And though it was my own, part of my heritage,
Which my dead father did bequeath to me,
With this strict charge (even as he left his life),
Keep it, my Pericles, it hath been a shield
'Twist me and death-and pointed to this brace;-
For that it sar'd me, keep it; in like necessity,
The which the gods protect thee from! may't de-
fend thee.

It kept where I kept, I so dearly lov'd it;
Till the rough scas, that spare not any man,
Took it in rage, though calm'd, have given it
again:

I thank thee for 't; my shipwreck now 's no ill,
Since I have here my father's gift in 's will.
1 FISH. What mean you, sir?

[worth,

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?

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 royal father, to ex

press

(*) Old editions insert, heere.

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, I'll perform.

[Enter a Knight; he passes over the stage, 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 Ethiop 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 over.

(*) Old copies, entertaine; altered by Steevens.

Who is the second that presents himself?

por fuerza.

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 dulzura que por [The third Knight passes over. SIM. And what's the third? ΤΗΛΙ. The third of Antioch ; And his device a wreath of chivalry; The word, Me pompa* provexit apex.

[The fourth Knight passes over. [down;

SIM. What is the fourth? THAI. A burning torch, that's turned upside 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 over. THAI. The fifth, an hand environed with clouds, Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried; The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides.

[The sixth Knight passes over. SIM. And what's the sixth and last, the which the knight himself

With such a graceful courtesy deliver❜d?

THAI. He seems to be 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

[lance.

Can any way speak in his just commend ;
For, by his rusty outside, he appears
To have practis'd more the whipstock than the
2 LORD. He well may be a stranger, for he

SCENE III.-The same. A Hall of State. A Banquet prepared.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Marshal, Lords,
Attendants, and the Knights from tilting.
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 by merit.
SIM. Call it by what you will, the day is yours;
And here, I hope, is none that envies it.
In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed,
To make some good, but others to exceed;
And you're 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. [love, SIM. Your presence glads our days; honour we For who hates honour, hates the gods above. MARSH. Sir, yonder is your place.

PER.

Some other is more fit.

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

THAI. By Juno, that is queen of marriage,
All viands that I cat do seem unsavoury,
Wishing him my meat: sure he's a gallant gen-
tleman.

SIM. IIe's but a country gentleman; Has done no more than other knights have done; Has broken a staff, or so; so let it pass.

THAI. To me he seems like diamond to glass. PER. Yon king's to me like to my father's picture,

(*) Old copies, until the fourth folio, 1685, I place. passage in Wilkins' novel,-"In the end, all being seated by the Marshall at a table, placed directly over-against where the king and his daughter sate, as it were by some divine operation, both king and daughter, at one instant were so strucke in love with the noblenesse of his woorth, that they could not spare so much time to satisfie themselves with the delicacie of their viands, for talking of his prayses. We incline to think, with Steevens, that the second line should be read,

"The cates resist me, be not thought upon."

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 his 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. [Aside.] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.

SIM. And further tell him, we desire to know of him,

Of whence he is, his name and parentage.(3)

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 Pericles;

My education been, 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,

And will awake him from his melancholy.—
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time, which looks for other revels.
Even in your armours, as you are address'd,
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 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 denied Of your fair courtesy.

[The Knights and Ladies dance. Unclasp, unclasp ;

Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well, But you the best. [To PERICLES.] Pages and lights, to conduct

These knights unto their several lodgings! Yours, sir,

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, And 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.

(*) Old editions, Those.

education beene in artes and armes," &c.

c So this was well ask'd, &c.] That is, As this was well ask'd. d When he was seated, &c.] This passage, miserably corrupted in prin ing or transcription, is usually exhibited in modern editions thus:

"When he was seated, and his daughter with him, In a chariot of inestimable value,

A fire," &c.