ACT V. Enter GOWER. Gow. 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 admired lays; Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her needle composes Nature's own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry, That even her art sisters the natural roses; His banners sable, trimm'd with rich expense; [Exit. A SCENE I-On board PERICLES' ship, off Mitylene. Pavilion on deck with a curtain before it; PERICLES within it, reclining on a couch. A barge lying beside the Tyrian vessel. Enter two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrian vessel, the other to the barge; to them HELICANUS. Tyr. Sail. Where is Lord Helicanus? he can resolve [To the Sailor of Mitylene. you. O, here he is. Sir, there's a barge put off from Mitylene, Who craves to come aboard. What is your will? Enter two or three Gentlemen. 1 Gent. Doth your lordship call? Hel. Gentlemen, There is some of worth would come aboard; I pray, [The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend, Enter, from thence, LYSIMACHUS and Lords, with Tyr. Sail. Sir, This is the man that can, in aught you would, Lys. Hail, reverend sir! The gods preserve you! Lys. You wish me well. Being on shore, honouring of Neptune's triumphs, I made to it, to know of whence you are. Hel. First, what is your place? Of this place you lie before. Hel. Sir, I am the governor Our vessel is of Tyre, in it the king; A man who for this three months hath not spoken But to prorogue his grief. Lys. Upon what ground is his distemperature? Hel. "Twould be too tedious to repeat; But the main grief springs from the loss Of a beloved daughter and a wife. Lys. May we not see him? Hel. You may; But bootless is your sight,-he will not speak To any. Lys. Yet let me obtain my wish. Hel. Behold him [PERICLES discovered]. Till the disaster that one mortal night Drove him to this. This was a [goodly person Lys. Sir king, all hail! the gods preserve you! Hail, royal sir! Hel. It is in vain; he will not speak to you. 1 Lord. Sir, we have a maid in Mitylene, I durst wager, Would win some words of him. Lys. 'Tis well bethought. She, questionless, with her sweet harmony She is all happy as the fairest of all, And, with her fellow maids, is now upon The leafy shelter that abuts against The island's side. [He whispers first Lord, who goes off in the barge of LYSIMACHUS. Hel. Sure, all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit That bears recovery's name. But, since your kindness That for our gold we may provision have, Wherein we are not destitute for want, But weary for the staleness. Lys. Hel. Sit, sir, I will recount it to you.— But, see, I am prevented. Re-enter, from the barge, First Lord, with MARINA and a young Lady. Lys. O, here is The lady that I sent for.-Welcome, fair one! Is't not a goodly presence? Hel. She's a gallant lady. Lys. She's such a one that, were I well assur'd Came of a gentle kind and noble stock, I'd wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed. Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty Mar. Sir, I will use That none but I and my companion maid My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes, But have been gaz'd on like a comet: she speaks, Who stood equivalent with mighty kings: Per. My fortunes-parentage-good parentage- Per. I do think so. I pray you, turn your eyes upon me. You are like something that What countrywoman? Mar. No, nor of any shores: Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am No other than I appear. Per. I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping. My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one My daughter might have been: my queen's square brows; Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight; As silver-voic'd; her eyes as jewel-like, And cas'd as richly; in pace another Juno; Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry Per. Mar. If I should tell my history, it would seem Per. Pr'ythee, speak: Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look'st, Modest as Justice, and thou seem'st a palace For the crown'd Truth to dwell in: I will believe thee, And make my senses credit thy relation To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st Mar. So indeed I did. Per. Report thy parentage. I think thou said'st And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine, Mar. Some such thing I said, and said no more but what my thoughts Per. Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I Have suffer'd like a girl: yet thou dost look Like Patience gazing on kings' graves, and smiling How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin? Mar. My name is Marina. Per. Mar. Or here I'll cease. Per. Patience, good sir, Nay, I'll be patient. Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me, To call thyself Marina. Mar. The name Was given me by one that had some power, My father, and a king. Per. And call'd Marina? Mar. How! a king's daughter? You said you would believe me; But, not to be a troubler of your peace, I will end here. Per. But are you flesh and blood? Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy? |