Part 3

_He speaketh this after the song._

In vain I call for death, which heareth not my complaint: But what wisdom is this, in such extremity to faint? _Multum juvat in re malâ animus bonus._ I will to the court myself, 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?

_Here entereth_ STEPHANO.

STEPHANO. O Pithias, Pithias, we are all undone! Mine own ears have sucked in mine own sorrow; I heard Dionysius swear, that Damon should die to-morrow.

PITHIAS. How camest thou so near the presence of the king, That thou mightest hear Dionysius speak this thing?

STEPHANO. By friendship I gat into the court, where in great audience I heard Dionysius with his own mouth give this cruel sentence By these express words: that Damon the Greek, that crafty spy, Without further judgment to-morrow should die: Believe me, Pithias, with these ears I heard it myself.

PITHIAS. Then how near is my death also! Ah, woe is me! Ah my Damon, another myself, shall I forego thee?

STEPHANO. Sir, there is no time of lamenting now: it behoveth us To make means to them which can do much with Dionysius, That he be not made away, ere his cause be fully heard; for we see By evil report things be made to princes far worse than they be. But lo, yonder cometh Aristippus, in great favour with king Dionysius, Entreat him to speak a good word to the king for us, And in the mean season I will to your lodging to see all things safe there.

PITHIAS. To that I agree: but let us slip aside his talk to hear.

_Here entereth_ ARISTIPPUS.

ARISTIPPUS. Here is a sudden change indeed, a strange metamorphosis, This court is clean altered: who would have thought this? Dionysius, of late so pleasant and merry, Is quite changed now into such melancholy, That nothing can please him: he walketh up and down, Fretting and chaffing, on every man he doth frown; In so much that, when I in pleasant words began to play, So sternly he frowned on me, and knit me up so short, I perceive it is no safe playing with lions, but when it please them; If you claw where it itch not, you shall disease them, And so perhaps get a clap; mine own proof taught me this, That it is very good to be merry and wise. The only cause of this hurly-burly is Carisophus, that wicked man, Which lately took Damon for a spy, a poor gentleman, And hath incensed the king against him so despitefully, That Dionysius hath judged him to-morrow to die. I have talk’d with Damon, whom though in words I found very witty, Yet was he more curious than wise in viewing this city: But truly, for aught I can learn, there is no cause why So suddenly and cruelly he should be condemned to die: Howsoever it be, this is the short and long, I dare not gainsay the king, be it right or wrong: I am sorry, and that is all I may or can do in this case: Nought availeth persuasion, where froward opinion taketh place.

PITHIAS. Sir, if humble suits you would not despise, Then bow on[65] me your pitiful eyes. My name is Pithias, in Greece well known, A perfect friend to that woful Damon, Which now a poor captive in this court doth lie, By the king’s own mouth, as I hear, condemned to die; For whom I crave your mastership’s 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 practices, but to feed his eyes. But seeing Dionysius is informed otherwise, My suit is to you, when you see time and place, To assuage the king’s anger, and to purchase his grace: In which doing you shall not do good to one only, But you shall further two,[66] and that fully.

ARISTIPPUS. My friend, in this case I can do you no pleasure.

PITHIAS. Sir, you serve in the court, as fame doth tell.

ARISTIPPUS. I am of the court indeed, but none of the council.

PITHIAS. As I hear, none is in greater favour with the king, than you at this day.

ARISTIPPUS. The more in favour, the less I dare say.

PITHIAS. It is a courtier’s praise to help strangers in misery.

ARISTIPPUS. To help another, and hurt myself, it is an evil point of courtesy.

PITHIAS. You shall not hurt yourself to speak for the innocent.

ARISTIPPUS. He is not innocent, whom the king judgeth nocent.

PITHIAS. Why, sir, do you think this matter past all remedy?

ARISTIPPUS. So far past, that Dionysius hath sworn, Damon to-morrow shall die.

PITHIAS. This word my trembling heart cutteth in two. Ah, sir, in this woful case that[67] wist I best to do?

ARISTIPPUS. Best to content yourself, when there is no remedy, He is well relieved that foreknoweth his misery: Yet, if any comfort be, it resteth in Eubulus, The chiefest councillor about King Dionysius: Which pitieth Damon’s case in this great extremity, Persuading the king from all kind of cruelty.

PITHIAS. The mighty gods preserve you for this word of comfort. Taking my leave of your goodness, I will now resort To Eubulus, that good councillor: But hark! methink I hear a trumpet blow.

ARISTIPPUS. The king is at hand, stand close in the prease.[68] Beware, if he know You are friend to Damon, he will take you for a spy also. Farewell, I dare not be seen with you.

_Here entereth_ KING DIONYSIUS, EUBULUS _the Councillor, and_ GRONNO _the Hangman._

DIONYSIUS. Gronno, do my commandment: strike off Damon’s irons by and by. Then bring him forth, I myself will see him executed presently.

GRONNO. O mighty king, your commandment will I do speedily.

DIONYSIUS. Eubulus, thou hast talked in vain, for sure he shall die. Shall I suffer my life to stand in peril of every spy?

EUBULUS. That he conspired against your person, his accuser cannot say: He only viewed your city, and will you for that make him away?

DIONYSIUS. What he would have done, the guess is great: he minded me to hurt, That came so slyly to search out the secret estate of my court. Shall I still lie in fear? no, no: I will cut off such imps betime, Lest that to my farther danger too high they climb.

EUBULUS. Yet have the mighty gods immortal fame assigned To all worldly princes, which in mercy be inclined.

DIONYSIUS. Let fame talk what she list, so I may live in safety.

EUBULUS. The only mean to that is, to use mercy,

DIONYSIUS. A mild prince the people despiseth.

EUBULUS. A cruel king the people hateth.

DIONYSIUS. Let them hate me, so they fear me.

EUBULUS. That is not the way to live in safety.

DIONYSIUS. My sword and power shall purchase my quietness.

EUBULUS. That is sooner procured by mercy and gentleness.

DIONYSIUS. Dionysius ought to be feared.

EUBULUS. Better for him to be well beloved.

DIONYSIUS. Fortune maketh all things subject to my power.

EUBULUS. Believe her not, she is a light goddess; she can laugh and low’r.

DIONYSIUS. A king’s praise standeth in the revenging of his enemy.

EUBULUS. A greater praise to win him by clemency.

DIONYSIUS. To suffer the wicked to live it is no mercy.

EUBULUS. To kill the innocent it is great cruelty.

DIONYSIUS. Is Damon innocent, which so craftily undermined Carisophus, To understand what he could of king Dionysius? Which surviewed the haven and each bulwark in the city, Where battery might be laid, what way best to approach? shall I Suffer such a one to live, that worketh me such despite? No, he shall die, then I am safe: a dead dog cannot bite.

EUBULUS. But yet, O mighty king,[69] my duty bindeth me To give such counsel, as with your honour may best agree: The strongest pillars of princely dignity, I find, is[70] justice with mercy and prudent liberality: The one judgeth all things by upright equity, The other rewardeth the worthy, flying each extremity. As to spare those which offend maliciously, It may be called no justice, but extreme injury. So upon suspicion of each thing not well-proved, To put to death presently whom envious flattery accused, It seemeth of tyranny; and upon what fickle ground all tyrants do stand, Athens and Lacedemon can teach you, if it be rightly scann’d. And not only these citizens, but who curiously seeks The whole histories of all the world, not only of Romans and Greeks, Shall well perceive of all tyrants the ruinous fall, Their state uncertain, beloved of none, but hated of all. Of merciful princes to set out the passing felicity I need not: enough of that even these days do testify. They live devoid of fear, their sleeps are sound, they dread no enemy, They are feared and loved, and why? they rule with justice and mercy, Extending justice to such as wickedly from justice have swerved: Mercy unto those who in[71] opinion of 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 fall to this issue, To reward none but such as deserve it for virtue. Which merciful justice if you would follow, and provident liberality; Neither the caterpillars of all courts, _et fruges consumere nati_, Parasites with wealth puff’d up, should not look so high; Nor yet for this simple fact poor Damon should die.

DIONYSIUS. With pain mine ears have heard 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 with chilling horror fills my breast day and night violently? My dreadful dreams of him bereaves my rest; on bed I lie Shaking and trembling, as one ready to yield his throat to Damon’s sword. This quaking dread nothing but Damon’s blood can stay: Better he die, than I to be tormented with fear alway. He shall die, though Eubulus consent not thereto: It is lawful, for kings, as they list, all things to do.

_Here_ GRONNO [_and_ SNAP] _bring in_ DAMON, _and_ PITHIAS _meeteth him by the way._

PITHIAS. O my Damon!

DAMON. O my Pithias! seeing death must part us, farewell for ever.

PITHIAS. O Damon, O my sweet friend!

SNAP. Away from the prisoner: what a prease have we here?

GRONNO. As you commanded, O mighty king, we have brought Damon.

DIONYSIUS. Then go to: make ready. I will not stir out of this place, Till I see his head stroken off before my face.

GRONNO. It shall be done, sir. [_To Damon_] Because your eyes have made such a-do. I will knock down this your lantern, and shut up your shop-window too.

DAMON. O mighty king, where as no truth my innocent life can save, But that so greedily you thirst[72] my guiltless blood to have, Albeit (even in thought) I had not ought against your person: Yet now I plead not for life, ne will I crave your pardon. But seeing in Greece my country, where well I am known, I have worldly things fit for mine alliance, when I am gone, To dispose them, ere I die, if I might obtain leisure, I would account it (O king) for a passing great pleasure: Not to prolong my life thereby, for which I reckon not this, But to set my things in a stay: and surely I will not miss, Upon the faith which all gentlemen ought to embrace, To return again, at your time to appoint, to yield my body here in this place. Grant me (O king) such time to despatch this inquiry,[73] And I will not fail when you appoint, even here my life to pay.[74]

DIONYSIUS. A pleasant request! as though I could trust him absent, Whom in no wise I cannot trust being present. And yet though I sware the contrary, do that I require, Give me a pledge for thy return, and have thine own desire. He is as near now as he was before. [_Aside._

DAMON. There is no surer nor greater pledge than the faith of a gentleman.

DIONYSIUS. It was wont to be, but otherwise now the world doth stand; Therefore do as I say, else presently yield thy neck to the sword. If I might with my honour, I would recall my word.

PITHIAS. Stand to your word, O king, for kings ought nothing say, But that they would perform in perfect deeds alway. A pledge you did require, when Damon his suit did meve, For which with heart and stretched hands most humble thanks I give: And that you may not say but Damon hath a friend, That loves him better than his own life, and will do to his end, Take me, O mighty king: my life I pawn[75] for his: Strike off my head, if Damon hap at his day to miss.

DIONYSIUS. What art thou, that chargest me with my word so boldly here?

PITHIAS. I am Pithias, a Greek born, which hold Damon my friend full dear.

DIONYSIUS. Too dear perhaps, to hazard thy life for him: what fondness[76] moveth thee?

PITHIAS. No fondness at all, but perfect amity.

DIONYSIUS. A mad kind of amity! advise thyself well: if Damon fail at his day, Which shall be justly appointed, wilt thou die for him, to me his life to pay?

PITHIAS. Most willingly, O mighty king: if Damon fail, let Pithias die.

DIONYSIUS. Thou seemest to trust his words, that pawnest thy life so frankly.

PITHIAS. What Damon saith, Pithias believeth assuredly.

DIONYSIUS. Take heed, for [your] life:[77] wordly men break promise in many things.

PITHIAS. Though wordly men do so, it never haps amongst friends.

DIONYSIUS. What callest thou friends? are they not men, is not this true?

PITHIAS. Men they be, but such men as love one another only for virtue.

DIONYSIUS. For what virtue dost thou love this spy, this Damon?

PITHIAS. For that virtue which yet to you is unknown.

DIONYSIUS. Eubulus, what shall I do? I would despatch this Damon fain, But this foolish fellow so chargeth me, that I may not call back my word again.

EUBULUS. The reverent majesty of a king stands chiefly in keeping his promise. What you have said this whole court beareth witness, Save your honour, whatsoever you do.

DIONYSIUS. 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 months he is thine: unbind him, I set him free; Which time once expired, if he appear not the next day by noon, Without further delay thou shalt lose thy life, and that full soon. Whether he die by the way, or lie sick in his bed, If he return not then, thou shalt either hang or lose thy head.

PITHIAS. For this, O mighty king, I yield immortal thanks. O joyful day!

DIONYSIUS. Gronno, take him to thee: bind him, see him kept in safety: If he escape, assure thyself for him thou shalt die. Eubulus, let us depart, to talk of this strange thing within.

EUBULUS. I follow. [_Exeunt._

GRONNO. Damon, thou servest the gods well today; be thou of comfort. As for you, sir, I think you will be hanged in sport. You heard what the king said; I must keep you safely: By Cock, so I will, you shall rather hang than I. Come on your way.

PITHIAS. My Damon, farewell; the gods have thee in keeping.

DAMON. O my Pithias, my pledge, farewell; I part from thee weeping. But joyful at my day appointed I will return again, When I will deliver thee from all trouble and pain, Stephano will I leave behind me to wait upon thee in prison alone, And I, whom fortune hath reserved to this misery, will walk home. Ah my Pithias, my pledge, my life, my friend, farewell.

PITHIAS. Farewell, my Damon.

DAMON. Loth am I to depart. Sith sobs my trembling tongue doth stay, O music, sound my doleful plaints, when I am gone my way. [_Exit Damon._

GRONNO. I am glad he is gone, I had almost wept too. Come, Pithias, So God help me, I am sorry for thy foolish case Wilt thou venter thy life for a man so fondly?

PITHIAS. It is no venter: my friend is just, for whom I desire to die.

GRONNO. Here is a madman! I tell thee, I have a wife whom I love well, And if ich would die for her, chould ich were in hell. Wilt thou do more for a man than I would for a woman?

PITHIAS. Yea, that I will.

GRONNO. Then come on your ways, you must to prison haste. I fear you will repent this folly at last.

PITHIAS. That shalt thou never see. But O music, as my Damon requested thee, Sound out thy doleful tunes in this time of calamity.

[_Exeunt. Here the regals play a mourning song, and_ DAMON _cometh in in mariner apparel and_ STEPHANO _with him_.

DAMON. Weep no more, Stephano, this is but destiny: Had not this happ’d, yet I know I am born to die: Where or in what place, the gods know alone, To whose judgment myself I commit. Therefore leave off thy moan, And wait upon Pithias in prison till I return again, In whom my joy, my care and life doth only remain.

STEPHANO. O my dear master, let me go with you; for my poor company Shall be some small comfort in this time of misery.

DAMON. O Stephano, hast thou been so long with me, And yet dost not know the force of true amity? I tell thee once again, my friend and I are but one: Wait upon Pithias, and think thou art with Damon. Whereof I may not now discourse, the time passeth away; The sooner I am gone, the shorter shall be my journey: Therefore farewell, Stephano, commend me to my friend Pithias, Whom I trust to deliver in time out of this woful case.

STEPHANO. Farewell, my dear master, since your pleasure is so. O cruel hap! O poor Stephano! O cursed Carisophus, that first moved this tragedy!-- But what a noise is this? is all well within, trow ye? I fear all be not well within, I will go see.-- Come out, you weasel: are you seeking eggs in Damon’s chest? Come out, I say, wilt thou be packing? by Cock, you were best.

CARISOPHUS. How durst thou, villain, to lay hands on me?

STEPHANO. Out, sir knave, or I will send ye. Art thou not content to accuse Damon wrongfully, But wilt thou rob him also, and that openly?

CARISOPHUS. The king gave me the spoil: to take mine own wilt thou let me?[78]

STEPHANO. Thine own, villain! where is thine authority?

CARISOPHUS. I am authority of myself; dost thou not know?

STEPHANO. By’r Lady, that is somewhat; but have you no more to show?

CARISOPHUS. What, if I have not?

STEPHANO. Then for an earnest penny take this blow. I shall bombast you, you mocking knave; chill put pro in my purse for this time.[79]

CARISOPHUS. Jack, give me my sword and target.

JACK. I cannot come to you, master, this knave doth me let. Hold, master.

STEPHANO. Away, Jackanapes, else I will col’phise you[80] by and by: Ye slave, I will have my pennyworths of thee therefore, if I die. About, villain!

CARISOPHUS. O citizens, help to defend me.

STEPHANO. Nay, they will rather help to hang thee.

CARISOPHUS. Good fellow, let us reason of the matter quietly: beat me no more.

STEPHANO. Of this condition I will stay, if thou swear, as thou art an honest man, Thou wilt say nothing to the king of this when I am gone.

CARISOPHUS. I will say nothing; here is my hand, as I am an honest man.

STEPHANO. Then say on thy mind: I have taken a wise oath on him, have I not, trow ye? To trust such a false knave upon his honesty? As he is an honest man (quoth you?) he may bewray all to the king, And break his oath for this never a whit--but, my franion,[81] I tell you this one thing: If you disclose this, I will devise such a way, That whilst thou livest, thou shalt remember this day.

CARISOPHUS. You need not devise for that, for this day is printed in my memory; I warrant you, I shall remember this beating till I die: But seeing of courtesy you have granted that we should talk quietly, Methinks in calling me knave you do me much injury.

STEPHANO. Why so, I pray thee heartily?

CARISOPHUS. Because I am the king’s man: keeps the king any knaves?

STEPHANO. He should not; but what he doth, it is evident by thee, And as far as I can learn or understand, There is none better able to keep knaves in all the land.

CARISOPHUS. O sir, I am a courtier: when courtiers shall hear tell, How you have used me, they will not take it well.

STEPHANO. Nay, all right courtiers will ken me thank;[82] and wot you why? Because I handled a counterfeit courtier in his kind so finely. What, sir? all are not courtiers that have a counterfeit show; In a troop of honest men some knaves may stand, ye know, Such as by stealth creep in under the colour of honesty, Which sort under that cloak do all kinds of villainy, A right courtier is virtuous, gentle, and full of urbanity, Hurting no man, good to all, devoid of villainy: But such as thou art, fountains of squirrility and vain delights; Though you hang by the court, you are but flatt’ring parasites; As well deserving the right name of courtesy, As the coward knight the true praise of chivalry. I could say more, but I will not, for that I am your well-willer. In faith, Carisophus, you are no courtier but a caterpillar, A sycophant, a parasite, a flatterer, and a knave. Whether I will or no, these names you must have: How well you deserve this by your deeds it is known, For that so unjustly thou hast accused poor Damon, Whose woful case the gods help alone.

CARISOPHUS. Sir, are you his servant, that you pity his case so?

STEPHANO. No, bum troth, goodman Grumb, his name is Stephano: I am called Onaphets,[83] if needs you will know. The knave beginneth to sift me, but I turn my name in and out, _Cretizo cum Cretense_,[84] to make him a lout. [_Aside._

CARISOPHUS. What mumble you with yourself, Master Onaphets?

STEPHANO. I am reckoning with myself how I may pay my debts.

CARISOPHUS. You have paid me more than you did owe me.

STEPHANO. Nay, upon a farther reckoning, I will pay you more, if I know Either you talk of that is done, or by your sycophantical envy You prick forth Dionysius the sooner, that Damon may die: I will so pay thee, that thy bones shall rattle in thy skin. Remember what I have said; Onaphets is my name. [_Exit._

CARISOPHUS. The sturdy knave is gone, the devil him take! He hath made my head, shoulders, arms, sides, and all to ache. Thou whoreson villain boy, why didst thou wait no better? As he paid me, so will I not die thy debtor. [_Strikes him._

JACK. Master, why do you fight with me? I am not your match, you see: You durst not fight with him that is gone, and will you wreak your anger on me?

CARISOPHUS. Thou villain, by thee I have lost mine honour, Beaten with a cudgel like a slave, a vacabone, or a lazy lubber, And not given one blow again. Hast thou handled me well?

JACK. Master, I handled you not, but who did handle you very handsomely, you can tell.

CARISOPHUS. Handsomely! thou crack-rope.[85]

JACK. Yea, sir, very handsomely: I hold you a groat, He handled you so handsomely, that he left not one mote in your coat.

CARISOPHUS. O, I had firk’d him trimly, thou villain, if thou hadst given me my sword.

JACK. It is better as it is, master, believe me, at a word. If he had seen your weapon, he would have been fiercer, And so perhaps beat you worse, I speak it with my heart, You were never at the dealing of fence-blows, but you had four away for your part. It is but your luck, you are man good enough; But the Welsh Onaphets was a vengeance-knave, and rough. Master, you were best go home and rest in your bed, Methinks your cap waxeth too little for your head.

CARISOPHUS. What! doth my head swell?

JACK. Yea, as big as a codshead, and bleeds too.

CARISOPHUS. I am ashamed to show my face with this hue.

JACK. No shame at all; men have been beaten far better than you.