The same. A public way or platform leading to the
lists. A pavilion by the side of it for the
reception of King, Princess, Lords, &c.
Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, and Attendants
SIMONIDES
3 Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?
First Lord
4 They are, my liege;
5 And stay your coming to present themselves.
SIMONIDES
6 Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,
7 In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
8 Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat
9 For men to see, and seeing wonder at.
Exit a Lord
THAISA
10 It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express
11 My commendations great, whose merit's less.
SIMONIDES
12 It's fit it should be so; for princes are
13 A model which heaven makes like to itself:
14 As jewels lose their glory if neglected,
15 So princes their renowns if not respected.
'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain
17 The labour of each knight in his device.
THAISA
Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.
Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire presents his shield to the Princess
SIMONIDES
19 Who is the first that doth prefer himself?
THAISA
20 A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;
21 And the device he bears upon his shield
22 Is a black Ethiope reaching at the sun
23 The word, 'Lux tua vita mihi.'
SIMONIDES
24 He loves you well that holds his life of you.
The Second Knight passes over
25 Who is the second that presents himself?
THAISA
26 A prince of Macedon, my royal father;
27 And the device he bears upon his shield
28 Is an arm'd knight that's conquer'd by a lady;
29 The motto thus, in Spanish, 'Piu por dulzura que por fuerza.'
The Third Knight passes over
SIMONIDES
30 And what's the third?
THAISA
31 The third of Antioch;
32 And his device, a wreath of chivalry;
33 The word, 'Me pompae provexit apex.'
The Fourth Knight passes over
SIMONIDES
34 What is the fourth?
THAISA
35 A burning torch that's turned upside down;
36 The word, 'Quod me alit, me extinguit.'
SIMONIDES
37 Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,
38 Which can as well inflame as it can kill.
The Fifth Knight passes over
THAISA
39 The fifth, an hand environed with clouds,
40 Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;
41 The motto thus, 'Sic spectanda fides.'
The Sixth Knight, PERICLES, passes over
SIMONIDES
42 And what's
43 The sixth and last, the which the knight himself
44 With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd?
THAISA
45 He seems to be a stranger; but his present is
46 A wither'd branch, that's only green at top;
47 The motto, 'In hac spe vivo.'
SIMONIDES
48 A pretty moral;
49 From the dejected state wherein he is,
50 He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.
First Lord
51 He had need outward show
52 Can any way speak in his just commend;
53 For by his rusty outside he appears
54 To have practised more the whipstock than the lance.
Second Lord
55 He well may be a stranger, for he comes
56 To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished.
Third Lord
57 And on set purpose let his armour rust
58 Until this day, to scour it in the dust.
SIMONIDES
59 Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan
60 The inward man.
61 But stay, the knights are coming: we will withdraw
62 Into the gallery.
Exeunt
Great shouts within and all cry 'The mean knight!'