Diana appearing to him as in a vision.
Dia.
My temple stands in Ephesus6 note
; hie thee thither,
And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
There, when my maiden priests are met together,
Before the people all,
Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife:
To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call,
And give them repetition to the life7 note
.
-- 210 --
Perform my bidding, or thou liv'st in woe:
Do't, and be happy8 note, by my silver bow.
Awake, and tell thy dream.
[Diana disappears.
Per.
Celestial Dian, goddess argentine9 note
,
I will obey thee!—Helicanus!
Enter Lysimachus, Helicanus, and Marina.
Hel.
Sir,
Per.
My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike
The inhospitable Cleon; but I am
-- 211 --
For other service first: toward Ephesus
Turn our blown sails1 note
; eftsoons I'll tell thee why.—
[To Helicanus.
Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,
And give you gold for such provision
As our intents will need?
Lys.
With all my heart, sir; and when you come ashore,
I have another suit2 note
.
Per.
You shall prevail,
Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems
You have been noble towards her.
Lys.
Sir, lend your arm.
Per.
Come, my Marina.
[Exeunt.
Enter Gower, before the Temple of Diana at Ephesus.
Gow.
Now our sands are almost run;
More a little, and then dumb3 note
.
-- 212 --
This, as my last boon, give me4 note
,
(For such kindness must relieve me,)
That you aptly will suppose
What pageantry, what feats, what shows,
What minstrelsy, and pretty din,
The regent made in Mitylin,
To greet the king. So he has thriv'd,
That he is promis'd to be wiv'd
To fair Marina; but in no wise
Till he had done his sacrifice5 note,
As Dian bade: whereto being bound,
The interim, pray you, all confound6 note
.
In feather'd briefness sails are fill'd
And wishes fall out as they're will'd.
At Ephesus, the temple see,
Our king, and all his company.
That he can hither come so soon,
Is by your fancy's thankful doom7 note
.
[Exit.
-- 213 --
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
