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80

First Fish. No, friend, cannot you beg? Here's them in our country of Greece gets more with begging than we can do with working.

Sec. Fish. Canst thou catch any fishes, then ?
Per. I never practised it.

Sec. 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.

First 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 flap-jacks, and thou shalt be welcome.

Per. I thank you, sir.

Sec. Fish. Hark you, my friend; you said you could not beg.

Per. I did but crave.

Sec. Fish. But crave ! Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall 'scape whipping. Per. Why, are all your beggars whipped,

then ?
Sec. 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 draw

up
the net.

[Exit with Third Fisherman.
87. flap-jacks, pancakes.

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go

Per. [Aside] How well this honest mirth be

comes their labour ! First Fish. Hark you, sir, do you know where 100

ye are?

Per. Not well.

First 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 ?

First 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. sro How far is his court distant from this shore?

First Fish. Marry, sir, half a day's journey : and I'll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and tomorrow is her birth-day; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world to just and tourney for her love.

Per. Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there.

First Fish. O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may law- 120 fully deal for-his wife's soul.

Re-enter Second and Third Fishermen, drawing

up a net.

Sec. Fish. Help, miaster, 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 givest 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

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brace ;

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For that it saved me, keep it ; in like necessity-
The which the gods protect thee from !-may

defend thee.'
It kept where I kept, I so dearly loved 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.

First 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 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 gentleman;
And if that ever my low fortune's better,
I'll pay your bounties; till then rest your debtor.
First Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady ? 150

?? Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms.

First Fish. Why, do 'e take it, and the gods give thee good on 't!

160

Sec. 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 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 am yet unprovided
Of a pair of bases.

Sec. 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 equal to my will. This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt.

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SCENE II.

The same. A public way or platform leading to the lists. A pavilion by the side of it for the reception of the King, Princess, Lords, etc.

Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords and Attendants. Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the

triumph? First 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 renowns if not respected. 'Tis now your honour, daughter, to interpret The labour 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 Ethiope 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 over. Who is the second that presents himself?

Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father;

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