death him to preuent Whom to rule on earth the mightie Goddes haue sent But my friende leaue off this talke of kynge Dionisius CARISOPHVS ¶ Why sir he can not heare vs. DAMON ¶ What then An nescis longas Regibus esse manus It is no safe talkynge of them that strykes a farre off But leauyng kynges matters I pray you shew mée this curtesie To describe in few wordes the state of this Citie A trauayler I am desirous to know The state of eche Countrey wher euer I go Not to the hurt of any state but to get experience therby It is not for nought that the Poet doth crye Dic mihi Musa virum captae post tempore Troyae Multorum hominum mores qui vidit vâ—bis In whiche verses as some Writers do scan The Poet describeth a perfecâ—t wise man Euen so I beyng a stranger addicted to Phylosophie To sée the state of Countreyes my selfe I applie CARISOPHVS ¶ Sir I lyke this entent but may I aske your name without scorn DAMON ¶ My name is Damon well knowen in my Countrey a Gentlemâ—â— borne CARISOPHVS ¶ You do wisely to serche the state of eche Countrie To beare intelligence therof whether you lust He is a spie Sir I pray you haue pacience a while for I haue to do here by Uiew this weake parte of this Citie as you stande I very quickly Wyll retourne to you agayne and then wyll I show The state of all this Countrie and of the Courte also EXIT DAMON ¶ I thanke you for your courtesie this chaunceth well that I Met with this Gentleman so happely Whiche as it séemeth misliketh some thynge Els he would not talke so boldly of the kynge And that to a stranger but loe were he comes in haste ¶ Here entreth CARISOPHVS and SNAP. ¶ This is he felow Snap snap him vp away with hym SNAP. ¶ Good felow thou must go with mée to the Courte DAMON ¶ To the Courte sir and why CARISOPHVS Well we wyll dispute that before the Kyng away with hym quicklâ— DAMON ¶ Is this the curtesie you promysed mée and that very lately CARISOPHVS ¶ Away with hym I say DAMON â— Use no violence I wyll go with you quietly Exiunt omnâ—s ¶ Here entreth ARISTIPPVS â— Ah Sira â—yr lady Aristippus lykes Dionisius Court very well â—hiche in passyng ioyes and plasures doth excell â—here he hath Dapsilae caenaâ— gemalis lectes auro â—gentii turgmani zonam â—â—ue plied the Haruest and stroke when the Yron was hotte â—hen I spied my time I was not squemish to craue God wotte â—t with some pleasant tyoe I â—rept into the Kinges bosome 〈◊〉 whiche Dionisius gaue me Aure talentum magnum â—arge rewarde for so simple seruices â—hat then the Kinges prayse standeth chiefly in bountifulnesse â—hiche thynge though I tolde the kinge very pleasantly â— can I prooue it by good Writers of great Antiquitie â—t that shall not néede at this time since that I haue aboundantly â–ª â—â—en I lacke hereafter I wyll vse this poinctt of Phylosophie â—t now where as I haue felt the kynges lyberalytie 〈◊〉 princely as it came I wyll sponde it as regallie 〈◊〉 is currant men say and currant comes of currendo â—â—en wyll I make mony runne as his nature requireth I trow 〈◊〉 what becomes a Philosopher best â—t to dispise mony aboue the rest 〈◊〉 yet not so dispise it but to haue in store â—â—ough to serue his owne tourne and somwhat more â—â—th sondrie sports and tauntes yester night I delighted the kinge â—â—at with his lowde laughter the whole courte did ringe 〈◊〉 I thought he laught not merier then I when I got this money 〈◊〉 mumbouget for Carisophus I espie â–ª â—aste to come hether I must handle the knaue finely Carisophus my dearest frinde my trusty companyon â—â—at newes with you where haue you heen so longe ¶ Here entreth CARISOPHVS â— My best beloued friend Aristippus I am come at last â—iue not spent all my time in wast â—â—e got a pray and that a good one I trâ—w ARISTIPPVS â— What praye is that faine would I know CARISOPHVS 〈◊〉 a crafty spie I haue caught I dare say As neuer was in Cicilia before this day Suche a one as vewed euery weake place in the Citie Suruewed the Hauen and each bulwarke in talke very wittie And yet by some wordes â–ª him selfe he dyd bewray ARISTIPPVS ¶ I thinke so in good faith as you did handle him CARISOPHVS ¶ I handled him clarkly I ioyned in talke with him courteously But when wée were entred I let him speake his wyll and I Suckt out thus much of his words that I made him say playnely He was come hether to know the state of the Citie And not only this but that he would vnderstande The state of Dionisius Courte and of the whole land Which wordes when I heard I desired him to staye Till I had done a little businesse of the way Promising him to returne agayne quickly And so did conuaye My self to the Court for Snap the Tipstaffe which came vpsnatched 〈◊〉 Brought him to the Court and in the porters lodge dispatched him After I ran to Dionisius as fast as I could And bewrayed this matter to him which I haue you tolde Which thinge when he heard beinge very mery before He sodenly fell in a dump and fomyng lyke a Bore At last he swore in a great rage that he should die By the sworde or the whéele and that very shortly I am too shamefast for my trauell and toyle I craue nothinge of Dionisius but only his spoyle Litle hath he about him but a few motheaten crownes of golde Cha poucht them vp all ready they are sure in hold And now I goe in to the Citie to say sâ—â—th â–ª To sée what he hath at his lodginge to make vp my mouth ARISTIPPVS My Carisophus you haue don good seruiâ—e but what is the spiesnaâ— CARISOPHVS ¶ He is called Damon borne in Créece from whence latly he cam ARISTIPPVS ¶ By my trouth I wyll goe sée him â–ª and speake with him to if I may CARISOPHVS ¶ Doo so I pray you but yet by the way As occasion serueth commende my seruice to the Kinge ARIRTIPPVS Dictum sapienti satest friend Carisophus shal I forget that thinge No I warrant you though I say litie to your face â— wyll lay one month for you to Dionisius when I am in place 〈◊〉 I speake one worde for suche a knaue hange mée EXIT CARISOPHVS â—ur fine Phylosopher â–ª out timme learned elfe â— gone to see as false a Spie as himselfe â—amon smaâ—ters as well as he of craftie Phylosophie â—nd can tourne Cat in the panne very pretily â—ut Carisophus hath geuen him suche a mightie checke â—s I thinke in the ende wyll breake his necke â—hat care I for that why would he then prie â—â—d learne the secret estate of our countrey and citie 〈◊〉 is but a stranger by his fall let others be wise â—â—are not who fall so that
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
suche a doo 〈◊〉 wyl knock down this your Lantern shut vp your shop window too DAMON ¶ O mightie king where as no trueth my innocent lyfe can saue But that so gréedily you thrust my giltlesse bloud to haue â—lbeit euen for thought for ought against your person â—et now I plead not for lyfe ne wyll I craue your pardon But seyng in Gréece my Countrey where well I am knowne 〈◊〉 haue worldly thinges fit for mine Aliance when I am gone 〈◊〉 dispose them or I die if I might obtaine leasure 〈◊〉 would account it O kyng for a passyng great pleasure â—ot to prolonge my lyfe therby for whiche I reken not this â—ut to set my thynges in a stay and surely I wyll not misse â—pon the faith which all gentylmen ought to embrace â—o returne agayne at your time to appoynte to yeld my body here in this place â—raunt me O Kinge such time to dispatch this iniurie â—nd I wyll not fayle when you appointed euen here my lyfe to pay DIONISIVS ¶ A pleasant request as though I could trust him absent â— hoâ— in no wise I can not trust beinge present â—nd yet though I sware the contrarie doo that I require â—eue me a pledge for thy returne and haue thine owne desire 〈◊〉 is as nere now as he was before DAMON ¶ Ther is no surer nor greater pledge then the faith of a Gentleman DIONYS ¶ It was wont to be but otherwise now the world doth stande â—herfore doo as I say els presently yéeld thy necke to the sword I might with mine honour I would recall my worde PITHIAS ¶ Stand to your worde O Kinge for Kinges ought nothing say 〈◊〉 that they would performe in perfect deeds alway 〈◊〉 you did require when Damon his â—ute did méene 〈◊〉 which with heart and stretched handes most humble thankes I geue 〈◊〉 that you may not say but Damon hath a frinde 〈◊〉 loues him better then his owne life and will doo to his ende â—ake mee Oh mightie Kinge my lyfe I pawne for his â—rike off my head if Damon hap at his day to misse DIONYS ¶ What art thou that chargest me with my worde so boldly here PITHIAS ¶ I am Pithias a Greeke borne whiche hold Damon my friend full deare DIONIS To dere perhaps to hazard thy life for him what fondnes moueth thée PITHIAS No fondnesse at all but perfect amitie DIONISIVS A mad kind of amitie aduise thy self well if Damon fayle at his day Which shal be iustly appinâ—eâ— wilt thou die for him to mee his lyfe â—o pay PITHIAS Most wyllyngly O mightie kyng if Damon fayle let Pithias die DIONYSIVS Thou séemest to trust his wordes that pawnest thy lyfe so franckly PITHIAS What Damon saith Pithias beleueth assuredly DYONYSIVS Take héede for lyfe worldly men breake promise in many thinges PITHIAS Though worldly men doo so it neuer happes amongest frindes DIONISIVS What callest thou friendes are they not men is not this true PITHIAS Men they be but such men as loue one an other onely for vertue DIONISIVS For what vertue doste thou loue this spie this Damon PITHIAS For that vertue which yet to you is vnknowne DYONYSIVS Eubulus what shall I doo I would dispatch this Damon fayne But this foolish felow so chargeth mee that I may not call backe my worde agayne EVBVLVS The reuerent maistie of a King stands chiefly in kéeping his promise What you haue sayde this whole Courte beareth witnesse Saue your honour what so euer you doo DYONYSYVS For saueing mine honour I must forbeare my wyll go to Pithias seeing thou tookest me at my word take Damon to thée For two mounthes he is thine vnbinde him I set him frée Which time once expired yf he appeare not the next day by noone With out further delay thou shalt lose thy lyfe and that full soone Whether he diâ— by the way or lie sicke in his bead If he retourne not then thou shalt either hange or lose thy head PITHIAS For this O mightie kinge I yeld immortall thankes O ioyfull day DYONYSIVS Gronee take him to thée bind him sée him kept in safetie â—f he escape assure thy selfe for him thou shalt die â—ubulus let vs departe to talke of this straunge thinge within EVBVLVS I folowe EXIT GRONNO Damon thou seruest the Gods well to day be thou of comfort As for you sir I thinke you wyll be hanged in sporte You heard what the Kinge sayde I must kepe you safely By cocke so I wyll you shall rather hange then I Come on your way PITHIAS My Damon farewell the Gods haue thée in kepeing DAMON Oh my Pithias my Pleadge farewell I parte from thée wéeping But ioyfull at my day appoynted I wyll retourne agayne When I wyll deliuer thée from all trouble and paine Stephano wyll I leaue behinde me to wayte vpon thée in prison alone And I whom fortune hath reserued to this miserie wyll walke home Ah my Pithias my Pleadge my life my friend farewell PITHIAS Farewell my Damon DAMON Loth I am to departe sith sobbes my trembling tounge doth stay â–ª Oh Musicke sounde my dolefull playntes when I am gone my way GRONNO I am glad he is gone I had almost wept to come Pithias So God helpe me I am sory for thy foolish case Wilt thou venter thy life for a man so fondly PITHIAS It is no venter my friende is iust for whom I desire to die GRONNO Here is a mad man I tell thée I haue a wyfe whom I loue well And if iche woald die for her chould ich weare in Hell Wylt thou doo more for a man then I woulde for a woman PITHIAS Yea that I wyll GRONNO Then come on your wayes you must to Prison in haste 〈…〉 repent this folly at laste PITHIAS That shalt thou neuer sée but oh Musick as my Damon requested thée Sounde out thy dolefull tunes in this time of calamitie EXIT ¶ Here the Regalles play a mourning songe and Damon commeth in in Mariners apparell and Stephano with him ¶ Wéepe no more Stephano this is but destinie Had not this hapt yet I know I am borne to die Where or in what place the Gods know alone To whose iudgement my selfe I commit therfore leaue of thy mone And wayte vpon Pithias in Prison till I retourne agayne In whom my ioy my care and lyfe doth only remayne STEPHANO Oh my deare Master let me go with you for my poore companie Shal be some small comfort in this time of miserie DAMON Oh Stephano hast thou ben so longe with me And yet doest not know the force of true amitie I tel thee once agayne my friend and I are but one Waite vpon Pithias and thinke thou art with Damon Whereof I may not now discourse the time passeth away The sooner I am gone the shorter shal be my iournay Therefore farewell Stephano commend me to my friende Pithias Whom I trust to deliuer in time out of this wofull case STEPHANO Farewell my deare Master since your
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
thou frée EXEVNT DION STEPHANO O most happie pleasant ioyfull and triumphant day Poore Stephano now shall liue in contintinuall ioy VIVE LE ROY with Damon and pithias in perfect amitie VIVE TV STEPHANO in thy pleasant liberalitie Wherein I ioy as much as he that hath a conquest wonne I am a free man none so mery as I now vnder the Sonne Farewell my Lords now the Gods graunt you al the som of perfect amitie And me longe to enioy my longe deaÌ„red libertie EXIT ¶ Heare entreth EVBVLVS beatyng CARISOPHVS Away villaine away you flatringe Parasite Away the plague of this Courte thy filed tongue that forged lies No more here shall doo hurt away false Sicophant wilt thou not CARISOPHVS I am gone sir seing it is the kinges pleasure Why whyp ye me alone a plague take Damon and Pithias since they came hither I am driueÌ„ to seke relee abrod alas I know not whither Yet Eubulus though I begone here after time shall trie There shall be found euen in this Court as great flatterers as I Well for a while I wyll forgo the Court though to my great payne I doubt not but to spie a time when I may créepe in againe EXIT EVBVLVS The Serpent that eates men aliue Flattery with all her broode Is whipte away in Princes Courtes whiche yet did neuer good What force â–ª what mighty power true Friendship may possesse To all the worlde Dionisius Courte now playnly doth expresse Wâ—o since to faithfull Friendes he gaue his willyng eare Most saâ—eâ—y sitteth in his Seate and sléepes deuoid of feare Pourged is the Court of vice since Friendship entred in Tirrannie quailes he studieth now with loue eche hart to win Uertue is had in price and hath his iust rewarde And painted speache that gloseth for gayne from gifts is quite debard One loueth another now for vertue not for gayne Where Uertue doth not knit the knot there Friendship cannot raigne Without the whiche no house no land ne kingdome can endure As necessarie for mans lyfe as Water Ayre and Fier Which frameth the minde of man all honest thinges to doo Unhonest thinges Friendshippe ne craueth ne yet consents thertoo In wealth a double ioye in woe a present stay A swéete compagnion in eche state true Friendship is alway A sure defence for Kinges a perfecte trustie bande A force to assayle a Shield to defende the enemies cruell hande A rare and yet the greatest Gifte that God can geue to man â—o rare y scarce foure couple of faithfull frends haue ben since the world began A Gift so strange of such price I wish all Kyngs to haue But chiefely yet as duetie bindeth I humbly craue True friendship and true friendes full fraught with constant faith The geuer of friends the Lord grant her most noble Quéene Elizabeth ¶ FINIS ¶ The last songe THe strongest garde that Kynges can haue Are constant friends their state to saue True friendes are constant both in word and deede True friendes are present and help at each neede True friendes talke truly they glose for no gayne When treasure consumeth true frindes wyll remayne True frindes for their tru Prince refuseth not their death The Lorde graunt her such frindes most noble Queene Elizabeth â–ª ¶ Longe may she gouerne in honour and wealth Uoyde of all sickenesse in most perfect health Which health to prolonge as true friends require God graunt she may haue her owne hartes desire Which friendes wyll defend with most stedfast faith The Lorde graunt her such friendes most noble Queene Elizabeth â–ª ¶ FINIS