Original text
Gower
In Antiochus and his daughter you haue heard
Of monstrous lust, the due and iust reward:
In Pericles his Queene and Daughter seene,
Although assayl'de with Fortune fierce and keene.
Vertue preferd from fell destructions blast,
Lead on by heauen, and crown'd with ioy at last.
In Helycanus may you well descrie,
A figure of trueth, of faith, of loyaltie:
In reuerend Cerimon there well appeares,
The worth that learned charitie aye weares.
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when Fame
Had spred his cursed deede, the honor'd name
Of Pericles, to rage the Cittie turne,
That him and his they in his Pallace burne:
The gods for murder seemde so content,
To punish, although not done, but meant.
So on your Patience euermore attending,
New ioy wayte on you, heere our play has ending.
| Modern text EPILOGUE
Enter Gower
GOWER
In Antiochus and his daughter you have heard
Of monstrous lust the due and just reward;
In Pericles, his queen, and daughter seen,
Although assailed with fortune fierce and keen,
Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crowned with joy at last.
In Helicanus may you well descry
A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty.
In reverend Cerimon there well appears
The worth that learned charity aye wears.
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread his cursed deed to the honoured name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn,
That him and his they in his palace burn.
The gods for murder seemed to consent
To punish, although not done, but meant.
So on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.
Exit
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