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 labor! 1 Fish. Hark you, sir! 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, sir; and he deserves to be so called, for his peaceable reign and good government.

Per. He is a happy king, since he gains from his subjects 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 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. 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.

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 armor.

Per. An armor, 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 saved me, keep it; in like necessity,

The which the gods protect thee from! it may defend thee.
It kept where I kept, I so dearly loved it;

Till the rough seas, that spare not any man,

Took it in rage, though calmed, have given it again;
I thank thee for't; my shipwreck's now 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 sometime target to a king;

I know it by this mark. He loved me dearly,

And for his sake, I wish the having of it;

And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's court,
Where with't I may appear a gentleman;
And if that ever my low fortunes 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, 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, 1 will.

Now, by your furtherance, I am clothed in steel;

And spite of all the rupture of the sea,

This jewel holds his biding on my arm;

Unto thy value will I mount myself
Cpon 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.

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 honor 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 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 honor 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. '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 honor, daughter, to explain
The labor of each knight, in his device.

Thai. Which, to preserve mine honor, 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 Ethiop, 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 armed knight, that's conquered by a lady;

The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulçura que per fuerça.

[The third Knight passes.

The third, of Antioch;

Sim. And what's the third?
Thai.
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.

[The sixth Knight passes.

Sim. And what's the sixth and last, which the knight

himself

With such a graceful courtesy delivered?