No Fear Shakespeare: Pericles: Act 2 Scene 3

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Pericles

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Enter the KING SIMONIDES, THAISA, MARSHAL, LADIES, LORDS, ATTENDANTS, and KNIGHTS IN ARMOR, from tilting.	Enter the KING SIMONIDES, THAISA, MARSHAL, LADIES, LORDS, ATTENDANTS, and KNIGHTS IN ARMOR, from tilting.
SIMONIDES 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 5 Were more than you expect or more than ’s fit, Since every worth in show commends itself. Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast. You are princes and my guests.	SIMONIDES 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, Since every worth in show commends itself. Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast. You are princes and my guests.
THAISA , to PERICLES But you my knight and guest, 10 To whom this wreath of victory I give And crown you king of this day’s happiness. She places a wreath on PERICLES’ head.	THAISA , to PERICLES But you my knight and guest, To whom this wreath of victory I give And crown you king of this day’s happiness. She places a wreath on PERICLES’ head.
PERICLES ’Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit.	PERICLES ’Tis more by fortune, lady, than my merit.
SIMONIDES Call it by what you will, the day is yours, And here, I hope, is none that envies it. 15 In framing an artist, Art hath thus decreed, To make some good but others to exceed, And you are her labored scholar.—Come, queen o’ the feast, For, daughter, so you are; here, take your place.— 20 Marshal, the rest as they deserve their grace.	SIMONIDES Call it by what you will, the day is yours, And here, I hope, is none that envies it. In framing an artist, Art hath thus decreed, To make some good but others to exceed, And you are her labored scholar.—Come, queen o’ the feast, For, daughter, so you are; here, take your place.— Marshal, the rest as they deserve their grace.
KNIGHTS We are honored much by good Simonides.	KNIGHTS We are honored much by good Simonides.
SIMONIDES Your presence glads our days. Honor we love, For who hates honor hates the gods above.	SIMONIDES Your presence glads our days. Honor we love, For who hates honor hates the gods above.
MARSHAL , to PERICLES Sir, yonder is your place.	MARSHAL , to PERICLES Sir, yonder is your place.
PERICLES 25 Some other is more fit.	PERICLES Some other is more fit.
FIRST KNIGHT Contend not, sir, for we are gentlemen Have neither in our hearts nor outward eyes Envies the great, nor shall the low despise.	FIRST KNIGHT Contend not, sir, for we are gentlemen Have neither in our hearts nor outward eyes Envies the great, nor shall the low despise.
PERICLES You are right courteous knights.	PERICLES You are right courteous knights.
SIMONIDES 30 Sit, sir, sit. They sit. Aside. By Jove I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me, he not thought upon.	SIMONIDES Sit, sir, sit. They sit. Aside. By Jove I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me, he not thought upon.
THAISA , aside By Juno, that is queen of marriage, All viands that I eat do seem unsavory, 35 Wishing him my meat.—Sure, he’s a gallant gentleman.	THAISA , aside By Juno, that is queen of marriage, All viands that I eat do seem unsavory, Wishing him my meat.—Sure, he’s a gallant gentleman.
SIMONIDES He’s but a country gentleman; Has done no more than other knights have done; Has broken a staff or so. So let it pass.	SIMONIDES He’s but a country gentleman; Has done no more than other knights have done; Has broken a staff or so. So let it pass.
THAISA, aside 40 To me he seems like diamond to glass.	THAISA, aside To me he seems like diamond to glass.
PERICLES, aside Yon king’s to me like to my father’s picture, Which tells in that glory once he was— Had princes sit like stars about his throne, And he the sun for them to reverence. 45 None that beheld him but like lesser lights Did vail their crowns to his supremacy; Where now his son’s like a glowworm in the night, The which hath fire in darkness, none in light; Whereby I see that Time’s the king of men. 50 He’s both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave.	PERICLES, aside Yon king’s to me like to my father’s picture, Which tells in that glory once he was— Had princes sit like stars about his throne, And he the sun for them to reverence. None that beheld him but like lesser lights Did vail their crowns to his supremacy; Where now his son’s like a glowworm in the night, The which hath fire in darkness, none in light; Whereby I see that Time’s the king of men. He’s both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave.
SIMONIDES What, are you merry, knights?	SIMONIDES What, are you merry, knights?
KNIGHTS Who can be other in this royal presence?	KNIGHTS Who can be other in this royal presence?
SIMONIDES Here, with a cup that’s stored unto the brim, 55 As do you love, fill to your mistress’ lips. We drink this health to you. He drinks.	SIMONIDES Here, with a cup that’s stored unto the brim, As do you love, fill to your mistress’ lips. We drink this health to you. He drinks.
KNIGHTS We thank your Grace.	KNIGHTS We thank your Grace.
SIMONIDES Yet pause awhile. Yon knight doth sit too melancholy, As if the entertainment in our court 60 Had not a show might countervail his worth.— Note it not you, Thaisa?	SIMONIDES Yet pause awhile. Yon knight doth sit too melancholy, As if the entertainment in our court Had not a show might countervail his worth.— Note it not you, Thaisa?
THAISA What is ’t to me, my father?	THAISA What is ’t to me, my father?
SIMONIDES O, attend, my daughter. Princes in this Should live like gods above, who freely give 65 To everyone that come to honor them. And princes not doing so are like to gnats, Which make a sound but, killed, are wondered at. Therefore, to make his entrance more sweet, Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him. He drinks.	SIMONIDES O, attend, my daughter. Princes in this Should live like gods above, who freely give To everyone that come to honor them. And princes not doing so are like to gnats, Which make a sound but, killed, are wondered at. Therefore, to make his entrance more sweet, Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him. He drinks.
THAISA 70 Alas, my father, it befits not me Unto a stranger knight to be so bold. He may my proffer take for an offense, Since men take women’s gifts for impudence.	THAISA Alas, my father, it befits not me Unto a stranger knight to be so bold. He may my proffer take for an offense, Since men take women’s gifts for impudence.
SIMONIDES How? 75 Do as I bid you, or you’ll move me else.	SIMONIDES How? Do as I bid you, or you’ll move me else.
THAISA, aside Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.	THAISA, aside Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.
SIMONIDES And furthermore tell him we desire to know of him Of whence he is, his name and parentage.	SIMONIDES And furthermore tell him we desire to know of him Of whence he is, his name and parentage.
THAISA , going to PERICLES The King, my father, sir, has drunk to you.	THAISA , going to PERICLES The King, my father, sir, has drunk to you.
PERICLES 80 I thank him.	PERICLES I thank him.
THAISA Wishing it so much blood unto your life.	THAISA Wishing it so much blood unto your life.
PERICLES I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely. He drinks to SIMONIDES.	PERICLES I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely. He drinks to SIMONIDES.
THAISA And further, he desires to know of you Of whence you are, your name and parentage.	THAISA And further, he desires to know of you Of whence you are, your name and parentage.
PERICLES 85 A gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles. My education been in arts and arms, Who, looking for adventures in the world, Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men, And after shipwrack driven upon this shore.	PERICLES A gentleman of Tyre, my name Pericles. My education been in arts and arms, Who, looking for adventures in the world, Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men, And after shipwrack driven upon this shore.
THAISA , returning to her place 90 He thanks your Grace; names himself Pericles, A gentleman of Tyre, Who only by misfortune of the seas, Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.	THAISA , returning to her place He thanks your Grace; names himself Pericles, A gentleman of Tyre, Who only by misfortune of the seas, Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.
SIMONIDES Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune, 95 And will awake him from his melancholy.— Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles And waste the time which looks for other revels. Even in your armors, as you are addressed, Will well become a soldiers’ dance. 100 I will not have excuse with saying this: “Loud music is too harsh for ladies’ heads,” Since they love men in arms as well as beds. They dance. So, this was well asked, ’twas so well performed. Come, sir. He presents PERICLES to THAISA. 105 Here’s a lady that wants breathing too, And I have heard you knights of Tyre Are excellent in making ladies trip, And that their measures are as excellent.	SIMONIDES Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune, And will awake him from his melancholy.— Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles And waste the time which looks for other revels. Even in your armors, as you are addressed, Will well become a soldiers’ dance. I will not have excuse with saying this: “Loud music is too harsh for ladies’ heads,” Since they love men in arms as well as beds. They dance. So, this was well asked, ’twas so well performed. Come, sir. He presents PERICLES to THAISA. Here’s a lady that wants breathing too, And I have heard you knights of Tyre Are excellent in making ladies trip, And that their measures are as excellent.
PERICLES In those that practice them they are, my lord.	PERICLES In those that practice them they are, my lord.
SIMONIDES 110 O, that’s as much as you would be denied Of your fair courtesy. They dance. Unclasp, unclasp! Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well; To PERICLES. But you the best.—Pages and lights, to 115 conduct These knights unto their several lodgings. To PERICLES . Yours, sir, We have given order be next our own.	SIMONIDES O, that’s as much as you would be denied Of your fair courtesy. They dance. Unclasp, unclasp! Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well; To PERICLES. But you the best.—Pages and lights, to conduct These knights unto their several lodgings. To PERICLES . Yours, sir, We have given order be next our own.
PERICLES I am at your Grace’s pleasure.	PERICLES I am at your Grace’s pleasure.
SIMONIDES 120 Princes, it is too late to talk of love, And that’s the mark I know you level at. Therefore each one betake him to his rest, Tomorrow all for speeding do their best.	SIMONIDES Princes, it is too late to talk of love, And that’s the mark I know you level at. Therefore each one betake him to his rest, Tomorrow all for speeding do their best.
They exit.	They exit.