Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Tom Bishop
Not Peer Reviewed

Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Quarto)

Pericles Prince of Tyre.
700Vpon a Courser, whose delight steps,
Shall make the gazer ioy to see him tread;
Onely (my friend) I yet am vnprouided of a paire of Bases.
2. Wee'le sure prouide, thou shalt haue
My best Gowne to make thee a paire;
705And Ile bring thee to the Court my selfe.
Peri. Then Honour be but a Goale to my Will,
This day Ile rise, or else adde ill to ill.

Enter Simonydes, with attendaunce, and Thaisa.

King. Are the Knights ready to begin the Tryumph?
7101.Lord. They are my Leidge, and stay your comming,
To present them selues.
King. Returne them, We are ready, & our daughter heere,
In honour of whose Birth, these Triumphs are,
Sits heere like Beauties child, whom Nature gat,
715For men to see; and seeing, woonder at.
Thai. It pleaseth you (my royall Father) to expresse
My Commendations great, whose merit's lesse.
King. It's fit it should be so, for Princes are
A modell which Heauen makes like to it selfe:
720As Iewels loose their glory, if neglected,
So Princes their Renownes, if not respected:
T'is now your honour (Daughter) to entertaine
The labour of each Knight, in his deuice.
Thai. Which to preserue mine honour, I'le performe.

725The first Knight passes by.
King. Who is the first, that doth preferre himselfe?
Thai. A Knight of Sparta (my renowned father)
And the deuice he beares vpon his Shield,
Is a blacke Ethyope reaching at the Sunne:
730The word: Lux tua vita mihi.
King. He loues you well, that holdes his life of you.
The second Knight.
Who is the second, that presents himselfe?
Tha. A