Thai. He seems to be a stranger; but his present is 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 [Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry, The mean knight. SCENE III. The same. A Hall of State. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Knights, and Attendants. 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. Thai. Wishing it so much blood unto your life. 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, 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, [The Knights dance. So, this was well asked, 'twas so well performed. Here is a lady that wants breathing too; And that their measures are as excellent. Per. In those that practise them, they are, my lord. VOL. IV.-18 |