Pericles
Act II, Scene 5
Pentapolis. A room in the palace.
- Enter the King Simonides, reading of a letter, at one door;
- the Knights meet him.
First Knight
1- Good morrow to the good Simonides.
Simonides
2 - 6- 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 from her by no means can I get.
Second Knight
7- May we not get access to her, my lord?
Simonides
8 - 12- 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 vowed,
Feb 25, 2019 Miko Both “Diana” and “Cynthia” are names for the goddess of the moon and of virginity. - And on her virgin honor will not break it.
Third Knight
13- Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
- Exeunt Knights.
Simonides
14 - 23- 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’t,
- Not minding whether I dislike or no!
- Well, I do commend her choice,
- And will no longer have it be delayed.
- Soft, here he comes, I must dissemble it.
- Enter Pericles.
Pericles
24- All fortune to the good Simonides!
Simonides
25 - 28- 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
29 - 30- It is your Grace’s pleasure to commend,
- Not my desert.
Simonides
31- Sir, you are music’s master.
Pericles
32- The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
Simonides
33 - 34- Let me ask you one thing:
- What do you think of my daughter, sir?
Pericles
35- A most virtuous princess.
Simonides
36- And she is fair too, is she not?
Pericles
37- As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair.
Simonides
38 - 40- 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
41- I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
Simonides
42- She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
Pericles
43 - 49- Aside.
- What’s here?
- A letter that she loves the knight of Tyre!
- ’Tis the King’s subtlety 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 honor her.
Simonides
50 - 51- Thou hast bewitch’d my daughter, and thou art
- A villain.
Pericles
52 - 55- By the gods, I have not.
- Never did thought of mine levy offense;
- Nor never did my actions yet commence
- A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.
Simonides
56- Traitor, thou liest.
Pericles
57- Traitor?
Simonides
58- Ay, traitor.
Pericles
59 - 60- Even in his throat—unless it be the King—
- That calls me traitor, I return the lie.
Simonides
61- Aside.
- Now by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
Pericles
62 - 67- My actions are as noble as my thoughts,
- That never relish’d of a base descent.
- I came unto your court for honor’s cause,
- And not to be a rebel to her state;
- And he that otherwise accounts of me,
- This sword shall prove he’s honor’s enemy.
Simonides
68 - 69- No?
- Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.
- Enter Thaisa.
Pericles
70 - 73- 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
74 - 75- Why, sir, say if you had, who takes offense
- At that would make me glad?
Simonides
76 - 92- 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 rul’d by me, or I’ll 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 further grief—God give you joy!
- What, are you both pleased?
Thaisa
93- Yes, if you love me, sir.
Pericles
94- Even as my life my blood that fosters it.
Simonides
95- What, are you both agreed?
Both Thaliard and Pericles
96- Yes, if’t please your Majesty.
Simonides
97 - 98- It pleaseth me so well that I will see you wed,
- And then with what haste you can, get you to bed.
- Exeunt.