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Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. | |
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Enter SIMONIDES, reading a letter; the Knights meet him. | |
| First Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides. | |
| Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know, | |
| That for this twelvemonth she’ll not undertake | 5 |
| A married life. | |
| Her reason to herself is only known, | |
| Which yet from her by no means can I get. | |
| Sec. Knight. May we not get access to her, my lord? | |
| Sim. Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied | 10 |
| Her to her chamber that ’tis impossible. | |
| One twelve moons more she’ll wear Diana’s livery; | |
| This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow’d, | |
| And on her virgin honour will not break it. | |
| Third Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves. [Exeunt Knights. | 15 |
| Sim. So, | |
| They’re well dispatch’d; now to my daughter’s letter. | |
| She tells me here, she’ll wed the stranger knight, | |
| Or never more to view nor day nor light. | |
| ’Tis well, mistress; your choice agrees with mine; | 20 |
| I like that well: how absolute she’s in ’t, | |
| Not minding whether I dislike or no! | |
| Well, I do commend her choice; | |
| And will no longer have it be delay’d. | |
| Soft! here he comes: I must dissemble it. | 25 |
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Enter PERICLES. | |
| Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! | |
| Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholding to you | |
| For your sweet music this last night: I do | |
| Protest my ears were never better fed | 30 |
| With such delightful pleasing harmony | |
| Per. It is your Grace’s pleasure to commend, | |
| Not my desert. | |
| Sim. Sir, you are music’s master. | |
| Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. | 35 |
| Sim. Let me ask you one thing. | |
| What do you think of my daughter, sir? | |
| Per. A most virtuous princess. | |
| Sim. And she is fair too, is she not? | |
| Per. As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair. | 40 |
| Sim. My daughter, sir, thinks very well of you; | |
| Ay, so well, that you must be her master, | |
| And she will be your scholar: therefore look to it. | |
| Per. I am unworthy for her schoolmaster. | |
| Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else. | 45 |
| Per. [Aside.] What’s here? | |
| A letter that she loves the knight of Tyre! | |
| ’Tis the king’s subtilty to have my life. | |
| O! seek not to entrap me, gracious lord, | |
| A stranger and distressed gentleman, | 50 |
| That never aim’d so high to love your daughter, | |
| But bent all offices to honour her. | |
| Sim. Thou hast bewitch’d my daughter, and thou art | |
| A villain. | |
| Per. By the gods, I have not: | 55 |
| Never did thought of mine levy offence; | |
| Nor never did my actions yet commence | |
| A deed might gain her love or your displeasure. | |
| Sim. Traitor, thou liest. | |
| Per. Traitor! | 60 |
| Sim. Ay, traitor. | |
| Per. Even in his throat, unless it be the king, | |
| That calls me traitor, I return the lie. | |
| Sim. [Aside.] Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage. | |
| Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts, | 65 |
| That never relish’d of a base descent. | |
| I came unto your court for honour’s cause, | |
| And not to be a rebel to her state; | |
| And he that otherwise accounts of me, | |
| This sword shall prove he’s honour’s enemy. | 70 |
| Sim. No? | |
| Here comes my daughter, she can witness it. | |
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Enter THAISA. | |
| Per. Then, as you are as virtuous as fair, | |
| Resolve your angry father, if my tongue | 75 |
| Did e’er solicit, or my hand subscribe | |
| To any syllable that made love to you. | |
| Thai. Why, sir, say if you had, | |
| Who takes offence at that would make me glad? | |
| Sim. Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory? | 80 |
| [Aside.] I am glad on ’t, with all my heart. | |
| I’ll tame you; I’ll bring you in subjection. | |
| Will you, not having my consent, | |
| Bestow your love and your affections | |
| Upon a stranger? [Aside.] who, for aught I know, | 85 |
| May be, nor can I think the contrary, | |
| As great in blood as I myself.— | |
| [Aloud.] Therefore, hear you, mistress; either frame | |
| Your will to mine; and you, sir, hear you, | |
| Either be rul’d by me, or I will make you— | 90 |
| Man and wife: | |
| Nay, come, your hands and lips must seal it too; | |
| And being join’d, I’ll thus your hopes destroy; | |
| And for a further grief,—God give you joy! | |
| What! are you both pleas’d? | 95 |
| Thai. Yes, if you love me, sir. | |
| Per. Even as my life, or blood that fosters it. | |
| Sim. What! are you both agreed? | |
| Thai. & Per. Yes, if ’t please your majesty. | |
| Sim. It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed; | 100 |
| Then with what haste you can get you to bed. [Exeunt. | |
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