GOWER
To sing a song that old was sung,
From ancient ashes I am come;
Assuming man’s infirmities,
To glad your ear, your eye to please.
If you, born in these later times,
When wit’s more ripe, if you accept my rhymes.
And if too hear an old man sing
May to your wishes pleasure bring,
I life would wish, that I might
Waste it for you, like candlelight.
GHOSTS (repeating, overlapping)
I life would wish, that I might
Waste it for you, like candlelight.
GOWER
To sing a song that old was sung,
GOWER / GHOSTS
From ancient ashes I am come;
GOWER
Assuming man’s infirmities,
To glad your ear, your eye to please.
This is Antioch then, Antiochus the Great
Built up this city for his chiefest seat:
The fairest in all Syria, so they say.
This king took to him a peer
Who died and left a female heir,
So buxom, blithe and full of face,
As heaven had lent her all his grace;
To whom the father a liking took
And her to incest did provoke:
Poor child; bad father! to entice one’s own
To evil should be done by none.
But this custom that they did begin:
They both forgot it was a sin
And soon the beauty of this fair dame
Made many princes thither frame
To seek her as a bed-fellow,
A pleasure play-fellow:
Which to prevent, her father made a law
To keep her, still, and keep all men in awe
GHOSTS
Ahhhh…
GOWER / ANTIOCHUS (speaking)
Whoever would ask her for his wife,
Answer this riddle, or lose his life:
GOWER
And for her, many a man did die,
As yon grim looks do testify:
SUTORS (repeating)
I life would wish, that I might
Waste it for you, like candle-
GOWER
To sing a song that old was sung,
From ancient ashes I am come;
That what ensues may please:
Unto your judgement
Enter Pericles!
GHOSTS
Pericles!
Pericles!
Pericles!
ANCIENT ASHES
THE RIDDLE
TARSUS
FORTUNE
THE KNIGHTS’ DANCE
SEA-TOSSED
THE PASSPORT
LIFE’S BUT BREATH
MARINA
ENTER PIRATES
THE WASTING OF OUR TIME
GOOD, GOOD LUCK
CANDLELIGHT
THE DREAM
WISHES
A NEW JOY
