Simonides, king of Pentapolis. Cleon, governor of Tharsus. A Pandar, and his Wife. Gower, as chorus. The Daughter of Antiochus. Dionyza, wife to Cleon. Marshal. Boult, their servant. Thaisa, daughter to Simonides. Marina, daughter to Pericles and Thaisa. Lychorida, nurse to Marina. Diana. Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen, and Messengers, &c. Scene, dispersedly in various countries*. That the reader may know through how many regions the scene of this drama is dispersed, it is ne. cessary to observe, that Antioch was the metropolis of Syria; Tyre a city of Phoenicia, in Asia; Tarsus, the metropolis of Cilicia, a country of Asia Minor; Mitylene, the capital of Lesbos, an island in the Ægean sea; and Ephesus, the capital of Ionia, a country of the Lesser Asia. PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE. ACT I. Enter Gower*. Before the palace of Antioch. To sing a song of old † was sung, From ashes ancient Gower is come; To glad your ear, and please your eye If you, born in these latter times, May to your wishes pleasure bring, *Chorus, in the character of Gower, an ancient English poet, who has related the story of this play in his Confessio Amantis. ti. e. That of old. Whitsun-ales, &c. I life would wish, and that I might (I tell you what mine authors say :) What now ensues, to the judgement of your eye I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit. Wife, the word signifies a mate or companion. + Accounted. Pointing to the scene of the palace gate at Antioch, on which the heads of those unfortunate wights were fixed. SCENE I. Antioch. A room in the palace. Enter Antiochus, Pericles, and Attendants. Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large receiv'd The danger of the task you undertake. Per. I have, Antiochus, and with a soul Embolden'd with the glory of her praise,' Think death no hazard, in this enterprise. [Musick. Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride, For the embracements even of Jove himself; At whose conception (till Lucina reign'd), Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence, The senate-house of planets all did sit, To knit in her their best perfections. Enter the Daughter of Antiochus. Per. See, where she comes, apparell'd like the spring, Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Her face, the book of praises, where is read Ye gods that made me man, and sway in love, |