the Letter to Cleon ; then gives the Messenger a Reward, and Knights him.

Exeunt PERICLES, CLEON, fc. severally.

Gow. Good Helicane bath staid at home,
Not to eat honey, like a drone,
From others' labours; forth he strive
To killen bad, keep good alive;
And, to fulfil his prince' desire,
Sends word of all that haps in Tyre:
How Thaliard came full bent with sin,
And hid intent, to murder him;
And that in Tharsus was not best
Longer for him to inake his rest:
He knowing so, put forth to seas,
Where when men been, there's seldom ease;
For now the wind begins to blow;
Thunder above, and deeps below,
Make such unquiet, that the ship
Should house him safe, is wreck'd and split;
And he, good prince, having all lost,
By waves from coast to coast is tost:
All perishen of man, of pelf,
Ne aught escapen but himself;
Till fortune, tir'd with doing bad,
Threw him ashore, to give him glad :
And here he comes: what shall be next,
Pardon old Gower: this long's the text.

[Erit. SCENE 1. PENTAPOLIS. An open Pluce by the Sea-side.

Enter PERICLES, wet. Per. Yet cease your ire, ye angry stars of heaven! Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man Is but a substance that must yield to you. And I, as fits my nature, do obey you; Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks, Wash'd me from shore to shore, and left me breath Nothing to think on, but ensuing death : Let it suffice the greatness of your powers, To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes; And having thrown him from your wat’ry grave, Here to have death in peace, is all he'll crave.

Enter three Fishermen.
1 Fish. What, ho, Pilche!
2 Fish. Ho! come, and bring away the nets.
1 Fish. What, Patch-breach, I say!
3 Fish. What say you, master?

1 Fish. - Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion.

3 Fish. Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us, even now.

1 Fish. Alas, poor souls, it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us, to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves.

3 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when I saw the porpus, how he bounced and tumbled ? they say, they are half fish, half flesh; a plague on them, they ne'er come, but I look to be wash'd. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.

1 Fish. Why as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones: I can compare our rich misers to nothing so filly as to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. Such whales have I heard on a'the land, who never leave gaping, till they've swallow'd the whole parish, church, steeple, bells and all.

Per. A pretty moral.

3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry.

2 Fish. Why, man?

3 Fish. Because he should have swallow'd me too : and when I had beeu in bis belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, church, and parish, up again. But if the good king Simonides were of my inind

Per. Simonides?

3 Fish. We would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey.

Per. How from the finny subject of the sea
These fishers tell the infirmilies of men;
And from their wat’ry empire recollect
All that may men approve, or men detect!
Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.

а

2 l'ish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? if it be a day fits you, scratch it out of the calendar, and nobody will look after it.

Per. Nav, see, the sea lath cast upon your coast

2 Fish. What a drunkeu knave was the sea, lo cast thee in our way!

Per. A man, whom both the waters and the wind,
In that vast lennis-court, hath made the ball
For them to play upon, entreats you pity him ;
He asks of you, that never us’d to beg.

1 Fish. No, friend, cannot you beg? liere's them in our country of Greece, gets more with begging, thau we can do with working.

2 Fish. Caost thou catch any fishes then? Per. I never practis’d it.

2 Fish. Nay, then thou wilt starve sure; for here's nothing to be got now a days, unless thou canst fish for’t.

Per. What I have been, I have forgot to know;
But what I am, want teaches me to think on;
A man shrank up with cold: my veins are chill,
And have no more of life, than may suffice
To give my tongue that lieal, to ask your help;
Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,
For I ain a man, pray see me buried.

1 Fish. Die quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on; keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow! Come, thou shalt gó home, and we'll have flesh for holidays, fisit for fastingdays, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks; and thou sbalt be welcome.

Per. I thank you, sir.

2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, you said you could not beg.

Per. I did but crave.

2 Fish. But crave? then I'll lurn craver too, and so I shall ’scape whipping.

Per. Why, are all your beggars whipp'd then?

2 Fish. O, not all, iny friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipp’d, I would wish no better office, than to be beadle. But, master, I'll go draw up the 1rt.

[Exeunt two of the fishermen.

Per. How well this honest mirth becomes their labour ! 1 Fish. Hark you, sir; do you know where you are? Per. Not well.

1. Fish. Why I'll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and oor king, the good Šimonides.

Per. The good king Simonides, do you call him? 1 Fish. Ay, sir; and he deserves to be so calld, for lis peaceable reign, and good government.

Per. He is a bappy king, since from his subjects He gains the name of good, by his government. How far is his court distant from this shore?

1 Fish. Marry, sir, half a day's journey; and I'll tell you, be hath a sair daughter, and to-morrow is her birthday; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world, to just and tourney for her love.

Per. Did but my fortunes equal my desires, I'd wish to make one there.

1 Fish. O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully deal for-his wife's soul.

Re-enter the two Fishermen, drawing up a Net. 2 Fish. Help, master, help; here's a fish bang's in the net, like a poor man's right in the law; 'twill hardly come out. Ha! bots on't, 'tis come at last, and 'tis turn'd to a rusty armour.

Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it. Thanks, fortune, yet, that after all my crosses, Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself; And, though it was mine own, part of mine heritage, Which my dead father did bequeath to me, With this strict charge (even as he left his life), Keep it, my Pericles, it hath been a shield 'Twixt me and death (and pointed to this brace); For that it sav'd me, keep it; in like necessity, Which gods protect thee from! it may defend thee. It kept where I kept, I so dearly lov'd'it; Till the rough seas, that spare not any man, Took it in rage, though calm’d, they give't again : I thank thee for’t; my shipwreck's now po ill, Since I have here my father's gift by will.

1 Fish. What mean you, sir?

Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth, For it was sometime target to a king; I know it by this mark. He lov'd me dearly, And for his sake, I wish the having of it; And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's court Where with’t I may appear a gentleman ; And if that ever my low fortunes better, I'll pay your bounties; till then, rest your debtor.

1 Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady? Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms.

1 Fish. Why, do ye take it, and the gods give thee good on't!

2 Fish. Ay, but hark you, my friend; 'twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the waters: there are certain condolements, certain vails. 1 bope, sir, if you thrive, you'll remember from whence you had it.

Per. Believ't, I will.
Now, by your furtherance, I am cloth'd in steel;
And spite of all the ruptare of the sea,
This jewel holds his biding on my arm;
Unto thy value will I mount myself
Upon a courser, whose delightful steps
Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.-
Only, my friend, I yet am unprovided
Of a pair of bases.

2 Fish. We'll sure provide : thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I'll bring thee io the court myself.

Per. Then honour be but a goal to my will; This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. (Exeunt.

4

SCENE II. The same. A public Way, or Platform,

leading to the Lists. A Pavilion by the side of it, for the Reception of the King, Princess, Lords, &c. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, and Attendants. Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

1 Lord. They are, my liege ; And stay your coming to present themselves.