Which gods protect thee from!- it may defend thee. 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, 1 Fish. What mean you, sir? Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth, I know it by this mark. He loved me dearly, And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's Court, I 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.14 I hope, sir, if you thrive, you'll remember from whence you had it. Per. Believe't, I will. Now, by your furtherance, I am clothed in steel; And, spite of all the rapture 15 of the sea, This jewel holds his biding on my arm : Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread. 18" It lodged where I lodged," or dwelt. Kept was often used so. 14 Condolements here seems to mean sharings, doles or dolings in common; and 'vails is perquisites or avails. 15 Rapture was used for any violent seizure. Only, my friends, I yet am unprovided Of a pair of bases.16 2 Fish. We'll sure provide thee: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair: and I'll bring thee to the Court myself. Per. Then honour be but goal unto my will, This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. SCENE II. to the Lists. [Exeunt. The Same. A public Way or Platform leading 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. Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter, Sits here, like beauty's child, whom Nature gat [Exit a Lord. Thai. It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express Sim. It's fit it should be so; for princes are Thai. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform. 16 Bases is thus explained by Nares: "A kind of embroidered mantle which hung down from about the middle to about the knees or lower, worn by knights on horseback." So in Massinger's Picture: "It appears, your petticoat serves for bases to this warrior." 1 Meaning "return them word that we are ready." 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 renowned father; Is a black Æthiop reaching at the Sun; 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 por dulzura que por fuerza.3 [The Third Knight passes over. Sim. And what's the third? The third of Antioch; And his device, a wreath of chivalry; Sim. What is the fourth? [The Fourth Knight passes over. Thai. A burning torch that's turned upside down; The word, Quod me alit, me extinguit.5 Sim. Which shows that beauty hath his power and will, Which can as well inflame as it can kill. [The Fifth Knight passes over. 2 The word is the mot, or motto inscribed on the shield. Here the motto is, "Thy light is life to me." "More by sweetness than by force."-The first word of this motto is Italian; the rest Spanish. "That the author," says Dyce, "should commence his Spanish motto with an Italian word will appear strange only to such readers as are not aware how frequently our early writers jumble those two languages together." 4"A crown of honour carries me onward." 5" I am extinguished by that which nourishes me." Thai. The fifth, an hand environèd with clouds, Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried; The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides. [The Sixth Knight (PERICLES) passes over. Sim. And what's The sixth and last, the which the knight himself With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd? Thai. He seems to be a stranger; but his present is A wither'd branch, that's only green at top; The motto, In hac spe vivo. Sim. A pretty moral; From the dejected state wherein he is, He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish. 1 Lord. He had need mean better than his outward show Can any way speak in his just commend; For, by his rusty outside, he appears T' have practised more the whipstock than the lance. 2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished. 3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust Until this day, to scour it in the dust. Sim. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan But stay, the knights are coming: we'll withdraw [Exeunt. [Great shouts within, all crying The mean knight ! 6"So fidelity is to be tested." 7" In this hope do I live." 8 "That makes us scan the inward man by the outward habit," is the meaning. Such inversions are not uncommon in old writers. SCENE III. The Same. A Hall of State; a Banquet prepared. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Ladies, Lords, Knights, and Attendants. Sim. Knights, To say you're welcome were superfluous. To place upon the volume of your deeds, As in a title-page, your worth in arms, Were more than you expect, or more than's fit, Thai. But you, my knight and guest; Per. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit. In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed, feast, -- Come, queen o' the For, daughter, so you are, here take your place. · Knights. We're honour'd much by good Simonides. Marshal. Sir, yonder is your place. Per. Some other is more fit. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen That neither in our hearts nor outward eyes Envy the great nor do the low despise. |