Page 196 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

ACT IV IT

Enter Gower.

GOWER
Imagine Pericles arrived at Tyre,

Welcomed and settled to his own desire.
His woeful queen we leave at Ephesus,
Unto Diana there’s a votaress.

Now to Marina bend your mind, [5]
Whom our fast-growing scene must find
At Tarsus, and by Cleon trained
In music’s letters; who hath gained
Of education all the grace,

Which makes her both the heart and place [10]
Of general wonder. But, alack,
That monster envy, oft the wrack

Of earnèd praise, Marina’s life
Seeks to take off by treason’s knife.
And in this kind, our Cleon hath [15]
One daughter and a full-grown wench,
Even right for marriage-sight. This maid

Hight Philoten, and it is said
For certain in our story she
Would ever with Marina be; [20]

Be’t when she weaved the sleded silk
With fingers long, small, white as milk;
Or when she would with sharp needle wound
The cambric, which she made more sound
By hurting it; or when to th’lute [25]

She sung, and made the night-bird mute,
That still records with moan; or when
She would with rich and constant pen

Vail to her mistress Dian. Still
This Philoten contends in skill [30]