1608

PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

by William Shakespeare

DRAMATIS PERSONAE -

GOWER, as Chorus -

ANTIOCHUS, King of Antioch

PERICLES, Prince of Tyre -

two lords of Tyre

HELICANUS

ESCANES -

SIMONIDES, King of Pentapolis

CLEON, Governor of Tharsus

LYSIMACHUS, Governor of Mytilene

CERIMON, a lord of Ephesus

THALIARD, a lord of Antioch

PHILEMON, servant to Cerimon

LEONINE, servant to Dionyza

MARSHAL

A PANDER

BOULT, his servant -

THE DAUGHTER of Antiochus

DIONYZA, wife to Cleon

THAISA, daughter to Simonides

MARINA, daughter to Pericles and Thaisa

LYCHORIDA, nurse to Marina

A BAWD -

DIANA -

Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors,

Pirates, Fishermen, and Messengers - -

SCENE: -

Dispersedly in various countries

ACT 1. -

Antioch. Before the palace -

Enter GOWER -

To sing a song that old was sung,

From ashes ancient Gower is come,

Assuming man's infirmities,

To glad your ear and please your eyes.

It hath been sung at festivals,

On ember-eves and holy-ales;

And lords and ladies in their lives

Have read it for restoratives.

The purchase is to make men glorious;

Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius.

If you, born in those latter times,

When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes,

And that to hear an old man sing

May to your wishes pleasure bring,

I life would wish, and that I might

Waste it for you, like taper-light.

This Antioch, then, Antiochus the Great

Built up, this city, for his chiefest seat;

The fairest in all Syria-

I tell you what mine authors say.

This king unto him took a fere,

Who died and left a female heir,

So buxom, blithe, and full of face,

As heaven had lent her all his grace;

With whom the father liking took,

And her to incest did provoke.

Bad child! Worse father! To entice his own

To evil should be done by none.

But custom what they did begin

Was with long use account no sin.

The beauty of this sinful dame

Made many princes thither frame

To seek her as a bed-fellow,

In marriage-pleasures play-fellow;

Which to prevent he made a law-

To keep her still, and men in awe-

That whoso ask'd her for his wife,

His riddle told not, lost his life.

So for her many a wight did die,

As yon grim looks do testify.

What now ensues to the judgment of your eye

I give, my cause who best can justify. Exit

SCENE 1. -

Antioch. The palace -

Enter ANTIOCHUS, PRINCE PERICLES, and followers -

ANTIOCHUS. Young Prince of Tyre, you have at large

received

The danger of the task you undertake.

PERICLES. I have, Antiochus, and, with a soul

Embold'ned with the glory of her praise,

Think death no hazard in this enterprise.

ANTIOCHUS. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride