PYTHIAS

My Damon, of right high praise we ought to give, To Neptune and all the Gods, that we safely did arrive, The Seas I think with contrary winds, never raged so, I am even yet so Seasick, that I faint as I go: Therefore let us get some lodging quickly: But where is Stephano? ¶Not far hence: a Pocks take these Mariner knaves, Not one would help Me to carry this stuff, such drunken I think be accursed of the Gods own mouths. ¶Come on thy ways, thou shalt be eased, and that anon. EXIT It is a true saying that oft hath been spoken, The pitcher goes so long to the water, that he comes home broke My own proof this hath taught me, for truly sith I, In the City have used to walk very slyly, Not with one can I meet, that will in talk join with Me, And to creep into men's bosoms some talk for to snatch, By which into one trip or other, I might trimly them catch And so accuse them: Now not with one can I meet, That will join in talk w to Me, I am shunned like a Devil in y e street My credit is crackte where I am known, but yet I hear say, Certain strangers are arrived, they were a good pray, If happily I might meet with them, I fear not I, But in talk I should trip them, and that very finely, Which thing, I assure you, I do for mine own gain, Or else I would not plodde thus up and down, I fell you plain: Well, I will for a w isle to the Court to see What Aristippus does, I would be loath in favour he should overrun Me, He is a subtle child, he flattereth so finely, that I fear Me, He will lick all the fat from my lips, and so outwery Me: Therefore I will not be long absent, but at hand, That all his fine drifts I may understand. EXIT. I wonder what my Master Aristippus means now a days, That he leaveth Philosophy, and seeks to please King Dionisius, with such merry toys, In Dionisius Court now he only joys, As trim a Courtier as the best, Ready to answer, quick in taunts, pleasant to jest, lusty companion to devise with fine Dams, Whose humour to feed, his wily wit he frames. ¶My deer friend Damon, I blame not Stephano. For wishing we had not come hither, seeing it is so: That for so small cause, such cruel death does ensue. ¶As things by their contraries are always best proved, How happy are then merciful Princes of their people beloved? Having sure friends every where, no fear does touch them, They may safely spend the day pleasantly, at night (Secure dorm uatin utramque aurem O my Damon, if choice were offered Me, I would choose to be Pithias As I am, (Damons friend:) rather then to be king Dionisius. ¶My Damon, of this thing, there needs no proof to Me, The Gods forbid, but that Pithias w to Damon in all things should agr e For why it is said: Amicus alteripse, But that tr friends should be two in body: but one in mind, As it w re one transformed into another, which against Though it seem: yet in good faith, when I am alone, I forget I am Pithisas, me think I am Damon. ¶As you will my Damon, but how say you Stephano? As it not best ere we go further, to take some repast? ¶ To die? alas to: what cause ? ¶Stephano, seeing the matter is come to this extremytie, Let us make Virtue our friend, of me are necessity: Run thou to the Court and understand secretly, As much as thou canst of Damons cause, and I Will make some means to entreat Aristippus: He can do much as I hear with king Dionisius. ¶ Ah woeful Pithias, sith now I am alone, What way shall I first begin to make my moan? What words shall I find apt for my complain, Damon my friend, my joy, my life is in peril, of force I must now fain But o Music, as in joyful tunes, thy merry notes I did borrow, So now lend Me thy yernfull tunes, to utter my sorrow. A Wake you woeful Wights, That long have wept in woe: Resign to me your plaints and tears, my hapless hap to sho: My woe no tongue can tell, ne Pen can well descry: Oh, what a death is this to hear, DAMON my friend must die ¶The lose of worldly wealth, man's wisdom may restore, And Physic hath provided too, a Salve for every soar: But my true Friend once lost, no Art can well supply: Then, what a death is this to hear? DAMON my friend must die. ¶My mouth refuse the food that should my limbs sustain: Let sorrow sink in to my breast, and ransack every vain: You Furies all at once. on me your torments try: Why should I live, since that I hear? Damon my friend should die? ¶Gripe me you greedy griefs, and present pangs of death You Sisters three, with cruel hands, with speed now stop my breath: Shrine me in clay alive, some good man stop mine eye: O death come now, sing I hear, Damon my friend must die. In dame I call for Death, which hears not my complaint, But what wisdom is this, in such extremytie to faint? Multum iuua in re mala annimas bonus. I will to the Court my self to make friends, and that presently, I will never forsake my friend in time of misery: But do I see Stephano amazed hither to run? ¶ Oh Pithias, Pithias, we are all undone, Mine own ears have sucked in mine own sorrow: I herd Dionisius swear, that Damon should die to morrow. ¶How camest thou so near the presence of the King, That thou mightest hear Dionisius speak this thing. ¶Then how near is my death also, ah woe is Me. Ah my Damon, another my self: shall I forgo Thee? ¶To that I agree but let us slip afide his talk to hear. ¶Sir, if humble suits you would not despise, Then bow on Me your pitiful eyes: My name is Pithias, in Greece well known, A perfect friend to that woe ll Damon, Which now a poor captive in this Court does lie, By the kings own mouth as I here, condemned to die: For whom I crave your masterships goodness, To stand his friend in this his great distress: Nought hath he done worthy of Death, but very fondly, Being a stranger, he viewed this City For no evil practises, but to feed his eyes, But sing Dionisius is informed otherwise, My suit is to you, when you see time and place, To assuage the kings anger, and to purchase his grace, In which doing, you shall not do good to one only, But you shall further too, and that fully. Sir, you serve in the Court as Fame does tell. As I hear, none is in greater favour with the King then you at this day, It is a Courtiers praise to help strangers in misery. You shall not hurt your self to speak for the innocent. Why sir? do you think this matter past all remedy? This word my trembling heart cutteh in two, Ah sir, in this woeful case, what wist I best to do. ¶ The mighty Gods preserve you for this word of comfort, Taking my leave of your goodness, I will now resort, To Eubulus that good Counseller: But hark, me think I hear a Trumpet blow. ¶O my Damon. ¶O Damon, o my sweet friend. ¶Stand to your word, Oh King, for Kings ought nothing say, that they would perform, in perfect deeds always: you did require, when Damon his ute did méene, which, with heart and stretched hands, most humble thanks I give, that you may not say, but Damon hath a Friend, loves him better then his own life, and will do to his end: ache me. O mighty King, my life I pawn for his, rike off my head, if Damon hap at his day to miss. ¶I am Pithias, a Greek born, which hold Damon my friend full deer No fondness at all, but perfect amity. Most willingly, Oh mighty king: if Damon fail, let Pithias die. What Damon says, Pithias believeth assuredly. Though worldly men do so, it never haps amongst Friends. For that virtue, which yet to you is unknown. For this Oh mighty king, I yield immortal thanks, Oh joyful day My Damon, farewell, the Gods have Thee in kepeing. Farewell my Damon. It is no venture, my friend is joust, for whom I desire to die. Yea, that I will That shalt thou never see: but o Music as my Damon requested Thee Sound out thy doleful tunes, in this time of calamity. EXIT. ¶ Weep no more Stephano, this is but destiny, Had not this happened, yet I know I am born to die: Where or in what place, the Gods know alone, To whose judgement my self I commit, therefore leave of thy moan, And wait upon Pithias in Prison, till I return again, In whom my joy, my care and life does only remain. Most ready I am mighty king and most ready also, For my true Friend Damon this life to forgo, Even at your pleasure. I am not loath to do what so ever I said, Ne at this present pinch of death am I dismayed: The Gods now I know, have herd 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 fith he is no God but a man, he must do as he may, The wind may be contrary, sickness may let him, or some misadue ̄ ture by the way, Which the eternal Gods turn all to my glory, That Fame may resound how Pithias for Damon did die: e breaks no oh h, which does as much as he can, His mind is hear, 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, does grant my desire: But why do I stay any longer, sing that one men death, May suffice Oh king, to pacify thy wrath? Oh thou minister of justice, do thine office by and by, Let not thy hand tremble, for I remble not to die: Stephano the right patron, of true fidelity, Commend me to thy master my sweet Damon, & of him crave liberty When I am dead in my name, for thy trusty services, Hath well deserved a gift far bet er then this, O my Damon farewell now for ever, a true friend to me most deer Whiles life does last, my mouth shall Still talk of thee, And when I am dead my simple ghost true witness of amity: Shall hoouer about the place wheresoever thou been, Oh thou cruel minnister, why didst not thou thine office, Did not I bid Thee make hast 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: hat double death is this? but Oh mighty Dionis us, true justice now, way this aright, thou noble Eubulus: Me have no wrong, as now S andes the case, mon ought not to die, but Pithias: misadventure, not by his will, his hour is passed, therefore I ecause he came not at his joust time, ought justly to die: was my promise, so was thy promise Oh King, this Court can bear witness of this thing. Believe no Clock, the hour is passed by the Son. My Damon, the Gods forbid, but we should agree, herfore agree to this, let Me perform the promise I made for Thee et Me die for Thee, do Me not that injury, oath to break my promise, and to suffer Me too see Thee di ho e so dearly I love: this small request grant Me, shall never ask Thee more, my desire is but friendly: oo me this honour, that fame may report triumphantly, hat Pithias for his friend Damon was contented to die. Oh mighty king, let some pity your noble heart méene, You require but one men death, take Pithias, let Damon live. Oh noble king, show mercy on Damon, let pithias die, For this your deed most noble King, the Gods advance your name and ince to friendships lore, you list your Princely heart to frame: With joyful heart, Oh King, most welcome now to me, With you will I knit the perfect knot of amity: Wherein I shall enstruct 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 Men they be, but such men as love one and other only for virtue.