gaping till they've swallow'd the whole parish, church, steeple, bells, and all.

Per. [aside.] A pretty moral.

3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry.

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. [aside.] Simonides!

3 Fish. He would purge the land of these drones that rob the bee of her honey.

Per. [aside.] How from the finny subject of the sea These fishers tell the infirmities of men;

And from their watery empire recollect

All that may men approve or men detect!—

Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.

2 Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? if it be not a day fits you, scratch it out of the calendar, and nobody will look after it.

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.

Per. A man, whom both the waters and the wind

In that vast tennis-court hath made the ball

For them to play upon, entreats you pity him;

He asks of you that never used 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. Canst thou catch any fishes, then?

Per. I never practised it.

2 Fish. Nay, then thou wilt starve, sure; for here's nothing to be got now-a-days unless thou canst 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; my veins are chill,
And have no more of life than may suffice
To give my tongue that heat to ask your help;
Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,
For that I am a man, pray see me buried.

1 Fish. Die quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt go home, and we'll

have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo'er puddings and flapjacks; and thou shalt be welcome. 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!

shall scape whipping.

Then I'll turn craver too, and so I

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 with Third Fisherman. Per. [aside.] How well this honest mirth becomes their labour!

1 Fish. Hark you, sir, do you know where ye 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 so to be 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 joust and tourney for her love.

Per. Were but my fortunes equal 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 Second and Third 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 armour.

Per. An armour, 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 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 sav'd me, keep it; in like necessity,-
The which gods protect thee from!-may defend thee.
It kept where I kept, I so dearly lov'd 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,

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 it 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 you 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, I will.

By your furtherance I am cloth'd in steel;
And spite of all the rupture 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 friends, 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 honour be but a goal to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-PINTAPOLIS. 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 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 My commendations great, whose merit's less.

Sim. 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 renown if not respected.
'Tis now your labour, daughter, to explain
The honour of each knight in his device.

Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.

Enter a Knight; he passes over, 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.

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 por dulzura que por fuerza.

Sim. And what's the third?
Thai.

[The Third Knight passes.

And his device a wreath of chivalry;

The third of Antioch;

[The Fourth Knight passes.

The word, Me pompa provexit apex.

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 enflame 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 (PERICLES) passes.

Sim. And what's the sixth and last, the 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, 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 practis'd more the whipstock 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.

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

But stay, the knights are coming: we will withdraw
Into the gallery.

[Exeunt.

[Great shouts within, all crying "The mean knight!"

SCENE III-PENTAPOLIS. A Hall of State: a Banquet

prepared.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Knights, and

Sim. Knights,

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,
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 by merit.
Sim. Call it by what you will, the day is yours;

And here I hope is none that envies it.

In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed,

To make some good, but others to exceed,

And you're her labour'd scholar.-Come, queen o' the feast,—