Gow.
Here have you seen a mighty king
His child, I wis, to incest bring;
A better prince, and benign lord,
That will prove awful both in deed and word^{2 note}

The good in conversation^{4 note}
(To whom I give my benizon,)
Is still at Tharsus, where^{5 note}

each man
Thinks all is writ he spoken can^{6 note}

But tidings to the contrary
Are brought your eyes; what need speak I? Dumb show. Enter at one door Pericles, talking with Cleon; all the Train with them. Enter at another door, a Gentleman, with a letter to Pericles; Pericles shows the Letter to Cleon; then gives the Messenger a reward, and knights him. Exeunt Pericles, Cleon, &c. severally.

Gow.
Good Helicane hath staid at home,
Not to eat honey like a drone,
From others' labours; for though he strive^{8 note}



To killen bad, keep good alive;
And, to fulfil his prince' desire,
Sends word of all that haps in Tyre^{9 note}

How Thaliard came full bent with sin,
And hid intent, to murder him^{1 note}

Till fortune, tired with doing bad,
Threw him ashore, to give him glad^{6 note}:
And here he comes: what shall be next,
Pardon old Gower; this long's the text^{7 note}
. [Exit. SCENE I. Pentapolis. An open Place by the Sea Side. Enter Pericles, wet.

Per.
Yet cease your ire, ye angry stars of heaven!
Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man
Is but a substance that must yield to you;
And I, as fits my nature, do obey you;
Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks,
Wash'd me from shore to shore, and left me breath^{8 note}

Let it suffice the greatness of your powers,
To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes;
And having thrown him from your watry grave,
Here to have death in peace, is all he'll crave. Enter Three Fishermen^{9 note}

1 Fish.

What, ho, Pilche^{1 note}

2 Fish.

Ho! come, and bring away the nets.

1 Fish.

What Patch-breech, I say!

3 Fish.

What say you, master?

1 Fish.

Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion^{2 note}

3 Fish.

'Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us, even now.

1 Fish.

Alas, poor souls, it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us, to help them^{3 note}, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves.

3 Fish.

Nay, master, said not I as much, when I saw the porpus, how he bounced and tumbled^{4 note}

they say, they are half fish, half flesh: a plague on them, they ne'er come, but I look to be washed. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.

1 Fish.

Why as men do a-land^{5 note}; the great ones eat up the little ones: I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him^{6 note}


, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. Such whales have I heard on a'the land, who never leave gaping, till they've swallowed the whole parish, church, steeple, bells and all.

Per.

A pretty moral.

3 Fish.

But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry^{7 note}

2 Fish.

Why, man?

3 Fish.

Because he should have swallowed me too: and when I had been in his belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish, up again. But if the good king Simonides were of my mind—

Per.

Simonides?

3 Fish.

We would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey.

Per.
How from the finny subject of the sea^{8 note}

2 Fish.

Honest! good fellow, what's that? if it be a day fits you, scratch it out of the calendar, and no body will look after it^{9 note}

Per.

Nay, see, the sea hath cast upon your coast—

2 Fish.

What a drunken knave was the sea, to cast thee in our way^{1 note}

Per.
A man whom both the waters and the wind,
In that vast tennis-court, hath made the ball
For them to play upon^{2 note}
, entreats you pity him;
He asks of you, that never us'd to beg.

1 Fish.

No, friend, cannot you beg? here's them in our country of Greece, gets more with begging, than we can do with working.

2 Fish.

Can'st thou catch any fishes then?

Per.

I never practis'd it.

2 Fish.

Nay, then thou wilt starve sure; for here's nothing to be got now a-days, unless thou cans't fish for't.

Per.
What I have been, I have forgot to know;
But what I am, want teaches me to think on;

A man throng'd up with cold^{3 note}

1 Fish.

Die quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on^{5 note}; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow^{6 note}! Come thou shalt go home, and we'll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks^{7 note}

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.

Per.

How well this honest mirth becomes their labour!

1 Fish.

Hark you, sir! do you know where you are?

1 Fish.

Why, I'll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king, the good Simonides.

Per.

Not well.

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^{8 note}

, 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 birth-day; 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^{9 note}

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^{1 note}

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^{2 note}

Per.
An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it.
Thanks, fortune, yet, that after all my crosses^{3 note},
Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself:
And though it was mine own^{4 note}, 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^{5 note}

For that it sav'd me, keep it; in like necessity
The which the gods protect thee from! it may defend thee^{6 note}

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 lov'd 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^{9 note}

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^{1 note}, and the gods give thee good on't!

2 Fish.

Ay, but hark you, my friend^{2 note}; '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 remem- from whence you had it^{3 note}.

Per.
Believe it, I will.
By your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel^{4 note}

This jewel holds his biding on my arm^{6 note}

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 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 publick 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^{8 note}

1 Lord.
They are, my liege;
And stay your coming to present themselves.

Sim.
Return them, we are ready^{9 note}; 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.

Thai.
It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express^{1 note}

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 honour, daughter, to explain
The labour of each knight, in his device^{2 note}

Thai.
Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform^{3 note}. 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 Æthiop, reaching at the sun;
The word, Lux tua vita mihi^{4 note}

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 arm'd knight, that's conquer'd by a lady:
The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulçura que per fuerça^{5 note}. [The third Knight passes.

Sim.
And what's the third?

Thai.
The third of Antioch;
And his device, a wreath of ceivalry:
The word, Me pompæ provexit apex^{6 note}

Sim.
What is the fourth^{7 note}?

Thai.
A burning torch^{8 note}

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 deliver'd?

Thai.
He seems to be a stranger; but his present
Is a wither'd branch^{9 note}

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 practis'd more the whipstock^{1 note}, than the lance.

2 Lord.
He well may be a stranger, for he comes
To an honour'd triumph, strangely furnished.

3 Lord.
And on set purpose let his armour rust
Until this day, to scour it in the dust^{2 note}
.

Sim.
Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan
The outward habit by the inward man^{3 note}

But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw
Into the gallery. [Exeunt. [Great Shouts, and all cry, The mean knight^{4 note}. 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^{5 note},
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^{6 note}

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^{7 note}.

Sim.
Call it by what you will, the day is yours;
And here, I hope, is none that envies it.
In framing artists^{8 note}

Knights.
We are honour'd much by good Simonides.

Sim.
Your presence glads our days; honour we love,
For who hates honour, hates the gods above.

Marsh.
Sir, yond's your place.

Per.
Some other is more fit.

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^{1 note}


.

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^{2 note}

Thai.
By Juno, that is queen
Of marriage, all the viands that I eat

Do seem unsavoury, wishing him my meat!
Sure he's a gallant gentleman.

Sim.
He's but a country gentleman;
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^{2 note}
, 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 glow-worm in the night^{3 note}

Sim.
What, are you merry, knights?

1 Knight.
Who can be other, in this royal presence?

Sim.
Here, with a cup that's stor'd unto the brim^{7 note}

Knights.
We thank your grace.

Sim.
Yet pause a while;
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.
What is it
To me, my father?

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

Are like to gnats, which make a sound, but kill'd
Are wonder'd at^{9 note}

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^{3 note}. [Aside.

Sim.
And further tell him, we desire to know,
Of whence he is, his name and parentage^{4 note}






.

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^{5 note};)—
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 armours, as you are address'd,
Will very well become a soldier's dance^{6 note}

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

Sim.
O, that's as much, as you would be denied [The Knights and Ladies dance.
Of your fair courtesy.—Unclasp, unclasp;
Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well,
But you the best. [To Pericles.] Pages and lights, conduct^{1 note}
These knights unto their several lodgings: Yours, sir,
We have given order to be next our own^{2 note}



.

Per.
I am at your grace's pleasure.

Sim.
Princes, it is too late to talk of love,
For that's the mark I know you level at:
Therefore each one betake him to his rest;
To-morrow, all for speeding do their best. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Tyre. A Room in the Governor's House. Enter Helicanus and Escanes.

Hel.
No, no, my Escanes; know this of me^{3 note}

Due to this heinous capital offence;
Even in the height and pride of all his glory,
When he was seated, and his daughter with him,
In a chariot of inestimable value,
A fire from heaven came, and shrivell'd up
Their bodies^{4 note}






, even to loathing; for they so stunk,
That all those eyes ador'd them, ere their fall,
Scorn now their hand should give them burial^{5 note}

.

Esca.
'Twas very strange.

Hel.
And yet but just; for though
This king were great, his greatness was no guard
To bar heaven's shaft, but sin had his reward.

Esca.
'Tis very true. Enter Three Lords.

1 Lord.
See, not a man in private conference,
Or council, has respect with him but he^{6 note}.

2 Lord.
It shall no longer grieve without reproof.

3 Lord.
And curs'd be he that will not second it.

1 Lord.
Follow me then: Lord Helicane, a word.

Hel.
With me? and welcome: Happy day, my lords.

1 Lord.
Know, that our griefs are risen to the top,

And now at length they overflow their banks.

Hel.
Your griefs, for what? wrong not the prince you love.

1 Lord.
Wrong not yourself then, noble Helicane;
But if the prince do live, let us salute him,
Or know what ground's made happy by his breath.
If in the world he live, we'll seek him out;
If in his grave he rest, we'll find him there;
And be resolv'd, he lives to govern us^{7 note}
,
Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral,
And leaves us^{8 note} to our free election.

2 Lord.
Whose death's, indeed, the strongest in our censure^{9 note}

That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign,
We thus submit unto,—our sovereign.

All.
Live, noble Helicane!

Hel.
Try honour's cause^{3 note}
; forbear your suffrages:
If that you love prince Pericles, forbear.
Take I your wish, I leap into the seat,
Where's hourly trouble, for a minute's ease^{4 note}

But if I cannot win you to this love,
Go search like noblemen, like noble subjects,
And in your search spend your adventurous worth;
Whom if you find, and win unto return,
You shall like diamonds sit about his crown^{6 note}

1 Lord.
To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield;
And, since lord Helicane enjoineth us,
We with our travels will endeavour it^{7 note}

Hel.
Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands:
When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. Enter Simonides, reading a Letter^{8 note}

1 Knight.
Good morrow to the good Simonides.

Sim.
Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,
That for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake
A married life.
Her reason to herself is only known,
Which from herself by no means can I get.

2 Knight.
May we not get access to her, my lord?

Sim.
'Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied her
To her chamber, that it is impossible.
One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery;
This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd^{9 note},
And on her virgin honour will not break it.

3 Knight.
Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves. [Exeunt.

Sim.
So
They're well despatch'd; now to my daughter's letter:
She tells me here, she'll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well:—nay, how absolute she's in't,
Not minding whether I dislike or no!

Well, I commend her choice;
And will no longer have it be delay'd.
Soft, here he comes:—I must dissemble it. Enter Pericles.

Per.
All fortune to the good Simonides!

Sim.
To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you,
For your sweet musick this last night^{1 note}





















: my ears,
I do protest, were never better fed
With such delightful pleasing harmony.

Per.
It is your grace's pleasure to commend;
Not my desert.

Sim.
Sir, you are musick's master.

Per.
The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.

Sim.
Let me ask one thing. What do you think, sir, of
My daughter?

Per.
As of a most virtuous princess.

Sim.
And she is fair too, is she not?

Per.
As a fair day in summer; wond'rous fair.

Sim.
My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you;
Ay, so well, sir, that you must be her master,
And she'll your scholar be; therefore look to it.

Per.
Unworthy I to be her schoolmaster^{2 note}.

Sim.
She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.

Per.
What's here!
A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre;
'Tis the king's subtilty, to have my life. [Aside.
O, seek not to entrap, my gracious lord^{3 note},
A stranger and distressed gentleman,
That never aim'd so high, to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honour her.

Sim.
Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter^{4 note}
, and thou art
A villain.

Per.
By the gods, I have not, sir.
Never did thought of mine levy offence;
Nor never did my actions yet commence
A deed might gain her love, or your displeasure.

Sim.
Traitor, thou liest.

Per.
Traitor!

Sim.
Ay, traitor, sir.

Per.
Even in his throat, (unless it be the king^{5 note},)
That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

Sim.
Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage. [Aside.

Per.
My actions are as noble as my thoughts,

That never relish'd of a base descent^{6 note}

Sim.
No!—
Here comes my daughter, she can witness it^{7 note}

. Enter Thaisa.

Per.
Then, as you are as virtuous as fair,
Resolve your angry father, if my tongue
Did e'er solicit, or my hand subscribe
To any syllable that made love to you?

Thai.
Why, sir, say if you had,
Who takes offence at that would make me glad?

Sim.
Yea, mistress, are you so perémptory?—
I am glad of it with all my heart. [Aside.] I'll tame you;
I'll bring you in subjection.—
Will you, not having my consent, bestow
Your love and your affections on a stranger?
(Who, for aught I know to the contrary,
Or think, may be as great in blood as I.) [Aside.
Hear therefore, mistress; frame your will to mine,—
And you, sir, hear you.—Either be rul'd by me,
Or I will make you—man and wife.—
Nay, come; your hands and lips must seal it too.—

And being join'd, I'll thus your hopes destroy;—
And for a further grief,—God give you joy!
What, are you both pleas'd?

Thai.
Yes, if you love me, sir.

Per.
Even as my life, my blood that fosters it^{8 note}

Sim.
What, are you both agreed?

Both.
Yes, 'please your majesty.

Sim.
It pleaseth me so well, I'll see you wed;
Then, with what haste you can, get you to bed^{9 note}

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