1 Knight. Contend not, sir, for we are gentle

men,

That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes,
Envy the great, nor do the low despise.
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.
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.

A country gentleman;

He's but

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 pic

ture,

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 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,
For he's their parent, and he is their grave,
And gives them what he will, not what they crave.
Sim. What, are you merry, knights?

1 Knight. Who can be other, in this royal preSim. Here, with a cup that's stor'd unto the

brim,

(As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,)

We drink this health to you.

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.

To me, my father?

Sim.

What is it

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.

Therefore to make's entrance more sweet, here say, We drink this standing bowl of wine to him.

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 [Aside.

better. Sim. And further tell him, we desire to know, Of whence he is, his name and parentage.

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;)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'd9,
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 often heard, you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip;

And that their measures are as excellent.

Per. In those that practice them, they are, my

lord.

Sim. O, that's as much, as you would be deny'd
[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

These knights unto their several lodgings: Yours,

sır,

We have given order to be next our own.
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.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Tyre. A Room in the Governor's House.

Enter HELICANUS and ESCANES.

Hel. No, no, my Escanes; know this of me, Antiochus from incest liv'd 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, and his daughter with him, In a chariot of inestimable value, A fire from heaven came, and shrivel'd up Their bodies, 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.

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.

2 Lord. It shall no longer grieve without reproof.

3 Lord. And curst be he that will not second it. 2 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 Heli

cane;

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 3, he lives to govern us,
Or dead, gives cause to mourn his funeral,
And leaves us to our free election.

2 Lord. Whose death's indeed, the strongest in

our censure : +

And knowing this kingdom, if without a head, (Like goodly buildings left without a roof,) Will soon to ruin fall, your noble self,

That best know'st how to rule, and how to reign,

We thus submit unto, our sovereign.

All. Live, noble Helicane !