| ACT III SCENE III | Tarsus. A room in CLEON's house. |
| [
Enter PERICLES, CLEON, DIONYZA, and LYCHORIDA with
MARINA in her arms
] |
| PERICLES | Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be gone; |
| My twelve months are expired, 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! | 5 |
| CLEON | Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you mortally, |
| Yet glance full wanderingly on us. |
| DIONYZA | O your sweet queen! |
| That the strict fates had pleased you had brought her hither, |
| To have bless'd mine eyes with her! | 10 |
| PERICLES | 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 named so, here | 15 |
| I charge your charity withal, leaving her |
| The infant of your care; beseeching you |
| To give her princely training, that she may be |
| Manner'd as she is born. |
| CLEON | Fear not, my lord, but think | 20 |
| 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 relieved, would force me to my duty: | 25 |
| But if to that my nature need a spur, |
| The gods revenge it upon me and mine, |
| To the end of generation! |
| PERICLES | I believe you; |
| Your honour and your goodness teach me to't, | 30 |
| Without your vows. Till she be married, madam, |
| By bright Diana, whom we honour, all |
| Unscissor'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 | 35 |
| In bringing up my child. |
| DIONYZA | I have one myself, |
| Who shall not be more dear to my respect |
| Than yours, my lord. |
| PERICLES | Madam, my thanks and prayers. | 40 |
| CLEON | 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. |
| PERICLES | I will embrace |
| Your offer. Come, dearest madam. O, no tears, | 45 |
| Lychorida, no tears: |
| Look to your little mistress, on whose grace |
| You may depend hereafter. Come, my lord. |
| [Exeunt] |
Shakespeare's Sources for Pericles