[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
These fishers tell the infirmities of men;
And from their watʼry empire recollect
All that may men approve, or men detect!
Peace be to your labour, honest fishermen.

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,
I'd wish to make one there.

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
2 Fish. What a drunken knave was the sea, to
cast thee in our way!

Per. A man whom both the waters and the wind,
In that vast tennis-court, hath made the ball
For them to play upon, entreats you pity him;
He asks of you, that never us'd to beg.

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;
But what I am, want teaches me to think on;
A man shrunk up with cold: my veins are chill,
And have no more of life, than may suffice
To give my tongue that heat, to ask your help;
Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,
For I am a man, pray see me buried.

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,
Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself;
was mine own, part of mine 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
'Twixt me and death (and pointed to this brace :)
For that it sav'd me, keep it; in like necessity,
Which gods protect thee from! it may defend thee.
It kept where I kept, I so dearly lov'd it;
Till the rough seas, that spare not any man,
Took it in rage, though, calm'd, they give't again
thank thee for't; my shipwreck's now no ill,
Since I have here my father's gift by will.
1 Fish. What mean you, sir?

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,
And for his sake, I wish the having of it;
And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's court,
Where with't I may appear a gentleman;
And if that ever my low fortunes better,
I'll pay your bounties; till then, rest your debtor.
1 Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady?
Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms.
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 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;
And spite of all the rupture of the sea,
This jewel holds his bidding 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.-
(4) Keeping.

(3) Armour for the arm.

3 K

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 gaol to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt.

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 out-
ward show

Can any way speak in his just commend:
For, by his rusty outside, he appears

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
The outward habit by the inward man.
Into the gallery.

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,
Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat
For me to see, and sceing 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.'

[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.
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:

Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll per- You are my guests.
form.

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, 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 per dulçura que per
fuerça.
[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?
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 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.
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 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

(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 Simo-

nides.

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 gentle

And time that is so briefly spent,pam
With your fine fancies quaintly eche;'
What's dumb in show, I'll plain with speech.

Having call'd them from the deep! O still thy

Thy dreadful thunders; gently quench thy nimble,
Sulphureous flashes!-O how, Lychorida,
How does my queen ?-Thou storm, thou! venom-
ously 10

Enter Pericles and Simonides at one door, with
Attendants; a Messenger meets him, kneels, and Wilt thou spit all thyself?-The seaman's whistle
gives Pericles a letter. Pericles shows it to Simon- Is as a whisper in the ears of death,
ides; the Lords kneel to the former. Then enter Unheard.-Lychorida !-Lucina," O
Thaisa with child, and Lychorida. Simonides Divinest patroness, and midwife, gentle
shows his daughter the letter; she rejoices: she To those that ery by night, convey thy deity
and Pericles take leave of her father, and depart.
Then Simonides, &c. retire.

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

(11) The goddess of child-bearing.

(12) Thought. (13) Contend with you in honour
(14) As noisy a one.

(15) Than thy entrance into life can requite.
(16) Blast, (17) Bowlines, ropes of the sails.