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 Alas, the sea hath cast me on the rocks, Nothing to think on, but ensuing death: 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; 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 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? 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 But what I am want teaches me to think on; To give my tongue that heat to ask your help: 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 Thanks, Fortune, yet, that, after all my crosses, Which my dead father did bequeath to me, '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; I thank thee for it; my shipwreck now's no ill, 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. |