery but a harbinger that came before to prepare a lodging for death answered her to this purpose For my sickenesse queth she it matters not deare childe since it is as necessary to be sicke as it is néedefull to die onely I intreate of you to hearken vnto a dying womans wordes that loueth you and laying them vppe in your heart perswade yeur selfe that in these heures no sinner should or can be so wretched to spare a minute to finde time to lie Knowe then that you are not the daughter of Cleon and Dyonysa as you till this haue supposed but hearken vnto me and I will declare vnto thée the beginning of thy birth that thou mayest knowe how to guide thy selfe after my death Pericles the Prince of Tyre is thy father and Thaysa king Symonides daughter was thy mother which father and mother departed from thy grandsir at Pentapolis toward their kingdom of Tyre thy mother being at Sea fell in trauell with thée died after thou wert borne when thy Father Pericles inclosed her body in a Chest with princely ornaments laying twenty talents of golde at her head and as much at her féete in siluer with a Scedule written containing the dignitie of her birth maner of her death then caused he the Chest to be thrown ouer-boorde into the Sea thorow a superstitious opinion which the mariners beléeued leauing her body so inriched to the intent that whither soeuer it were driuen they that found it in regarde of the riches would bury her according to her estate Thus Lady were you borne vppon the waters and your fathers Ship with much wrestling of contrary windes and with his vnspeakeable griefe of minde arriued at this shoare and brought thée in thy swadling clowtes vnto this Citty where he with great care deliuered thée vnto this thine hoste Cleon and Dyonysa his wife diligently to be fosterad vp and left me héere also to attend vppon thée swearing this oath to kéepe inuiolate his haire should be vncisserd his face vntrimmed himselfe in all things vncomely continually to mourne for mother your dead mother vntill your ripe yeares gaue him occasion to marry you to some prince worthy your birth and beauty wherefore I now admonish you that if after my death thine hoste or hostesse whom thou calst thy parents shall happly offer thée any iniury or discurteously taking aduantage of thy absent father as vnbefitting thine estate intertain thée haste thée into the market place where thou shalt finde a Statue erected to thy father standing take hold of it and crie aloude You cittizens of Tharsus I am his daughter whose Image this is who being mindefull of thy fathers benefits will doubtlesse reuenge thy iniurie When Marina thanking Lycorida for making that known to her which till then was vnknowne and happly either thorow Time or Death might haue béene buried in her ignorance and vowing if euer néede should so require of which as yet she had no cause to doubt her counsell should be followed And so Lycorida through sickenesse growing more weake and Marina for this knowledge and aduise still tending on her in her armes at last shée gaue vp the Ghost The ninth Chapter How after the death of Lycorida the Nnurse Dyonysa enuying at the beauty of Marina hired a seruant of hers to haue murderd her and how she was rescued by certaine Pyrates and by them carried to the Cittie of Meteline where among other bondslaues shee was solde to a common Bawde MArina hauing thus by Lycoridaes meanes had knowledge of her parentes and Lycorida hauing béene in her life her most carefull Nurse shée not without iust cause lamented her death and caused her body to be solempnely interred in a field without the walles of the Cittie raising a monument in remembrance of her vowing to her selfe a yeares solemne sadnesse and that her eies also for so long a time should daily pay their dewy offerings as lamenting the losse of so good a friend But this decrée of hers being accomplished and all the rites thereof faithfully fulfilled she dismissed her bodie of her mourning attire and againe apparrelled her selfe as before in her most costly habilliments frequenting the Schooles and diligently endeuouring the studies of the Liberall Sciences wherein she so out-went in perfection the labours of all that were studious with her that shée was rather vsed amongst them as their Schoolemistris to instruct than their fellow Scholler to learne onely for her recreation betwixt the houres of study dauncing singing sowing or what experience soeuer for in no action was she vnexpert as also euery morning and at noone before she made her meale she forgotte not to reuisite her Nurses sepulchre and entring into the monument vpon her knées she there offered her funerall teares for the losse of her mother and desiring the gods in their holy Synode to protect the safety of her father accusing her selfe as an vnfortunate childe whose béeing caused the death of her mother so good a Quéene and the sorrow of her father so curteous a Prince and in very déede the whole course of her life was so affable and curteous that she wonne the loue of all and euery man accompting his tongue the father of spéech a trewant which was not liberall in her prayses so that it fortuned as she passed along the stréete with Dyonysa her daughter who was her companion and Schoole-fellow and who till then she supposed had béene her sister The people as at other times came running out of their doores with gréedy desire to looke vpon her and beholding the beauty and comelinesse of Marina so farre to out-shine Dyonysaes daughter who went side by side with her could not containe themselues from crying out Happy is that father who hath Marina to his daughter but her Companion that goeth with her is fowle and ill-fauoured Which when Dyonysa heard her enuy of those prayes bred in her a contempt and that contempt soone transformed it selfe into wrath all which shée for the instant dissembling yet at her comming home withdrawing her selfe into a priuate walke she in this maner with her selfe beganne to discourse It is now quoth she fouretéene yéers since Pericles this out-shining gerles father departed this our Citty in all which time we
power ouer all shuld contemne none whither art thou fled then wéeping a while And O you Gods creators both of heauen and earth looke vppon my afflictions and take compassion vppon me that am vnfortunate in all things I haue bin tossed from wrong to iniurie I was borne amongest the waues and troublesome tempests of the Sea my mother died in paines and pangs of child-birth and buriall was denyed her on the earth whome my father adorned with Iewelles layd golde at her head and siluer at her féete and inclosing her in a Chest committed her to the Sea As for me vnfortunate wretch my father who with princely furniture put me in trust to Cleon and Dyonysa who commanded a seruant of theirs to murder me from whose cruelty by Pirates I was rescewed brought by them to this Citty and sold to haue béene hackneyd by a common Bawde though I thanke the heauens I haue preserued my chastity and now after al these crosses for my curtesies to be strucke thus to bléeding O cruell fate By which tale of hers Pericles being mooued since by all the circumstances he ghessed she was his childe and yet not knowing whether he might beléeue himselfe to be awake or in a dreame he beganne agayne to capitulate with her of her former relation as namely where she was borne who were her parents and what her name was To the which she answered My name is Marina and so called because I was borne vpon the sea O my Marina cryed out Pericies bring strucke into such an extaste of ioy that hée was not able to containe himselfe willing her agayne to discourse vnto him the storie of her misfortunes for hée could not heare too much Which she obeying him in and he knowing her to be his childe séeing that the supposed dead was risen again he falls on hir necke and kisses her calles vpon Helycanus to come vnto him shâ—wes him his daughter biddes him to knéele to her thanketh Lysimachus that so fortunately had brought her to begette life in the father who begot her so one while wéeping at others ioying and his senses being masterd by a gentle conquerour in that extreamitie of passion he fell into a slumber in which swéet sléepe of his hée was by Diana warned to hie to Ephesus and there vpon the Altare of that Goddesse to offer vppe his sacrifice before the Priests and there to discourse the whole progresse of his life which he remembring being awake he accordingly shipped himselfe with Lysimachus Marina and his owne subiects to perfourme Who landing at Ephesus and giuing notice of the purpose for which he was come he was by all the Priests and Uotaries attended to the Temple and being brought to the Altare this was the substance of his sacrifice I Pericles borne Prince of Tyre who hauing in youth attained to all kinde of knowledge resolued the Riddle of Antiochus to the intent to haue married his daughter whome he most shamefully defiled To preserue my selfe from whose anger I fled to sea suffered shipwracke was curteously entertained by good Symonides king of Pentapolis and after espoused his faire daughter Thaysa At the naming of whome she her selfe being by could not choose but starte for in this Temple was she placed to be a Nunne by Lord Cerimon who preserued her life But Pericles going on when Antiochus and his daughter quoth he were by lightning strucke dead from heauen I conducted my Queene with me from her fathers Court with purpose to receiue againe my kingdome where vpon the sea shée was deliuered of this my daughter in that trauell she died whom I inclosed in a Chest and threw it into the Sea When Thaysa standing by and no longer being able to temper her affections being assured he was her Lord shée ranne hastily vnto him imbraced him in her armes and would haue kissed him Which when Pericles sawe hée was mooued with disdaine and thrust her from him accusing her for lightnes whose modesty and good grace hée at his first entrance did commend when she falling at his féete and powring foorth her teares aboundantly gladnesse compelled her to crie out O my Lord Pericles deale not vngently with me I am your wife daughter vnto Symonides my name is Thaysa you were my Schoolemaister and instructed me in musicke you are that Prince whome I loued not for concupiscence but desire of wisedome I am she which was deliuered and died at the sea and by your owne hands was buryed in the déepes which wordes of hers Lord Cerimon standing by he was ready to auerre but it néeded not for Pericles though at the first astonished ioy had now so reuiued his spirites that hée knew her to be herselfe but throwing his head into her bosome hauing nothing but this to vtter he cried aloude O you heauens my misfortunes were now againe blessings since wée are agayne contracted so giuing his daughter to her armes to embrace her as a child and Lysimachus to enfolde her as a wife and giuing order the solemnity of marriage should strait be prouided for he then caused the bawd to be burnt who with so much labor had sought to violate her princely chastitie whilest Marina rewarded the pandar who had béene so faithfull to hir and then after he had seene hir mariage with Lisimachus he leaueth Ephesus and intendes for Tyre taking Pentapolis in his way whome by the death of good Symonides as lawful heire he was made soueraigne He also highly rewarded the poore Fisher-men who had relieued him From thence he arriued at Tharsus where hée reuenged himselfe of Cleon and Dyonysa by stoning them to death From thence to Tyre where peaceably he was receiued into his kingdome and giuen also possession of all the territories of Antiochus where by his wife though in the declining of both their yéeres it pleased the Gods to blesse him with a sonne who growing to the lusty strength of youth and the father declining to his graue age being no longer able to be sustained by the benefite of nature fell into certayne colde and dry diseases in which case the knowledge of his Physitions could stand him in little steade eyther by their cunning or experience so as no remedie being to be found against death being in perfect memorie he departed this life in the armes of his beloued Thaysa and in the middest of his friendes nobles alies and children in great honour his kingdome of Tyrus be gaue by will to Lysimachus and his daughter Marina and to their heires after them for euer who liued long together and had much comfort by their issue Unto his Quéene Thaysa he gaue the two kingdomes of Antioch and Pentapolis for tearme of her life and at her death to descend to her yong sonne Symonides But Thaysa who could not then be yong since Pericles died olde continued not long in her widows estate butpining much with sorrow and wearing with age forsooke the present worlde leauing her two kingdomes according to her fathers will to her yoong sonne Symonides FINIS