Open Source Shakespeare

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

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Act IV, Scene 1

Tarsus. An open place near the sea-shore.

       

[Enter DIONYZA and LEONINE]

  • Dionyza. Thy oath remember; thou hast sworn to do't:
    '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, 1550
    Which is but cold, inflaming love i' thy bosom,
    Inflame too nicely; nor let pity, which
    Even women have cast off, melt thee, but be
    A soldier to thy purpose.
  • Leonine. I will do't; but yet she is a goodly creature. 1555
  • Dionyza. The fitter, then, the gods should have her. Here
    she comes weeping for her only mistress' death.
    Thou art resolved?
  • Leonine. 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 grave,
    While summer-days do last. Ay me! poor maid, 1565
    Born in a tempest, when my mother died,
    This world to me is like 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? Do not 1570
    Consume your blood with sorrowing: you have
    A nurse of me. Lord, how your favour's changed
    With this unprofitable woe!
    Come, give me your flowers, ere the sea mar it.
    Walk with Leonine; the air is quick there, 1575
    And 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; 1580
    I love the king your father, and yourself,
    With more than foreign heart. We every day
    Expect him here: when he shall come and find
    Our paragon to all reports thus blasted,
    He will repent the breadth of his great voyage; 1585
    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; reserve
    That excellent complexion, which did steal
    The eyes of young and old. Care not for me 1590
    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 an hour, Leonine, at the least: 1595
    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 a care of you. 1600
  • Marina. My thanks, sweet madam.
    [Exit DIONYZA]
    Is this wind westerly that blows?
  • Leonine. South-west.
  • Marina. When I was born, the wind was north. 1605
  • Leonine. Was't so?
  • Marina. My father, as nurse said, did never fear,
    But cried 'Good seaman!' to the sailors, galling
    His kingly hands, haling ropes;
    And, clasping to the mast, endured a sea 1610
    That almost burst the deck.
  • Leonine. When was this?
  • Marina. When I was born:
    Never was waves nor wind more violent;
    And from the ladder-tackle washes off 1615
    A canvas-climber. 'Ha!' says one, 'wilt out?'
    And with a dropping industry they skip
    From stem to stern: the boatswain whistles, and
    The master calls, and trebles their confusion.
  • Leonine. Come, say your prayers. 1620
  • 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. 1625
  • Marina. Why will you kill me?
  • Leonine. To satisfy my lady.
  • Marina. Why would she have me kill'd?
    Now, as I can remember, by my troth,
    I never did her hurt in all my life: 1630
    I never spake bad word, nor did ill turn
    To any living creature: believe me, la,
    I never kill'd a mouse, nor hurt a fly:
    I trod upon a worm against my will,
    But I wept for it. How have I offended, 1635
    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 do it.
  • Marina. You will not do't for all the world, I hope. 1640
    You are well favour'd, 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 show'd well in you: do so now:
    Your lady seeks my life; come you between, 1645
    And save poor me, the weaker.
  • Leonine. I am sworn,
    And will dispatch.

[He seizes her]

[Enter Pirates]

  • First Pirate. Hold, villain!

[LEONINE runs away]

  • Second Pirate. A prize! a prize!
  • Third Pirate. Half-part, mates, half-part.
    Come, let's have her aboard suddenly. 1655

[Exeunt Pirates with MARINA]

[Re-enter LEONINE]

  • Leonine. These roguing thieves serve the great pirate Valdes;
    And they have seized Marina. Let her go:
    There's no hope she will return. I'll swear 1660
    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,
    Whom they have ravish'd must by me be slain. 1665

[Exit]