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Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Quarto)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Tom Bishop
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Dioniza, with Leonine.
Dion. Thy oath remember, thou hast sworne to doo't,
1425tis but a blowe which neuer shall bee knowne , thou
canst not doe a thing in the worlde so soone to yeelde
thee so much profite: let not conscience which is but
cold, in flaming, thy loue bosome, enflame too nicelie,
nor let pittie which euen women haue cast off, melt thee,
1430but be a souldier to thy purpose.
Leon. I will doo't, but yet she is a goodly creature.
Dion. The fitter then the Gods should haue her.
Here she comes weeping for her onely Mistresse death,
Thou art resolude.
1435Leon. I am resolude.
Enter Marina with a Basket of flowers.
Mari. No: I will rob Tellus of her weede to strowe
thy greene with Flowers, the yellowes, blewes, the purple
Violets, and Marigolds, shall as a Carpet hang vpon thy
1440graue, while Sommer dayes doth last: Aye me poore maid,
borne in a tempest, when my mother dide, this world to me
is a lasting storme, whirring me from my friends.
Dion. How now Marina, why doe yow keep alone?
How chaunce my daughter is not with you?
1445Doe not consume your bloud with sorrowing,
Haue you a nurse of me? Lord how your fauours
Changd with this vnprofitable woe:
Come giue me your flowers, ere the sea marre it,
Walke with Leonine, the ayre is quicke there,
1450And it perces and sharpens the stomacke,
Come Leonine take her by the arme, walke with her.
Mari. No I pray you, Ile not bereaue you of your seruañt .
Dion. Come, come, I loue the king your father, and your
selfe, with more then forraine heart, wee euery day expect
1455him here, when he shall come and find our Paragon to all
reports thus blasted,
He will repent the breadth of his great voyage, blame both
my Lord and me, that we haue taken no care to your best
courses, go I pray you, walke and be chearfull once againe,
1460reserue that excellent complexion, which did steale the
eyes of yong and old. Care not for me, I can goe home a-
lone.
Mari. Well, I will goe, but yet I haue no desire too it.
Dion. Come, come, I know tis good for you, walke halfe
1465an houre Leonine, at the least, remember what I haue sed.
Leon. I warrant you Madam.
Dion. Ile leaue you my sweete Ladie, for a while, pray
walke softly, doe not heate your bloud, what, I must haue
care of you.
1470Mari. My thanks sweete Madame, Is this wind Westerlie
that blowes?
Leon. Southwest.
Mari.When I was borne the wind was North.
LeonWast so?
1475Mari. My father, as nurse ses, did neuer feare, but cryed
good sea-men to the Saylers, galling his kingly hands ha-
ling ropes, and clasping to the Mast, endured a sea that al-
most burst the decke.
Leon. When was this?
1480Mari. When I was borne, neuer was waues nor winde
more violent, and from the ladder tackle, washes off a can-
uas clymer, ha ses one, wolt out? and with a dropping in-
dustrie they skip from sterne to sterne , the Boatswaine
whistles, and the Maister calles and trebles their confusion.
1485Leon. Come say your prayers.
Mari. What meane you?
Leon. If you require a little space for praier, I graunt it,
pray, but bee not tedious, for the Gods are quicke of eare,
and I am sworne to do my worke with haste.
1490Mari. Why will you kill me?
Leon. To satisfie my Ladie.
Mari. Why would shee haue mee kild now? as I can re-
member by my troth, I neuer did her hurt in all my life, I
neuer spake bad worde, nor did ill turne to anie liuing crea-
1495ture: Beleeue me law, I neuer killd a Mouse, nor hurt a Fly:
I trode vpon a worme against my will, but I wept fort. How
haue I offended, wherein my death might yeeld her anie
profit, or my life imply her any danger?
Leon. My Commission is not to reason of the deed, but
1500doo't.
Mari. You will not doo't for all the world I hope: you
are well fauoured, and your lookes foreshew you haue a
gentle heart, I saw you latelie when you caught hurt in par-
ting two that fought: good sooth it shewde well in you, do
1505so now, your Ladie seekes my lifeCome, you betweene, and
saue poore mee the weaker.
Leon. I am sworne and will dispatch.Enter Pirats.
Pirat.1. Hold villaine.
Pira.2. A prize, a prize.
1510Pirat.3. Halfe part mates, halfe part. Come lets haue
her aboord sodainly.
Exit.
Enter Leonine.
Leon. These rogueing theeues serue the great Pyrato
1515Valdes, and they haue seizd Marina, let her goe, ther's no
hope shee will returne, Ile sweare shees dead, and throwne
into the Sea, but ile see further: perhappes they will but
please themselues vpon her, not carrie her aboord, if shee
remaine
1520Whome they haue rauisht, must by mee be slaine.
Exit.