Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

They are, my liege,

2.2.3And stay your coming 711to present themselves.

Return them we are ready, and our daughter,

2.2.5713In honor of whose birth these triumphs are,

2.2.6714Sits here like Beauty's child, whom Nature gat

2.2.7715For men to see and, seeing, wonder at.

It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express

2.2.9717My commendations great, whose merit's less.

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

2.2.11719A model which heaven makes like to itself:

2.2.12720As jewels lose their glory, if neglected,

2.2.13721So princes their renowns, if not respected.

2.2.14722'Tis now your honor, daughter, to entertain

2.2.15723The labor of each knight, in his device.

Which, to preserve mine honor, I'll perform.

Who is the first, that doth prefer himself?

A knight of Sparta, my renowned father,

2.2.19728And the device he bears upon his shield

2.2.20729Is a black Ethiop reaching at the sun,

2.2.21730The word: Lux tua vita mihi.

He loves you well that holds his life of you.

2.2.23733Who is the second that presents himself?

A prince of Macedon, my royal father,

2.2.25735And the device he bears upon his shield

2.2.26736Is an armed knight that's conquered by a lady,

2.2.27737The motto thus in Spanish: Piu per dolcera che per forsa.

And with the third?

And with the third? The third of Antioch;

2.2.29And his device 740a wreath of chivalry;

2.2.30The word: Me pompae provexit apex.

What is the fourth?

A burning torch that's turnèd upside down;

2.2.33743The word: Qui me alit, me extinguit.

Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,

2.2.35745Which can as well inflame as it can kill.

The fifth, an hand environèd with clouds,

2.2.37747Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;

2.2.38748The motto thus: Sic spectanda fides.

And what's the sixth and last, the which 750the knight himself

2.2.40With such a graceful courtesy delivered?

He seems to be a stranger: but his present is

2.2.42752A withered branch, that's only green at top;

2.2.43753The motto: In hac spe vivo.

A pretty moral:

2.2.45From the dejected state wherein he is,

2.2.46755He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.

He had need mean better than his outward show

2.2.48757Can any way speak in his just commend,

2.2.49758For by his rusty outside he appears

2.2.50759To have practiced more the whipstock than the lance.

He well may be a stranger, for he comes

2.2.52761To an honored triumph, strangely furnishèd.

And on set purpose let his armor rust

2.2.54763Until this day, to scour it in the dust!

Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan

2.2.56765The outward habit for the inward man.

2.2.57766But stay, the knights are coming.

2.2.58767We will withdraw into the gallery.