ACT FOURTH Enter GoWER MAGINE PERICLES ARrived at Tyre, Welcomed and settled to his own His woeful queen we leave at Unto Diana there as a votaress. At Tarsus, and by Cleon train'd Which makes her both the heart and place Of general wonder. But, alack, That monster envy, oft the wrack 10 makes her heart] The early editions read makes hie [i. e., high] both the art. The correction is due to Steevens. "Heart and place" means "centre and abiding-place.' 10 Of earned praise, Marina's life Would ever with Marina be: Be't when she weaved the sleided silk Or when she would with sharp needle wound This Philoten contends in skill With absolute Marina: so With the dove of Paphos might the crow 30 15 in this kind] in this manner. 17 ripe... rite] The first Quarto reads, "Even right for marriage sight." The second Quarto substituted ripe for right. Percy proposed rites for sight. More recent editors have adopted rite. 21 sleided silk] raw, untwisted silk. The phrase recurs in "Lover's Complaint," 48. 26-27 night-bird . . . moan] Cf. Two Gent., V, iv, 5-6, "to the nightingale's complaining notes Tune my distresses and record my woes." 32 Paphos] A shrine of Venus, who was attended by doves. Cf. Tempest, Vie feathers white. Marina gets All praises, which are paid as debts, And not as given. This so darks In Philoten all graceful marks, That Cleon's wife, with envy rare, The pregnant instrument of wrath 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. IV, i, 92-94: "I met her Deity Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son Dove-drawn with her." 44-45 pregnant . . . Prest] Both words here mean "ready." For "prest" cf. Merch. of Ven., I, i, 160, and note. 47-48 Only... rhyme] In my slowly-spoken verse I make time fly posthaste. 40 50 SCENE I- TARSUS AN OPEN PLACE NEAR THE SEA-SHORE Enter DIONYZA with LEONINE DION. Thy oath remember; thou hast sworn to do 't: 'T is but a blow, which never shall be known. Even women have cast off, melt thee, but be LEON. I will do 't; but yet she is a goodly creature. DION. The fitter then the gods should have her. 10 Here she comes weeping for her only mistress' death. Thou art resolved? LEON. I am resolved. 1 etc. Thy oath remember, etc.] In the original edition almost the whole of this scene is printed as prose. Rowe first divided the lines into verse. 5–6 inflaming . . . nicely] The early Quartos read, “in flaming thy love bosom." The Folios make inflaming a single word. The collocation of "inflaming" and "inflame" renders the text suspicious. Various changes have been suggested, e. g., enforcing for inflaming, and inform for inflame. The meaning seems to be that conscience, which has just been lulled to insensibility or become cold, must not, by stirring love or pity, be suffered to work too scrupulously. 8 A soldier to thy purpose] A man of resolute courage. Enter Marina, with a basket of flowers MAR. No, I will rob Tellus of her weed, Shall, as a carpet, hang upon thy grave, While summer-days do last. Ay me! poor maid, DION. How now, Marina! why do you keep alone? Do not consume your blood with sorrowing: Come, give me your flowers, ere the sea mar it. And it pierces and sharpens 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; 14 Tellus . . . weed] "Tellus," Latin for "earth," is the Earth personified. Weed" means "garment." 66 15 green] the green grass about thy grave. 21 Whirring] Thus the first three Quartos. The other editions read Hurrying. 27 ere the sea mar it] Thus the original reading, for which many changes have been suggested, e. g., on the sea margent. The "it" probably refers to the wreath of flowers. |