He knowing so, put forth to seas, SCENE 1.-Pentapolis. An open place by the Enter PERICLES, wet. Per. Yet cease your ire, ye angry stars of Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man 1 Fish. What, ho, Pilche! 2 Fish. Why, man? 3 Fish. Because he should have swallowed 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 no body will look after it. Per. Nay, see, the sea hath cast upon your coast 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 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 2 Fish. Ho! come, and bring away the nets. can'st fish for't. 1 Fish. Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion. 3 Fish. 'Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us, even now. 1 Fish. Alas, poor souls, it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us, to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves, 3 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when 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 washed. 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 swallowed 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. 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 the 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. 2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, you said you could 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 whipped then? 2 Fish. O, not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipped, I would wish no better office, than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go draw up the net. [Exeunt two of the Fishermen. Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour! 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 tomorrow is her birth-day; 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 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 turned to a rusty ar mour. Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it. Thanks, fortune, yet, that after all my crosses, Which my dead father did bequeath to me, Twixt me and death; (and pointed to this brace :) For that it sav'd me, keep it; in like necessity, 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, certain vails. I hope, sir, 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; 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 goal to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt. 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 Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the tri- 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 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. Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform. Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of Enter a Knight; he passes over the stage, and worth, For it was sometime target to a king ; I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly, 1 Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady? Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms. his squire presents his shield to the Princess. Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer himself? Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renowned fa ther; And the device he bears upon his shield Thai. He loves you well, that holds his life of you. [The second Knight pusses. Who is the second, that presents himself??¡ Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father; The third Knight passes. The fourth Knight passes. Sim. What is the fourth? The word, Quod me alit, me extinguit. | Since every worth in show commends itself. Thai. But you, my knight and guest; (For, daughter, so you are,) here take your Sim. Which shows, that beauty hath his Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace. 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; 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 appears Can any way speak in his just commend: 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 Into the gallery. Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we love, For who hates honour, hates the gods above. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gen- That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes, Per. You are right courteous knights. Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of These cates resist me, she not thought upon. Sim. He's but A country gentleman; He has done no more than other knights have done; Broken a staff, or so; so let it pass. Thai. To me he seems like diamond to glass. Which tells me, in that glory once he was; [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. banquet prepared. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Knights, and Attendants. Sim. Knights, To say you are welcome, were superfluous. We drink this standing-bowl of wine to him. Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else. 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 being in arts and arms;)- A gentleman of Tyre, who only by Here is a lady that wants breathing too: Per. In those that practise them, they are, my lord. Sim. O, that's as much, as you would be denied [The Knights and Ladies dance. Of your fair courtesy.-Unclasp, unclasp ; Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well, But you the best. [To Pericles.] Pages and lights, 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, For 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. Due to this heinous capital offence; A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up Hel. And yet but just; for though This king were great, his greatness was no guard To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward. Esca. 'Tis very true. 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, Hel. Try honour's cause; forbear your suffrages: If that you love prince Pericles, forbear. Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects, And in your search spend your adventurous worth; Whom if you find, and win unto return, 1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; And, since lord Helicane enjoineth us, 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. | They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter: She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight, Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre? Sim. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and |