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Уильям Шекспир
Pericles, Prince of Tyre

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SCENE II. The same. A public way, or platform leading to the lists. A pavilion by the side of it for the reception of the King, Princess, Lords, etc

[Enter Simonides, Lords and Attendants.]

SIMONIDES

 
Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?
 

FIRST LORD

 
They are, my liege;
And stay your coming to present themselves.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,
In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat
For men to see, and seeing wonder at.
 

[Exit a Lord.]

THALIARD

 
It pleaseth you1 my royal father, to express
My commendations great, whose merit's less.
 

SIMONIDES

 
It's fit it should be so; for princes are
A model, which heaven makes like to itself:
As jewels lose their glory if neglected,
So princes their renowns if not respected.
'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain
The labour of each knight in his device.
 

THALIARD

 
Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.
 

[Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire presents his shield to the Princess.]

SIMONIDES

 
Who is the first that doth prefer himself?
 

THALIARD

 
A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is a black Ethiope reaching at the sun:
The word, 'Lux tua vita mihi.'
 

SIMONIDES

 
He loves you well that holds his life of you.
 

[The Second Knight passes over.]

 
Who is the second that presents himself?
 

THALIARD

 
A prince of Macedon, my royal father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is an arm'd knight that's conquer'd by a lady;
The motto thus, in Spanish, 'Piu por dulzura que por fuerza.'
 

[The Third Knight passes over.]

SIMONIDES

 
And what's the third?
 

THALIARD

 
The third of Antioch;
And his device, a wreath of chivalry;
The word, 'Me pompae provexit apex.'
 

[The Fourth Knight passes over.]

SIMONIDES

 
What is the fourth?
 

THALIARD

 
A burning torch that's turned upside down;
The word, 'Quod me alit, me extinguit.'
 

SIMONIDES

 
Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,
Which can as well inflame as it can kill.
 

[The Fifth Knight passes over.]

THALIARD

 
The fifth, an hand environed with clouds,
Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;
The motto thus, 'Sic spectanda fides.'
 

[The Sixith Knight, Pericles, passes over.]

SIMONIDES

 
And what's
The sixth and last, the which the knight himself
With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd?
 

THALIARD

 
He seems to be a stranger; but his present is
A wither'd branch, that's only green at top;
The motto, 'In hac spe vivo.'
 

SIMONIDES

 
A pretty moral;
From the dejected state wherein he is,
He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.
 

FIRST LORD

 
He had need mean better than his outward show
Can any way speak in his just commend;
For by his rusty outside he appears
To have practised more the whipstock than the lance.
 

SECOND LORD

 
He well may be a stranger, for he comes
To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished.
 

THIRD LORD

 
And on set purpose let his armour rust
Until this day, to scour it in the dust.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan
The outward habit by the inward man.
But stay, the knights are coming: we will withdraw
Into the gallery.
 

[Exeunt.]

[Great shouts within, and all cry 'The mean knight!']

SCENE III. The same. A hall of state: a banquet prepared

[Enter Simonides, Thaisa, Lords, Attendants, and Knights, from tilting.]

SIMONIDES

 
Knights,
To say you're welcome were superfluous.
To place upon the volume of your deeds,
As in a title-page, your worth in arms,
Were more than you expect, or more than's fit,
Since every worth in show commends itself.
Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast:
You are princes and my guests.
 

THAISA

 
But you, my knight and guest;
To whom this wreath of victory I give,
And crown you king of this day's happiness.
 

PERICLES

 
'Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Call it by what you will, the day is yours;
And here, I hope, is none that envies it.
In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed,
To make some good, but others to exceed;
And you are her labour'd scholar. Come queen of the feast, —
For, daughter, so you are, – here take your place:
Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace.
 

KNIGHTS

 
We are honour'd much by good Simonides.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Your presence glads our days; honour we love;
For who hates honour hates the gods above.
 

MARSHALL

 
Sir, yonder is your place.
 

PERICLES

 
Some other is more fit.
 

FIRST KNIGHT

 
Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen
That neither in our hearts nor outward eyes
Envy the great nor do the low despise.
 

PERICLES

 
You are right courteous knights.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Sit, sir, sit.
 

PERICLES

 
By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,
These cates resist me, she but thought upon.
 

THAISA

 
By Juno, that is queen of marriage,
All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury,
Wishing him my meat. Sure, he's a gallant gentleman.
 

SIMONIDES

 
He's but a country gentleman;
Has done no more than other knights have done;
Has broken a staff or so; so let it pass.
 

THAISA

 
To me he seems like diamond to glass.
 

PERICLES

 
Yon king's to me like to my father's picture,
Which tells me in that glory once he was;
Had princes sit, like stars, about his throne,
And he the sun, for them to reverence;
None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights,
Did vail their crowns to his supremacy:
Where now his son's like a glow-worm in the night,
The which hath fire in darkness, none in light:
Whereby I see that Time's the king of men,
He's both their parent, and he is their grave,
And gives them what he will, not what they crave.
 

SIMONIDES

 
What, are you merry, knights?
 

KNIGHTS

 
Who can be other in this royal presence?
 

SIMONIDES

 
Here, with a cup that's stored unto the brim, —
As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips, —
We drink this health to you.
 

KNIGHTS

 
We thank your grace.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Yet pause awhile:
Yon knight doth sit too melancholy,
As if the entertainment in our court
Had not a show might countervail his worth.
Note it not you, Thaisa?
 

THAISA

 
What is it
To me, my father?
 

SIMONIDES

 
O attend, my daughter:
Princes in this should live like god's above,
Who freely give to every one that comes
To honour them:
And princes not doing so are like to gnats,
Which make a sound, but kill'd are wonder'd at.
Therefore to make his entrance more sweet,
Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.
 

THAISA

 
Alas, my father, it befits not me
Unto a stranger knight to be so bold:
He may my proffer take for an offence,
Since men take women's gifts for impudence.
 

SIMONIDES

 
How!
Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.
 

THAISA. [Aside]

 
Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.
 

SIMONIDES

 
And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him,
Of whence he is, his name and parentage.
 

THAISA

 
The king my father, sir, has drunk to you.
 

PERICLES

 
I thank him.
 

THAISA

 
Wishing it so much blood unto your life.
 

PERICLES

 
I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.
 

THAISA

 
And further he desires to know of you,
Of whence you are, your name and parentage.
 

PERICLES

 
A gentleman of Tyre; my name, Pericles;
My education been in arts and arms;
Who, looking for adventures in the world,
Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And after shipwreck driven upon this shore.
 

THAISA

 
He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles,
A gentleman of Tyre,
Who only by misfortune of the seas
Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
And will awake him from his melancholy.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other revels.
Even in your armours, as you are address'd,
Will very well become a soldier's dance.
I will not have excuse, with saying this,
Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads
Since they love men in arms as well as beds.
 

[The Knights dance.]

 

 
So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd.
Come, sir;
Here is a lady which wants breathing too:
And I have heard you nights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip;
And that their measures are as exceltent.
 

PERICLES

 
In those that practise them they are, my lord.
 

SIMONIDES

 
O, that's as much as you would be denied
Of your fair courtesy.
 

[The Knights and Ladies dance.]

 
Unclasp, unclasp:
Thanks gentlemen, to all; all have done well.
 

[To Pericles.]

 
But you the you the best. Pages and lights to conduct
These knights unto their several lodging.
 

[To Pericles.]

 
Yours, sir,
We have given order to be next our own.
 

PERICLES

 
I am at your grace's pleasure.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Princes, it is too late to talk of love;
And that's the mark I know you level at:
Therefore each one betake him to his rest;
To-morrow all for speeding do their best.
 

[Exeunt.]

SCENE IV. Tyre. A room in the Govenor's house

[Enter Helicanus and Escanes.]

HELICANUS

 
No, Escanes, know this of me,
Antiochus from incest lived not free:
For which, the most high gods not minding longer
To withhold the vengeance that they had in store
Due to this heinous capital offence,
Even in the height and pride of all his glory,
When he was seated in a chariot
Of an inestimable value, and his daughter with him,
A fire from heavn came and shrivell'd up
Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes adored them ere their fall
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
 

ESCANES

 
'Twas very strange
 

HELICANUS

 
And yet but justice; for though
This king were great; his greatness was no guard.
To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward.
 

ESCANES

 
'Tis very true.
 

[Enter two or three Lords.]

FIRST LORD

 
See, not a man in private conference
Or council has respect with him but he.
 

SECOND LORD

 
It shall no longer grieve with out reproof.
 

THIRD LORD

 
And cursed be he that will not second it.
 

FIRST LORD

 
Follow me, then. Lord Helicane, a word.
 

HELICANE

 
With me? and welcome: happy day, my lords.
 

FIRST LORD

 
Know that our griefs are risen to the top,
And now at length they overflow their banks.
 

HELICANE

 
Your griefs! for what? wrong not your prince your love.
 

FIRST LORD

 
Wrong not yourself, then, noble Helicane;
But if the prince do live, let us salute him.
Or know what ground's made happy by his breath.
If in the world he live, we'll seek him there;
And be resolved he lives to govern us,
Or dead, give's cause to mourn his funeral,
And leave us to our free election.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Whose death indeed 's the strongest in our censure:
And knowing this kingdom is without a head, —
Like goodly buildings left without a roof
Soon fall to ruin, – your noble self,
That best know how to rulle and how to reign,
We thus submit unto, – our sovereign.
 

ALL

 
Live, noble Helicane!
 

HELICANUS

 
For honour's cause, forbear your suffrages:
If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear.
Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,
Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease.
A twelve month longer, let me entreat you to
Forbear the absence of your king;
If in which time expired, he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love,
Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,
And in your search spend your adventurous worth;
Whom if you find, and win unto return,
You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.
 

FIRST LORD

 
To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield;
And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,
We with our travels will endeavour us.
 

HELICANUS

 
Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands:
When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands.
 

[Exeunt.]

SCENE V. Pentapolis. A room in the palace

 
Enter Simonides, reading a letter at one door: the Knights meet him.]
 

FIRST KNIGHT.]

 
Good morrow to the good Simonides.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,
That for this twelvemonth she'll not undertake
A married life.
Her reason to herself is only known,
Which yet from her by no means can I get.
 

SECOND KNIGHT

 
May we not get access to her, my lord?
 

SIMONIDES

 
'Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied
Her to her chamber, that 'tis impossible.
One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery;
This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd,
And on her virgin honour will not break it.
 

THIRD KNIGHT

 
Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
 

[Exeunt Knights.]

SIMONIDES

 
So,
They are well dispatch'd; now to my daughter's letter:
She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight.
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
'Tis well, mistress; your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well: nay, how absolute she's in it,
Not minding whether I dislike or no!
Well, I do commend her choice;
And will no longer have it delay'd.
Soft! here he comes: I must dissemble it.
 

[Enter Pericles.]

PERICLES

 
All fortune to the good Simonides!
 

SIMONIDES

 
To you as much, sir! I am beholding to you
For your sweet music this last night: I do
Protest my ears were never better fed
With such delightful pleasing harmony.
 

PERICLES

 
It is your grace's pleasure to commend;
Not my desert.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Sir, you are music's master.
 

PERICLES

 
The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Let me ask you one thing:
What do you think of my daughter, sir?
 

PERICLES

 
A most virtuous princess.
 

SIMONIDES

 
And she is fair too, is she not?
 

PERICLES

 
As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you;
Ay, so well, that you must be her master,
And she will be your scholar: therefore look to it.
 

PERICLES

 
I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
 

SIMONIDES

 
She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
 

PERICLES. [Aside.]

 
A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre!
'Tis the king's subtilty to have my life.
O, seek not to entrap me, gracious lord,
A stranger and distressed gentleman,
That never aim'd so high to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honour her.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art
A villain.
 

PERICLES

 
By the gods, I have not:
Never did thought of mine levy offence;
Nor never did my actions yet commence
A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.
 

SIMONIDES

 
Traitor, thou liest.
 

PERICLES

 
Traitor!
 

SIMONIDES

 
Ay, traitor;
 

PERICLES

 
Even in his throat – unless it be the king —
That calls me traitor, I return the lie.
 

SIMONIDES. [Aside.]

 
Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
 

PERICLES

 
My actions are as noble as my thoughts,
That never relish'd of a base descent.
I came unto your court for honour's cause,
And not to be a rebel to her state;
And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he's honour's enemy.
 

SIMONIDES

 
No?
Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.
 

[Enter Thaisa.]

 

PERICLES

 
Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,
Resolve your angry father, if my tongue
Did e'er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable that made love to you.
 

THAISA

 
Why, sir, say if you had,
Who takes offence at that would make me glad?
 

SIMONIDES

 
Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?
 

[Aside.]

 
I am glad on't with all my heart. —
I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection.
Will you, not having my consent,
Bestow your love and your affections
Upon a stranger?
 

[Aside.]

 
who, for aught I know,
May be, nor can I think the contrary,
As great in blood as I myself. —
Therefore hear you, mistress; either frame
Your will to mine, – and you, sir, hear you,
Either be ruled by me, or I will make you —
Man and wife:
Nay, come, your hands and lips must seal it too:
And being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy;
And for a further grief, – God give you joy! —
What, are you both pleased?
 

THAISA

 
Yes, if you love me, sir.
 

PERICLES

 
Even as my life my blood that fosters it.
 

SIMONIDES

 
What, are you both agreed?
 

BOTH

 
Yes, if it please your majesty.
 

SIMONIDES

 
It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed;
And then with what haste you can get you to bed.
 

[Exeunt.]