By your furtherance, I am clothed in steel; 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 honor be but a goal to my will: This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE II. A public way or platform leading to the lists: a pavilion by the side of it, for the reception of the King, Princes, 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 honor of whose birth these triumphs are, 1 A kind of loose breeches.'-Steevens. 2 Return them notice. Sits here, like beauty's child, whom Nature gat [Exit a Lord. Thai. It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express My commendations great, whose merit's less. Sim. 'Tis fit it should be so; for princes are Thai. Which, to preserve mine honor, 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 Æthiop, reaching at the sun; The word,3 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: ■ Armorial ensign. 2 Offer. 3 Motto. The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulçura que per [the third Knight passes. fuerça.1 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? Thai. 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 hand 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 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 florish. 1 More by sweetness than by force. 1 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 whipstock1 than the lance. 2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honor'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 The outward habit by the inward man.2 But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw Into the gallery. [Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry, 'The mean knight!' SCENE III. The same. A hall of state. A banquet prepared. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Knights, and Sim. Knights, Attendants. 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, 1 The carter's whip. 2 i. e. the inward man by the outward habit. This kind of inversion was formerly very common. Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast: 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 labor'd scholar. Come, queen o' the feast, (Fo. daughter, so you are) here take your place: Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace. Knights. We are honor'd much by good Simo nides. Sim. Your presence glads our days: honor we love; For who hates honor, hates the gods above. Mar. Sir, yond's your place. Per. Some other is more fit. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen, That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes, Envy the great, nor do the low despise. Sim. Sit, sit, sir; sit. Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me,1 she not thought upon. 1 These delicacies go against my stomach. |