2.3.0.1769Enter the King[, Thaisa, Marshal, attendants,] and Knights [dressed in armor] from tilting. Knights,
2.3.2To say you're welcome were superfluous:
2.3.3771To place upon the volume of your deeds,
2.3.4772As in a title page, your worth in arms,
2.3.5773Were more than you expect, or more than's fit,
2.3.6774Since every worth in show commends itself.
2.3.7775Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast.
You are princes, and my guests. [To Pericles] But you my knight and guest,
2.3.9778To whom this wreath of victory I give
2.3.10779And crown you king of this day's happiness.
2.3.10.1[Thaisa puts a wreath on Pericles' head.] 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit.
Call it by what you will, the day is yours,
2.3.13782And here, I hope, is none that envies it.
2.3.14783In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed:
2.3.15784To make some good, but others to exceed,
2.3.16785And you are her labored scholar.
[To Thaisa] Come, queen o'th'feast --
2.3.17786For, daughter, so you are --, here take your place.
2.3.18787[To Marshal] Marshal the rest as they deserve their grace.
We are honored much by good Simonides.
2.3.19.1[The Marshal shows the Knights to their places.] Your presence glads our days. Honor we love,
2.3.21790For who hates honor hates the gods above.
[To Pericles] Sir, yonder is your place.
[To Pericles] Sir, yonder is your place. Some other is more fit.
Contend not, sir, for we are gentlemen
2.3.24794Have neither in our hearts nor outward eyes
2.3.25795Envied the great, nor shall the low despise.
You are right courteous knights.
Sit, sir, sit.
[Aside] By Jove I wonder, that is king of thoughts:
2.3.29799These cates resist me, he not thought upon.
[Aside] By Juno, that is queen of marriage,
2.3.31801All viands that I eat do seem unsavory,
2.3.32802Wishing him my meat.
[Aloud to Simonides] Sure, he's a gallant gentleman.
He's but a country gentleman;
2.3.34Has done no more
804than other knights have done:
2.3.35Has broken a staff,
805or so; so let it pass.
[Aside] To me he seems like diamond to glass.
[Aside] Yon king's to me like to my father's picture,
2.3.38808Which tells me in that glory once he was,
2.3.39809Had princes sit like stars about his throne,
2.3.40810And he the sun for them to reverence.
2.3.41811None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights,
2.3.42812Did vail their crowns to his supremacy;
2.3.43813Where now his son's like a glow-worm in the night,
2.3.44814The which hath fire in darkness, none in light;
2.3.45815Whereby I see that Time's the king of men:
2.3.46816He's both their parent and he is their grave,
2.3.47817And gives them what he will, not what they crave.
[To all] What, are you merry, knights?
Who can be other in this royal presence?
Here, with a cup that's stored unto the brim --
2.3.51821As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips.
2.3.52822We drink this health to you.
[He drinks.] We drink this health to you. [He drinks.] We thank your Grace.
[To Thaisa] Yet pause awhile: yon knight doth sit too melancholy,
2.3.54825As if the entertainment in our court,
2.3.55826Had not a show might countervail his worth:
What is't to me, my father?
Oh, attend, my daughter:
830Princes, in this,
2.3.59Should live like gods above,
831who freely give
2.3.60To everyone that come to honor them:
2.3.61832And princes not doing so, are like to gnats,
2.3.62833Which make a sound, but, killed, are wondered at.
2.3.63834Therefore to make his entrance more sweet,
2.3.64835Here: say we drink this standing bowl of wine to him.
Alas, my father, it befits not me
2.3.66837Unto a stranger knight to be so bold!
2.3.67838He may my proffer take for an offence,
2.3.68839Since men take women's gifts for impudence.
How? Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.
[Aside] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.
And further, tell him we desire to know
2.3.72843Of whence he is, his name, and parentage.
The King my father, sir, has drunk to you.
I thank him.
Wishing it so much blood unto your life.
I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.
And further, he desires to know of you
2.3.78849Of whence you are, your name and parentage.
A gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles;
2.3.81852Who, looking for adventures in the world,
2.3.82853Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men,
2.3.83854And after shipwreck, driven upon this shore.
He thanks your Grace; names himself Pericles,
2.3.86Who only by misfortune of the seas
2.3.87857Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.
Now by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
2.3.89859And will awake him from his melancholy.
2.3.90860[To all] Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
2.3.91861And waste the time which looks for other revels.
2.3.92862Even in your armors as you are addressed
2.3.94864I will not have excuse with saying this:
2.3.95865"Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads" --
2.3.96866Since they love men in arms, as well as beds.
So this was well asked, 'twas so well performed.
2.3.98869[Indicating Thaisa to Pericles] Come, sir, here's a lady that wants breathing too,
2.3.99870And, I have heard, you knights of Tyre
2.3.101872And that their measures are as excellent.
In those that practice them, they are, my lord.
Oh, that's as much as you would be denied
Unclasp, unclasp!
2.3.106877Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well.
2.3.107878[To Pericles] But you the best.
[Calling] Pages and lights, to conduct
2.3.108879These knights unto their several lodgings.
2.3.109880[To Pericles] Yours, sir, we have given order be next our own.
I am at your Grace's pleasure.
Princes, it is too late to talk of love,
2.3.112883And that's the mark, I know, you level at.
2.3.113884Therefore, each one betake him to his rest,
2.3.114885Tomorrow all for speeding do their best.