Pericles by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 3
Tarsus. A room in CLEON’s house.
Pericles : Most honour'd Cleon, I must needs be gone;
[p]My twelve months are
expired, and Tyrus stands
[p]In a litigious peace. You, and your
lady,
[p]Take from my heart all thankfulness! The gods
[p]Make up the
rest upon you!
Cleon : Your shafts of fortune, though they hurt you mortally,
[p]Yet glance
full wanderingly on us.
Dionyza : O your sweet queen!
[p]That the strict fates had pleased you had
brought her hither,
[p]To have bless'd mine eyes with her!
Pericles : We cannot but obey
[p]The powers above us. Could I rage and roar
[p]As
doth the sea she lies in, yet the end
[p]Must be as 'tis. My gentle
babe Marina, whom,
[p]For she was born at sea, I have named so,
here
[p]I charge your charity withal, leaving her
[p]The infant of
your care; beseeching you
[p]To give her princely training, that she
may be
[p]Manner'd as she is born.
Cleon : Fear not, my lord, but think
[p]Your grace, that fed my country with
your corn,
[p]For which the people's prayers still fall upon
you,
[p]Must in your child be thought on. If neglection
[p]Should
therein make me vile, the common body,
[p]By you relieved, would force
me to my duty:
[p]But if to that my nature need a spur,
[p]The gods
revenge it upon me and mine,
[p]To the end of generation!
Pericles : I believe you;
[p]Your honour and your goodness teach me
to't,
[p]Without your vows. Till she be married, madam,
[p]By bright
Diana, whom we honour, all
[p]Unscissor'd shall this hair of mine
remain,
[p]Though I show ill in't. So I take my leave.
[p]Good madam,
make me blessed in your care
[p]In bringing up my child.
Dionyza : I have one myself,
[p]Who shall not be more dear to my respect
[p]Than
yours, my lord.
Pericles : Madam, my thanks and prayers.
Cleon : We'll bring your grace e'en to the edge o' the shore,
[p]Then give you
up to the mask'd Neptune and
[p]The gentlest winds of heaven.
Pericles : I will embrace
[p]Your offer. Come, dearest madam. O, no
tears,
[p]Lychorida, no tears:
[p]Look to your little mistress, on
whose grace
[p]You may depend hereafter. Come, my lord.
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Next: Act 3 - Scene 4
