Pericles
Page 6
The outward habit for the inward man.
But stay, the knights are coming —
We will withdraw into the gallery.
[Exeunt]
Great shouts, and all cry ‘The mean59 knight!’
[Act 2 Scene 3]
running scene 6 continues
Enter the King [Simonides, Thaisa, Marshal] and Knights from tilting
SIMONIDES Knights,
To say you’re welcome were superfluous.
To place upon the volume of your deeds,3
As in a title page, your worth in arms,
Were more than you expect, or more than’s fit,
Since every worth in show6 commends itself.
Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes7 a feast:
You are princes and my guests.
To Pericles
THAISA But you9, my knight and guest,
To whom this wreath of victory I give
Crowns him with a wreath
And crown you king of this day’s happiness.
PERICLES ’Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit.
SIMONIDES Call it by what you will, the day is yours,
And here, I hope, is none that envies it.
In framing15 artists art hath thus decreed,
To make some good but others to exceed,
And you are her laboured scholar17. Come, queen o’th’feast —
For, daughter, so you are — here take your place.
To Marshal
Marshal, the rest as they deserve their grace19.
KNIGHTS We are honoured much by good Simonides.
SIMONIDES Your presence glads our days: honour we love,
For who22 hates honour hates the gods above.
To Pericles
MARSHAL Sir, yonder is your place.
PERICLES Some other is more fit.
FIRST KNIGHT Contend not25, sir, for we are gentlemen
Have neither in our hearts nor outward eyes26
Envies27 the great, nor shall the low despise.
PERICLES You are right28 courteous, knights.
They sit
SIMONIDES Sit, sir, sit.
Aside
By Jove I wonder, that is king of thoughts,
These cates resist me he but thought upon31.
Aside
THAISA By Juno, that is queen of marriage,
All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury33,
Wishing him my meat34.—
To Simonides
Sure, he’s a gallant34 gentleman.
SIMONIDES He’s but a country gentleman.
He’s done no more than other knights have done,
He’s broken a staff37, or so. So let it pass.
Aside?
THAISA To38 me he seems like diamond to glass.
Aside
PERICLES Yon39 king’s to me like to my father’s picture,
Which tells me40 in that glory once he was,
Had41 princes sit like stars about his throne,
And he the sun for them to reverence42.
None that beheld him, but like lesser lights
Did vail44 their crowns to his supremacy,
Where now his son’s like a glow-worm in the night,
The which hath fire in darkness, none in light46.
Whereby I see that time’s the king of men,
He’s both their parent and he is their grave,
And gives them what he will, not what they crave.
SIMONIDES What, are you merry, knights?
KNIGHTS Who can be other in this royal presence?
SIMONIDES Here, with a cup that’s stored52 unto the brim,
As you do love, fill to your mistress’ lips53:
Drinks a toast
We drink this health to you.
KNIGHTS We thank your grace.
SIMONIDES Yet pause awhile. Yon56 knight doth sit too melancholy,
As if the entertainment in our court
Had not a show might countervail58 his worth.
Note it not you59, Thaisa?
THAISA What is’t to me, my father?
SIMONIDES O, attend, my daughter,
Princes in this should live like gods above,
Who freely give to everyone that come to honour them,
And princes not doing so are like to gnats,64
Which make a sound, but killed are wondered at.
Therefore to make his entertain66 more sweet,
Drinks a toast
Here, say we drink this standing bowl67 of wine to him.
THAISA Alas, my father, it befits not me
Unto a stranger knight to be so bold69:
He may my proffer70 take for an offence,
Since men take women’s gifts for impudence.
SIMONIDES How? Do as I bid you, or you’ll move me72 else.
Aside
THAISA Now by the gods, he could not please me better.
SIMONIDES And, further, tell him we desire to know
Of whence he is, his name and parentage?
To Pericles
THAISA The king my father, sir, has drunk to you—
PERICLES I thank him.
THAISA Wishing it so much blood78 unto your life.
PERICLES I thank both him and you, and pledge him79 freely.
THAISA And, further, he desires to know of you
Of whence you are, your name and parentage?
PERICLES A gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles,
My education being in arts and arms83,
Who, looking for adventures in the world,
Was by the rough seas reft85 of ships and men,
And after shipwreck driven upon this shore.
To Simonides
THAISA He thanks your grace,
Names himself Pericles, a gentleman of Tyre,
Who only by misfortune of the seas
Bereft of ships and men, cast90 on this shore.
SIMONIDES Now by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
And will awake him from his melancholy.
To Knights
Come, gentlemen, we sit93 too long on trifles
And waste the time which looks for other revels:
Even in your armours as you are addressed95,
Will96 well become a soldier’s dance.
I will not have excuse with saying this:97
‘Loud music is too harsh for ladies’ heads’,
Since they love men in arms as well as beds.
They dance
So, this was well asked100, ’twas so well performed.
To Pericles
Come, sir, here’s a lady that wants breathing101 too,
And I have heard you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip103,
And that their measures104 are as excellent.
PERICLES In those that practise them105 they are, my lord.
SIMONIDES O, that’s as much as you would be denied106
Of your fair courtesy!
They dance
Unclasp, unclasp!
Thanks, gentlemen, to all: all have done well,
To Pericles
But you the best. Pages and lights to conduct
These knights unto their several110 lodgings!
Yours, sir, we have given order be next our own.
PERICLES I am at your grace’s pleasure.
SIMONIDES Princes, it is too late to talk of love,
And that’s the mark, I know, you level114 at:
Therefore each one betake him115 to his rest,
Tomorrow all for s
peeding116 do their best.
[Exeunt]
[Act 2 Scene 4]
running scene 7
Enter Helicanus and Escanes
HELICANUS No, Escanes, know this of me:
Antiochus from incest lived not free,
For which the most high gods not minding longer3
To withhold the vengeance that they had in store,
Due to this heinous capital5 offence,
Even in the height and pride of all his glory —
When he was seated in a chariot
Of inestimable value, and his daughter with him —
A fire from heaven came and shrivelled up
Those bodies even to loathing. For they so stunk
That all those eyes adored11 them ere their fall
Scorn now their hand should give them burial.
ESCANES ’Twas very strange.
HELICANUS And yet but justice: for though this king were great,
His greatness was no guard to bar heaven’s shaft15,
But sin had his16 reward.
ESCANES ’Tis very true.
Enter two or three Lords
FIRST LORD See, not a man in private conference
Or council has respect19 with him but he.
SECOND LORD It shall no longer grieve20 without reproof.
THIRD LORD And cursed be he that will not second it.
To Helicanus
FIRST LORD Follow me then.— Lord Helicane, a word.
HELICANUS With me? And welcome. Happy day23, my lords.
FIRST LORD Know that our griefs24 are risen to the top,
And now at length they overflow their banks.
HELICANUS Your griefs, for what? Wrong not your prince, you love26.
FIRST 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 breath29.
If in the world he live, we’ll seek him out,
If in his grave he rest, we’ll find him there.
We’ll be resolved he lives32 to govern us,
Or dead, give’s cause to mourn his funeral33
And leave us to our free election34.
SECOND LORD Whose death’s indeed the strongest in our censure35.
And knowing this kingdom is without a head —
Like goodly buildings left37 without a roof,
Soon fall to ruin — your noble self,
That best know how to rule and how to reign,
We thus submit unto: our sovereign.
ALL Live, noble Helicane!
HELICANUS Try honour’s cause, forbear your suffrages42!
If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear43.
Take I your wish, I leap into the seas,
Where’s hourly trouble, for a minute’s ease.
A twelvemonth longer let me entreat you
To forbear47 the absence of your king.
If in which time expired he not48 return,
I shall with agèd patience bear your yoke49.
But if I cannot win you to this love50,
Go search like nobles, like noble subjects,
And in your search spend your adventurous worth52,
Whom if you find, and win unto53 return,
You shall like diamonds sit about his crown.
FIRST LORD To wisdom he’s a fool that will not yield.
And since Lord Helicane enjoineth56 us,
We with our travels57 will endeavour it.
HELICANUS Then you love us, we you, and we’ll clasp hands:
When peers thus knit59, a kingdom ever stands.
[Exeunt]
[Act 2 Scene 5]
running scene 8
Enter the King [Simonides] reading of a letter at one door, the Knights
meet him
FIRST KNIGHT Good morrow to the good Simonides.
SIMONIDES 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 her by no means can I get.
SECOND KNIGHT May we not get access to her, my lord?
SIMONIDES Faith, by no means, she hath so strictly
Tied her9 to her chamber that ’tis impossible.
One twelvemoons more she’ll wear Diana’s livery10:
This by the eye of Cynthia11 hath she vowed
And on her virgin honour will not break it.
THIRD KNIGHT Loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves.
[Exeunt Knights]
SIMONIDES So, they are well dispatched14.
Now, to my daughter’s letter:
She tells me here she’ll wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor17 light.
’Tis well, mistress, your choice agrees with mine:
I like that well! Nay, how absolute19 she’s in’t,
Not minding whether I dislike or no.
Well, I do commend her choice
And will no longer have it be delayed.
Soft23, here he comes — I must dissemble it.
Enter Pericles
PERICLES All fortune to the good Simonides.
SIMONIDES To you as much. Sir, I am beholding25 to you
For your sweet music this last night: I do
Protest, my ears were never better fed
With such delightful pleasing harmony.
PERICLES It is your grace’s pleasure to commend,
Not my desert30.
SIMONIDES Sir, you are music’s master.
PERICLES The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.
SIMONIDES Let me ask you one thing:
What do you think of my daughter, sir?
PERICLES A most virtuous princess.
SIMONIDES And she is fair, too, is she not?
PERICLES As a fair day in summer: wondrous fair.
SIMONIDES Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you,
Ay, so well that you must be her master
And she will be your scholar, therefore look to it.
PERICLES I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.
Gives a letter
SIMONIDES She thinks not so: peruse this writing else42.
Aside
PERICLES What’s here?
A letter that44 she loves the knight of Tyre?
Reads
’Tis the king’s subtlety45 to have my life!
To Simonides
O, seek not to entrap me, gracious lord,
A stranger and distressèd gentleman
That never aimed so high to48 love your daughter,
But bent all offices49 to honour her.
SIMONIDES Thou hast bewitched my daughter,
And thou art a villain.
PERICLES By the gods I have not!
Never did thought of mine levy53 offence,
Nor never did my actions yet commence
A deed might55 gain her love, or your displeasure.
SIMONIDES Traitor, thou liest.
PERICLES Traitor?
SIMONIDES Ay, traitor.
PERICLES Even in his throat, unless it be the king
That calls me traitor, I return the lie.
Aside
SIMONIDES Now by the gods, I do applaud his courage.
PERICLES My actions are as noble as my thoughts,
That never relished of a base63 descent:
I came unto your court for honour’s cause,
And not to be a rebel to her state65.
<
br /> And he that otherwise accounts of me66,
This sword shall prove he’s honour’s enemy.
SIMONIDES No?
Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.
Enter Thaisa
To Thaisa
PERICLES Then as you are as virtuous as fair,
Resolve71 your angry father if my tongue
Did e’er solicit or my hand subscribe72
To any syllable that made love to73 you?
THAISA Why, sir, say if you had,
Who takes offence at that, would75 make me glad?
SIMONIDES Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory76?
Aside
I am glad on’t with all my heart!—
To Thaisa
I’ll tame you, I’ll bring you in subjection.
Will you, not having my consent,
Bestow your love and your affections
Aside
Upon a stranger?— Who, for aught81 I know,
May be — nor can I think the contrary —
As great in blood as I myself.—