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Act 2, Scene 2
Pericles Translation Act 2, Scene 3
Great shouts within and all cry, "The mean knight!" Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, Attendants, and Knights, from tilting
SIMONIDES
Knights, To say you're welcome were superfluous. To place upon the volume of your deeds, As in a title-page, your worth in arms, Were more than you expect, or more than's fit, Since every worth in show commends itself. Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast: You are princes and my guests.
SIMONIDES
Knights, I hardly need to say how welcome you are. To write an endorsement of the book of your good deeds, like on a title page, would be more than is needed, since you've already showed your worth by doing the deeds themselves. So, get ready to laugh, since feasts are best enjoyed with laughter. All of you princes are my guests.
THAISA
But you, my knight and guest;To whom this wreath of victory I give,And crown you king of this day's happiness.
THAISA
[To PERICLES] Except for you; you're my guest. Here's a victory crown so everyone know's you're the king of the feast.
PERICLES
'Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit.
PERICLES
It was more by good luck, ma'am, than by skill.
SIMONIDES
Call it by what you will, the day is yours; And here, I hope, is none that envies it. In framing an artist, art hath thus decreed, To make some good, but others to exceed; And you are her labour'd scholar. Come, queen o' the feast,— For, daughter, so you are,— here take your place: Marshal the rest, as they deserve their grace.
SIMONIDES
Call it whatever you want; the day is yours. And I hope no one here is jealous of you. Some artists are good, but according to the standards of art, some are excellent; you're clearly the best that art has to offer.
[To THAISA] Come, daughter, queen of the feast (since that's what you are), take your place. Direct everyone to do what they're supposed to.
[He seats THAISA at the high table]
KNIGHTS
We are honour'd much by good Simonides.
KNIGHTS
You've honored us with this feast, Simonides.
SIMONIDES
Your presence glads our days: honour we love;For who hates honour hates the gods above.
SIMONIDES
I'm glad you're all here. I love honor; anyone who hates honor hates the gods above.
MARSHAL
Sir, yonder is your place.
MARSHAL
[Gesturing toward the high table] Sir, there's your place.
PERICLES
Some other is more fit.
PERICLES
Some other place would be better.
FIRST KNIGHT
Contend not, sir; for we are gentlemenThat neither in our hearts nor outward eyesEnvy the great nor do the low despise.
FIRST KNIGHT
Don't argue, sir. We gentlemen don't get jealous of others with our eyes or our hearts. We neither envy the powerful nor hate the weak.
PERICLES
You are right courteous knights.
PERICLES
You're all very kind, polite knights.
SIMONIDES
Sit, sir, sit.
SIMONIDES
Sit, sir, sit.
PERICLES
By Jove, I wonder, that is king of thoughts,These cates resist me, she but thought upon.
PERICLES
[To himself] By Jove, king of thoughts: I can hardly eat this delicious food; I can't stop thinking about a certain girl.
THAISA
By Juno, that is queen of marriage,All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury.Wishing him my meat. Sure, he's a gallant gentleman.
THAISA
[To herself] By Juno, queen of marriage: everything I eat tastes bland; I only want to taste him.
[To SIMONIDES] He's definitely an rich gentleman.
SIMONIDES
He's but a country gentleman;Has done no more than other knights have done;Has broken a staff or so; so let it pass.
SIMONIDES
He's just a country gentleman. He's done no more than any other knight would do, he's broken a lance or two, so let it go.
THAISA
To me he seems like diamond to glass.
THAISA
To me he's one in a million.
PERICLES
Yon king's to me like to my father's picture, Which tells me in that glory once he was; Had princes sit, like stars, about his throne, And he the sun, for them to reverence; None that beheld him, but, like lesser lights, Did vail their crowns to his supremacy: Where now his son's like a glow-worm in the night, The which hath fire in darkness, none in light: Whereby I see that Time's the king of men, He's both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave.
PERICLES
That king is like a picture of my own father; looking at him reminds me of how glorious he once was. He used to have princes sit around his throne like stars, looking up to him like the sun. No one who saw him could hold a candle to his greatness; those smaller lights were outshone by his supremacy. I, his, son, am just a little firefly. You can see me at night, but I'm invisible in the day. From this, I can say that Time rules men. He raises men up and he puts them in their graves, and doesn't always give them what they want.
SIMONIDES
What, are you merry, knights?
SIMONIDES
What are you all laughing at?
KNIGHTS
Who can be other in this royal presence?
KNIGHTS
How could we do anything else in your royal presence?
SIMONIDES
Here, with a cup that's stored unto the brim,— As you do love, fill to your mistress' lips,— We drink this health to you.
SIMONIDES
Here, fill your cup up to the brim. Here's a toast to your love for Thaisa and to all your health.
KNIGHTS
We thank your grace.
KNIGHTS
We thank you, sir.
SIMONIDES
Yet pause awhile: Yon knight doth sit too melancholy, As if the entertainment in our court Had not a show might countervail his worth. Note it not you, Thaisa?
SIMONIDES
[Pointing to PERICLES] But wait: that knight looks sad, like our party isn't good enough for him. Haven't you noticed, Thaisa?
THAISA
What is itTo me, my father?
THAISA
What is it to me, father?
SIMONIDES
O, attend, my daughter: Princes in this should live like gods above, Who freely give to every one that comes To honour them: And princes not doing so are like to gnats, Which make a sound, but kill'd are wonder'd at. Therefore to make his entrance more sweet, Here, say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him.
SIMONIDES
Listen, daughter: princes, like the gods, should be generous to anyone who comes before them. Stingy princes are like gnats; they buzz around and everyone's glad when they're killed. So, to make Pericles's stay more enjoyable, what do you say we drink a toast of this wine to him to help cheer him up?
THAISA
Alas, my father, it befits not me Unto a stranger knight to be so bold: He may my proffer take for an offence, Since men take women's gifts for impudence.
THAISA
Father, I can't be that forward with a strange knight. He might be offended by the offer, since some men take women's gifts as disrespect.
SIMONIDES
How!Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.
SIMONIDES
What? Do what I say, or else.
THAISA
[Aside] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.
THAISA
[To herself] Now, by the gods, there's nothing that would make me happier.
SIMONIDES
And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him,Of whence he is, his name and parentage.
SIMONIDES
And also tell him we want to know where he came from and who his parents are.
THAISA
The king my father, sir, has drunk to you.
THAISA
[To PERICLES] Sir, the king, my father, just drank a toast to you.
PERICLES
I thank him.
PERICLES
Tell him I said thanks.
THAISA
Wishing it so much blood unto your life.
THAISA
He wished you good health.
PERICLES
I thank both him and you, and pledge him freely.
PERICLES
Thanks to him and to you. I'm honored.
THAISA
And further he desires to know of you,Of whence you are, your name and parentage.
THAISA
And he also wants to know where you came from, what your name is, and who your parents are.
PERICLES
A gentleman of Tyre; my name, Pericles; My education been in arts and arms; Who, looking for adventures in the world, Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men, And after shipwreck driven upon this shore.
PERICLES
I'm from Tyre. My name is Pericles. I've been schooled in arts and in arms. I was looking for adventure in the world when I was shipwrecked by storms, lost my men, and landed on your shore.
THAISA
He thanks your grace; names himself Pericles, A gentleman of Tyre, Who only by misfortune of the seas Bereft of ships and men, cast on this shore.
THAISA
[Returning to SIMONIDES] He said thank you, and that his name is Pericles, that he's from Tyre, and was only shipwrecked here by chance.
SIMONIDES
Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune, And will awake him from his melancholy. Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles, And waste the time, which looks for other revels. Even in your armours, as you are address'd, Will very well become a soldier's dance. I will not have excuse, with saying this Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads, Since they love men in arms as well as beds.
SIMONIDES
Now, by the gods, I feel sorry for him and will cheer him up. Come on, gentlemen, we're spending too much time on little things. Let's not waste time any longer; let's find another pastime. Even in your armor, as you're dressed, you'll look great dancing a soldier's dance. No excuses; no one say the music is too loud for the ladies. We all know that ladies love to dance with soldiers as much as they like to get in bed with them!
The Knights dance
SIMONIDES
So, this was well ask'd,'twas so well perform'd. Come, sir; Here is a lady that wants breathing too: And I have heard, you knights of Tyre Are excellent in making ladies trip; And that their measures are as excellent.
SIMONIDES
Well, I'm glad I asked; that was a good dance.
[To PERICLES] Here, sir, this lady needs a partner, too. I've heard you knights of Tyre are excellent dancers, and that you have a way of dancing with women, and that your rhythm is excellent.
PERICLES
In those that practise them they are, my lord.
PERICLES
Those that dance might, sir.
SIMONIDES
O, that's as much as you would be deniedOf your fair courtesy.
SIMONIDES
Well, you might miss your chance if you keep talking.
The Knights and Ladies dance
SIMONIDES
Unclasp, unclasp: Thanks, gentlemen, to all; all have done well. [ To PERICLES] But you the best. Pages and lights, to conduct These knights unto their several lodgings! Yours, sir, We have given order to be next our own.
SIMONIDES
All right, break it up. Thanks, gentleman, and everyone. You all did well.
[To PERICLES] But you were the best.
[To ALL] Servants, bring lamps and take these knights to their rooms!
[To PERICLES] We've asked for you to have the best room, right next to mine.
PERICLES
I am at your grace's pleasure.
PERICLES
Thank you, sir.
SIMONIDES
Princes, it is too late to talk of love; And that's the mark I know you level at: Therefore each one betake him to his rest; To-morrow all for speeding do their best.
SIMONIDES
It's too late now to talk about love (though I know that's what you're all aiming for). Everyone go to bed; we'll get to it tomorrow.
Exeunt
