I may ryse 〈◊〉 for fine Aristippus I wyll keepe in with hym 〈◊〉 is a shrewde foole to deale withall he can swym â—â—d yet by my trouth to speake my conscience playnlie â— wyll vse his friendship to myne owne commodytie â—hile Dionisius fauoureth him Aristippus shal be mine â—ut if the kynge once trowne on him then good night Tomaline 〈◊〉 shal be as straunge as thoughe I neuer sawe hym before â—ut I tarie too longe I wyll prate no more â—â—cke come awaye IACKE ¶ At hande syr CARISOPHVS ¶ At Damons lodgyng if that you sée â—y sturre to arise be styll at hand by mée â—ather then â–ª I wyll lose the spoyle I wyll blade it out * Here entreth PITHIAS and STEPHANO ¶ What straunge Newes are these ah my Stephano â— my Damon in Pryson as the vâ—yce doth go STEPHANO ¶ It is true oh cruell happe he is taken for a Spie â—nd as they say by Dionisius owne mouth condempned to die PITHIAS ¶ To die alas to what causâ— STEPHANO ¶ A Sicophant falâ—ely accused hym other cause there is none That oh Iupiter of all wronges the Reuenger â—eest thou this vniustice and wilt thou staie any longer From heauen to sende downe thy hote consumyng fire To destroy the workers of wronge whiche prouoke thy iust ire â–ª Alas maister Pithias what shall we do Being in a strange countrey voyde of friendes acquaintance too Ah poore Stephano hast thou liued to see this daye To sée thy true Mayster vniustly made away PITHIAS ¶ Stephano séeyng the matter is come to this extremytie Let vs make Uertue our frend of me are necessytie Runne thou to the Court and vnderstand secretly As muche as thou canst of Damons cause and I Will make some meanes to entreate Aristippus He can do much as I heare with kyng Dionisius STEPHANO ¶ I am gone sir ah I would to God my trauayle and payne Myght restore my Mayster to his lybertie agayne PITHIAS ¶ Ah wofull Pithias sithe now I am alone What way shall I first beginne to make my mone What wordes shall I finde apt for my complaynte Damon my friend my ioy my life is in peril of force I must now fain But oh Musicke as in ioyfull tunes thy mery notes I did borow So now lend mée thy yernfull tunes to vtter my sorow ¶ Here PITHIAS singes and the Regalles play AWake ye wofull Wightes That longe haue wept in wo Resigne to me your plaintes and teares my haplesse hap to sho My wo no tongue can tell ne Pen can well descrie O what a death is this to heare DAMON my friende must die â–ª ¶ The losse of worldly wealth mannes wisdome may restore And Phisicke hath prouided too a Salue for euerie sore But my true Frende once lost no Arte can well supplie Then what a death is this to heare DAMON my friend must die ¶ My mouth refuse the foode â–ª that should my limmes sustayne Let sorow sinke in to my brest and ransacke euery vayne You Furies all at once on me your tormentes trie Why should I liue since that I heare Damon my friend should die ¶ Gripe me you greedy greefs and present pangues of death â–ª You Systers three with cruell handes with speed now stop my breath Shrine me in clay aliue some good man stop mine eye Oh death com now seing I heare Damon my friend must die ¶ He speaketh this after the songe In daine I call for Death whiche heareth not my complaint But what wisdome is this in suche extremytie to faint Multum iuua in re mala annimas bonus I wyll to the Courte my selfe to make friendes and that presently I wyll neuer forsake my friende in time of miserie But do I see Stephano amazed hether to ronne ¶ Here entreth STEPHANO ¶ O Pithias Pithias we are all vndone Mine owne eares haue sucked in mine owne sorow I heard Dionisius sweare that Damon should die to morow PITHIAS ¶ How camest thou so neare the presence of the kynge That thou mightest heare Dionisius speake this thynge STEPHANO ¶ By friendship I gate into the Courte where in great Audience I heard Dionisius with his owne mouth geue this cruell sentence By these expresse wordes that Damon the Gréeke that craftie spie Without farther Iudgement to morow should die Beleeue mée Pithias with these eares I heard it my selfe â–ª PITHIAS ¶ Then how neare is my death also ah woe is mée Ah my Damon another my selfe shall I forgo thée STEPHANO ¶ Syr there is no tyme of lamentyng now it behoueth vs To make meanes to them which can did much with Dionisius That he be not made awaye ere his cause be fully heard for we sée By euyll reporte thynges be made to Princes far worse then they bée But lo yonder coÌ„meth Aristippus in great fauour with kyng Dionisius Entreate hym to speake a good worde to the kynge for vs And in the meane season I wyll to your lodgyng to sée all thyngs safe there EXIT PITHIAS ¶ To that I agrée but let vs slip afide his talke to heare ¶ Here entreth ARISTIPPVS ¶ Here is a sodayne chaunge in déede a strange Metamorphosis This Courte is cleane altered who would haue thought this Dionisius of late so pleasant and mery Is quite changed now into suche melancoly That nothyng can please hym he walked vp and downe Fretting and chafyng on euerie man he doth frowne In so much that when I in pleasant wordes began to play So sternly he frowned on mée and knit me vp so short I perceyue it is no safe playing with Lyons but when it please them If you claw where it itch not you shall disease them And so perhaps get a clap myne owne proofe taught mée this That it is very good to be mery and wise The onely cause of this hurly burly is Carisophus that wicked man Whiche lately tooke Damon for a Spie a poore Gentleman And hath incencest the kynge against him so despightfully That Dionisius hath iudged him to morow to die I haue talkt with Damon whom though in words I found very wittie Yet was he more curious then wise in viewyng this Citie But truely for ought I can learne there is no cause why So sodenly and cruelly he should be condempned to die How so euer it be this is the short and longe I dare not gainsay the kynge be it right or wrong I am sory and that is all I may or can doo in this case Nought auayleth perswasion where frowarde opinion taketh place PITHIAS ¶ Sir if humble sutes you would not despise Then bow on mée your pitifull eyes My name is Pithias in Gréece well knowne A perfect friend to that woâ—â—ll Damon Whiche now a poore captiue in this Courte doth lie By the kinges owne mouth as I here condemned to die For whom I craue your masterships goodnesse To stand his friend in this his great distresse Nought hath he done worthy of Death but very fondly Being a straunger he vewed this Citie â–ª
The excellent Comedie of two the moste faithfullest Freendes Damon and Pithias Newly Imprinted as the same was shewed before the Quéenes Maiestie by the Children of her Graces Chappell except the Prologue that is somewhat altered for the proper vse of them that hereafter shall haue occasion to plaie it either in Priuate or open Audience Made by Maister Edvvards then beynge Maister of the Children 1571. Imprinted at London in Fleetelane by Richarde Iohnes and are to be solde at his shop ioyning to the Southwest doore of Paules Churche THE PROLOGVE ON euerie syde wheras I glaunce my rouyng eye Silence in all eares bent I playnly do espie But if your egre lookes doo longe suche toyes to see As heretofore in commycall wiâ—e were wont abroade to bee Your lust is lost and all the pleasures that you sought Is frustrate quite of toying Playes A soden change is wrought â–ª For loe our Aucthors Muse that masked in delight Hath forst his Penne agaynst his kinde no more suche sportes to write Muse he that lust right worshipfull for chaunce hath made this change â–ª For that to some he seemed too muche in yonge desires to range In whiche right glad to please seyng that he did offende Of all he humblie pardon traâ—es his Pen that shall amende And yet worwipfull Audience thus much I dare aduouche In Commedies the greatest Skyll is this rightly to touche All thynges to the quicke and eke to frame eche person so That by his common talke you may his nature rightly know â–ª A Royster ought not preache that were to straunge to heare But as from vertue he doth swerue so ought his woordes appeare The olde man is sober the yonge man rashe the Louer triumphyng in ioyes â–ª The Matron graue â–ª the Harlat wilde and full of wanton toyes Whiche all in one course they no wise doo agree So correspondent to their kinde their speeches ought to bee Which speeches well pronounâ—e with action liuely framed If this offende the lookers on let Hâ—race then be blamed Which hath our Aâ—thor taught at Sâ—hole from whom he doth not swarue In all suche kinde of exercise decorum to obserue Thus much for his defence he sayth as Poetes â—arst haue donne Which heretofore in Commodies the selfe same rase did roune But now for to be briefe the matter to expresse Which here wee shall present is this Dimon and Pithias â–ª A rare ensample of Frendship true it is no Legend lie But a thinge once donne in deede as Hystories doo discrie Whiche doone of yorâ— in longe time past yet present shal be here Euen as it were in dooynge now so liuely it shall appeare Lo hâ—re in Siracusae thauncient Towne which onceth Romaines wâ—nne Here Dionisius Pallace within whose Cauâ—â—e this thing most strange was donne â–ª Which matter mixt with myrth and care a iust name to applie As seemes most fit wee haue it termed a Tragicall Commedie Wherein talkyng of Courtly toyes wee doo protest this flat Wee talke of Dionisius Courte wee meane no Court but that And that wee doo so meane who wysely calleth to minde The time the place the Authours here most plainely shall it finde Loe this I speake for our defence lest of others wee should be shent But worthy Audience wee you pray take thinges as they be ment Whose vpright Iudgement wee doo craue with heedefull eare and Eye â–ª To here the cause and see theffect of this newe Tragicall Commedie EXIT The Speakers names Aristippus a pleasant Gentilman Carisophus a Parasite Damon â–ª two gentlemen of Greece Pithias two gentlemen of Greece Stephano seruant to Damon and Pithias VVill Aristippus lackey Iacke Carisophus lackey Snap the Porter Dionisius the Kynge Eubulus the Kynges counselour Gronno the Hangman Grimme the Colyer ¶ Here entreth ARISTIPPVS TOO strange perhaps it séemes to some That I Aristippus a Courtier am become A Philosopher of late not of the meanist name But now to the Courtly behauiour my lyfe I frame Muse he that lyst to you of good skill I say that I am a Philosopher styll Louers of Wisdom are termed Philosophie Then who is a Philosopher so rightly as I For in louyng of wisdom proofe doth this trie That Frustra sapit qui non sapit sibi I am wyse for my selfe then tell me of troth Is not that great Wisdom as the world goth Some Philosophers in the stréete go ragged and torne And féedes on vyle Rootes whom Boyes laugh to scorne But I in fine Silkes haunt Dionysius Pallace Wherin with dayntie fare my selfe I do solace I can talke of Philosophie as well as the best But the strayte kynde of lyfe I leaue to the rest And I professe now the Courtly Philosophie To crouche to speake fayre my selfe I applie To féede the Kinges humour with pleasant deuises For whiche I am called Regius Canis But wot ye who named me first the Kinges Dogge It was the Roage Diogenes that vile grunting Hogge Let him rolle in his Tubbe to winne a vayne prayse In the Courte pleasantly I wyll spende all my dayes Wherin what to doo I am not to learne What wyll serue myne owne turne I can quickly discearne All my tyme at Schoole I haue not spent vaynly I can helpe one is not that a good poinct of Philosophy ¶ Here entreth CARISOPHVS ¶ I beshrew your fine eares since you came from Schoole In the Court you haue made many a wiseman a foole And though you paint out your fayned Philosophie So God helpe me it is but a playne kinde of flattery Whiche you vse so finely in so pleasant a sorte That none but Aristppus now makes the Kinge sporte Ere you came hyther poore I was sombody The Kinge delighted in mee now I am but a noddy ARISTIPPVS ¶ In faith Carisophus you know your selfe best But I will not call you noddie but only in iest And thus I assure you though I came from schoole To serue in this Court I came not yet to be the Kinges foole Or to fill his eares with seruile squirilitie That office is yours you know it right perfectlie Of Parasites and Scicophants you are a graue bencher The Kinge féedes you often from his owne trencher I enuye not your state nor yet your great fauour Then grudge not at all if in my behauiour I make the Kinge mery with pleasant vrbanitie Whom I neuer abused to any mans iniurie CARISOPHVS ¶ Be cocke sir yet in the Courte you doo best thriue For you get more in on day then I doo in fiue ARISTIPPVS ¶ Why man in the Courte doo you not sée Rewardes geuen for vertue to euery degrée To rewarde the vnworthy that worlde is done The Courte is changed a good thread hath bin sponne Of Dogges woll heretofore and why be cause it was liked And not for that it was best trimmed and picked But now mens eares are finer such grosse toyes are not set by Therfore to a trimmer kynde of myrth my selfe I applye Wherin though I please it commeth not
toyes In Dionisius Court now he only ioyes As trim a Courtier as the best Ready to aunswer quicke in tauntes pleasaunt to ieste â— lusty companion to deuise with fine Dames Whose humour to féede his wylie witte he frames IACKE ¶ Be cocke as you say your Maister is a Minion â— foule coyle he kéepes in this Courte Aristippus alone â—ow rules the coaste with his pleasant deuises That I feare he wyll put out of conceit my Maister Carisophus VVYLL ¶ Feare not that Iacke for like brother and brother They are knit in true Friendship the one with the other They are fellowes you knowe and honest men both Therfore the one to hinder the other they wyll be lothe IACKE ¶ Yea but I haue heard say there is falshod in felowshippe â—n the Court somtimes one geues another finely the slippe Which when it is spied it is laught out with a scoffe â—nd with sporting and playing quietly shaken of â—n which kinde of toying thy master hath such a grace That he wyll neuer blush he hath a wodden face But Wyll my maister hath Béees in his head â—f he finde me heare pratinge I am but dead â—e is styll â—rotting in the Citie there is sumwhat in the winde His lookes bewrayes his inwarde troubled mynde Therfore I wyll be packing to the Courtâ— by and by If he be once angry Iacke shall cry wo the pye VVYLL ¶ Byr Lady if I tary longe here of the same sauce shall I tast For my master sent me on an errand and bad mée make haste Therfore we wyll departe together EXEVNT ¶ Here entreth STEPHANO ¶ Ofte times I haue heard before I came hether That no man can serue two maisters together A sentence so true as moste men doo take it At any time false that no man can make it And yet by their leaue that first haue it spoken How that may proue false euen here I wyll open For I Stephano loe so named by my father At this time serue two masters together And loue them a lyke the one and the other I duely obey I can doo no other A bondman I am so nature hath wrought me One Damon of Gréece a gentleman bought me To him I stand bond yet serue I another Whom Damon my Master loues as his owne brother A Gentleman too and Pithias he is named Fraught with Uertue whom vice neuer defamed These twoo since at Schoole they fell acquainted In mutuall friendship at no time haue fainted But loued so kindly and friendly eche other As thoughe they were Brothers by Father and Mother Piâ—hagoras learnynge these two haue embrased Whiche bothe are in vertue so narrowly laced That all their whole dooynges do fall to this issue To haue no respect but onely to vertue All one in effecte all one in their goynge All one in their study all one in their doyng These Gentlemen both beyng of one condicion Both alike of my seruice haue all the fruition Pithias is ioyfull if Damon be pleased Yf Pithias be serued then Damon is eased Serue one serue both so neare who would win them I thinke they haue but one hart betwene them In trauelyng Countreyes we thrée haue contriued Full many a yeare and this day arriued At SIRACVSAE in Sicillia that auncient Towne Where my Masters are lodged and I vp and downe Go séekyng to learne what Newes here are walkyng To harke of what thynges the people are talkynge I lyke not this Soyle for as I go ploddynge I marke there two there thrée their heades alwayes noddinge In close secret wise styll whisperyng together If I aske any question no man doth answer But shakyng their heads they go their wayes speakynge I marke how with teares their wet eyes are leakynge Some strangenesse there is that bréedeth this musinge Well I wyll to my Masters and tell of their vsing That they may learne and walke wisely together I feare we shall curse the time we came hether EXIT * Here entreth ARISTIPPVS and VVYLL ¶ Wyll didst thou heare the Ladies so talke of mée What ayleth them from their nippes shall I neuer be frée VVYLL ¶ Good faith sir all the Ladies in the Courte do plainlâ— report That without mencion of them you can make no sporte They are your Playne songe to singe Descant vpon If they weare not your mirth were gone Therfore master iest no more with women in any wise If you doo by cocke your are lyke to know the price ARISTIPPVS By r lady Wyll this is good counsell playnely to iest Of women proofe hath taught mée it is not best I wyll change my coppy how be it I care not a quinche I know the galde horse will soonest winche But learne thou secretly what priuely they talke Of me in the Courte amonge them slyly walke And bringe me true newes thereof VVYLL I wyll syr maister therof haue no doubt for I Wheare they talke of you wyll enforme you perfectly ARISTIPPVS Doo so my boy if thou bringe it finely to passe For thy good seruice thou shalt go in thine olde coate at Christmas ¶ Enter Damon Pithias Stephano EXEVNT ¶ Stephano is all this true that thou hast tolde me STEPHANO Sir for lies hetherto ye neuer controlde mée Oh that we had neuer set foote on this land Where Dionisius raygnes with so bloody a hande Euery day he sheweth some token of crueltie With blood he hath filled all the stréetes in the Citie I tremble to heare the peoples murmuring I lament to sée his most cruell dealyng I thinke there is no suche tyraunt vnder the Sunne O my deare masters this mornyng what hath he done DAMON What is that tell vs quickly STEPHANO As I this morning past in the stréete With a wofull man going to his death did I méete Many people foldwed and I of one secretly Asked the cause why he was condemned to die Whispered in mine eare nought hath he doone but thus In his sleape he dreamed he had killed Dionisius Which dreame tolde abrode was brought to the kinge in poste By whome condemned for suspicion his lyfe he hath lost Marcia was his name as the people sayde PITHIAS ¶ My deare friende Damon I blame not Stephano For wishyng we had not come hether séeynge it is so That for so small cause suche cruell death doth insue DAMON ¶ My Pithias where Tirantes raigne suche cases are not new Whiche fearynge their owne state for great câ—â—â—ltie To sit fast as they thinke doo execute 〈◊〉 All suche as any light suspition haue tainted STEPHANO ¶ With suche quicke Karâ—ers I lyst not be â—â—â—uainted DAMON ¶ So are they neuer in quiet but in suspicion styll When one is made away they take occasion another to kyll Euer in feare hauyng no trustie friende voyde of all peoples loue And in their owne conscience a continuall Hell they prooue PITHIAS ¶ As thynges by their contraryes are alwayes best prooued How happie are then mercifull Princes of their people beloued Hauyng sure friendes euerie wheare no feare doth
touch them They may safely spende the day pleasantly at night Secure dormâ—uatin vtranque aurem Oh my Damon if choyce were offred mée I would choose to be Pithias As I am Damons friende rather then to be kyng Dionisius STEPHANO ¶ And good cause why for you are entierly beloued of one And as farre as I heare Dionisius is beloued of none DAMON ¶ That state is moste miserable thrise happy are wée Whom true loue hath ioyned in perfect Amytie Which amytie first sprong without vaunting be it spoken that is true Of likelines of maners tooke roote by company now is conserued by vertue Which vertue alwaies through worldly things do not frame Yet doth she arcâ—iue to her followers immortall fame Wherof if men were carefull for Uertues sake onely They would honour friendship and not for commoditie But suche as for profite in friendship do lincke When stormes come they slide away sooner then a man wyll thinke My Pithias the somme of my talke falles to this issue To prooue no friendship is sure but that which is grounded on vertue PITHIAS ¶ My Damon of this thyng there néedes no proofe to mée The Gods forbyd but that Pithias with Damon in al things shuld agrâ—e For why it is said Amicus alteripse But that trâ—â— friendes should be two in body but one in minde As it wâ—re one transformed into another whiche against 〈◊〉 Though it séeme yet in good faith when I am alone I forget I am Pithisas me thinke I am Damon STEPâ—â—NO ¶ That could I neuer 〈◊〉 to forget my selfe full well I know Wheresoeuer I go that I am PAVPER STEPHANO But I pray you sir for all your Phylosophie See that in this Courâ—e you walke very wisely You are but newly come hether beyng straungers ye know Many eyes are bent on you in the stréetes as ye go Many spies are abroad you can not be too circumspect DAMON Stephano because thou art carefull of mée thy maister I do thée praise Yet thinke this for a suertie no state to displease By talke or otherwise my friende and I entende we wyll here As men that come to sée the soyle maners of al men of euery degrée Pithagoras said that this world was like a Stage Wheron many play their partes the lookers on the sage Phylosophers are saith he whose parte is to learne The maners of all Nations and the good from the bad to discerne STEPHANO ¶ Good faith sir concernynge the people they are not gay And as farre as I sée they be Mummers for nought they say For the moste parte what soeuer you aske them â–ª The soyle is suche that to liue heare I can not lyke DAMON Thou speakest accordynge to thy learnynge but I say Omnis solum fortis patria A wise man may lyue euery wheare Therfore my deare friende Pithias Let vs view this Towne in euerie place And then consider the Peoples maners also PITHIAS ¶ As you wyll my Damon but how say you Stephano As it not best ere we go further to take some repast STEPHANO * In faith I lyke well this question â—â—r for all your haste To eate somwhat I pray you thinke it no folly It is hie dinner time I know by my belly DAMON ¶ Then let vs to our lodging departe when dinner is done We wyll view this Citie as we haue begonne EXEANT ¶ Here entreth CARISOPHVS ¶ Once agayne in hope of good wynd I hoyse vp my sayle I goe into the citie to finde som pray for mine auayle I hunger while I may sée these straungers that lately Arriued I were safe if once I might méete them happily Let them barke that lust at this kinde of gaine He is a foole that for his profit will not take payne Though it be ioyned with other mens hurt I care not at all For profit I wyll accuse any man hap what shall But soft syrs I pray you buysh what are they that comes here By their apparell and countinaunce some strangers they appeare I wyll shrowde my selfe secretly euen here for a while To heare all their talke that I may them beguyle * Here entreth DAMON and STEPHANO ¶ A shorre horse soone curried my belly waxeth thinner I am as hungry now as when I went to dinner Your philosophicall diet is so fine and small That you may eate your dinner supper at once not surfaite at all DAMON ¶ Stephano much meat bréedes heauynes thinne diet maks thée light STEPHANO ¶ I may be lighter thereby but I shall neuer runâ— the faster DAMON ¶ I haue had sufficiently discourse of amitie Which I had at dinner with Pithias and his pleasaunt companie Hath fully satisfied me it doth me good to féede myne eyes on him STEPHANO ¶ Course or discourse your course is very course for all your talke You had but one bâ—re course and that was Pike rise and walke And surely for all your talke of Philosophie I neuer heard that a man with wordes could fill his belly Féede your eyes quod you the reason from my wisdom swarueth I stared on you both and yet my belly starueth â–ª DAMON ¶ Ah Stephano small diet maketh a fine memorie STEPHANO ¶ I care not for your craftiâ— Sophistrie You two are fine let mee be fed lyke a grose knaue styll I pray you license mee for a while to haue my will At home to tary whiles you take vew of this citie To finde some odde victualles in a corner I am very wittie DAMON ¶ At your pleasure sir I wyll wayte on my selfe this daye Yet attende vpon Pithias whiche for a purpose tarieth at home So dooyng you wayte vpon mee also STEPHANO ¶ With winges on my feete I go DAMON ¶ Not in vain the Poet saith Natura furca expeÌ„llas tamen vsque recurrit For trayne vp a bonontan neuer to so good a behauiour Yet in some poinct of seruilitie he wyll sauour As this Stephano trustie to mée his Mayster louyng and kinde Yet touchyng his belly a very bondman him finde He is to be borne withall beyng so iâ—st and true I assure you I would not chaunge him for no new But mée thinkes this is a pleasant Citie The Seate is good and yet not stronge and that is great pitie CARISOPHVS ¶ I am safe he is myne owne DAMON The Ayre subtle and fine the people should be wittie That dwell vnder this Climate in so pure a Region A trimmer Plotte I haue not séene in my peregrination Nothyng mislyketh mée in this Countrey But that I heare suche mutteryng of crueltie Fame reporteth strange thynges of Dionisius But kynges matters passyng our reache pertayne not to vs. CARISOPHVS ¶ Dionisius quoth you since the worlde began In Cicilia neuer raygned so cruell a man A despightfull Tirant to all men I maruayle I That none makes him away and that sodaynly DAMON ¶ My friende the Goddes forbyd so cruell a thynge That any man should lift vp his Sworde against the kynge Or seeke other meanes by
from the heauens aboue the Gods did him downe senâ— To shew true friendshipps power which forst thée now to die Wo worth the man which for thy death c. MVSES Who worth the man c. EVBVLVS What Tigars whelp was he that Damon dyd accuse What faith hast thou which for thy friend thy death doth not refuse O heauy happe hadst thou to play this Tragidie Wo worth the man which for thy death c. MVSES Wo worth the man c. EVBVLVS Thou young and worthy Gréeke that showest such perfect loue The Gods receaue thy simple ghost into the heauens aboue Thy death we shall lament with many a wéepinge eye Wo worth the man which for his death c. MVSES Wo worth the man which for thy death hath geuen vs cause to crie FINIS EVBVLVS ETernall be your fame ye Muses for that in miserie Ye did vouchsafe to strayne your notes to walke My harte is rent in two with this miserable case Yet am I charged by Dionisius mouth to se this place At all poynts ready for the execution of Pithias Néede hath no law wyl I or nil I it must be done But loe the bloody minister is euen here at hande Gronno I came hether now to vnderstand If all thinges are well appoynted for the execution of Pithias The Kinge him selfe wyll se it done here in this place GRONNO Sir all thinges are ready here is the place here is the hand here is the sword â–ª Here lacketh non but Pithias whose head at a worde If he were present â–ª I coulde finely strike of You may reporte that all thinges are ready EVBVLVS I go with an heauy harte to report it ah wofull Pithias â–ª Full neare now is thy misery GRONO I mâ—ruell very much vnder what constilation All hangmen are borne for they are hated of all beloued of none â–ª Which hatred is showed by this poynt euidently The Hangman alwayes dwelles in the vilest place of the Citie That such spight should be I know no cause why Unlesse it be for thir offices sake which is cruell and blondye â–ª Yet some men must doo it to execute lawes Me thinke they hate me without any iust cause But I must loâ—ke to my toyle Pithias must lose his head at one â—low Els the Boyes wyll stone me to death in the streat as I go But harke the prisoner cometh and the Kinge also I sée there is no help Pithias his life must forgo ¶ Here entreth Dionisius and Eubulus Bring forth Pithias that pleasant companion Which tooke me at my worde and became pleadge for Damon It pricketh fast vpon noone I doo him no iniurie If now he lose his head for so he requested me If Damon returne not which now in Gréece is full mery Therfore shall Pithias pay his death and that by and by He thought belike if Damon were out of the Citie I would not put him to death for some foolishe pitie But séeing it was his request I wyll not be mockt he shall diâ— â–ª Bring him forth ¶ Here entreth Snap. Geue place let the prisoner come by geue place DIONISIVS How say you sir wher is Damon your trustie friend You haue playd a wise part I make God a vow You know what time a day it is make you ready PITHIAS Most ready I am mightie king and most ready also For my true frinde Damon this lyfe to forgo Euen at your pleasure DIONISIVS A true frend a false Traytor that so breaketh his oâ—h Thou shalt lose thy life though thou be neuer so loth PITHIAS I am not loth to doo what so euer I sayde Ne at this present pinch of death am I dismayde The Gods now I know haue heard my feruent prayer That they haue reserued me to this passynge great honour To die for my frind whose faith euen now I doo not mistruste My frinde Damon is no false traytour he is true and iuste But fith he is no God but a man he must doo as he may The winde may be contrary sicknes may let him or som misadueÌ„ture by the way Which the eternall Gods tourne al to my glorie That Fame may resound how Pithias for Damon did die â—e breaketh no oâ—h which doth as much as he can His minde is heare he hath some let he is but a man. That he might not retourne of all the Gods I did require Which now to my ioy doth graunt my desire But why doâ— I stay any longer seing that one mans death May suffise O king to pacifie thy wrath O thou minister of iustice doo thyne office by and by Let not thy hand tremble for I remble not to die Stephano the right patrone of true fidelitie Commend me to thy master my swéet Damon of him craue libertie When I am dead in my name for thy trustie seruices Hath well deserued a gift farre betâ—er then this Oh my Damon farewell now for euer a true friend to me most deare Whyles lyfe doth laste my mouth shall styll talke of thee And when I am dead my simple ghost true witnes of amitie Shall hoouer about the place wheresoeuer thou bée DIONISIVS Eubulus This geare is straunge and yet because Damon hath falst his faith Pithias shall haue the lawe Gronnoo dispoyle hym and eke dispatch him quickly GRONNO It shal be done since you came into this place I might haue stroken of seauen heads in this space Ber lady here are good garments these are myne by the roode It is an euyll wynde that bloweth no man good Now Pithias knéele downe aske me blessyng like a pretie boy And with a trise thy head from thy shoulders I wyll conuay ¶ Here entreth Damon running stayes the sword Stay stay stay for the kinges aduantage stay O mightie kyng myne appoynted time is not yet fully past Within the compasse of myne houre loe here I come at last A life I owe a life I wyll you pay Oh my Pithias my noble pledge my constant friende Ah wâ— is me for Damons sake how neare were thou to thy ende Geue place to me this rowme is myne on this stage must I play Damon is the man none ought but he to Dionisius his blood to pay GRONNO Are you come sir you might haue taried if you had bene wyse For your hastie comming you are lyke to know the prise PITHIAS O thou cruell minnister why didst not thou thine office Did not I bidde thée make hast in any wyse Hast thou spared to kill me once that I may die twyse Not to die for my friend is present death to me and alas Shall I sée my sweet Damon slaine before my face â—hat double death is this but O mightie Dionisâ—us 〈◊〉 true iustice now way this aright thou noble Eubulus 〈◊〉 mée haue no wronge as now sâ—andes the case â—â—mon ought not to die but Pithias 〈◊〉 misaduenture not by his wyll his howre is past therfore I â—ecause he came not at his iust tyme ought iustly to die 〈◊〉 was my
promise so was thy promise O Kynge 〈◊〉 this Courte can beare witnesse of this thinge DAMON Not so O mightie Kynge to Iustice it is contrarie â—hat for an other mans faulte the Innoâ—ent should die 〈◊〉 yet is my time playnly expirde it is not fully noone â—f this my day appointed by all the Clockes in the Towne PITHIAS Beléeue no Clocke the houre is past by the Sonne DAMON Ah my Pithias shall we now breake the bondes of Amitie Till you now ouerthwart mée whiche heretofore so well did agrée PITHIAS My Damon the Goddes forbid but wée should agrée â—herfore agrée to this let mée perfourme the promise I made for thée â—et mée die for thée doo mée not that iniurie â—oth to breake my promise and to suffre mée too sée thée diâ— â—hoâ—e so dearly I loue this small request graunt mée 〈◊〉 shall neuer aske thée more my desire is but frindly â—oo me this honour that fame may reporte triumphantly â—hat Pithias for his friend Damon was contented to die DAMON That you were contented for me to die fame cannot denie â—et fame shall neuer touch me with such a villanie â—o reporte that Damon did suffer his friend Pithias for him giltles to die â—herfore content thy selfe the Gods requiâ—e thy constant faith â—one but Damons bloud can appease Dionisius wrath â—nd now O mightie Kinge to you my talke I conuay â—ecause you gaue me leaue my worldly thinges to stay â—o requite that good tourne ere I die for your behalfe this I say â—lthough your Regall state dame Fortune decketh so â—hat like a kinge in worldly wealth abâ—ndantly ye flâ—e â—â—et fickle is the ground whereon all Tirrants treade â— thousand sundrie cares and feares doo haunt their restles head â—o trustie band no faithfull fâ—iendes dâ—d garde thy hatefull state â—nd why whom men obey for deadly feare sure them they deadly hate That you may safely raigne by loue get friends whose constant faitâ— Wyll neuer fayle this counsell geues poore Tamâ—n at his death Friendes are the surest garde for Kinges golden time doo wear away And other precious thinges doo fade frindship wyll neuer decay Haue friendes in store therfore so shall you safely sleape Haue friendes at home of forraine foes so neede you take no kéepe Abandon flatring tounges whose clackes truth neuer tels Abase the yll aduance the good in whome dame vertue dwels Let them your play felowes be but O you earthly kinges Your sure defence and strongest garde sâ—andes chifely in faithfull frieÌ„d Then get you friends by liberall déedes and here I make an ende Accept this counsell mightie Kinge of Damon Pithias friende Oh my Pithias now farewel for euer let me kisse thée or I die My soule shall honour thée thy constant faith aboue the heauens shall fliâ— Come Gronno doo thine office now why is thy colour so dead My neck is so is short that thou wylt neuer haue honestie in striking oâ— this heaâ— DIONISIVS Eubulus my spirites are sodenly appauled my limes waxe weake This straunge friendship amaseth me so that I can scarse speake PITHIAS O mightie kinge let some pittie your noble harte méene You require but one mans death take Pithias let Damon liue EVBVLVS O vnspeakeable frindship DAMON Not so he hath not offended there is no cause why My constant frind my Pithias for Damons sake should die â–ª Alas he is but young he may doo good to many Thou cowardâ— minister why doest thou not let me die GRONNO My hand with soden feare quiuereth PITHIAS O noble kinge shewe mercy on Damon let pithias die DIONISIVS Stay Gronno my flesh trembleth Eubulus what shall I doo â–ª Were there euer such frindes on earth as were these two What harte is so cruell that would deuide them asunder O noble friendship I must yeld at thy force I wonder My hart this rare frindship hath pearst to the roote And quenched all my fury this sight hath brought this aboute Which thy graue counsell Eubulus and learned perswasion could neuer doo 〈◊〉 noble gentlemen the immortall Gods aboue â—ath made you play this Tragidie I thinke for my behoue â—efore this day I neuer knew what perfect friendship ment â—y cruell mind to blouddy déedes was full and wholy bente â—y fearefull life I thought with terrour to defende â—ut now I sée there is no garde vnto a faithfull â—riend Which wyll not spare his lyfe at time of present néede 〈◊〉 happie kinges within your courtes haue twoo such frinds in déed 〈◊〉 honour friendship now which that you may playnly sée â—amon haue thou thy lyfe from death I pardon thée â—or which good tourne I craue this honour doo me lend Oh frindly harte let me linke with you to you make me the third frieÌ„de â—y courte is yours dwell here with mée by my commission large â—y selfe my realme my welth my health I commit to your charge â—ake me a thirde friend more shall I ioye in that thing Then to be called as I am Dionisius the mightie kinge DAMON O mightie king first for my lyfe most humble thankes I geue â—nd neâ—t I prayse the immortall Gods that did your harte so meuâ— That you would haue respect to friendships heauenly lore â—orseing wel he néed not feare which hath true frieÌ„ds in store â—or my part most noble king as a third frind welcom to our friendly societie But you must forget you ar a king for frindship stands in tru equalitie DIONISIVS Unequall though I be in great possessions â—et full equall shall you finde me in my changed conditions â—irranie flatterie oppression loe hear I cast away â—ustiâ—e truth loue frindship shall be my ioy True friendship â–ª wyl I honour vnto my liues end My greatest glorie shal be to be counted a perfect friende PITHIAS For this your déede most noble King the Gods aduance your name â—nd â—ince to friendships lore you list your Princely harte to frame With ioyfull harte O Kinge most wellcome now to me With you wyll I knit the perfect knot of amitie Wherein I shall enstruct you so and Damon here your friend That you may know of amitie the mighty force and eke the ioyful end â—nd how that kinges doo stand vppon a fickle ground Within whose Realme at time of néed no faithfull friends are founde DIONISIVS Your instruction wyll I folow to you my selfe I doo commite Eubulus make haste to fet new apparell fitte For my new frindes EVBVLVS I go with a ioyfull hart O happie day EXIT GRONNO I am glad to heare this word though their liues they doo not léese It is no reason the Hangman should lose his fées These are mine I am gone with a trise EXIT ¶ Here entreth EVBVLVS with new garmentes DIONISIVS Put on these Garmentes now go in with mée the Iewelles of my Court. DAMON and PITHIAS We go with ioyfull harts STEPHANO Oh Damon my deare master in all this ioy remember me DIONISIVS My friend Damon he asketh reason Dam. Pithias DAMON Stephano for thy good seruice be