Pentapolis. Before a Pavilion overlooking the Lists.
 Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, and LORDS attending.

Simonides	Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

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

Simonides	Return them we are ready; and our daughter,
	In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
	Sits here like beauty's child, whom nature gat
	For men to see, and seeing, wonder at.
										[Exit a LORD.
Thaisa	It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express
	My commendations great, whose merit's less.

Simonides	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 renowns if not respected.
	'Tis now your honour, daughter, to entertain
	The labour of each knight in his device.

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

   The 1st KNIGHT passes by. His SQUIRE presents his device to THAISA.

Simonides	Who is the first that doth prefer himself?

Thaisa	A knight of Sparta, my renownd father,
	And the device he bears upon his shield
	Is a black Ethiop reaching at the sun;
	The word, Lux tua vita mihi.

Simonides	He loves you well that holds his life of you.
										[Exeunt 1st KNIGHT and his SQUIRE.

   The 2nd KNIGHT passes by. His SQUIRE presents his device to THAISA.

Simonides	Who is the second that presents himself?

Thaisa	A prince of Macedon, my royal father,
	And the device he bears upon his shield
	Is an armed knight that's conquered by a lady;
	The motto thus in Spanish, Piu per dolcera che per forza.
										[Exeunt 2nd KNIGHT and his SQUIRE.

   The 3rd KNIGHT passes by. His SQUIRE presents his device to THAISA.

Simonides	And what's the third?

Thaisa	The third of Antioch,
	And his device a wreath of chivalry;
	The word, Me pompae provexit apex.
										[Exeunt 3rd KNIGHT and his SQUIRE.

   The 4th KNIGHT passes by. His SQUIRE presents his device to THAISA.

Simonides	What is the fourth?

Thaisa	A burning torch that's turnd upside down;
	The word, Qui me alit me extinguit.

Simonides	Which shows that beauty hath his power and will,
	Which can as well inflame as it can kill.
										[Exeunt 4th KNIGHT and his SQUIRE.

   The 5th KNIGHT passes by. His SQUIRE presents his device to THAISA.

Thaisa	The fifth, a hand environd with clouds,
	Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried;
	The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides.
										[Exeunt 5th KNIGHT and his SQUIRE.

    Enter PERICLES in rusty armour, and presents his device to THAISA.

Simonides	And what's the sixth and last, the which the knight himself
	With such a graceful courtesy delivered?

Thaisa	He seems to be a stranger, but his present is
	A withered branch that's only green at top;
	The motto, In hac spe vivo.

Simonides	A pretty moral.
	From the dejected state wherein he is,
	He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.

1st 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
	To have practised more the whipstock than the lance.

2nd Lord	He well may be a stranger, for he comes
	To an honoured triumph strangely furnishd.

3rd Lord	And on set purpose let his armour rust
	Until this day, to scour it in the dust.

Simonides	Opinion's but a fool that makes us scan
	The outward habit by the inward man.
	But stay, the knights are coming; we'll withdraw
	Into the gallery.
										[Exeunt.
		     [Great shouts within, and all cry "The mean Knight!"
