e, "and you are sent hither by some incensed god to make the world
laugh at me." "Patience, good sir," said Marina, "or I must cease here."
"Nay," said Pericles, "I will be patient; you little know how you do
startle me, to call yourself Marina." "The name," she replied, "was
given me by one that had some power, my father, and a king." "How, a
king's daughter!" said Pericles, "and called Marina! But are you flesh
and blood? Are you no fairy? Speak on; where were you born? and
wherefore called Marina?" She replied, "I was called Marina, because I
was born at sea. My mother was the daughter of a king; she died the
minute I was born, as my good nurse Lychorida has often told me weeping.
The king, my father, left me at Tarsus, till the cruel wife of Cleon
sought to murder me. A crew of pirates came and rescued me, and brought
me here to Mitylene. But, good sir, why do you weep? It may be, you
think me an impostor. But, indeed, sir, I am the daughter to King
Pericles, if good King Pericles be living." Then Pericles, terrified as
he seemed at his own sudden joy, and doubtful if this could be real,
loudly called for his attendants, who rejoiced at the sound of their
beloved king's voice; and he said to Helicanus, "O Helicanus, strike me,
give me a gash, put me to present pain, lest this great sea of joys
rushing upon me, overbear the shores of my mortality. O come hither,
thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus, and found at sea again. O
Helicanus, down on your knees, thank the holy gods! This is Marina. Now
blessings on thee, my child! Give me fresh garments, mine own Helicanus!
She is not dead at Tarsus as she should have been by the savage
Dionysia. She shall tell you all, when you shall kneel to her and call
her your very princess. Who is this?" (observing Lysimachus for the
first time). "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:"