Third Fish. What say you, master?

First Fish. Look how thou stirrest now! come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wanion.

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

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

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

First Fish. Why, as men do a-land,-the great ones eat up the little ones: I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly 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 o' the land, who never leave gaping till they've(62) swallowed the whole parish, church, steeple, bells, and all.

Per. [aside] A pretty moral.

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

Sec. Fish. Why, man?

Third Fish. Because he should have swallowed me too: and when I had been in his 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 mind,

Per. [aside] Simonides!

Third Fish. He(63) would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey.

Per. [aside] How from the finny(64) subject of the sea These fishers tell th' infirmities of men;

And from their watery empire recollect

All that may men approve or men detect!—

Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.

Sec. Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? If it be a day fits you, search out of the calendar, and nobody look

after it.

Per. May see the sea hath cast upon your coast. (65)

Sec. Fish. What a drunken knave was the sea to cast

thee in our way!

Per. A man whom both the waters and the wind,

In that vast tennis-court, have made the ball

For them to play upon, entreats you pity him ;

He asks of you, that never us'd to beg.

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

Sec. Fish. Canst thou catch any fishes, then?

Per. I never practis'd it.

Sec. 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 throng'd up with cold: my veins are chill,
And have no more of life than may suffice
To give my tongue that heat to ask your help;
Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,
For that I am a man, pray see me buried.

First 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 go home, and we'll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo’er(66) puddings and flap-jacks; and thou shalt be welcome.

Per. I thank you, sir.

Sec. Fish. Hark you, my friend,-you said you could not beg.

Per. I did but crave.

Sec. Fish. But crave! Then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall scape whipping.

Per. Why, are all your beggars whipped, then?

Sec. Fish. O, not all, (67) my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipped, I would wish no better office than to be beadle.But, master, I'll go draw up the net.

[Erit with Third Fisherman. Per. [aside] How well this honest mirth becomes their

labour!

First Fish. Hark you, sir,-do you know where ye are?

Per. Not well.

First Fish. Why, I'll tell you: this is called Pentapolis, and our king the good Simonides.

Per. The good King Simonides, do you call him?

First Fish. Ay, sir; and he deserves so to be called for his peaceable reign and good government.

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

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

Per. Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there.

First Fish. O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully deal for-his wife's soul. (68)

Re-enter Second and Third Fishermen, drawing up a net.

Sec. Fish. Help, master, help! here's a fish hangs 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 turned to a rusty armour.

Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me see it.Thanks, fortune, yet, that, after all my(69) crosses,

Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself;

And though(70) it was mine own, part of my 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—

The which the gods protect thee from!-'t may defend thee."(71)

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 have given 't again :
I thank thee for't; my shipwreck now's no ill,

Since I have here my father's gift in 's will.

First Fish. What mean you, sir?

Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of wortl 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 it I may appear a gentleman;

And if that ever my low fortunes better,

I'll pay your bounties; till then rest your debtor.
First Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady?
Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms.
First Fish. Why, do ye take it, and the gods give
good on't!

Sec. Fish. Ay, but hark you, my friend; 'twas we made up this garment through the rough seams of the wat there are certain condolements, certain vails. I hope, si you thrive, you'll remember from whence you had it.(72) Per. Believe 't, I will.

:(74)

By your furtherance (73) I am cloth'd in steel;
And, spite of all the rapture of the sea,
This jewel holds his building on my arm :
Unto the value(75) I will mount myself
Upon a courser, whose delightful steps
Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread.-
Only, my friends,(76) I yet am unprovided
Of a pair of bases.

Sec. Fish. We'll sure provide thee :(77) thou shalt have m best gown to make thee a pair: and I'll bring thee to th court myself.

Per. Then honour be but a goal (78) to my will,

This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill.

[Exeunt.

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?
First Lord. They are, my liege;

And stay your coming to present themselves.

Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,
In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
Sits here,(79) like beauty's child, whom nature gat
For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

[Exit a Lord.

Thai. It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express
My commendations great, whose merit's less.

Sim. It's fit it should be so; for princes are
A model, which heaven makes like to itself:
As jewels lose their glory if neglected,
So princes their renown if not respected.
'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain(80)

The labour of each knight in his device.

Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.

Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire presents his shield to the Princess.

Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer himself?
Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renownèd father;
And the device he bears upon his shield

Is a black Æthiop reaching at the sun;
The word, Lux tua vita mihi.

Sim. He loves you well that holds his life of you.

[The Second Knight passes over.

Who is the second that presents himself?

Thai. A prince of Macedon, my royal father;

And the device he bears upon his shield

Is an arm'd knight that's conquer'd by a lady;

The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu(81) por dulzura que por fuerza.

Sim. And what's the third?
Thai.

[The Third Knight passes over.

The third of Antioch;

And his device, a wreath of chivalry;
The word, Me pompa provexit apex.

Sim. What is the fourth?

[The Fourth Knight passes over.

Thai. A burning torch that's turned upside down;

The word, Quod me(82) alit, me extinguit.

Sim. Which shows that beauty hath his(83) power and will,

Which can as well inflame as it can kill.

[The Fifth Knight passes over.