Cer.

Come, wrench it open;

Soft, soft!-it smells most sweetly in my sense. 2 Gent A delicate odour.

Cer. As ever hit my nostril; so,-up with it. O you most potent gods! what's here? a corse! 1 Gent. Most strange!

Cer. Shrouded in cloth of state; balm'd and en

treasur'd

With bags of spices full! A passport too!

Apollo, perfect me i'the characters!

Here I give to understand,

[Unfolds a scroll.

[Reads.

(If e'er this coffin drive a-land,)
I, king Pericles, have lost

This queen, worth all our mundane cost.

Who finds her, give her burying,
She was the daughter of a king:
Besides this treasure for a fee,
The gods requite his charity!

If thou liv'st, Pericles, thou hast a heart
That even cracks for woe!-This chanc'd to-

night.

2 Gent. Most likely, sir.

Cer.

Nay, certainly to-night;

For look, how fresh she looks! - They were too

rough,

That threw her in the sea.

Make fire within;

Fetch hither all the boxes in my closet.

Death may usurp on nature many hours,

And yet the fire of life kindle again
The overpressed spirits. I have heard

Of an Egyptian, had nine hours lien dead,
By good appliance was recovered.

Enter a Servant, with Boxes, Napkins, and Fire.

Well said, well said; the fire and the cloths.—
The rough and woful musick that we have,
Cause it to sound, 'beseech you.

The vial once more; - How thou stirr'st, thou block?

The musick there.-I pray you, give her air:Gentlemen,

This queen will live: nature awakes; a warmth Breathes out of her; she hath not been entranc'd Above five hours. See, how she 'gins to blow. Into life's flower again!

1 Gent.

The heavens, sir,

Through you, increase our wonder, and set up
Your fame for ever.

Cer.

She is alive; behold,

Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels

Which Pericles hath lost,

Begin to part their fringes of bright gold;

The diamonds of a most praised water

Appear, to make the world twice rich. O live,

And make us weep to hear your fate, fair creature, Rare as you seem to be!

Thai.

O dear Diana,

[She moves.

Where am I? Where's my lord? What world is

this?

2 Gent. Is not this strange?

1 Gent.

Cer.

Most rare.

Hush, gentle neighbours;

Lend me your hands: to the next chamber bear

her.

Get linen; now this matter must be look'd to,
For her relapse is mortal. Come, come, come;
And Esculapius guide us!

[Exeunt, carrying Thaisa away.

SCENE III.

THARSUS. A ROOM IN CLEON'S HOUSE.

Enter Pericles, Cleon, Dionyza, Lychorida, and Marina.

Per. Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be

gone;

My twelve months are expir'd, and Tyrus stands
In a litigious peace. You, and your lady,
Take from my heart all thankfulness! The gods
Make up the rest upon you!

Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you mortally,

Yet glance full wand'ringly on us.

Dion.

O your sweet queen!

That the strict fates had pleas'd you had brought

her hither,

To have bless'd mine eyes!

Per.

We cannot but obey

The powers above us.

Could I rage and roar

As doth the sea she lies in, yet the end

Must be as 'tis. Mybabe Marina (whom,

For she was born at sea, I have nam'd so,) here
I charge your charity withal, and leave her
The infant of your care; beseeching you
To give her princely training, that she may be
Manner'd as she is born.

Cle. Fear not, my lord: Your grace, that fed that fed my country with your corn, (For which the people's prayers still fall upon you,)

Must in your child be thought on. If neglection
Should therein make me vile, the common body,
By you reliev'd, would force me to my duty:
But if to that my nature need a spur,

The gods revenge it upon me and mine,
To the end of generation!

Per.

Your honour and your goodness teach me credit,

Without your vows. Till she be married, madam,
By bright Diana, whom we honour all,
Unscissar'd shall this hair of mine remain,

Though I show will in't. So I take my leave.
Good madam, make me blessed in your care

In bringing up my child.

Dion.

I have one myself,

Who shall not be more dear to my respect,

Than yours, my lord.

Per.

Madam, my thanks and prayers.

Cle. We'll bring your grace even to the edge

o'the shore;

Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune, and

The gentlest winds of heaven.

Per.

Your offer.

I will embrace

Come, dear'st madam.-O, no tears,

Lychorida, no tears:

Look to your little mistress, on whose grace
You may depend hereafter.-Come, my lord.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

EPHESUS. A ROOM IN CERIMON'S HOUSE.

Enter Cerimon and Thaisa.

Cer. Madam, this letter, and some certain

jewels,

Lay with you in your coffer: which are now At your command. Know you the character? Thai: It is my lord's.

That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember, Even on my yearning time; but whether there Delivered or no, by the holy gods,

I cannot rightly say: But since king Pericles, My wedded lord, I ne'er shall see again,

A vestal livery will I take me to,

And never more have joy.

Cer. Madam, if this you purpose as you speak, Diana's temple is not distant far,