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  • Title: Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)
  • Editor: Tom Bishop

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Tom Bishop
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)

    1422.1[4.1]
    Enter Dionyza with Leonine.
    Dionyza
    Thy oath remember: thou hast sworn to do't.
    1425'Tis but a blow which never shall be known.
    Thou canst not do a thing in the world so soon
    To yield thee so much profit. Let not conscience,
    Which is but cold in flaming, thy lone bosom
    Inflame too nicely; nor let pity, which
    Even women have cast off, melt thee, 1430but be
    A soldier to thy purpose.
    Leonine
    I will do't,
    But yet she is a goodly creature.
    Dionyza
    The fitter then the gods should have her.
    Here she comes weeping for her only mistress' death.
    Thou art resolved?
    1435Leonine
    I am resolved.
    Enter Marina with a basket of flowers.
    Marina
    No, I will rob Tellus of her weed
    To strew thy green with flowers: the yellows, blues,
    The purple violets, and marigolds
    Shall as a carpet hang upon thy 1440grave
    While summer days doth last. Ay me, poor maid,
    Born in a tempest when my mother died!
    This world to me is as a lasting storm,
    Whirring me from my friends.
    Dionyza
    How now, Marina. Why do you keep alone?
    How chance my daughter is not with you?
    1445Do not consume your blood with sorrowing:
    Have you a nurse of me. Lord, how your favor's
    Changed with this unprofitable woe!
    Come, give me your flowers. O'er the sea margent
    Walk with Leonine. The air is quick there,
    1450And it pierces and sharpens the stomach.
    Come Leonine; take her by the arm, walk with her.
    Marina
    No, I pray you,
    I'll not bereave you of your servant.
    Dionyza
    Come, come.
    I love the king your father, and yourself
    With more than foreign heart. We every 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 have taken
    No care to your best courses. Go I pray you,
    Walk and be cheerful once again. 1460Reserve
    That excellent complexion, which did steal
    The eyes of young and old. Care not for me,
    I can go home alone.
    Marina
    Well, I will go;
    But yet I have no desire to it.
    Dionyza
    Come, come, I know 'tis good for you.
    Walk half 1465an hour, Leonine, at the least.
    Remember what I have said.
    Leonine
    I warrant you, madam.
    Dionyza
    I'll leave you, my sweet lady, for a while.
    Pray walk softly, do not heat your blood.
    What, I must have care of you.
    1470Marina
    My thanks, sweet madam.
    [Exit Dionyza.]
    Is this wind westerly that blows?
    Leonine
    Southwest.
    Marina
    When I was born the wind was north.
    Leonine
    Was't so?
    1475Marina
    My father, as nurse says, did never fear,
    But cried "Good seamen!" to the sailors, galling
    His kingly hands haling ropes,
    And, clasping to the mast, endured a sea
    That almost burst the deck.
    Leonine
    When was this?
    1480Marina
    When I was born.
    Never was waves nor wind more violent,
    And from the ladder tackle washes off
    A canvas-climber, "Ha!" says one "Wolt out?"
    And with a dropping industry they skip
    From stem to stern. The boatswain whistles, and
    The master calls and trebles their confusion.
    1485Leonine
    Come, say your prayers.
    Marina
    What mean you?
    Leonine
    If you require a little space for prayer,
    I grant it. Pray, but be not tedious,
    For the gods are quick of ear, and I am sworn
    To do my work with haste.
    1490Marina
    Why will you kill me?
    Leonine
    To satisfy my lady.
    Marina
    Why would she have me killed?
    Now as I can remember, by my troth,
    I never did her hurt in all my life.
    I never spake bad word, nor did ill turn
    To any living crea1495ture. Believe me, la!
    I never killed a mouse, nor hurt a fly.
    I trod upon a worm against my will,
    But I wept for't. How have I offended,
    Wherein my death might yield her any profit,
    Or my life imply her any danger?
    Leonine
    My commission
    Is not to reason of the deed, but 1500do't.
    Marina
    You will not do't for all the world I hope.
    You are well-favored, and your looks foreshow
    You have a gentle heart. I saw you lately
    When you caught hurt in parting two that fought.
    Good sooth, it showed well in you. Do 1505so now:
    Your lady seeks my life. Come you between,
    And save poor me, the weaker.
    Leonine
    I am sworn and will dispatch. [He seizes Marina.]
    Enter Pirates. [Leonine releases Marina and flees.]
    1 Pirate
    Hold, villain!
    2 Pirate
    A prize, a prize!
    15103 Pirate
    Half part, mates, half part. Come let's have her aboard suddenly.
    Exeunt [with Marina.]
    Leonine [reappears].
    Leonine
    These roguing thieves serve the great pirate 1515Valdes,
    And they have seized Marina. Let her go!
    There's no hope she will return. I'll swear she's dead
    And thrown into the sea. But I'll see further.
    Perhaps they will but please themselves upon her,
    Not carry her aboard. If she remain,
    1520Whom they have ravished must by me be slain.
    Exit.
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