Only, my friends, I yet am unprovided Of a pair of bases. Sec. 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 egal 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 Attendants. Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph? First Lord. They are, my liege; And stay your coming to present themselves. Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter, Sim. It's fit it should be so; for princes are Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform. The First Knight passes by, and his Squire presents his shield to the PRINCESS. Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer himself? Is a black Æthiop reaching at the sun; 160 10 20 30 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; Is an arm'd knight that's conquer'd by a lady; fuerza. [The Third Knight passes. Sim. And what's the third? The third of Antioch; And his device, a wreath of chivalry; The word, Me pompa provexit 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, an hand environed with clouds, Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried; The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides. Sim. And what's [The Sixth Knight passes. The sixth and last, the which the knight himself 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. First 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 whipstock than the lance. 40 50 Sec. Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished. Third 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 But stay, the knights are coming: we'll withdraw [Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry "The mean knight!" SCENE III. The same. A ball of state; a banquet prepared. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Ladies, Lords, and Knights, from tilting. Sim. Knights, To say you're welcome were superfluous. Were more than you expect, or more than's fit, Thai. But you, my knight and guest; Per. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit. In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed, And you are her labour'd scholar.-Come, queen o' th' feast, For, daughter, so you are,—here take your place: 10 Knights. We are honour'd much by good Simonides. 20 Sim. Your presence glads our days: honour we love; For who hates honour hates the gods above. Marshal. Sir, yonder is your place. Per. Some other is more fit. eyes First Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen That neither in our hearts nor outward Envy the great nor do the low despise. Per. You are right courteous knights. Sim. Sit, sir, sit.By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me, he not thought upon. Thai. [aside] By Juno, that is queen of marriage, 30 All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury, Wishing him my meat.-Sure, he's a gallant gentle man. Sim. He's but a country gentleman; Has done no more than other knights have done; Thai. [aside] To me he seems like diamond to glass. Per. [aside] Yon king's to me like to my father's picture, Which tells me in that glory once he was; Had princes sit, like stars, about his throne, None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights, Where now his son like a glow-worm in the night, First Knight. Who can be other in this royal pre sence? 40 Sim. Here, with a cup that's stored unto the brim,— 50 As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,— We drink this health to you. Knights. We thank your Grace. Sim. Yet pause awhile: Yon knight doth sit too melancholy, As if the entertainment in our court Had not a show might countervail his worth. Thai. To me, my father? Sim. What is it O, attend, my daughter: Princes, in this, should live like gods above, And princes not doing so are like to gnats, Which make a sound, but kill'd are wonder'd at. Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him. Thai. Alas, my father, it befits not me Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else. Thai. [aside] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better. Sim. And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him, Of whence he is, his name and parentage. Thai. The king my father, sir, has drunk to you. Per. I thank him. Thai. Wishing it so much blood unto your 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 been in arts and arms;— 60 70 80 |