But what I am, want teaches me to think on; To give my tongue that heat, to ask your help; 1 Fish. Die quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; coine, 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 fafting-days, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks; and thou shalt be wel come. Per. I thank you, fir. 2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, you faid you could not beg. Per. I did but crave. 2 Fish. But crave? Then I'll turn craver too, and fo I fhall 'fcape 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, mafter, I'll go draw up the net. [Exeunt two of the Fishermen. Per. How well this honeft mirth becomes their labour! 1 Fish. Hark you, fir! 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, fir; and he deserves fo to be call'd, for his peaceable reign, and good government. Per. He is a happy king, fince from his fubjects He gains the name of good, by his government. How far is his court diftant from this shore? 1 Fish, 1 Fish. Marry, fir, half a day's journey; and I'll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birthday; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world, to just and tourney for her love. Per. Did but my fortunes equal my defires, I'd with to make one there. 1 Fib. O fir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully deal for-his wife's foul. Re-enter the two Fishermen, drawing up a net. 2 Fib. 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 laft, and 'tis turn'd to a rusty armour. Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me fee it. And, though it was mine own, part of mine heritage, With this ftrict charge, (even as he left his life,) 'Twixt me and death; (and pointed to this brace :) Till the rough feas, that spare not any man, Took it in rage, though calm'd, they give't again : Since I have here my father's gift by will. 1 Fish. What mean you, fir? Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth, For it was fometime target to a king; I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly, And for his fake, I wish the having of it; And that you'd guide me to your fovereign's court, And if that ever my low fortunes better, I'll pay your bounties; till then, reft your debtor. 1 Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady? Per. I'll fhow 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 feams of the waters: there are certain condolements, certain vails. I hope, fir, if you thrive, you'll remember from whence you had it. Per. Believe't, I will. Now, by your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel; This jewel holds his biding on my arm ; Of a pair of bases. 2 Fish. We'll fure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I'll bring thee to the court myfelf. Per. Then honour be but a goal to my will; This day I'll rife, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt. SCENE SCENE II. The fame. A publick Way, or Platform, leading to the Lifts. A Pavilion by the fide of it, for the reception of the King, Princefs, 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 fee, and feeing wonder at. [Exit a Lord. Thai. It pleaseth you, my father, to express Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform. Enter a Knight; he passes over the stage, and his squire presents his fhield to the Princess. Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer himself? Is a black Æthiop, reaching at the fun; Sim. 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. Sim. And what's the third? Thai. [The third knight passes, The third, of Antioch; [The fourth knight passes. And his device, a wreath of chivalry : The word, Me pompa provexit apex. 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 pales. Thai. The fifth, an hand environed with clouds; Holding out gold, that's by the touchstone tried : The motto thus, Sic fpectanda fides. [The fixth knight paffes. Sim. And what's the fixth and last, which the knight himself With fuch a graceful courtesy deliver'd? Thai. He seems a stranger; but his present is A wither'd branch, that's only green at top; The motto, In hac fpe vivo. Sim. A pretty moral; From the dejected ftate wherein he is, He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish. I Lord. He had need mean better than his outward show Can any way speak in his juft commend: For, |