Page 162 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

FIRST FISHERMAN

Ay, sir, and he deserves so to be called for his peaceable reign and good
government.

PERICLES
He is a happy king, since he gains from his subjects the name of good by his
government. How far is [105] his court distant from this shore?

FIRST FISHERMAN

Marry, sir, half a day’s journey. And I’ll tell you, he hath a fair daughter, and
tomorrow is her birthday, and there are princes and knights come from all
parts of the world to joust and tourney for her [110] love.

PERICLES
Were my fortunes equal to my desires, I could wish to make one there.

FIRST FISHERMAN
O, sir, things must be as they may; and what a man cannot get, he may
lawfully deal for his [115] wife’s soul.

Enter the two Fishermen, drawing up a net.

SECOND FISHERMAN
Help, master, help! Here’s a fish hangs in the net like a poor man’s right in
the law; ’twill hardly come out. Ha, bots on’t, ’tis come at last, and ’tis turned
to a rusty armour. [120]

PERICLES
An armour, friends? I pray you let me see it.

Thanks, Fortune, yet that after all thy crosses
Thou givest me somewhat to repair myself,
And though it was mine own, part of my heritage,
Which my dead father did bequeath to me, [125]

With this strict charge, even as he left his life:
‘Keep it, my Pericles; it hath been a shield
’Twixt me and death’, and pointed to this brace,
‘For that it saved me, keep it. In like necessity,

The which the gods protect thee from, may’t defend thee.’ [130]