Marina thus the brothel ’scapes, and chances
Into an honest house, our story says.
She sings like one immortal, and she dances
As goddess-like to her admired lays;
Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her nee’le composes
Nature’s own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry,
That even her art sisters the natural roses;
Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry:
That pupils lacks she none of noble race,
Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain
She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place;
And to her father turn our thoughts again,
Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost;
Whence, driven before the winds, he is arrived
Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast
Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived
God Neptune’s annual feast to keep: from whence
Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies,
His banners sable, trimm’d with rich expense;
And to him in his barge with fervour hies.
In your supposing once more put your sight
Of heavy Pericles; think this his bark:
Where what is done in action, more, if might,
Shall be discover’d; please you, sit and hark.
deck, with a curtain before it; Pericles within it, reclined on a
couch. A barge lying beside the Tyrian vessel.
Marina thus the brothel ’scapes, and chances Into an honest house, our story says. She sings like one immortal, and she dances As goddess-like to her admired lays; Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her nee’le composes Nature’s own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry, That even her art sisters the natural roses; Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry: That pupils lacks she none of noble race, Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place; And to her father turn our thoughts again, Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost; Whence, driven before the winds, he is arrived Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived God Neptune’s annual feast to keep: from whence Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies, His banners sable, trimm’d with rich expense; And to him in his barge with fervour hies. In your supposing once more put your sight Of heavy Pericles; think this his bark: Where what is done in action, more, if might, Shall be discover’d; please you, sit and hark. deck, with a curtain before it; Pericles within it, reclined on a couch. A barge lying beside the Tyrian vessel.
Marina thus the brothel ’scapes, and chances Into an honest house, our story says. She sings like one immortal, and she dances As goddess-like to her admired lays; Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her nee’le composes Nature’s own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry, That even her art sisters the natural roses; Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry: That pupils lacks she none of noble race, Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place; And to her father turn our thoughts again, Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost; Whence, driven before the winds, he is arrived Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived God Neptune’s annual feast to keep: from whence Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies, His banners sable, trimm’d with rich expense; And to him in his barge with fervour hies. In your supposing once more put your sight Of heavy Pericles; think this his bark: Where what is done in action, more, if might, Shall be discover’d; please you, sit and hark. deck, with a curtain before it; Pericles within it, reclined on a couch. A barge lying beside the Tyrian vessel.
Marina thus the brothel ’scapes, and chances Into an honest house, our story says. She sings like one immortal, and she
Where is lord Helicanus? He can resolve you.
O, here he is.
Sir, there’s a barge put off from Mytilene,
And in it is Lysimachus the governor,
Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
Where is lord Helicanus? He can resolve you. O, here he is. Sir, there’s a barge put off from Mytilene, And in it is Lysimachus the governor, Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
Where is lord Helicanus? He can resolve you. O, here he is. Sir, there’s a barge put off from Mytilene, And in it is Lysimachus the governor, Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?
Where is lord Helicanus? He can resolve you. O, here he is. Sir, there’s a barge put off from Mytilene, And in it is Lys
That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
That he have his. Call up some gentlemen.
Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
Ho, gentlemen! my lord calls.
Doth your lordship call?
Doth your lordship call?
Doth your lordship call?
Doth your lordship call?
Gentlemen, there is some of worth would come aboard;
I pray ye, greet them fairly.
Gentlemen, there is some of worth would come aboard; I pray ye, greet them fairly.
Gentlemen, there is some of worth would come aboard; I pray ye, greet them fairly.
Gentlemen, there is some of worth would come aboard; I pray ye, greet them fairly.
Sir,
This is the man that can, in aught you would,
Resolve you.
Sir, This is the man that can, in aught you would, Resolve you.
Sir, This is the man that can, in aught you would, Resolve you.
Sir, This is the man that can, in aught you would, Resolve you.
Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!
Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!
Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!
Hail, reverend sir! the gods preserve you!
And you, sir, to outlive the age I am,
And die as I would do.
And you, sir, to outlive the age I am, And die as I would do.
And you, sir, to outlive the age I am, And die as I would do.
And you, sir, to outlive the age I am, And die as I would do.
You wish me well.
Being on shore, honouring of Neptune’s triumphs,
Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us,
I made to it, to know of whence you are.
You wish me well. Being on shore, honouring of Neptune’s triumphs, Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us, I made to it, to know of whence you are.
You wish me well. Being on shore, honouring of Neptune’s triumphs, Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us, I made to it, to know of whence you are.
You wish me well. Being on shore, honouring of Neptune’s triumphs, Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us, I made to i
First, what is your place?
First, what is your place?
First, what is your place?
First, what is your place?
I am the governor of this place you lie before.
I am the governor of this place you lie before.
I am the governor of this place you lie before.
I am the governor of this place you lie before.
Sir, our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king;
A man who for this three months hath not spoken
To anyone, nor taken sustenance
But to prorogue his grief.
Sir, our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king; A man who for this three months hath not spoken To anyone, nor taken sustenance But to prorogue his grief.
Sir, our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king; A man who for this three months hath not spoken To anyone, nor taken sustenance But to prorogue his grief.
Sir, our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king; A man who for this three months hath not spoken To anyone, nor taken sustena
Upon what ground is his distemperature?
Upon what ground is his distemperature?
Upon what ground is his distemperature?
Upon what ground is his distemperature?
’Twould be too tedious to repeat;
But the main grief springs from the loss
Of a beloved daughter and a wife.
’Twould be too tedious to repeat; But the main grief springs from the loss Of a beloved daughter and a wife.
’Twould be too tedious to repeat; But the main grief springs from the loss Of a beloved daughter and a wife.
’Twould be too tedious to repeat; But the main grief springs from the loss Of a beloved daughter and a wife.
May we not see him?
May we not see him?
May we not see him?
May we not see him?
You may;
But bootless is your sight: he will not speak
To any.
You may; But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any.
You may; But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any.
You may; But bootless is your sight: he will not speak To any.
Yet let me obtain my wish.
Yet let me obtain my wish.
Yet let me obtain my wish.
Yet let me obtain my wish.
Behold him.
Behold him.
Behold him.
Behold him.
Sir king, all hail! The gods preserve you!
Hail, royal sir!
Sir king, all hail! The gods preserve you! Hail, royal sir!
Sir king, all hail! The gods preserve you! Hail, royal sir!
Sir king, all hail! The gods preserve you! Hail, royal sir!
It is in vain; he will not speak to you.
It is in vain; he will not speak to you.
It is in vain; he will not speak to you.
It is in vain; he will not speak to you.
The Pericles-Marina recognition scene is the slowest in Shakespeare. From 'Hum, ha' to 'Come, my Marina' spans over fifty exchanges — each one a question, each one answered, each confirmation requiring another before Pericles allows himself to believe. This slowness is psychologically exact. He has been grieving Marina's death for years. He has built a life around that grief, or rather failed to build any life at all because of it. To be wrong about this — to believe he has found his daughter and then discover he hasn't — would be worse than the grief he has been living. So he proceeds like a man defusing something. Question by question. Name by name. He doesn't leap to conclusion; he earns certainty. Shakespeare understands that the risk of hope is real, and that only characters who have earned the right to believe can survive the believing.
Sir, we have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager,
Would win some words of him.
Sir, we have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager, Would win some words of him.
Sir, we have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager, Would win some words of him.
Sir, we have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager, Would win some words of him.
’Tis well bethought.
She questionless with her sweet harmony
And other chosen attractions, would allure,
And make a battery through his deafen’d parts,
Which now are midway stopp’d:
She is all happy as the fairest of all,
And, with her fellow maids, is now upon
The leafy shelter that abuts against
The island’s side.
’Tis well bethought. She questionless with her sweet harmony And other chosen attractions, would allure, And make a battery through his deafen’d parts, Which now are midway stopp’d: She is all happy as the fairest of all, And, with her fellow maids, is now upon The leafy shelter that abuts against The island’s side.
’Tis well bethought. She questionless with her sweet harmony And other chosen attractions, would allure, And make a battery through his deafen’d parts, Which now are midway stopp’d: She is all happy as the fairest of all, And, with her fellow maids, is now upon The leafy shelter that abuts against The island’s side.
’Tis well bethought. She questionless with her sweet harmony And other chosen attractions, would allure, And make a batt
Sure, all’s effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit
That bears recovery’s name. But, since your kindness
We have stretch’d thus far, let us beseech you
That for our gold we may provision have,
Wherein we are not destitute for want,
But weary for the staleness.
Sure, all’s effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit That bears recovery’s name. But, since your kindness We have stretch’d thus far, let us beseech you That for our gold we may provision have, Wherein we are not destitute for want, But weary for the staleness.
Sure, all’s effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit That bears recovery’s name. But, since your kindness We have stretch’d thus far, let us beseech you That for our gold we may provision have, Wherein we are not destitute for want, But weary for the staleness.
Sure, all’s effectless; yet nothing we’ll omit That bears recovery’s name. But, since your kindness We have stretch’d th
O, sir, a courtesy
Which if we should deny, the most just gods
For every graff would send a caterpillar,
And so inflict our province. Yet once more
Let me entreat to know at large the cause
Of your king’s sorrow.
O, sir, a courtesy Which if we should deny, the most just gods For every graff would send a caterpillar, And so inflict our province. Yet once more Let me entreat to know at large the cause Of your king’s sorrow.
O, sir, a courtesy Which if we should deny, the most just gods For every graff would send a caterpillar, And so inflict our province. Yet once more Let me entreat to know at large the cause Of your king’s sorrow.
O, sir, a courtesy Which if we should deny, the most just gods For every graff would send a caterpillar, And so inflict
Sit, sir, I will recount it to you:
But, see, I am prevented.
Sit, sir, I will recount it to you: But, see, I am prevented.
Sit, sir, I will recount it to you: But, see, I am prevented.
Sit, sir, I will recount it to you: But, see, I am prevented.
O, here is the lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one!
Is’t not a goodly presence?
O, here is the lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one! Is’t not a goodly presence?
O, here is the lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one! Is’t not a goodly presence?
O, here is the lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one! Is’t not a goodly presence?
She’s a gallant lady.
She’s a gallant lady.
She’s a gallant lady.
She’s a gallant lady.
She’s such a one, that, were I well assured
Came of a gentle kind and noble stock,
I’d wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed.
Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty
Expect even here, where is a kingly patient:
If that thy prosperous and artificial feat
Can draw him but to answer thee in aught,
Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay
As thy desires can wish.
She’s such a one, that, were I well assured Came of a gentle kind and noble stock, I’d wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed. Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty Expect even here, where is a kingly patient: If that thy prosperous and artificial feat Can draw him but to answer thee in aught, Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay As thy desires can wish.
She’s such a one, that, were I well assured Came of a gentle kind and noble stock, I’d wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed. Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty Expect even here, where is a kingly patient: If that thy prosperous and artificial feat Can draw him but to answer thee in aught, Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay As thy desires can wish.
She’s such a one, that, were I well assured Came of a gentle kind and noble stock, I’d wish no better choice, and think
Sir, I will use
My utmost skill in his recovery, provided
That none but I and my companion maid
Be suffer’d to come near him.
Sir, I will use My utmost skill in his recovery, provided That none but I and my companion maid Be suffer’d to come near him.
Sir, I will use My utmost skill in his recovery, provided That none but I and my companion maid Be suffer’d to come near him.
Sir, I will use My utmost skill in his recovery, provided That none but I and my companion maid Be suffer’d to come near
Come, let us leave her,
And the gods make her prosperous!
Come, let us leave her, And the gods make her prosperous!
Come, let us leave her, And the gods make her prosperous!
Come, let us leave her, And the gods make her prosperous!
Mark’d he your music?
Mark’d he your music?
Mark’d he your music?
Mark’d he your music?
No, nor look’d on us.
No, nor look’d on us.
No, nor look’d on us.
No, nor look’d on us.
See, she will speak to him.
See, she will speak to him.
See, she will speak to him.
See, she will speak to him.
Hail, sir! My lord, lend ear.
Hail, sir! My lord, lend ear.
Hail, sir! My lord, lend ear.
Hail, sir! My lord, lend ear.
Hum, ha!
Hum, ha!
Hum, ha!
Hum, ha!
I am a maid,
My lord, that ne’er before invited eyes,
But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks,
My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief
Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh’d.
Though wayward Fortune did malign my state,
My derivation was from ancestors
Who stood equivalent with mighty kings:
But time hath rooted out my parentage,
And to the world and awkward casualties
Bound me in servitude.
I am a maid, My lord, that ne’er before invited eyes, But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks, My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh’d. Though wayward Fortune did malign my state, My derivation was from ancestors Who stood equivalent with mighty kings: But time hath rooted out my parentage, And to the world and awkward casualties Bound me in servitude.
I am a maid, My lord, that ne’er before invited eyes, But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks, My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh’d. Though wayward Fortune did malign my state, My derivation was from ancestors Who stood equivalent with mighty kings: But time hath rooted out my parentage, And to the world and awkward casualties Bound me in servitude.
I am a maid, My lord, that ne’er before invited eyes, But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks, My lord, that, ma
My fortunes—parentage—good parentage—
To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?
My fortunes—parentage—good parentage— To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?
My fortunes—parentage—good parentage— To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?
My fortunes—parentage—good parentage— To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?
I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage,
You would not do me violence.
I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, You would not do me violence.
I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, You would not do me violence.
I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, You would not do me violence.
I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me.
You are like something that—what country-woman?
Here of these shores?
I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me. You are like something that—what country-woman? Here of these shores?
I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me. You are like something that—what country-woman? Here of these shores?
I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me. You are like something that—what country-woman? Here of these shores?
No, nor of any shores:
Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
No other than I appear.
No, nor of any shores: Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am No other than I appear.
No, nor of any shores: Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am No other than I appear.
No, nor of any shores: Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am No other than I appear.
I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping.
My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one
My daughter might have been: my queen’s square brows;
Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight;
As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like
And cased as richly; in pace another Juno;
Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry,
The more she gives them speech. Where do you live?
I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one My daughter might have been: my queen’s square brows; Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like And cased as richly; in pace another Juno; Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry, The more she gives them speech. Where do you live?
I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one My daughter might have been: my queen’s square brows; Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like And cased as richly; in pace another Juno; Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry, The more she gives them speech. Where do you live?
I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one My daughter might hav
Where I am but a stranger: from the deck
You may discern the place.
Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place.
Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place.
Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place.
Where were you bred?
And how achieved you these endowments, which
You make more rich to owe?
Where were you bred? And how achieved you these endowments, which You make more rich to owe?
Where were you bred? And how achieved you these endowments, which You make more rich to owe?
Where were you bred? And how achieved you these endowments, which You make more rich to owe?
If I should tell my history, it would seem
Like lies disdain’d in the reporting.
If I should tell my history, it would seem Like lies disdain’d in the reporting.
If I should tell my history, it would seem Like lies disdain’d in the reporting.
If I should tell my history, it would seem Like lies disdain’d in the reporting.
Prithee, speak:
Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look’st
Modest as Justice, and thou seem’st a palace
For the crown’d Truth to dwell in: I will believe thee,
And make my senses credit thy relation
To points that seem impossible; for thou look’st
Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends?
Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back—
Which was when I perceived thee—that thou cam’st
From good descending?
Prithee, speak: Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look’st Modest as Justice, and thou seem’st a palace For the crown’d Truth to dwell in: I will believe thee, And make my senses credit thy relation To points that seem impossible; for thou look’st Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends? Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back— Which was when I perceived thee—that thou cam’st From good descending?
Prithee, speak: Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look’st Modest as Justice, and thou seem’st a palace For the crown’d Truth to dwell in: I will believe thee, And make my senses credit thy relation To points that seem impossible; for thou look’st Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends? Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back— Which was when I perceived thee—that thou cam’st From good descending?
Prithee, speak: Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look’st Modest as Justice, and thou seem’st a palace For the c
So indeed I did.
So indeed I did.
So indeed I did.
So indeed I did.
Report thy parentage. I think thou said’st
Thou hadst been toss’d from wrong to injury,
And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine,
If both were open’d.
Report thy parentage. I think thou said’st Thou hadst been toss’d from wrong to injury, And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine, If both were open’d.
Report thy parentage. I think thou said’st Thou hadst been toss’d from wrong to injury, And that thou thought’st thy griefs might equal mine, If both were open’d.
Report thy parentage. I think thou said’st Thou hadst been toss’d from wrong to injury, And that thou thought’st thy gri
When Pericles hears celestial music that no one else on stage can detect, the play is doing something specifically religious. In the Ptolemaic model of the cosmos, the planets and stars moved on crystalline spheres, and their motion created a music of incomparable beauty — but one that human ears, coarsened by earthly experience, could not perceive. Only the pure, the blessed, or those who had undergone transformative experience could hear it. Pericles hears it immediately after the recognition, as a direct consequence of being restored to his daughter. The cosmos is marking his return to the living. This is not decoration — it is the play's explicit claim that what has happened to Pericles has spiritual significance beyond human scale.
Some such thing,
I said, and said no more but what my thoughts
Did warrant me was likely.
Some such thing, I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Did warrant me was likely.
Some such thing, I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Did warrant me was likely.
Some such thing, I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Did warrant me was likely.
Tell thy story;
If thine consider’d prove the thousand part
Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I
Have suffer’d like a girl: yet thou dost look
Like Patience gazing on kings’ graves, and smiling
Extremity out of act. What were thy friends?
How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin?
Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me.
Tell thy story; If thine consider’d prove the thousand part Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I Have suffer’d like a girl: yet thou dost look Like Patience gazing on kings’ graves, and smiling Extremity out of act. What were thy friends? How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin? Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me.
Tell thy story; If thine consider’d prove the thousand part Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I Have suffer’d like a girl: yet thou dost look Like Patience gazing on kings’ graves, and smiling Extremity out of act. What were thy friends? How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin? Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me.
Tell thy story; If thine consider’d prove the thousand part Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I Have suffer’d like a
My name is Marina.
My name is Marina.
My name is Marina.
My name is Marina.
O, I am mock’d,
And thou by some incensed god sent hither
To make the world to laugh at me.
O, I am mock’d, And thou by some incensed god sent hither To make the world to laugh at me.
O, I am mock’d, And thou by some incensed god sent hither To make the world to laugh at me.
O, I am mock’d, And thou by some incensed god sent hither To make the world to laugh at me.
Patience, good sir,
Or here I’ll cease.
Patience, good sir, Or here I’ll cease.
Patience, good sir, Or here I’ll cease.
Patience, good sir, Or here I’ll cease.
Nay, I’ll be patient.
Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me,
To call thyself Marina.
Nay, I’ll be patient. Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me, To call thyself Marina.
Nay, I’ll be patient. Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me, To call thyself Marina.
Nay, I’ll be patient. Thou little know’st how thou dost startle me, To call thyself Marina.
The name
Was given me by one that had some power,
My father, and a king.
The name Was given me by one that had some power, My father, and a king.
The name Was given me by one that had some power, My father, and a king.
The name Was given me by one that had some power, My father, and a king.
How! a king’s daughter?
And call’d Marina?
How! a king’s daughter? And call’d Marina?
How! a king’s daughter? And call’d Marina?
How! a king’s daughter? And call’d Marina?
You said you would believe me;
But, not to be a troubler of your peace,
I will end here.
You said you would believe me; But, not to be a troubler of your peace, I will end here.
You said you would believe me; But, not to be a troubler of your peace, I will end here.
You said you would believe me; But, not to be a troubler of your peace, I will end here.
But are you flesh and blood?
Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?
Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born?
And wherefore call’d Marina?
But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born? And wherefore call’d Marina?
But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born? And wherefore call’d Marina?
But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born? An
Call’d Marina
For I was born at sea.
Call’d Marina For I was born at sea.
Call’d Marina For I was born at sea.
Call’d Marina For I was born at sea.
At sea! What mother?
At sea! What mother?
At sea! What mother?
At sea! What mother?
My mother was the daughter of a king;
Who died the minute I was born,
As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
Deliver’d weeping.
My mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Deliver’d weeping.
My mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Deliver’d weeping.
My mother was the daughter of a king; Who died the minute I was born, As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft Deliver’d weep
O, stop there a little! [_Aside._] This is the rarest dream that e’er
dull sleep
Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be:
My daughter, buried. Well, where were you bred?
I’ll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.
O, stop there a little! [_Aside._] This is the rarest dream that e’er dull sleep Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be: My daughter, buried. Well, where were you bred? I’ll hear you more, to the bottom of your story, And never interrupt you.
O, stop there a little! [_Aside._] This is the rarest dream that e’er dull sleep Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be: My daughter, buried. Well, where were you bred? I’ll hear you more, to the bottom of your story, And never interrupt you.
O, stop there a little! [_Aside._] This is the rarest dream that e’er dull sleep Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot
You scorn: believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.
You scorn: believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.
You scorn: believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.
You scorn: believe me, ’twere best I did give o’er.
I will believe you by the syllable
Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave:
How came you in these parts? Where were you bred?
I will believe you by the syllable Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave: How came you in these parts? Where were you bred?
I will believe you by the syllable Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave: How came you in these parts? Where were you bred?
I will believe you by the syllable Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave: How came you in these parts? Where wer
The king my father did in Tarsus leave me;
Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,
Did seek to murder me: and having woo’d
A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do’t,
A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
Brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir.
Whither will you have me? Why do you weep? It may be,
You think me an impostor: no, good faith;
I am the daughter to King Pericles,
If good King Pericles be.
The king my father did in Tarsus leave me; Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife, Did seek to murder me: and having woo’d A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do’t, A crew of pirates came and rescued me; Brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir. Whither will you have me? Why do you weep? It may be, You think me an impostor: no, good faith; I am the daughter to King Pericles, If good King Pericles be.
The king my father did in Tarsus leave me; Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife, Did seek to murder me: and having woo’d A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do’t, A crew of pirates came and rescued me; Brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir. Whither will you have me? Why do you weep? It may be, You think me an impostor: no, good faith; I am the daughter to King Pericles, If good King Pericles be.
The king my father did in Tarsus leave me; Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife, Did seek to murder me: and having woo
Ho, Helicanus!
Ho, Helicanus!
Ho, Helicanus!
Ho, Helicanus!
Calls my lord?
Calls my lord?
Calls my lord?
Calls my lord?
Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,
Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst,
What this maid is, or what is like to be,
That thus hath made me weep.
Thou art a grave and noble counsellor, Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst, What this maid is, or what is like to be, That thus hath made me weep.
Thou art a grave and noble counsellor, Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst, What this maid is, or what is like to be, That thus hath made me weep.
Thou art a grave and noble counsellor, Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst, What this maid is, or what is like
I know not,
But here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene
Speaks nobly of her.
I know not, But here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene Speaks nobly of her.
I know not, But here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene Speaks nobly of her.
I know not, But here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene Speaks nobly of her.
She would never tell
Her parentage; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.
She would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, She would sit still and weep.
She would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, She would sit still and weep.
She would never tell Her parentage; being demanded that, She would sit still and weep.
O Helicanus, strike me, honour’d sir;
Give me a gash, put me to present pain;
Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me
O’erbear the shores of my mortality,
And drown me with their sweetness.
O Helicanus, strike me, honour’d sir; Give me a gash, put me to present pain; Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me O’erbear the shores of my mortality, And drown me with their sweetness.
O Helicanus, strike me, honour’d sir; Give me a gash, put me to present pain; Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me O’erbear the shores of my mortality, And drown me with their sweetness.
O Helicanus, strike me, honour’d sir; Give me a gash, put me to present pain; Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon m
Throughout the recognition scene, Marina is answering questions without yet knowing who she is answering them to. She knows she is speaking to a broken king. She describes her royal parentage, her birth at sea, her life at Tarsus, her mother's death at her birth — all of it accurate, none of it delivered with the knowledge that she is telling it to the man who caused all of it, who named her, who mourned her. The recognition reaches Marina slightly after it reaches Pericles: he says 'I am Pericles of Tyre' and she says 'Is it no more to be your daughter than to say my mother's name was Thaisa?' Her question is rhetorical — it takes the form of slight disbelief, slight wonder. She has been waiting her whole life to find out who she is. The scene gives them each their recognition at a slightly different moment, which doubles the emotional impact.
First, sir, I pray, what is your title?
First, sir, I pray, what is your title?
First, sir, I pray, what is your title?
First, sir, I pray, what is your title?
I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now
My drown’d queen’s name, as in the rest you said
Thou hast been godlike perfect,
The heir of kingdoms and another life
To Pericles thy father.
I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now My drown’d queen’s name, as in the rest you said Thou hast been godlike perfect, The heir of kingdoms and another life To Pericles thy father.
I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now My drown’d queen’s name, as in the rest you said Thou hast been godlike perfect, The heir of kingdoms and another life To Pericles thy father.
I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now My drown’d queen’s name, as in the rest you said Thou hast been godlike perfect,
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
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?
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?
Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child. Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus; She is not dead at Tarsus,
Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.
Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene, Who, hearing of your melancholy state, Did come to see you.
Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene, Who, hearing of your melancholy state, Did come to see you.
Sir, ’tis the governor of Mytilene, Who, hearing of your melancholy state, Did come to see you.
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?
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?
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?
I embrace you. Give me my robes. I am wild in my beholding. O heavens bless my girl! But, hark, what music? Tell Helican
My lord, I hear none.
My lord, I hear none.
My lord, I hear none.
My lord, I hear none.
None!
The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.
None! The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.
None! The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.
None! The music of the spheres! List, my Marina.
It is not good to cross him; give him way.
It is not good to cross him; give him way.
It is not good to cross him; give him way.
It is not good to cross him; give him way.
Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?
Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?
Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?
Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear?
Most heavenly music!
It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber
Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
Most heavenly music! It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
Most heavenly music! It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
Most heavenly music! It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber Hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest.
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.
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.
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.
A pillow for his head: So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends, If this but answer to my just belief, I’ll well re
The goddess appears to Pericles in a dream while he sleeps after the recognition. She speaks only once in the play, in a vision, commanding him to go to Ephesus and declare his history at her altar. Her appearance is not theatrical surprise — it is structural necessity. The plot requires a mechanism to get Pericles to Ephesus, where Thaisa is waiting as a priestess. Diana provides it. She is the play's governing deity: patron of chastity, of Thaisa's vestal calling, of Marina's preservation in the brothel, and now the agent of the final reunion. She doesn't need personality; she needs authority.
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.
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.
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.
My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither, And do upon mine altar sacrifice. There, when my maiden priests are met t
Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,
I will obey thee. Helicanus!
Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, I will obey thee. Helicanus!
Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, I will obey thee. Helicanus!
Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, I will obey thee. Helicanus!
Sir?
Sir?
Sir?
Sir?
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.
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.
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.
My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike The inhospitable Cleon; but I am For other service first: toward Ephesus Turn
Sir, with all my heart,
And when you come ashore I have another suit.
Sir, with all my heart, And when you come ashore I have another suit.
Sir, with all my heart, And when you come ashore I have another suit.
Sir, with all my heart, And when you come ashore I have another suit.
You shall prevail, were it to woo my daughter;
For it seems you have been noble towards her.
You shall prevail, were it to woo my daughter; For it seems you have been noble towards her.
You shall prevail, were it to woo my daughter; For it seems you have been noble towards her.
You shall prevail, were it to woo my daughter; For it seems you have been noble towards her.
Sir, lend me your arm.
Sir, lend me your arm.
Sir, lend me your arm.
Sir, lend me your arm.
Come, my Marina.
Come, my Marina.
Come, my Marina.
Come, my Marina.
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.
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.
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.
Now our sands are almost run; More a little, and then dumb. This, my last boon, give me, For such kindness must relieve
The Reckoning
This is the scene the entire play has been building toward. Everything — the storm, Thaisa's burial, Marina's childhood in Tarsus, her years in the brothel converting customers — has been structural preparation for this encounter between a father who has stopped living and a daughter who doesn't yet know who she is. The recognition doesn't happen in a flash; it happens in increments, question by question, the way someone waking from a very long sleep comes back to the world slowly. Pericles tests her, doubts her, pushes back — because the grief of being wrong again would be unsurvivable. The scene is about the risk of hope.
If this happened today…
A man who lost his wife and later heard his daughter died has been sitting alone on a ship for three months, not eating much, not talking. A young woman who grew up in an orphanage, never knowing her parents, is brought on board to sing to him. They start talking. She mentions things that shouldn't be possible. He asks questions he's afraid to have answered. Slowly — terribly slowly — they both begin to understand what they are to each other. He finally says her name.