Pericles, Prince of Tyre — Act 5, Scene 2

Gower appears before the temple of Diana at Ephesus and explains that the story is nearly finished. He says that in Mytilene, the regent welcomed Pericles so well that he was promised marriage to Marina, but only after he completed the sacrifice Diana had commanded. Gower then moves the action quickly forward, saying that the king and his company have sailed to Ephesus in good time. He asks the audience to imagine the pageantry and music of the welcome and to accept the swift movement of events, then points them toward the temple where Pericles now stands with his companions.

Now our sands are almost run;

More a little, and then dumb.

This, my last boon, give me,

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 Mytilene

To greet the king. So he thrived,

That he is promised to be wived

To fair Marina; but in no wise

Till he had done his sacrifice,

As Dian bade: whereto being bound,

The interim, pray you, all confound.

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 doom.