1 Fish. Why, do ye take it, and the gods give | thee good on't!

2 Fish. Ay, but hark you, my friend; 'twas we that made up this garment through the rough seans of the waters: there are certain condolements, certain veils. I hope, Sir, if you thrive, you'll remember from whence you had it.

Per. Believe't, I will.

Now by your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel;
And, spite of all the rupture of the sea,
This jewel holds his biding on my arm:
Unto thy value will I mount myself
Upon a courser, whose delightful steps
Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.-
Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided
Of a pair of bases. +

2 Fish. We'll sure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I'll bring thee to the court myself.

Per. Then honour be but a goal to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill.

[Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same.-A public Way, or Platform, leading to the Lists. A Pavilion by the Side of it, for the reception of the KING, PRINCESS, LORDS, &c.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, LORDS, and Atten

dants.

Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

1 Lord. They are, my liege : And stay your coming to present themselves. Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,

In honour of whose birth these triumphs are, Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

[Exit a LORD. Thai. It pleaseth you, my father, to express My commendations great, whose merit's less. Sim. 'Tis fit it should be so; for princes are A model, which heaven makes like to itself: As jewels lose their glory, if neglected, So princes their renown, if not respected. 'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain The labour of each knight, in his device. Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, perform.

I'll

Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;

And the device he bears upon his shield
Is a black Ethiop, reaching at the sun :
The word, Lur tua vita mihi.

Sim. He loves you well, that holds his life of you. [The second Knight passes. Who is the second, that presents himself? Tha. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; And the device he bears upon his shield Is an arm'd knight, that's conquer'd by a lady: The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulcura que per fuerca. **

[The third Knight passes. Sim. And what's the third ? Thai. The third, of Antioch; And his device, a wreath of chivalry: The word, Me pompa proverit apex.

The fourth Knight passes.

Sim. What is the fourth? Thdi. A burning torch, that's turned upside down:

The word, Quod me alit, me extinguit.

Sim. Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,

Which can as well inflame, as it can kill

[The fifth Knight passes. Thai. The fifth, a band environed with clouds Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried: The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides. [The sixth Knight passes. Sim. And what's the sixth and last, which the knight himself

With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd?

Thai. He seems a stranger; but his present is A wither'd branch, that's only green at top: The motto, In hac spe vivo.

Sim. A pretty moral;

From the dejected state wherein he is,

He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.
1 Lord. He had need mean better than his
outward show

Can any way speak in his just commend:
For, by his rusty outside, he appears
To have practis'd more the whipstock, than the
lance.

Sim. Knights,

To say you are welcome, were superfluous.
To place upon the volume of your deeds,
As in a title-page, your worth in arms,
Were more than you expect, or more than's fit,
Since every worth in show commends itself.
Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast:
You are my guests.

Thai. But you, my knight and guest:
To whom this wreath of victory I give,
And crown you king of this day's happiness.
Per. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my
merit.

Sim. Call it by what you will, the day is

yours;

And here, I hope, is none that envies it. In framing artists, art hath thus decreed, To make some good, but others to exceed; And you're her labour'd scholar. Come, queen o'the feast, [place: (For, daughter, so you are,) here take your Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace. Knights. We are honour'd much by good Simonides.

Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we love,

For who hates honour, hates the gods above.
Marsh. Sir, yond's your place.

Per. Some other is more fit.

1 Knight. Contend not, Sir; for we are gen. tlemen,

That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes,
Envy the great, nor do the low despise.

Per. You are right courteous knights.
Sim. Sit, sit, Sir; sit.

Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,

These cates resist me, she not thought upon.
Thai. By Juno, that is queen

Of marriage, all the viands that I eat
Do seem unsavoury, wishing him my meat:
Sure he's a gallant gentleman.

• Handle of a whip.

t I. c. These delicacies go against my stomach.

Sim. He's but

A country gentleman:

He has done no more than other knights have
Broken a staff, or so: so let it pass. [done;
Thai. To me he seems like diamond to a glass.
Per. Yon' king's to me, like to my father's
picture,

Which tells me, in that glory once he was;
Had princes sit, like stars, about his throne,
And he the sun, for them to reverence.

None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights,
Did veil their crown to his supremacy;
Where now his son's a glow-worm in the night,
The which hath fire in darkness, none in light;
Whereby I see that time's the king of men,
For he's their parent, and he is their grave,
And gives them what he will, not what they

crave.

Sim. What, are you merry, knights?

1 Knight. Who can be other, in this royal presence ?

Sim. Here, with a cup that's stor'd unto the brim,

(As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,) We drink this health to you.

Knights. We thank your grace.

Sim. Yet pause a while:

Yon knight, methinks, doth sit too melancholy,
As if the entertainment in our court

Had not a show might countervail his worth.
Note it not you, Thaisa?

Thai. What is it

To me, my father?

Sim. Oh! attend, my daughter;

Princes, in this, should live like gods above, Who freely give to every one that comes

To honour them: and princes, not doing so, Are like to gnats, which make a sound, kill'd

Are wonder'd at.

but

Therefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say,

We drink this standing bowl of wine to him.
Thai. Alas, my father, it befits not me

Unto a stranger knight to be so bold;
He may my proffer take for an offence.
Since men take women's gifts for impudence.
Sim. How!

Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.
Thai. Now, by the gods, he could not please
me better.
[Aside.

Sim. And further tell him, we desire to know,

Of whence he is, his name and parentage. Thai. The king my father, Sir, has drunk to you.

Per. I thank him.

Thai. Wishing it so much blood unto your life.

Per. I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.

Thai. And further he desires to know of you, Of whence you are, your name and parentage. Per. A gentleman of Tyre-(my name, Peri

cles :

My education being in arts and arms;)-
Who, looking for adventures in the world,
Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And, after shipwreck, driven upon this shore.
Thai. He thanks your grace; names himself
Pericles,

A gentleman of Tyre, who, only by
Misfortune of the seas, has been bereft
Of ships and men, and cast upon this shore.
Sim. Now, by the gods, I pity his misfor-
tune,

And will awake him from his melancholy.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other re-
vels.

Even in your armours, as you are address'd, t
Will very well become a soldier's dance.
I will not have excuse, with saying, this

Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads;
Since they love men in arms, as well as beds.
[The KNIGHTS dance,
So, this was well ask'd, 'twas so well perform'd.
Come, Sir:

Here is a lady that wants breathing too;
And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip;
And that their measures are as excellent.
Per. In those that practise them, they are my
lord.

Sim. Oh! that's as much as you would be deny'd

[The KNIGHTS and LADIES dance. Of your fair courtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp: Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well; But you the best. [To PERICLES.] Pages and lights, conduct [Sir,

These knights unto their several lodgings; Your's
We have given order to be next our own.
Per. I am at your grace's pleasure.
Sim. Princes, it is too late to talk of love,
For that's the mark I know you level at:
Therefore each one betake him to his rest;
To-morrow, all for speeding do their best.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Tyre.-A Room in the Gover

nor's House.

Enter HELICANES and ESCANES.

Hel. No, no, my Escanes: know this of me,Antiochus from incest liv'd not free;

For which, the most high gods not minding longer

To withhold the vengeance that they had in store, Due to this heinous capital offence,

Even in the height and pride of all his glory, When he was seated, and his daughter with him, In a chariot of inestimable value,

A fire from heaven caine, and shrivell'd up Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so

stunk,

reign,

We thus submit unto,-our sovereign.

All. Live, noble Helicane!

Hel. Try honour's cause, forbear your suf frages:

If that you love prince Pericles, forbear.
Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,
Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease.

A twelvemonth longer, let me then entreat you
To forbear choice i'the absence of your king;
If, in which time expir'd, he not return,
I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.
But if I cannot win you to this love.

Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects, And in your search spend your adventurous worth;

Whom if you find, and win unto return,

You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.

1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield;

And, since lord Helicane enjoineth us,
We with our travels will endeavour it.

Hel. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp bands;

When peers thus kuit, a kingdom eve. stands.
[Exeunt.
SCENE V.-Pentapolis.-A Room in the
Palace.

Enter SIMONIDES, reading a Letter, the
KNIGHTS meet him.

1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Siinonides.

Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,

That, for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake
A married life.

Her reason to herself is only known,
Which from herself by no means can I get.

2 Knight. May we not get access to her, my

lord?

Sim. 'Faith, by no means: she hath so strictly

tied her

To her chamber, that it is impossible. One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery

This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd And on her virgin honour will not break it. 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves. [Exeunt.

Sim. So They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter:

She tells me here she'll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor night.
Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with
mine;

I like that well :-nay, how absolute she's in't,
Not minding whether I dislike or no !
Well, I commend her choice;
And will no longer have it be delay'd.
Soft, here he comes :--I must dissemble it.

Sim. Traitor, thou liest.

Per. Traitor!

Sim. Ay, traitor, Sir.

Per. Even in his throat, (unless it be the king,)

That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

Sim. Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage. [Aside. Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts, That never relish'd of a base descent.

I came unto your court for honour's cause,
And not to be a rebel to her state;
And he that otherwise accounts of me,
This sword shall prove he's honour's enemy.
Sim. No!-

Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

Enter THAISA.

Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, Resolve your angry father, if my tongue Did e'er solicit, or my hand subscribe To any syllable that made love to you? who takes offence at that would make me glad ↑ Thai. Why, Sir, say if you had,

Sim. Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory ?-

I am glad of it with all my heart. [Aside.] I'll tame you;

I'll bring you in subjection.

Will you, not having my consent, bestow
Your love and your affections on a stranger?
(Who, for ought I know to the contrary,
Or think, may be as great in blood as 1.)

[Aside. Hear, therefore, mistress; frame your will to mine,

And you, Sir, hear you.-Either be rul'd by me,
Or I will make you-man and wife.-
Nay, come; your hands and lips must seal it
too.-

And, being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy;
And, for a further grief,-God give you joy!-
What, are you both pleas'd?

Thai. Yes, if you love me, Sir.

Per. Even as my life, my blood that fosters it.
Sim. What, are you both agreed?
Both. Yes, 'please your majesty.

Sim. It pleaseth me so well, I'll see you wed; Then, with what haste you can, get you to bed. [Exeunt.

ACT III.

Enter GowER.

Gow. Now sleep yslaked hath the rout; No din but snores, the house about, Made louder by the o'er-fed breast Of this most pompous marriage-feast. The cat, with eyne of burning coal, Now couches 'fore the mouse's hole:

• Quenched.

Of my queen's travails !-Now, Lychorida

Enter LYCHORIDA, with an Infant. Lyc. Here is a thing

Gow. By many a dearn † and painful perch:
Of Pericles the careful search
By the four opposing coignes, §
Which the world together joins,
Is made, with all due diligence,
That horse, and sail, and high expense,
Can stead the quest. At last from Tyre
(Fame answering the most strong inquire,)
To the court of king Simonides

Are letters brought; the tenour these:-
Antiochus and his daughter's dead:
The men of Tyrus, on the head
Of Helicanus would set on

The crown of Tyre, but he will none;
The mutiny there he hastes t'appease:
Says to them, If king Pericles

Come not, in twice six moons, home,
He, obedient to their doom,

Will take the crown. The sum of this,
Brought hither to Pentapolis,
Y-ravished the regions round,

And every one, with claps, 'gan sound
Our heir apparent is a king:

Who dream'd, who thought, of such a thing?
Brief, he must hence depart to Tyre;
His queen, with child, makes her desire
(Which who shall cross ?) along to go:
(Omit we all their dole and woe)
Lychorida, her nurse, she takes,

And so to sea. Their vessel shakes

On Neptune's billow; half the flood

Hath their keel cut: but fortune's mood ¶
Varies again the grizzled north
Disgorges such a tempest forth,
That as a duck for life that dives,
So up and down the poor ship drives.
The lady shrieks, and, well-a-near! **
Doth fall in travail with her fear:
And what ensues in this fell storm,
Shall, for itself, itself perform.
I nill ++ relate; action may
Conveniently the rest convey;
Which might not what by me is told.
In your imagination hold

This stage, the ship, upon whose deck
The sea-toss'd prince appears to speak.

SCENE I.

[Exit.

queen.

Per. How! how, Lychorida!

Lyc. Patience, good Sir: do not assist the storm.

Here's all that is left living of your queen,—
A little daughter for the sake of it,

Be manly, and take comfort.

Per. O you gods!

Why do you make us love your goodly gifts,
And snatch them straight away? We, here

below,

Recall not what we give, and therein may
Vie honour with yourselves.

Lyc. Patience, good Sir,

Even for this charge.

Per. Now, mild may be thy life!

For a more blust'rous birth had never babe :
Quiet and gentle thy conditions!

For thou'rt the rudeliest welcom'd to this world,
That e'er was prince's child.

follows!

Thou hast as chiding a nativity,

Happy what

As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make, To herald thee from the womb: even at the

It hath done to me the worst. Yet, for the love
Of this poor infant, this fresh-new sea-farer,
I would, it would be quiet.

1 Sail. Slack the bolins ++ there; thou wilt not, wilt thou? Blow, and split thyself.

2 Sail. But sea-room, an the brine and cloudy billows kiss the moon, care not.

1 Sail. Sir, your queen must overboard: the sea works high, the wind is loud, and will not lie, till the ship be cleared of the dead.

Per. That's your superstition.

1 Sail. Pardon us, Sir; with us at sea it still hath been observed; and we are strong in earnest. Therefore briefly yield her; for she must overboard straight.

Per. Be it as you think meet.-Most wretched queen!

Lyc. Here she lies, Sir.

Per. A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my dear!

No light, no fire: the unfriendly elements
Forgot thee utterly; nor have I time
To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight
Must cast thee, scarcely coffin'd, in the ooze;
Where, for a monument upon thy bones,
And aye-remaining ‡‡ lamps, the belching whale,
And humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse,
Bid Nestor bring me spices, ink, and paper,
Lying with simple shells. Lychorida,
My casket and my jewels; and bid Nicander
Bring me the satin coffer: lay the babe

• Maliciously.

✰ Thought.

As noisy a one. requite.

.. Blast. 11

+ The goddess of child-bearing.

Than thy entrance into life cau ++ Bowlines, ropes of the sails. Ever burning.