Speeches (Lines) for Simonides
in "Pericles"
Total: 42

1

II,2,749

(stage directions). [Enter SIMONIDES, THAISA, Lords, and Attendants]

Simonides. Are the knights ready to begin the triumph?

2

II,2,752

First Lord. They are, my liege;
And stay your coming to present themselves.

Simonides. Return them, we are ready; and our daughter,
In honour of whose birth these triumphs are,
Sits here, like beauty's child, whom nature gat
For men to see, and seeing wonder at.

3

II,2,759

Thaisa. It pleaseth you, my royal father, to express
My commendations great, whose merit's less.

Simonides. It's fit it should be so; for princes are
A model which heaven makes like to itself:
As jewels lose their glory if neglected,
So princes their renowns if not respected.
'Tis now your honour, daughter, to explain
The labour of each knight in his device.

4

II,2,768

Thaisa. Which, to preserve mine honour, I'll perform.
[Enter a Knight; he passes over, and his Squire]
presents his shield to the Princess]

Simonides. Who is the first that doth prefer himself?

5

II,2,773

Thaisa. A knight of Sparta, my renowned father;
And the device he bears upon his shield
Is a black Ethiope reaching at the sun
The word, 'Lux tua vita mihi.'

Simonides. He loves you well that holds his life of you.
[The Second Knight passes over]
Who is the second that presents himself?

6

II,2,781

(stage directions). [The Third Knight passes over]

Simonides. And what's the third?

7

II,2,786

(stage directions). [The Fourth Knight passes over]

Simonides. What is the fourth?

8

II,2,789

Thaisa. A burning torch that's turned upside down;
The word, 'Quod me alit, me extinguit.'

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

9

II,2,796

(stage directions). [The Sixth Knight, PERICLES, passes over]

Simonides. And what's
The sixth and last, the which the knight himself
With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd?

10

II,2,802

Thaisa. 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.'

Simonides. A pretty moral;
From the dejected state wherein he is,
He hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish.

11

II,2,813

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

Simonides. Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan
The outward habit by the inward man.
But stay, the knights are coming: we will withdraw
Into the gallery.

12

II,3,821

(stage directions). [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.

13

II,3,833

Pericles. 'Tis more by fortune, lady, than by merit.

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.

14

II,3,842

Knights. We are honour'd much by good Simonides.

Simonides. Your presence glads our days: honour we love;
For who hates honour hates the gods above.

15

II,3,850

Pericles. You are right courteous knights.

Simonides. Sit, sir, sit.

16

II,3,856

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.

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.

17

II,3,871

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.

Simonides. What, are you merry, knights?

18

II,3,873

Knights. Who can be other in this 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.

19

II,3,877

Knights. We thank your grace.

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?

20

II,3,884

Thaisa. What is it
To me, my 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.

21

II,3,896

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.

Simonides. How!
Do as I bid you, or you'll move me else.

22

II,3,899

Thaisa. [Aside] Now, by the gods, he could not please me better.

Simonides. And furthermore tell him, we desire to know of him,
Of whence he is, his name and parentage.

23

II,3,916

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.

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.
[The Knights dance]
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.

24

II,3,933

Pericles. In those that practise them they are, my lord.

Simonides. O, that's as much as you would be denied
Of your fair courtesy.
[The Knights and Ladies dance]
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!
[To PERICLES]
Yours, sir,
We have given order to be next our own.

25

II,3,945

Pericles. I am at your grace's pleasure.

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.

26

II,5,1015

First Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides.

Simonides. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know,
That for this twelvemonth she'll not undertake
A married life.
Her reason to herself is only known,
Which yet from her by no means can I get.

27

II,5,1021

Second Knight. May we not get access to her, my lord?

Simonides. 'Faith, by no means; she has so strictly tied
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.

28

II,5,1028

(stage directions). [Exeunt Knights]

Simonides. So,
They are well dispatch'd; now to my daughter's letter:
She tells me here, she'd wed the stranger knight,
Or never more to view nor day nor light.
'Tis well, mistress; your choice agrees with mine;
I like that well: nay, 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.

29

II,5,1040

Pericles. All fortune to the good Simonides!

Simonides. 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
With such delightful pleasing harmony.

30

II,5,1046

Pericles. It is your grace's pleasure to commend;
Not my desert.

Simonides. Sir, you are music's master.

31

II,5,1048

Pericles. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord.

Simonides. Let me ask you one thing:
What do you think of my daughter, sir?

32

II,5,1051

Pericles. A most virtuous princess.

Simonides. And she is fair too, is she not?

33

II,5,1053

Pericles. As a fair day in summer, wondrous fair.

Simonides. Sir, my daughter thinks very well of you;
Ay, so well, that you must be her master,
And she will be your scholar: therefore look to it.

34

II,5,1057

Pericles. I am unworthy for her schoolmaster.

Simonides. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else.

35

II,5,1065

Pericles. [Aside] What's here?
A letter, that she loves the knight of Tyre!
'Tis the king's subtlety to have my life.
O, seek not to entrap me, gracious lord,
A stranger and distressed gentleman,
That never aim'd so high to love your daughter,
But bent all offices to honour her.

Simonides. Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter, and thou art
A villain.

36

II,5,1071

Pericles. By the gods, I have not:
Never did thought of mine levy offence;
Nor never did my actions yet commence
A deed might gain her love or your displeasure.

Simonides. Traitor, thou liest.

37

II,5,1073

Pericles. Traitor!

Simonides. Ay, traitor.

38

II,5,1076

Pericles. Even in his throat—unless it be the king—
That calls me traitor, I return the lie.

Simonides. [Aside] Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage.

39

II,5,1083

Pericles. My actions are as noble as my thoughts,
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.

Simonides. No?
Here comes my daughter, she can witness it.

40

II,5,1092

Thaisa. Why, sir, say if you had,
Who takes offence at that would make me glad?

Simonides. Yea, mistress, are you so peremptory?
[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,
May be, nor can I think the contrary,
As great in blood as I myself.—
Therefore hear you, mistress; either frame
Your will to mine,—and you, sir, hear you,
Either be ruled by me, or I will make you—
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 pleased?

41

II,5,1113

Pericles. Even as my life, or blood that fosters it.

Simonides. What, are you both agreed?

42

II,5,1115

Both. Yes, if it please your majesty.

Simonides. It pleaseth me so well, that I will see you wed;
And then with what haste you can get you to bed.