Act 4, Scene 1: Tarsus. An open place near the sea-shore

SCENE I. Tarsus. An open place near the sea-shore.

    Enter DIONYZA and LEONINE

DIONYZA

    Thy oath remember; thou hast sworn to do't:
    'Tis but a blow, which never shall be known.
    Thou canst not do a thing in the world so soon,
    To yield thee so much profit. Let not conscience,
    Which is but cold, inflaming love i' thy bosom,
    Inflame too nicely; nor let pity, which
    Even women have cast off, melt thee, but be
    A soldier to thy purpose.

LEONINE

    I will do't; but yet she is a goodly creature.

DIONYZA

    The fitter, then, the gods should have her. Here
    she comes weeping for her only mistress' death.
    Thou art resolved?

LEONINE

    I am resolved.

    Enter MARINA, with a basket of flowers

MARINA

    No, I will rob Tellus of her weed,
    To strew thy green with flowers: the yellows, blues,
    The purple violets, and marigolds,
    Shall as a carpet hang upon thy grave,
    While summer-days do last. Ay me! poor maid,
    Born in a tempest, when my mother died,
    This world to me is like a lasting storm,
    Whirring me from my friends.

DIONYZA

    How now, Marina! why do you keep alone?
    How chance my daughter is not with you? Do not
    Consume your blood with sorrowing: you have
    A nurse of me. Lord, how your favour's changed
    With this unprofitable woe!
    Come, give me your flowers, ere the sea mar it.
    Walk with Leonine; the air is quick there,
    And it pierces and sharpens the stomach. Come,
    Leonine, take her by the arm, walk with her.

MARINA

    No, I pray you;
    I'll not bereave you of your servant.

DIONYZA

    Come, come;
    I love the king your father, and yourself,
    With more than foreign heart. We every day
    Expect him here: when he shall come and find
    Our paragon to all reports thus blasted,
    He will repent the breadth of his great voyage;
    Blame both my lord and me, that we have taken
    No care to your best courses. Go, I pray you,
    Walk, and be cheerful once again; reserve
    That excellent complexion, which did steal
    The eyes of young and old. Care not for me
    I can go home alone.

MARINA

    Well, I will go;
    But yet I have no desire to it.

DIONYZA

    Come, come, I know 'tis good for you.
    Walk half an hour, Leonine, at the least:
    Remember what I have said.

LEONINE

    I warrant you, madam.

DIONYZA

    I'll leave you, my sweet lady, for a while:
    Pray, walk softly, do not heat your blood:
    What! I must have a care of you.

MARINA

    My thanks, sweet madam.

    Exit DIONYZA
    Is this wind westerly that blows?

LEONINE

    South-west.

MARINA

    When I was born, the wind was north.

LEONINE

    Was't so?

MARINA

    My father, as nurse said, did never fear,
    But cried 'Good seaman!' to the sailors, galling
    His kingly hands, haling ropes;
    And, clasping to the mast, endured a sea
    That almost burst the deck.

LEONINE

    When was this?

MARINA

    When I was born:
    Never was waves nor wind more violent;
    And from the ladder-tackle washes off
    A canvas-climber. 'Ha!' says one, 'wilt out?'
    And with a dropping industry they skip
    From stem to stern: the boatswain whistles, and
    The master calls, and trebles their confusion.

LEONINE

    Come, say your prayers.

MARINA

    What mean you?

LEONINE

    If you require a little space for prayer,
    I grant it: pray; but be not tedious,
    For the gods are quick of ear, and I am sworn
    To do my work with haste.

MARINA

    Why will you kill me?

LEONINE

    To satisfy my lady.

MARINA

    Why would she have me kill'd?
    Now, as I can remember, by my troth,
    I never did her hurt in all my life:
    I never spake bad word, nor did ill turn
    To any living creature: believe me, la,
    I never kill'd a mouse, nor hurt a fly:
    I trod upon a worm against my will,
    But I wept for it. How have I offended,
    Wherein my death might yield her any profit,
    Or my life imply her any danger?

LEONINE

    My commission
    Is not to reason of the deed, but do it.

MARINA

    You will not do't for all the world, I hope.
    You are well favour'd, and your looks foreshow
    You have a gentle heart. I saw you lately,
    When you caught hurt in parting two that fought:
    Good sooth, it show'd well in you: do so now:
    Your lady seeks my life; come you between,
    And save poor me, the weaker.

LEONINE

    I am sworn,
    And will dispatch.

    He seizes her

    Enter Pirates

First Pirate

    Hold, villain!

    LEONINE runs away

Second Pirate

    A prize! a prize!

Third Pirate

    Half-part, mates, half-part.
    Come, let's have her aboard suddenly.

    Exeunt Pirates with MARINA

    Re-enter LEONINE

LEONINE

    These roguing thieves serve the great pirate Valdes;
    And they have seized Marina. Let her go:
    There's no hope she will return. I'll swear
    she's dead,
    And thrown into the sea. But I'll see further:
    Perhaps they will but please themselves upon her,
    Not carry her aboard. If she remain,
    Whom they have ravish'd must by me be slain.

    Exit

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