Damon and Pithias


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Damon and Pithias.

Richard Edwards.

Note: this Renascence Editions text was transcribed by Richard Bear, March 2002, from the 1908 facsimile of the British Museum copy of the 1571 edition. There may have been an earlier edition (licensed 1568), but no copies are known. Any errors that have crept into the transcription are the fault of the present publisher. The text is in the public domain. Content unique to this presentation is copyright © 2002 The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only. Send comments and corrections to the Publisher.

The excellent Comedie of
two the moste faithfullest
Freendes, Damon and Pithias.
Newly Imprinted, as the same was shewed be-
fore the Queenes Maiestie, by the Children of her Graces
Chappell, except the Prologue that is somewhat al-
tered 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.
1 5 7 1.

Imprinted at London in
Fleetelane by Richarde Iohnes, and are to be
solde at his shop, ioyning to the Southwest
doore of Paules Churche.

T H E P R O L O G V E.

N euerie syde, whereas I glaunce my rouyng eye,
Silence in all eares bent I playnly do espie:
Bvt if your egre lookes doo longe suche toyes to see,
As heretofore in commycall wise, 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,
For loe, our Aucthors Muse, that masked in delight,
Hath forst his Penne agaynst his kinde, no more such sportes to write.
Muse he that lust, (right worshipfull) for chaunce hath made this change,
For that to some he seemed too muche, in yonge desires to range:
In which, right glad to please: seyng that he did offende,
Of all he humble pardon craues: his Pen that shall amende:
And yet (worshipfull 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:
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,
The Matron graue, the Harlot 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 pronounste, with action liuely- framed,
If this offende the lookers on, let Horace then be blamed,
Which hath our Author taught at Schole, from whom he doth not swarue,
In all such kinde of exercise decorum to obserue,
Thus much for his defence (he sayth) as Poetes earst haue donne.
Which heretofore in Commodies the selfe same rase did ronne:
But now for to be briefe, the matter to expresse,
Which here wee shall present: is this Damon and Pithias,
A rare ensample of Frendship true, it is no Legend lie,
But a thinge once donne in deede as Histories doo discrie,
Whiche doone of yore in longe tme past, yet present shalbe here,
Euen a[s] it were in dooynge now, so liuely it shall appeare:
Lo here in Siracusæ thauncient Towne, which once the Romaines wonne,
Here Dionisius Pallace, within whose Courte this thing most strange was donne,
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 things as they be ment,
Whose vpright Iudgement wee doo craue, with heedefull eare and Eye,
To here the cause, and see theffect of this newe Tragicall Commedie.
E X I T.

The Speakers names.
Aristippus, a pleasant Gentilman.
Carisophus, a Parasite.
Damon.} two Gentlemen of Greece.
Pithias,}
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 A R I S T I P P V S.

OO strange (perhaps) it seemes 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 skyll,
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 that not great Wisdom as the world goth?
Some Philosophers in the streete go ragged and torne,
And feedes on vyle Rootes, whom Boyes laugh to scorne:
But I in fine Silkes haunt Dionysius Pallace,
Wherein 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 feede 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 vay[n]ly,
I can helpe one, is not that a good poinct of Philosophy?

Here Entreth C A R I S O P H V S.

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 Aristippus, now makes the Kinge sporte,
Ere you came hyther, poore I was sombody,
The Kinge delighted in mee, now I am but a noddy.
A R I S T I P P V S.

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 feedes you often from his owne trencher,
I enuye not your state, nor yet your great fauour,
Then grudge not at all, if in my behauior:
I make the Kinge mery, with pleasant urbanitie,
Whom I neuer abused to any man iniurie.
C A R I S O P H V S.

Be cocke sir, yet in the Courte you doo best thriue,
For you get more in on day then I doo in fiue.
A R I S T I P P V S.

Why man in the Courte, doo you not see,
Rewardes geuen for vertue, to euery degree?
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,
Therefore to a trimmer kynde of myrth my selfe I applye,
Wherin though I please, it commeth not of my desert,
But of the Kinges fauour.
C A R I S O P H V S.

It may so be, yet in your prosperitie,
Dispise not an olde courtier, Carisophus is he,
Which hath longe time fed Dionisius humor:
Diligently to please styll at hand, there was neuer rumor,
Spread in this towne of any smale thinge, but I
Brought it to the Kinge in post by and by,
Yet now I craue your friendship, which if I may attayne,
Most sure and vnfained frindship I promyse you againe:
So we two linckt in frindshippe brother and brother,
Full well in the Courte may helpe one another.
A R I S T I P P V S.

Bir Lady Carisphus, though you know not Philosophie,
Yet surely you are a better Courtier then I,
And yet I not so euyll a courtier that will seeme to dispise,
Such an old courtier as you so expect and so wyse,
But where as you craue myne & offer your friendship so willingly,
With hart I geaue you thankes for this your great curtesie;
Assuring of friendship both with tooth and nayle,
Whiles life lasteth neuer to fayle.
C A R I S O P H V S.

A thousand thankes I geue you, oh friend Aristippus[.]
          A R I S T I P P V S.
      Oh friend Carisophus.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
How ioyfull am I sith I haue to friend Aistippus now?
         A R I S T I P P V S.

None so glad of Carisophus friendship as I, I make God a vowe,
I speake as I thinke, beleue me.
C A R I S O P H V S.

Sith we are now so friendly ioyned, it seemeth to mee,
That one of vs helpe eche other in euery degree,
Prefer you my cause when you are in presence,
To further your matters to the Kinge let me alone in your absence.
A R I S T I P P V S.

Friend Carisophus, this shall be done as you would wish,
But I pray you tell mee, thus much by the way,
Whither now from this place will you take your iournay?
C A R I S O P H V S.

I wyll not dissemble, that were against Friendship,
I go into the Citie some knaues to nip:
For talke with their goodes, to encrease the kynges Treasure,
In such kinde of seruice, I set my cheefe pleasure,
Farewell friend Aristippus now for a time[.] EXIT.
A R I S T I P P V S.

A dewe friend Carisophus: In good faith now,
Of force I must laugh at this solempne vow,
Is Aristippus linct in Friendship with Carisophus?
Quid cum tanto Asino, talis Philosophus?
They say, Morum similtudo consultat amicitias.
Then, how can this Friendship betwene vs two come to passe?
We are as like in condicions, as Jacke Fletcher and his Bowlt,
I brought vp in learning, but he is a very dolt
As touching good Letters: but otherwise suche a craftie knaue,
If you seeke a whole Region, his lyke you can not haue:
A Villaine for his life, a Varlet died in Graine,
You lose Money by him if you set him for one knaue, for he serues for twaine:
A flattering Parasite, a Sicophant also,
A commen accuser of men: to the good, an open Foe,
Of halfe a worde, he can make a Legend of lies,
Which he wyll aduouch with such tragicall cryes,
As though all were true that comes out of his mouth,
Where in dede to be hanged by and by,
He cannot tell one tale but twyse he must lie,
He spareth no mans life to get the kynges fauour,
In which kind of seruis he hath got such a sauour,
That he wyll neuer leaue, me thinke then that I,
Haue done very wisely to ioyne in friendship with him, lest perhaps I
Comming in his way might be nipt, for such knaues in presence,
We see oft times put honest men to silence:
Yet I haue played with his beard in knitting this knot,
I promist frendship, but you loue few words: I spake it, but I meant it not.
Who markes this friendship betwene vs two,
Shal iudge of the worldly friendship without any more a doo,
It may be a ryght Patron therof, but true friendship in deede,
Of nought but of vertue, doth thuly proseede,
But why doo I now enter into Philosophie,
Which doo professe the fine kind of curtesie?
I wyll hence to the Courte with all haste I may,
I thinke the King be stirring, it is now bright day,
To waite at a pinche still in sight I meane,
For wot ye what? a new Broome sweepes cleane,
As to hie honour I mynde not to clime,
So I meane in the courte to lose no time:
Wherein happy man be his dole, I trust that I,
Shall not speede worst, and that very quickly[.] EXIT.

Here entreth D A M O N and P I T H I A S
                       lyke Mariners.
O N E P T V N E, immortall be thy prayse,
For that so safe from Grace we haue past the seas,
To this noble citie S I R A C V S A E, where we
The auncient raygne of the Romaines may see,
Whose force, Greece also here tofore hath knowne,
Whose vertue, the shrill trump of fame so farre hath blowne.
          P I T H I A S.
   My Damon, of right high prayse we ought to geue,
To Neptune and all the Gods, that we safely did arryue,
The Seas I thinke with contrary winds, neuer raged so,
I am euen yet so Seasicke, that I faynt as I go:
Therefore let vs get some lodgyng quickely:
But where is Stephano?

Here entreth S T E P H A N O.
Not farre hence: a Pockes take these Maryner knaues,
Not one would healpe me to carry this stuffe, such dronken slaues
I think be accursed of the Goddes owne mouthes.
          D A M O N.
Stephano, leaue thy ragyng, and let vs enter S I R A C V S A E
We will prouide lodgying, and thou shalt be eased of thy burden by & by[.]
          S T E P H A N O.
Good mayster make haste, for I tell you playne,
This heauy burden puts poore Stephano to much payne.
          P I T H I A S.
Come on thy wayes, thou shalt be eased, and that anon.             EXIT.

        *Here entreth C A R I S O P H V S.
      It is a true saying that oft hath bin spoken,
The pitcher goeth so longe to the water, that he commeth home broken.
My owne proofe this hath taught me, for truly sith I,
In the Citie haue vsed to walke very slyly,
Not with one can I meete, that will in talke ioyne with mee,
And to creepe into mens bosomes some talke for to snatche,
By which into one trip or other, I might trimly them catche
And so accuse them: Now not with one can I meete,
That will ioyne in talke w^t mee, I am shund lyke a Deuill in y^e streete.
My credite is crackte where I am knowne, but yet I heare say,
Certayne straingers are arriued, they were a good praye,
If happely I might meete with them, I feare not I,
But in talke I should trippe them, and that very finely,
Which thinge, I assure you, I doo for myne owne gayne,
Or els I would not plodde thus vp and downe, I tell you playne:
Well, I wyll for a whyle to the Court to see
What Aristippus doth, I would be loth in fauer he shuld ouerrun mee,
He is a subtile chyld, he flattreth so finely, that I feare mee,
He will licke all the fatte from my lippes, and so outwery mee:
Therefore I wyll not be longe absent, but at hand,
That al his fine driftes I may vnderstande.          EXIT.

       *Here entreth V V Y L L and I A C K E.
    I wonder what my Master Aristippus meanes now a daies,
That he leaueth Philosophie, and seekes to please
Kyng Dionisius, with such mery toyes,
In Dionisius Court now he only ioyes,
As trim a Courtier as the best,
Ready to aunswer, quicke in tauntes, pleasant to ieste,
A lusty companion to deuise with fine Dames,
Whose humour to feede, his wylie witte he frames.
          I A C K E.
Be cocke as you say, your Maister is a Minion,
A foule coyle he keepes in this Courte. Aristippus alone
Now rules the roasts with his pleasant deuises,
That I feare he wyll put out of conceit my Maister Carisophus.
          V V Y L L.
Feare not that Iacke, for like brother and brother
They are knit in true friendship one with the other,
They are fellowes you knowe, and honest men both,
Therefore the one to hinder the other, they wyll be lothe.
          I A C K E.
Yea, but I haue heard say, there is falshood in felowshippe,
In the Court somtimes, on geues another finely the slippe:
Which when it is spied, it is laught out with a scoffe,
And with sporting and playing, quietly shaken of:
In 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 B[ee]s in his head,
If he finde me heare pratinge, I am but dead:
He is styll trotting in the Citie, there is sumwhat in the winde:
His lookes bewrayes his inwarde troubled mynde:
Therefore I wyll be packing to the Courte by and by
If he be once angry, Iacke shall cry wo the pye.
          V V Y L L.
Byr Lady, if I tary longe here, of the same sauce shall I tast,
For my master sent me on an errand, and bad mee make haste,
Therefore we wyll departe together.          EXEVNT.
Here entreth S T E P H A N O.
Oftetimes 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 alike, 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 Greece, 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 Vertue, 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:
Pithagoras 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 only 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 three 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 seekyng 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 three their heads 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 breedeth 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 A R I S T I P P V S and V V Y L L.
Wyll, didst thou heare the Ladies so talke of mee,
What ayleth them? from their nippes shall I ne[u]er be free?
          V V Y L L.
Good faith sir, all the Ladies in the Courte, do plainly 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,
Therefore master, iest no more with women in any wise,
If you doo, by cocke [you] are lyke to know the price.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
Byr lady Wyll, this is good counsell, playnly to iest
Of women, proofe hard hath taught mee 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.
          V V Y L L.
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. EXEVNT[.]
Enter Damon, Pithias, Stephano.
Stephano, is all this true that thou hast tolde me.
          S T E P H A N O.
Sir, for lies, hetherto ye neuer controlde mee,
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 streetes in the Citie:
I tremble to heare the peoples murmuring,
I lament, to see his most cruell dealyng:
I thinke there is no suche tyraunt vnder the Sunne,
O my deare masters, this mornyng what hath he done?
          D A M O N.
What is that? tell vs quickly.
          S T E P H A N O.
As I this morning past in the streete,
With a wofull man (going to his death) did I meete,
Many people folowed, and I of one secretly
Asked the cause, why he was condemned to die?
Whispered in mine eare, nought hath he done but thus,
In his sleepe 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.
          P I T H I A S.
My deare friende Damon, I blame not Stephano,
For wishyng we had not come hether, seeynge it is so:
That for so small cause, suche cruell death doth insue.
          D A M O N.
My Pithias, where Tirantes raigne, suche cases are not new,
Whiche fearynge their owne state for great crueltie,
To sit fast as they thinke, doo execute speedely,
All suche as any light suspition haue tainted.
          S T E P H A N O.
With such quicke Karvers, I lyst not be acquainted.
          D A M O N.
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.
          P I T H I A S.
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 dormiunt in vtranque aurem
Oh my Damon, if choyce were offred me, I would choose to be Pithias
As I am, (Damons friende:) rather then to be kyng Dionisius.
          S T E P H A N O.
And good cause why: for you are entierly beloued of one,
And as farre as I heare, Dionisius is beloued of none.
          D A M O N.
That state is moste miserable, thrise happy are we,
Whom true loue hath ioyned in perfect Amytie:
Which amytie first sprong, without vaunting be it spoken, that is true
Of likelines of maners, take roote by company, & now is conserued by vertue
Which vertue alwaies through worldly things do not frame
Yet doth she atchiue to her followers immortall fame:
Wherof if men were carefull, for Vertues 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.
          P I T H I A S.
My Damon, of this thyng, there needes no proofe to mee,
The Gods forbyd, but that Pithias w^t Damon in al things shuld agree
For why it is said: Amicus alter ipse,
But that true friendes should be two in body: but one in minde,
As it were one transformed into another, which against kynde
Though it seeme: yet in good faith, when I am alone,
I forget I am [Pithias], me thinke I am Damon.
          S T E P H A N O.
That could I neuer doo, to forget my selfe, full well I know,
Wheresoeuer I go, that I am P A V P E R   S T E P H A N O:
But I pray you sir, for all your Phylosophie,
Soe that in this Courte you walke very wisely:
You are but newly come hether, beyng straungers ye know,
Many eyes are bent on you in the streetes as you go:
Many spies are abroad, you can not be too circumspect.
          D A M O N.
Stephano, because thou art carefull of mee thy maister, I do thee 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 coms to see the soyle & maners of al men of euery degree,
Pithagoras said, that this world was like a Stage,
Wheron many play their partes: the lookers on the sage
Phylosophers are saith he, whose part is to learne
The maners of all Nations, and the good from the bad to discerne.
          S T E P H A N O.
Good faith sir, concernynge the people they are not gay,
And as far as I see, they be Mummers, for nought they say,
For the most parte what soeuer you aske them.
The soyle is suche, that to liue heare I can not lyke.
          D A M O N.
Thou speakest accordynge to thy learnynge, but I say,
Omnis solum fortis patria, A wise man may lyue euery wheare:
Therefore my deare friende Pithias,
Let vs view this Towne in euerie place,
And then consider the Peoples maners also.
          P I T H I A S.
As you wyll my Damon, but how say you Stephano?
Is it not best ere we go further, to take some repast?
          S T E P H A N O.
*In faith, I lyke well this question, Sir: for all your haste,
To eate somwhat I pray you, thinke it no folly,
It is hie dinner time, I know by my belly.
          D A M O N.
The let vs to our lodging departe, when dinner is done,
We wyll view this Citie as we haue begonne.           [EXEVNT].
Here entreth C A R I S O P H V S.
Once agayne in hope of good wynd, I hoyse my sayle,
I goe into the citie to finde som pray for mine auayle:
I hunger while I may see these straungers, that lately
Arriued, I were safe if once I might meete 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 huysh, what are they that comes here,
By their apparell, and continuance 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 D A M O N and S T E P H A N O.
A shorte 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.
          D A M O N.
Stephano, much meat breedes heauynes, thinne diet maks thee light[.]
          S T E P H A N O.
I may be lighter thereby, but I shall neuer rune the faster.
          D A M O N.
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 feede myne eyes on him.
          S T E P H A N O.
Course or discourse, your course is very course for all your talke,
You had but one bare 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,
Feede your eyes (quod you) the reason from my wisdom swarueth,
I stared on you both, and yet my belly starueth.
          D A M O N.
Ah Stephano, small diet maketh a fine memorie.
          S T E P H A N O.
I care not for your craftie Sophistrie,
You two are fine, let mee be fed lyke a grose knaue styll,
I pray you license mee for a whyle to haue my will:
At home to tary whiles you take vew of this citie,
To finde some odd victualles in a corner, I am very wittie.
          D A M O N.
At your pleasure sir, I wyll wayte on my selfe this daye,
Yet attend vpon Pithias, whiche for a purpose tarieth at home,
So dooyng, you wayte vpon mee also.
          S T E P H A N O.
With winges on my feete I go. [EXIT.]
          D A M O N.
Not in vain the Poet saith Natura furca expellas, tamen vsque recurrit.
For trayne vp a bondman neuer to so good a behauiour,
Yet in some poinct of seruilitie, he wyll sauour:
As this Stephano, trustie to mee his Mayster, louyng and kinde,
Yet touchyng his belly, a very bondman I him finde:
He is to be borne withall, beyng so iust and true,
I assure you, I would not chaunge him for no new:
But mee thinkes, this is a pleasant Citie,
The Seate is good, and yet not stronge, and that is greate pitie.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
I am safe, he is myne owne.
          D A M O N.
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 seene in my peregrination:
Nothyng mislyketh mee in this Countrey,
But that I heare suche mutteryng of crueltie:
Fame reporteth strange thynges of Dionisius,
But kynges matters passyng our reach, pertayne not to vs.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
Dionisius (quoth you) since the worlde began,
In Cicilia neuer rayned so cruell a man:
A despightfull Tirant to all men, I maruayle I,
That none makes him away, and that sodaynly.
          D A M O N.
My friende, the Goddes forbyd so cruell a thynge:
That any man should lift vp his Sword against the kynge:
Or seeke other meanes by death him to preuent,
Whom to rule on earth, the mighty Goddes haue sent:
But my friende, leaue off this talke of kynge Dionisius.
C A R I S O P H V S.
Why sir? he can not heare vs.
          D A M O N.
What then? An nescis longas Regibus esse manus?
It is not safe talkynge of them that strykes a farre off:
But leauing kynges matters, I pray you shew me 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, captæ post tempore Troyæ
Multorum hominum mores qui vidit, & vrbis.
In which verses, as some Writers do scan,
The Poet describeth, a [perfect] wise man:
Euen so, I beyng a Stranger, addicted to Phylosophie,
To see the state of Countreyes, my selfe I applie.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
Sir, I lyke this entent, but may I aske your name without scorne?
          D A M O N.
My name is Damon, well knowen in my Countrey, a Gentleman borne.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
You do wisely to serche the state of each 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:
View 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.
          D A M O N.
I thanke you for your courtesie, this chaunceth well that I
Met with this Gentleman so happely,
Whiche as it seemeth, misliketh some thynge,
Els he would not talke so boldly of the kynge,
And that to a stranger, but loe [here] he comes in haste.
Here entreth CARISOPHVS and SNAP.
This is [the] felow Snap, snap him vp: away with hym.
          S N A P.
Good felow thou must go with mee to the Courte.
          D A M O N.
To the Courte sir, and why?
          C A R I S O P H V S.
Well, we wyll dispute that before the Kyng, away with hym quickly.
          D A M O N.
Is this the curtesie you promysed mee? and that very lately.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
Away with hym I say.
          D A M O N[.]
Vse no violence, I wyll go with you quietly. Exiunt omnes.
Here entreth A R I S T I P P V S.
Ah Sira, byr lady, Aristippus lykes Dionisius Court very well,
Whiche in passyng ioyes and plasures doth excell:
Where he hath Dapsilæ cænas, gemalis lectes, & auro,
Fulgentii turgmani zonam.
I haue plied the Haruest, and stroke when the Yron was hotte,
When I spied my time, I was not squemish to craue, God wotte:
But with some pleasant [toye], I crept into the Kinges bosome.
For whiche, Dionisius gaue me Aure talentum magnum,
A large rewarde for so simple seruices,
What then? the kinges prayse standeth chiefly in bountifulnesse:
Whiche thynge, though I tolde the kinge very pleasantly,
Yet can I priue it by good Writers of great Antiquitie:
But that shall not neede at this time, since that I haue aboundantly,
When I lacke hereafter, I wyll vse this poinct of Phylosophie:
But now, where as I haue felt the kynges lyberalytie,
As princely as it came, I wyll spende it as regallie:
Money is currant men say, and currant comes of currendo
Then wyll I make money runne, as his nature requireth I trow,
For what becomes a Philosopher best,
But to dispise mony aboue the rest:
And yet not to dispise it, but to haue in store,
Enough to serue his owne tourne, and somwhat more,
With sondrie sports and tauntes, yester night I delighted the kinge,
That with his lowde laughter, the whole courte did ringe:
And I thought he laught not merrier then I, when I got this money,
But mumbouget for Carisophus I espie,
In haste to come hether, I must handle the knaue finely:
Oh Carisophus, my dearest frinde, my trusty companyon,
What newes with you? where haue you been so longe?
Heere entreth C A R I S O P H V S.
My best beloued friend Aristippus, I am come at last,
I haue not spent all my time in wast,
I haue got a pray, and that a good one I trow.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
What praye is that? faine would I know.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
Such 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, himselfe he dyd bewray.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
I thinke so in good faith, as you did handle him.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
I handled him clarkly, I ioyned in talke with him courteously,
But when we 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 y^e Court for Snap y^e Tipstaffe, which came & vpsnatched him
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, being 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 wheele, 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 to the Citie to say sooth,
To see what he hath at his lodginge to make vp my mouth.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
My Carisophus, you haue don good seruice, but what is the spies name[?]
          C A R I S O P H V S.
He is called Damon, borne in Greece, from whence lastly he came.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
By my trouth, I wyll goe see him, and speake with him to if I may.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
Doo so I pray you, but yet by the way:
As occasion serueth, commend my seruice to the Kinge.
          A R I [S] T I P P V S.
Dictum sap[i]enti sat est: friend Carisophus, shal I forget that thinge,
No, I warrant you, though I say litle to your face,
I wyll lay one month for you to Dionisius when I am in place:
If I speake one worde for suche a knaue, hange mee. EXIT.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
Our fine Phylosopher, our timme learned elfe,
Is gone to see as false a Spie as himselfe:
Damon smatters as well as he of craftie Phylosophie,
And can tourne Cat in the panne very pretily:
But Carisophus hath geuen him suche a mightie checke,
As I thinke in the ende wyll breake his necke:
What care I for that, why would he then prie,
And learne the secret estate of our countrey and citie?
He is but a stranger, by his fall let others be wise,
I care not who fall, so that I may ryse:
As for fine Aristippvs, I wyll keepe in with hym,
He is a shrewde foole to deale withall, he can swym:
And yet by my trouth, to speake my conscience playnlie,
I wyll vse his friendship to myne owne commodytie:
While Aristippus fauoureth him, Aristippus shalbe mine,
But if the kynge once frowne on him, then good night Tomaline:
He shalbe as straunge, as thoughe I neuer sawe hym before,
But I tarie too longe, I wyll prate no more:
Iacke, come awaye.
          I A C K E.
At hande syr.
          C A R I S O P H V S.
At Damons lodgyng if that you see,
Any sturre to arise, be styll at hand by mee,
Rather then I wyll lose the spoyle, I wyll blade it out.
        *Here entreth P I T H I A S and S T E P H A N O.
What straunge Newes are these, ah my Stephano?
Is my Damon in Pryson, as the voyce doth go?
          S T E P H A N O.
It is true, oh cruell happe, he is taken for a Spie,
And as they say, by Dionisius owne mouth condempned to die.
          P I T H I A S.
To die? alas for what cause?
          S T E P H A N O.
A Sicophant falsely accused hym: other cause there is none,
That oh Iupiter, of all wronges the Reuenger,
Seest 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:
Alas maister Pithias, what shall we do?
Being in a strange countrey, voyde of friendes & acquaintance so
Ah poore Stephano, hast thou liued to see this daye?
To see thy true Mayster vniustly made away?
          P I T H I A S.
Stephano, seeyng the matter is come to this extremytie,
Let vs make Vertue our frend, of meane 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.
          S T E P H A N O.
I am gone sir: ah, I would to God, my trauayle and payne
Myght restore my Mayster to his lybertie agayne.          [EXIT.]
          P I T H I A S.
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 faint
But oh Musicke, as in ioyfull tunes, thy mery notes I did borow,
So now lend mee thy yernfull tunes, to vtter my sorow.

Here P I T H I A S singes, and the Regalles play.
Wake 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,
      D A M O N my friende must die.
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?
      D A M O N my friend must die.
My mouth refuse the food,
   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,
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 vaine 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 S T E P H A N O.

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.
P I T H I A S.

How camest thou so neare the presence of the kynge,
That thou mightest heare Dionisius speake this thynge.
S T E P H A N O.

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 words: that Damon the Greeke that craftie spie,
Without farther Iudgement, to morow should die:
Beleeue me Pithias, with these eares I heard it my selfe.
P I T H I A S.

Then how neare is my death al so, ah woe is mee.
Ah my Damon, another my selfe; shall I forgo thee?
S T E P H A N O.

Syr, there is no tyme of lamenting now, it behoueth vs,
To make meanes to them which can doo much with Dionisius:
That he be not made awaye ere his cause be fully heard, for we see
By euyll reporte, thynges be made to Princes far worse then they bee,
But lo, yonder com[m]eth Aristippus, in great fauour w^t 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 see all thyngs safe there. EXIT.
P I T H I A S.

To that I agree but let vs slip aside his talke to heare.

Here entreth A R I S T I P P V S.

Here is a sodayne chaunge in deede, 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 nothing 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 mee, 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 mee this,
That it is very good to be mery and wise:
The only cause of this burly burly, is Carisophus that wicked man,
Whiche falsely tooke Damon for a Spie, a poore Gentleman:
And hath [incencst] 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 viewing this Citie:
But truely for ought I can learne, there is no cause why
So sodenly and cruelly, he should be condempned to die:
Howsoeuer 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,
Naught auayleth perswasio[n], where frowarde opinion taketh place.
P I T H I A S.

Sir, if humble sutes you would not despise,
Then bow on mee your pitifull eyes:
My name is Pithias, in Grece well knowne,
A perfect friend to that woful 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,
For no euill practices, but to feede his eyes,
But seing Dionisius is informed otherwise,
My sute is to you, when you see 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.
          [A R I S T I P P V S.]
My friend, in this case I can doo you no pleasure.
          P I T H I A S.
Syr, you serue in the Court as Fame doth tell.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
I am of the Court in deede, but none of the Counsell.
          P I T H I A S.
As I heare, none is in greater fauour with the Kinge then you at this day.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
The more in fauour, the lesse I dare say.
          P I T H I A S.
It is a Courtiers prayse to helpe Straingers in miserie.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
To helpe an other and hurte my selfe, it is an euyll point of courtesie.
          P I T H I A S.
You shall not hurt your selfe to speake for the innocent.
          A R I S T I P P V S.
He is not innocent, whom the kinge iudgeth nocent.
          P I T H I A S.
Why sir? doo you thinke this matter paste all remedie?
          A R I S T I P P V S.
So fare past that Dionisius hath sworne Damon to morow shall die[.]
          P I T H I A S.
This word my trembling heart cutte[t]h in twoo,
Ah sir, in this wofull case, what wist I best to doo.
          A R I S T I P P V S.

Best to content your selfe, when there is no remedie,
He is well reliued that forknoweth his miserie,
Yet if any comfort be, it resteth in Eubulus,
The chiefest counsellour about kinge Dionisius:
Which pittieth Damons case in this great extremitie,
Perswadyng the kynge from all kynde of crueltie.
P I T H I A S.

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, methinke I heare a Trompet blow.
A R I S T I P P V S.

The kyng is at hand, stande close in the prease, beware: if he know
You are friend to Damon, he wyll take you for a spie also:
Farewell I dare not be seene with you.

Here entreth Kyng D Y O N Y S I V S, & E V B V L V S the Counseller,
and G R O N OO the Hangman.
D Y O N Y S I V S.

Gronoo, doo my com[m]aundement, strike off Damons Irons by & by,
Then bryng him forth, I my selfe will see him executed presently.
G R O N OO.

O mightie Kyng, your commaundement wyll I doo speedely.
D I O N Y S.

Eubulus: thou hast talked in vaine, for sure he shall die.
Shall I suffer my lyfe to stande in peryll of euerie Spie?
E V B V L V S.

That he conspired against your person, his Accuser can not say,
He onely viewed your Citie, and wyll you for that make hym away.
D Y O N Y S.
What he would haue done, the gesse is great, he minded mee to hurt
That came so slily to serch out the secret estate of my Courte:
Shall I lyue in feare? no, no: I wyll cut off suche Impes betime,
Least that to any further daunger, too hie they clime.
E V B V L V S.

Yet haue the mightie Goddes, immortall Fame assigned,
To all worldly Princes, whiche in mercie be inclined.
D Y O N Y S I V S.
Let Fame talke what she lyst, so I may liue in safetie.
E V B V L V S.

The onely meane to that, is to vse mercie.
D Y O N Y S.

A milde Prince the people despiseth.
E V B V L V S.

A cruell kynge the people hateth.
D Y O N Y S I V S.

Let them hate me, so they feare mee.
E V B V L V S.
That is not the way to lyue in safetie.
D Y O N Y S I V S.

My sword and power shall purchase my quietnesse.
E V B V L V S.

That is sooner procured by mercy and gentilnesse.
D Y O N Y S.

Dionisius ought to be feared.
E V B V L V S.

Better for him to be welbeloued.
D Y O N Y S I V S.

Fortune maketh all thinges subiect to my power.
E V B V L V S.

Beleue her not she is a light Goddesse, she can laugh & lowre:
D I O N Y S.

A kinges prayse standeth in the reuenging of his enemie[.]
E V B V L V S.

A greater prayse to winne him by clemencie.
D Y O N Y S.

To suffer the wicked liue, it is no mercie.
E V B V L V S.

To kill the innocent, it is great crueltie,
DYONISYVS.

Is Damon innocent, which so craftely [vndermined] Carisophus,
To vnderstand what he could of kinge Dionisius:
Which suruewed the Hauen and eche Bulwarcke in the Citie,
Where battrie might be layde, what way best to approche, shall I
Suffer such a one to liue, that worketh me such dispute?
No, he shall die, then I am safe, a dead dogge can not bite.
E V B V L V S.

But yet, O mightie, my dutie bindeth me,
To geve such counsell as with your honour may best agree,
The strongest pillers of princely dignitie,
I find this iustice, with mercy and prudent liberalitie,
The one iudgeth all thinges by vpright equitie,
The other rewardeth the worthy, flying eche extremitie:
As to spare those, which offend maliciously,
It may be called no iustice, but extreame iniurie:
As vpon sispicion, of each thinges not well proued,
To put to death presently, whom enuious flattery accused,
It seemeth tiranny, and vpon what fickle ground al tirants doo stand
Athenes and Lacedemon, can teache you yf it be rightly scande:
And not only these Citizens, but who curiously seekes,
The whole Histories of all the world, not only of Romaines & Greekes
Shall well perceyue of all Tirantes the ruinous fall,
Their state vncertaine, beloued of none, but hated of all:
Of mercifull Princes to set out the passyng felycitie
I neede not: ynough of that, euen these dayes do testifie:
They liue deuoid of feare, their sleapes are sound, they dreed no enemie[;]
They are feared and loued, and why? they rule with Iustice & mercie,
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 such as deserue it for vertue:
Whiche mercifull Iustice, if you would folow, & prouident liberalyte,
Neither the Caterpillers of all Courtes, Et fruges consumere nati.
Parasites with wealth puft vp, should not look so hie,
Nor yet for this simple facte, poore Damon should die.
D I O N Y S I V S.

With payne mine eares haue heard this vayne talke of mercie,
I tell thee, feare and terrour, defendeth kynges onely:
Tyll he be gone whome I suspect, how shall I lyve quietly?
Whose memorie w^t chilling horror, fils my breast day & night violently
My dreadful dreames of him, bereues my rest: On bed I lie
Shakyng and trembling, as one ready to yelde his throate to Damons sword,
This quaking dread, nothing 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 entreth G R O N OO bringeth in D A M O N: and
P I T H I A S meeteth him by the way.
P I T H I A S.

Oh my Damon.
D A M O N.

Oh my Pithias, seyng Death must parte vs, farewell for euer.
P I T H I A S.

Oh Damon, oh my sweete friende.
S N A P.

Away from the Prisoner, what a prease haue we here.
G R O N O O.
As you commaunded, O mighty Kinge, wee haue brought Damon[.]
D I O N Y S.

Then go to, make redy I will not stirre out of this place,
Till I see his head stroken off before my face.
G R O N OO.

It shall be done sir: because your eyes haue made suche a doo,
I wyl knock down this your Lantern, & shut vp your shop window too.
D A M O N.

O mightie king, where as no trueth, my innocent lyfe can saue,
But that so greedily you thrust, my giltlesse bloud to haue:
Albeit, (euen for thought) for ought against your person:
Yet now I plead not for lyfe, ne wyll I craue your pardon:
But seyng in Greece my Countrey, where well I am knowne,
I haue worldy thiges, fit for mine Aliance when I am gone,
To dispose them or I die, if I might obtaine leasure,
I would account it (O kyng) a passyng great pleasure:
Not to prolonge my life therby, for which I reken not this,
But to set my thinges in a stay: and surely I wyll not misse,
Vpon the faith which all gentylmen ought to embrace,
To returne agayne at your time to appoynte, to yeld my body here in this place:
Graunt me (O kynge[)] such time to dispatch this iniurie,
And I wyll not fayle, when you appointed, euen here my lyfe to pay.
D I O N I S I V S.

A pleasant request, as though I could trust him absent,
Whom in no wise I can not trust beinge present:
And yet though I sware the contrarie, doo that I require,
Geue me a pledge for thy returne, and haue thine owne desire:
He is as nere now as he was before.
D A M O N.

Ther is no surer nor greater pledge, then the faith of a Gentleman[.]
D I O N Y S.

It was wont to be, but otherwise now the world doth stande,
Therfore doo as I say, els presently yeeld thy necke to the sword,
If I might with mine honour I would recall my worde.
P I T H I A S.

Stand to your worde, O Kinge, for Kinges ought nothing say,
But that they would performe, in perfect deeds alway:
A pledge you did require, when Damon his sute did meeue,
For which, with heart and stretched handes, most humble thankes I ge[u]e,
And that you may not say, but Damon hath a frinde,
That loues him better then his owne life, and will doo to his ende:
Take mee, Oh mightie Kinge, my lyfe I pawne for his,
Strike off my head, if Damon hap at his day to misse.
D I O N Y S.

What art thou, that chargest me with my worde so boldly here?
P I T H I A S.

I am Pithias, a Greeke born, which hold Damon my friend full deare:
          D I O N I S.
To dere perhaps, to hazard thy life for him, what fondnes moueth thee[?]
          P I T H I A S.
No fondnesse at all, but perfect amitie.
          D I O N I S I V S.
A mad kind of amitie: aduise thy self well, if Damon fayle at his day
Which shalbe iustly app[o]incted, wilt thou die for him, to mee his lyfe to pay.
          P I T H I A S.
Most wyllyngly, O mightie kyng: if Damon fayle, let Pithias die.
          D I O N Y S I V S.
Thou seemest to trust his wordes, that pawnest thy lyfe so franckly.
          P I T H I A S.
What Damon saith, Pithias beleueth assuredly.
          D Y O N Y S I V S.
Take heede for lyfe, worldly men breake promise in many thinges.
          P I T H I A S.
Though worldly men doo so, it neuer happes amongest frindes.
          D I O N I S I V S.
What callest thou friendes, are they not men? is not this true?
          P I T H I A S.
Men they be, but such men as loue one an other onely for vertue.
          D I O N I S I V S.
For what vertue, doste thou loue this spie, this Damon.
          P I T H I A S.
For that vertue, which yet to you is vnknowne.
          D Y O N Y S I V S.
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.
          E V B V L V S.
The reuerent [maiestie] of a King, stands chiefly in keeping his promise
What you haue sayde, this whole Court beareth witnesse:
Saue your honour what so euer you doo.
          D Y O N Y S Y V S.
For saueing mine honour, I must forbeare my wyll, go to,
Pithias, seeing thou tookest me at my word, take Damon to thee:
For two mounthes his is thine, vnbinde him, I set him free,
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 die by the way, or lie sicke in his bead,
If he retourne not then, thou shalt either hange or lose thy head.
          P I T H I A S.
For this O mightie kinge, I yeld immortall thankes, O ioyfull day[.]
          D Y O N Y S I V S.
Gronoo, take him to thee, bind him, see him kept in safetie.
If he escape, assure thy selfe, for him thou shalt die,
Eubulus, let vs departe, to talke of this straunge thinge within.
          E V B V L V S[.]
I folowe.           EXIT.
          G R O N N O.
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 I wyll, you shall rather hange then I:
Come on your way.
          P I T H I A S.
My Damon, farewell, the Gods haue thee in kepeing.
          D A M O N.
Oh my Pithias, my Pleadge farewell, I parte from thee weeping
But ioyfull at my day appounted I wyll retourne agayne;
When I wyll deliuer thee from all trouble and paine:
Stephano wyll I leaue behind me to wayte vpon thee 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.
          P I T H I A S.
Farewell my Damon.
    &nbs