Read the full text of Pericles Act 2 Scene 2 with a side-by-side translation HERE.
- We find ourselves at Simonides's court, where everyone's getting ready for the big tournament.
- All the knights are ready to get their joust on and make a big show of parading past Princess Thaisa.
- They all present their shields to the princess. She seems a little bored until Pericles rolls up.
- Pericles presents Thaisa—get this—a shield with a half-dead tree branch engraved with these words: "In hac spe vivo." (Translation: "In this hope I live.")
- We're pretty sure that means Pericles is totally screwed if he can't snag Thaisa for a wife. King Simonides thinks it's sweet.
- Now a bunch of lords start bagging on Pericles, whose armor is all rusty from being in the ocean. We didn't know rust could form that quickly, but whatever.