Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Tom Bishop
Not Peer Reviewed

Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)

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.