No More Learning

My name Pithias, Greece well knowne, perfect friend that wofull Damon,
Whiche now poore captive this courte doth lie, By the kynges owne mouth, here, condemned die; For whom crave your masterships goodnesse,
To stand his friende this his great distresse.
Nought hath done worthy death, but very fondly, Being straunger,
vewed this citie
For evill practises, but feede his eyes.
But seing Dionisius informed otherwise,
My sute you, when you see time and place, To asswage the kinges anger, and purchase
grace:
which dooyng, you shall not doo good But you shall further too", and that fully.
1t,
on] unto, 2d edit. C.
one onely, “But you shall further two,” and the 2d. edition prints
In e.
A noa
t• *
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DAM ON AND PITH i A. S. 213
Aristippus. My friend, in this case I can doo you no pleasure.
Pithias. Syr, you serve in the court, as fame doth tell. Aristippus. I am of the court, in deede, but none of
the counsell.
Pithias. As I heare, none is in greater favour with the king, then you at this day.
Aristippus. The more in favour, the lesse I dare say. Pithias. It is a courtiers prayse to helpe straingers
In miserie.
-
Aristippus. To help an other, and hurte myselfe, it
is an evyll point of courtesie.
Pithias. You shall not hurt yourselfe to speake for the innocent.
Aristippus. He is not innocent whom the kinge judgeth nocent.
Pithias. Why, sir, doo you thinke this matter paste all remedie?
Aristippus. So farr past, that Dionisius hath sworne, Damon to morow shall die.
Pithias. This word my trembling heart cutteth in tWO.
Ah, sir, in this wofull case what wist I best to doo?
Aristippus. Best to content yourselfe, when there is no remedie,
He is well relived that forknoweth his miserie:
Yet if any comfort be, it resteth in Eubulus,
The chiefest counsellour about kinge Dionisius: Which pitieth Damons case in this great extremitie,
Perswadyng the kynge from kinde crueltie. Pithias. The mightie gods preserve you, for this
worde comforte.
Takyng my leave your goodnesse, wyll now resorte
To Eubulus, that good counseller:
But harke methinke heare trompet blow.
Aristippus. The kyng prease”: beware,
hande, stande close the
know
You are Damon, wyll take you for
spie prease] crowd. See Note 29 Tancred and Gismunda, vol. II.
atlSoOo. d
*
to
he a
all
to
of
of
if is he at
I
a
in
1
I
of
214 I) AMON AND PITH IAS,
Farewel, I dare not be seene with you.
Here entreth Kyng Dion Is IUS, EUBULUs the Coun seller, and GRoN No the Hangman.
Dionisius. Gronno, doo my commaundement: strike of Damons irons by and by.
Then bryng hym foorth, I my selfe will see him exe cuted presently.
Gronno. O mightie king, your commaundement wyll I doo speedely.
Dionisius, Eubulus, thou hast talked in vain, for
sure he shall die.
-
Shall I suffer my lyfe to stand in peryll of every spie? Eubulus. That he conspired against your person,
accuser cannot say.
He only viewed your citie, and wyll you for that make
him away
Dionisius. What would have done the great: minded mee hurt,
That came slyly, serch out the secret estate COurte.
Shall styll lye feare no, wyll cut off such impes betime,
Least that my farther daunger too hie they clime. Eubulus. Yet have the mightie goddes immortall
fame assigned
To worldly princes, whiche mercie inclined.
Dionisius. Let fame talke what she lyst, may
lyve
Eubulus. The onely meane - that, use mercie.
Dionisius.
Eubulus.
Dionisius.
milde prince the people despiseth. cruell kinge the people hateth.
Let them hate me, they feare mee.
safetie.
Eubulus. That not the way lyve safetie.
Dionisius. My sword and power shall purchase my
quietnesse.
Eubulus. That sooner procured mercy and gentlenesse.
Dionisius. Dionisius ought feared. Eubulus. Better for him be wel beloved.
gesse
to to
in
to I
to
be
to so by in
no :
is
to
he
AA is
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?
his
ing
his enemie.
citie,
Where battrie might
poroche’ Suffer such one ite
die,
No, he not bite. then
Eubulus. But yet, eth mee
To geve such counsell, agree:
The strongest pillers
DAMON AND PIT. H. I. A. S. 215
Dionisius. Fortune maketh OWer.
thinges subject my
Eubulus. Beleeve her not, she she can laugh and lowre.
Dionisus. kinges prayse standeth
light goddesse; the reveng
Eubulus. greater prayse winne him cie,
Dionisius. To suffer the wicked mercie.
Eubulus. To kill the innocent tie.
Dionisius. Damon innocent which
layde, what way best ap live that worketh mee such dis
can
great cruel craftely
underminded
To understand what could kinge Dionisius Which survewed the haven, and eche bulwarcke the
shall
Carisophus,
clemen live no
am safe: dead
dogge
mightie king", my dutie bind
with your honour may best
princely dignitie,
finde “justice with mercy and prudent liberalitie: The one judgeth thinges upright equitie,
Theotherrewardeththeworthy,flyingecheextrem-itie. As spare those which offend maliciously,
may called justice, but extreame injurie upon suspicion eache thinge not well proved,
To put death presently whom envious flattery ac cused,
king” omitted the first edition, and supplied the second. C.
this, 1st edit.
4.
as by
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it
by
216 DAM on AND PITIIIAs.
It seemeth of tiranny; and upon what fickle ground
altirants doo stand,
-
Athenes and Lacedemon can teacheyou, yf it be rightly scande.
And not only these citezens, but who curiously seekes The whole histories of the world, not only Ro
maines and Greekes,
Shall well perceyve tirauntes the ruinous fall, Their state uncertaine, beloved none, but hated
all.
Of mercifull princes, set out the passyng felycitie,
neede not: ynough that even these dayes do tes tifie.
They live devoid feare, their sleapes are sound, they dreed no enemie, -
They are feared and loved: and why? they rule with justice and mercie,
Extendyng justice such wickedly from- justice have swarved,
Mercie unto those where opinion simplenesse - have mercie deserved.
Of lybertie nought say, but only this thynge, Lybertie upholdeth the state kynge:
Whose large bountifulnesse ought fall this issue,
To rewarde none but such
Whiche mercifull justice vident liberalytie;
Neither the caterpillers mere nati,
deserve for vertue.
you would folow, and pro
courtes fruges consu
Panio with wealth puft up, should not looke 16
Nor yet, for this simple fact, poore Damon should die. Dionisius. With payne mine eares have heard this
vayne talke mercie.
tell thee, feare and terrour defendeth kynges only: Tyll gone whome suspect, how shall lyve
quietly,
Whose memorie with chilling horror fils my beast day and night violently
2
I
he be
:
I
I
of
I
of to
of all
I
so
of of
of if
all as
of to
all of
Et
to
to it
as a
of
i. Better hei.
then I to be tormented with feare al
WaW. He shall
though
Eubulus consent not thereto:
DAMON AND PITHIAs.
217
My do dreames of him bereves my rest; on bed I lie
Shakyng and trembling, as one ready to yelde his throate to Damon's sword.
This quakyng dread nothyng but Damon's bloud can Staw :
It is lawfull for kinges, as they list, doo.
thynges and TH
Here GRoN No bringeth meeteth him
Pithias. Oh, my Damon
Damon. Oh, my Pithias us, farewel for ever.
DAM on, the way.
seying death must parte
Pithias. Oh, Damon, oh, my sweete friende
Snap. Away from the prysoner! what prease have
we here?
Gronno. As you commaunded, mighty kinge, we
have brought Damon.
Dionisius. Then to: make ready. will not
stirre out this place,
Til see his head stroken off before my face.
Gronno. shall done, sir. Because your eyes
doo,
wyl knock down this your lantern, and shut your
have made such
shop-window
*mon. mightie king, where Da
But nocent lyfe can save, “my greedily you thirst
too.
trueth my in giltlesse bloud
ave,
Albeit (even thought) had not “ought against
your person:
Yet now plead not for lyfe, wyll crave your
pardon.
thirst] thrust, 1st edit.
(even thought) had not] (even for thought) for had not;
Both Editions. The alterations Mr. Dodsley.
by
I I I byin
*** in
I
I
I
I
1
P1
I
O,
in
so
It
I of be
ne
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up to
i
As to
218
DAMon AND PITHIAs.
But seyng in Greece, my countrey, where well I am knowne,
I have worldly thinges for mine aliance, when am gone,
To dispose them die might obtaine lea Sure,
would account (0 kyng) for passyng great plea Sure
Not profonge my lyfe therby, for which this,
But set my thynges misse,
Upon the faith which To returne agayne
stay: and surely
reken not wyll not
gentylmen ought
your time appoynte,
yeeld my body here this place.
Graunt me (O. kinge) such time dispatch -this urie, -
And wyll not fayle when you appoint, even here my lyfe pay”.
Dionisius. pleasant request! though could trust him absent,
Whom wise can not trust beinge present. And yet though sware the contrarie, doo that
quire,
Geve mee pledge for thy returne, and have thine owne desire.
He as nere now as he was before.
Damon. There surer nor greater pledge then
embrace,
gentleman.
Dionisius. was wont be, but otherwise now the
world doth stande;
Therefore doo say, els presently yeeld thy necke to the sword.
might with my honour would recall my worde. Pithias. Stand your worde, kinge, for kinges
ought nothing say,
But that they would performe perfect deeds alway.
pay] yeelde speedily,
the faith
edit.
*
to
It a noAto
:
in
2d O
if
If I
I
is
in
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I
to a in
fit aI
I
a or
as
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no atall in
I
a
as to
to
I I
to
I
I
I
re
in to
to
to
o DAMON AND PITH IAS, 219
A pledge you did require when Damon his sute did meeve, -
For which with heart and stretched handes most hum ble thankes I geve :
And that you may not say but Damon hath a frinde,
That loves him better then his owne life, and will doo to his ende,
Take mee O mightie king my lyse I pawne” for his :
Strike off my bead, if Damon hap at his day to misse. Dionisius. What art thou, that chargest me with my
worde so boldly here 2
Pithias. I am Pithias, a Greeke borne, which holde
Damon my friend full deare.
Dionisius. To dere perhaps to hazard thy life for him : what” fondnes moveth thee?
Pithias. No fondnesse at all, but perfect amitie. Dionisius. A mad kind of amities advise thyself well:
if Damon fayle at his day,
Which shal be justly appointed, wilt thou die for him,
to mee his lyfe to pay ?
Pithias. Most wyllyngly, O mightie king: if Damo
-
Pithias. What Damon saith, Pithias beleveth as suredly.
Dionisius. Take heede: for life worldly men breake promise in many thinges.
Pithias. Though worldly men doo so, it never happes amongst frindes.
Dionisius. What callest thou friendes, are they not men 2 is not this true 2
Pithias. Men they be, but such men as love one another onely for vertue.
Dionisius. For what vertue doste thou love this spie,
* I pawne] to pawne, 2d edit.
*fondnes] folly. Thus Spenser, in his Sonnets,
“Fondness it were for any, being free,
“To covet fetters, though they golden be. ”
this Damon 2
-
Pithias. For that vertue which yet to you is unknowne.
w
-
fayle let Pithias die.
Dionisius. Thou seemest to trust his wordes, that
pawnest thy lyfe so franckly.
220 DAMON AND PITHIAS, —-
Dionisius. Eubulus, what shall I doo? I would dis patch this Damon fayne,
But this foolish felow so chargeth mee, that I may not call back my worde againe.
Eubulus. The reverent majestie of a king stands chieflye in keeping his promise.
What you have sayde this whole court beareth wit neSSé.
Save your honour what so ever you doo.
Dionisius. For saveing mine honour, I must forbeare
my wyll : go to.
Pithias, seeing thou tookest me at my word, take Da mon to thee:
For two monthes he is thine : unbinde him, I set him free;
Which time once expired, yf he appeare not the next day by noone,
Without further delay thou shalt lose thy lyfe, and that full soone,
Whether he die by the way, or sick his bead, retourne not then, thou shalt either hange lose
thy head.
Pithias. For this, mightie kinge, yeld immortall
thankes. joyfull day!
Dionisius. Gronno, take him thee: bind him, see
him kept safetie:
escape, assure thyselfe for him thou shalt die. Eubulus, let departe, talke this straunge thinge
within. Eubulus. folowe.
[Ereunt.
Gronno. Damon, thou servest the Gods well day, be thou of comfort.
‘As for you, sir, thinke you will hanged sporte.
You heard what the king sayde; must kepe you safely:
By cocke, wyll, you shall rather hange then
your way.
Pithias. My Damon, farewel; the Gods have thee kepeing.
Damon. Oh, my Pithias, my pleadge, farewell; parte from thee weeping.
Come
in
on
I. I
in
to
or
so I
I
us
I be
of
I
I
to
in
O
If he
If he
to
lie in
O
DAM ON AND PITHIAS, 221 —io--—
But joyfull at my day appoynted I wyll retourne agayne,
When I wyll deliver thee from trouble and paine. Stephanowyll leave behinde me wayte upon thee
prison alone,
And whom fortune hath reserved this miserie, wyll walke home.
Ah, my Pithias, my pleadge, my life, my friend, farewel.
Pithias. Farewel, my Damon.
Damon. Loth am departe. Sith sobbes my trembling tounge doth stay,
Oh, musicke, sound my dolefull playntes when am
gone my way.
Gronno. am glad Come, Pithias,
-
[Erit Damon. gone, had almost wept
So God help me, am sory for thy foolish case, Wilt thou venter thy life for man fondly
Pithias. desire
Gronno. Here
venter: my friende just, for whom die.
mad man' tell thee, love well,
have
hell. woman?
wyfe whom
And iche would die for her, chould ich weare
Wylt thou doomore for man then woulde for Pithias. Yea, that wyll.
Gronno. Then come your wayes, you must prison haste.
feare you wyll repent this folly laste. Pithias. That shalt thou never see. But
oh, musick,
my Damon requested thee, Sounde out thy dolefull tunes this time
calamitie. [Ereunt. Here the regalles play mourning songe, and DAMoN
commeth mariners apparel and STEPHANo with him.
more, Stephano, this but -
Had not this hapt, yet
Where, what place, the Gods know alone,
To whose judgment myselfe commit. Therefore leave thy mone,
And wayte upon Pithias pryson till retourne agayne, whom my joy, my care, and lyfe, doth only remayne.
Damon. Weepe destenie;
know am borne die:
In
I
if
I,
I in
of
in
as
It I
is I
I in
no
a
II a
he to is
I I
I
on in
a
or
in
to
of
aI in
7
I
is
in
istono I I a
at
III all
to a
to.
so is
to to
222 DAMON AND PiTHIAs. —o-
Stephano. O, my deare master, me with you; for my poore companie
Shal be some small comfort this time of miserie.
Damon. Oh, Stephano, hast thou ben longe with me,
And yet doest not know the force true amitie? thee once agayne, my friend and are but one,
Waite upon Pithias, and thinke thou art with Damon.
Whereof may not now discourse, the time passeth away;
The sooner am gone, the shorter shall my journay:
Therfore farewel, Stephano, commend me my friende Pithias,
Whom trust deliver time out this wofull case.
Stephano. Farewel, my deare master, since your
pleasure
Oh, cruell happe! oh, poore Stephanol
cursed Carisophus, that first moved this tragidie! — But what noyes this? well within trow yee?
feare not well within, wyll see. —
so.
Come out you wesell: are you seekinge egs cheste
Come out, say, wylt thou packing? weare best.
Carisophus. How durst thou, villaine, on me?
Damon's cocke you lay handes
Stephano. Out, knave, wyll sende yee.
Art thou not content accuse Damon wrongfully, But wilt thou robbe him also, and that openly
Carisophus. The kinge gave mee the spoyle: take myne owne wilt thou me"?
Stephano. Thine owne, villaine where thine au thority?
Carisophus. am authoritie myselfe; dost thou not know?
Stephano. Byr ladie, that somewhat; but have you no more show?
Carisophus. What have not?
Stephano. Then for earnest penie take this blow.
me] hinder me.
* to
is to is
let
if sir anI to
I I2
all
is
of I
is
in
is 1
to by
to be
let
or I
be
I in all
2 to
I
O
I tel
I
bea II
go in
of
of I
let so go
DAMON AND PITHIAS. 223 *
I shall bumbast you, you mocking knave; schil put
pro in my purse for this time.
Carisophus. Jacke, give me my sword and targat.
Jacke. I cannot com to you, maister, this knave doth me let. —Hold, maister.
Stephano. Away, Jackenapes, els I wyll colpheg you 49 by and by:
Ye slave, I wyll have my penyworthes of thee therefore if I die.
Aboute, villayne.
Carisophus. O, citezens, helpe to defend me.
Stephano. Nay, they wyll rather helpe to hange thee. Carisophus. Good felow, let us reason of the matter
quietly: beat me no more.
Stephano. Of this condition I wyll stay, if thou swere
as thou art an honest man,
Thou wylt say nothyng to the kinge of this when I am gonne.
Carisophus. I wyll say nothyng, here is my hand, as I am an honest man.
Stephano. Then say on thy minde: I have taken a wise othe on him, have I not trow ye?
To trust such a false knave upon his honestie 2
As he is an honest man (quoth you? ) he may bewray
the kinge, whit—But, my
And breke his oth for this never fra
nion”, tell you this one thing:
you disclose this, wyll devise such way,
That whilst thou livest thou shalt remember this day.
Carisophus. You neede not devise for that, for this day printed my memory,
warrant you, shall remember this beating till die:
colpheg you] believe we should read, colaphire, i. e. box buffet. Colaphiser Fr. See Cotgrave's Dict.
A
But my franion] i. e. loose companion. Spenser: Might not found ranker franion.
'A faire framion Again, The First Part “a franke franion, merrie
for such pheere.
King Edward IV. Sign.
companion, and loves wench
“Hees well. ”
fit of
S. a
a So a
C. 5:
I or
a a
50
I 49
If
all
in
IIis I
to
a
be
I in
224 -DAMON AND DITH IAS.
But seeing of courtesie you have granted that we should talke quietly,
Methinkes, in calling mee knave, you doome muche injurie.
Stephano. Why so, I pray thee hartely?
Carisophus. Because I am the kinges man: keepes
the kinge any knaves?
Stephano. He should not; but what he doth, it is
evident by thee,
And as farre as I can learne or understand,
There is none better able to keepe knaves in land.
Carisophus. Oh, sir, shall heare tell,
am courtier: when courtiers
How you have used me, they will not take well.
Stephano. Nay, right courtiers will kenne
thanke"; and wot you why? Because handled counterfait courtier
his kinde counterfait
trope honest men, some knaves may stand, know,
Such stelth creep under the colour Which sorte under that cloke doo all kinde
right courtier vertuous, gentill, and full
Hurting man, good all, devoid villanie. :
But suche thou art, fountaines squirilitie, and
vayne delightes;
Though you hange the courtes, you are but flatring
parasites;
well deserving the right name courtesie,
the coward knight the true praise chevalrie. could say more, but wyll not, for that am your
well willer.
faith, Carisophus, you are courtier, but cater
piller,
kenne thanke] See Note Gammer Gurton's Needle, vol. II.
What, syr
finelv.
on show;
are not courtiers that have
honestie, villanie: urbanitie,
1
as
is
st
InIAsAs AIn a
me
as no by
I of
I 34
by
a all
I a
to
no
of
of
of of
I of a
a of
in
it
-
all
to in
of
ye some the
DAMON AND PITHIAs. " 225
A sicophant, a parasite, a flatterer, and a knave.
Whether. I wyll or no, these names you must have: How well you deserve this, by your deedes it is knowne,
For that so unjustly thou hast accused poore Damon, Whose wofull case the gods helpe alone.
Carisophus. Syr, are you his servaunt, that you pitie his case so?
Stephano. No bum troth, good man Grumbe, his name is Stephano:
I am called Onaphets, if needs you wyll know.
The knave beginneth to sift mee, but I turne my name in and out,
Cretiso cum Cretense *, to make him a loute. Carisophus. What mumble you with your selfe, mas
ter Onaphets?
Stephano. I am reckening with my selfe how I may
pay my debtes.
Carisophus. You have paide me more then you did OWe me. -
Stephano. Nay, upon a farther reckoning, I wyll pay you more, if I know
Either you talke of that is done, or by your sicophan ticall envye,
You pricke forth Dionisius the sooner, that Damon may die :
I wyll so pay thee, that thy bones shall rattell in thy skinne.
Remember what I have sayde; Onaphets is my name.
[Erit. Carisophus. The sturdie knave is gone: the devyll
him take,
-
He hath made my head, shoulders, armes, sides, and all to ake.
Thou horson villaine boy, why didst thou waite no better ?
As he payde mee, so wyll I not die thy debter.
*Cretiso cum Cretense]. Read Kpoléo. Wide Erasm. Chiliad.
The Cretans were famous for double-dealing. Cretizare, however, is
a word employ'd by lexicographers, instead of mentiri. S.
Q
Wol, I,
226 DAMON AND PITH IAS.
Jacke. Mayster, why doo you fight with me? I am
your match, you - see :
not
Your durst not fight with him that is gone, and wyll
you wreke your anger on mee?
Carisophus. Thou villaine, by thee I have lost mine
honour,
Beaten with a codgell like a slave, a vacaboun, or a lasie lubber,
And not geven one blow agayne. Hast thou handled me well ?
Jacke. Maister I handled you not, but who did handle you very handsomly you can tell.
Carisophus. Handsomly thou crake rope. *
Jacke. Yea, sir, very handsomily: I hold you a grote, He handled you so handsomly, that he left not one
mote in your cote.
Carisophus. O I had firckt him trimly, thou villaine,
if thou hadst geven mee Jacke. It is better as it
worde.
had seene your weapon,
my sword.
maister, beleve me
would have ben fierser, And perhaps beate you worse, speake with
harte,
You were never the dealing fence blowes, but you had foure away for your part.
but your lucke, you are man good enough;
But the wealche Onaphets was vengeance knave, and
rough.
Maister, you were best goe home and rest your bedde,
Meethinkes your cappe waxeth little for your heade.
Carisophus. What! doth my head swell?
Crack-rope was common term contempt old plays. “You codshed, you cracke-rope, you chattering pye. ”
Apius and Virginia, 1575. Sign. Again that very rare play, The Two Italian Gentlemen:
“Then him led through every streete the town, “That every crackrope may fling rotten egs the clown. ”
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DAMON AND PITHIAS. 227
Jacke. Yea, as bigge as a codshed, and bleades too.