Page 184 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Be manly and take comfort.

PERICLES
O you gods!
Why do you make us love your goodly gifts
And snatch them straight away? We here below
Recall not what we give, and therein may [25]

Use honour with you.

LYCHORIDA
Patience, good sir,
Even for this charge.

PERICLES
Now, mild may be thy life!

For a more blusterous birth had never babe;
Quiet and gentle thy conditions! for
Thou art the rudeliest welcome to this wold [30]
That ever was prince’s child. Happy what follows!
Thou hast as chiding a nativity

As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make
To herald thee from the womb.
Even at the first thy loss is more than can [35]

Thy portage quit, with all thou canst find here.
Now the good gods throw their best eyes upon’t.

Enter two Sailors.

FIRST SAILOR
What courage, sir? God save you!

PERICLES
Courage enough. I do not fear the flaw;
It hath done to me the worst. Yet for the love [40]

Of this poor infant, this fresh new seafarer,
I would it would be quiet.

FIRST SAILOR