SCENE I.-Pentapolis. An open Place by the

Sea-side.

Enter PERICLES, wet.

Per. Yet cease your ire, ye angry stars of heaven!

Wind, rain, and thunder, remember, earthly man
Is but a substance, that must yield to you;
And I, as fits my nature, do obey you;

Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks,
Wash'd me from shore to shore, and left me
breath,

Nothing to think on, but ensuing death:
Let it suffice the greatness of your powers,
To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes;
And having thrown him from your watery grave,
Here to have death in peace, is all he'll crave.

Enter three Fishermen.

1 Fish. What, ho, Pilche!

2 Fish. Ha, come, and bring away the nets. 1 Fish. What, Patch-breech, I say!

3 Fish. What say you, master?

I Fish. Look how thou stirrest now: come away, or I'll fetch thee with a wannion.

3 Fish. 'Faith, master, I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us, even

now.

I Fish. Alas, poor souls! it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us, to help them, when, well-a-day, we could scarce help ourselves.

3 Fish. Nay, master, said not I as much, when I saw the porpus how he bounced and

tumbled? they say, they are half fish, half flesh; a plague on them! they ne'er come but I look to be washed. Master, I marvel how the fishes live in

the sea.

I Fish. Why, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones. I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale; 'a plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. Such whales have I heard on o' the land, who never leave gaping, till they've swallowed the whole parish, church, steeple, bells, and all. Per. [aside.] A pretty moral.

3 Fish. But, master, if I had been the sexton, I would have been that day in the belfry. 2 Fish. Why, man?

3 Fish. Because he should have swallowed me too and when I had been in his belly, I would have kept such a jangling of the bells, that he should never have left, till he cast bells, steeple, But if the good

church, and parish, up again. king Simonides were of my mindPer. [aside.] Simonides?

3 Fish. We would purge the land of these drones, that rob the bee of her honey.

Per. [aside.] How from the finny subject of the

sea

These fishers tell the infirmities of men;
And from their watery empire recollect
All that may men approve, or men detect!-
Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.

2 Fish. Honest! good fellow, what's that? If it be a day fits you, search out of the calendar, and nobody look after it.

Per. You may see, the sea hath cast me on your coast.

2 Fish. What a drunken knave was the sea, to cast thee in our way!

Per. A man whom both the waters and the

wind,

In that vast tennis-court, hath made the ball
For them to play upon, entreats you pity him;
He asks of you, that never used to beg.

I Fish. No, friend, cannot you beg? here's them in our country of Greece gets more with begging, than we can do with working.

2 Fish. Canst thou catch any fishes then?
Per. I never practised it.

2 Fish. Nay, then thou wilt starve sure; for here's nothing to be got now-a-days, unless thou canst fish for't.

Per. What I have been, I have forgot to
know;

But what I am want teaches me to think on;
A man throng'd up with cold; my veins are chill,
And have no more of life than may suffice

To give my tongue that heat to ask your help:
Which if you shall refuse, when I am dead,
For that I am a man, pray see me burièd.

1 Fish. Die, quoth-a? Now gods forbid! I have a gown here; come, put it on, keep thee warm. Now, afore me, a handsome fellow ! Come, thou shalt go home, and we'll have flesh for holidays, fish for fasting-days, and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks; and thou shalt be wel

come.

Per. I thank you, sir.

2 Fish. Hark you, my friend, you said you could not beg.

Per. I did but crave.

2 Fish. But crave? then I'll turn craver too, and so I shall 'scape whipping.

Per. Why, are all your beggars whipp'd then? 2 Fish. O, not all, my friend, not all; for if all your beggars were whipped, I would wish no better office than to be a beadle. But, master,

I'll go draw up the net.

[Exeunt two of the Fishermen. Per. [aside.] How well this honest mirth becomes their labour?

1 Fish. Hark you, sir, do you know where you are?

Per. Not well.

I Fish. Why, I'll tell you; this is called Pentapolis, and our king, the good Simonides. Per. The good king Simonides, do you call him?

I Fish. Ay, sir, and he deserves so to be called, for his peaceable reign, and good govern

ment.

Per. He is a happy king, since he gains from his subjects the name of good, by his government. How far is his court distant from this shore ?

1 Fish. Marry, sir, half a day's journey; and I'll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and tomorrow is her birthday; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world to joust and tourney for her love.

Per. Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there.

1 Fish. O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may lawfully

deal for his wife's soul.

Re-enter the two Fishermen, drawing up a net.

2 Fish. Help, master, help? here's a fish hangs in the net, like a poor man's right in the

law; 'twill hardly come out. Ha! bots on't, 'tis come at last, and 'tis turned to a rusty

armour !

Per. An armour, friends! I pray you, let me
see it.

Thanks, Fortune, yet, that, after all my crosses,
Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself;
And, though it was mine own, part of my heri-
tage

Which my dead father did bequeath to me,
With this strict charge (even as he left his life),
Keep it, my Pericles, it hath been a shield

'Twixt me and death (and pointed to this brace); For that it saved me, keep it; in like necessity,— The which the gods protect thee from !-it may defend thee.

It kept where I kept, I so dearly loved it;
Till the rough seas, that spare not any man,
Took it in rage, though calm'd they've given't
again:

I thank thee for it; my shipwreck now's no ill,
Since I have here my father's gift in's will.
1 Fish. What mean you, sir?

Per. To beg of you, kind friends, this coat of worth,

For it was some time target to a king;

I know it by this mark. He loved me dearly,

And, for his sake, I wish the having of it;

And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's

court,

Where with it I may appear a gentleman;

And if that ever my low fortune's better,

I'll pay your bounties; till then, rest your debtor.

1 Fish. Why, wilt thou tourney for the lady? Per. I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms.