Act 3, Scene 4: Ephesus. A room in CERIMON's house

SCENE IV. Ephesus. A room in CERIMON's house.

    Enter CERIMON and THAISA

CERIMON

    Madam, this letter, and some certain jewels,
    Lay with you in your coffer: which are now
    At your command. Know you the character?

THAISA

    It is my lord's.
    That I was shipp'd at sea, I well remember,
    Even on my eaning time; but whether there
    Deliver'd, by the holy gods,
    I cannot rightly say. But since King Pericles,
    My wedded lord, I ne'er shall see again,
    A vestal livery will I take me to,
    And never more have joy.

CERIMON

    Madam, if this you purpose as ye speak,
    Diana's temple is not distant far,
    Where you may abide till your date expire.
    Moreover, if you please, a niece of mine
    Shall there attend you.

THAISA

    My recompense is thanks, that's all;
    Yet my good will is great, though the gift small.

    Exeunt

        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 a votaress.
        Now to Marina bend your mind,
        Whom our fast-growing scene must find
        At Tarsus, and by Cleon train'd
        In music, letters; who hath gain'd
        Of education all the grace,
        Which makes her both the heart and place
        Of general wonder. But, alack,
        That monster envy, oft the wrack
        Of earned praise, Marina's life
        Seeks to take off by treason's knife.
        And in this kind hath our Cleon
        One daughter, and a wench full grown,
        Even ripe for marriage-rite; this maid
        Hight Philoten: and it is said
        For certain in our story, she
        Would ever with Marina be:
        Be't when she weaved the sleided 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 the lute
        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
        With absolute Marina: so
        With the dove of Paphos might the crow
        Vie feathers white. Marina gets
        All praises, which are paid as debts,
        And not as given. This so darks
        In Philoten all graceful marks,
        That Cleon's wife, with envy rare,
        A present murderer does prepare
        For good Marina, that her daughter
        Might stand peerless by this slaughter.
        The sooner her vile thoughts to stead,
        Lychorida, our nurse, is dead:
        And cursed Dionyza hath
        The pregnant instrument of wrath
        Prest for this blow. The unborn event
        I do commend to your content:
        Only I carry winged time
        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