they trimly could scoffe SNAP. They were Lackeyes as neare as I can gesse them GRIMME Such Lackies make me lacke an halter beswenge them â—am vndon they haue my Benters too SNAP. Doest thou know them if thou seest them GRIMME Yea that I doo SNAP. Then come with me we wyll finde them out and that quickly GRIMME I folow mast Tipslafe they be in the Courte it is likely SNAP. Then crie no more come away EXEVNT ¶ Here entreth Carisophus and Aristippus If euer you wyll shew your friendship now is the time Seing the king is displeased with me of my parte without any crime ARISTIP It should appeare it comes of some euell behauiour That you so sodenly are cast out of fauour CARISOPH Nothing haue I done but this in talke I ouerthwarted Eubulus â–ª When he lamented Pithias case to Kinge Dionisius Which to morrow shall die but for that false knaue Damon He hath left his friend in the briers and now is gone Wée grew so hot in talke that Eubulus protested playnely Which held his care open to parasiticall flaâ—tery And now in the Kinges eare like a bell he ringes Criyng that â—latterers haue ben the destroyers of kinges Which talke in Dionisius harte hath made so déepe impression That he â—rusteâ—s me not as heretofore in no condition And some wordes brake from him as though that hee Began to suspect my trouth and honestie Which you of friendship I know wyll defend how so euer the world goeth â–ª My frind for my honestie wyll you not take an othe ARISTIP To sweare for your honestie I should lose mine owne CARISOPH Should you so in déede I would that were knowne Is your voyde friendship come thus to passe ARISTIP I folow the prouerbe Amicus Vsque ad auras CARISOPHVS Where can you say I euer lost mine honestie ARISTIPPVS You neuer lost it for you neuer had it as farre as I know CARISOPH Say you so friend Aristippus whom I trust so well ARISTIPPVS Because you trust me to you the truth I tell CARISOPH Wyll you not stretche one poynt to bringe me in fauour agayne â–ª ARISTIP I loue no stretching so may I bréede myne owne payne CARISOPH A friende ought to shonne no payne to stand his friend in stead ARISTIP Where true friendship is it is so in very déede CARISOPH Why sir hath not the chaine of true friendship linked vs two together â–ª ARISTIP The cheifest linke lacked therof it must néedes deseuer CARISOPH What linke is that faine would I know ARISTIP Honestie CARISOPH Doth honestie knit the perfect knot in true friendship ARISTIP Yea truly and that knot so knit wyll neuer slippe CARISOPH Belike then there is no frindship but betwéene honest men ARISTIP Betwéene the honest only for Amicitia inter bonus saith a learned man CARISOPH â—et euell men vse frindship in thinges vnhonest wher fancy doth serue ARISTIP That is no frindship but a lewde likeing it lastes but a while CARISOPH What is the perfectst frindship among men that euer grew ARISTIP Where men loued one another not for profit but for vertue CARISOPH Are such frindes both a like in ioy and also in smarte ARISTIP They must néedes for in two bodies they haue but one harte CARISOPH Friend Aristippus deceaue me not with Sophistrie 〈◊〉 there no perfect frindship but where is vertue and honestie ARISTIPPVS What a Deuell then ment Carisophus To ioyne in frindship with fine Aristippus In whom is asmuch vertue trueth and honestie As there are true fethers in the thrée Craines of the ventrie Yet these fethers haue the shadow of liuely feathers the truth to sâ—aâ— But Carisophus hath not the shadowe of an honest man To be playne because I know thy villany In abusinge Dionisius to many mens iniury Under the cloke of frindship I playd with his head And sought meanes how thou with thine owne fancy might be lead My frindship thou soughtest for thine owne commoditie As worldly men doo by profite measuring amitie Which I perceauing to the lyke my selfe I framed Wherein I know of the wise I shall not be blamed If you aske me Quaâ—e I answere Quia prudentis est multuâ— disâ—imulâ—â— â–ª To speake more playner as the prouerbe doth go In faith Carisophus Cum cretence cretiso Yet a perfect frinde I shew my selfe to thée in one thing I doo not dessemble now I say I wyll not speake for thée to the King Therfore sinke in thy sorrow I doo not deceaue thée A false knaue I found thée a false knaue I leaue thée EXIT CARISOPHVS He is gone is this frindship to leaue his friend in the plaine fields â–ª Well I sée now I my selfe haue beguylde In matching with that false for in amitie Which hath me vsed to his owne commoditie Which séeing me in distresse vnfainedly goes his wayes Loe this is the perfect frindship among men now a daies Which kinde of frindship toward him I vsed secretly And be with me the like hath requited me craftly It is the Gods iudgement I sée it playnely For all the world may know Incide in foâ—eam quam fed Well I must content my selfe none other helpe I knowe â–ª Untill a merier gale of winde may happe to blowe EXIT EVBVLVS Who deals with Kinges in matters of great waight When froward wyll doth beare the chefest swaâ— Must yeld of force their néede no subtle â—â—eight Ne paynted speach the matter to conuay No prayer can moue when kindled is the ire The more ye quench the more increased is the fire This thinge I proue in Pithias wofull case Whose hauuy hap with teares I doo lament The day is come when he in Damons place Must lose his life the time is fully spent Nought can my words now with the Kinge preuaile Against the wind and striuinge streame I sayle For die thou must alas thou sely Gréeke Ah Pithias now come is thy dolefull houre A perfect friend none such a world to séeke Though bitter death shall geue thée sauce full sower Yet for thy faith enrold shall be thy name Among the Gods within the booke of fame Who knoweth his case and wyll not melt in teares His giltles blood shall trickle downe anon ¶ Then the Muses singe Alas what happe hast thou poore Pithias now to die Wo worth the which man for his death hath geuen vs cause to crie EVBVLVS ME thinke I heare with yelow rented heares The Muses frame their notes my state to mone Among which sorte as one that morneth with harte In dolefull tunes my selfe wyll beare a parte MVSES Who worth the man which for his death c. EVBVLVS With yelow rented heares come on you Muses nine Fyll now my breast with heauy tunes to me your plaints resigne â–ª For Pithias I bewayle which presently must die Wo worth the man which for his death hath geuen vs cause c. MVSES Wo worth the man which for his c. EVBVLVS Was euer such a man that would die for his friend I thinke euen
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
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
For no euill practises but to féede his eyes But seing Dionisius is informed otherwise My sute is to you when you sée time and place To asswage the kinges anger and to purchase his grace In which dooyng you shall not doo good to one onely But you shall further too and that fully ARIRTIPPVS My friend in this case I can doo you no pleasure PITHIAS Syr you serue in the Court as Fame doth tell ARISTIPPVS I am of the Court in déede but none of the Counsell PITHIAS As I heare none is in greater fauour with the Kinge then you at this day ARISTIPPVS The more in fauour the lesse I dare say PITHIAS It is a Courtiers prayse to helpe straingers in miserie ARISTIPPVS To helpe an other and hurte my selfe it is an euyll point of courtesâ—e PITHIAS You shall not hurt your selfe to speake for the innocent ARISTIPPVS He is not innocent whom the kinge iudgeth nocent PITHIAS Why sir doo you thinke this matter paste all remedie ARISTIPPVS So fare past that Dionisius hath sworne Damon to morow shall diâ— PITHIAS This word my trembling heart cutteh in twoo Ah sir in this wofull case what wist I best to doo ARISTIPPVS ¶ Best to content your selfe when there is no remedie He is well reliued that for knoweth his miserie Yet if any comfort be it resteth in Eubulus The chiefest counsellour about kinge Dionisius Which pitieth Damons case in this great extremitie Perswadyng the kynge from all kynde of crueltie PITHIAS ¶ The mightie Gods preserue you for this worde of comforte Takyng my leaue of your goodnesse I wyll now resorte To Eubulus that good Counseller But harke me thinke I heare a Trompet blow ARISTIPPVS ¶ The kyng is at hand stande close in the prease beware if he know You are friend to Damon â—e wyll take you for a spie also Farewell I dare not be séene with you ¶ Here entreth Kyng DYONYSIVS EVBVLVS the Counseller and GRONOO the Hangman DYONYSIVS ¶ Gronoo doo my coÌ„maundement strike off Damons Icons by by Then bryng hym foorth I my selfe will sée him executed presently GRONOO ¶ O mightie Kyng your commaundement wyll I doo spéedely DIONYS ¶ Eubulus thou hast talked in vaine for sure he shall die Shall I suffre my lyfe to stande in peryll of euerie Spie EVBVLVS ¶ That he conspired against your person his Accuser can not say He onely viewed your Citie â–ª and wyll you for that make hym away DYONYS What he would haue done the gesse is great he minded mée to hurt That came so flily to serch out the secret estate of my Courte Shall I styll lyue in feare no no I wyll cut off suche Impes betime â–ª Least that to my further daunger too hie they clime EVBVLVS ¶ Yet haue the mightie Goddes immortall Fame assigned â–ª To all worldly Princes whiche in mercie be inclined DYONYSIVS Let Fame talke what she lyst so I may lyue in safetie EVBVLVS ¶ The onely meane to that is to vse mercie DYONYS ¶ A milde Prince the people despiseth EVBVLVS ¶ A cruell kynge the people hateth DYONYSIVS ¶ Let them hate me so they feare mée EVBVLVS That is not the way to lyue in safetie DYONYSIVS ¶ My sword and power shall purchase my quietnesse EVBVLVS ¶ That is sooner procured by mercy and gentilnesse DYONYS ¶ Dionisius ought to be feared EVBVLVS ¶ Better for him to be welbeloued DYONYSIVS ¶ Fortune maketh all thinges subiect to my power EVBVLVS ¶ Beleue her not she is a light Goddesse she can laugh lowre DIONYS ¶ A kinges prayse standeth in the reuenging of his enemie EVBVLVS ¶ A greater prayse to winne him by clemencie DYONYS ¶ To suffer the wicked liue it is no mercie EVBVLVS ¶ To kill the innocent it is great crueltie DYONISYVS ¶ Is Damon innocent which so craftely vnderminded Carisophus â— vnderstand what he could of kinge Dionisius â—hich suruewed the Hauen and eche Bulwarcke in the Citie â—here battrie might be layde what way best to approche shall I â—ffer such a one to liue that worketh me such dispite 〈◊〉 he shall die then I am safe a dead dogge can not bite EVBVLVS ¶ But yet O mightie my dutie bindeth me 〈◊〉 geue such counsell as with your honour may best agrée â—e strongest pillers of Princely dignitie â—nde this iustice with mercy and prudent liberalitie â—e one iudgeth all thinges by vpright equitie â—e other rewardeth the worthy flying eche extremitie 〈◊〉 to spare those which offend maliciously 〈◊〉 may be called no iustice but extreame iniurie 〈◊〉 vpon suspicion of each thinges not well proued 〈◊〉 put to death presently whom enuious flattery accused 〈◊〉 séemeth of tiranny and vpon what fickle ground al tirants doo stand 〈◊〉 and Lacedemon can teache you yf it be rightly scande 〈◊〉 not only these Citezens but who curiously séekes 〈◊〉 whole Histories of all the world not only of Romaines Gréekes Shall well perceyue of all Tirantes the ruinous fall Their state vncertaine beloued of none but hated of all Of mercifull Princes to set oute the passyng felycitie I néede not ynough of that euen these dayes do testifie They liue deuoid of feare their sleapes are found they dréed no eneâ—â— They are feared and loued and why they rule with Iustice mercâ— Extendyng Iustice to such as wickedly from Iustice haue swarued Mercie vnto those where opinion simplenesse haue mercie deserued Of lybertie nought I say but onely this thynge Lybertie vpholdeth the state of a kynge Whose large bountifulnesse ought to fall to this issue To rewarde none but suche as deserue it for vertue Whiche mercifull Iustice if you would folow prouident liberalytiâ— Neither the Caterpillers of all Courtes Et fruges consumere nati Parasites with wealth puft vp should not looke so hie Nor yet for this simple facte poore Damon should die DIONYSIVS ¶ With payne mine eares haue heard this vayne talke of mercie I tell thée feare and terrour defendeth kynges onely Tyll he be gone whome I suspect how shall I lyue quietly Whose memorie with chilling horror fils my breast day night violentlâ— My dreadfull dreames of him bereues my rest On bed I lie Shakyng and trembling as one ready to yelde his throate to Damon sword â–ª This quakyng dread nothyng but Damons bloud can stay Better he die then I to be tormented with feare alway He shall die though Eubulus consent not thereto It is lawfull for kynges as they list all thynges to doo ¶ Here GRONOO bringeth in DAMON and PITHIAS méeteth him by the way PITHIAS ¶ Oh my Damon DAMON ¶ Oh my Pithias seyng Death must parte vs farewell for euer PITHIAS ¶ Oh Damon oh my swéete friende SNAP. ¶ Away from the Prysoner what a prease haue we here GRONOO As you commaunded O mighty Kinge wée haue brought Damoâ— DIONYS ¶ Then go to make redy I will not stirre out of this place Til I sée his head stroken off before my face GRONOO ¶ It shal be done sir Because your eyes haue made
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