In a litigious peace. You, and your lady, Take from my heart all thankfulness! The gods Make
up
the rest upon you! Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you more
tally, Yet glance full wand'ringly on us. Dion.
O your sweet queen! That the ftrict fates had pleas'd you had brought her hi.
ther, To have bless?d mine eyes ! Per.
We cannot but obey The powers above us. Could I rage and roar As doth the sea the lies in, yet the end Must be as 'tis. My babe Marina (whom For she was born at sea, I have nam'd fo) here I charge your charity withal, and leave her The infant of your care; beseeching you To give her princely training, that she may be Manner'd as she is born. Cle.
Fear not, my lord : Your grace,
that fed my country with your corn, (For which the people's prayers still fall upon you,) Must in
your
child be thought on. If neglection Should therein make me vile, the common body, By you reliev'd, would force me to my duty : But if to that my nature need a spur, The gods revenge it upon me and mine, To the end of generation ! Per.
I believe you ; Your honour and your goodness teach me credit, Without your vows.
Till she be married, madam, By bright Diana, whom we honour all, Unsciffar'd shall this hair of mine remain, Though I show will in't. So I take my leave.
Good
Good madam, make me blessed in your care In bringing up my child. Dion.
I have one myself, Who shall not be more dear to my respect, Than yours, my lord. Per.
Madam, my thanks and prayers. Cle. We'll bring your grace even to the edge o'the shore; Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune, and The gentlest winds of heaven. Per.
I will embrace Your offer. Come, dear'ft madam.-0, no tears, Lychorida, no tears : Look to
your
little mistress, on whose grace You may depend hereafter.—Come, my lord. [Exeunt.
Ephesus. A Room in Cerimon's House.
Enter CERIMON and THAISA.
Cer. Madam, this letter, and some certain jewels, Lay with you in your coffer : which are now At your command. Know you the character ? Tha. It is
my
lord's. That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember, Even on my yearning time; but whether there Delivered or no, by the holy gods, I cannot rightly say: But since king Pericles, My wedded lord, I ne'er shall see again, A vestal livery will I take me to, And never more have joy.
Cer. Madam, if this you purpose as you speak, Diana's temple is not distant far,
Where
Where you may 'bide until your date expire. Moreover, if you please, a niece of mine Shall there attend you.
Tba. My recompence is thanks, that's all; Yet my good will is great, though the gift finall. [Exeunt.
Gow. Imagine Pericles at Tyre, Welcom'd, to his own desire. His woful queen leave at Ephess, To Dian there a votaress. Now to Marina bend your mind, Whom our fast-growing scene must find At Tharsus, and by Cleon train'd In musick, letters; who hath gain'd Of education all the grace, Which makes her both the heart and place of general wonder. But alack ! That monster envy, oft the wrack Of earned praise, Marina's life Seeks to take off by treason's knife. And in this kind hath our Cleon One daughter, and a wench full grown, Even ripe for marriage fight; this maid Hight Philoten : and it is said For certain in our story, she Would ever with Marina be: Be't when she weav'd the fleided silk With fingers, long, small, white as milk; Or when she would with sharp neeld wound The cambrick, which she made more sound By hurting it; or when to the lute She sung, and made the night-bird mute,
That still records with moan; or when She would with rich and constant pen Vail to her mistress Dian; still This Philoten contends in skill With absolute Marina : so With the dove of Paphos might the crow Vie feathers white. Marina gets All praises, which are paid as debts, And not as given. This so darks In Philoten all graceful marks, That Cleon's wife, with envy rare, A present murderer does prepare For good Marina, that her daughter Might stand peerless by this slaughter. The sooner her vile thoughts to stead, Lychorida, our nurse, is dead; And curfed Dionyza hath The pregnant instrument of wrath Prest for this blow. The unborn event I do commend to your content : Only I carry winged time Port on the lame feet of my rhyme; Which never could I so convey, Unless your thoughts went on my way.- Dionyza does appear, With Leonine, a murderer,
« PreviousContinue » |