CARISOPHUS

¶ Be cock sir, yet in the Court you do best thrive, For you get more in on day then I do in five. ¶ It may so be, yet in your prosperity, Despise not and old courtier, Carisophus is he, Which hath long time fed Dionisius humour: Diligently to please, Still at hand, there was never rumor, bread in this town of any small thing, but I Brought it to the King in post by and by, et now I crave your friendship, which if I may attain, ost sure and unfeigned friendship I promise you again: oh we two linked in friendship brother and brother, ull well in the Court may help one another. ¶ A thousand thanks I give you, o friend Aristippus How joyful am I sith I have to friend Aristippus now? ¶ Sith we are now so friendly joined, it seemeth to Me, That one of us help eke other in every degree, Prefer you my cause when you are in presence, To further your matters to the King let me alone in your absence, ¶I will not dissemble, that were against Friendship, I go into the City some knaves to nip: For talk with their goods, to increase the kings Treasure, In such kind of service, I set my chief pleasure, Farewell friend Aristippus now for a time, EXIT. ¶ I am safe, he is mine own. ¶Dionisius (quoth you) since the world began, In Cicilia never reigned so cruel a man: A despiteful Tyrant to all men, I marvel I, That none makes him away, and that suddenly. ¶ Why sir? he can not hear us. ¶Sir, I like this intent, but may I ask your name without scorn ¶You do wisely to search the state of eke Country, To bear intelligence thereof whither you lust: He is a spy, Sir, I pray you, have patience a while, for I have to do here by: View this weak part of this City as you stand, & I very quickly Will return to you again, and then will I show, The state of all this Country, and of the Court also. EXIT Well, we will dispute that before the King, away with him quickl ¶Away with him I say. a crafty spy I have caught, I dare say, As never was in Cicilia, before this day, Such a one as viewed every weak place in the City, Surveyed the Haven, and each bulwark, in talk very witty: And yet by some words him self he did bewray. ¶ I handled him clerkly, I joined in talk with him courteously, But when we were entered, I let him speak his will, and I Sucked out thus much of his words, that I made him say plainly, He was come hither to know the state of the City. And not only this, but that he would understand, The state of Dionisius Court and of the whole land. Which words when I herd, I desired him to stay, Till I had done a little business of the way, Promising him to return again quickly: And so did convey My self to y e Court for Snap y e Tipstaff, which came & vpsnatched Brought him to the Court and in the porters lodge dispatched him: After I ran to Dionisius as fast as I could, And bewrayed this matter to him which I have you told: Which thing when he herd, being very merry before, He suddenly fell in a dump, and foaming like a Boar: At last he swore in a great rage that he should die, By the sword or the wheel, and that very shortly, I am too shamefast for my travel and toil, I crave nothing of Dionisius but only his spoil: Little hath he about him, but a few motheaten crowns of gold Cham poucht them up all ready, they are sure in hold: And now I go in to the City to say S that To see what he hath at his lodging, to make up my mouth. ¶ He is called Damon, born in Créece, from whence lately he cam ¶Do so I pray you, but yet by the way: As occasion serveth, commend my service to the King. ur fine Philosopher out timme learned self, gone to see as false a Spy as himself: amon sma ters as well as he of crafty Philosophy, and can turn Cat in the pan very prettily: ut Carisophus hath given him such a mighty check, S I think in the end will break his neck: hat care I for that, why would he then pry, worser learn the secret estate of our country and city? is but a stranger, by his fallen let others be wise, are not who fallen, so that I may rise: for fine Aristippus, I will keep in with him, is a shrewd fool to deal withal, he can swim: worser yet by my troth, to speak my conscience plainly, will use his friendship to mine own commodities: hile Dionisius favours him, Aristippus shall be mine, ut if the King once trowne on him, then good night Tomaline: shall be as strange, as though I never saw him before, ut I tarry too long, I will prate no more: cke, come away. ¶ At Damons lodging if that you see, y stir to arise, be Still at hand by Me, ather then I will loose the spoil, I will blade it out. ¶What strange News are these, ah my Stephano? my Damon in Prison, as the v ice does go? O sir, I am a Courtier, when Courtiers shall hear tell, How you have used me, they will not take it well. I must go to the Chirurgeons, what shall I say when I am a dreslyng Where can you say, I ever lost mine honesty. He is gone? is this friendship to leave his friend in the plain fields Well I see now, I my self have beguylde, In matching with that false for 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 towards him I used secretly: And be with me the Like, hath requited me craftily. It is the Gods judgement, I see it plainly, For all the world may know, Incide in foe eam quam fed. Well I must content my self none other help I know Until a merrier gale of wind may happen to blow: EXIT I am gone sir, sing it is the kings pleasure, Why whip you me alone? a plague take Damon and Pithias since they came hither I am driven ̄ to seek relee abroad alas I know not whither, Yet Eubulus, though I begone, here after time shall try, There shall be found even in this Court as great flatterers as I: Well for a while I will forgo the Court, though to my great pain, I doubt not but to spy a time when I may creep in again. EXIT. How durst thou villain to lay hands on me? The King gave me the spoil, to take mine own wilt thou let me? I am authority of my self, dost thou not know? What if I have not? Because I am the Kings man, keeps the king any knaves Thou villain, by thee I have lost mine honour, Betten with a cudgel Like a Slave, a Vacabon, or a la e Lubber, And not given one blow again, hast thou handled me well? Handsomely thou crake rope. Jack give me my sword and targat. Oh Citizens, help oh defend me. You need not devise for that, for this day is printed in my memory, warrant you, I shall remember this beating till I die: ut seeing of courtesy you have granted that we should talk quietly, e thinks, in calling me knave, you do me much injury. Sir, are you his servant that you pity his case so? What mumble you with your self Master Onaphets. You have paid me more then you did owe me. The sturdy knave is gone, the Devil him take, He hath made my head, shoulders, arms, sides, and all to ache: Thou horson villain boy, why didst thou wait no better? As he paid Me, so will I not die thy debtor. I am as amed to show my face with this hew. Good fellow, let us reason this matter quietly, Beatrice me no more. I will say nothing, here is my hand, as I am and honest man. Oh I had firck him trimly thou villain, if thou hadst given Me my Sword What? does my head swell? Nothing have I done but this in talk I overthwarted Eubulus When he lamented Pithias case to King Dionisius, Which to morrow shall die, but for that false knave Damon: He hath left his friend in the briers and now is gone. We grew so hight in talk, that Eubulus protested plainly, Which held his care open to parasitical fla tery. And now in the Kings ear Like a bell he rings, Crying that latterers have been the destroyers of kings: Which talk in Dionisius heart hath made so deep impression, That he rust S me not as heretofore in no condition: And some words brake from him as though that he, Began to suspect my troth and honesty: Which you of friendship I know will defend, how so ever the world goes My Friend for my honesty, will you not take and oath? Say you so friend Aristippus whom I trust so well? Will you not stretch one point? to bring me in favour again Why sir? hath not the chain of true friendship, linked us two together What link is that? feign would I know. Does honesty knit the perfect knot in true friendship, Belike then there is no friendship but between honest men. et evil men use friendship in things unhonest, where fancy does serve What is the perfectest friendship among men that ever grew? Are such Friends both a Like in joy and also in smart? Friend Aristippus, deceive me not with Sophistry, there no perfect friendship, but where is virtue and honesty? Should you so in deed? I would that were known, Is your void friendship come thus to pass. A friend ought to shun no pain, to stand his friend in stead.