And that you’d guide me to your sov’reign’s court,

Where with’t I may appear a gentleman.

And if that ever my low fortune’s better,

I’ll pay your bounties, till then rest your debtor.

MASTER Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady?

PERICLES

I’ll show the virtue I have learned in arms.

MASTER Why, d‘ye 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 this.

PERICLES Believe’t, I will.

By your furtherance I’m 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 delightsome steps

Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.

Only, my friends, 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 equal to my will,

This day I’ll rise, or else add ill to ill.

Exeunt with nets and armour

Sc. 6

Sennet.

Enter King Simonides and Thaisa, with Lords in attendance,

and sit on two thrones

KING SIMONIDES

Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

FIRST LORD They are, my liege,

And stay your coming to present themselves.

KING 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 one

THAISA

It pleaseth you, my father, to express

My commendations great, whose merit’s less.

KING SIMONIDES

It’s fit it should be so, for princes are

A model which heav’n makes like to itself.

As jewels lose their glory if neglected,

So princes their renown, if not respected.

’Tis now your office, daughter, to entertain

The labour of each knight in his device.

THAISA

Which, to preserve mine honour, I’ll perform.

Flourish.The first knight passes by richly armed, and his page before him, bearing his device on his shield, delivers it to the Lady Thaisa

KING 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 Ethiop reaching at the sun.

The word, Lux tua vita mihi.

She presents it to the King

KING SIMONIDES

He loves you well that holds his life of you.

He returns it to the page, who exits with the first knight.

Flourish.The second knight passes by richly armed, and his page before him, bearing his device on his shield, delivers it to the Lady Thaisa

Who is the second that presents himself?

THAISA

A prince of Macedon, my royal father,

And the device he bears upon his shield

An armed knight that’s conquered by a lady.

The motto thus: Piùe per dolcezza che per forza.

she presents it to the King

KING SIMONIDES

You win him more by lenity than force.

He returns it to the page, who exits with the second knight.

Flourish.The third knight passes by

richly armed, and his page before him, bearing his device on his shield, delivers it to the Lady Thaisa

And what’s the third?

THAISA

The third of Antioch,

And his device a wreath of chivalry.

The word, Me pompae provexit apex.

She presents it to the King

KING SIMONIDES

Desire of renown he doth devise,

The which hath drawn him to this enterprise.

He returns it to the page, who exits with the third knight.

Flourish.The fourth knight passes by richly armed, and his page before him, bearing his device on his shield, delivers it to the Lady Thaisa

What is the fourth?

THAISA

A knight of Athens bearing

A burning torch that’s turned upside down.

The word, Qui me alit me extinguit.

She presents it to the King