les, who was cast by the
sea-waves naked on an unknown shore, where he had not wandered long
before he met with some poor fishermen, who invited him to their homes,
giving him clothes and provisions. The fishermen told Pericles the name
of their country was Pentapolis, and that their king was Simonides,
commonly called the good Simonides, because of his peaceable reign and
good government. From them he also learned that King Simonides had a
fair young daughter, and that the following day was her birthday, when a
grand tournament was to be held at court, many princes and knights being
come from all parts to try their skill in arms for the love of Thaisa,
this fair princess. While the prince was listening to this account, and
secretly lamenting the loss of his good armour, which disabled him from
making one among these valiant knights, another fisherman brought in a
complete suit of armour that he had taken out of the sea with his
fishing-net, which proved to be the very armour he had lost. When
Pericles beheld his own armour, he said, "Thanks, Fortune; after all my
crosses you give me somewhat to repair myself. This armour was
bequeathed to me by my dead father, for whose dear sake I have so loved
it, that whithersoever I went, I still have kept it by me, and the rough
sea that parted it from me, having now become calm, hath given it back
again, for which I thank it, for, since I have my father's gift again, I
think my shipwreck no misfortune."

The next day Pericles, clad in his brave father's armour, repaired to
the royal court of Simonides, where he performed wonders at the
tournament, vanquishing with ease all the brave knights and valiant
princes who contended with him in arms for the honour of Thaisa's love.
When brave warriors contended at court tournaments for the love of
kings' daughters, if one proved sole victor over all the rest, it was
usual for the great lady for whose sake these deeds of valour were
undertaken, to bestow all her respect upon the conqueror, and Thaisa did
not depart from this custom, for she presently dismissed all the princes
and knights whom Pericles had vanquished, and distinguished him by her
especial favour and regard, crowning him with the wreath of victory, as
king of that day's happiness; and Pericles became a most passionate
lover of this beauteous princess from the first moment he beheld her.

The good Simonides so well approved of the valour and noble qualities of
Pericles, who