Page 235 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

She never would tell
Her parentage. Being demanded that,
She would sit stir and weep.

PERICLES
O Helicanus, strike me, honoured sir!
Give me a gash, put me to present pain, [190]

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 Tarsus, [195]
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 confirmed enough, [200]
Though doubts did ever sleep.

MARINA
First, sir, I pray,

What is your title?

PERICLES
I am Pericles of Tyre; but tell me now
My drowned queen’s name, as in the rest you said
Thou hast been god-like perfect, and thou art [205]
The heir of kingdoms, and another life

To Pericles thy father.

MARINA
Is it no more to be your daughter than
To say my mother’s name was Thaisa?
Thaisa was my mother, who did end [210]

The minute I began.

PERICLES