Pericles

and we’ll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo’er puddings and flap-jacks, and thou shalt be welcome. Pericles I thank you, sir. Second Fisherman Hark you, my friend; you said you could not beg. Pericles I did but crave. Second Fisherman But crave! Then I’ll turn craver too, and so I shall ’scape whipping. Pericles Why, are all your beggars whipped, then? Second Fisherman 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. Exit with Third Fisherman. Pericles Aside. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour! First Fisherman Hark you, sir, do you know where ye are? Pericles Not well. First Fisherman Why, I’ll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king the good Simonides. Pericles The good King Simonides, do you call him? First Fisherman Ay, sir; and he deserves so to be called for his peaceable reign and good government. Pericles 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? First Fisherman Marry, sir, half a day’s journey: and I’ll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and to-morrow is her birth-day; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world to just and tourney for her love. Pericles Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there. First Fisherman 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 Second and Third Fishermen, drawing up a net. Second Fisherman 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 armour. Pericles

An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it.
Thanks, fortune, yet, that, after all my crosses,
Thou givest me somewhat to repair myself;
And though it was mine own, part of my 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!⁠—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 calm’d have given’t again:
I thank thee for’t: my shipwreck now’s no ill,
Since I have here my father’s gift in’s will.

First Fisherman What mean you, sir? Pericles

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’ld guide me to your sovereign’s court,
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.

First Fisherman Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady? Pericles I’ll show the virtue I have borne in arms. First Fisherman Why, do’e take it, and the gods give thee good on’t! Second Fisherman 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. Pericles

Believe’t, I will.
By your furtherance I am clothed in steel;
And, spite of all the rapture of the sea,
This jewel holds his building 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.

Second Fisherman We’ll sure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I’ll bring thee to the court myself. Pericles

Then honour 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 King, Princess, Lords, etc.

	Enter Simonides, Thaisa, Lords, and Attendants.
Simonides	Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?
First Lord	They are, my liege; And stay your coming to present themselves.
Simonides	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.
Thaisa	It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express My commendations great, whose merit’s less.
Simonides	It’s 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 renowns if not respected. ’Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain The labour of each knight in his device.
Thaisa	Which, to preserve mine honour, I’ll perform.
	Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire presents his shield to the Princess.
Simonides	Who is the first that doth prefer himself?
Thaisa	A knight of Sparta, my renowned father; And the device he bears upon his shield Is a black Ethiope reaching at the sun: The word, “Lux tua vita mihi.”
Simonides	He loves you well that holds his life of you. The Second Knight passes over. Who is the second that presents himself?
Thaisa	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 por dulzura que por fuerza.” The Third Knight passes over.
Simonides	And what’s the third?
Thaisa	The third of Antioch; And his device, a wreath of chivalry; The word, “Me pompae provexit apex.” The Fourth Knight passes over.
Simonides	What is the fourth?
Thaisa	A burning torch that’s turned upside down; The word, “Quod me