Complete Plays, The

by William Shakespeare

  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, & c.

  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 alit, me extinguit.’

  Simonides

  Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,

  Which can as well inflame as it can kill.

  The Fifth Knight passes over

  Thaisa

  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 over

  Simonides

  And what’s

  The sixth and last, the which the knight himself

  With such a graceful courtesy deliver’d?

  Thaisa

  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.’

  Simonides

  A pretty moral;

  From the dejected state wherein he is,

  He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.

  First 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.

  Second Lord

  He well may be a stranger, for he comes

  To an honour’d triumph strangely furnished.

  Third Lord

  And on set purpose let his armour rust

  Until this day, to scour it in the dust.

  Simonides

  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 and all cry ‘The mean knight!’

  SCENE III. THE SAME. A HALL OF STATE: A BANQUET PREPARED.

  Enter Simonides, Thaisa, Lords, Attendants, and Knights, from tilting

  Simonides

  Knights,

  To say you’re 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.

  Thaisa

  But you, my knight and guest;

  To whom this wreath of victory I give,

  And crown you king of this day’s happiness.

  Pericles

  ’Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit.

  Simonides

  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 are her labour’d 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 honour’d much by good Simonides.

  Simonides

  Your presence glads our days: honour we love;

  For who hates honour hates the gods above.

  Marshal

  Sir, yonder is your place.

  Pericles

  Some other is more fit.

  First Knight

  Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen

  That neither in our hearts nor ou
tward eyes

  Envy the great nor do the low despise.

  Pericles

  You are right courteous knights.

  Simonides

  Sit, sir, sit.

  Pericles

  By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,

  These cates resist me, she but thought upon.

  Thaisa

  By Juno, that is queen of marriage,

  All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury.

  Wishing him my meat. Sure, he’s a gallant gentleman.

  Simonides

  He’s but a country gentleman;

  Has done no more than other knights have done;

  Has broken a staff or so; so let it pass.

  Thaisa

  To me he seems like diamond to glass.

  Pericles

  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 like a glow-worm in the night,

  The which hath fire in darkness, none in light:

  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 stored unto the brim,—

  As you do love, fill to your mistress’ lips,—

  We drink this health to you.

  Knights

  We thank your grace.

  Simonides

  Yet pause awhile:

  Yon knight doth sit too melancholy,

  As if the entertainment in our court

  Had not a show might countervail his worth.

  Note it not you, Thaisa?

  Thaisa

  What is it

  To me, my father?

  Simonides

  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 doin g so are like to gnats,

  Which make a sound, but kill’d are wonder’d at.

  Therefore to make his entrance more sweet,

  Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.

  Thaisa

  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.

  Simonides

  How!

  Do as I bid you, or you’ll move me else.

  Thaisa

  [Aside] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.

  Simonides

  And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him,

  Of whence he is, his name and parentage.

  Thaisa

  The king my father, sir, has drunk to you.

  Pericles

  I thank him.

  Thaisa

  Wishing it so much blood unto your life.

  Pericles

  I thank both him and you, and pledge him 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 been in arts and arms;

  Who, looking for adventures in the world,

  Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,

  And after shipwreck driven upon this shore.

  Thaisa

  He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles,

  A gentleman of Tyre,

  Who only by misfortune of the seas

  Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.

  Simonides

  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.

  I will not have excuse, with saying this

  Loud music is too harsh for ladies’ heads,

  Since they love men in arms as well as beds.

  The Knights dance

  So, this was well ask’d,’twas so well perform’d.

  Come, sir;

  Here is a lady that wants breathing too:

  And I have heard, you knights of Tyre

  Are excellent in making ladies trip;

  And that their measures are as excellent.

  Pericles

  In those that practise them they are, my lord.

  Simonides

  O, that’s as much as you would be denied

  Of your fair courtesy.

  The Knights and Ladies 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 several lodgings!

  To Pericles

  Yours, sir,

  We have given order to 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 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

  Helicanus

  No, Escanes, know this of me,

  Antiochus from incest lived not free:

  For which, the most high gods not minding longer

  To withhold the vengeance that they had in store,

  Due to this heinous capital offence,

  Even in the height and pride of all his glory,

  When he was seated in a chariot

  Of an inestimable value, and his daughter with him,

  A fire from heaven came and shrivell’d up

  Their bodies, even to loathing; for they so stunk,

  That all those eyes adored 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 shaft, but sin had his reward.

  Escanes

  ’Tis very true.

  Enter two or three Lords

  First Lord

  See, not a man in private conference

  Or council has respect with him but he.

  Second Lord

  It shall no longer grieve without reproof.

  Third Lord

  And cursed be he that will not second it.

  First Lord

  Follow me, then. Lord Helicane, a word.

  Helicanus

  With me? and welcome: happy day, my lords.

  First Lord

  Know that our griefs are risen to the top,

  And now at length they overflow their banks.

  Helicanus

  Your griefs! for what? wrong not your prince you love.

  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 breath.

  If in the world he live, we’ll seek him out;
r />   If in his grave he rest, we’ll find him there;

  And be resolved he lives to govern us,

  Or dead, give’s cause to mourn his funeral,

  And leave us to our free election.

  Second Lord

  Whose death indeed’s the strongest in our censure:

  And knowing this kingdom is without a head,—

  Like goodly buildings left 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

  For honour’s cause, forbear your suffrages:

  If that you love Prince Pericles, forbear.

  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

  Forbear the absence of your king:

  If in which time expired, he not return,

  I shall with aged patience bear your yoke.

  But if I cannot win you to this love,

  Go search like nobles, 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.

  First Lord

  To wisdom he’s a fool that will not yield;

  And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us,

  We with our travels will endeavour us.

  Helicanus

  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, 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 yet 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 has so strictly tied

  Her to her chamber, that ’tis impossible.

  One twelve moons more she’ll wear Diana’s livery;

  This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow’d

  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 dispatch’d; now to my daughter’s letter:

  She tells me here, she’d wed the stranger knight,

  Or never more to view nor day nor light.

  ’Tis well, mistress; your choice agrees with mine;

  I like that well: nay, how absolute she’s in’t,

  Not minding whether I dislike or no!