ACT IV. Enter GoWER.1 Gow. Imagine Pericles arrived at Tyre, Now to Marina bend your mind, Whom our fast-growing scene must find 2 Which makes her both the heart and place3 One daughter, and a wench full grown, For certain in our story, she Would ever with Marina be; 4 Be't when she weaved the sleided silk With fingers long, small, white as milk; Or when she would with sharp neeld 5 wound 1 This chorus, and the two following scenes, in the old editions, are printed as part of the third act. 2 The same expression occurs in the chorus to The Winter's Tale : 66 your patience this allowing, I turn my glass, and give my scene such growing As you had slept between." 3 The old copies read: "Which makes high both the art and place." The emendation is by Steevens. Place here signifies residence. 4 "Sleided silk" is unwrought silk, prepared for weaving by passing it through the weaver's sley or reed-comb. 5 The old copies read needle; but the metre shows that we should read neeld. The word is thus abbreviated in a subsequent passage in the first quarto. See King John, Act v. Sc. 2. By hurting it; or when to the lute With the dove of Paphos might the crow 4 The pregnant instrument of wrath I do commend to your content; 5 Only I carry winged time Post on the lame feet of my rhyme ; Which never could I so convey, Unless your thoughts went on my way. Dionyza does appear, With Leonine, a murderer. [Exit. SCENE 1. Tharsus. An open Place near the Sea shore. Enter DIONYZA and LEONINE. Dion. Thy oath remember; thou hast sworn to do it; 'Tis but a blow, which never shall be known. 1 To record anciently signified to sing. 2 l'ail is probably a misprint. Steevens suggests that we should read "Hail." Malone proposes to substitute " Wail." 3 i. e. highly accomplished, perfect. 4 Pregnant, in this instance, means apt, quick. Prest is ready. 5 Steevens conjectures that the Poet wrote consent instead of content. Thou canst not do a thing i' the world so soon, Even women have cast off, melt thee, but be Leon. I'll do't; but yet she is a goodly creature. Dion. The fitter then the gods should have her. Here Weeping she comes for her old nurse's death." Thou art resolved? Enter MARINA, with a basket of flowers. Mar. No, no, I will rob Tellus of her weed, 3 To strew thy green 3 with flowers; the yellows, blues, The purple violets, and marigolds, Shall, as a chaplet, hang upon thy grave, While summer days do last. Ah me! poor maid, Born in a tempest, when my mother died, Which is but cold, inflame love in thy bosom, Inflame too nicely, nor let pity," &c. Steevens proposed to omit the words "Inflame too nicely," and "which even," adding the pronoun that, in the following manner :— Which is but cold, inflame love in thy bosom; Nor let that pity women have cast off Melt thee, but be a soldier to thy purpose." The reading here given is sufficiently intelligible, and deviates less from the old copy. Nicely here means tenderly, fondly. 2 The old copy reads: "Here she comes weeping for her onely mistresse death." The suggestion and emendation are Dr. Percy's. 3 This is the reading of the quarto copy; the folio reads grave. Weed, in old language, meant garment. 4 The old copy reads, "Shall as a carpet hang," &c. The emendation is by Steevens. This world to me is like a lasting storm, Whirring me from my friends. Dion. How now, Marina! why do you keep alone? How chance my daughter is not with you? Do not Consume your blood with sorrowing; you have A nurse of me. Lord! how your favor's changed With this unprofitable woe! Come, come; Give me your wreath of flowers. Ere the sea mar it,3 Walk forth with Leonine; the air is quick there, Piercing, and sharpens well the stomach. Come; Leonine, take her by the arm, walk with her. Mar. No, I pray you; I'll not bereave you of your servant. Dion. Come, come; I love the king your father, and yourself, 6 He will repent the breadth of his great voyage; Mar. Well, I will go ; But yet I have no desire to it. Dion. Come, come, I know 'tis good for you. Walk half an hour, Leonine, at the least; Remember what I have said. Leon. I warrant you, madam. 1 Thus the earliest copy. The second quarto, and all subsequent impressions, read: 66 Hurrying me from my friends." Whirring or whirrying had formerly the same meaning; a bird that flies with a quick motion is still said to whirr away. 2 Countenance, look. 3 i. e. ere the sea, by the coming in of the tide, mar your walk. 4 That is, with the same warmth of affection as if I was his countryman. 5 Our fair charge, whose beauty was once equal to all that fame said of it. 6 Reserve has here the force of preserve. Dion. I'll leave you, my sweet lady, for a while; Pray you walk softly, do not heat your blood. What! I must have a care of you. Mar. Thanks, sweet madam.— [Exit DIONYZA. Is this wind westerly that blows? South-west. Mar. When I was born, the wind was north. Was❜t so? Mar. My father, as nurse said, did never fear, Leon. When was this? Mar. When I was born. Never was waves nor wind more violent; And from the ladder-tackle washes off A canvass-climber. Ha! says one, wilt out? From stem to stern; the boatswain whistles, and Leon. Come, say your prayers. Mar. What mean you? Leon. 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 Mar. Leon. To satisfy my lady. Why will you kill me? 1 i. e. a sailor, one who climbs the mast to furl or unfurl the canvass or sails. 2 Mr. Steevens thus regulates and reads this passage: "That almost burst the deck, and from the ladder-tackle Wilt out? and, with a dropping industry, They skip from stem to stern: The boatswain whistles, Leon. And when was this? It was when I was born: |