SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

print/save print/save view

---
       

Prologue

       
---

[Enter GOWER]

  • Gower. Marina thus the brothel 'scapes, and chances
    Into an honest house, our story says. 2145
    She sings like one immortal, and she dances
    As goddess-like to her admired lays;
    Deep clerks she dumbs; and with her needle composes
    Nature's own shape, of bud, bird, branch, or berry,
    That even her art sisters the natural roses; 2150
    Her inkle, silk, twin with the rubied cherry:
    That pupils lacks she none of noble race,
    Who pour their bounty on her; and her gain
    She gives the cursed bawd. Here we her place;
    And to her father turn our thoughts again, 2155
    Where we left him, on the sea. We there him lost;
    Whence, driven before the winds, he is arrived
    Here where his daughter dwells; and on this coast
    Suppose him now at anchor. The city strived
    God Neptune's annual feast to keep: from whence 2160
    Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies,
    His banners sable, trimm'd with rich expense;
    And to him in his barge with fervor hies.
    In your supposing once more put your sight
    Of heavy Pericles; think this his bark: 2165
    Where what is done in action, more, if might,
    Shall be discover'd; please you, sit and hark.

[Exit]