Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Tom Bishop
Not Peer Reviewed

Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Quarto)

Pericles Prince of Tyre.
1. Die, ke-tha; now Gods forbid't, and I haue a Gowne
heere, come put it on, keepe thee warme: now afore mee a
handsome fellow : Come, thou shalt goe home, and wee'le
haue Flesh for all day, Fish for fasting-dayes and more; or
630Puddinges and Flap-iackes, and thou shalt be welcome.
Per. I thanke you sir.
2. Harke you my friend: You sayd you could not beg?
Per. I did but craue.
2. But craue?
635Then Ile turne Crauer too, and so I shall scape whipping.
Per. Why, are you Beggers whipt then?
2. Oh not all, my friend, not all: for if all your Beggers
were whipt, I would wish no better office, then to be Beadle:
But Maister, Ile goe draw vp the Net.
640Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour?
1. Harke you sir; doe you know where yee are?
Per. Not well.
1. Why Ile tell you, this I cald Pantapoles,
And our King, the good Symonides.
645Per. The good Symonides, doe you call him?
1. I sir, and he deserues so to be cal'd,
For his peaceable raigne, and good gouernement.
Per. He is a happy King, since he gaines from
His subiects the name of good, by his gouernment.
650How farre is his Court distant from this shore?
1. Mary sir, halfe a dayes iourney: And Ile tell you,
He hath a faire Daughter, and to morrow is her birth-day,
And there are Princes and Knights come from all partes of
the World, to Iust and Turney for her loue.
655Per. Were my fortunes equall to my desires,
I could wish to make one there.
1. O sir, things must be as they may: and what a man can
not get, he may lawfully deale for his Wiues soule.
Enter the two Fisher-men, drawing vp a Net.
6602. Helpe Maister helpe; heere's a Fish hanges in the Net,
Like a poore mans right in the law: t'will hardly come out.
Ha bots on't, tis come at last; & tis turnd to a rusty Armour.
Per. An
C 3.