Act II, Scene i
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| | lists. A pavilion by the side of it for the reception of the | |
| | King, Princess, Lords, etc. | |
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | Are the knights ready to begin the triumph? | |
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| | FIRST LORD.: | |
| | They are, my liege; | |
| | And stay your coming to present themselves. | |
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| | 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. | |
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | It pleaseth you1 my royal father, to express | |
| | My commendations great, whose merit's less. | |
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| | 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 explain | |
| | The labour of each knight in his device. | |
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform. | |
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[Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire presents hisshield to the Princess.]
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | Who is the first that doth prefer himself? | |
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | A knight of Sparta, my renowned father; | |
| | And the device he bears upon his shield | |
| | Is a black Ethiope reaching at the sun: | |
| | The word, 'Lux tua vita mihi.' | |
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | He loves you well that holds his life of you. | |
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[The Second Knight passes over.]
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| | Who is the second that presents himself? | |
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | 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.' | |
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[The Third Knight passes over.]
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | And what's the third? | |
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | The third of Antioch; | |
| | And his device, a wreath of chivalry; | |
| | The word, 'Me pompae provexit apex.' | |
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[The Fourth Knight passes over.]
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | What is the fourth? | |
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | A burning torch that's turned upside down; | |
| | The word, 'Quod me alit, me extinguit.' | |
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | Which shows that beauty hath his power and will, | |
| | Which can as well inflame as it can kill. | |
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[The Fifth Knight passes over.]
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | The fifth, an hand environed with clouds, | |
| | Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried; | |
| | The motto thus, 'Sic spectanda fides.' | |
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[The Sixith Knight, Pericles, passes over.]
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | And what's | |
| | The sixth and last, the which the knight himself | |
| | With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd? | |
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| | THALIARD.: | |
| | 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.' | |
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | A pretty moral; | |
| | From the dejected state wherein he is, | |
| | He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish. | |
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| | FIRST 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. | |
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| | SECOND LORD.: | |
| | He well may be a stranger, for he comes | |
| | To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished. | |
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| | THIRD LORD.: | |
| | And on set purpose let his armour rust | |
| | Until this day, to scour it in the dust. | |
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| | SIMONIDES.: | |
| | Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan | |
| | The outward habit by the inward man. | |
| | But stay, the knights are coming: we will withdraw | |
| | Into the gallery. | |
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[Great shouts within, and all cry 'The mean knight!']
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