Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/497

Rh At sea in childbed died she, but brought forth A maid-child call'd Marina; who, O goddess, Wears yet thy silver livery. She at Tharsus Was nurs'd with Cleon; whom at fourteen years He sought to murder: but her better stars Brought her to Mitylene; against whose shore Riding, her fortunes brought the maid aboard us, Where, by her own most clear remembrance, she Made known herself my daughter."

George Lillo, (the memorable author of ) worked up this story into a drama of three acts. Here Philoten, the daughter of Cleon, is of Tharsus; and when Pericles arrives, he recounts his history to her in the following lines, which display very considerable poetic ability.

"But to my purpose. 'Tis more than twice seven years since I beheld thee With my Marina, both were infants then. Peace and security smiled on your birth; Her's was the rudest welcome to this world That e'er was Prince's child: Born on the sea, (Hence is she called Marina,) in a tempest, When the high working billows kissed the moon,