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

Simonides. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,
In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat
For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

Thaisa. It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express
My commendations great, whose merit's less.

Simonides. It's fit it should be so; for princes are
A model which heaven makes like to itself:
As jewels lose their glory if neglected,
So princes their renowns if not respected.
'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain
The labour of each knight in his device.

Thaisa. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.
[Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire]
presents his shield to the Princess]

Simonides. Who is the first that doth prefer himself?

Thaisa. A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is a black Ethiope reaching at the sun
The word, 'Lux tua vita mihi.'

Simonides. He loves you well that holds his life of you.
[The Second Knight passes over]
Who is the second that presents himself?

Thaisa. A prince of Macedon, my royal father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is an arm'd knight that's conquer'd by a lady;
The motto thus, in Spanish, 'Piu por dulzura que por fuerza.'

Simonides. And what's the third?

Thaisa. The third of Antioch;
And his device, a wreath of chivalry;
The word, 'Me pompae provexit apex.'

Simonides. What is the fourth?

Thaisa. A burning torch that's turned upside down;
The word, 'Quod me alit, me extinguit.'

Simonides. Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,
Which can as well inflame as it can kill.

Thaisa. The fifth, an hand environed with clouds,
Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;
The motto thus, 'Sic spectanda fides.'

Simonides. And what's
The sixth and last, the which the knight himself
With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd?

Thaisa. He seems to be a stranger; but his present is
A wither'd branch, that's only green at top;
The motto, 'In hac spe vivo.'

Simonides. Knights,
To say you're welcome were superfluous.
To place upon the volume of your deeds,
As in a title-page, your worth in arms,
Were more than you expect, or more than's fit,
Since every worth in show commends itself.
Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast:
You are princes and my guests.

Thaisa. But you, my knight and guest;
To whom this wreath of victory I give,
And crown you king of this day's happiness.

Pericles. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,
These cates resist me, she but thought upon.

Thaisa. By Juno, that is queen of marriage,
All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury.
Wishing him my meat. Sure, he's a gallant gentleman.

Simonides. He's but a country gentleman;
Has done no more than other knights have done;
Has broken a staff or so; so let it pass.

Thaisa. To me he seems like diamond to glass.

Simonides. Yet pause awhile:
Yon knight doth sit too melancholy,
As if the entertainment in our court
Had not a show might countervail his worth.
Note it not you, Thaisa?

Thaisa. What is it
To me, my father?

Simonides. O, attend, my daughter:
Princes in this should live like gods above,
Who freely give to every one that comes
To honour them:
And princes not doing so are like to gnats,
Which make a sound, but kill'd are wonder'd at.
Therefore to make his entrance more sweet,
Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.

Thaisa. Alas, my father, it befits not me
Unto a stranger knight to be so bold:
He may my proffer take for an offence,
Since men take women's gifts for impudence.

Simonides. How!
Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.

Thaisa. [Aside] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.

Simonides. And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him,
Of whence he is, his name and parentage.

Thaisa. The king my father, sir, has drunk to you.

Pericles. I thank him.

Thaisa. Wishing it so much blood unto your life.

Pericles. I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.

Thaisa. And further he desires to know of you,
Of whence you are, your name and parentage.

Pericles. A gentleman of Tyre; my name, Pericles;
My education been in arts and arms;
Who, looking for adventures in the world,
Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And after shipwreck driven upon this shore.

Thaisa. He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles,
A gentleman of Tyre,
Who only by misfortune of the seas
Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.

Pericles. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,
Resolve your angry father, if my tongue
Did ere solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable that made love to you.

Thaisa. Why, sir, say if you had,
Who takes offence at that would make me glad?

Simonides. Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?
[Aside]
I am glad on't with all my heart.--
I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection.
Will you, not having my consent,
Bestow your love and your affections
Upon a stranger?
[Aside]
who, for aught I know,
May be, nor can I think the contrary,
As great in blood as I myself.--
Therefore hear you, mistress; either frame
Your will to mine,--and you, sir, hear you,
Either be ruled by me, or I will make you--
Man and wife:
Nay, come, your hands and lips must seal it too:
And being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy;
And for a further grief,--God give you joy!--
What, are you both pleased?

Thaisa. Yes, if you love me, sir.

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.

Thaisa. O dear Diana,
Where am I? Where's my lord? What world is this?

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.

Thaisa. My recompense is thanks, that's all;
Yet my good will is great, though the gift small.

Pericles. Hail, Dian! to perform thy just command,
I here confess myself the king of Tyre;
Who, frighted from my country, did wed
At Pentapolis the fair Thaisa.
At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth
A maid-child call'd Marina; who, O goddess,
Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tarsus
Was nursed with Cleon; who at fourteen years
He sought to murder: but her better stars
Brought her to Mytilene; 'gainst whose shore
Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us,
Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she
Made known herself my daughter.

Thaisa. Voice and favour!
You are, you are--O royal Pericles!

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

Thaisa. O, let me look!
If he be none of mine, my sanctity
Will to my sense bend no licentious ear,
But curb it, spite of seeing. O, my lord,
Are you not Pericles? Like him you spake,
Like him you are: did you not name a tempest,
A birth, and death?

Pericles. The voice of dead Thaisa!

Thaisa. That Thaisa am I, supposed dead
And drown'd.

Pericles. Immortal Dian!

Thaisa. Now I know you better.
When we with tears parted Pentapolis,
The king my father gave you such a ring.

Pericles. Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa;
Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina
For she was yielded there.

Thaisa. Blest, and mine own!

Helicanus. Hail, madam, and my queen!

Thaisa. I know you not.

Pericles. You have heard me say, when I did fly from Tyre,
I left behind an ancient substitute:
Can you remember what I call'd the man?
I have named him oft.

Thaisa. 'Twas Helicanus then.

Pericles. Still confirmation:
Embrace him, dear Thaisa; this is he.
Now do I long to hear how you were found;
How possibly preserved; and who to thank,
Besides the gods, for this great miracle.

Thaisa. Lord Cerimon, my lord; this man,
Through whom the gods have shown their power; that can
From first to last resolve you.

Pericles. Pure Dian, bless thee for thy vision! I
Will offer night-oblations to thee. Thaisa,
This prince, the fair-betrothed of your daughter,
Shall marry her at Pentapolis. And now,
This ornament
Makes me look dismal will I clip to form;
And what this fourteen years no razor touch'd,
To grace thy marriage-day, I'll beautify.

Thaisa. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit, sir,
My father's dead.