ABSTRACT
Pericles, Prince of Yyre what thing he could wish himselfe 1 to be, which was more vile than he was, or more hatefull than he would make himselfe to be? Why my master or my mistris (quoth the villaine) I thinke, who have all the sinnes subject to mankind raigning in them, and are (indeede) as bad as the Divell himselfe: yet (quoth Marina) thou goest about to be worse then they, and to doe an office at their setting on, which thy master himselfe hath more pitty then to attempt,2 to robbe me of mine honour, which in spite of them and thee, the Gods (who I hope will protect it still) have till this breathing protected, to leprous my chast thoghts, with remembrance of so foule a deede, which thou then shalt have doone, to damne thine owne soule, by undooing of mine.3 At which word, the Villaine being strucke into some remorce, and standing in a pawse, Marina went forward, and tolde him; If thou wantest golde, there is some for thee 4 (part of that she had reserved which before was given hir, from the bawdes knowledge:) or if thou wantest maintenaunce, provide mee but some residence in an honest house, and I have experience in many things which shall labour for thee, as namely, I am skilfull in the seaven Liberall Sciences, well exercised in all studies, and dare approove this, that my skill in singing and playing on Instruments exceeds any in the citty: therefore (quoth she) as thou before didst proclame my beuty in the market to the open world, whereby to have made me a common prostitute, so now agayne proclame my vertues unto them, and I doubt not but this honorable citty will affoord schollers sufficient, the instructing of whome will returne profite enough,5 both to repay the Maister what hee payed out for me, provide an honester course for thee then this thou livest in, and give a quiet content unto my selfe. Sooth (quoth the Villaine) being now mooved unto much more compassion of her; If you have (as you say) these qualities, I will labour with my Master, and doe my best for your release. If not (answered Marina) I give thee free leave to bring me backe againe, and prostitute me to that course which was first pretended for me. In6 briefe, the Villaine so laboured with the bawde his maister, that though hee woulde not give her leave to depart his house,7 yet in hope of the profit, which would come in by her other qualities, she should stay in his house, and none, with her former greevances disturbe her, and withall, charged the Pander to set up a Bill in the Market place, of her excellencie in speaking, and singing. At the report of which there crowded as many to the bawdes
great profite to be delighted with her woorth, as there came before to have made spoyle of her vertue, and not any man but gave her money largely, and departed contented,l onely above the rest the Lorde Lysimachus had evermore an especiall regarde in the preservation of her safety no otherwise than if she had beene descended from himselfe, and rewarded the villaine very liberally for the diligent care hee had over her. 2
The eleventh Chapter How Pericles after foureteene yeeres absence, arrived at Tharsus, and not finding his daughter, lamented her supposed death: and how taking ship againe, he was by crosse windes driven to Meteline, where his daughter Marina was: and how by the meanes of Prince Lysimachus comming aboorde his shippe to comforte him, he came to the knowledge of his lost daughter, and also of his wife Thaysa.
