Tarsus. A Room in CLEON'S House. |
|
Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, and LYCHORIDA, with MARINA in her arms. |
Per. Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be gone; |
My twelve months are expir'd, and Tyrus stands |
In a litigious peace. You and your lady |
Take from my heart all thankfulness; the gods |
Make up the rest upon you! |
Cle. Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you mortally, |
Yet glance full wanderingly on us. |
Dion. O your sweet queen! |
That the strict fates had pleas'd you had brought her hither, |
To have bless'd mine eyes with her! |
Per. We cannot but obey |
The powers above us. Could I rage and roar |
As doth the sea she lies in, yet the end |
Must be as 'tis. My gentle babe Marina—whom, |
For she was born at sea, I have nam'd so—here |
I charge your charity withal, and leave her |
The infant of your care, beseeching you |
To give her princely training, that she may be |
Manner'd as she is born. |
Cle. Fear not, my lord, but think |
Your Grace, that fed my country with your corn— |
For which the people's prayers still fall upon you— |
Must in your child be thought on. If neglection |
Should therein make me vile, the common body, |
By you reliev'd, would force me to my duty; |
But if to that my nature need a spur, |
The gods revenge it upon me and mine, |
To the end of generation! |
Per. I believe you; |
Your honour and your goodness teach me to 't, |
Without your vows. Till she be married, madam, |
By bright Diana, whom we honour, all |
Unscissar'd shall this hair of mine remain, |
Though I show ill in 't. So I take my leave. |
Good madam, make me blessed in your care |
In bringing up my child. |
Dion. I have one myself, |
Who shall not be more dear to my respect |
Than yours, my lord. |
Per. Madam, my thanks and prayers. |
Cle. We'll bring your Grace e'en to the edge o' the shore; |
Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune and |
The gentlest winds of heaven. |
Per. I will embrace |
Your offer. Come, dearest madam. O! no tears, |
Lychorida, no tears: |
Look to your little mistress, on whose grace |
You may depend hereafter. Come, my lord. [Exeunt. |
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