Pericles
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
Quarto
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Cleon the Gouernour of Tharsus, withEnter Cleon, the Governor of Tarsus, with Dionyza, Per I.iv.1
his wife and others.his wife, and others Per I.iv.2
Cleon.CLEON 
My Dyoniza shall wee rest vs heere,My Dionyza, shall we rest us here Per I.iv.1
And by relating tales of others griefes,And, by relating tales of others' griefs, Per I.iv.2
See if t'will teach vs to forget our owne?See if 'twill teach us to forget our own? Per I.iv.3
Dion.DIONYZA 
That were to blow at fire in hope to quench it,That were to blow at fire in hope to quench it, Per I.iv.4
For who digs hills because they doe aspire?For who digs hills because they do aspiredig (v.)
dig down, lessen by digging, excavate		Per I.iv.5
aspire (v.)
rise up, tower, be tall
Throwes downe one mountaine to cast vp a higher:Throws down one mountain to cast up a higher. Per I.iv.6
O my distressed Lord, euen such our griefes are,O my distressed lord, even such our griefs are. Per I.iv.7
Heere they are but felt, and seene with mischiefs eyes,Here they are but felt, and seen with mischief's eyes,mischief (n.)
catastrophe, calamity, misfortune		Per I.iv.8
But like to Groues, being topt, they higher rise.But like to groves, being topped, they higher rise.top (v.)

old form: topt
prune, lop, cut back		Per I.iv.9
Cleon.CLEON 
O Dioniza.O Dionyza, Per I.iv.10
Who wanteth food, and will not say hee wants it,Who wanteth food and will not say he wants it,want (v.)
lack, need, be without		Per I.iv.11
want (v.)
require, demand, need
Or can conceale his hunger till hee famish?Or can conceal his hunger till he famish? Per I.iv.12
Our toungs and sorrowes to sound deepe:Our tongues and sorrows force us to sound deep Per I.iv.13
Our woes into the aire, our eyes to weepe.Our woes into the air, our eyes to weep, Per I.iv.14
Till toungs fetch breath that may proclaime / Them louder,Till tongues fetch breath that may proclaim them louder, Per I.iv.15
that if heauen slumber, while / Their creatures want,That, if heaven slumber while their creatures want,want (v.)
lack, need, be without		Per I.iv.16
they may awake / Their helpers, to comfort them.They may awake their helpers to comfort them. Per I.iv.17
Ile then discourse our woes felt seuerall yeares,I'll then discourse our woes, felt several years,discourse (v.)
relate, talk about, recount		Per I.iv.18
And wanting breath to speake, helpe mee with teares.And wanting breath to speak, help me with tears.want (v.)
lack, need, be without		Per I.iv.19
Dyoniza.DIONYZA 
Ile doe my best Syr.I'll do my best, sir. Per I.iv.20
Cleon.CLEON 
This Tharsus ore which I haue the gouernement,This Tarsus, o'er which I have the government,Tarsus (n.)
ancient city of Asia Minor, S Turkey		Per I.iv.21
A Cittie on whom plentie held full hand:A city on whom plenty held full hand,full (adj.)
unrestrained, unlimited, copious		Per I.iv.22
For riches strew'de herselfe euen in her streetes,For riches strewed herself even in her streets, Per I.iv.23
Whose towers bore heads so high they kist the clowds,Whose towers bore heads so high they kissed the clouds, Per I.iv.24
And strangers nere beheld, but wondred at,And strangers ne'er beheld but wondered at, Per I.iv.25
Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'de,Whose men and dames so jetted and adorned,jet (v.)
strut, swagger, parade		Per I.iv.26
Like one anothers glasse to trim them by,Like one another's glass to trim them by;glass (n.)

old form: glasse
mirror, looking-glass		Per I.iv.27
trim (v.)
dress, attire, make [oneself] ready
Their tables were stor'de full to glad the sight,Their tables were stored full, to glad the sight,glad (v.)
gladden, brighten, cause to rejoice		Per I.iv.28
And not so much to feede on as delight,And not so much to feed on as delight; Per I.iv.29
All pouertie was scor'nde, and pride so great,All poverty was scorned, and pride so great, Per I.iv.30
The name of helpe grewe odious to repeat.The name of help grew odious to repeat.repeat (v.)
mention, speak of, utter		Per I.iv.31
Dion.DIONYZA 
O t'is too true.O, 'tis too true! Per I.iv.32
Cle.CLEON 
But see what heauen can doe by this our change,But see what heaven can do by this our change. Per I.iv.33
These mouthes who but of late, earth, sea, and ayre,These mouths who but of late earth, sea, and air Per I.iv.34
Were all too little to content and please,Were all too little to content and please, Per I.iv.35
Although thy gaue their creatures in abundance,Although they gave their creatures in abundance, Per I.iv.36
As houses are defil'de for want of vse,As houses are defiled for want of use,defile (v.)

old form: defil'de
make filthy, pollute, dirty		Per I.iv.37
They are now staru'de for want of exercise,They are now starved for want of exercise.exercise (n.)
habitual activity, usual occupation, employment		Per I.iv.38
starve (v.)

old form: staru'de
destroy, wither, waste away
Those pallats who not yet too sauers younger,Those palates who, not yet two summers younger, Per I.iv.39
Must haue inuentions to delight the tast,Must have inventions to delight the tasteinvention (n.)

old form: inuentions
novelty, fresh creation, innovation		Per I.iv.40
Would now be glad of bread and beg for it,Would now be glad of bread and beg for it. Per I.iv.41
Those mothers who to nouzell vp their babes,Those mothers who to nuzzle up their babesnuzzle up (v.)

old form: nouzell vp
rear, bring up, nurture		Per I.iv.42
Thought nought too curious, are readie nowThought naught too curious are ready nowcurious (adj.)
finely made, skilfully wrought, elaborate		Per I.iv.43
To eat those little darlings whom they lou'de,To eat those little darlings whom they loved. Per I.iv.44
So sharpe are hungers teeth, that man and wife,So sharp are hunger's teeth that man and wife Per I.iv.45
Drawe lots who first shall die, to lengthen life.Draw lots who first shall die to lengthen life. Per I.iv.46
Heere stands a Lord, and there a Ladie weeping:Here stands a lord and there a lady weeping; Per I.iv.47
Heere manie sincke, yet those which see them fall,Here many sink, yet those which see them fall Per I.iv.48
Haue scarce strength left to giue them buryall.Have scarce strength left to give them burial. Per I.iv.49
Is not this true?Is not this true? Per I.iv.50
Dion.DIONYZA 
Our cheekes and hollow eyes doe witnesse it.Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it. Per I.iv.51
Cle.CLEON 
O let those Cities that of plenties cup,O, let those cities that of plenty's cup Per I.iv.52
And her prosperities so largely taste,And her prosperities so largely taste Per I.iv.53
With their superfluous riots heare these teares,With their superfluous riots, hear these tears!superfluous (adj.)
extravagant, wasteful, immoderate		Per I.iv.54
riot (n.)
dissipation, wasteful revelry, extravagance
The miserie of Tharsus may be theirs.The misery of Tarsus may be theirs. Per I.iv.55
Enter a Lord.Enter a Lord Per I.iv.56
Lord.LORD 
Wheres the Lord Gouernour?Where's the lord governor? Per I.iv.56
Cle.CLEON 
Here,Here. Per I.iv.57
speake out thy sorrowes, which thee bringst in hast,Speak out thy sorrows which thou bringest in haste, Per I.iv.58
for comfort is too farre for vs to expect.For comfort is too far for us to expect. Per I.iv.59
Lord.LORD 
Wee haue descryed vpon our neighbouring shore,We have descried, upon our neighbouring shore,descry (v.)

old form: descryed
catch sight of, make out, espy, discover		Per I.iv.60
a portlie saile of ships make hitherward.A portly sail of ships make hitherward.portly (adj.)

old form: portlie
stately, majestic, dignified		Per I.iv.61
sail (n.)

old form: saile
fleet, squadron, flotilla
Cleon.CLEON 
I thought as much.I thought as much. Per I.iv.62
One sorrowe neuer comes but brings an heire,One sorrow never comes but brings an heir Per I.iv.63
That may succcede as his inheritor:That may succeed as his inheritor, Per I.iv.64
And so in ours, some neighbouring nation,And so in ours. Some neighbouring nation, Per I.iv.65
Taking aduantage of our miserie,Taking advantage of our misery, Per I.iv.66
That stuff't the hollow vessels with their power,Hath stuffed the hollow vessels with their power,power (n.)
force, strength, might		Per I.iv.67
To beat vs downe, the which are downe alreadie,To beat us down, the which are down already, Per I.iv.68
And make a conquest of vnhappie mee,And make a conquest of unhappy me, Per I.iv.69
Whereas no glories got to ouercome.Whereas no glory's got to overcome. Per I.iv.70
Lord.LORD 
That's the least feare. For by the semblanceThat's the least fear, for by the semblancesemblance (n.)
appearance, outward show		Per I.iv.71
of their white flagges displayde, they bring vs peace,Of their white flags displayed they bring us peace, Per I.iv.72
and come to vs as fauourers , not as foes.And come to us as favourers, not as foes. Per I.iv.73
Cleon.CLEON 
Thou speak'st like himnes vntuterd to repeatThou speakest like him's untutored to repeat: Per I.iv.74
Who makes the fairest showe, meanes most deceipt.Who makes the fairest show means most deceit. Per I.iv.75
But bring they what they will, and what they can,But bring they what they will and what they can, Per I.iv.76
What need wee leaueWhat need we fear? Per I.iv.77
our grounds the lowest? / And wee are halfe way there:The ground's the lowest and we are halfway there. Per I.iv.78
Goe tell their Generall wee attend him heere,Go tell their general we attend him here,attend (v.)
await, wait for, expect		Per I.iv.79
to know for what he comes, and whence he comes,To know for what he comes and whence he comes Per I.iv.80
and what he craues?And what he craves.crave (v.)

old form: craues
need, demand, require		Per I.iv.81
Lord.LORD 
I goe my Lord.I go, my lord. Per I.iv.82
Exit Per I.iv.82
Cleon.CLEON 
Welcome is peace, if he on peace consist,Welcome is peace if he on peace consist;consist (v.)
be disposed [for], be set, insist		Per I.iv.83
If warres, wee are vnable to resist.If wars, we are unable to resist. Per I.iv.84
Enter Pericles with attendants.Enter Pericles with attendants Per I.iv.85
Per.PERICLES 
Lord Gouernour, for so wee heare you are,Lord governor, for so we hear you are, Per I.iv.85
Let not our Ships and number of our men,Let not our ships and number of our men Per I.iv.86
Be like a beacon fier'de, t'amaze your eyes,Be like a beacon fired t' amaze your eyes.amaze (v.)
alarm, dismay, scare		Per I.iv.87
Wee haue heard your miseries as farre as Tyre,We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre Per I.iv.88
And seene the desolation of your streets,And seen the desolation of your streets; Per I.iv.89
Nor come we to adde sorrow to your teares,Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears, Per I.iv.90
But to relieue them of their heauy loade,But to relieve them of their heavy load;heavy (adj.)

old form: heauy
pressing, weighty, overpowering		Per I.iv.91
And these our Ships you happily may thinke,And these our ships you happily may thinkhappily (adv.)
perhaps, by chance, maybe		Per I.iv.92
Are like the Troian Horse, was stuft withinAre like the Trojan horse, was stuffed within Per I.iv.93
With bloody veines expecting ouerthrow,With bloody veins expecting overthrow, Per I.iv.94
Are stor'd with Corne, to make your needie bread,Are stored with corn to make your needy bread,needy (adj.)

old form: needie
needed, necessary		Per I.iv.95
And giue them life, whom hunger-staru'd halfe dead.And give them life whom hunger starved half dead. Per I.iv.96
Omnes.ALL 
The Gods of Greece protect you,The gods of Greece protect you! Per I.iv.97
And wee'le pray for you.And we'll pray for you. Per I.iv.98.1
They kneel Per I.iv.98
Per.PERICLES 
Arise I pray you, rise;Arise, I pray you, rise. Per I.iv.98.2
we do not looke for reuerence, / But for loue,We do not look for reverence but for love, Per I.iv.99
and harborage for our selfe, our ships, & men.And harbourage for ourself, our ships, and men.harbourage (n.)

old form: harborage
shelter, refuge, haven		Per I.iv.100
Cleon.CLEON 
The which when any shall not gratifie,The which when any shall not gratify,gratify (v.)

old form: gratifie
reward, repay, show gratitude for		Per I.iv.101
Or pay you with vnthankfulnesse in thought,Or pay you with unthankfulness in thought, Per I.iv.102
Be it our Wiues, our Children, or our selues,Be it our wives, our children, or ourselves, Per I.iv.103
The Curse of heauen and men succeed their euils:The curse of heaven and men succeed their evils!succeed (v.)
follow on, ensue, come after		Per I.iv.104
Till when the which (I hope) shall neare be seene:Till when – the which I hope shall ne'er be seen – Per I.iv.105
Your Grace is welcome to our Towne and vs.Your grace is welcome to our town and us. Per I.iv.106
Peri.PERICLES 
Which welcome wee'le accept, feast here awhile,Which welcome we'll accept, feast here awhile, Per I.iv.107
Vntill our Starres that frowne, lend vs a smile.Until our stars that frown lend us a smile. Per I.iv.108
Exeunt.Exeunt Per I.iv.108
 Previous Act I, Scene IV Next  
x

Jump directly to