No More Learning

To be thus hated of all, better unborne :
Farre better Aristippus hath provided, I trowe;
For in all the courte I am beloved both of hie and lowe.
I offende none, in so muche that wenen singe this to
my great prayse,
-
Omnis Aristippum decuit color, et locus et res. 4. t
228 DAM ON AND PITIIIAS.
But in this joylytie one thinge maseth me,
The straungest thinge that ever was harde knowne,
now happened this court, that Damon
Whom Carisophus accused; Damon now libertie,
For whose return Pithias his friend lieth
prison, alas,
great jeopardy.
-
To-morow the day, which day noone Damon returne not, ernestl
The kinge hath sworne that Pithias should die; Wherof Pithias hath intelligence very secretly,
Wishing that Damon may not returnetyll have payde
His lyfe for his friend. Hath ben heare fore ever sayde,
That any man for his friend would die willyngly. ” noble friendship perfect amitiel
Thy force heare seene, and that very perfectlie.
The king himselfe museth heare yet farre out square
That he trusteth none come nere him, not his owne doughters will have
Unsercht enter his chamber, which he hath made
shave,
Not with knife rasour, for all edge-tooles hee feares,
barbars his beard
But with hote burning nutshales they senge
heares.
---
Was there ever man that lived such miserye
Well, wyll with heavye and pensive hart too, To think how Pithias, this poore gentleman, to-morow
shall die.
Here entreth Jack and WYLL.
[Erit.
Jacke. Wyll, mine honesty, wyll marre your moncke's face, you fondly prate.
Wyll. Jacke, my troth, seeing you are without
the courte gate, you play Jacke napes, dispising my face,
mocking my master, and
wyll you disgrace;
suppose means say pan begins his attack with kick.
Even here with
pantacle”
Even here with pantacle] tofte, i. e. slipper. Perhaps
The 2d edition reads,
*
If -
O,
Is
*
a of
in is
all
aa
by
in. or by
!
in
if
heI to
O he to
he
I in so E
*. in
at,
it
by
by is
to a.
2
of
a S.
his
I
.
I
to
go
.
a
is
so
he to ifat
is
he
in
or
DAMON AND Pi'IHIAS. 229
And though you have a farre better face then I,
Yet who is better man of us two these fistes shall trie, Unlesse you leave your taunting.
Jacke. Thou began'st first; didst thou not say even nowe,
That Carisophus, my master, was no man but a cowe, In takinge so many blowes, and geve “never a blow
agayn?
Wyll. I sayde so in deede, he is but a tame ruffian,
That can swere by his flaske and twiche-box *, and God's precious lady,
And yet will be beaten with a faggot-stick. These barking whelpes were never good biters,
Ne yet great crakers were ever great fighters:
But seeinge you eg mee so much, I wyll somewhat
more resight;
I say, Carisophus thy master is a flattring parisite;
Glening away the sweet from the worthy in al the COurte.
What tragidie hath he moved of late? the devell take him, he doth much hurt.
Jacke. I pray you, what is Aristippus thy master, is not he a parisite to,
That with scoffing and jesting in the court makes so much a doo?
Wyll. He is no parisite, but a pleasant gentleman full of curtesie.
Thy master is a churlish loute, the heyre of a doung fork; as voyde of honestie
As thou, art of honour.
“Even heere with a faire pantacle I will you disgrace. ”
an epithet not found in the oldest copy, and hardly consistent with
the supposition that pantacle means pantofle, C.
at which the match was lighted, was part of the accoutrement of a
-
** geve] gave, 1st edit. '
* his flaske and twiche-bor] More properly touch-bor. While match-locks, instead of fire-locks, to guns were used; the touch-bor,
soldier.
“When she his flask aInd touch-box set on fire. ”
line of an Author, whose name
cannot at this time recollect. S.
230 DAMON AND PIT HIAS.
Jacke. Nay, yf you wyll needes be prating of my master styll,
In faith I must coole you my frinde, dapper Wyll:
Take this at the beginning.
Wyll. Prayse well your winning, my pantacle is as
readie as yours.
Jacke. By the masse I wyll boxe you. Wyll. By cocke, I wyll foxe you.
Jacke. Wyll, was I with you? Wyll. Jacke, did I flye?
Jacke. Alas, pretie cockerell, you are to weake; Wyll. In faith, dutting Duttrell”, you wyll crye
creake.
Here entreth SNAP.
Snap. Away, you cracke ropes, are you fighting at
the courte-gate?
And I take you heare agayne, I will swindge you both:
what!
[Exit.
Jacke. I beshrew Snap the tipstaffe, that great knaves hart, that hether did come,
ben, you cryed this, Victus, victa, Had he not had - ere
But seing wee have breathed ourselves, if ye list,
Let us agree like friends, and shake eche other by the fist. ’
Wyll. Content am I, for I am not malicious; but on this condition,
That you talke no more so brode of my master as here
victum :
you have done.
But who have wee heere ? is Cober epi * comming
yonder ?
Jacke. Wyll, slipp aside and vewe him well.
Duttrell] Dottrel silly kind bird which imitates the actions the fowler, till last taken. So, Butler's Cha
racter Fantastic. Remains, vol. 132. “He alters his “gate with the times, and has not motion his body that (like “Dottrel) does not borrow from somebody else. ”
See also Note The Old Couple, vol. X,
Cober epi. ] These suppose words corrupted the
ignorance
the transcriber.
-
-
of
of of a
. . . "*
I
let
he
A to
8
at is S.
to be
a
he is
by
a
II. p.
of of
in
us a
-
stur, I say?
JDAM ON AND PITH IAS.
231
Grimme. What devell! iche weene the porters are drunke, wil they not dup the gate to-day ?
Take in coles for the king's owne mouth: wyll no body
Ich might have layne tway howers longer in my bedde,
Cha taried so longe here, that my teeth chatter in my
heade,
Jacke. Wyll, after our fallinge out wilt thou laugh merily 2
Wyll. I mary, Jacke, I pray thee hartely.
Jacke. Then folow me, and hemme in a worde now and then.
What braulynge knave is there at the courte-gate so early 2
Wyll. It is some brainesicke villaine, I durst lay a pennie.
Jacke, Was it you”, sir, that cryed so lowde I trow,
And bid us take in coles for the kinges mouth even now Ż
Grimme. 'Twas I, indeede.
Jacke. Why, sir, how dare you speake such petie treason 7
Doth the king eate coles at any season ?
Grimme. Heere is a gaye world ! boyes now settes olde men to scoole.
I sayde wel enough: what, Jack sawce, thinkst cham a foole 2
At bakehouse, buttrie hatch, kitchen, and seller,
Doo” they not say for the kinges mouth 2 Wyll. What then, goodman coliar?
Grimme. What then I seing without coles thei cannot finely dresse the kinges meat,
May I not say take in coles for the kinges mouth,
though coles he do not eate?
Jacke. James | Christe I came ever from a colier an
Here entreth GRIMM E the Colier, whistling.
*
aunswer so trimme 2
Yo*u are learned, are you not, father Grimme?
you] you,
Was it It was 1st edit. -
*9 Dool Doth, 2d edit.
-
Wyll. So it seemes, you have so much mother wit, that you lacke your father's wisdome.
Grimme. Masse, chain well beset, here's a trimme cast of Murlons",
What be you, my pretie cockerels, that aske me these questions?
Jacke. Good faith, maister Grimme", if such Mar lines on your pouch may light,
Thei are so quick of winge, that quickly they can carie it out of your sight;
And though we are cockerels now, we shall have spurs one day,
And shall be able perhaps to make you a capon :
But to tell you the trouth, we are the porter's men,
which early and late
Wayte on such gentlemen as you, to open the court gate.
-
Grimme. Pretie men (quoth you)? nay, you are
stronge men, els you coulde not beare these britches.
Wyll. Are these such * great hose ? in faith, good man colier, you see with your nose:
° a trimme cast of Murlons, i. e. a cast of that species of hawks that were called Merlins. S.
He calls them Murlons on account of their size. Merlins were
the smallest species of hawks. Turberville says, “These merlyns “are very much like the haggart falcon in plume, in seare of the “foote, in beake and talons. So as there seemeth to be no oddes
232 DAMON AND PITHIAS.
Grimme. Grimme is my name indeed, cham not
learned, and yet the king's colier:
-
This vortie winter cha bin to the king a serviter, Though I be not learned, yet cha mother witte enough
whole and some.
Grimme. Are ye servants then?
Wyll. Yea, sir; are we not pretie men 7
“ or difference at al betwixt them save only in the bignesse, she hath like demeanure, like plume, and very like conditions
“falcon, and hir kind like courage, and therefore must kept choycely and daintily the falcon. ” The merlin was Chiefly used small birds; and Latham says, was particu
larly appropriated
the service ladies. "maister Grimme] father Grimme, edit.
“Such,” adopted into the original text from the edit. C.
w
as is of
3.
it
““ *
2d
to fly
in to at
of
as
as
to for be the
DAMON AND PIT HIAS, 233
By myme honestie, I have but one lining in one hose, but seven els of roug.
Grimmer. This is but a little, yet it makes thee seeme a great bugge.
Jacke. How say you, goodman colier, can you finde any fault here **
Grimme. Nay, you should finde faught, mary here's trim geare :
Alas, little knave, dost not sweat? thou goest with great payne,
These are no hose, but water bougets, I tell thee playne;
Good for none but suche as have no buttockes.
Dyd you ever see two suche little Robin ruddockes"
So laden with breeches : chill say no more leste I offende.
Who invented these monsters “first, did it to a gostly ende,
To have a male readie to put in other folkes stuffe,
Wee see this evident by dayly prooffe.
One preached of late not farre hence, in no pulpet, but in a wayne carte,
That spake enough of this; but for my parte,
Chil say no more: your owne necessitie
In the end wyll force you to finde some remedy.
Jacke. Wyl", holde this railinge knave with a talke when I am gone :
I wyll fetch him his filling ale for his good sermone. Wyll. Goe thy way, father Grimme, gayly well you
doo say,
It is but young mens folly, that liste to playe,
can 2d*edit.
you
finde
any
fault here? ] what fault can
you
see heere 7
* Robin ruddockes, i. e. Robin red breasts. Shakspeare uses ruddock for red breast in Cymbeline. S. -
Again, Nash's Lenten Stuff, 1599: “ — he eft soons defined “unto me, that the red herring was this old tickle cob, or magister “factotum, that brought in the red ruddocks, and the grummel
“seed as thick as oatmeal, and made Yarmouth for Argent to put “down the city of Argentine. ”
"4 monsters] hose at, 2d edit. os Wyll Well, 1st edit.
-
234 DAMON AND PITHIAS,
And maske a whyle in the net of their owne devise; When they come to your age they wyll be wyse.
Grimme. Bum troth, but few such roysters come to my yeares at this day;
They be cut off betimes, or they have gone halfe their journey:
I wyll not tell why: let them gesse that can, I meane somewhat thereby.
Enter Jack E with a pot of wyne, and a cup to drinke on.
Grimme, you Jacke. Father - because
sturring
early,
I have bot you
are
to make
so
a bowle of
wyne
you mery.
Grimme. Wyne, mary this is welcome to colliers, chyl swapt off by and by:
Chwas sturringe so early that my very soule is drye.
Jacke. This is stoutly done: wyll you have it warmed, father Grimme 2 -
Grimme. No, it is warme enough ; it is very lousious and trimme.
'Tis musselden" ich weene; of fellowship let me have another spurt,
Ich can drink as easly now, as if I sate in my shurte.
Jacke. By cocke, and you shall have it; but I wyll beginne, and that anone,
Je bois a vous mon compagnon".
Grimme. J'ai vous pleigé, petit Zawneo.
Jacke. Can you speake French 2 here is a trimme
colier, by this day !
Grimme. What man lich learned this when ich was
a souldier;
* 'Tis musselden. ] An intended mistake for muscadine. S.
* Je bois a vous mon compagnon] Jebit avow mon companion. Both 4tos. S.
* J'ai vous pleigé petit Zawne] Ihar vow pleadge, pety Zawne.
Both 4tos.
I know not what is meant
by
Zawne.
Perhaps these lines are a translation of some song or catch, dia logue wise, between Robin Hood and Little John.
L. J.
1 drink to
you, my companion.
And I
R. H.
tion, as the reader pleases, of John. S.
pledged you,
&awne, must then be received as a mispronunciation or corrup
have
Little John.
-
DAM ON AND PIT HIAS. 235
When ich was a lusty fellow, and could yarke a whip trimly,
dailw: |. now,
That would toruppe men for every trifell, I wot not how : -
As there was one Damon, not longe since taken for a sple;
How justly I know not, but he was condemned to die. Wyll. This wine hath warmed him, this comes well
to passe,
We shall know now, for Vino veritas.
Father Grimme, who accused this Damon kinge Dionisius
Grimme. vengeaunce take him! 'twas gentleman, one maister Crowsphus.
Wyll. Crowsphus' you clippe the kinge's language, you would have said Carisophus;
But perceive now, either the winde the south,
Or els your tounge cleaveth the roofe your
Better then these boy coliers, that come to the courre
When
were" not so many captious fellowes as
mouth.
-
Grmme. murian take thik wine, intoxicate -
my braine,
That hanged and by, cannot speake plaine.
Jacke. You speake knavishly playne, seinge my mas
ter you doo mocke:
faith ere you go, will make you lobbe cocke.
Father Grimme, what say they this Damon abrode Grimme. All men are sorie for him, helpe me
God.
the king wrong fully -
The say false knave cused him
And he ńe. and should be here
morow
die,
Or els his fellow which prison his rowme shall supplie.
were] was, 2d edit.
°
2
all
is in
I of
in
to
to
a
is at
to
of
so
it so
a
to
2
In
I to
is a ;A
I
by
be
to
A
236 DAMON AND PITH I. A. S.
Chil not be his halfe for vortie shillinges I tell you
playne,
-
I thinke Damon be too wise to returne agayne. -
Wyll. Wyll no man speake for them in this wofull case ?
Grimme. No chill warrant you, one maister Stippus is in place,
Where he may doo good, but he frames himselfe so,
Whatsoever Dionisius wylleth, to that he wyll not say InO :
"Tis a subtill vox, he will not tread on thornes for none, A mery harecoppe” 'tis, and a pleasant companion;
A right courtier, and can provide for one.
Jacke. Wyll, howe lyke you this geare 2 your master- Aristippus also,
At this colier's hande hath had a bloe.
But in faith, father Grimme, cannot ye coliers Provide for your selves far better then courtiers?
Grimme. Yes, I trowe : blacke coliers go in threade bare cotes,
Yet so provide they, that they have the faire white groates.
Ich may say in counsell, though day moyle dourte,
Chil not change lives with any
For though their apparell never
Yet sure their credit farre worse then mine.
And cocke may say, for their hie lookes, knowe some stickes full deepe marchants bookes:
And deeper will fall in, fame me telles,
As long insteede money they take haukes hoods and belles 7":
harecoppel Coppe, Chaucer, used for the top and here seems intended signify the head, or,
any thing, the common
use among the names
phrase
Hare coppe, may corruption heark up, phrase
hare-brained fellow.
our ancient sportsmen. Hare cup the spring-flower called the hare bell.
likewise one
insteede money they take haukes hoods and belles] See Note 49 Tke White Devil, vol. VI.
Dionisius' courte: fine,
to 71
70
of
up
is of
as
be
be a
I
is S.
all in
in so
of
as in of
of
in
a
all I
is, a
by as
in to
of
is
up
I
DAMON AND PITHIAS, 237
Wherby they fall into a swelling disease, which coliers do not know ;
Tath a mad name it is called, ich weene, Centum pro cento.
Some other in courtes make others laugh merily,
When they wayle and lament their owne estate secretly. Friendship is dead in courte, hipocrisie doth raigne,
Who is in favour now, to morow is out agayne: The state is so uncertaine, that I, by my wyll,
Will never be courtier, but a colier styll.
Wyll. It seemeth that coliers have a very” trym life. Grimme. Coliers get money styll : tell me of trouth,
Is not that a trim life now, as the world goeth 7
All day though I toyle with mayne and might,
With mony in my pouche I come home mery at night, And downe, my chayre my wyfe faire Alison,
And tourne crabbe the fire, mery pope John
Jacke. That pope was merry fellow, whome folke talke so much.
Grimme. H'ad merry withal, h'ad goulde
enough
Jacke. Can gould make men mery they say, who can singe mery note,
his hutch.
change grote?
Grimme. Who singes that case, singes never
tune. know for my parte,
That heavy pouch with goulde makes light harte:
Of which have provided for deare yeare good store, And these benters”, trowe, shall anone get me more. Wyll. serving the courte with coles, you gaynde
As that not able
this money.
- Grimme. the court onely,
terwards.
---
assure yee.
Amid tourne crabbe the fire, mery Pope John] See Note
very] merie, 2nd edit.
22 to Gammer Gurton's Needle vol. II.
carry coals. See Cotgrave. He may, however mean debentures,
And these benters] Benne the French word for sack
notes which debt claimed. Jack mentions debentures af
S.
by ahe sit all I
to i.
e.
in
7*. 7* 72
By Iis
aaBy . a
is in is
I so to to
in a
a
as I a
a
by as
as
a
in a
in
in be
of
as
238 DAMON AND PITHIAS.
Jacke. After what sorte, I pray thee tell mee?
Grimme. Nay, ther bate an ace (quod Boulton can weare horne and blow not.
Jacke. Byr ladie, the wiser man.
Grimme. Shall money?
Then ich weare
tell you what slite noddy indeede; no, no,
tell you this one thinge,
got this warreant
wilie
e. Yet
words
He very foole that cannot gayne the kinge.
Wyll. Well sayde, father Grimme: you are colier, and brave,
see now there no knave like the olde knave.
Grimme. Suche knaves have mony, when courtiers have none.
But tell me, true that abrode blowne Jacke. What that?
Grimme, Hath the kinge made those fayre damsels his daughters.
To be come now fine and trimme barbers?
Jacke. Yea truly, his owne person.
Grimme. Good fellowes beleve mee, the case now
standes,
would geve one sacke coles washt their handes,
ich came neare them, for my wyt chould not geve three chippes,
ich could not steale one swap their lippes.
Nay, ther bate (quoth, Boulton) Bate ace, quoth Bolton, among the Proverbs published Mr. Ray. That gen
tleman adds, “Who this Bolton was know not, neither worth “enquiring. One this name might happen say, Bate “ace, and, for the coincidence the first letters the two words “Bate and Bolton, grew proverb. We have many “like original as, v. g. Sup, Simon, &c. Stay, quoth Stringer, &c. “There goes story Queen Elizabeth, that being presented “with Collection English Proverbs, and told the Author “that contained all the English Proverbs, nay, replied she, Bate “me ace quoth Bolton which Proverb being instantly looked for, “happened wanting his Collection. ” Ray's Proverbs,
177.
p.
If If
is a
*
be so is
is in #:
in
be of a
of
I by
anita
to a;
ofitofan
isitis IaI a
a
; of ace to
to
of to by
me
an 2 I
of
the an
me
To) I
by at
be as
is to
by
II
to
it I
is
it at a
all
DAMON AND PITHIAS.
239
Jacke. Wyll, this knave is drunke, let us dresse him;
Let us riffell him so, that he have not one pennie to blesse him,
And steale away his debenters too.
Wyll. Content: invent the way, and I am readie.
Jacke. Faith, and I wyll make him a noddie.
Father Grimme, if you praie mee wel”, - I wyll wash
you and shave you too,
Even after the same fashion as the kinges daughters doo: In poyntes they handle Dionisius, wyll dresse
you trim and fine,
Grimme. Chuld vaine learne that: come on then,
chil geve thee whol pint wine
At taverne for thy labour, when cha mony for my ben ters heare.
Here WYLL fetcheth barber's bason, pot with water, raysour, and clothes, and payre spectacles.
Jacke. Come, mine owne father Grimme, sit downe.
Grimme. Masse, beginne withall, heare trimme chayre.
Jacke. What man, wyll use you like prince. — Sir boy, fetche me my geare.
Wyll. Here, syr.
Jacke. Holde up, father Grimme.
Grimme. Me seeme my head doth swimme.
Jacke. My costly perfumes make that. —Away with
this, boy: quicke.
Aloyse, aloyse", how pretie not here
face?
fine oules eyes, mouth lyke oven. Father, you have good butter teeth, full seene;
You weare weaned, els you would have ben calfe.
Ah trimme lippes sweepe manger! here As soft as the hoofe of an horse.
good
great chinne,
praieomee well the former Edition, Mr. Dodsley had altered this pay mee wel.
Aloyse, aloysel Aloue, Fr. allow, approve, praise.
know no other word that resembles that the text. Chaucer, praised.
Alosed,
of to is
a
all
to in
is! is
of
inI
77 7s
A
In S.
a
be
as a
to is
to I
a
to
a
an
to is aaaa
it
a
sir
ais
of a
I
240
DAMON AND PITHIAs.
,
Grimme. Doth the kinges daughters rubbe so harde? Jacke. Holde your head straite, man, els, wyll
marde. -
Byr ladie, you are good complexion,
right Croyden sanguine”, beshrew mee.
Hould up, father Grimme. —Wyll, can you besturreye?
Grimme. Me thinks, after do besmoure me.
Jacke. with unguentum very costly:
geue not this washinge ball
marvelous fashion you Daucus Maucus, that
every body.
After you have ben drest finely my hande, You may kisse any ladies lippes within this lande.
you are trimly washt! how say you, water?
not this trimm vengeaunce
Grimme.
may holsome, but SOWet.
Jacke. scours the better. —Syr boy, geve me raysour.
Wyll. Here hand, syr. Grimme. Gods aymes, ’tis
chopping knyfe,
raysour. very good one; Jacke. raysour, and that
came lately from Palermo", cost mee twenty crownes alone.
Your eyes dassell after your washing, these spectacles
put on raysour, tell mee,
not good one?
yet never see
Now vew this
Grimme. They better.
gay barnikels, -
Jacke. deede they the matter;
young sight, and that
From the manner which this expression used Sir John Harrington, The Anatomie Metamorphosis Ajar, Sig.
seems though was intended for sallow hue. “Both “complexion inclining the oriental colour Croyden sanguine. ”
came lately from Palermol The 4tos read Pallarrime. The razors Palermo were anciently famous. They are mentioned more than one our old Plays, and particularly The Wounds Civil
War Thomas Lodge, 1594, vol. VIII. 83. “Neighbour sharpen the edge tole your wits upon the whetsone indiscretion, that
“your wordes may shave like the rasers Palermo. ”
S.
by
all be
“ of*it* by It
It
A, It
I
A
of of
as
It is
is
It
it to
: a at
in
In
It
is
in be
be
of
of
the be
so
a a to
of
a
of a isita-
in it at
of I it is
ofaisa is of
of in
’tis
no my
of L.
a7. isthe
DAMON AND PITHIAS.
But I warrant you, this raysour is very easie.
241
Grimme. Go too then; since you begonne, doo as please ye.
Jacke. Holde up, father Grimme.
Grimme.