Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Tom Bishop
Not Peer Reviewed

Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)

1965Enter Gower.
Gower
Marina thus the brothel scapes, and chances
Into an honest house, our story says.
She sings like one immortal, and she dances
As goddess-like to her admirèd lays.
1970Deep clerks she dumbs, and with her nee'le composes
Nature's own shape of bud, bird, branch, or berry,
That even her art sisters the natural roses,
Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry,
That pupils lacks she none of noble race
1975Who pour their bounty on her, and her gain
She gives the cursèd bawd. Here we her place,
And to her father turn our thoughts again,
Where we left him on the sea. We there him lost,
Where, driven before the winds, he is arrived
1980Here where his daughter dwells, and on this coast
Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived
God Neptune's annual feast to keep, from whence
Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies,
His banners sable, trimmed with rich expense,
1985And to him in his barge with fervor hies.
In your supposing once more put your sight:
Of heavy Pericles, think this his bark,
Where what is done in action, more if might,
Shall be discovered; please you sit and hark.
Exit.