Pentapolis. A Hall of State. A Banquet prepared.
 Enter, at one door, King SIMONIDES, THAISA, LADIES, and LORDS,
 at the other, a MARSHAL with PERICLES and the KNIGHTS 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,
	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;
	To whom this wreath of victory I give,
	And crown you king of this day's happiness.

Pericles	'Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit.

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're her laboured scholar. Come, queen o'th' feast-
	For, daughter, so you are - here take your place.
	Marshal, the rest, as they deserve their grace.

Knights	We are honoured much by good Simonides.

Simonides	Your presence glads our days; honour we love,
	For who hates honour hates the gods above.

Marshal	Sir, yonder is your place.

Pericles	Some other is more fit.

1st Knight	Contend not, sir, for we are gentlemen
	Have neither in our hearts nor outward eyes
	Envied the great nor shall the low despise.

Pericles	You are right courteous knights.

Simonides	Sit, sir, 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 unsavoury,
	Wishing him my meat.
	[To SIMONIDES.]		Sure, he's a gallant gentleman.

Simonides	[To THAISA.] He's but a country gentleman.
	H'as done no more than other knights have done;
	H'as broken a staff or so - so let it pass.

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 me 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 glow-worm 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?

1st Knight	Who can be other in this royal presence?

Simonides	Here, with a cup that's stored unto the brim,
	As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,
	We drink this health to you.

Knights	We thank your grace.

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?

Simonides	O, attend, my daughter.
	Princes in this should live like gods above,
	Who freely give to everyone that come to honour 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.

Thaisa	Alas, my father, it befits not me
	Unto a stranger knight to be so bold.
	He may my proffer take for an offence,
	Since men take women's gifts for impudence.

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.

Simonides	And furthermore tell him we desire to know of him
	Of whence he is, his name, and parentage.

Thaisa	The king my father, sir, has drunk to you.

Pericles	I thank him.

Thaisa	Wishing it so much blood unto your life.

Pericles	I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.

Thaisa	And further he desires to know of you,
	Of whence you are, your name, and parentage.

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 shipwreck driven upon this shore.

Thaisa	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,
	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 armours, as you are addressed,
	Will well become a soldier's 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, here's a lady that wants breathing too;
	And I have heard, sir, you knights of Tyre
	Are excellent in making ladies trip,
	And that their measures are as excellent.

Pericles	In those that practise them they are, my lord.

Simonides	O, that's as much as you would be denied
	Of your fair courtesy.
										[The KNIGHTS and LADIES 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.
	Yours, sir, we've given order be next our own.

Pericles	I am at your grace's pleasure.

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.
										[Exeunt.
