Lysimachus

Lord Lysimachus was a character in William Shakespeare's play Pericles.

He was the governor of Mytilene. In an alternative version of the play, Romana had heard he was "of honourable parts", an assessment she informed him was undermined by his visits to a house of ill-repute. He also claimed it was said that he was "quite the catch". (PROSE: Pericles ^[+]Loading...["Pericles (short story)"])

History

In this alternative version of Scene VI, a disguised Lysimachus visited the house and asked the Bawd "what wholesome iniquity" they had. She told him they had one unlike anybody who had ever come to Mytilene, who she assured him was "never plucked yet". Lysimachus called for this woman to be called forth and so the Pandar brought in Romana, after which the Bawd and Pandar left them both alone.

Lysimachus asked Romana how long she had been at "this trade" but refused to state aloud exactly what he meant. After confirming he was the governor of Mytilene, she asked him if he held "a Doctor" in the prisons. Lysimachus initially believed she was in need of medical help but recognised to whom she referred after she labelled him "a wand'ring fool". Romana then commanded him to "fetch the Doctor, let me out, nail these bawds and mend thy ways". She also advised him that his cloak needed a press and that there was egg on his cuff. Lysimachus objected to being ordered around but Romana simply told him "someone needs to tell thee how to rule". Despite Lysimachus's unwanted suggestion that he wished to take Romana's "precious jewel", she told him of a girl in the market named Marina who was a princess, and that he would be lucky to have her. She then directly told him to "woo the girl", opining that his state was "in a state" and that "Mytilene needs Marina, as do you". As a final request, Romana also asked for Lysimachus to bring gold in payment for the nice food she had eaten during her stay. He happily handed over gold to her, calling Romana "a piece of noble virtue" and cursing any who "robs thee of thy goodness" to die like a thief. He then departed, promising that if Romana heard from him again it would be for her good.

The Pandar later told the Bawd that Romana had "spoken holy words" to Lysimachus to which she exclaimed "hang her up for ever!" and wished aloud that Romana had never set foot in the house. Romana followed this up by announcing to them that her rescue would arrive in an hour. (PROSE: Pericles ^[+]Loading...["Pericles (short story)"])