The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Per. Pr'ythee spea' ;

And so inflict our province.-Yet once more
Let me entreat to know at large the cause
Of your king's sorrow.
Hell.

Falseness cannot come from thee, for thou look'st
Modest as justice, and thou seem'st a palace

Sit, sir, I will recount it;- For the crown'd truth to dwell in: J'll believe thee,

3ut, see, I am prevented.

Enter, from the barge, Lord, MARINA, and a young Lady.

A gallant lady.

1.us. She's such, that were I well assur'd she came
Of 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-artificial feat

Can draw him but to answer thee in aught
Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay
As thy desires can wish.
Mar.

Sir, I will use
My utmost skill in his recovery,
Provided none but I and my companion

Be suffer'd to come near him.
Lus.

Come, let us leave her,
And the gods make her prosperous! [MARINA sings.
Lus.
Mark'd he your music?

Mar. No, nor look'd on us.
Lys.
See, she will speak to him.
Mur. Hail, sir! my lord, lend ear :——
Per. Hum! ha!

Mur.

I am a maid,

My ord, that ne'er before invited eyes,
But have been gaz'd on, comet like: she speaks,
My lord, that, may be hath endur'd 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 ad aukward casualties
Bound me in servitude.-1 will desist;
But there is something glows upon my cheek,
And whispers in mine ear, Go not till he speaks.

[Aside.

Per. My fortunes-parentage-good parentage To equal mine!-was it not thus? what say you? Mar. I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage, You would not do me violence.

Per.

I do think so. I pray you, turn your eyes again upon nie.— You are like something that-What countrywoman? Here of these shores?

Mar. No, nor of any shores: Yet I was mortally brought forth and am No other than I appear. Per. 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 Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; [brows; As silver-voic'd; her eyes as jewel-like, And cas'd as richly: in pace another Juno; Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hunThe more she gives them speech.—Where do you live? Mar. Where I am but a stranger: from the deck You may discern the place. l'er. Where were you bred? And how achiev'd you these endowments, which You make more rich to owe?

[gry,

Mar. Should I tell my history, "Twould seem like lies disdain'd in the reporung.

And make my senses credit thy relation,

To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
Like one I lov'd indeed, what were thy friends?
Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back,
(Which was when I perceiv'd thee,) that thou cam'st
From good descending?

Mar.

So indeed I did.

Per. 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.

Mar.

Some such thing indeed I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Did warrant me was likely.

Per.

Tell thy story;

If thine consider'd prove the thousandth 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.
Mar. My name, sir, is Marina,
Per.
O, I am mock'd,
And thou by some incensed god sent hither
To make the world laugh at me.
Mar.

At sea? thy mother?
Mar. My mother was the daughter of a king;
Who died the very minute I was born,
As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
Deliver'd weeping.

Per.
O, stop there a little!
This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep
Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be.
My daughter's buried. [Aside.] Well:—where were
you bred?

I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.

Mur. You'll scarce believe me; 'twere best I did give o'er.

Per. 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?

Mar. The king, my father, did in Tharsus 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, A crew of pirates came and rescued me; Brought me to Mitylem. But, now good sir,

I know not; but

Here is the regent, sir, of Mitylene,
Speaks nobly of her.

Lys.
She would never tell
Her parentage; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.

Per. 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, come hither,
Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget;
Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus,
And found at sea again!—O) Helicanus,
Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods, as loud
As thunder threatens us: This is Marina -
What was thy mother's name? tell me but that,
For truth can never be confirm'd enough,
Though doubts did ever sleep.
Mar.

What is your title?

First, sir, I pray,

Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now
(As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,)
My drown'd queen's name, thou art the heir of king-
And another life to Pericles thy father.

[doms,

Mar. 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.

I embrace you, sir.
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?
Hel. My lord, I hear none.

Per. None?

The music of the spheres: list, my Marina.

Lys. It is not good to cross him; give him way.
Per. Rarest sounds!

Do ye not hear?

Lus.

Music? My lord, I hear

Per. Most heavenly music:

It nips me unto list'ning, and thick slumber
Hangs on mine eye-lids; let me rest.

Lus. A pillow for his head;

[He sleeps.

[The curtain before the pavilion of PERICLES is closed.
So leave him all. Well, my companion-trends,
If this but answer to my just belief,

I'll well remember you.

SCENE II.-The same

PERICLES on the deck asleep; DIANA appearing to him as in a vision.

upon

Dia. My temple stands in Ephesus; hie thee thither,
And do 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.
Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe:
Do 't, and be happy, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream.

[DIANA disappears. Per. Celestial Dian, goddess argentine,

I will obey thee !-Helicanus!

Ente LYSIKACHUS, Helicanus, and MARINA.
Hel.

Enter GowER, before the temple of DIANA at Ephesus
Gow. Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then done.

This, as 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 Mitylin,

To greet the king. So he has thriv'd.
That he is promis'd to be wiv'd
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 boon.

[Ext.

SCENE III.-The Temple of Diana at Ephesus;
THAISA standing near the Altar, as high Priestess;
a number of Virgins on each side; CERIMON and
other inhabitants of Ephesus attending.
Enter PERICLES, with his Train; LYSIMACHUS,
HELICANUS, MARINA, and a Lady.
Per. Hail, Dian! to perform thy just command,
I here confess myself the king of Tyre;
Who, frighted from my country, did wed
The fair Thaisa, at Pentapolis.

At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth
A maid-child call'd Marina; who, O goddess,
Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tharsus
Was nurs'd with Cleon; whom at fourteen years

[Exeunt LYSIMAchus, Helicanus, Marina, He sought to murder: but her better stars

and attendant Lady.

Brought her to Mitylene; against whose shore

I threw her o'erboard with these very arms.
Cer. Upon this coast, I warrant you.
Per.

Cer. Look to the lady ;-O, she's but o'erjoy'd.

Early, one blust'ring morn, this lady was

Thrown on this shore. I op'd the coffin, and

Thai. Lord Cerimon, my lord; this man
Through whom the gods have shewn their power; tha
From first to last resolve you.
[can

Per.

Reverend sir,

The gods can have no mortal officer
More like a god than you. Will you deliver
How this dead queen re-lives?

Cer.

I will, my lord.

Beseech you, first go with me to my house,
Where shall be shewn you all was found with her;

Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and plac'd her How she came placed here within the temple;
Here in Diana's temple.

May we see them?

Per.
Cer. Great sir, they shall be brought you to my
Whither I invite you. Look! Thaisa is [house,
Recover❜d.

No needful thing omitted.

Per.

Pure Diana!

I bless thee for thy vision, and will offer
My night oblations to thee. Thaisa,
This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,
Shall marry her at Pentapolis. And now,
This ornament that makes me look so dismal,
Will I, my lov'd Marina, clip to form ;
And what this fourteen years no razor touch'd,
To grace thy marriage-day, I'll beautify.

Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit,
Sir, that my father's dead.

Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there, my
We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves [queen,
Will in that kingdom spend our following days;
Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign.
Lord Cerimon, we do our longing stay,
To hear the rest untold.-Sir, lead the way. [Exeunt.
Enter GoWER.

Gow. In Antioch, and his daughter, you have heard
Of monstrous lust the due and just reward:
In Pericles, his queen and daughter, seen
(Although assail'd with fortune fierce and keen,)
Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last.
In Helicanus may you well descry

A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty:
In reverend Cerimon there well appears
The worth that learned charity aye wears.
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn;
That him and his they in his palace burn.
The gods for murder seemed so content
To punish them; although not done, but meant.
So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.
[Exit GoWER.

To a former edition of this play were subjoined two Disser-cribed to him by several dramatic writers. I wish not to rely tations: one written by Mr. Steevens, the other by me. In the latter I urged such arguments as then appeared to me to have weight, to prove that it was the entire work of Shakspeare, and one of his earliest compositions. Mr. Steevens on the other hand maintained, that it was originally the production of some elder playwright, and afterwards improved by our poet, whose hand was acknowledged to be visible in many scenes throughout the play. On a review of the various arguments which each of as produced in favour of his own hypothesis, I am now convinced that the theory of Mr. Steevens was right, and have no difficulty in acknowledging my own to be erroneous.

This play was entered on the Stationers books, together with Antony and Cleopatra, in the year 1608, by Edward Blount, a bookseller of eminence, and one of the publishers of the first folio edition of Shakspeare's works. It was printed with his name in the title-page, in his life time: but this circumstance proves nothing, because, by the knavery of booksellers, other pieces were also ascribed to him in his life-time, of which he indubitably wrote not a line. Nor is it necessary to urge, in Support of its genuineness, that at a subsequent period it was as

on any circumstance of that kind; because, in all questions of this nature, interual evidence is the best that can be produced, and, to every person intimately acquainted with our poet's writ ings, must in the present case be decisive. The congenial sentiments, the numerous expressions bearing a striking similitude to passages in his undisputed plays, some of the incidents, the situation of many of the persons, and in various places the colour of the style, all these combine to set the seal of Shakspeare on the play before us, and furnish us with internal and irresistible proofs, that a considerable portion of this piece, as it now appears, was written by him. The greater part of the last three acts may, I think, on this ground be safely ascribed to him; and his hand may be traced occasionally in the other two divi

sions.

lo alter, new-model, and improve the unsuccessful dramas of preceding writers, was, I believe, much more common in the time of Shakspeare than is generally supposed. This piece hav ing been thus new-modelled by our poet, and enriched with many happy strokes from his pen, is unquestionably entitled to that place among his works, which it has now obtained.-MALONE.

THIS tragedy was entered in the books of the Stationers' ComPany, Nov. 26, 1607, and is there mentioned as having been played the preceding Christmas before his majesty, at Whitehall It must have been written after 1603, as Shakspeare has borrowed several fanstastic names of spirits, mentioned. this play, from Harsnett's Declaration of Popish Impostors, which was published that year. King Lear was not printed till 1008. There was an old play on the same subject, which had been in possession of the stage for many years before the production of Suakspeare's tragedy; but from which our author has co

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

LEAR, King of Britain.

KING OF FRANCE,

DUKE OF BURGUNDY.

DUKE OF CORNWALL.

DUKE OF ALBANY.

EARL OF KENT.

EARL OF GLOSTER.

EDGAR, son to Gloster.

EDMUND, bastard son to Gloster.

CURAN, a courtier.

Old Man, tenant to Gloster.
Physician. Fool.

OSWALD, steward to Goneril.
An Officer employed by Edmund.
Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia.
A Herald. Servants to Cornwall.

GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, daughters to Lear.
Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers,
Soldiers, and Attendants.
SCENE,-BRITAIN.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-A Room of State in King Lear's Palace. Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND.

Kent. I thought, the king had more affected the duke of Albany, than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

Glo. But I have sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.-Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?

Edm. No, my lord.

pied one passage only. The story of King Lear and his thres Daughters, is found in Holinshed's Chronicle; and was ori ginally told by Geoffry of Monmouth, who says that Lear was the eldest son of Bladud, and "nobly governed his country for sixty years." According to that historian, he died about 800 years before Christ. Shakspeare has taken the hint for the behaviour of the steward, and the reply of Cordel a to her father concerning her future marriage, from the Mirror of Magistrates,1587. According to Steevens. the episode of Gles ter and his sons is borrowed from Sidney's Arcadia.

Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN,

CORDELIA, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster.

Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exit GLOSTER & EDMUND. Lear. Mean-time we shall express our darker

purpose. [vided, Give me the map there.-Know, that we have diIn three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden'd crawl toward death. Our son of CornAnd you, our no less loving sor of Albany, [wall We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The princes, France and BurGreat rivals in our youngest daughter's love, [gundy, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answer'd.- Tell me, my daughters, (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state,) Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most! That we our largest bounty may extend Where merit doth most challenge it.—Goneril, Our eldest-born, speak first.

Gon.

Sir, I

Do love you more than words can wield the matter,
Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare ;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found.
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent

[Aside

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads.
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual.-What says our second daughter
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak

Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short,-that I profes
Myself an enemy to all other joys,

Which the most precious square of sense possesses.

And find, I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia ! [Aside. And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remains this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,

Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be interess'd; what can you say, to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.
Cor. Nothing, my lord.
Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again.
Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more, nor less.
Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a
Lest it may mar your fortunes.
[little,
Cor.
Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say
They love you, all? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care, and duty!
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.

Lear. But goes this with thy heart?
Cor.

|Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers,Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.

Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What would'st thou do, old man? Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,

Lear.

When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;
And, in thy best consideration, check
This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound
Reverbs no hollowness.
Kent, on thy life, no more.
Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose
Thy safety being the motive.
Lear.
Out of my sight!
Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain
The true blank of thine eye.
Lear. Now, by Apollo,-
Kent.

Now, hy Apollo, king,

Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear.

O, vassal! miscreant ' [Laying his hand on his sword.

Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear.
Kent. Do;

Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift;
Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,

Ay, good my lord. I'll tell thee thou dost evil.
Lear.
Hear me, recreant!
On thine allegiance hear me !-

Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be so,-Thy truth then be thy dower: Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,

For, by the sacred radiance of the sun;
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operations of the orbs,

From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me

Hold thee, from this, for ever.—The barbarous Scy-
Or he that makes his generation messes [thian,
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my sometime daughter.
Kent.

Good my liege,

Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath: I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight! So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To ČOR. Her father's heart from her!-Call France;-Who Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany, [stirs? With my two daughters' dowers digest this third: Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. I do invest you jointly with my power, Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly With reservation of an hundred knights, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

[course,

Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain
The name, and all the additions to a king;
The sway,

Revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you. [Giving the crown.
Kent.
Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,

(Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd pride,
To come betwixt our sentence and our power;
(Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,)
Our potency made good, take thy reward.
Five days do we allot thee, for provision
To shield thee from diseases of the world;
And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: Away! by Jupiter,
This shall not be revok'd.

[appear,

Kent. Fare thee well, king; since thus thou wilt Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, [To CORDELIA. That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!— And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [To REGAN and GONERIL. That good effects may spring from words of love.— Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit. Re-enter GLOSTER: with FRANCE, Burgundy, and Attendants.

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

We first address towards you, who with this king
Hath rivall'd for our daughter; What, in the least,
Will you require in present dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love?

Bur.

Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less.

Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;

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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Comprising His Plays, and Poems ...