The excellent Comedie of two the moste faithfullest Freendes, Damon and Pithias

The excellent Comedie of two the moſte faithfulleſt Freendes, Damon and Pithias.

Newly Imprinted, as the ſame was ſhewed before the Quéenes Maieſtie, by the Children of her Graces Chappell, except the Prologue that is ſomewhat altered for the proper vſe of them that hereafter ſhall haue occaſion to plaie it, either in Priuate, or open Audience. Made by Maiſter Edvvards, then beynge Maiſter of the Children. 1571.

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

The Prologue.

On euerie ſyde, wheras I glaunce my rouyng eye,

Silence in all eares bent I playnly do eſpie:

But if your egre lookes doo longe ſuche toyes to ſee,

As heretofore in commycall 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 ſuche 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 whiche, right glad to pleaſe: ſeyng that he did offende,

Of all he humblie pardon traues: his Pen that ſhall amende:

And yet (worwipfull Audience,) thus much I dare aduouche.

In Commedies, the greateſt Skyll is this, rightly to touche.

All thynges to the quicke: and eke to frame eche person so,

That by his common talke, you may his nature rightly know:

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 Harlat wilde and full of wanton toyes.

Whiche all in one course they no wiſe doo agree:

So correspondent to their kinde their ſpeeches ought to bee.

Which ſpeeches well pronounce, 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 ſuche 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 roune:

But now for to be briefe, the matter to expreſſe,

Which here wee shall preſent: is this Dimon and Pithias,

A rare enſample of Frendſhip true, it is no Legend lie,

But a thinge once donne in deede as Hystories doo diſcrie,

Whiche doone of yor* in longe time paſt, yet present ſhalbe here,

Euen as it were in dooynge now, so liuely it shall appeare:

Lo here in Siracusae thauncient Towne, which onceth: Romaines wanne,

Here Dioniſius Pallace, within whose Cause 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 thinges 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. Exit.

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 ARISTIPPUS.
Too ſtrange (perhaps) it ſéemes to ſome,

That I Ariſtippus, a Courtier am become:

A Philoſopher of late, not of the meaniſt name,

But now to the Courtly behauiour my lyfe I frame,

Muſe he that lyſt, to you of good ſkill,

I ſay that I am a Philoſopher ſtyll:

Louers of Wiſdom, are termed Philoſophie,

Then who is a Philoſopher ſo rightly as I?

For in louyng of wiſdom, proofe doth this trie,

That Frustra ſapit, qui non ſapit ſibi:

I am wyſe for my ſelfe, then tell me of troth,

Is not that great Wiſdom as the world goth?

Some Philoſophers in the ſtréete go ragged and torne,

And féedes on vyle Rootes, whom Boyes laugh to ſcorne:

But I in fine Silkes haunt Dionyſius Pallace,

Wherin with dayntie fare my ſelfe I do ſolace:

I can talke of Philoſophie as well as the beſt,

But the ſtrayte kynde of lyfe I leaue to the reſt:

And I profeſſe now the Courtly Philoſophie,

To crouche, to ſpeake fayre, my ſelfe I applie,

To féede the Kinges humour with pleaſant deuiſes,

For whiche I am called Regius Canis:

But wot ye who named me firſt the Kinges Dogge?

It was the Roage Diogenes that vile grunting Hogge:

Let him rolle in his Tubbe to winne a vayne prayſe,

In the Courte pleaſantly I wyll ſpende all my dayes:

Wherin what to doo, I am not to learne,

What wyll ſerue myne owne turne I can quickly diſcearne:

All my tyme at Schoole I haue not ſpent vaynly,

I can helpe one, is not that a good poinct of Philoſophy?

Here entreth CARISOPHVS.

I beſhrew your fine eares, ſince you came from Schoole,,

In the Court you haue made many a wiſeman a foole:

And though you paint out your fayned Philoſophie,

So God helpe me, it is but a playne kinde of flattery:

Whiche you vſe so finely in so pleaſant a ſorte,

That none but Ariſtppus, now makes the Kinge ſporte,

Ere you came hyther, poore I was ſombody,

The Kinge delighted in mee, now I am but a noddy.

ARISTIPPVS.

In faith Cariſophus, you know your ſelfe best,

But I will not call you noddie, but only in ieſt,

And thus I aſſure you, though I came from ſchoole,

To ſerue in this Court, I came not yet to be the Kinges foole,

Or to fill his eares with ſeruile ſquirilitie,

That office is yours, you know it right perfectlie,

Of Paraſites and Scicophants you are a graue bencher,

The Kinge féedes you often from his owne trencher,

I enuye not your ſtate, nor yet your great fauour,

Then grudge not at all, if in my behauiour:

I make the Kinge mery, with pleaſant vrbanitie,

Whom I neuer abuſed to any mans iniurie.

CARISOPHVS.

Be cocke ſir, yet in the Courte you doo beſt thriue,

For you get more in on day then I doo in fiue.

ARISTIPPVS.

Why man in the Courte, doo you not ſée,

Rewardes geuen for vertue, to euery degrée?

To rewarde the vnworthy that worlde is done,

The Courte is changed, a good thread hath bin ſponne

Of Dogges woll heretofore, and why? be cause it was liked,

And not for that it was beſt trimmed and picked:

But now mens eares are finer, such groſſe toyes are not ſet by,

Therfore to a trimmer kynde of myrth my ſelfe I applye,

Wherin though I pleaſe, it commeth not of my deſert,

But of the Kinges fauour.

CARISOPHVS.

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,

*et now I craue your friendſhip, which if I may attayne,

*oſt sure and vnfained frindſhip I promyſe you againe:

*o we two linckt in frindſhippe brother and brother,

*ull well in the Courte may helpe one another.

ARISTIPPVS.

Bir Lady Cariſophus, though you know not Philoſophie,

*et ſurely you are a better Courtier then I,

**d yet I not so euyll a courtier that wyll ſéeme to diſpiſe,

*uch an old courtier as you ſo expert and so wyſe,

*ut where as you craue myne & offer your friendſhip ſo willingly,

*ith hart I geue you thankes for this your great curteſie:

Aſſuring of friendſhip both with tooth and nayle,

Whiles life laſteth neuer to fayle.

CARISOPHVS.

A thousand thankes I geue you, oh friend Ariſtippus

ARISTIPPVS.

Oh friend Cariſophus.

CARISOPHVS.

How ioyfull am I ſith I haue to friend Ariſtippus now?

ARISTIPPVS.

None ſo glad of Cariſophus friendſhip as I, I make God a vowe,

I ſpeake as I thinke, beleue me.

CARISOPHVS.

Sith we are now so friendly ioyned, it ſéemeth to mée,

That one of vs helpe eche other in euery degrée,

Prefer you my cauſe when you are in preſence,

To further your matters to the Kinge let me alone in your abſence,

ARISTIPPVS.

Friend Cariſophus, this ſhall be done as you would wiſh,

But I pray you tell mée, thus much by the way,

Whither now from this place wyll you take your iournay?

CARISOPHVS.

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 chéefe pleaſure,

Farewell friend Ariſtippus now for a time,

Exit.

ARISTIPPVS.

A dewe friend Cariſophus: In good faith now,

Of force I must laugh at this ſolempne vow,

Is Ariſtippus linckt in Friendſhip with Cariſophus?

Quid cum tanto Aſino, talis Philoſophus?

They say, Morum similitudo consultat amicitias.

Then, how can this Friendſhip betwene vs two come to paſſe?

We are as like in condicions, as Iacke Fletcher and his Bowlt,

I brought vp in learnyng, but he is a very dolt

As touching good Letters: but otherwiſe ſuche a craftie knaue,

Yf you ſéeke a whole Region, his lyke you can not haue:

A Uillaine for his life, a Uarlet died in Graine,

You loſe Money by him if you sel him for one knaue, for he ſerues for twaine:

A flatteryng 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 kinges 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 ſée 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 déede,

Of nought but of vertue, doth truly proſéede,

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 ſwéepes cleane,

As to hie honour I mynde not to clime,

So I meane in the courte to loſe ne time:

Wherein happy man be his dole, I truſt that I,

Shall not ſpéede worſt, and that very quickly

Exit.

There entreth Damon and Pithias lyke Mariners.

ONeptvne, immortall be thy prayſe,

For that ſo ſafe from Gréece we haue paſt the ſeas,

To this noble citie Siracvsae, where we

The auncient raygne of the Romaines may ſee,

Whoſe force, Gréece also here to fore hath knowne,

Whoſe vertue, the ſhrill trump of fame ſo farre hath blowne.

PITHIAS.

My Damon, of right high prayse we ought to geue,

To Neptune and all the Gods, that we ſafely dyd arryue,

The Seas I thinke with contrary winds, neuer raged ſo,

I am euen yet so Seaſicke, that I faynt as I go:

Therfore let vs get ſome lodgyng quickely:

But where is Stephano?

Here entreth STEPHANO.

Not farre hence: a Pockes take theſe Maryner knaues,

Not one would healpe mée to carry this ſtuffe, ſuch dronken ſlaues

I thinke be accurſed of the Goddes owne mouthes.

DAMON.

Stephano, leaue thy ragyng, and let vs enter SIRACVSAE

We wil prouide lodgyng, and thou ſhalt be eaſed of thy burden by *

STEPHANO.

Good mayſter make haſte, for I tell you playne,

This heauy burden puts poore Stephano to much payne.

PITHIAS.

Come on thy wayes, thou ſhalt be eaſed, and that anon. Exit.

Here entreth CARISOPHVS.
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 méete, that will in talke ioyne with mée,

And to créepe 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 méete,

That wyll ioyne in talke wt mée, I am ſhund lyke a Deuill in ye ſtréete.

My credite is crackte where I am knowne, but yet I heare ſay,

Certayne ſtraingers are arriued, they were a good pray,

If happely I might méete 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 woulde not plodde thus vp and downe, I fell you playne:

Well, I wyll for a wayle to the Court to ſée

What Ariſtippus doth, I would be loth in fauer he shuld ouerrun mée,

He is a ſubtile chyld, he flattreth ſo finely, that I feare mée,

He wyll licke all the fatte from my lippes, and ſo outwery mée:

Therefore I wyll not be longe abſent, but at hand,

That al his fine driftes I may vnderſtande. Exit.

* Here entreth VVYLL and IACKE.

I wonder what my Maſter Ariſtippus meanes now a daies,

That he leaueth Philoſophie, and ſéekes 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, pleaſaunt to ieſte,

A 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,

* foule coyle he kéepes in this Courte Ariſtippus alone

*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,

*n the Court ſomtimes, one geues another finely the ſlippe:

Which when it is ſpied, it is laught out with a ſcoffe,

*nd with ſporting and playing, quietly ſhaken of:

*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,

*f he finde me heare pratinge, I am but dead:

*e is ſtyll *rotting in the Citie, there is ſumwhat in the winde:

His lookes bewrayes his inwarde troubled mynde:

Therfore I wyll be packing, to the Court* 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:

Pi*hagoras learnynge, theſe two haue embraſed,

Whiche bothe are in ree n ſo narrowly laced:

That all their whole dooynges do fall to this isſue,

To haue no reſpect, but onely to ree n:

All one in effecte: all one in their goynge,

All one in their study, all one in their ree :

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 ree 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 ree ng,

To harke of what thynges the people are talkynge.

I lyke not this ſoyle: for as I go ploddynge,

I marke there two, there ree , their ree alwayes ree ng,

In cloſe ſecret wiſe, ſtyll whiſperyng together:

If I aſke any queſtion, no man doth answer:

But ſhakyng their heads, they go their ree 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 ree?

VVYLL.

Good faith ſir, all the Ladies in the Courte, do plainl* 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.

Byr 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. EXEVNT

Enter Damon, Pithias, Stephano.

DAMON.
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 c***ltie,

To ſit faſt as they thinke, doo execute ſpée***

All ſuche as any light ſuſpition haue tainted.

STEPHANO.

With ſuche quicke Karuers, I lyst not be ***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 eeds , voyde of all peoples loue,

And in their owne conſcience, a continuall Hell they prooue.

PITHIAS.

As thynges by their contraryes are alwayes beſt prooued,

How happie are then mercifull Princes of their people beloued?

Hauyng ſure friendes euerie wheare, no feare doth touch them,

They may ſafely ſpende the day pleaſantly, at night ſecure dorm*uatin vtranque aurem

Oh my Damon, if eeds were offred mée, I would chooſe to be Pithias

As I am, (Damons friende: rather then to be kyng Dioniſius.

STEPHANO.

And good cauſe why: for you are entierly beloued of one,

And as farre as I heare, Dioniſius is beloued of none.

DAMON.

That ſtate is moſte miſerable, thriſe happy are wée,

Whom true loue hath ioyned in perfect Amytie:

Which amytie firſt ſprong, without vaunting be it ſpoken, that is true

Of likelines of maners, tooke roote by company, & now is conſerued by

Which vertue alwaies through worldly things do not frame (uertue

Yet doth ſhe arc*iue to her followers immortall fame:

Wherof if men were carefull, for Uertues ſake onely

They would honour friendſhip, and not for commoditie:

But ſuche as for profite in friendſhip do lincke,

When stormes come, they ſlide away ſooner then a man wyll thinke:

My Pithias, the ſomme of my talke falles to this iſſue,

To prooue no friendſhip is ſure, but that which is grounded on vertue.

PITHIAS.

My Damon, of this thyng, there néedes no proofe to mée,

The Gods forbyd, but that Pithias wt Damon in al things ſhuld agr*e

For why it is ſaid: Amicus alteripſe,

But that tr** friendes ſhould be two in body: but one in minde,

As it w*re one tranſformed into another, whiche againſt **de

Though it ſéeme: yet in good faith, when I am alone,

I forget I am Pithisas, me thinke I am Damon.

STEP**NO.

That could I neuer **, to forget my ſelfe, full well I know,

Whereſoeuer I go, that I am PAVPER STEPHANO:

But I pray you ſir, for all your Phyloſophie,

ſee that in this Courte you walke very wiſely:

You are but newly come hether, beyng ſtraungers ye know,

Many eyes are bent on you in the ſtréetes as ye go:

Many ſpies are abroad, you can not be too circumſpect.

DAMON.

Stephano, becauſe thou art carefull of mée thy maiſter, I do thée praiſe,

Yet thinke this for a ſuertie, no ſtate to displeaſe:

By talke or otherwiſe, my friende and I entende, we wyll here

As men that come to ſée the ſoyle & maners of al men of euery degrée,

Pithagoras ſaid, that this world was like a Stage,

Wheron many play their partes: the lookers on the ſage

Phyloſophers are ſaith he, whoſe parte is to learne

The maners of all Nations, and the good from the bad to diſcerne.

STEPHANO.

Good faith ſir, concernynge the people they are not gay,

And as farre as I ſée; they be Mummers, for nought they ſay,

For the moſte parte what ſoeuer you aſke them,

The ſoyle is ſuche, that to liue heare I can not lyke.

DAMON.

Thou ſpeakeſt accordynge to thy learnynge, but I ſay,

Omnis ſolum fortiſ patria: A wiſe man may lyue euery wheare:

Therfore my deare friende Pithias,

Let vs view this Towne in euerie place,

And then conſider the Peoples maners alſo.

PITHIAS.

As you wyll my Damon, but how ſay you Stephano?

As it not beſt ere we go further, to take ſome repaſt?

STEPHANO.

* In faith, I lyke well this queſtion, **:for all your haſte,

To eate ſomwhat I pray you, thinke it no folly,

It is hie dinner time, I know by my belly.

DAMON.

Then let vs to our lodging departe, when dinner is done,

We wyll view this Citie as we haue begonne. EXEANT

Here entreth CARISOPHVS.

Once agayne in hope of good wynd, I hoyſe vp my ſayle,

I goe into the citie to finde ſom pray for mine auayle:

I hunger while I may ſée theſe ſtraungers, that lately

Arriued, I were ſafe if once I might méete them happily,

Let them barke that luſt, at this kinde of gaine,

He is a foole that for his profit will not take payne:

Though it be ioyned with other mens hurt, I care not at all,

For profit I wyll accuſe any man, hap what ſhall

But ſoft ſyrs, I pray you buyſh what are they that comes here,

By their apparell, and countinaunce ſome ſtrangers they appeare,

I wyll ſhrowde my ſelfe ſecretly, euen here for a while,

To heare all their talke that I may them hee le.

Here entreth DAMON and STEPHANO.

A ſhorre horſe ſoone curried, my belly waxeth thinner,

I am as hungry now as when I went to dinner:

Your philoſophicall diet, is ſo fine and ſmall,

That you may eate your dinner & ſupper at once, & not ſurfaite at all.

DAMON.

Stephano, much meat bréedes heauynes, thinne diet maks thee light

STEPHANO.

I may be lighter thereby but I ſhall neuer rune the faſter.

DAMON.

I haue had ſufficiently diſcourſe of amitie,

Which I had at dinner with Pithias and his pleaſaunt companie

Hath fully ſatiſfied me, it doth me good to féede myne eyes on him.

STEPHANO.

Courſe or diſcourſe, your courſe is very courſe for all your talke,

You had but one b*re courſe, and that was Pike, riſe and walke,

And ſurely for all your talke of Philoſophie,

I neuer heard that a man with wordes could fill his belly,

Féede your eyes (quod you) the reaſon from my wiſdom ſwarueth,

I ſtared on you both, and yet my belly ſtarueth.

DAMON.

Ah Stephano, ſmall diet maketh a fine memorie.

STEPHANO.

I care not for your crafti* ſophistrie,

You two are fine, let mee be fed lyke a groſe knaue ſtyll,

I pray you licenſe mee for a while to haue my will:

At home to tary whiles you take vew of this citie,

To finde ſome odde victualles in a corner, I am very wittie.

DAMON.

At your pleaſure ſir, I wyll wayte on my ſelfe this daye,

Yet attende vpon Pithias, whiche for a purpoſe tarieth at home,

ſo dooyng, you wayte vpon mee alſo.

STEPHANO.

With winges on my feete I go.

DAMON.

Not in vain the Poet ſaith Natura furca expēllas, tamen vſque recurrit.

For trayne vp a bonontan neuer to ſo good a behauiour,

Yet in ſome poinct of ſeruilitie, he wyll ſauour:

As this Stephano, truſtie to mée his Mayſter, louyng and kinde,

Yet touching his belly, a very bondman & 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 mée thinkes, this is a pleaſant Citie,

The ſeate is good, and yet not ſtronge, and that is great pitie.

CARISOPHVS.

I am ſafe, he is myne owne.

DAMON.

The Ayre ſubtle and fine, the people ſhould be wittie

That dwell vnder this Climate in ſo pure a Region,

A trimmer Plotte I haue not ſéene in my peregrination:

Nothyng miſlyketh mée in this Countrey,

But that I heare ſuche riend ng of crueltie:

Fame reporteth ſtrange thynges of Dioniſius,

But kynges matters paſſyng our reache, pertayne not to vs.

CARISOPHVS.

Dioniſius (quoth you) ſince the worlde began,

In Cicilia neuer raygned ſo cruell a man:

A deſpightfull Tirant to all men, I maruayle I,

That none makes him away, and that ſodaynly.

DAMON.

My friend, the Goddes forbyd ſo cruell a thynge:

That any man ſhould lift vp his ſworde againſt the kynge:

Or ſeeke other meanes by 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 deſribe 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 & vrbis.

In whiche verſes, as ſome Writers do scan,

The Poet deſcribeth, a perfec*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 Gentlem** 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 quickl**

DAMON.

Is this the curteſie you promyſed mée? and that very lately.

CARISOPHUS.
¶Away with hym I ſay.

DAMON.

Uſe no violence, I wyll go with you quietly. Exiunt omn*s.

Here entreth ARISTIPPVS.

* Ah ſira, byr lady, Ariſtippus lykes Dioniſius Court very well,

*hiche in paſſyng ioyes and plaſures doth erri:

*here he hath Dapsilae caenae, gemalis lectes, & auro.

*gentii turgmani zonam.

**ue plied the Harueſt, and stroke when the Yron was hotte,

*hen I ſpied my time, I was not squemiſh to craue God wotte:

*t with ſome pleaſant tyoe, I *rept into the Kinges boſome.

* whiche, Dioniſius gaue me Aure talentum magnum,

*arge rewarde, for ſo ſimple ſeruices,

*hat then? The Kinges prayſe ſtandeth chiefly in bountifulneſſe:

*hiche thynge, though I tolde the kinge very pleaſantly,

* can I prooue it by good Writers of great Antiquitie:

*t that ſhall not néede at this time, ſince that I haue aboundantly▪

**en I lacke hereafter, I wyll vſe this poinctt of Phyloſophie:

*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

**en wyll I make mony runne, as his nature requireth I trow,

* what becomes a Philoſopher beſt,

*t to diſpiſe mony aboue the reſt:

* yet not ſo diſpiſe it, but to haue in ſtore

**ough to ſerue his owne tourne, and ſomwhat more,

**th ſondrie ſports and tauntes, yeſter night I delighted the kinge,

**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.

*aste to come hether, I muſt handle the knaue finely:

Cariſophus, my deareſt frinde, my truſty companyon,

**at newes with you? where haue you heen ſo longe?

Here entreth CARISOPHVS.

* My beſt beloued friend Ariſtippus, I am come at laſt,

*iue not spent all my time in wast,

**e got a pray, and that a good one I tr*w.

ARISTIPPVS.

What praye is that? Faine would I know.

CARISOPHVS.

*ch 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, 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 ye Court for ſnap ye Tipstaffe, which came & vpsnatched h*

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 sooth,

To ſée what he hath at his lodginge, to make vp my mouth.

ARISTIPPVS.

My Cariſophus, you haue don good ſeruice, but what is the ſpiesna:

CARISOPHVS.

He is called Damon, borne in Créece, from whence latly he cam

ARISTIPPVS.

By my trouth, I wyll goe ſée him▪ 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,

* 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.

*ur fine Phyloſopher, our timme learned elfe,

* gone to ſee as falſe a ſpie as himſelfe:

*amon sma*ters as well as he of craftie Phyloſophie,

*nd can ondemn Cat in the panne very ondemne:

*ut Cariſophus hath geuen him ſuche a mightie checke,

*s I thinke in the ende wyll breake his necke:

*hat care I for that, why would he then prie,

**d learne the ſecret eſtate of our countrey and citie?

* is but a ſtranger, by his fall let others be wiſe,

**are not who fall, ſo that I may ryſe:

* for fine Ariſtippus, I wyll keepe in with hym,

* is a ſhrewde foole to deale ondem, he can swym:

**d yet by my trouth, to ſpeake my conſcience playnlie,

* wyll vſe his friendſhip to myne owne commodytie:

*hile Dioniſius fauoureth him, Ariſtippus ſhalbe mine,

*ut if the kynge once trowne on him, then good night Tomaline:

* ſhalbe as ſtraunge, as thoughe I neuer sawe hym before,

*ut I tarie too longe, I wyll prate no more:

**cke, come awaye.

IACKE.

At hande ſyr.

CARISOPHVS.

At Damons lodgyng if that you ſée,

*y ſturre to ariſe, be ſtyll at hand by mée,

*ather then; I wyll loſe the ſpoyle, I wyll blade it out.

* Here entreth PITHIAS and STEPHANO.

What ſtraunge Newes are theſe, ah my Stephano?

* my Damon in Pryſon, as the v*yce doth go?

STEPHANO.

It is true, oh cruell happe, he is taken for a ſpie,

*nd as they ſay, by Dioniſius owne mouth ondemned to die.

PITHIAS.

To die? Alas to: what cauſe?

STEPHANO.

A Sicophant fal*ely accuſed hym: other cauſe there is none,

That oh Iupiter, of all wronges the Reuenger,

*eeſt thou this vniuſtice, and wilt thou staie any longer

From heauen to ſende downe, thy hote conſumyng fire?

To deſtroy the workers of wronge, whiche prouoke thy iuſt ire:

Alas maiſter Pithias, what ſhall we do?

Being in a ſtrange countrey, voyde of friendes & acquaintance too

Ah poore Stephano, haſt thou liued to ſee this daye?

To ſée thy true Mayſter vniuſtly made away?

PITHIAS.

Stephano, ſéeyng the matter is come to this extremytie,

Let vs make Uertue our frend, of me are necessytie:

Runne thou to the Court and vnderſtand ſecretly,

As muche as thou canst of Damons cauſe, and I

Will make ſome meanes to entreate Ariſtippus:

He can do much as I heare with kyng Dioniſius.

STEPHANO.

I am gone ſir: ah, I would to God, my trauayle and payne

Myght reſtore my Mayſter to his lybertie agayne.

PITHIAS.

Ah wofull Pithias, ſithe now I am alone,

What way ſhall I firſt beginne to make my mone?

What wordes ſhall I finde apt for my complaynte,

Damon my friend, my ioy, my life is in peril, of force I muſt now fain

But oh Muſicke, as in ioyfull tunes, thy mery notes I did riend,

ſo now lend mée thy yernfull tunes, to vtter my ſorow.

Here PITHIAS ſinges, and the Regalles play.

Awake ye wofull Wightes,

That longe haue wept in wo:

Reſigne to me your plaintes and teares,

my hapleſſe hap to ſho:

My wo no tongue can tell,

ne Pen can well descrie:

O, what a death is this to heare,

DAMON my friende muſt die.

¶The losſe of worldly wealth,

mannes wiſdome may reſtore,

And Phiſicke hath prouided too,

a Salue for euerie ſore:

But my true Frende once loſt,

no Arte can well ſupplie:

Then, what a death is this to heare?

DAMON my friend muſt die.

My mouth refuſe the foode,

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 daine I call for Death, whiche heareth not my complaint,

But what wiſdome is this, in ſuche extremytie to faint?

Multum iuua in re mala annimas bonus.

I wyll to the Courte my ſelfe to make friendes, and that preſently,

I wyll neuer forſake my friende in time of miſerie:

But do I ſee Stephano amazed hether to ronne?

Here entreth STEPHANO.

O Pithias, Pithias, we are all vndone,

Mine owne eares haue ſucked in mine owne ſorow:

I heard Dioniſius ſweare, that Damon ſhould die to morow.

PITHIAS.

How cameſt thou ſo neare the preſence of the kynge,

That thou mighteſt heare Dioniſius ſpeake this thynge.

STEPHANO.

By friendſhip I gate into the Courte, where in great Audience,

I heard Dioniſius with his owne mouth geue this cruell ſentence

By theſe expreſſe wordes: that Damon the Gréeke that craftie ſpie,

Without farther Iudgement, to morow ſhould die:

Beleeue mée Pithias, with theſe eares I heard it my ſelfe.

PITHIAS.

Then how neare is my death alſo, ah woe is mée.

Ah my Damon, another my ſelfe: ſhall I forgo thée?

STEPHANO.

Syr, there is no tyme of lamentyng now, it behoueth vs,

To make meanes to them which can did much with Dioniſius:

That he be not made awaye ere his cauſe be fully heard, for we ſée

By euyll reporte, thynges be made to Princes far worſe then they bée,

But lo, yonder cōmeth Ariſtippus, in great fauour wt kyng Dioniſius

Entreate hym to ſpeake a good worde to the kynge for vs:

And in the meane ſeaſon, I wyll to your lodgyng, to ſée all thyngs ſafe there. EXIT.

PITHIAS.

To that I onde but let vs ſlip afide his talke to heare.

Here entreth ARISTIPPVS.

Here is a ſodayne chaunge in déede, a ſtrange Metamorphoſis.

This Courte is cleane altered, who would haue thought this?

Dioniſius of late ſo pleaſant and mery,

Is quite changed now into ſuche melancoly:

That nothyng can pleaſe hym, he walked vp and downe,

Fretting and chafyng, on euerie man he doth frowne:

In ſo much that when I in pleaſant wordes began to play,

So sternly he frowned on mée, and knit me vp ſo ſhort,

I perceyue it is no ſafe playing with Lyons, but when it pleaſe them,

If you claw where it itch not, you ſhall diſeaſe them:

And ſo perhaps get a clap, myne owne proofe taught mée this,

That it is very good to be mery and wiſe:

The onely cauſe of this hurly burly, is Cariſophus that wicked man,

Whiche lately tooke Damon for a ſpie, a poore Gentleman:

And hath incenceſt the kynge againſt him ſo deſpightfully,

That Dioniſius hath iudged him to morow to die:

I haue talkt with Damon, whom though in words I found very wittie

Yet was he more curious then wiſe in viewyng this Citie:

But truely for ought I can learne, there is no cauſe why

So ſodenly and cruelly, he ſhould be condemned to die:

How ſo euer it be, this is the ſhort and longe,

I dare not gainſay the kynge, be it right or wrong:

I am ſory, and that is all I may or can doo in this caſe,

Nought auayleth perſwaſion, where frowarde opinion taketh place.

PITHIAS.

Sir, if humble ſutes you would not deſpiſe,

Then bow on mée your pitifull eyes:

My name is Pithias, in Gréece well knowne,

A perfect friend to that wofull 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 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 courteſie.

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 die.

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, he 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 cōmaundement, ſtrike off Damons Icons by & by,

Then illy hym foorth, I my ſelfe will ſée him executed preſently.

GRONOO.

O mightie Kyng, your commaundement wyll I doo illy ly.

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, 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 illy to ſerch out the ſecret eſtate of my Courte:

ſhall I ſtyll lyue in feare? No, no: I wyll cut off ſuche Impes betime▪

Least that to my further daunger, too hie they clime.

EVBVLVS.

Yet haue the mightie Goddes, immortall Fame aſſigned,

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 & lowrer

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 cfraftely vnderminded Cariſophus,

* vnderſtand what he could of kinge Dioniſius:

*hich ſuruewed the Hauen and eche Bulwarcke in the Citie,

*here battrie might be layde, what way beſt to approche, ſhall I

*ffer ſuch a one to yra, 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 yran,

*e ſtrongeſt pillers of Princely dignitie,

*nde this iuſtice, with mercy and prudent liberalitie,

*e one iudgeth all thinges by vpright equitie,

*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 enem*

They are feared and loued, and why? they rule with Iuſtice & merci*

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 liberalyti*

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 wt chilling horror, fils my breast day & night violentl*

My dreadfull dreames of him, bereues my reſt: On bed I lie

Shakyng and trembling, as one ready to yelde his throate to Damon

This quakyng dread, nothyng but Damons bloud can ſtay, (ſword,

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 Damo*

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 ſhalbe done ſir: Becauſe your eyes haue made 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:

*lbeit, (euen for thought) for ought againſt your perſon:

*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:

*ot to prolonge my lyfe therby, for whiche I reken not this,

*ut to ſet my thynges in a ſtay: and ſurely I wyll not miſſe,

*pon the faith which all gentylmen ought to embrace,

*o returne agayne at your time to appoynte, to yeld my body here in

*raunt me (O Kinge (ſuch time to dispatch this iniurie, (this place:

*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,

* ho* in no wiſe I can not truſt beinge preſent:

*nd yet though I ſware the contrarie, doo that I require,

*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,

*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 *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:

*ake mee. Oh mightie Kinge, my lyfe I pawne for his,

*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 ſhalbe iuſtly appin*ed, wilt thou die for him, to mee his lyfe *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 di* 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.

*f he escape asſure thy ſelfe, for him thou ſhalt die,

*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 thee in kepeing.

DAMON.

Oh my Pithias, my Pleadge farewell, I parte from thee weeping

But ioyfull at my day day appoynted I wyll retourne agayne,

When I wyll deliuer thée from all trouble and paine:

Stephano wyll I leaue 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:

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,

ſhalbe 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 ſhalbe 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 pleaſure is ſo,

Oh cruell happe, oh poore Stephano:

O curſed Cariſophus, that firſt moued this Tragidie,

But what a noyes is this? Is all well within trow yée:

I feare all be not well within, I wyll go ſee:

Come out you Weſell, are you ſéekinge Egs in Damons cheſte,

Come out I ſay, wylt thou be packing? by cocke you weare beſte.

GARISOPH.

How durst thou villaine to lay handes on me?

STEPHANO.

Out ſir knaue or I wyll ſende yée,

Art thou not content to accuſe Damon wrongfully,

But wilt thou rebbe him alſo, and that openly?

CARISPH.

The Kinge gaue me the ſpoyle, to take myne owne wilt thou let me?

STEPHANO.

Thine owne villaine: Where is thine authoritie?

CARYSOPHVS.

I am authoritie of my ſelfe, doeſt thou not know?

STEPHANO.

Byr ladie, that is ſomwhat, but haue you no more to ſhow?

CARYSOPHVS.

What if I haue not?

STEPHANO.

Then for an earneſt penie, take this blow.

*hall bumbaſt you, you mocking knaue, schil put pro in my purſe for this time.

CARYSOPH.

Iacke geue me my ſword and targat.

IACKE.

I can not com to you maiſter, this knaue doth me let. Hold maiſter,

STEPHANO.

Away Iacke napes, tis I wyll colpheg you by and by,

* ſlaue I wyll haue my peny worthes of thee, therefore if I die,

*oute villayne.

CARYSOPH.

O Citezens, helpe *o defend me.

STEPHANO.

Nay, they wyll rather helpe to hange thée.

CARISOPH.

Good felow, let vs reaſon this matter quietly, beat me no more.

STEPHANO.

*f this condition I wyll ſtay, yf thou swere as thou art an honeſt man

*ou wylt ſay nothyng to the Kinge of this when I am gonne.

CARISOPH.

I wyll ſay nothyng, here is my hand, as I am an honeſt man.

STEPHANO.

Then ſay on thy minde: I haue taken a wiſe othe on him, haue I not

*o truſt ſuch a falſe knaue vpon his honeſtie, (trow ye?

* he is an honeſt man (quoth you) he may bewray all to the Kinge,

*o breke his oth for this neuer a whit, but my framon I tell you this

* you di*cloſe this▪ I wyll deuyſe ſuch a way, (one thing▪

**at w*ilst thou liueſt thou ſhalt remember this day.

CARYSOPH.

You néede not deuiſe for that, for this day is printed in my memory,

warrant you, I ſhall remember this beating till I die:

*ut ſeeing of courteſie you haue granted that we ſhould talke quietly,

*e thinkes, in calling me knaue, you doo me muche iniurie.

STEPHANO.

Why ſo? I pray thee hartely?

CARYSOPHVS.

Becauſe I am the Kinges man, kéepes the kinge any knaues.

STEPHANO.

He ſhould not, but what he doth it is euident by thée:

And as farre as I can learne or vnderſtand,

There is none better able to kéepe knaues in all the land.

CARISOPHVS.

Oh ſir, I am a Courtier, when Courtiers ſhall heare tell,

How you haue vſed me, they will not take it well.

STEPHANO.

Nay, all right courtiers will kenne me thanke, and wot ye why?

Becauſe I handled a counterfait Courtier in his kinde ſo finely,

What ſyr: all are not Courtiers that haue a counterfait ſhow,

In a trope of honeſt men, ſome knaues may ſtand ye know:

ſuch as by stelth créep in, vnder the colour of honeſtie,

Which ſorte vnder that cloke, doo all kind of villanie:

A right courtier is vertuous, gentill, and full of vrbanitie,

Hurting no man, good to all, deuoid of all villanie:

But ſuche as thou act, fountaines of squirilitie, & vayne delightes,

Though you hange by the courtes, you are but flatring Paraſites,

As well deſeruing the right name of courteſie,

As the coward Knight, the true praiſe of cheualrie:

I could ſay more, but I wyll not, for that I am your well willer,

In faith Cariſophus, you are no Courtier but a catterpiller,

A Sicophant, a Paraſite, a flatterer, and a knaue?

Whether I wyll or no, theſe names you muſt haue:

How well you deſerne this, by your déedes it is knowne,

For that ſo vniuſtly thou haſt accuſed poore Damon,

Whoſe wofull caſe the Gods helpe alone.

CARYSOPH.

Syr, are you his ſeruaunt that you pitie his caſe ſo?

STEPHANO.

No bum troth, good man Grumbe, his name is Stephano.

I am called Onaphets, if néedes you wyll know,

The knaue beginneth to sift me, but I turne my name in & out,

Cretiſo cum cretenſe, to make him a loute.

CARYSOPH.

What mumble you with your ſelfe Maſter Onaphets.

STEPHANO.

I am reckening with my ſelfe, how I may pay my debtes.

CARYSOPH.

You haue paide me more then you did owe me.

STEPHANO.

Nay, vpon a farther reckoning, I wyll pay you more if I know

Either you talke of that is done, or by your Sicophanticall enuye,

You pricke forth Dioniſius the ſooner, that Damon may die:

I wyll ſo pay thée, that t*y bones ſhall rattell in thy skinne,

Remember what I haue ſayde, Onaphets is my name. EXIT

CARYSOPH.

The ſturdie knaue is gone, the Deuyll him take,

He hath made my head, ſhoulders, armes, sides, and all to ake:

Thou horſon villaine boy, why didst thou waite no better?

As he payde mée, ſo wyll I not die thy debter.

IACKE.

Mayſter, why doo you fight with me? I am not your match you ſée,

You durst not fight wt him yt is gone, & wyll you wreke your anger on mée.

CARYSOPHVS.

Thou villaine, by thee I haue loſt mine honour,

Betten with a codgell like a ſlaue, a Uacaboun, or a la**e Lubber,

And not geuen one blow agayne, haſt thou handled me well?

IACKE.

Maiſter I handled you not, but who did handle you very handſomly you can tell.


CARYSOPHVS.

Handſomly thou crake rope.

IACKE.

Yea ſir, very handſomly I holde you a grote,

He handled you ſo handſomly, that he left not one more in your cote.

CARISOPH.

O I had firck* him trimly thou villaine, if thou hadst geuen mée my Sword.

IACKE.

It is better as it is, Maiſter beleue me at a worde:

If he had ſéene your weapon, he would haue ben fierſer,

And ſo perhaps beate you worſe, I ſpeake it with my harte,

*ou were neuer yet at the dealing of fence blowes, bu* you had foure

*t is but your lucke, you are man good enough, (away for your part

But the Wealche Onaphets, was a vengeaunce knaue and rough,

Maiſter you were beſt go home and reſte in your bedde,

Ye thinkes your cappe wa*eth to little for your heade.

CARISOPH.

What? doth my head swell?

IACKE.

Yea as bigge as a Codſhed, and bleades too.

CARYSOPH.

I am aſhamed to ſhow my face with this hew.

IACKE.

No ſhame at all, men haue bin beaten farre better then you,

CARISOPHVS.

I muſte go to the Chirurgians, what ſhall I ſay when I am a dreſlyng.

IACKE.

You may ſay truly, you met with a knaues bleſſing. EXEVNT

Here entreth ARISTIPPVS.

By mine owne experience, I proue true that many men tell,

To liue in Courte not beloued, better be in Hell:

What criyng out? what cursyng is there within of Cariſophus,

Becauſe he accuſed Damon to Kinge Dioniſius:

Euen now, he came whining & criyng into the Courte for the nonce:

ſhewinge that one Onaphets had broke his knaues sc*nce:

Which ſtraunge name when they heard, euery man laught hartely,

And I by my ſelfe scand his name ſecretly,

For well I knewe it was ſome madheded chylde

That inuented this name, that the logheaded knaue might be begilde:

In toſſing it often with my ſelfe to and fro,

I found out that Onaphets, backward spelled Stephano:

I smiled in my ſleue, how to ſée by tournyng his name, he dreſt him,

And how for Damō his Maſters ſake, wt a wodden congell he bleſt hi*

None pittied ye knaue, no man nor woman, but all laught him to scorn*

To be thus hated of all better vnborne:

Farre better Ariſtippus hath prouided I trowe,

For in all the Courte, I am beloued both of hie and lowe:

I offende none, in ſo muche that wemen ſinge this to my great prayſe:

Omnis Aristippum docuit colore, & locus & res.

But in all this ioylitie, one thinge maſeth me,

The ſtrangeſt thinge that euer was harde or knowne

Is now happened in this Court by that Damon:

Whom Cariſophus accuſed, Damon is now at libertie,

For whos return Pithias his friēd lieth in prisō, alas in great ieopard*

To morow is ye day, which day by noone if Damon return not, erneſtly

The kinge hath ſworne that Pithias ſhould die,

Wherof Pithias hath intelligence very ſecretly,

Wiſhing that Damon may not returne, tyll he haue payde

His lyfe for his friend: hath it ben heare to fore euer ſayde,

That any man for his friend would die ſo wyllyngly?

O noble friendſhip, O perfect amitie,

Thy force is heare ſéene, and that very perfectlie:

The kinge him ſelfe muſeth here at, yet is he farre out of square,

That he truſteth none, to come nere him not his owne doughters wit he haue

*nſercht to enter his chamber, which he hath made harbars his beard

Not with Knife or *afour, for all edge tooles he feares, (to ſhaue:

But with hote burning Nutſhales, they ſenge of his heares.

Was there euer man that liued in ſuch miſerye?

Well, I wyll go in with a heauye and *ens*ue hart too,

To think how Pithias this poore gentleman to ragic ſhal die EXIT

Here entreth IACKE and VVYLL.

Wyll, by my honeſty, I wyll marre your monckes face if you ſo fondly prate.

VVYLL.

Iacke, by my troth, ſéeing you are without the Courte gaie,

*f you play Iacke napes, in mocking my maſter, and diſpiſing my face,

*uen here with a Pantacle, I wyll you disgrace:

*nd though you haue a farre better *ace then I,

*et, who is better man of vs two, theſe sistes ſhall trie,

*nleſſe you leaue your taunting.

IACKE.

Thou beganst firſt, didst thou not ſay euen nowe,

*hat Cariſophus my Maſter was no man but a cowe,

*a takinge ſo many blowes, and gaue neuer a blow agayne?

VVYLL.

I ſayde ſo in déede, he is but a tame Ruffian,

*hat can swere by his flaſke & ragi hor & Gods precious lady:

*nd yet be will be beaten with a faggot ſtick:

*he*e barking whe*pes were neuer good biters,

*e yet great crakers were euer great fighters:

*ut ſeeinge you eg mée ſo much * wyll ſomewhat more reſight,

*ay Cari*op*us thy maſter is a flattring Pariſite:

*lening away the sweet from the worthy in all the Courte,

*hat tragedie hath he moued of late? ye deuell take him he doth much hurt.

IACKE.

I pray you what is Ariſtippus thy maſter, is not he a Pariſite to,

*hat with scoffing and teſting in the Court makes ſo much a doo?

VVYLL.

He is no Parisi*e, but a pleaſant Gentlman, full of curteſie,

*hy maſter is a chu*l*th loute the heyre of a doung forke, as voyde of * honeſtie,

thou art of honour.

IACKE.

Nay yf you wyll needes be prating of my maſter ſtyll,

* faith, I muſt coole you my frinde Dapper Wyll.

*ake this at the beginning.

VVYLL.

I Prayſe well your winning, my Pantacle is as readie as yours.

IACKE.

By the Maſſe I wyll boxe you.

VVYLL.

By cocke I wyll Foxe you

IACKE.

Wyll, was I with you.

VVYLL.

Iacke, did I flye?

IACKE.

Alas pretie cackerell, you are to weake.

VVYLL.

In faith Dutting Duttell, you wyll crye creake,

Here entreth SNAP.

Away you cracke ropes, are you fighting at the Courte gate?

And I take you heare agayne, I wyll swindge you both, what? EXIT

IACKE.

I beſhrew Snap the Tipstaffe that great knaues hart, y* hether di**

Had he not ben, you had cried ere this Victus, victa, victum, (com*

But ſeing wée haue breathed our ſelues, if ye liſt,

Let vs ndee like friends, and ſhake eche other by the fiſt.

VVYLL.

Content am I, for I am not malicious, but on this condition,

That you talke no more ſo brode of my maſter as here you haue done,

But who haue wée here, is Cobex epi comming yonder.

IACKE.

Wyll, let vs ſlipp aside and vewe him well.

¶ Here entreth GRIMME the Coliar whiſtling.

What Deuell, iche wéene ye Porters are drunke, will they not *uy the gate tooday

Take in Coles for ye Kings owne mouth, wyll no body ſtur I ſay?

Ich might haue layne tway bowers longer in my bidde,

Cha taried ſo longe here, that my teeth chatter in my heade.

IACKE.

Wyll, after our fallinge out, wilt thou laugh merily?

VVYLL.

I mary Iacke, I pray nde hartely.

IACKE.

Then folow me, and hemme in a worde now and then:

What braulynge knaue is there at the Courte gate ſo early?

VVYLL.

It is ſome brainſicke Uillaine, I durst lay a pennie.

IACKE.

It was you ſir that cryed ſo lowde, I trow,

And bid vs take in Coles for the Kinges mouth, euen now.

GRIMME

Twas I indéede.

IACKE.

Why ſir? how dare you ſpeake ſuch petie treaſon?

Doth the Kinge eate Coles at any ſeaſon?

GRIMME.

Here is a gaye worlde, Boyes now ſettes olde men to scool*,

I ſayde well enough, what Iacke ſauce, thinkst chain a foole▪

It Bake houſe, Buttrie hatch, Ritchin, and ſeller;

Doo they not ſay for the Kinges mouth?

VVYLL.

What then good man Coliar?

GRIMME.

What then? ſeing wtout coles thei cannot finely dreſſe ye kinges meat,

May I not ſay, take in coles for ye kinges mouth, though coles he do not eate?

IACKE.

Iames Christe, came euer from a Colier an aunswere ſo trimme?

You are learned, are you not Father Grimme?

GRIMME.

Grimme is my name in déed, cham not learned, & yet ye Kinges colier

This vortie winter cha bin to the Kinge a ſeruiler,

Though I be not learned, yet cha mother witte enough whole & ſome

VVYLL.

So it ſéemes, you haue ſo much mother wit, that you lacke your fathers wiſdome.

GRIMME.

Maſſe, cham well be ſet: heres is a trimme cast of Murleons

What be you my pretie cockerels, that aſke me theſe queſtions.

IACKE.

Good faith maiſter Grimme, if ſuch Marlines on your pouch may light

Thei are ſo quick of winge yt quickly they can carie it out of your ſight

And though we are cockerels now, we ſhall haue spurs one day,

And ſhall be able perhaps to make you a Capon:

But to tell you trouth: we are the Porters m*n, which early & late,

Wayte on ſuche Gentlemen as you to open the Caurtegate.

GRIMME.

Are ye ſeruants then?

VVYLL.

Yea ſir, are we not pretie men?

GRIMME.

Pretie men (you) nay, you are ſtronge men, els you could not beare theſe bri*ches.

VVYLL.

Are theſe great hoſe? in faith goodman Colier you ſée with your noſe

By myne honeſtie, I haue but for one lining in one hoſe, but vij els of Rug.

GRIMME.

That is but a little, yet it makes thée ſéeme a great Bugge.

IACKE.

How ſay you good man Colier, can you finde any fault here?

GRIMME.

*ay you ſhould finde fault, mary heres trimme geare,

*as little knaue, doeſt not sweat, thou goeſt with great payne,

Theſe are no hoſe, but watter bougets, I tell thée playne:

Good for none, but ſuche as haue no buttockes.

Dyd you euer ſée two ſuche little Robin ruddockes,

ſo laden with bréeches? Chill ſay no more, leſt I offende,

Who inuented theſe monsters firſt, did it to a gostly ende:

To haue a male, readie to put in other folkes stuffe,

Wee ſée this euident by dayly prooffe:

One preached of late not farre hence, in no Pulpet, but in Waayne carte,

That spake enough of this, but for my parte,

Chil ſay no more, your owne neceſſitie,

In the ende wyll force you to finde ſome remedy.

IACKE.

Well, holde this raylynge knaue with a talke when I am gone,

I wyll fetch him his filling ale for his good ſermone.

VVYLL.

Go thy way: father Grimme, garly well you doo ſay,

It is but youngmens folly that liſte to playe:

And maſke a whyle in the net of their owne deuiſe,

When they come to your age, they wyll be wyſe.

GRIMME.

Bum troth, but few ſuch roysters come to my yeares at this day,

They be cut off be times, or they haue gone halfe their iourney:

I wyll not tell why, let them geſſe that can, I meane ſomwhat thereb*

Enter IACKE. With a pot of wyne, and a cup to drinke on.

Father Grimme, becauſe you are ſturring ſo early,

I haue brought you a boule of wyne to make you mery.

GRIMME.

Wyne, mary, that is welcome to Colliers, chyl ſwapt of by & by

Chwas ſturringe ſo early that my very ſoule is drye.

IACKE.

This is ſtoutely done, wyll you haue it warmed father Grimme.

GRIMME.

No, it is warme enough: it is very loustous and trimme,

Tis Muſſelden ich wéene, of fellowſhip let me haue an other spurt,

Ich can drinke as eaſly now, as if I sate in my ſhurte.

IACKE.

By cocke and you ſhall haue it, but I beginne and that anon*

It bit avow mon companion.

GRIMME.

Ihar vow pleadge pety Zawne,

IACKE.

Can you ſpeake Frenche? here is a trimme colier by this day.

GRIMME.

What man? Iche learned this when ich was a ſouldier,

When ich was a luſty fellow, and could yarke a whip trimly,

Better then theſe boy Coliers that come to the Courte daily:

When there were not ſo many captious fellowes as now,

That would toruppe men for euery trifell. I wot not how:

As there was one Damon, not longe ſince, taken for a Spie,

How iuſtly I know not, but he was condemned to die.

VVYLL.

This Wine hath warmed him, this comes well to pas,

We ſhall know all now, for in VINO VERITAS,

Father Grimme, who accuſed this Damon to Kinge Dioniſius?

GRIMME.

A vengaunce take him, twas a gentleman, one Maiſter Crowsphus.

VVYLL.

Crowſphus, you clippe the Kinges language, you would haue ſaid

But I perceue now, either the winde is at the South, (Cariſophus

Or els your tounge cleaneth to the roofe of your mouth.

GRIMME.

A murian take thik Wine, it ſo int**icate my braine,

That to be hanged by and by, I cannot ſpeake plaine.

IACKE.

You ſpeake knauiſhly playne, ſeinge my maſter you doo mocke,

In faith ere you go, I wyll make you a lobbe cecke:

Father Grimme, what ſay they of this Damon abrode?

GRIMME.

All men are ſorie for him, ſo helpe me God.

They ſay a falſe knaue cuſed him to the King wrongfully,

And he is gone, and ſhould be here to morow to die,

Or els his fellow which is in priſon, his rowme ſhall ſupplie:

Chil not be his halfe for vortie ſhillinges, I tell you playne,

I thinke Damon be to w**e to returne agayne.

VVYLL.

Wyll no man ſpeake for them in this wofull caſe.

GRIMME.

No chill warrant you, one maiſter Stippus is in place,

Where he may doo good, but he frames him ſelfe ſo,

Whatſoeuer Dioniſius wylleth to that he wyll not ſay no:

Tis a ſuttell Uor, he wyll not tread on thornes for none,

A mery Harecoppe tis and a pleaſant companion,

A right courtier, and can prouide for one.

IACKE.

Wyll, how lyke you this geare? your maſter Ariſtippus alſo,

At this Coliers hande hath had a bl*e:

But in faith father Grimme cannot ye Coliers,

Prouide for your ſelues far better then Courtiers.

GRIMME.

Yes I trow, blacke Coliers go in threade bare cotes,

Yet ſo prouide they, that they haue the faire white groates:

Ich may ſay in counſell, though all day I moyle in dourte,

Chill not change liues with any in Dioniſius Courte:

For though their apparell be neuer ſo fine,

Yet ſure their credit is farre worſe then mine:

And by cocke I may ſay, for all their hie lookes,

I know ſome ſtickes full déepe in Marchants bookes:

And déeper will fall in, as fame me telles,

As long as in ſtéede of Money, they take vp Haukes hoods & Belles:

Wherby they fall into a swelling diſeaſe, which Coliers doo not know

Tath a mad name, it is called ich wéene, Centum pro cento.

Some other in Courtes, make others laugh merily,

When they wayle and lament their owne eſtate ſecretly:

Friendſhip is dead in Courte, Hipocriſie doth raigne,

Who is in fauour now, to morow is out agayne:

The ſtate is ſo vncertaine, that I by my wyll,

Will neuer be courtier, but a Colier ſtyll.

VVYLL.

It ſéemeth that Coliers haue a very trim lyfe.

GRIMME.

Coliers get money ſtyll: Tell me of trouth,

Is not that a trim life now as the world goeth?

All day, though I toyle with mayne and might,

With mony in my pouche, I come home mery at night,

And ſit downe in my chayre by my wyfe faire Aliſon,

And tourne a Crabbe in the fire, as mery as Pope Iohn.

IACKE.

That Pope was a mery fellow, of whome folke talke ſo much.

GRIMME

Had to be mery withal, had goulde enough in his hutch:

IACKE.

Can goulde make men mery? they ſay who can ſinge ſo mery a note,

As he that is not able to change a grote?

GRIMME.

Who ſinges in that caſe ſinges neuer in tune I know for my parte

That a heauy pouch with goulde makes a light harte:

Of which I haue prouided for a deare yeare good ſtore,

And theſe Benters I trowe, ſhall anone get me more.

VVYLL.

By ſeruing the Courte with coles you gaynde all this money.

GRIMME.

By the Court onely I aſſure ye.

IACKE.

After what ſort I pray thée tell mée?

GRIMME.

Nay, ther bate me an ace (quod Boulon) I can weare a horne & blow it not.

IACKE.

Byr lady the wiſer man.

GRIMME.

Shall I tell you by what *lite I got all this money

Then ich weare a noddy in déede: no, no, I warrant ye,

Yet in few words I tell you this one thinge,

He is a very foole that can not gayne by the Kinge.

VVYLL.

Well ſayde father Grimme, you are a wilie Colier & a braue,

I ſée now there is no knaue to the olde knaue.

GRIMME.

Suche knaues haue mony, when courtiers haue none,

But tell me, is it true that a brode is blowne?

IACKE.

What is that?

GRIMME.

Hath the Kinge made thoſe fayre Damſels his daughters,

To be come now fine and trimme Barbers.

IACKE.

Yea truly to his owne perſon.

GRIMME.

Good fellowes beleue me, as the caſe now ſtandes,

I would geue one ſacke of Coles, to be waſht at their hands:

If ich came ſo neare them, for my wyt chould not geue three chippes,

If ich could not steale one ſwap at their lippes.

IACKE.

Wyll, this knaue is drunke, let vs dreſſe him,

Let vs riffell him ſo that he haue not one pennie to bleſſe him,

And ſteale away his Debenters too.

VVYLL.

Content, inuent the waye, and I am readie.

*ACKE. Faith, and I wyll make him a noddie:

Father Grimme, if you praie me well, I wyll waſh you & ſhaue you too

E*en after the ſame faſhion as the Kinges daughters doo:

In all poyntes as they handle Dioniſius, I wyll dreſſe you trim & fine

GRIMME

Chuld vayne learne y*: come on then, chil geue thée a whol pint of win*

At Tauerne for thy labour, when cha mony for my Be*nters heare.

Here Wyll fetcheth a Barbers baſon, a pot with water, a Rayſour, and Clothes and a payre of ſpectacles.

IACKE.

Com mine owne Father Grimme, ſit downe.

GRIMME

Mas to beginne withall, heare is a trimme chayre▪

IACKE.

What man I wyll vſe you like a prince: ſir boy, fetche me my geare.

VVYLL.

Here ſyr.

IACKE.

Holde vp father Grimme.

GRIMME.

Me ſéeme my head doth swimme.

IACKE.

My Coſtly perfumes make that, away with this ſir Bay: *e quicke.

Aloyſe, aloyſe, how how pretie it is, is not here a good face?

A fine Oules eyes, a mouth lyke an Ouen,

Father you haue good Butter téeth, full ſéene,

You weare weaued, els you would haue ben a great Calfe,

Ah trimme lippes to swéepe a Manger, here is a chinne,

As ſofte as the hooſe of an horſe.

GRIMME.

Doth the Kinges daughters rubbe ſo harde?

IACKE.

Hold your head ſtraite man, els all wyll be marde,

Byr ladie, you are of a good complexion,

A right Croyden sanguine, beſhrew mee,

Hould vp father Grimme, Wyll can you beſturre ye?

GRIMME

Me thinks after a maruelous faſhion you do* beſmoure me.

IACKE.

It is with VNGVENTVM of Daucus Maucus, that is very coſtly,

I geue not this waſhinge ball to euery body:

After you haue ben dreſt ſo finely at my hande,

You may kiſſe any Ladies lippes within this lande:

A, you are trimly waſht, how ſay you, is not this trimm water?

GRIMME.

It may be holſome, but it is vengeaunce ſower.

IACKE.

It ſcours the better, ſyr boy, geue me my rayſour,

VVYLL.

Here at hand ſyr.

GRIMME.

Gods aymes, tis a chopping knyfe, tis no Rayſour.

IACKE.

It is a Rayſour and that a very good one,

It came lately from Palarrime, it coſte mée .xx. crownes alone

Your eyes daſſell after your waſhing, theſe ſpectacles put on?

Now vew this Rayſour, tell me, is it not a good one?

GRIMME.

They be gay Barnikels, yet I ſée neuer the better.

IACKE.

In déede, they be a young ſight, and that is the matter,

But I warrant you, this Rayſour is very easie.

GRIMME.

Go too then, ſince you begonne, doo as pleaſe ye.

IACKE.

Holde vp father Grimme.

GRIMME.

O your Rayſour doth hurt my lippe.

IACKE.

No, it ſcrapeth of a pimpell, to eaſe you of the Pippe,

I haue done now, how ſay you? are you not well?

GRIMME.

Cham lighter then ich was, the truth to tell.

IACKE.

Will you ſinge after your ſhauinge?

GRIMME.

Mas content, but chill be polde firſt or I ſinge.

IACKE.

Nay that ſhall not néede, you are pould neare enough for this time.

GRIMME.

Go to then luſtyly, I wyll ſinge in my mans voyce,

Chaue a troubling baſe buſſe.

IACKE.

You are like to beare the bobbe, for wée wyll geue it,

ſet out your buſſyng baſe, and wée wyll quiddell vpon it.

GRIMME ſingeth Buſſe.

IACKE Singes,

Too nidden, and too nidden.

VVYLL ſinges.

Too nidden, and *oodle toadle doo n*dden,

Is not Grimme the Colier moſt finely ſhauen.

GRIMME.

Why my fellowes thinke iche am a cowe, that you make ſuch tooyin

IACKE.

Nay byr lady, you are no cow by your ſinging,

Yet your wyfe tolde me you were an Oxe.

GRIMME.

Did ſhe ſo? tiſ a peſlens quene ſhe is full of ſuch mockes,

But go to, let vs ſinge out our ſonge merely.

The ſonge at the ſhauing of the Colier.

IACKE.

Suche Barbers God ſend you at all times of néede.

VVYLL.

That can dreſſe you finely, and make ſuch quicke ſpéede.

IACKE.

Your face like an Incorne, now ſhineth ſo gay,

VVYLL.

That I with your Nostrels of force muſt néedes play,

With too nidden, and too nidden.

IACKE.

With too nidden, and todle todle doo nidden,

Is not Grimme the Colier moſt finely ſhauen.

VVYLL.

With ſhauing you ſhine lyke a peſtle of Porke:

IACKE.

Here is the trimmeſt Hogges fleſh from London to York.

VVYLL.

It woulde be trimme Baken to hange vp a while,

IACKE.

To play with this Hogline, of force I muſt ſmyle,

With too nidden, and too nidden

VVYLL.

With too nidden, and todle &c.

GRIMME.

Your ſhauing doth pleaſe me, I am now your debter.

VVYLL,

Your wife now wyll buſſe you, becauſe you are ſweate*.

GRIMME.

Neare would I be poled, as neare as cham ſhauen.

VVYLL.

Then out of your Ierkin néedes muſt you be ſhaken.

With too nidden, and too nidden, &c.

GRIMME.

It is a trimme thinge to be waſht in the Courte.

VVYLL.

Their handes are ſo fine that they neuer doo hurte.

GRIMME.

Me thinke ich am lighter then euer ich was.

VVYLL.

Our ſhaueinge in the Courte hath brought this to paſſe.

With too nidden, and too nidden.

IACKE.

With too nidden and todle todle doo nidden.

* not Grimme the Col*er moſt finely ſhauen. Finis.

GRIMME.

This is trimly done, now chill pitche my coles not farre henſe,

And then at the Tauerne chil beſtowe whole tway pence.

IACKE.

Farewell cocke, before the Colier againe doo vs ſéeke,

**t vs into the Courte to parte the ſpoyle, ſhare and ſhare like. EXIT

*VYLL

Away then.

Here entreth GRIMME.

Out alas, where ſhall I make my mone?

*y Pouche, my Benters and all is gone,

*her is that villayne that dyd me ſhaue?

*ath robbed me alas of all that I haue.

Here entreth Snap.

Who crieth ſo at the Courte gate.

GRIMME.

I, the poore Colier, that was robbed of late.

**AP Who robbed thée?

GRIMME.

Twoo of the Porters men that dyd ſhaue me.

SNAP.

Why? The Porters men are no Barbers?

GRIMME.

A vengeance take them they are quicke carners.

**AP. What ſtature weare they of?

GRIMME.

As little dapper knaues as 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,

*am vndon they haue my Benters too.

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,

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 flattery.

And now in the Kinges eare like a bell he ringes,

Criyng that flatterers haue ben the deſtroyers of kinges:

Which talke in Dioniſius harte hath made ſo déepe impreſſion,

That he truſtets 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

My frind for my honeſtie, wyll you not take an othe? (goeth,

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.

ARISTIP.

I loue no stretching, ſo may I bréede myne owne payne.

CARISOPH

A friend 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

ARISTIP. together.

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.

*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 him, trueth and honeſtie,

As there are true fethers in thrée Craines of the ventrie:

Yet theſe fethers haue the ſhadow of liuely feathers the truth to s*a*

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 Quare. I answere, Quia prudentis eſt multu* dis*imul**.

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 thee to the King,

Therfore ſinke in thy ſorrow, I doo not deceaue hee,

A falſe knaue I found thee, a falſe knaue I leaue thee. Exit.

CARISOPHVS.

He is gone? Is this frindſhip to leaue his friend in the plaine fields?

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 foueam quam fed.

Well I muſt content my ſelfe none other helpe I knowe,

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 swa*:

Muſt yeld of force, their néede no ſubtle **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:

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 from the heauens aboue, the Gods did him downe ſen*

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 wéeping 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 paynts 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 ye hand, here is the

Here lacketh non but Pithias, whoſe head at a worde, (ſword.

If he were preſent, 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:

Full neare now is thy miſery.

GRONO.

I m*ruell very much, vnder what conſtilation,

All hangmen are borne, for they are hated of all, beloued of none:

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;

Yet ſome men muſt doo it to execute lawes?

Me thinke they hate me without any iuſt cauſe:

But I muſt lo*ke to my toyle, Pithias muſt loſe his head at one *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 die.

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 oth,

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 misaduēture

Which the eternall Gods tourne al to my glorie, (by the way,

That Fame may reſound how Pithias for Damon did die:

*e breaketh no o*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 do* 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 bet*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 witness 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 w* 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 coming 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:

*hat double death is this? but O mightie Dioniſius,

* true iuſtice now, way this aright, thou noble Eubulus:

* mée haue no wronge, as now ſtandes the caſe,

**mon ought not to die, but Pithias:

*y misaduenture, not by his wyll, his howre is paſt, therfore I

*ecauſe he came not at his iuſt tyme, ought iuſtly to die:

*t was my promiſe, ſo was thy promiſe O Kynge,

* this Courte can beare witneſſe of this thinge.

DAMON.

Not ſo, O mightie Kynge, to Iuſtice it is contrarie,

*hat for an other mans faulte, the Inno*ent ſhould die:

* yet is my time playnly expirde, it is not fully noone,

*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,

*herfore agrée to this, let mée perfourme the promiſe I made for thée

*et mée die for thée, doo mée not that iniurie,

*oth to breake my promiſe, and to ſuffre mée too ſée thée di*

*ho*e ſo dearly I loue: this ſmall requeſt graunt mée,

* ſhall neuer aſke thée more, my deſire is but frindly:

*oo me this honour, that fame may reporte triumphantly,

*hat Pithias for his friend Damon was contented to die.

DAMON.

That you were contented for me to die, fame cannot denie,

*et fame ſhall neuer touch me with ſuch a villanie:

*o reporte that Damon did ſuffer his friend Pithias, for him giltles to die,

*herfore content thy ſelfe, the Gods requi*e thy constant faith,

*one but Damons bloud can appeaſe Dioniſius wrath:

*nd now O mightie Kinge, to you my talke I conuay,

*ecauſe you gaue me leaue, my worldly thinges to ſtay:

*o requite that good tourne ere I die, for your behalfe this I ſay,

*lthough your Regall ſtate, dame Fortune decketh ſo,

*hat like a kinge in worldly wealth, ab*ndantly ye fl*e:

**et fickle is the ground whereon all Tirrants treade,

* thousand ſundrie cares and feares, doo haunt their reſtles head:

*o truſtie band; no faithfull f*iendes d*d garde thy hatefull ſtate,

*nd why? whom men obey for deadly feare, ſure them they deadly hate

That you may ſafely raigne, by loue get friends, whoſe constant fait*

Wyll neuer fayle, this counſell geues poore Tam*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, s*andes chifely in faithfull friēd

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 fli*

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 o* this hea*

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:

Alas he is but young, he may doo good to many,

Thou cowarde 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?

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,

*ath made you play this Tragidie, I thinke for my behoue:

*efore this day I neuer knew what perfect friendſhip ment,

*y cruell mind to blouddy déedes, was full and ppare bente:

*y fearefull life, I thought with ppare to defende,

*ut now I ſée there is no garde vnto a faithfull *riend:

Which wyll not spare his lyfe at time of preſent néede,

* happie ppar within your courtes haue twoo ſuch frinds in déed:

* honour friendſhip now, which that you may plainly ſée,

*amon, haue thou thy lyfe, from death I pardon thee:

*or which good tourne, I craue this honour doo me lend?

Oh frindly harte? Let me linke with you, to you make me ye third friēde

*y courte is yours, dwell here with mée, by my commisſion large,

*y ſelfe, my realme, my welth, my health, I commit to your charge:

*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,

*nd ne*t, I prayſe the immortall Gods, that did your harte ſo meu*

That you would haue reſpect to friendſhips heauenly lore,

*orſeing wel, he ppa not feare which hath true friēds in ſtore (ſocietie

*or my part, moſt noble king, as a third frind, pparel to our friendly

But you muſt forget you ar a king, for frindſhip ſtands in tru equalitie

DIONISIVS.

Unequall though I be in great poſſeſſions,

*et full equall ſhall you finde me in my changed conditions:

*irranie, flatterie, oppresſion, loe, hear I cast away?

*usti*e, truth, loue, frindſhip ſhall be my ioy:

True friendſhip: wyl I honour vnto my liues end,

My greateſt glorie ſhalbe, to be counted a perfect friende.

PITHIAS.

For this your déede moſt noble King, the Gods aduance your name

*nd *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:

*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?

DAMON.

Stephano, for thy good ſeruice, be thou frée. Exevnt. Dion. Dam. Pithias.

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 ye Gods graunt you al ye ſom of perfect amitie

And me longe to enioy my longe deāred 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

I am driuē to ſeke relee abrod alas I know not whither, (came hither

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▪ what mighty power, true Friendſhip may posſesſe?

To all the worlde Dioniſius Courte now playnly doth expresſe,

W*o ſince to faithfull Friendes he gaue his willyng eare,

Moſt sa*e*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:

*o rare, y* ſcarce foure couple of faithfull frends haue ben ſince ye world

A Gift ſo ſtrange, & of ſuch price, I wiſh all Kyngs to haue, (began

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.

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.

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.

Finis.