EUBULUS

¶That he conspired against your person, his Accuser can not say, He only viewed your City and will you for that make him away. ¶Yet have the mighty Gods, immortal Fame assigned To all worldly Princes, which in mercy be inclined. ¶ The only mean to that, is to use mercy. ¶ A cruel King the people hates. That is not the way to live in safety. ¶ That is sooner procured by mercy and gentleness. ¶ Better for him to be well-beloved. ¶ Believe her not she is a light Goddess, she can laugh & lower: ¶ A greater praise to win him by clemency. ¶ To kill the innocent, it is great cruelty, ¶ But yet, Oh mighty, my duty binds me, give such counsel as with your honour may best agree, e strongest pillars of Princely dignity, nde this justice, with mercy and prudent liberality, e one judgeth all things by upright equity, e other rewardeth the worthy, flying eke extremity: to spare those, which offend maliciously, may be called no justice, but extreme injury: upon suspicion, of each things not well proved, put to death presently, whom envious flattery accused, seemeth of tyranny, and upon what fickle ground all tyrants do stand and Lacedemon, can teach you if it be rightly scande: not only these Citizens, but who curiously seeks, whole Histories of all the world, not only of Romans & Greeks Shall well perceive of all Tyrants the ruinous fallen, Their state uncertain, beloved of none, but hated of all: Of merciful Princes to set out the passing felycitie I need not: enough of that, even these days do testify: They live devoid of fear, their sleeps are found, they dréed no ene They are feared and loved, and why? they rule with Justice & merc Extending Justice to such, as wickedly from Justice have swerved, Mercy unto those, where opinion, simpleness have mercy deserved: Of liberty nought I say; but only this thing, Liberty upholdeth the state of a King: Whose large bountifulness ought to fallen to this issue, To reward none, but such as deserve it for virtue: Which merciful Justice, if you would follow, & provident liberalyti Neither the Caterpillars of all Courts, Et fruges consumere nati. Parasites with wealth puffed up, should not look so High, Nor yet for this simple fact, poor Damon should die. The reverent maistie of a King, stands chiefly in keeping his promise What you have, said, this whole Court bears witness: Save your honour what so ever you do. Who deals with Kings in matters of great weight, When froward will, does bear the chiefest swa : Must yield of force, their need no subtle eight: Ne painted speech the matter to convey, No prayer can move, when kindled is the ire, The more you quench, the more increased is the fire. This thing I prove in Pithias woeful case, Whose hauuy hap with tears I do lament: The day is come when he in Damons place, Must loose his life the time is fully spent: Nought can my words now with the King prevail, Against the wind and striving stream I sail: For die thou must alas thou sely Greek, Ah Pithias, now come is thy doleful hour: A perfect friend none such a world to seek. Though bitter death shall give Thee sauce full Sour: Yet for thy faith enrolled 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. Alas what happen hast thou poor Pithias now to die, Woe worth the which man for his death hath given us cause to cry. ME think I hear with yellow rented hears, The Muses frame their notes my state to moan: Among which sort as one that mourneth with heart, In doleful tunes, my self will bear a part. With yellow rented hears come on you Muses nine, Fill now my breast with heavy tunes, to me your plaints resign For Pithias I bewail which presently must die, Woe worth the man which for his death hath given us cause. &c. Was ever such a man that would die for his friend, I think even from the heavens above, the Gods did him down sen To show true friendshipps power, which forced Thee now to die, Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c. What Tigars whelp was he, that Damon did accuse? What faith hast thou, which for thy friend, thy death does not refuse Oh heavy happen hadst thou to play this Tragidie, Woe worth the man which for thy death, &c. Thou young and worthy Greek, that showest 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. Eternal be your fame you Muses, for that in misery, You did vouchsafe to strain your notes to walk: My heart is rend in two, with this miserable case, Yet am I charged by Dionisius mouth, to see this place, At all points ready for the execution of Pithias. Need hath no law: will I or nil I, it must be done, But lo the bloody minister, is even here at hand. Gronno, I came hither now to understand, If all things are well appointed for the execution of Pithias, The King him self will see it done here in this place. I go with and heavy heart to report it, ah woeful Pithias Full near now is thy misery. Oh unspeakable friendship. I go with a joyful heart, Oh happy day. EXIT The Serpent that eats men alive, Flattery with all her brood, Is whipte away in Princes Courts which yet did never good, What force what mighty power, true Friendship may possess? To all the world Dionisius Court now plainly does express, W oh since to faithful Friends he gave his Willing ear, Most sa e y sitteth in his Seat and sleeps devoid of fear, Purged is the Court of vice, since Friendship entered in, Tirrannie quails, he studieth now with love eke heart to win, Virtue is had in price, and hath his joust reward: And painted speech that glosseth for gain, from gifts is quite debarred, One loves another now for virtue, not for gain, Where Virtue does not knit the knot, there Friendship cannot reign, Without the which, no house, no land, ne kingdom can endure, As necessary for men 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 thertoo, In wealth a double joy, in woe a present stay, A sweet companion in eke state true Friendship is always: 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: oh rare, y scarce four couple of faithful friends have been since y e world began A Gift so strange, & of such price, I wish all Kings to have, But chiefly yet as duty binds I humbly crave, True friendship, and true friends full fraught with constant faith, The giver of friends, the Lord grant her most noble Queen Elizabeth. I follow. EXIT.