Chapter 4

Jack.Such barbers God send you at all times of need.Will.That can dress you[so]finely, and make such quick speed;Jack.Your face like an inkhorn now shineth so gay—Will.That I with your nostrils of force must needs play,With too nidden and too nidden.Jack.With too nidden and todle todle doo nidden.Is not Grim the collier most finely shaven?Will.With shaving you shine like a pestle of pork.[126]Jack.Here is the trimmest hog’s flesh from London to York.Will.It would be trim bacon to hang up awhile.Jack.To play with this hoglin of course I must smile,With too nidden and too nidden.Will.With too nidden and todle, &c.Grim.Your shaving doth please me, I am now your debtor.Will.Your wife now will buss you, because you are sweeter.Grim.Near would I be polled, as near as cham shaven.Will.Then out of your jerkin needs must you be shaken.With too nidden and too nidden, &c.Grim.It is a trim thing to be wash’d in the court.Will.Their hands are so fine, that they never do hurt.Grim.Me-think ich am lighter than ever ich was.Will.Our shaving in the court hath brought this to pass.With too nidden and too nidden.Jack.With too nidden and todle todle doo nidden.Is not Grim the collier most finely[127]shaven?Grim.This is trimly done: now chill pitch my coals not far hence,And then at the tavern shall bestow whole tway pence.[ExitGrim.Jack.Farewell, [by] Cock. Before the collier again do us seek,Let us into the court to part the spoil, share and share [a]like.Will.Away then.[Exeunt.

Jack.Such barbers God send you at all times of need.

Will.That can dress you[so]finely, and make such quick speed;

Jack.Your face like an inkhorn now shineth so gay—

Will.That I with your nostrils of force must needs play,

With too nidden and too nidden.

Jack.With too nidden and todle todle doo nidden.

Is not Grim the collier most finely shaven?

Will.With shaving you shine like a pestle of pork.[126]Jack.Here is the trimmest hog’s flesh from London to York.Will.It would be trim bacon to hang up awhile.Jack.To play with this hoglin of course I must smile,With too nidden and too nidden.Will.With too nidden and todle, &c.

Will.With shaving you shine like a pestle of pork.[126]

Jack.Here is the trimmest hog’s flesh from London to York.

Will.It would be trim bacon to hang up awhile.

Jack.To play with this hoglin of course I must smile,

With too nidden and too nidden.

Will.With too nidden and todle, &c.

Grim.Your shaving doth please me, I am now your debtor.Will.Your wife now will buss you, because you are sweeter.Grim.Near would I be polled, as near as cham shaven.Will.Then out of your jerkin needs must you be shaken.With too nidden and too nidden, &c.

Grim.Your shaving doth please me, I am now your debtor.

Will.Your wife now will buss you, because you are sweeter.

Grim.Near would I be polled, as near as cham shaven.

Will.Then out of your jerkin needs must you be shaken.

With too nidden and too nidden, &c.

Grim.It is a trim thing to be wash’d in the court.Will.Their hands are so fine, that they never do hurt.Grim.Me-think ich am lighter than ever ich was.Will.Our shaving in the court hath brought this to pass.With too nidden and too nidden.Jack.With too nidden and todle todle doo nidden.Is not Grim the collier most finely[127]shaven?

Grim.It is a trim thing to be wash’d in the court.

Will.Their hands are so fine, that they never do hurt.

Grim.Me-think ich am lighter than ever ich was.

Will.Our shaving in the court hath brought this to pass.

With too nidden and too nidden.

Jack.With too nidden and todle todle doo nidden.

Is not Grim the collier most finely[127]shaven?

Grim.This is trimly done: now chill pitch my coals not far hence,And then at the tavern shall bestow whole tway pence.[ExitGrim.

Grim.This is trimly done: now chill pitch my coals not far hence,

And then at the tavern shall bestow whole tway pence.

[ExitGrim.

Jack.Farewell, [by] Cock. Before the collier again do us seek,Let us into the court to part the spoil, share and share [a]like.

Jack.Farewell, [by] Cock. Before the collier again do us seek,

Let us into the court to part the spoil, share and share [a]like.

Will.Away then.[Exeunt.

Will.Away then.

[Exeunt.

Here enterethGrim.

Grim.Out alas, where shall I make my moan?My pouch, my benters, and all is gone;Where is that villain that did me shave?H’ ath robbed me, alas, of all that I have.

Grim.Out alas, where shall I make my moan?

My pouch, my benters, and all is gone;

Where is that villain that did me shave?

H’ ath robbed me, alas, of all that I have.

Here enterethSnap.

Snap.Who crieth so at the court-gate?Grim.I, the poor collier, that was robbed of late.Snap.Who robbed thee?Grim.Two of the porter’s men that did shave me.Snap.Why, the porter’s men are no barbers.Grim.A vengeance take them, they are quick carvers.Snap.What stature were they of?Grim.As little dapper knaves, as they trimly could scoff.Snap.They are lackeys, as near as I can guess them.Grim.Such lackeys make me lack; an halter beswinge them!Cham undone, they have my benters too.Snap.Dost thou know them, if thou seest them?Grim.Yea, that I do.Snap.Then come with me, we will find them out, and that quickly.Grim.I follow, mast tipstaff; they be in the court, it is likely.Snap.Then cry no more, come away.[Exeunt.

Snap.Who crieth so at the court-gate?

Grim.I, the poor collier, that was robbed of late.

Snap.Who robbed thee?

Grim.Two of the porter’s men that did shave me.

Snap.Why, the porter’s men are no barbers.

Grim.A vengeance take them, they are quick carvers.

Snap.What stature were they of?

Grim.As little dapper knaves, as they trimly could scoff.

Snap.They are lackeys, as near as I can guess them.

Grim.Such lackeys make me lack; an halter beswinge them!Cham undone, they have my benters too.

Grim.Such lackeys make me lack; an halter beswinge them!

Cham undone, they have my benters too.

Snap.Dost thou know them, if thou seest them?

Grim.Yea, that I do.

Snap.Then come with me, we will find them out, and that quickly.

Grim.I follow, mast tipstaff; they be in the court, it is likely.

Snap.Then cry no more, come away.[Exeunt.

Snap.Then cry no more, come away.

[Exeunt.

Here enterethCarisophusandAristippus.

Carisophus.If ever you will show your friendship, now is the time,Seeing the king is displeased with me of my part without any crime.Aristippus.It should appear, it comes of some evil behaviour,That you so suddenly are cast out of favour.Carisophus.Nothing have I done but this; in talk I overthwarted Eubulus,When he lamented Pithias’ case to King Dionysius.Which to-morrow shall die, but for that false knave Damon,He hath left his friend in the briars, and now is gone.We grew so hot in talk, that Eubulus protested plainly,Which[128]held his ears open to parasitical flattery.And now in the king’s ear like a bell he rings,Crying that flatterers have been the destroyers of kings.Which talk in Dionysius’ heart hath made so deep impression,That he trusteth me not, as heretofore, in no condition:And some words brake from him, as though that heBegan to suspect my truth and honesty,Which you of friendship I know will defend, how so ever the world goeth:My friend—for my honesty will you not take an oath?Aristippus.To swear for your honesty, I should lose mine own.Carisophus.Should you so, indeed? I would that were known.Is your void friendship come thus to pass?Aristippus.I follow the proverb:Amicus usque ad aras.Carisophus.Where can you say I ever lost mine honesty?Aristippus.You never lost it, for you never had it, as far as I know.Carisophus.Say you so, friend Aristippus, whom I trust so well?Aristippus.Because you trust me, to you the truth I tell.Carisophus.Will you not stretch one point, to bring me in favour again?Aristippus.I love no stretching; so I may breed mine own pain.Carisophus.A friend ought to shun no pain, to stand his friend in stead.Aristippus.Where true friendship is, it is so in very deed.Carisophus.Why, sir, hath not the chain of true friendship linked us two together?Aristippus.The chiefest link lacked thereof, it must needs dissever.Carisophus.What link is that? fain would I know.Aristippus.Honesty.Carisophus.Doth honesty knit the perfect knot in true friendship?Aristippus.Yea, truly, and that knot so knit will never slip.Carisophus.Belike, then, there is no friendship but between honest men.Aristippus.Between the honest only; for,Amicitia inter bonos,[129]saith a learned man.Carisophus.Yet evil men use friendship in things unhonest, where fancy doth serve.Aristippus.That is no friendship, but a lewd liking; it lasts but a while.Carisophus.What is the perfectest friendship among men that ever grew?Aristippus.Where men love one another, not for profit, but for virtue.Carisophus.Are such friends both alike in joy and also in smart?Aristippus.They must needs; for in two bodies they have but one heart.Carisophus.Friend Aristippus, deceive me not with sophistry:Is there no perfect friendship, but where is virtue and honesty?Aristippus.What a devil then meant CarisophusTo join in friendship with fine Aristippus?In whom is as much virtue, truth and honesty,As there are true feathers in the three Cranes of the Vintree:[130]Yet their[131]feathers have the shadow of lively feathers, the truth to scan,But Carisophus hath not the shadow of an honest man.To be plain, because I know thy villainy,In abusing Dionysius to many men’s injury,Under the cloak of friendship I play’d with his head,And sought means how thou with thine own fancy might be led.My friendship thou soughtest for thine own commodity,As worldly men do, by profit measuring amity:Which I perceiving, to the like myself I framed,Wherein I know of the wise I shall not be blamed:If you ask me;Quare? I answer,Quia prudentis est multum dissimulare.To speak more plainer, as the proverb doth go,In faith, Carisophus,cum Cretense cretizo.Yet a perfect friend I show myself to thee in one thing,I do not dissemble, now I say I will not speak for thee to the king:Therefore sink in thy sorrow, I do not deceive thee,A false knave I found thee, a false knave I leave thee.[Exit.Carisophus.He is gone! is this friendship, to leave his friend in the plain field?Well, I see now I myself have beguiled,In matching with that false fox in amity,Which hath me used to his own commodity:Which seeing me in distress, unfeignedly goes his ways.Lo, this is the perfect friendship among men now-a-days;Which kind of friendship toward him I used secretly;And he with me the like hath requited me craftily,It is the gods’ judgment, I see it plainly,For all the world may know,Incidi in foveam quam feci.Well, I must content myself, none other help I know,Until a merrier gale of wind may hap to blow.[Exit.

Carisophus.If ever you will show your friendship, now is the time,Seeing the king is displeased with me of my part without any crime.

Carisophus.If ever you will show your friendship, now is the time,

Seeing the king is displeased with me of my part without any crime.

Aristippus.It should appear, it comes of some evil behaviour,That you so suddenly are cast out of favour.

Aristippus.It should appear, it comes of some evil behaviour,

That you so suddenly are cast out of favour.

Carisophus.Nothing have I done but this; in talk I overthwarted Eubulus,When he lamented Pithias’ case to King Dionysius.Which to-morrow shall die, but for that false knave Damon,He hath left his friend in the briars, and now is gone.We grew so hot in talk, that Eubulus protested plainly,Which[128]held his ears open to parasitical flattery.And now in the king’s ear like a bell he rings,Crying that flatterers have been the destroyers of kings.Which talk in Dionysius’ heart hath made so deep impression,That he trusteth me not, as heretofore, in no condition:And some words brake from him, as though that heBegan to suspect my truth and honesty,Which you of friendship I know will defend, how so ever the world goeth:My friend—for my honesty will you not take an oath?

Carisophus.Nothing have I done but this; in talk I overthwarted Eubulus,

When he lamented Pithias’ case to King Dionysius.

Which to-morrow shall die, but for that false knave Damon,

He hath left his friend in the briars, and now is gone.

We grew so hot in talk, that Eubulus protested plainly,

Which[128]held his ears open to parasitical flattery.

And now in the king’s ear like a bell he rings,

Crying that flatterers have been the destroyers of kings.

Which talk in Dionysius’ heart hath made so deep impression,

That he trusteth me not, as heretofore, in no condition:

And some words brake from him, as though that he

Began to suspect my truth and honesty,

Which you of friendship I know will defend, how so ever the world goeth:

My friend—for my honesty will you not take an oath?

Aristippus.To swear for your honesty, I should lose mine own.

Carisophus.Should you so, indeed? I would that were known.Is your void friendship come thus to pass?

Carisophus.Should you so, indeed? I would that were known.

Is your void friendship come thus to pass?

Aristippus.I follow the proverb:Amicus usque ad aras.

Carisophus.Where can you say I ever lost mine honesty?

Aristippus.You never lost it, for you never had it, as far as I know.

Carisophus.Say you so, friend Aristippus, whom I trust so well?

Aristippus.Because you trust me, to you the truth I tell.

Carisophus.Will you not stretch one point, to bring me in favour again?

Aristippus.I love no stretching; so I may breed mine own pain.

Carisophus.A friend ought to shun no pain, to stand his friend in stead.

Aristippus.Where true friendship is, it is so in very deed.

Carisophus.Why, sir, hath not the chain of true friendship linked us two together?

Aristippus.The chiefest link lacked thereof, it must needs dissever.

Carisophus.What link is that? fain would I know.

Aristippus.Honesty.

Carisophus.Doth honesty knit the perfect knot in true friendship?

Aristippus.Yea, truly, and that knot so knit will never slip.

Carisophus.Belike, then, there is no friendship but between honest men.

Aristippus.Between the honest only; for,Amicitia inter bonos,[129]saith a learned man.

Carisophus.Yet evil men use friendship in things unhonest, where fancy doth serve.

Aristippus.That is no friendship, but a lewd liking; it lasts but a while.

Carisophus.What is the perfectest friendship among men that ever grew?

Aristippus.Where men love one another, not for profit, but for virtue.

Carisophus.Are such friends both alike in joy and also in smart?

Aristippus.They must needs; for in two bodies they have but one heart.

Carisophus.Friend Aristippus, deceive me not with sophistry:Is there no perfect friendship, but where is virtue and honesty?

Carisophus.Friend Aristippus, deceive me not with sophistry:

Is there no perfect friendship, but where is virtue and honesty?

Aristippus.What a devil then meant CarisophusTo join in friendship with fine Aristippus?In whom is as much virtue, truth and honesty,As there are true feathers in the three Cranes of the Vintree:[130]Yet their[131]feathers have the shadow of lively feathers, the truth to scan,But Carisophus hath not the shadow of an honest man.To be plain, because I know thy villainy,In abusing Dionysius to many men’s injury,Under the cloak of friendship I play’d with his head,And sought means how thou with thine own fancy might be led.My friendship thou soughtest for thine own commodity,As worldly men do, by profit measuring amity:Which I perceiving, to the like myself I framed,Wherein I know of the wise I shall not be blamed:If you ask me;Quare? I answer,Quia prudentis est multum dissimulare.To speak more plainer, as the proverb doth go,In faith, Carisophus,cum Cretense cretizo.Yet a perfect friend I show myself to thee in one thing,I do not dissemble, now I say I will not speak for thee to the king:Therefore sink in thy sorrow, I do not deceive thee,A false knave I found thee, a false knave I leave thee.[Exit.

Aristippus.What a devil then meant Carisophus

To join in friendship with fine Aristippus?

In whom is as much virtue, truth and honesty,

As there are true feathers in the three Cranes of the Vintree:[130]

Yet their[131]feathers have the shadow of lively feathers, the truth to scan,

But Carisophus hath not the shadow of an honest man.

To be plain, because I know thy villainy,

In abusing Dionysius to many men’s injury,

Under the cloak of friendship I play’d with his head,

And sought means how thou with thine own fancy might be led.

My friendship thou soughtest for thine own commodity,

As worldly men do, by profit measuring amity:

Which I perceiving, to the like myself I framed,

Wherein I know of the wise I shall not be blamed:

If you ask me;Quare? I answer,Quia prudentis est multum dissimulare.

To speak more plainer, as the proverb doth go,

In faith, Carisophus,cum Cretense cretizo.

Yet a perfect friend I show myself to thee in one thing,

I do not dissemble, now I say I will not speak for thee to the king:

Therefore sink in thy sorrow, I do not deceive thee,

A false knave I found thee, a false knave I leave thee.

[Exit.

Carisophus.He is gone! is this friendship, to leave his friend in the plain field?Well, I see now I myself have beguiled,In matching with that false fox in amity,Which hath me used to his own commodity:Which seeing me in distress, unfeignedly goes his ways.Lo, this is the perfect friendship among men now-a-days;Which kind of friendship toward him I used secretly;And he with me the like hath requited me craftily,It is the gods’ judgment, I see it plainly,For all the world may know,Incidi in foveam quam feci.Well, I must content myself, none other help I know,Until a merrier gale of wind may hap to blow.[Exit.

Carisophus.He is gone! is this friendship, to leave his friend in the plain field?

Well, I see now I myself have beguiled,

In matching with that false fox in amity,

Which hath me used to his own commodity:

Which seeing me in distress, unfeignedly goes his ways.

Lo, this is the perfect friendship among men now-a-days;

Which kind of friendship toward him I used secretly;

And he with me the like hath requited me craftily,

It is the gods’ judgment, I see it plainly,

For all the world may know,Incidi in foveam quam feci.

Well, I must content myself, none other help I know,

Until a merrier gale of wind may hap to blow.

[Exit.

EnterEubulus.

Eubulus.Who deals with kings in matters of great weight,When froward will doth bear the chiefest sway,Must yield of force; there need no subtle sleight,No painted[132]speech the matter to convey.No prayer can move, when kindled is the ire.The more ye quench, the more increased[133]the fire.This thing I prove in Pithias’ woful case,Whose heavy hap with tears I do lament:The day is come, when he, in Damon’s place,Must lose his life: the time is fully spent.Nought can my words now with the king prevail,Against the wind and striving stream[134]I sail:For die thou must, alas! thou seely Greek.Ah Pithias, now come is thy doleful hour:A perfect friend, one[135]such a world to seek.Though bitter death shall give thee sauce full sour,Yet for thy faith enroll’d shall be thy nameAmong the gods within the book of fame.Who knoweth his case, and will not melt in tears?His guiltless blood shall trickle down anon.

Eubulus.Who deals with kings in matters of great weight,

When froward will doth bear the chiefest sway,

Must yield of force; there need no subtle sleight,

No painted[132]speech the matter to convey.

No prayer can move, when kindled is the ire.

The more ye quench, the more increased[133]the fire.

This thing I prove in Pithias’ woful case,

Whose heavy hap with tears I do lament:

The day is come, when he, in Damon’s place,

Must lose his life: the time is fully spent.

Nought can my words now with the king prevail,

Against the wind and striving stream[134]I sail:

For die thou must, alas! thou seely Greek.

Ah Pithias, now come is thy doleful hour:

A perfect friend, one[135]such a world to seek.

Though bitter death shall give thee sauce full sour,

Yet for thy faith enroll’d shall be thy name

Among the gods within the book of fame.

Who knoweth his case, and will not melt in tears?

His guiltless blood shall trickle down anon.

Then theMusessing.

Alas, what hap hast thou, poor Pithias, now to die!Woe worth the man which for his death hath given us cause to cry.Eubulus.Methink I hear, with yellow rented hairs,The Muses frame their notes, my state to moan:[136]Among which sort, as one that mourneth with heart,In doleful times myself will bear a part.Muses.Woe worth the man which for his death, &c.Eubulus.With yellow rented hairs, come on, you Muses nine;Fill now my breast with heavy tunes, to me your plaint resign:For Pithias I bewail, which presently must die,Woe worth the man which for his death hath given us cause, &c.Muses.Woe worth the man which for his, &c.Eubulus.Was ever such a man, that would die for his friend?I think even from the heavens above the gods did him down sendTo show true friendship’s power, which forc’d thee now to die.Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c.Muses.Woe worth the man, &c.Eubulus.What tiger’s whelp was he, that Damon did accuse?What faith hast thou, which for thy friend thy death doth not refuse?O heavy hap hadst thou to play this tragedy!Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c.Muses.[Woe]worth the man, &c.Eubulus.Thou young and worthy Greek, that showeth such perfect love,The gods receive thy simple ghost into the heavens above:Thy death we shall lament with many a weeping eye.Woe worth the man, which for his death, &c.Muses.Woe worth the man, which for thy death hath given us cause to cry.Eubulus.Eternal be your fame, ye Muses, for that in miseryYe did vouchsafe to strain your notes to walk.My heart is rent in two with this miserable case,Yet am I charged by Dionysius’ mouth to see this placeAt all points ready for the execution of Pithias.Need hath no law: will[137]I or nil I, it must be done,But lo, the bloody minister is even here at hand.

Alas, what hap hast thou, poor Pithias, now to die!

Woe worth the man which for his death hath given us cause to cry.

Eubulus.Methink I hear, with yellow rented hairs,

The Muses frame their notes, my state to moan:[136]

Among which sort, as one that mourneth with heart,

In doleful times myself will bear a part.

Muses.Woe worth the man which for his death, &c.

Eubulus.With yellow rented hairs, come on, you Muses nine;Fill now my breast with heavy tunes, to me your plaint resign:For Pithias I bewail, which presently must die,Woe worth the man which for his death hath given us cause, &c.Muses.Woe worth the man which for his, &c.

Eubulus.With yellow rented hairs, come on, you Muses nine;

Fill now my breast with heavy tunes, to me your plaint resign:

For Pithias I bewail, which presently must die,

Woe worth the man which for his death hath given us cause, &c.

Muses.Woe worth the man which for his, &c.

Eubulus.Was ever such a man, that would die for his friend?I think even from the heavens above the gods did him down sendTo show true friendship’s power, which forc’d thee now to die.Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c.Muses.Woe worth the man, &c.

Eubulus.Was ever such a man, that would die for his friend?

I think even from the heavens above the gods did him down send

To show true friendship’s power, which forc’d thee now to die.

Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c.

Muses.Woe worth the man, &c.

Eubulus.What tiger’s whelp was he, that Damon did accuse?What faith hast thou, which for thy friend thy death doth not refuse?O heavy hap hadst thou to play this tragedy!Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c.Muses.[Woe]worth the man, &c.

Eubulus.What tiger’s whelp was he, that Damon did accuse?

What faith hast thou, which for thy friend thy death doth not refuse?

O heavy hap hadst thou to play this tragedy!

Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c.

Muses.[Woe]worth the man, &c.

Eubulus.Thou young and worthy Greek, that showeth such perfect love,The gods receive thy simple ghost into the heavens above:Thy death we shall lament with many a weeping eye.Woe worth the man, which for his death, &c.Muses.Woe worth the man, which for thy death hath given us cause to cry.

Eubulus.Thou young and worthy Greek, that showeth such perfect love,

The gods receive thy simple ghost into the heavens above:

Thy death we shall lament with many a weeping eye.

Woe worth the man, which for his death, &c.

Muses.Woe worth the man, which for thy death hath given us cause to cry.

Eubulus.Eternal be your fame, ye Muses, for that in miseryYe did vouchsafe to strain your notes to walk.My heart is rent in two with this miserable case,Yet am I charged by Dionysius’ mouth to see this placeAt all points ready for the execution of Pithias.Need hath no law: will[137]I or nil I, it must be done,But lo, the bloody minister is even here at hand.

Eubulus.Eternal be your fame, ye Muses, for that in misery

Ye did vouchsafe to strain your notes to walk.

My heart is rent in two with this miserable case,

Yet am I charged by Dionysius’ mouth to see this place

At all points ready for the execution of Pithias.

Need hath no law: will[137]I or nil I, it must be done,

But lo, the bloody minister is even here at hand.

EnterGronno.

Gronno, I came hither now to understand,If all things are well appointed for the execution of Pithias.The king himself will see it done here in this place.Gronno.Sir, all things are ready, here is the place, here is the hand, here is the sword:Here lacketh none but Pithias, whose head at a word,If he were present, I could finely strike off—You may report that all things are ready.Eubulus.I go with an heavy heart to report it. Ah woful Pithias!Full near now is thy misery.[Exit.Gronno.I marvel very much, under what constellationAll hangmen are born, for they are hated of all, beloved of none:Which hatred is showed by this point evidently:The hangman always dwells in the vilest place of the city.That such spite should be, I know no cause why,Unless it be for their office’s sake, which is cruel and bloody.Yet some men must do it to execute laws.Me-think they hate me without any just cause.But I must look to my toil; Pithias must lose his head at one blow,Else the boys will stone me to death in the street, as I go.But hark, the prisoner cometh, and the king also:I see there is no help, Pithias his life must forego.

Gronno, I came hither now to understand,If all things are well appointed for the execution of Pithias.The king himself will see it done here in this place.

Gronno, I came hither now to understand,

If all things are well appointed for the execution of Pithias.

The king himself will see it done here in this place.

Gronno.Sir, all things are ready, here is the place, here is the hand, here is the sword:Here lacketh none but Pithias, whose head at a word,If he were present, I could finely strike off—You may report that all things are ready.

Gronno.Sir, all things are ready, here is the place, here is the hand, here is the sword:

Here lacketh none but Pithias, whose head at a word,

If he were present, I could finely strike off—

You may report that all things are ready.

Eubulus.I go with an heavy heart to report it. Ah woful Pithias!Full near now is thy misery.[Exit.

Eubulus.I go with an heavy heart to report it. Ah woful Pithias!

Full near now is thy misery.

[Exit.

Gronno.I marvel very much, under what constellationAll hangmen are born, for they are hated of all, beloved of none:Which hatred is showed by this point evidently:The hangman always dwells in the vilest place of the city.That such spite should be, I know no cause why,Unless it be for their office’s sake, which is cruel and bloody.Yet some men must do it to execute laws.Me-think they hate me without any just cause.But I must look to my toil; Pithias must lose his head at one blow,Else the boys will stone me to death in the street, as I go.But hark, the prisoner cometh, and the king also:I see there is no help, Pithias his life must forego.

Gronno.I marvel very much, under what constellation

All hangmen are born, for they are hated of all, beloved of none:

Which hatred is showed by this point evidently:

The hangman always dwells in the vilest place of the city.

That such spite should be, I know no cause why,

Unless it be for their office’s sake, which is cruel and bloody.

Yet some men must do it to execute laws.

Me-think they hate me without any just cause.

But I must look to my toil; Pithias must lose his head at one blow,

Else the boys will stone me to death in the street, as I go.

But hark, the prisoner cometh, and the king also:

I see there is no help, Pithias his life must forego.

Here enterethDionysiusandEubulus.

Dionysius.Bring forth Pithias, that pleasant companion,Which took me at my word, and became pledge for Damon.It pricketh[138]fast upon noon, I do him no injury,If now he lose his head, for so he requested me,If Damon return not, which now in Greece is full merry:Therefore shall Pithias pay his death, and that by and by.He thought belike, if Damon were out of the city,I would not put him to death for some foolish pity:But seeing it was his request, I will not be mock’d, he shall die;Bring him forth.

Dionysius.Bring forth Pithias, that pleasant companion,

Which took me at my word, and became pledge for Damon.

It pricketh[138]fast upon noon, I do him no injury,

If now he lose his head, for so he requested me,

If Damon return not, which now in Greece is full merry:

Therefore shall Pithias pay his death, and that by and by.

He thought belike, if Damon were out of the city,

I would not put him to death for some foolish pity:

But seeing it was his request, I will not be mock’d, he shall die;

Bring him forth.

Here enterethSnap.[139]

Snap.Give place; let the prisoner come by; give place.Dionysius.How say you, sir; where is Damon, your trusty friend?You have play’d a wise part, I make God a vow:You know what time a day it is; make you ready.Pithias.Most ready I am, mighty king, and most ready alsoFor my true friend Damon this life to forego,Even at your pleasure.Dionysius.A true friend! a false traitor, that so breaketh his oath!Thou shalt lose thy life, though thou be never so loth.Pithias.I am not loth to do whatsoever I said,Ne at this present pinch of death am I dismay’d:The gods now I know have heard my fervent prayer,That they have reserved me to this passing great honour,To die for my friend, whose faith even now I do not mistrust;My friend Damon is no false traitor, he is true and just:But sith he is no god, but a man, he must do as he may,The wind may be contrary, sickness may let him,[140]or some misadventure by the way,Which the eternal gods turn all to my glory,That fame may resound how Pithias for Damon did die:He breaketh no oath which doth as much as he can,His mind is here, he hath some let, he is but a man.That he might not return of all the gods I did require,Which now to my joy do[141]grant my desire.But why do I stay any longer, seeing that one man’s deathMay suffice, O king, to pacify thy wrath?O thou minister of justice, do thine office by and by,Let not thy hand tremble, for I tremble not to die.Stephano, the right pattern of true fidelity,Commend me to thy master, my sweet Damon, and of him crave libertyWhen I am dead, in my name; for thy trusty servicesHath well deserved a gift far better than this.O my Damon, farewell now for ever, a true friend, to me most dear;Whiles life doth last, my mouth shall still talk of thee,And when I am dead, my simple ghost, true witness of amity,Shall hover about the place, wheresoever thou be.Dionysius.Eubulus, this gear is strange; and yet becauseDamon hath fals’d his faith, Pithias shall have the law.Gronno, despoil him, and eke dispatch him quickly.Gronno.It shall be done; since you came into this place,I might have stroken off seven heads in this space.By’r Lady, here are good garments, these are mine, by the rood!It is an evil wind that bloweth no man good.Now, Pithias, kneel down, ask me blessing like a pretty boy,And with a trice thy head from thy shoulders I will convey.

Snap.Give place; let the prisoner come by; give place.

Dionysius.How say you, sir; where is Damon, your trusty friend?You have play’d a wise part, I make God a vow:You know what time a day it is; make you ready.

Dionysius.How say you, sir; where is Damon, your trusty friend?

You have play’d a wise part, I make God a vow:

You know what time a day it is; make you ready.

Pithias.Most ready I am, mighty king, and most ready alsoFor my true friend Damon this life to forego,Even at your pleasure.

Pithias.Most ready I am, mighty king, and most ready also

For my true friend Damon this life to forego,

Even at your pleasure.

Dionysius.A true friend! a false traitor, that so breaketh his oath!Thou shalt lose thy life, though thou be never so loth.

Dionysius.A true friend! a false traitor, that so breaketh his oath!

Thou shalt lose thy life, though thou be never so loth.

Pithias.I am not loth to do whatsoever I said,Ne at this present pinch of death am I dismay’d:The gods now I know have heard my fervent prayer,That they have reserved me to this passing great honour,To die for my friend, whose faith even now I do not mistrust;My friend Damon is no false traitor, he is true and just:But sith he is no god, but a man, he must do as he may,The wind may be contrary, sickness may let him,[140]or some misadventure by the way,Which the eternal gods turn all to my glory,That fame may resound how Pithias for Damon did die:He breaketh no oath which doth as much as he can,His mind is here, he hath some let, he is but a man.That he might not return of all the gods I did require,Which now to my joy do[141]grant my desire.But why do I stay any longer, seeing that one man’s deathMay suffice, O king, to pacify thy wrath?O thou minister of justice, do thine office by and by,Let not thy hand tremble, for I tremble not to die.Stephano, the right pattern of true fidelity,Commend me to thy master, my sweet Damon, and of him crave libertyWhen I am dead, in my name; for thy trusty servicesHath well deserved a gift far better than this.O my Damon, farewell now for ever, a true friend, to me most dear;Whiles life doth last, my mouth shall still talk of thee,And when I am dead, my simple ghost, true witness of amity,Shall hover about the place, wheresoever thou be.

Pithias.I am not loth to do whatsoever I said,

Ne at this present pinch of death am I dismay’d:

The gods now I know have heard my fervent prayer,

That they have reserved me to this passing great honour,

To die for my friend, whose faith even now I do not mistrust;

My friend Damon is no false traitor, he is true and just:

But sith he is no god, but a man, he must do as he may,

The wind may be contrary, sickness may let him,[140]or some misadventure by the way,

Which the eternal gods turn all to my glory,

That fame may resound how Pithias for Damon did die:

He breaketh no oath which doth as much as he can,

His mind is here, he hath some let, he is but a man.

That he might not return of all the gods I did require,

Which now to my joy do[141]grant my desire.

But why do I stay any longer, seeing that one man’s death

May suffice, O king, to pacify thy wrath?

O thou minister of justice, do thine office by and by,

Let not thy hand tremble, for I tremble not to die.

Stephano, the right pattern of true fidelity,

Commend me to thy master, my sweet Damon, and of him crave liberty

When I am dead, in my name; for thy trusty services

Hath well deserved a gift far better than this.

O my Damon, farewell now for ever, a true friend, to me most dear;

Whiles life doth last, my mouth shall still talk of thee,

And when I am dead, my simple ghost, true witness of amity,

Shall hover about the place, wheresoever thou be.

Dionysius.Eubulus, this gear is strange; and yet becauseDamon hath fals’d his faith, Pithias shall have the law.Gronno, despoil him, and eke dispatch him quickly.

Dionysius.Eubulus, this gear is strange; and yet because

Damon hath fals’d his faith, Pithias shall have the law.

Gronno, despoil him, and eke dispatch him quickly.

Gronno.It shall be done; since you came into this place,I might have stroken off seven heads in this space.By’r Lady, here are good garments, these are mine, by the rood!It is an evil wind that bloweth no man good.Now, Pithias, kneel down, ask me blessing like a pretty boy,And with a trice thy head from thy shoulders I will convey.

Gronno.It shall be done; since you came into this place,

I might have stroken off seven heads in this space.

By’r Lady, here are good garments, these are mine, by the rood!

It is an evil wind that bloweth no man good.

Now, Pithias, kneel down, ask me blessing like a pretty boy,

And with a trice thy head from thy shoulders I will convey.

Here enterethDamonrunning, and stays the sword.

Damon.Stay, stay, stay! for the king’s advantage, stay!O mighty king, mine appointed time is not yet fully pass’d;Within the compass of mine hour, lo, here I come at last.A life I owe, and a life I will you pay:O my Pithias, my noble pledge, my constant friend!Ah! woe is me! for Damon’s sake, how near were thou to thy end!Give place to me, this room is mine, on this stage must I play.Damon is the man, none ought but he to Dionysius his blood to pay.Gronno.Are you come, sir? you might have tarried, if you had been wise:For your hasty coming you are like to know the price.Pithias.O thou cruel minister, why didst not thou thine office?Did I not beg thee make haste in any wise?Hast thou spared to kill me once, that I may die twice?Not to die for my friend is present death to me; and alas!Shall I see my sweet Damon slain before my face?What double death is this? but, O mighty Dionysius,Do true justice now: weigh this aright, thou noble Eubulus;Let me have no wrong, as now stands the case:Damon ought not to die, but Pithias:By misadventure, not by his will, his hour is past; therefore I,Because he came not at his just time, ought justly to die:So was my promise, so was thy promise, O king,All this court can bear witness of this thing.Damon.Not so, O mighty king: to justice it is contrary,That for another man’s fault the innocent should die:Ne yet is my time plainly expired, it is not fully noon.Of this my day appointed, by all the clocks in the town.Pithias.Believe no clock, the hour is past by the sun.Damon.Ah my Pithias, shall we now break the bonds of amity?Will you now overthwart me, which heretofore so well did agree?Pithias.My Damon, the gods forbid but we should agree;Therefore agree to this, let me perform the promise made for thee.Let me die for thee: do me not that injury,Both to break my promise, and to suffer me to see thee die,Whom so dearly I love: this small request grant me,I shall never ask thee more, my desire is but friendly.Do me this honour, that fame may report triumphantly,That Pithias for his friend Damon was contented to die.Damon.That you were contented for me to die, fame cannot deny;Yet fame shall never touch me with such a villainy,To report that Damon did suffer his friend Pithias for him guiltless to die;Therefore content thyself, the gods requite thy constant faith,None but Damon’s blood can appease Dionysius’ wrath.And now, O mighty king, to you my talk I convey;Because you gave me leave my worldly things to stay,To requite that good turn, ere I die, for your behalf this I say,Although your regal state dame Fortune decketh so,That like a king in worldly wealth abundantly ye flow,Yet fickle is the ground whereon all tyrants tread,A thousand sundry cares and fears do haunt their restless head:No trusty band, no faithful friends do guard thy hateful state,And why? whom men obey for deadly fear, sure them they deadly hate.That you may safely reign, by love get friends, whose constant faithWill never fail, this counsel gives poor Damon at his death:Friends are the surest guard for kings, gold in time does[142]wear away,And other precious things do fade, friendship will never decay.Have friends in store therefore, so shall you safely sleep;Have friends at home, of foreign foes so need you take no keep.Abandon flatt’ring tongues, whose clacks truth never tell;Abase the ill, advance the good, in whom dame virtue dwells;Let them your playfellows be: but O, you earthly kings,Your sure defence and strongest guard stands chiefly in faithful friends:Then get you friends by liberal deeds; and here I make an end.Accept this counsel, mighty king, of Damon, Pithias’ friend.O my Pithias! now farewell for ever, let me kiss thee, ere I die,My soul shall honour thee, thy constant faith above the heavens shall fly.Come, Gronno, do thine office now; why is thy colour so dead?My neck is so short, that thou wilt never have honesty in striking off this head.[143]Dionysius.Eubulus, my spirits are suddenly appalled, my limbs wax weak:This strange friendship amazeth me so, that I can scarce speak.Pithias.O mighty king, let some pity your noble heart meve;You require but one man’s death, take Pithias, let Damon live.Eubulus.O unspeakable friendship!Damon.Not so, he hath not offended, there is no cause whyMy constant friend Pithias for Damon’s sake should die.Alas, he is but young, he may do good to many.Thou coward minister, why dost thou not let me die?Gronno.My hand with sudden fear quivereth.Pithias.O noble king, show mercy upon Damon, let Pithias die.Dionysius.Stay, Gronno, my flesh trembleth. Eubulus, what shall I do?Were there ever such friends on earth as were these two?What heart is so cruel that would divide them asunder?O noble friendship, I must yield; at thy force I wonder.My heart this rare friendship hath pierc’d to the root,And quenched all my fury: this sight hath brought this about,Which thy grave counsel, Eubulus, and learned persuasion could never do.[ToDamonandPithias] O noble gentlemen, the immortal gods aboveHath made you play this tragedy, I think, for my behoof:Before this day I never knew what perfect friendship meant.My cruel mind to bloody deeds was full and wholly bent:My fearful life I thought with terror to defend,But now I see there is no guard unto a faithful friend,Which will not spare his life at time of present need:O happy kings, who in[144]your courts have two such friends indeed!I honour friendship now, which that you may plainly see,Damon, have thou thy life, from death I pardon thee;For which good turn, I crave, this honour do me lend,O friendly heart, let me link with you, to you[145]make me the third friend.My court is yours; dwell here with me, by my commission large,Myself, my realm, my wealth, my health, I commit to your charge:Make me a third friend, more shall I joy in that thing,Than to be called, as I am, Dionysius the mighty king.Damon.O mighty king, first for my life most humble thanks I give,And next, I praise the immortal gods that did your heart so meve,That you would have respect to friendship’s heavenly lore,Foreseeing well he need not fear which hath true friends in store.For my part, most noble king, as a third friend, welcome to our friendly society;But you must forget you are a king, for friendship stands in true equality.Dionysius.Unequal though I be in great possessions,Yet full equal shall you find me in my changed conditions.Tyranny, flattery, oppression, lo, here I cast away;Justice, truth, love, friendship, shall be my joy:True friendship will I honour unto my life’s end;My greatest glory shall be to be counted a perfect friend.Pithias.For this your deed, most noble king, the gods advance your name,And since to friendship’s lore you list your princely heart to frame,With joyful heart, O king, most welcome now to me,With you will I knit the perfect knot of amity:Wherein I shall instruct you so, and Damon here your friend,That you may know of amity the mighty force, and eke the joyful end:And how that kings do stand upon a fickle ground,Within whose realm at time of need no faithful friends are found.Dionysius.Your instruction will I follow; to you myself I do commit.Eubulus, make haste to fet new apparel, fitFor my new friends.Eubulus.I go with joyful heart. O happy day![Aside.][Exit.Gronno.I am glad to hear this word. Though their lives they do not lese,It is no reason[146]the hangman should lose his fees:These are mine, I am gone with a trice.[Exit.

Damon.Stay, stay, stay! for the king’s advantage, stay!

O mighty king, mine appointed time is not yet fully pass’d;

Within the compass of mine hour, lo, here I come at last.

A life I owe, and a life I will you pay:

O my Pithias, my noble pledge, my constant friend!

Ah! woe is me! for Damon’s sake, how near were thou to thy end!

Give place to me, this room is mine, on this stage must I play.

Damon is the man, none ought but he to Dionysius his blood to pay.

Gronno.Are you come, sir? you might have tarried, if you had been wise:For your hasty coming you are like to know the price.

Gronno.Are you come, sir? you might have tarried, if you had been wise:

For your hasty coming you are like to know the price.

Pithias.O thou cruel minister, why didst not thou thine office?Did I not beg thee make haste in any wise?Hast thou spared to kill me once, that I may die twice?Not to die for my friend is present death to me; and alas!Shall I see my sweet Damon slain before my face?What double death is this? but, O mighty Dionysius,Do true justice now: weigh this aright, thou noble Eubulus;Let me have no wrong, as now stands the case:Damon ought not to die, but Pithias:By misadventure, not by his will, his hour is past; therefore I,Because he came not at his just time, ought justly to die:So was my promise, so was thy promise, O king,All this court can bear witness of this thing.

Pithias.O thou cruel minister, why didst not thou thine office?

Did I not beg thee make haste in any wise?

Hast thou spared to kill me once, that I may die twice?

Not to die for my friend is present death to me; and alas!

Shall I see my sweet Damon slain before my face?

What double death is this? but, O mighty Dionysius,

Do true justice now: weigh this aright, thou noble Eubulus;

Let me have no wrong, as now stands the case:

Damon ought not to die, but Pithias:

By misadventure, not by his will, his hour is past; therefore I,

Because he came not at his just time, ought justly to die:

So was my promise, so was thy promise, O king,

All this court can bear witness of this thing.

Damon.Not so, O mighty king: to justice it is contrary,That for another man’s fault the innocent should die:Ne yet is my time plainly expired, it is not fully noon.Of this my day appointed, by all the clocks in the town.

Damon.Not so, O mighty king: to justice it is contrary,

That for another man’s fault the innocent should die:

Ne yet is my time plainly expired, it is not fully noon.

Of this my day appointed, by all the clocks in the town.

Pithias.Believe no clock, the hour is past by the sun.

Damon.Ah my Pithias, shall we now break the bonds of amity?Will you now overthwart me, which heretofore so well did agree?

Damon.Ah my Pithias, shall we now break the bonds of amity?

Will you now overthwart me, which heretofore so well did agree?

Pithias.My Damon, the gods forbid but we should agree;Therefore agree to this, let me perform the promise made for thee.Let me die for thee: do me not that injury,Both to break my promise, and to suffer me to see thee die,Whom so dearly I love: this small request grant me,I shall never ask thee more, my desire is but friendly.Do me this honour, that fame may report triumphantly,That Pithias for his friend Damon was contented to die.

Pithias.My Damon, the gods forbid but we should agree;

Therefore agree to this, let me perform the promise made for thee.

Let me die for thee: do me not that injury,

Both to break my promise, and to suffer me to see thee die,

Whom so dearly I love: this small request grant me,

I shall never ask thee more, my desire is but friendly.

Do me this honour, that fame may report triumphantly,

That Pithias for his friend Damon was contented to die.

Damon.That you were contented for me to die, fame cannot deny;Yet fame shall never touch me with such a villainy,To report that Damon did suffer his friend Pithias for him guiltless to die;Therefore content thyself, the gods requite thy constant faith,None but Damon’s blood can appease Dionysius’ wrath.And now, O mighty king, to you my talk I convey;Because you gave me leave my worldly things to stay,To requite that good turn, ere I die, for your behalf this I say,Although your regal state dame Fortune decketh so,That like a king in worldly wealth abundantly ye flow,Yet fickle is the ground whereon all tyrants tread,A thousand sundry cares and fears do haunt their restless head:No trusty band, no faithful friends do guard thy hateful state,And why? whom men obey for deadly fear, sure them they deadly hate.That you may safely reign, by love get friends, whose constant faithWill never fail, this counsel gives poor Damon at his death:Friends are the surest guard for kings, gold in time does[142]wear away,And other precious things do fade, friendship will never decay.Have friends in store therefore, so shall you safely sleep;Have friends at home, of foreign foes so need you take no keep.Abandon flatt’ring tongues, whose clacks truth never tell;Abase the ill, advance the good, in whom dame virtue dwells;Let them your playfellows be: but O, you earthly kings,Your sure defence and strongest guard stands chiefly in faithful friends:Then get you friends by liberal deeds; and here I make an end.Accept this counsel, mighty king, of Damon, Pithias’ friend.O my Pithias! now farewell for ever, let me kiss thee, ere I die,My soul shall honour thee, thy constant faith above the heavens shall fly.Come, Gronno, do thine office now; why is thy colour so dead?My neck is so short, that thou wilt never have honesty in striking off this head.[143]

Damon.That you were contented for me to die, fame cannot deny;

Yet fame shall never touch me with such a villainy,

To report that Damon did suffer his friend Pithias for him guiltless to die;

Therefore content thyself, the gods requite thy constant faith,

None but Damon’s blood can appease Dionysius’ wrath.

And now, O mighty king, to you my talk I convey;

Because you gave me leave my worldly things to stay,

To requite that good turn, ere I die, for your behalf this I say,

Although your regal state dame Fortune decketh so,

That like a king in worldly wealth abundantly ye flow,

Yet fickle is the ground whereon all tyrants tread,

A thousand sundry cares and fears do haunt their restless head:

No trusty band, no faithful friends do guard thy hateful state,

And why? whom men obey for deadly fear, sure them they deadly hate.

That you may safely reign, by love get friends, whose constant faith

Will never fail, this counsel gives poor Damon at his death:

Friends are the surest guard for kings, gold in time does[142]wear away,

And other precious things do fade, friendship will never decay.

Have friends in store therefore, so shall you safely sleep;

Have friends at home, of foreign foes so need you take no keep.

Abandon flatt’ring tongues, whose clacks truth never tell;

Abase the ill, advance the good, in whom dame virtue dwells;

Let them your playfellows be: but O, you earthly kings,

Your sure defence and strongest guard stands chiefly in faithful friends:

Then get you friends by liberal deeds; and here I make an end.

Accept this counsel, mighty king, of Damon, Pithias’ friend.

O my Pithias! now farewell for ever, let me kiss thee, ere I die,

My soul shall honour thee, thy constant faith above the heavens shall fly.

Come, Gronno, do thine office now; why is thy colour so dead?

My neck is so short, that thou wilt never have honesty in striking off this head.[143]

Dionysius.Eubulus, my spirits are suddenly appalled, my limbs wax weak:This strange friendship amazeth me so, that I can scarce speak.

Dionysius.Eubulus, my spirits are suddenly appalled, my limbs wax weak:

This strange friendship amazeth me so, that I can scarce speak.

Pithias.O mighty king, let some pity your noble heart meve;You require but one man’s death, take Pithias, let Damon live.

Pithias.O mighty king, let some pity your noble heart meve;

You require but one man’s death, take Pithias, let Damon live.

Eubulus.O unspeakable friendship!

Damon.Not so, he hath not offended, there is no cause whyMy constant friend Pithias for Damon’s sake should die.Alas, he is but young, he may do good to many.Thou coward minister, why dost thou not let me die?

Damon.Not so, he hath not offended, there is no cause why

My constant friend Pithias for Damon’s sake should die.

Alas, he is but young, he may do good to many.

Thou coward minister, why dost thou not let me die?

Gronno.My hand with sudden fear quivereth.

Pithias.O noble king, show mercy upon Damon, let Pithias die.

Dionysius.Stay, Gronno, my flesh trembleth. Eubulus, what shall I do?Were there ever such friends on earth as were these two?What heart is so cruel that would divide them asunder?O noble friendship, I must yield; at thy force I wonder.My heart this rare friendship hath pierc’d to the root,And quenched all my fury: this sight hath brought this about,Which thy grave counsel, Eubulus, and learned persuasion could never do.[ToDamonandPithias] O noble gentlemen, the immortal gods aboveHath made you play this tragedy, I think, for my behoof:Before this day I never knew what perfect friendship meant.My cruel mind to bloody deeds was full and wholly bent:My fearful life I thought with terror to defend,But now I see there is no guard unto a faithful friend,Which will not spare his life at time of present need:O happy kings, who in[144]your courts have two such friends indeed!I honour friendship now, which that you may plainly see,Damon, have thou thy life, from death I pardon thee;For which good turn, I crave, this honour do me lend,O friendly heart, let me link with you, to you[145]make me the third friend.My court is yours; dwell here with me, by my commission large,Myself, my realm, my wealth, my health, I commit to your charge:Make me a third friend, more shall I joy in that thing,Than to be called, as I am, Dionysius the mighty king.

Dionysius.Stay, Gronno, my flesh trembleth. Eubulus, what shall I do?

Were there ever such friends on earth as were these two?

What heart is so cruel that would divide them asunder?

O noble friendship, I must yield; at thy force I wonder.

My heart this rare friendship hath pierc’d to the root,

And quenched all my fury: this sight hath brought this about,

Which thy grave counsel, Eubulus, and learned persuasion could never do.

[ToDamonandPithias] O noble gentlemen, the immortal gods above

Hath made you play this tragedy, I think, for my behoof:

Before this day I never knew what perfect friendship meant.

My cruel mind to bloody deeds was full and wholly bent:

My fearful life I thought with terror to defend,

But now I see there is no guard unto a faithful friend,

Which will not spare his life at time of present need:

O happy kings, who in[144]your courts have two such friends indeed!

I honour friendship now, which that you may plainly see,

Damon, have thou thy life, from death I pardon thee;

For which good turn, I crave, this honour do me lend,

O friendly heart, let me link with you, to you[145]make me the third friend.

My court is yours; dwell here with me, by my commission large,

Myself, my realm, my wealth, my health, I commit to your charge:

Make me a third friend, more shall I joy in that thing,

Than to be called, as I am, Dionysius the mighty king.

Damon.O mighty king, first for my life most humble thanks I give,And next, I praise the immortal gods that did your heart so meve,That you would have respect to friendship’s heavenly lore,Foreseeing well he need not fear which hath true friends in store.For my part, most noble king, as a third friend, welcome to our friendly society;But you must forget you are a king, for friendship stands in true equality.

Damon.O mighty king, first for my life most humble thanks I give,

And next, I praise the immortal gods that did your heart so meve,

That you would have respect to friendship’s heavenly lore,

Foreseeing well he need not fear which hath true friends in store.

For my part, most noble king, as a third friend, welcome to our friendly society;

But you must forget you are a king, for friendship stands in true equality.

Dionysius.Unequal though I be in great possessions,Yet full equal shall you find me in my changed conditions.Tyranny, flattery, oppression, lo, here I cast away;Justice, truth, love, friendship, shall be my joy:True friendship will I honour unto my life’s end;My greatest glory shall be to be counted a perfect friend.

Dionysius.Unequal though I be in great possessions,

Yet full equal shall you find me in my changed conditions.

Tyranny, flattery, oppression, lo, here I cast away;

Justice, truth, love, friendship, shall be my joy:

True friendship will I honour unto my life’s end;

My greatest glory shall be to be counted a perfect friend.

Pithias.For this your deed, most noble king, the gods advance your name,And since to friendship’s lore you list your princely heart to frame,With joyful heart, O king, most welcome now to me,With you will I knit the perfect knot of amity:Wherein I shall instruct you so, and Damon here your friend,That you may know of amity the mighty force, and eke the joyful end:And how that kings do stand upon a fickle ground,Within whose realm at time of need no faithful friends are found.

Pithias.For this your deed, most noble king, the gods advance your name,

And since to friendship’s lore you list your princely heart to frame,

With joyful heart, O king, most welcome now to me,

With you will I knit the perfect knot of amity:

Wherein I shall instruct you so, and Damon here your friend,

That you may know of amity the mighty force, and eke the joyful end:

And how that kings do stand upon a fickle ground,

Within whose realm at time of need no faithful friends are found.

Dionysius.Your instruction will I follow; to you myself I do commit.Eubulus, make haste to fet new apparel, fitFor my new friends.

Dionysius.Your instruction will I follow; to you myself I do commit.

Eubulus, make haste to fet new apparel, fit

For my new friends.

Eubulus.I go with joyful heart. O happy day![Aside.][Exit.

Eubulus.I go with joyful heart. O happy day!

[Aside.]

[Exit.

Gronno.I am glad to hear this word. Though their lives they do not lese,It is no reason[146]the hangman should lose his fees:These are mine, I am gone with a trice.[Exit.

Gronno.I am glad to hear this word. Though their lives they do not lese,

It is no reason[146]the hangman should lose his fees:

These are mine, I am gone with a trice.

[Exit.

Here enterethEubuluswith new garments.

Dionysius.Put on these garments now; go in with me, the jewels of my court.DamonandPithias. We go with joyful hearts.Stephano.O Damon, my dear master, in all this joy remember me.Dionysius.My friend Damon, he asketh reason.Damon.Stephano, for thy good service be thou free.[ExeuntDion.[147]Stephano.O most happy, pleasant, joyful, and triumphant day!Poor Stephano now shall live in continual play:[148]Vive le roy, with Damon and Pithias, in perfect amity.Vive tu, Stephano, in thy pleasant liberality:[149]Wherein I joy as much as he that hath a conquest won,I am a free man, none so merry as I now under the sun.Farewell, my lords, now the gods grant you all the sum of perfect amity,And me long to enjoy my long-desired liberty.[Exit.

Dionysius.Put on these garments now; go in with me, the jewels of my court.

DamonandPithias. We go with joyful hearts.

Stephano.O Damon, my dear master, in all this joy remember me.

Dionysius.My friend Damon, he asketh reason.

Damon.Stephano, for thy good service be thou free.[ExeuntDion.[147]

Damon.Stephano, for thy good service be thou free.

[ExeuntDion.[147]

Stephano.O most happy, pleasant, joyful, and triumphant day!Poor Stephano now shall live in continual play:[148]Vive le roy, with Damon and Pithias, in perfect amity.Vive tu, Stephano, in thy pleasant liberality:[149]Wherein I joy as much as he that hath a conquest won,I am a free man, none so merry as I now under the sun.Farewell, my lords, now the gods grant you all the sum of perfect amity,And me long to enjoy my long-desired liberty.[Exit.

Stephano.O most happy, pleasant, joyful, and triumphant day!

Poor Stephano now shall live in continual play:[148]

Vive le roy, with Damon and Pithias, in perfect amity.

Vive tu, Stephano, in thy pleasant liberality:[149]

Wherein I joy as much as he that hath a conquest won,

I am a free man, none so merry as I now under the sun.

Farewell, my lords, now the gods grant you all the sum of perfect amity,

And me long to enjoy my long-desired liberty.

[Exit.

Here enterethEubulusbeatingCarisophus.

Away, villain! away, you flatt’ring parasite!Away, the plague of this court! thy filed tongue, that forged lies,No more here shall do hurt: away, false sycophant! wilt thou not?Carisophus.I am gone, sir, seeing it is the king’s pleasure.Why whip ye me alone? a plague take Damon and Pithias! since they came hither,I am driven to seek relief abroad, alas! I know not whither.Yet, Eubulus, though I be gone, here after time shall try,There shall be found even in this court as great flatterers as I.Well, for a while I will forego the court, though to my great pain:I doubt not but to spy a time, when I may creep in again.[Exit.Eubulus.The serpent that eats men alive, flattery, with all her brood,Is whipp’d away in princes’ courts, which yet did never good.What force, what mighty power true friendship may possess,To all the world Dionysius’ court now plainly doth express:Who since to faithful friends he gave his willing ear,Most safely sitteth on his seat, and sleeps devoid of fear.Purged is the court of vice, since friendship ent’red in,Tyranny quails, he studieth now with love each heart to win:Virtue is had in price, and hath his just reward;And painted speech, that gloseth for gain, from gifts is quite debarr’d.One loveth another now for virtue, not for gain;Where virtue doth not knit the knot, there friendship cannot reign;Without the which no house, no land, no kingdom can endure,As necessary for man’s life as water, air, and fire,Which frameth the mind of man all honest things to do.Unhonest things friendship ne craveth, ne yet consents thereto.In wealth a double joy, in woe a present stay,A sweet companion in each state true friendship is alway:A sure defence for kings, a perfect trusty band,A force to assail, a shield to defend the enemies’ cruel hand;A rare and yet the greatest gift that God can give to man;So rare, that scarce four couple of faithful friends have been, since the world began.A gift so strange and of such price, I wish all kings to have;But chiefly yet, as duty bindeth, I humbly crave,True friendship and true friends, full fraught with constant faith,The giver of all friends, the Lord, grant her, most noble Queen Elizabeth.

Away, villain! away, you flatt’ring parasite!Away, the plague of this court! thy filed tongue, that forged lies,No more here shall do hurt: away, false sycophant! wilt thou not?

Away, villain! away, you flatt’ring parasite!

Away, the plague of this court! thy filed tongue, that forged lies,

No more here shall do hurt: away, false sycophant! wilt thou not?

Carisophus.I am gone, sir, seeing it is the king’s pleasure.Why whip ye me alone? a plague take Damon and Pithias! since they came hither,I am driven to seek relief abroad, alas! I know not whither.Yet, Eubulus, though I be gone, here after time shall try,There shall be found even in this court as great flatterers as I.Well, for a while I will forego the court, though to my great pain:I doubt not but to spy a time, when I may creep in again.[Exit.

Carisophus.I am gone, sir, seeing it is the king’s pleasure.

Why whip ye me alone? a plague take Damon and Pithias! since they came hither,

I am driven to seek relief abroad, alas! I know not whither.

Yet, Eubulus, though I be gone, here after time shall try,

There shall be found even in this court as great flatterers as I.

Well, for a while I will forego the court, though to my great pain:

I doubt not but to spy a time, when I may creep in again.

[Exit.

Eubulus.The serpent that eats men alive, flattery, with all her brood,Is whipp’d away in princes’ courts, which yet did never good.What force, what mighty power true friendship may possess,To all the world Dionysius’ court now plainly doth express:Who since to faithful friends he gave his willing ear,Most safely sitteth on his seat, and sleeps devoid of fear.Purged is the court of vice, since friendship ent’red in,Tyranny quails, he studieth now with love each heart to win:Virtue is had in price, and hath his just reward;And painted speech, that gloseth for gain, from gifts is quite debarr’d.One loveth another now for virtue, not for gain;Where virtue doth not knit the knot, there friendship cannot reign;Without the which no house, no land, no kingdom can endure,As necessary for man’s life as water, air, and fire,Which frameth the mind of man all honest things to do.Unhonest things friendship ne craveth, ne yet consents thereto.In wealth a double joy, in woe a present stay,A sweet companion in each state true friendship is alway:A sure defence for kings, a perfect trusty band,A force to assail, a shield to defend the enemies’ cruel hand;A rare and yet the greatest gift that God can give to man;So rare, that scarce four couple of faithful friends have been, since the world began.A gift so strange and of such price, I wish all kings to have;But chiefly yet, as duty bindeth, I humbly crave,True friendship and true friends, full fraught with constant faith,The giver of all friends, the Lord, grant her, most noble Queen Elizabeth.

Eubulus.The serpent that eats men alive, flattery, with all her brood,

Is whipp’d away in princes’ courts, which yet did never good.

What force, what mighty power true friendship may possess,

To all the world Dionysius’ court now plainly doth express:

Who since to faithful friends he gave his willing ear,

Most safely sitteth on his seat, and sleeps devoid of fear.

Purged is the court of vice, since friendship ent’red in,

Tyranny quails, he studieth now with love each heart to win:

Virtue is had in price, and hath his just reward;

And painted speech, that gloseth for gain, from gifts is quite debarr’d.

One loveth another now for virtue, not for gain;

Where virtue doth not knit the knot, there friendship cannot reign;

Without the which no house, no land, no kingdom can endure,

As necessary for man’s life as water, air, and fire,

Which frameth the mind of man all honest things to do.

Unhonest things friendship ne craveth, ne yet consents thereto.

In wealth a double joy, in woe a present stay,

A sweet companion in each state true friendship is alway:

A sure defence for kings, a perfect trusty band,

A force to assail, a shield to defend the enemies’ cruel hand;

A rare and yet the greatest gift that God can give to man;

So rare, that scarce four couple of faithful friends have been, since the world began.

A gift so strange and of such price, I wish all kings to have;

But chiefly yet, as duty bindeth, I humbly crave,

True friendship and true friends, full fraught with constant faith,

The giver of all friends, the Lord, grant her, most noble Queen Elizabeth.

The Last Song.

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