Speeches (Lines) for Cerimon in "Pericles, Prince of Tyre"

Pericles. O, make for Tarsus!
There will I visit Cleon, for the babe
Cannot hold out to Tyrus: there I'll leave it
At careful nursing. Go thy ways, good mariner:
I'll bring the body presently.

Cerimon. Philemon, ho!

Philemon. Doth my lord call?

Cerimon. Get fire and meat for these poor men:
'T has been a turbulent and stormy night.

Servant. I have been in many; but such a night as this,
Till now, I ne'er endured.

Cerimon. Your master will be dead ere you return;
There's nothing can be minister'd to nature
That can recover him.
[To PHILEMON]
Give this to the 'pothecary,
And tell me how it works.

Second Gentleman. Good morrow to your lordship.

Cerimon. Gentlemen,
Why do you stir so early?

Second Gentleman. That is the cause we trouble you so early;
'Tis not our husbandry.

Cerimon. O, you say well.

First Gentleman. But I much marvel that your lordship, having
Rich tire about you, should at these early hours
Shake off the golden slumber of repose.
'Tis most strange,
Nature should be so conversant with pain,
Being thereto not compell'd.

Cerimon. I hold it ever,
Virtue and cunning were endowments greater
Than nobleness and riches: careless heirs
May the two latter darken and expend;
But immortality attends the former.
Making a man a god. 'Tis known, I ever
Have studied physic, through which secret art,
By turning o'er authorities, I have,
Together with my practise, made familiar
To me and to my aid the blest infusions
That dwell in vegetives, in metals, stones;
And I can speak of the disturbances
That nature works, and of her cures; which doth give me
A more content in course of true delight
Than to be thirsty after tottering honour,
Or tie my treasure up in silken bags,
To please the fool and death.

First Servant. So; lift there.

Cerimon. What is that?

First Servant. Sir, even now
Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest:
'Tis of some wreck.

Cerimon. Set 't down, let's look upon't.

Second Gentleman. 'Tis like a coffin, sir.

Cerimon. Whate'er it be,
'Tis wondrous heavy. Wrench it open straight:
If the sea's stomach be o'ercharged with gold,
'Tis a good constraint of fortune it belches upon us.

Second Gentleman. 'Tis so, my lord.

Cerimon. How close 'tis caulk'd and bitumed!
Did the sea cast it up?

First Servant. I never saw so huge a billow, sir,
As toss'd it upon shore.

Cerimon. Wrench it open;
Soft! it smells most sweetly in my sense.

Second Gentleman. A delicate odour.

Cerimon. As ever hit my nostril. So, up with it.
O you most potent gods! what's here? a corse!

First Gentleman. Most strange!

Cerimon. Shrouded in cloth of state; balm'd and entreasured
With full bags of spices! A passport too!
Apollo, perfect me in the characters!
[Reads from a scroll]
'Here I give to understand,
If e'er this coffin drive a-land,
I, King Pericles, have lost
This queen, worth all our mundane cost.
Who finds her, give her burying;
She was the daughter of a king:
Besides this treasure for a fee,
The gods requite his charity!'
If thou livest, Pericles, thou hast a heart
That even cracks for woe! This chanced tonight.

Second Gentleman. Most likely, sir.

Cerimon. Nay, certainly to-night;
For look how fresh she looks! They were too rough
That threw her in the sea. Make a fire within:
Fetch hither all my boxes in my closet.
[Exit a Servant]
Death may usurp on nature many hours,
And yet the fire of life kindle again
The o'erpress'd spirits. I heard of an Egyptian
That had nine hours lien dead,
Who was by good appliance recovered.
[Re-enter a Servant, with boxes, napkins, and fire]
Well said, well said; the fire and cloths.
The rough and woeful music that we have,
Cause it to sound, beseech you.
The viol once more: how thou stirr'st, thou block!
The music there!--I pray you, give her air.
Gentlemen.
This queen will live: nature awakes; a warmth
Breathes out of her: she hath not been entranced
Above five hours: see how she gins to blow
Into life's flower again!

First Gentleman. The heavens,
Through you, increase our wonder and set up
Your fame forever.

Cerimon. She is alive; behold,
Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels
Which Pericles hath lost,
Begin to part their fringes of bright gold;
The diamonds of a most praised water
Do appear, to make the world twice rich. Live,
And make us weep to hear your fate, fair creature,
Rare as you seem to be.

First Gentleman. Most rare.

Cerimon. Hush, my gentle neighbours!
Lend me your hands; to the next chamber bear her.
Get linen: now this matter must be look'd to,
For her relapse is mortal. Come, come;
And AEsculapius guide us!

Pericles. I will embrace
Your offer. Come, dearest madam. O, no tears,
Lychorida, no tears:
Look to your little mistress, on whose grace
You may depend hereafter. Come, my lord.

Cerimon. Madam, this letter, and some certain jewels,
Lay with you in your coffer: which are now
At your command. Know you the character?

Thaisa. It is my lord's.
That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember,
Even on my eaning time; but whether there
Deliver'd, by the holy gods,
I cannot rightly say. But since King Pericles,
My wedded lord, I ne'er shall see again,
A vestal livery will I take me to,
And never more have joy.

Cerimon. Madam, if this you purpose as ye speak,
Diana's temple is not distant far,
Where you may abide till your date expire.
Moreover, if you please, a niece of mine
Shall there attend you.

Pericles. What means the nun? she dies! help, gentlemen!

Cerimon. Noble sir,
If you have told Diana's altar true,
This is your wife.

Pericles. Reverend appearer, no;
I threw her overboard with these very arms.

Cerimon. Upon this coast, I warrant you.

Pericles. 'Tis most certain.

Cerimon. Look to the lady; O, she's but o'erjoy'd.
Early in blustering morn this lady was
Thrown upon this shore. I oped the coffin,
Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and placed her
Here in Diana's temple.

Pericles. May we see them?

Cerimon. Great sir, they shall be brought you to my house,
Whither I invite you. Look, Thaisa is recovered.

Pericles. Reverend sir,
The gods can have no mortal officer
More like a god than you. Will you deliver
How this dead queen re-lives?

Cerimon. I will, my lord.
Beseech you, first go with me to my house,
Where shall be shown you all was found with her;
How she came placed here in the temple;
No needful thing omitted.