Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)

2.0707.1[2.2]
2.0.1708Enter Simonides and Thaisa, with [Lords and] attendants, [and sit on two thrones.]
2.1709Simonides
 Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?
2.27101 Lord
 They are, my liege,
2.3And stay your coming  711to present themselves.
2.4712Simonides
 Return them we are ready, and our daughter,
2.5713In honor of whose birth these triumphs are,
2.6714Sits here like Beauty's child, whom Nature gat
2.7715For men to see and, seeing, wonder at.
2.7.1[Exit 1 Lord.]
2.8716Thaisa
 It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express
2.9717My commendations great, whose merit's less.
2.10718Simonides
 It's fit it should be so, for princes are
2.11719A model which heaven makes like to itself:
2.12720As jewels lose their glory, if neglected,
2.13721So princes their renowns, if not respected.
2.14722'Tis now your honor, daughter, to entertain
2.15723The labor of each knight, in his device.
2.16724Thaisa
 Which, to preserve mine honor, I'll perform.
2.16.1[Enter 1 Lord.]
2.16.2725The first Knight [enters and] passes by [across the stage, and his page presents a shield to be read by Thaisa.]
2.17726Simonides
 Who is the first, that doth prefer himself?
2.18727Thaisa
 A knight of Sparta, my renowned father,
2.19728And the device he bears upon his shield
2.20729Is a black Ethiop reaching at the sun,
2.21730The word: Lux tua vita mihi.
2.22731Simonides
 He loves you well that holds his life of you.
2.22.1732[The second Knight passes across the stage, in the same manner as the first.]
2.23733Who is the second that presents himself?
2.24734Thaisa
 A prince of Macedon, my royal father,
2.25735And the device he bears upon his shield
2.26736Is an armed knight that's conquered by a lady,
2.27737The motto thus in Spanish: Piu per dolcera che per forsa.
2.27.1738[The third Knight passes across the stage, as before.]
2.28Simonides
 And with the third?
 739Thaisa
 And with the third?  The third of Antioch;
2.29And his device  740a wreath of chivalry;
2.30The word: Me pompae provexit apex.
2.30.1741[The fourth Knight passes across the stage.]
2.31Simonides
 What is the fourth?
2.32742Thaisa
 A burning torch that's turnèd upside down;
2.33743The word: Qui me alit, me extinguit.
2.34744Simonides
 Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,
2.35745Which can as well inflame as it can kill.
2.35.1746[The fifth Knight passes across the stage.]
2.36Thaisa
 The fifth, an hand environèd with clouds,
2.37747Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;
2.38748The motto thus: Sic spectanda fides.
2.38.1749[The] sixth Knight[, Pericles passes across the stage in rusty armor and without a shield or a page, and presents his device to Thaisa in person.]
2.39Simonides
 And what's the sixth and last, the which 750the knight himself
2.40With such a graceful courtesy delivered?
2.41751Thaisa
 He seems to be a stranger: but his present is
2.42752A withered branch, that's only green at top;
2.43753The motto: In hac spe vivo.
2.44754Simonides
 A pretty moral:
2.45From the dejected state wherein he is,
2.46755He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.
2.477561 Lord
 He had need mean better than his outward show
2.48757Can any way speak in his just commend,
2.49758For by his rusty outside he appears
2.50759To have practiced more the whipstock than the lance.
2.517602 Lord
 He well may be a stranger, for he comes
2.52761To an honored triumph, strangely furnishèd.
2.537623 Lord
 And on set purpose let his armor rust
2.54763Until this day, to scour it in the dust!
2.55764Simonides
 Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan
2.56765The outward habit for the inward man.
2.56.1[Trumpets sound offstage.]
2.57766But stay, the knights are coming.
2.58767We will withdraw into the gallery.
2.58.1[Exeunt.]
 768Great shouts [offstage], and all cry "The mean knight."
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Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)
