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Pericles - Act 2, scene 5
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Pericles - Act 2, scene 5Act 2, scene 5
⌜Scene 5⌝
Synopsis:
King Simonides, learning that Thaisa loves Pericles, pretends to be angry, but then reveals his pleasure at their mutual love.
Enter the King, ⌜Simonides,⌝ reading of a letter at onedoor; the Knights meet him.
FIRST KNIGHT
0961 Good morrow to the good Simonides.
SIMONIDES
0962 Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,
0963 That for this twelvemonth she’ll not undertake
0964 A married life. Her reason to herself is only known,
0965 5 Which from her by no means can I get.
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SECOND KNIGHT 0966 May we not get access to her, my lord?
SIMONIDES
0967 Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied her
0968 To her chamber that ’tis impossible.
0969 One twelve moons more she’ll wear Diana’s livery.
0970 10 This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vowed,
0971 And on her virgin honor will not break it.
THIRD KNIGHT
0972 Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
⌜The Knights exit.⌝
SIMONIDES 0973 So,
0974 They are well dispatched. Now to my daughter’s letter.
0975 15 She tells me here she’ll wed the stranger knight
0976 Or never more to view nor day nor light.
0977 ’Tis well, mistress, your choice agrees with mine.
0978 I like that well. Nay, how absolute she’s in ’t,
0979 Not minding whether I dislike or no!
0980 20 Well, I do commend her choice, and will no longer
0981 Have it be delayed. Soft, here he comes.
0982 I must dissemble it.
Enter Pericles.
PERICLES
0983 All fortune to the good Simonides.
SIMONIDES
0984 To you as much. Sir, I am beholding to you
0985 25 For your sweet music this last night. I do
0986 Protest, my ears were never better fed
0987 With such delightful pleasing harmony.
PERICLES
0988 It is your Grace’s pleasure to commend,
0989 Not my desert.
SIMONIDES 0990 30 Sir, you are music’s master.
PERICLES
0991 The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
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SIMONIDES
0992
Let me ask you one thing:0993 What do you think of my daughter, sir?
PERICLES 0994 A most virtuous princess.
SIMONIDES 0995 35And she is fair too, is she not?
PERICLES
0996 As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.
SIMONIDES
0997 Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you,
0998 Ay, so well that you must be her master,
0999 And she will be your scholar. Therefore, look to it.
PERICLES
1000 40 I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
SIMONIDES
1001 She thinks not so. Peruse this writing else.
PERICLES, ⌜aside⌝ 1002 What’s here?
1003 A letter that she loves the knight of Tyre?
1004 ’Tis the King’s subtlety to have my life.—
1005 45 O, seek not to entrap me, gracious lord,
1006 A stranger and distressèd gentleman
1007 That never aimed so high to love your daughter,
1008 But bent all offices to honor her.
SIMONIDES
1009 Thou hast bewitched my daughter, and thou art
1010 50 A villain.
PERICLES 1011 By the gods, I have not!
1012 Never did thought of mine levy offense;
1013 Nor never did my actions yet commence
1014 A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.
SIMONIDES
1015 55 Traitor, thou liest!
PERICLES 1016 Traitor?
SIMONIDES 1017 Ay, traitor.
PERICLES
1018 Even in his throat, unless it be the King
1019 That calls me traitor, I return the lie.
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SIMONIDES, ⌜aside⌝ 1020 60 Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
PERICLES
1021 My actions are as noble as my thoughts,
1022 That never relished of a base descent.
1023 I came unto your court for honor’s cause,
1024 And not to be a rebel to her state,
1025 65 And he that otherwise accounts of me,
1026 This sword shall prove he’s honor’s enemy.
SIMONIDES 1027 No?
1028 Here comes my daughter. She can witness it.
Enter Thaisa.
PERICLES
1029 Then as you are as virtuous as fair,
1030 70 Resolve your angry father if my tongue
1031 Did e’er solicit or my hand subscribe
1032 To any syllable that made love to you.
THAISA
1033 Why, sir, say if you had, who takes offense
1034 At that would make me glad?
SIMONIDES
1035 75 Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?
1036 (Aside.) I am glad on ’t with all my heart.—
1037 I’ll tame you! I’ll bring you in subjection.
1038 Will you, not having my consent,
1039 Bestow your love and your affections
1040 80 Upon a stranger? (Aside.) Who, for aught I know,
1041 May be—nor can I think the contrary—
1042 As great in blood as I myself.—
1043 Therefore, hear you, mistress: either frame
1044 Your will to mine—and you, sir, hear you:
1045 85 Either be ruled by me—or I’ll make you
1046 Man and wife.
1047 Nay, come, your hands and lips must seal it too.
1048 And being joined, I’ll thus your hopes destroy.
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1049
And for further grief—God give you joy!1050 90 What, are you both pleased?
THAISA 1051 Yes, (⌜to Pericles⌝) if you love me, sir.
PERICLES
1052 Even as my life my blood that fosters it.
SIMONIDES 1053 What, are you both agreed?
BOTH 1054 Yes, if ’t please your Majesty.
SIMONIDES
1055 95 It pleaseth me so well that I will see you wed,
1056 And then with what haste you can, get you to bed.
They exit.