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SCENE III.-The Temple of DIANA at Ephesus; THAISA standing near the altar, as high priestess; a number of Virgins on each side; CERIMON and other Inhabitants of Ephesus attending.

Enter PERICLES, with his Train; LYSIMACHUS, HELICANUS, MARINA, and a Lady.

Per. Hail, Dian! to perform thy just com-
mand,

I here confess myself the King of Tyre;
Who, frighted from my country, did wed
At Pentapolis the fair Thaisa.

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A birth, and death?

Per.

The voice of dead Thaisa!

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

Per. Immortal Dian!
Thai.

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

[Shows a ring.

Per. This, this: no more, you gods! your present kindness

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Makes my past miseries sport: you shall do well,

That on the touching of her lips I may
Melt and no more be seen. Ol come, be buried
A second time within these arms.
Mar.

My heart 44 Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom. [Kneels to THAISA.

Per. Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy
flesh, Thaisa;

Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina,
For she was yielded there.
Thai.

Bless'd, and mine own! 48

Hel. Hail, madam, and my queen!

Thai.

I know you not.

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Per. Still confirmation!

Embrace him, dear Thaisa; this is he.

Now do I long to hear how you were found, 56 How possibly preserv'd, and whom to thank, Besides the gods, for this great miracle.

Thai. Lord Cerimon, my lord; this man, Through whom the gods have shown their power; that can

From first to last resolve you.

Per.

Reverend sir,

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

plac'd her

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Here in Diana's temple. Per.

May we see them?

60

I will, my lord. 64

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POEMS VENUS AND ADONIS

'Vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo
Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua.'

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLY,

EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TICHFIELD.

RIGHT HONOURABLE,

I KNOW not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your lordship nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden only, if your honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advar tage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your honour to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer your own wish and the world's hopeful expectation.

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Your honour's in all duty,

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

With this she seizeth on his sweating palm,
The precedent of pith and livelihood,
And, trembling in her passion, calls it balm,
Earth's sovereign salve to do a goddess good: 18
Being so enrag'd, desire doth lend her force
Courageously to pluck him from his horse.

Over one arm the lusty courser's rein,
Under her other was the tender boy,
Who blush'd and pouted in a dull disdain,
With leaden appetite, unapt to toy;

She red and hot as coals of glowing fire,
He red for shame, but frosty in desire.

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He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks; Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs

To fan and blow them dry again she seeks: 52
He saith she is immodest, blames her miss;
What follows more she murders with a kiss.

Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast,
Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone,
Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste, 57
Till either gorge be stuff'd or prey be gone;
Even so she kiss'dhis brow, his cheek, his chin,
And where she ends she doth anew begin. 60

Fore'd to content, but never to obey,
Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face;
She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey,
And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace; 64

Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of

flowers,

So they were dew'd with such distilling

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showers.

Look! how a bird lies tangled in a net, So fasten'd in her arms Adonis lies;

O! be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, For mastering her that foil'd the god of fight.

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Pure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret, 'Touch but my lips with those fair lips of

Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes:

thine,

Rain added to a river that is rank Perforce will force it overflow the bank.

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Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,
For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale;
Still is he sullen, still he lowers and frets,
Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy-pale; 76
Being red, she loves him best; and being white,

Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red, The kiss shall be thine own as weil as mine: 117 What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head:

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Her best is better'd with a more delight.

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'Art thou asham'd to kiss? then wink again, And I will wink; so shall the day seem night; Love keeps his revels where there are but twain;

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Which long have rain'd, making her cheeks all wet;

And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless

debt.

Upon this promise did he raise his chin
Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave,
Who, being look'd on, ducks as quickly in;
So offers he to give what she did crave;
But when her lips were ready for his pay,
He winks, and turns his lips another way.

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Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight:
These blue-vein'd violets whereon we lean
Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.
'The tender spring upon thy tempting lip
Shows thee unripe, yet mayst thou well be

tasted.

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