Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Adaptations; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Stories, plots, etc. -- Juvenile literature
“Sir,” said Helicanus, “it is the governor of Mitylene, who,
hearing of your melancholy, came to see you.”
“I embrace you, sir,” said Pericles. “Give me my robes! I am well
with beholding. O Heaven bless my girl! But hark, what music is
that?”--for now, either sent by some kind god or by his own
delighted fancy deceived, he seemed to hear soft music.
“My lord, I hear none,” replied Helicanus.
“None?” said Pericles. “Why, it is the music of the spheres.”
As there was no music to be heard, Lysimachus concluded that the
sudden joy had unsettled the prince’s understanding, and he said,
“It is not good to cross him; let him have his way.” And then
they told him they heard the music; and he now complaining of a
drowsy slumber coming over him, Lysimachus persuaded him to rest
on a couch, and, placing a pillow under his head, he, quite
overpowered with excess of joy, sank into a sound sleep, and
Marina watched in silence by the couch of her sleeping parent.
While he slept, Pericles dreamed a dream which made him resolve
to go to Ephesus. His dream was that Diana, the goddess of the
Ephesians, appeared to him and commanded him to go to her temple
at Ephesus, and there before her altar to declare the story of
his life and misfortunes; and by her silver bow she swore that if
he performed her injunction he should meet with some rare
felicity. When he awoke, being miraculously refreshed, he told
his dream, and that his resolution was to obey the bidding of the
goddess.
Then Lysimachus invited Pericles to come on shore and refresh
himself with such entertainment as he should find at Mitylene,
which courteous offer Pericles accepting, agreed to tarry with
him for the space of a day or two. During which time we may well
suppose what feastings, what rejoicings, what costly shows and
entertainments the governor made in Mitylene to greet the royal
father of his dear Marina, whom in her obscure fortunes he had so
respected. Nor did Pericles frown upon Lysimachus’s suit, when he
understood how he had honored his child in the days of her low
estate, and that Marina showed herself not averse to his
proposals; only he made it a condition, before he gave his
consent, that they should visit with him the shrine of the
Ephesian Diana; to whose temple they shortly after all three
undertook a voyage; and, the goddess herself filling their sails
with prosperous winds, after a few weeks they arrived in safety
at Ephesus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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