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Act 2, Scene 4
Pericles Translation Act 2, Scene 5
Enter SIMONIDES, reading a letter, at one door: the Knights meet him
FIRST KNIGHT
Good morrow to the good Simonides.
FIRST KNIGHT
Good morning, 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.
SIMONIDES
Gentlemen, I have to tell you that my daughter has decided not to marry for another year. Only she knows why; she won't tell me.
SECOND KNIGHT
May we not get access to her, my lord?
SECOND KNIGHT
Can't we see her, sir?
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SIMONIDES
'Faith, by no means; she has 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.
SIMONIDES
Absolutely not; she's locked in her room and it's impossible to get her out. She's sworn to remain a virgin for another year, and swears on her honor she won't go back on her promise.
THIRD KNIGHT
Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
THIRD KNIGHT
We're sad to leave, but we'll go now.
Exeunt Knights
SIMONIDES
So, They are well dispatch'd; now to my daughter's letter: She tells me here, she'd 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 delay'd. Soft! here he comes: I must dissemble it.
SIMONIDES
Well, they're gone. Now about my daughter's letter . . . [He looks at a letter] She says here that she wants to marry the stranger knight, or she'll never see the light of day again. That's fine, missy; your choice is the same as mine. I really like that. It's funny how set she is in it; she doesn't care whether or not I dislike it! Well, I'm happy with her choice, but I'll pretend I'm not. Shh! Here he comes! I'll have to pretend it.
Enter PERICLES
PERICLES
All fortune to the good Simonides!
PERICLES
All blessings to you, 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.
SIMONIDES
The same to you, sir! I owe you for that lovely singing last night. I swear I've never heard such a great voice.
PERICLES
It is your grace's pleasure to commend;Not my desert.
PERICLES
Thanks for the compliment, but I hardly deserve it.
SIMONIDES
Sir, you are music's master.
SIMONIDES
You're a master of music.
PERICLES
The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
PERICLES
I'm the worst of all music's students, sir.
SIMONIDES
Let me ask you one thing:What do you think of my daughter, sir?
SIMONIDES
Let me ask you a question: what do you think of my daughter, sir?
PERICLES
A most virtuous princess.
PERICLES
She's a virtuous princess.
SIMONIDES
And she is fair too, is she not?
SIMONIDES
And she's pretty, too, right?
PERICLES
As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.
PERICLES
As beautiful as a summer day; extremely beautiful.
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.
SIMONIDES
Sir, my daughter likes you. She likes you so much that she wants you to be her master, and she'll be your student. What do you think?
PERICLES
I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
PERICLES
I'm not worthy to be her teacher.
SIMONIDES
She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.
SIMONIDES
She doesn't think so; look at this letter.
PERICLES
[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 honour her.
PERICLES
[To himself, reading the letter] What does this say? She says in this letter that she loves me! Maybe this is the king's plot to kill me?
[To SIMONIDES] Oh, please don't try to trap me, sir. I'm just an unlucky stranger and a gentleman in distress. I never wanted to marry your daughter; I just wanted to do my best to honor her.
SIMONIDES
Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou artA villain.
SIMONIDES
You've tricked my daughter into loving you, you crook.
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.
PERICLES
I swear I haven't. I never did anything to hurt you. I never wanted to win her over and never wanted to offend you.
SIMONIDES
Traitor, thou liest.
SIMONIDES
Traitor, you lie!
PERICLES
Traitor!
PERICLES
Traitor?
SIMONIDES
Ay, traitor.
SIMONIDES
Yes, traitor.
PERICLES
Even in his throat—unless it be the king—That calls me traitor, I return the lie.
PERICLES
Anyone who calls me a traitor (unless he's a king, of course) is a liar.
SIMONIDES
[Aside] Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
SIMONIDES
[To himself] Now, by the gods, I have to applaud his bravery.
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.
PERICLES
I've only tried to do the right thing; I haven't thought or done a single wrong thing. I came here to compete in the tournament for honor's sake, not to commit treason. Anyone who says otherwise will have to fight me for honor.
SIMONIDES
No?Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.
SIMONIDES
Really? Here comes my daughter; she can prove it.
Enter THAISA
PERICLES
Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, Resolve your angry father, if my tongue Did ere solicit, or my hand subscribe To any syllable that made love to you.
PERICLES
Please, since you're as honest as you are beautiful, tell the truth: tell your angry father that I never said or wrote anything proclaiming my feelings to you.
THAISA
Why, sir, say if you had,Who takes offence at that would make me glad?
THAISA
Well, if you did, I wouldn't be offended; I'd be 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? 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?
SIMONIDES
Hey, missy, aren't you getting a little hasty?
[To himself] I'm happy about this, with all my heart.
[To PERICLES and THAISA] You'll have to listen to me; I'll make you do what I want. Would you really agree to marry a stranger without my permission? He could be anybody, we don't even know if he's a prince. So, listen, missy: You'll either obey me (and you, too, sir, listen to me) or I'll make you . . . man and wife! Come on, then, hold each other's hands, kiss, and seal the deal! And, now that you're together, I'll disappoint you again, with the further condition . . . God bless you! Are you happy?
THAISA
Yes, if you love me, sir.
THAISA
Of course, if you love me, sir!
PERICLES
Even as my life, or blood that fosters it.
PERICLES
I swear on my life, with all my heart!
SIMONIDES
What, are you both agreed?
SIMONIDES
You both feel the same way?
BOTH
Yes, if it please your majesty.
BOTH
Yes, if you approve.
SIMONIDES
It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed;And then with what haste you can get you to bed.
SIMONIDES
I approve so wholeheartedly that I'd like to have the wedding immediately and get you off to bed!
Exeunt
Enter GOWER
GOWER
Now sleep y-slaked hath the rout; No din but snores the house about, Made louder by the o'er-fed breast Of this most pompous marriage-feast. The cat, with eyne of burning coal, Now crouches fore the mouse's hole; And crickets sing at the oven's mouth, E'er the blither for their drouth. Hymen hath brought the bride to bed. Where, by the loss of maidenhead, A babe is moulded. Be attent, And time that is so briefly spent With your fine fancies quaintly eche: What's dumb in show I'll plain with speech.
GOWER
Now it's night and everyone is asleep; the only sound in the house is snoring, all the louder after being overfed at this marriage feast. Cats' eyes shine like burning coals as they hunt for mice, crickets chirp in the empty kitchen, and everything goes on as usual. Meanwhile, Pericles and Thaisa go to their marriage bed, where, by the loss of virginity, a baby is conceived. Pay attention: we'll bridge a lot of action into a short amount of time with the help of your imagination. It'll be silent, but I'll explain it afterward.
DUMB SHOW. Enter, PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with Attendants; a Messenger meets them, kneels, and gives PERICLES a letter: PERICLES shows it SIMONIDES; the Lords kneel to him. Then enter THAISA with child, with LYCHORIDA a nurse. The KING shows her the letter; she rejoices: she and PERICLES take leave of her father, and depart with LYCHORIDA and their Attendants. Then exeunt SIMONIDES and the rest
