By your furtherance, I am clothed in steel; 2 Fish. We'll sure provide: thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair; and I'll bring thee to the court myself. Per. Then honor be but a goal to my will: This day I'll rise, or else add ill to ill. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE II. A public way or platform leading to the lists: a pavilion by the side of it, for the reception of the King, Princes, Lords, &c. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, LORDS, and Attendants. Sim. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph? 1 Lord. They are, my liege; And stay your coming to present themselves. 2 Sim. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter, In honor of whose birth these triumphs are, 1A kind of loose breeches.'-Steevens. 2 Return them notice. Sits here, like beauty's child, whom Nature gat [Exit a Lord. Thai. It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express My commendations great, whose merit's less. Sim. "Tis fit it should be so; for princes are Thai. Which, to preserve mine honor, I'll perform. Enter a Knight; he passes over the stage, and his Squire presents his shield to the Princess. Sim. Who is the first that doth prefer himself? Thai. A knight of Sparta, my renowned father; And the device he bears upon his shield Is a black Æthiop, reaching at the sun; The word,3 Lux tua vita mihi. Sim. He loves you well, that holds his life of you. [the second Knight passes. Who is the second that presents himself? Thai. 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: 1 Armorial ensign. 2 Offer. 3 Motto. The motto thus, in Spanish, Piu per dulçura que per [the third Knight passes. fuerça.1 Sim. And what's the third ? Thai. The third, of Antioch; And his device, a wreath of chivalry: The word, Me pompa provexit apex. [the fourth Knight passes. Sim. What is the fourth? Thai. A burning torch, that 's turned upside down: The word, Quod me alit, me extinguit. Sim. Which shows that beauty hath his power and will, Which can as well inflame as it can kill. [the fifth Knight passes. Thai. The fifth, a hand environed with clouds; Holding out gold, that's by the touchstone tried : The motto thus, Sic spectanda fides. [the sixth Knight passes. Sim. And what's the sixth and last, which the knight himself With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd? Thai. 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. Sim. A pretty moral : From the dejected state wherein he is, He hopes by you his fortunes yet may florish. 1 More by sweetness than by force, 1 Lord. He had need mean better than his out ward 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. 2 Lord. He well may be a stranger, for he comes To an honor'd triumph, strangely furnished. 3 Lord. And on set purpose let his armour rust Until this day, to scour it in the dust. Sim. Opinion 's but a fool, that makes us scan The outward habit by the inward man.2 But stay, the knights are coming; we 'll withdraw Into the gallery. [Exeunt. [Great shouts, and all cry, 'The mean knight!' The same. SCENE III. A hall of state. A banquet prepared. Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Knights, and Sim. Knights, Attendants. To say you are welcome, were superfluous. As in a title-page, your worth in arms, Were more than you expect, or more than 's fit, 1 The carter's whip. 2 i, e. the inward man by the outward habit. This kind of inversion was formerly very common. Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast: Thai. But you, my knight and guest; To whom this wreath of victory I give, And crown you king of this day's happiness. And you're her labor'd scholar. Come, queen o' the feast, (Fo, daughter, so you are) here take your place : Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace. Knights. We are honor'd much by good Simonides. Sim. Your presence glads our days: honor we love; For who hates honor, hates the gods above. Mar. Sir, yond 's your place. Per. Some other is more fit. 1 Knight. Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemen, That neither in our hearts, nor outward eyes, Envy the great, nor do the low despise. Sim. Sit, sit, sir; sit. Per. By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts, These cates resist me,1 she not thought upon. 1 These delicacies go against my stomach. |