William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (485 page)

BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition

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And what’s the third?

THAISA

The third of Antioch,

And his device a wreath of chivalry.
The word, Me pompae provexit apex.

She presents it to the King

KING SIMONIDES

Desire of renown he doth devise,
The which hath drawn him to this enterprise.

He returns it to the page, who exits with the third knight
.
Flourish.
The fourth knight passes by
richly armed, and his page before him, bearing his device on his shield, delivers it to the Lady Thaisa

What is the fourth?

THAISA

A knight of Athens bearing

A burning torch that’s turned upside down.
The word,
Qui me alit me extinguit
.

She presents it to the King

KING SIMONIDES

Which shows that beauty hath this power and will,
Which can as well inflame as it can kill.

⌈
He returns it to the page, who exits with the fourth knight.
⌉
⌈
Flourish.
⌉
The fifth Knight passes by
⌈
richly armed, and his page before him, bearing his device on his shield, delivers it to the Lady Thaisa
⌉

And who the fifth?

THAISA The fifth, a prince of Corinth,

Presents an hand environèd with clouds,
Holding out gold that’s by the touchstone tried.
The motto thus: Sic spectanda fides.

⌈
She presents it to the King
⌉

KING SIMONIDES

So faith is to be looked into.

⌈
He returns it to the page, who exits with the fifth knight.
⌉
⌈
Flourish.l The sixth knight, Pericles, in a rusty armour, who, having neither page to deliver his shield nor shield to deliver, presents his device unto the Lady Thaisa

And what’s the sixth and last, the which the knight
himself
With such a graceful courtesy delivereth?

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.

KING SIMONIDES

From the dejected state wherein he is
He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.

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
T’have practised more the whipstock than the lance.

SECOND LORD

He well may be a stranger, for he comes
Unto an honoured triumph strangely furnished.

THIRD LORD

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

KING SIMONIDES

Opinion’s but a fool, that makes us scan
The outward habit for the inward man.
⌈
Cornetts
⌉
But stay, the knights are coming. We will withdraw
Into the gallery. ⌈
Exeunt
⌉