[Exeunt two of the Fishermen. Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their 3 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when draw up the net. I saw the porpus, how he bounced and tumbled? they say, they are half fish, half flesh; a plague on them, they ne'er come, but I look to be wash'd. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. 1 Fish. Why, as men do a-land: the great ones eat up the little ones: I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. Such whales have I heard on a'the land, who never leave gaping, till they've swallow'd the whole parish, church, steeple, bells and all. Per. A pretty moral. 3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry. 2 Fish. Why, man? 3 Fish. Because he should have swallow'd me too: and when I had been in his belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish, up again. But if the good king Simonides were of my mind Per. Simonides! 3 Fish. We would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey. Per. How from the finny subject of the sea 2 Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? if it be a day fits you, scratch it out of the calendar, and nobody will look after it. labour ! 1 Fish. Hark you, sir; do you know where you are ? Per. Not well. 1 Fish. Why, I'll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king, the good Simonides. Per. The good king Simonides, do you call him? 1 Fish. Ay, sir; and he deserves to be so call'd, for his peaceable reign, and good government. Per. He is a happy king, since from his subjects He gains the name of good, by his government. How far is his court distant from this shore? 1 Fish. Marry, sir, half a day's journey; and I'll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birth-day; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world, to just and tour ney2 for her love. Per. Did but my fortunes equal my desires, 1 Fish. O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully deal for his wife's soul. Re-enter the two Fishermen, drawing up a net. 2 Fish. Help, master, help; here's a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man's right in the law; 'twill hardly come out. Ha! bots on't, 'tis come at last, and 'tis turn'd to a rusty armour. Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it. Per. Nay, see, the sea hath cast upon your coast-And, though Per. A man whom both the waters and the wind, 1 Fish. No, friend, cannot you beg? here's them in our country of Greece, gets more with begging, than we can do with working. 2 Fish. Canst thou catch any fishes then? Per. I never practis'd it. 2 Fish. Nay, then thou wilt starve sure; for here's nothing to be got now a-days, unless thou canst fish for't. Per. What I have been, I have forgot to know; 1 Fish. Die, quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we'll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting days, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks,' and thou shalt be welcome. Per. I thank you, sir. Thanks, fortune, yet, that after all my crosses, I Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth, For it was sometime target to a king; I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly, 2 Fish. Ay, but hark you, my friend; 'twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the waters: there are certain condolements, cer 2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, you said you could tain vails. I hope, sir, if you thrive, you'll remem not beg. Per. I did but crave. 2 Fish. But crave? Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall 'scape whipping. Per. Why, are all your beggars whipp'd then? 2 Fish. O, not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipp'd, I would wish no better office, than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go (2) To tilt, mock-fight. (1) Pancakes. VOL. II. ber from whence you had it. Per. Believe't, I will. Now, by your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel; (3) Armour for the arm. 3 K Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided 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 gaol to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt. The motto, In hac spe vivo. From the dejected state wherein he is, He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish. Can any way speak in his just commend: lance. SCENE II.-The same. A public way, or plat-To have practis'd more the whipstock," than the form, leading to the lists. 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? 1 Lord. They are, my liege; And stay your coming to present themselves. 2 2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honour'd triumph, strangely furnished. 3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust, Until this day, to scour it in the dust. Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw daughter, In honour of whose birth these triumphs are, [Exit a Lord. [Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry, The mean knight! SCENE III.-The same. A hall of state.-A ban quet prepared. Enter Simonides, Thaisa, Lords, Knights, and Attendants. Sim. Knights, To say you are welcome, were superfluous. Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll per- You are my guests. Enter a Knight; he passes over the stage, and his Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; Which can as well inflame, as it can kill. [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; (1) A kind of loose breeches. (2) i. e. Return them notice. (3) Emblem on a shield. The motto. (4) Offer. Thai. yours; And here, I hope, is none that envies it. (For, daughter, so you are,) here take your place: nides. Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we For who hates honour, hates the gods above. Per. Some other is more fit. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentle Which tells me, in that glory once he was; 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. To me, my father? Sim. What is it O, 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, but kill'd Are wonder'd at. Therefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say, Thai. Alas, my father, it befits not me, 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, A gentleman of Tyre, who only by Sim. Now by the gods, I pity his misfortune, SCENE IV.-Tyre. A room in the Governor's house. Enter Helicanus 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, A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up 1 Lord. Know that our griefs are risen to the top, And now at length they overflow their banks. Hel. Your griefs, for what? wrong not the prince you love. 1 Lord. Wrong not yourself then, noble Helicane; But if the prince do live, let us salute him, Or know what ground's made happy by his breath. 2 Lord. Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure:" And knowing this kingdom, if without a head (Like goodly buildings left without a roof,) Will soon to ruin fall, your noble self, That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign, We thus submit unto,-our sovereign. All. Live, noble Helicane! Hel. Try honour's cause, forbear your suffrages: If that you love prince Pericles, forbear. Take I your wish, I leap into the seas, (1) Lower. (2) Prepared for combat. (3) Dances. (4) Which adored them. (6) Judgment, opinion. (5) Satisfied. Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease. Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects, 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 hands; When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever 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 Simonides. Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know, That for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake 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. 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take Sim. So They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter: She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight, And will no longer have it be delay'd. Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, For your sweet music this last night: my ears, I do protest, were never better fed With such delightful pleasing harmony. Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend ; Sim. Sir, you are music's master. My daughter? Per. As of a most virtuous princess. Sim. And she is fair too, is she not? Per. As a fair day in summer; wond'rous fair. Sim. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you; Ay, so well, sir, that you must be her master, And she'll your scholar be; therefore, look to it. Per. Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster. Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else, Per. What's here! A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? (1) Quenched, 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 he that otherwise accounts of me, Here comes my daughter, she can witness it. Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, Thai. Why, sir, say if you had, Who takes offence at that would make me glad? you; [Aside. Will you, not having my consent, bestow Thai. Both. ACT III. Enter Gower. [Exeunt. 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; And crickets sing at the oven's mouth, As the blither for their drouth. Hymen hath brought the bride to bed, Where, by the loss of maidenhead, A babe is moulded ;-Be attent And time that is so briefly spent,pam Having call'd them from the deep! O still thy Thy dreadful thunders; gently quench thy nimble, Enter Pericles and Simonides at one door, with Per. A terrible child-bed hast thou had, my dear, To give thee hallow'd to thy grave, but straight (11) The goddess of child-bearing. (12) Thought. (13) Contend with you in honour (15) Than thy entrance into life can requite. |