Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 19 (piety, thalander, crimes, blessings, loathed, pretend…). Matches are highlighted.
these Garments now, go in with Me the Jewels of my Court. My friend Damon he asks reason? Dam. Pithias. To dear perhaps, to hazard thy life for him, what fondness moves Thee For saving mine honour, I must forbear my will, go to, Pithias, seeing thou tookest me at my word, take Damon to Thee: For two mounthes he is thine, unbind
Full speech
¶Gronoo, do my continued ̄ maundement, strike off Damons Icons by & by, Then bring him forth, I my self will see him executed presently. Let Fame talk what she list, so I may live in safety. ¶Let them hate me, so they fear Me. ¶My sword and power shall purchase my quietness. ¶ Fortune makes all things subject to my power. Take heed for life, worldly men break promise in many things. Eubulus, what shall I do? I would dispatch this Damon fain, But this foolish fellow so charges me, that I may not call back my word again. Gronee, take him to Thee, bind him, see him kept in safety. f he escape assure thy self, for him thou shalt die, ubulus, let us depart, to talk of this strange thing within, ¶Eubulus: thou hast talked in vain, for sure he shall die. Shall I suffer my life to stand in peril of every Spy? ¶ A kings praise stands in the revenging of his enemy ¶ Then go to, make ready I will not stir out of this place, Till I see his head stroken off before my face. ¶It was wont to be, but otherwise now the world does stand, herfore do as I say, else presently yield thy neck to the sword, I might with mine honour I would recall my word. ¶What art thou, that chargest me with my word so boldly here? What he would have done, the guess is great, he minded Me to hurt That came so flily to search out the secret estate of my Court: Shall I Still live in fear? no, no: I will cut off such Imps betime Least that to my further danger, too High they climb. ¶A mild Prince the people despises. ¶ Dionisius ought to be feared. ¶ To suffer the wicked live, it is no mercy. ¶ Is Damon innocent, which so craftily underminded Carisophus, understand what he could of king Dionisius: hich surveyed the Haven and eke Bulwark in the City, here battery might be laid, what way best to approach, shall I ffer such a one to live, that works me such despite? , he shall die, then I am safe, a dead dog can not bite. ¶With pain mine ears have herd this vain talk of mercy, I tell Thee, fear and terror, defendeth kings only: Till he be gone whom I suspect, how shall I live quietly? Whose memory w to chilling horror, fills my breast day & night violentl My dreadful dreams of him, bereues my rest: On bed I lie Shaking and trembling, as one ready to yield his throat to Damon sword This quaking dread, nothing but Damons blood can stay, Better he die, then I to be tormented with fear always: He shall die, though Eubulus consent not thereto, It is lawful for kings as they list all things to do. Thou seemest to trust his words, that pawnest thy life so frankly. ¶ A pleasant request, as though I could trust him absent, ho in no wise I can not trust being present: and yet though I sware the contrary, do that I require, eve me a pledge for thy return, and have thine own desire: is as never now as he was before. A mad kind of amity: advise thy self well, if Damon fail at his day Which shall be justly appin e , wilt thou die for him, to me his life oh pay. What callest thou friends, are they not men? is not this true? For what virtue, dost thou love this spy, this Damon. How say you sir? where is Damon your trusty friend? You have played a wise partly I make God a vow, You know what time a day it is, make you ready. A true friend, a false Traitor that so breaks his oh h, Thou shalt loose thy life, though thou be never so loath. Eubulus, This gear is strange, and yet because, Damon hath falst his faith, Pithias shall have the law: Gronnoo, despoil him, and eke dispatch him quickly. Eubulus, my spirits are suddenly appalled, my limes wax weak This strange friendship amasseth me so, that I can scarce speak. 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? Oh noble friendship, I must yield, at thy force I wonder: My heart, this rare friendship hath pierced to the root, And quenched all my fury, this sighed hath brought this about: Which thy graven counsel Eubulus, and learned persuasion could never do: noble gentlemen, the immortal Gods above, ath made you play this Tragidie, I think for my behoove: efore this day I never knew what perfect friendship meant, y cruel mind to bloody deeds, was full and wholly bent: y fearful life, I thought with terror to defend, ut now I see there is no guard unto a faithful riend: Which will not spare his life at time of present need, happy kings within your courts have two such Friends in deed: honour friendship now, which that you may plainly see, amon, have thou thy life, from death I pardon Thee: or which good turn, I crave this honour do me lend? O friendly heart? let me link with you, to you make me y e third fry ̄ de y court is yours, dwell here with Me, by my commission large, y self, my realm, my wealth, my health, I commit to your charge: ache me a third friend, more shall I joy in that thing, Then to be called as I am, Dionisius the mighty king. Unequal though I be in great possessions, et full equal shall you find me in my changed conditions: irranie, flattery, oppression, lo, hear I cast away? usti e, truth, love, friendship shall be my joy: True friendship will I honour unto my lives end, My greatest glory shall be, to be counted a perfect friend. Your instruction will I follow, to you my self I do commite, Eubulus, make haste to fetched new apparel fit: For my new Friends. Put on these Garments now, go in with Me the Jewels of my Court. My friend Damon he asks reason? Dam. Pithias. To dear perhaps, to hazard thy life for him, what fondness moves Thee For saving mine honour, I must forbear my will, go to, Pithias, seeing thou tookest me at my word, take Damon to Thee: For two mounthes he is thine, unbind him, I set him free, Which time once expired, if he appear not the next day by noon, With out further delay, thou shalt loose thy life, and that full soon. Whither he di by the way, or lie sick in his bead, If he return not then, thou shalt either hang or loose thy head.
Plot summary
Plot — Damon and Pithias
Damon and Pythias, close friends since their schooldays, arrive in Syracuse, only to discover that the ruler, Dionysius, is a tyrant given to executing his subjects for trivial reasons, and whose court is a magnet for mercenary men. Eager to cement his position there, the parasite Carisophus tries to trap Damon into indiscreet talk, then seizes on his tourist’s interest in the city as a pretext to brand him a spy. Damon is arrested and condemned to death. Pythias seeks the help of the philosopher courtier Aristippus, who refers him to Eubulus, whose advice has already been rejected by Dionysius. Eubulus argues that kings should inspire their subjects’ love, but Dionysius is convinced that terror is the only effective instrument of rule, and orders the execution to proceed. Damon asks for leave to return to Greece to put his affairs in order, with the promise that he will then return to face his death. Dionysius will not accept his word of honour, so Pythias offers himself as pledge. He is imprisoned and Damon released. Dionysius grows more suspicious, to the extent that he will allow only his own daughters to shave him. Two pages induce Grim the collier to pass on the common talk about the Damon case and the court in general. When he expresses interest in being shaved by the King’s daughters, the pages offer to do it in the same style, and take the opportunity to rob him. The day of Pythias’s execution approaches, and Damon has not returned. Carisophus falls from favour after Eubulus warns the King against flatterers in general and Aristippus drops hints against him in particular. However, Eubulus cannot dissuade Dionysius from executing Pythias. Damon arrives just as his friend is about to be beheaded, and they argue over which of them should die to save the other. Dionysius is stunned by the example: he realizes the value of friendship, pardons both, and eschews his former tyranny. The court is purged of vice and Carisophus beaten away.