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 Attendants.

Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?
First 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 royal father, to express

My commendations great, whose merit's less.

Sim. It's 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 renowns if not respected.
'Tis now your honour, daughter, to entertain
The labour of each knight in his device.

F4

Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.

158. a goal] equal Staunton conj. 159. [Exeunt.] Rowe. om. QqF3

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15

Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire presents his shield to the Princess.

Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer himself?
Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;
And the device he bears upon his shield

Is a black Ethiope reaching at the sun;
The word, 'Lux 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?

Thai. 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 por dulzura que por

Sim. What is the fourth?
Thai. A burning torch that's turned upside down;
The word, 'Quod me alit, me extinguit.'

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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, an hand environed with clouds,
Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;
The motto thus, 'Sic spectanda fides.'

Sim. And what's

The sixth and last, the which the knight himself

35

[The Sixth Knight, Pericles, passes.

40

Thai. He seems to be a stranger; but his present is

With such a graceful courtesy deliver❜d?

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.

First Lord. He had need mean better than his out

ward show

Can any way speak in his just commend;

For by his rusty outside he appears

To have practised more the whipstock than the lance.

Sec. Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes

To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished.

Third Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust Until this day, to scour it in the dust.

34. his] her S. Walker conj. 35. [The Fifth......] Malone. 5. Knight. QQQ3. The fift knight. Q4Q5Q6. The fifth Knight. F3F4. 36. fifth] F3F4. fift Qq. an] a Collier.

38. [The Sixth...] Dyce. 6. Knight. QQ2Q3. The sixt Knight. Q4Q5Q6* The sixth Knight. F3F4. The sixth Knight passes. Malone.

39-41. And what's...deliver'd?] As in Dyce. Two lines, the first ending the which, in Q,. Prose in the rest. 40. the which] which Steevens, reading And...himself as one line. 41. With] & Q3.

45

50

55

Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan
The outward habit by the inward man.
But stay, the knights are coming: we will withdraw
Into the gallery.

[Exeunt.

[Great shouts within, and all cry 'The mean knight!'

SCENE III. The same. A hall of state: a banquet prepared.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Knights, and Attendants.
Sim. Knights,

To say you're 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 princes and 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.

56. makes] make F3.

57. outward...inward] inward... outward Steevens conj. and Anon. MS. apud Farmer.

habit by the habit by, the Singer, ed. 2 (Mason conj.). habit: try the Jackson conj. habit, not the Nicholson conj. (withdrawn). habit for the Anon. conj.

58, 59. But...gallery.] Divided as by Malone. The first line ends comming in QqF3F4.

58. we will we'll Malone. 59. [Exeunt.] Rowe. om. QqF3F4. shouts within, ] Dyce. shuotes, Q3. shouts, F3F4. shoutes, The rest. SCENE III.] Malone.

The same...] Malone (1790).

5

ΙΟ

In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed,
To make some good, but others to exceed;

15

And you are her labour'd scholar. Come, queen o' the

feast,

For, daughter, so you are,-here take your place:
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.

Marshal. Sir, yonder is your place.

Per.

Some other is more fit.

First Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen That neither in our hearts nor outward eyes

Envy the great nor do the low despise.

Per. You are right courteous knights.
Sim.

Sit, sir, sit.

[Aside] By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me, he not thought upon.

Thai. [Aside] By Juno, that is queen of marriage,
All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury,

Wishing him my meat.-Sure he's a gallant gentleman.
Sim. He's but a country gentleman;

Has done no more than other knights have done;

15. an artist] artists Steevens (Malone conj.).

17. you are]QQ2Q3. you The rest. you're Malone.

labour'd] Q2Q3F3F4· labourd Q. laboured Q4Q5Q6•

o' the] o' th' Rowe. a th' Q QzQ3. of th' Q4Q5Q6• oth' F3F419. Marshal] Malone. Martiall QqF3. Martial F4.

28, 30, 36, 37. [Aside] Edd.
28, 29. By...upon.] Given to Peri-
cles by Malone (Steevens).

that...thoughts] at this kind of
thought Jackson conj.
29. resist] distaste Collier conj.
he not] Q2Q3Q4Q5Q6F3F4-
hee not Q. she not Malone. he now
Malone conj. be not Singer (Steevens
conj.). she but Dyce (Mason conj.).

30-32. By...gentleman.] Arranged
as in QqF3F4. Steevens ends the
lines queen...eat...meat?...gentleman.
33-35. He's...pass.] Divided as
by Boswell. The lines end more...
staffe,...passe, in Qq F3 F4.
Malone
ends the lines he has...done;...pass.
Steevens ends them but...gentleman;
...done;...pass.

34. Has] ha's Q1Q2Q3. has The rest. he has Malone

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