Thai. He seems to be a stranger; but his present is
A withered 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 practised more the whipstock, than the lance. 2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes

To an honoured triumph, strangely furnished.

3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armor 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. The same. A Hall of State.
A Banquet 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;
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. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my 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 labored 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 honored much by good Simonides. Sim. Your presence glads our days; honor we love, For who hates honor, hates the gods above.

Some other is more fit.

Marsh. Sir, yond's your place.

Per.

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.

Per. You are right courteous knights.

Sim.

Sit, sit, sir; sit.

Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me, she not thought upon.

Thai. By Juno, that is queen

Of marriage, all the viands that I eat

Do seem unsavory, wishing him my meat;

Sure he's a gallant gentleman.

Sim.

A country gentleman.

He's but

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.

Per. 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, And he the sun, for them to reverence. None that beheld him, but like lesser lights, Did vail their crowns to his supremacy; Where now his son's a glowworm in the night, The which hath fire in darkness, none in light; Whereby I see that Time's the king of men, For he's their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave. Sim. What, are you merry, knights?

1 Knight. Who can be other, in this royal presence? Sim. Here, with a cup that's stored unto the brim, (As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,)

We drink his health to you.

Knights.

Sim. Yet pause awhile;

We thank your grace.

Yon knight, methinks, doth sit too melancholy,

As if the entertainment in our court

Had not a show might countervail his worth.

Note it not you, Thaisa?

Thai.

To me, my father?

What is it

Sim.
O, attend, my daughter.
Princes, in this, should live like gods above,
Who freely give to every one that comes
To honor them; and princes, not doing so,

Are like to gnats, which make a sound, but killed

Are wondered at.

Therefore to make his entrance more sweet,

Here say, we drink this standing bowl of wine to him.
Thai. Alas, my father, it befits not me
Unto a stranger knight to be so bold;
He may my proffer take for an offence,
Since men take women's gifts for impudence.
Sim. How!

Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.

Thai. Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.

Sim. And further tell him, we desire to know, Of whence he is, his name, and parentage.

[Aside.

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 being in arts and arms;)

Who, looking for adventures in the world,

Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
And, after shipwreck, driven upon this shore.

Thai. He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles, A gentleman of Tyre, who only by

Misfortune of the seas has been bereft

Of ships and men, and cast upon this shore.

Sim. Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
And will awake him from his melancholy.
Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
And waste the time which looks for other revels.
Even in your armors, as you are addressed,
Will very well become a soldier's dance.
I will not have excuse, with saying, this
Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads;
Since they love men in arms, as well as beds.

[The Knights dance.

So, this was well asked, 'twas so well performed.
Come, sir,

Here is a lady that wants breathing too;
And I have often heard, you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip;

And that their measures are as excellent.

Per. In those that practise them, they are, my lord.

VOL. IV.-18