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 Be't when she weaved the sleided silk 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 She sung, and made the night-bird mute, 1 She would with rich and constant pen With the dove of Paphos might the crow 4 The pregnant instrument of wrath Prest for this blow. The unborn event I do commend to your content; Only I carry winged time 5 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 Vail 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." Enter MARINA, with a basket of flowers. Mar. No, no, I will rob Tellus of her weed, 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, 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, 1 Whirring me from my friends. Dion. How now, Marina! why do you keep alone? Give me your wreath of flowers. Ere the sea mar it,3 Mar. No, I pray you; I'll not bereave you of your servant. Dion. Come; Come, come; I love the king your father, and yourself, We every day 5 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: "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. South-west. Is this wind westerly that blows? Was't so ? Mar. My father, as nurse said, did never fear, Leon. When was this? 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. What mean you? Leon. If you require a little space for I grant it. Pray! but be not tedious, prayer, 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? Mar. It was when I was born: Never was waves nor wind more violent. VOL. VI. 61 |