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  • Title: Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Quarto)
  • Editor: Tom Bishop

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Tom Bishop
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Quarto)

    Enter the King and Knights from Tilting.
    770King. Knights, to say you're welcome, were superfluous.
    I place vpon the volume of your deedes,
    As in a Title page, your worth in armes,
    Were more then you expect, or more then's fit,
    Since euery worth in shew commends it selfe:
    775Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a Feast.
    You are Princes, and my guestes.
    Thai. But you my Knight and guest,
    To whom this Wreath of victorie I giue,
    And crowne you King of this dayes happinesse.
    780Peri. Tis more by Fortune (Lady) then my Merit.
    King. Call it by what you will, the day is your,
    And here (I hope) is none that enuies it:
    In framing an Artist, art hath thus decreed,
    To make some good, but others to exceed,
    785And you are her labourd scholler: come Queene a th'feast,
    For (Daughter) so you are; heere take your place:
    Martiall the rest, as they deserue their grace.
    Knights. We are honour'd much by good Symonides.
    King. Your presence glads our dayes, honour we loue,
    790For who hates honour, hates the Gods aboue.
    Marshal. Sir, yonder is your place.
    Peri. Some other is more fit.
    1.Knight. Contend not sir, for we are Gentlemen,
    Haue neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes,
    795Enuies the great, nor shall the low despise.
    Peri. You are right courtious Knights.
    King. Sit sir, sit.
    By Ioue (I wonder) that is King of thoughts,
    These Cates resist mee, hee not thought vpon.
    800Tha. By Iuno (that is Queene of mariage)
    All Viands that I eate do seeme vnsauery,
    Wishing him my meat: sure hee's a gallant Gentleman.
    Kin. Hee's but a countrie Gentleman: ha's done no more
    Then other Knights haue done, ha's broken a Staffe,
    805Or so; so let it passe.
    Tha. To mee he seemes like Diamond, to Glasse.
    Peri. You Kings to mee, like to my fathers picture,
    Which tels in that glory once he was,
    Had Princes sit like Starres about his Throane,
    810And hee the Sunne for them to reuerence;
    None that beheld him, but like lesser lights,
    Did vaile their Crownes to his supremacie;
    Where now his sonne like a Gloworme in the night,
    The which hath Fire in darknesse, none in light:
    815Whereby I see that Time's the King of men,
    Hee's both their Parent, and he is their Graue,
    And giues them what he will, not what they craue.
    King. What, are you merry, Knights?
    Knights. Who can be other, in this royall presence.
    820King. Heere, with a Cup that's stur'd vnto the brim,
    As do you loue, fill to your Mistris lippes,
    Wee drinke this health to you.
    Knights. We thanke your Grace.
    King. Yet pause awhile, yon Knight doth sit too melan-(choly,
    825As if the entertainement in our Court,
    Had not a shew might counteruaile his worth:
    Note it not you, Thaisa.
    Tha. What is't to me, my father?
    king. O attend my Daughter,
    830Princes in this, should liue like Gods aboue,
    Who freely giue to euery one that come to honour them:
    And Princes not doing so, are like to Gnats,
    Which make a sound, but kild, are wondred at:
    Therefore to make his entraunce more sweet,
    835Heere, say wee drinke this standing boule of wine to him.
    Tha. Alas my Father, it befits not mee,
    Vnto a stranger Knight to be so bold,
    He may my profer take for an offence,
    Since men take womens giftes for impudence.
    840king. How? doe as I bid you, or you'le mooue me else.
    Tha. Now by the Gods, he could not please me better.
    king. And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him
    Of whence he is, his name, and Parentage?
    Tha. The King my father (sir) has drunke to you.
    845Peri. I thanke him.
    Tha. Wishing it so much blood vnto your life.
    Peri. I thanke both him and you, and pledge him freely.
    Tha. And further, he desires to know of you,
    Of whence you are, your name and parentage?
    850Peri. A Gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles,
    My education beene in Artes and Armes:
    Who looking for aduentures in the world,
    Was by the rough Seas reft of Ships and men,
    and after shipwracke, driuen vpon this shore.
    855Tha. He thankes your Grace; names himselfe Pericles,
    A Gentleman of Tyre: who onely by misfortune of the seas,
    Bereft of Shippes and Men, cast on this shore.
    king. Now by the Gods, I pitty his misfortune,
    And will awake him from his melancholy.
    860Come Gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles,
    And waste the time which lookes for other reuels;
    Euen in your Armours as you are addrest,
    Will well become a Souldiers daunce:
    I will not haue excuse with saying this,
    865Lowd Musicke is too harsh for Ladyes heads,
    Since they loue men in armes, as well as beds.
    They daunce.
    So, this was well askt, t'was so well perform'd.
    Come sir, heer's a Lady that wants breathing too,
    870And I haue heard, you Knights of Tyre,
    Are excellent in making Ladyes trippe;
    And that their Measures are as excellent.
    Peri. In those that practize them, they are (my Lord.)
    king. Oh that's as much, as you would be denyed
    875Of your faire courtesie: vnclaspe, vnclaspe.
    They daunce.
    Thankes Gentlemen to all, all haue done well;
    But you the best: Pages and lights, to conduct
    These Knights vnto their seuerall Lodgings:
    880Yours sir, we haue giuen order be next our owne.
    Peri. I am at your Graces pleasure.
    Princes, it is too late to talke of Loue.
    And that's the marke I know, you leuell at:
    Therefore each one betake him to his rest,
    885To morrow all for speeding do their best.
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