from all parts of the world to just and tourney for her love.

Per. Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could 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.a

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; 't will hardly come out. Ha! bots on 't, 't is come at last, and 't is turn'd to a rusty armour.

Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it.
Thanks, Fortune, yet, that after all my crosses,
Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself;

And, though it 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,

The which the gods protect thee from! 't 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 've given it again:
I thank thee for it; my shipwrack now 's no ill,
Since I have here my father's gift in his will.

1 Fish. What mean you, sir?

Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth, For it was some time 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,

a We cannot attempt to explain this. There are more riddles in this play than that of Antiochus.

Where with it I may appear a gentleman; And if that ever my low fortune 's 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, d' ye take it, and the gods give thee good on 't!

2 Fish. Ay, but hark you, my friend; 't was we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the water: there are certain condolements, certain vails. I hope, sir, if you thrive, you 'll remember from whence you had it.

Per. Believe it, I will;

By your furtherance I am cloth'd in steel;
And spite of all the rupture of the sea,
This jewel holds his biding on my arm;
Unto thy value I will mount myself
Upon a courser, whose delightful steps
Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.-
Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided
Of a pair of bases.a

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-A public Way or Platform, leading to the Lists. A Pavilion by the side of it for the reception of the King and Princess, b

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

a Armour for the legs.

b This description of the scene is modern.

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 express
My commendations great, whose merit 's less.
Sim. "T is 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.
'T is 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 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 dulcura 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 provexit [The fourth Knight passes.

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 passes.

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. 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

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

To have practis'd more the whipstock than the lance. 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.

But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw
Into the gallery.

[Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry, The mean Knight.

SCENE III-A Hall of State. A Banquet prepared. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Attendants, and the Knights from tilting.

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:
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. "T is 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.

feast,

Come, queen o' the

(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. Sim. Your presence glads our days; honour we love, For who hates honour, hates the gods above.

Marsh. Sir, yonder is 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.

Sit, sir, sit.

Per. You are right courteous knights.
Sim.
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 eat do seem unsavoury,

Wishing him my meat: sure he's a gallant gentleman. Sim. He'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, Which tells me, in that glory once he was;