ABSTRACT

The Painful! Adventures of Pericles Prince of Tyre 533 along, and who with the tenour of his priapine proclamation, had so awaked the intemperaunce of the whole Cittie, that against her returne, of high and low there was a full crowding at the doore, every man carrying his money in his hand, and thinking him the happiest man that might first have accesse.1 But heaven who is still a protector of Vertue against Vice, ordayned this for Marina, that the sending her abroad, with purpose, first to shew her, and after, to make sale of her to the worlde, was the onely meanes to defend her in the state of her virginitie. For as she was (as before is saide) led along, and thousands of people wondring about her, and flocking as it had beene so many flies, to infect so delicate a preservative, it happened that Lysimachus the cheefe governour of Meteline, looking out at his windowe, to observe what strange occasion drew the giddy havocke of people, to muster themselves into such throngs: he, not without great admiration observed, that it was to make boote of so pretious a beauty, whose inflaming colours which Nature had with her best Arte placed uppon her face, compelled him to censure, that she was rather a deserving bedfellow for a Prince, than a play-fellow for so rascally an assembly: so pittying awhile her misfortune, that it was so hard to be throwne into the jaws of two such poisonous and devouring serpents, a Pandar, and a Bawde, yet at last, being inflamed with a little sinnefull concupiscence, by the power of her face, he resolved himselfe that since shee must fall, it were farre more fitter, into his owne armes, whose authoritie could stretch to doe her good, than into the hote imbracements of many, to her utter ruine2 ; so presently dismissing away a servant of his, he gave him charge, to give in charge to the Bawd, that at the returne home, of this new peece of merchandise of hers, as shee respected, or in time of neede would be beholding to his favour, (and Heavens forfend but Bawdes nowe and then should stand in neede of authoritie) she should keepe her private from the conference of any, for hee himselfe that night late in the evening, in secret, and in some disgui~e, would (for her guests sake) visite her house. There needed no further incouragement o bid the Bawde stirre up her damnable limbes to make all fit. It was enough in this, that the Governour had sent worde, it was he that was to come. But having given the best garnish she could to her sinnefull habitation: and Marina being returned home againe by the Pandar, who had ledde her up and downe as Beare-heards leade beares, for shew first, and to be baited after: Shee tooke her up with her into a private Chamber, when the fruite of her instructions were, how she should

534 now learne to behave her selfe, for she had fortunes coroming uppon her, she was nowe to be received, respected, and regarded of a man that was honourable. Heaven graunt that I may finde him so, quoth Marina. Thou need est not doubt it sweete heart, quoth the Bawde, for though I tell it thee in private, which for a million he would not have to be knowne publikely: Hee is no woorse a man thou arte shortly to deale withall, than the Governour of this whole Citty, a Gentleman that is curteous, a favourer of our calling, one that will as soone have his hand in his pocket, as such a pretty dilling as thou shalt come in his eye, and not as most of our Gentlemen doe, drawe it out empty, but filling it full of golde, will most Jove-like rayne it downe in to his Danaes lap. In briefe, he is a Nobleman, and, which is a thing which we respect more than his nobilitie, he is liberall: he is curteous, and thou mayest commaund him, he is vertuous and thou mayest learne of him. All these indeede, answered Marina, are properties due unto so worthy a Gentleman, whom you picture him to be: and if he be liberall in good, I shall be glad to taste of his bountie: if curteous, I shall as willingly become his servant: and if vertuous, it shal be in me no way to make him vicious. Well, well, well, sayes the Bawde, we must have no more of this puling, and I must have you learne to know, that vice is as hereditary to our house, as the olde barne to your countrey beggar.1 But as shee would have proceeded with more of these her divelish counsells, hastily into the Chamber came the Pandar unto them, who as hote as a toste, with his haste to bring the newes, he told them, that the Lorde Lysimachus was come,2 and as if the word Come had beene his kew, he entred the Chamber with the master bawde, when the whole frie of sinners cursying about him, he very largely, as the Prologue to his entertainment, distributed golde among them, and then as roundly demaunded, for that same fresh peece of stuffe, which by their proclamation they tolde, they had now to make sale of, and he of set purpose was come to have a sight of. 3

When they all poynting toward Marina, told him there shee was, and for our selves, quoth they, we having done the office of right Chamberlaines, brought you together, we will shut the doore after us, and so leave you.4 Who no sooner departed, but Lysimachus the Governour began to demaund of her the performaunce of that for which he came. When shee prostrating her selfe at his feete, intreated him to take pitty of her, and from poynt to poynt (excepting her birth, and death of her parents) discoursed unto him the whole story