Crack-rope was common term
contempt
old plays.
Dodsley - Select Collection of Old Plays - v1
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. ”
in
so
let
a
at
be
in at in
it
my a
B.
at
*
It is
If he
of
is, I
to
in
a of
he
DAMON AND PITHIAS. 227
Jacke. Yea, as bigge as a codshed, and bleades too.
Carisophus. I am ashamed to show my face with this hew.
Jacke. No shame at all; men have bin beaten farre
better then you.
Carisophus. Imuste go to the chirurgian's; what
shal I say when I am a dressyng?
Jacke. You may say truly you met with a knave's
blessing. -
Here entreth ARISTIPPUs.
[Ereunt.
Aristippus. By mine owne experience I prove true that many men tell,
To live in courte not beloved, better be in hell:
What criyng out, what cursyng is there within of Cari sophus,
Because he accused Damon to kinge Dionisius:
Even now he came whining and crying into the courte
for the nonce,
Shewinge that one Onaphets had broke his knave's SCOnce.
Which straunge name when they heard every man laught hartely,
And I by myselfe scan’d his name secretly;
For well I knewe it was some mad-heded chylde
That invented this name, that the log headed knave
might be begilde.
In tossing it often with myselfe two and fro,
I found out that Onaphets backward, spelled Stephano.
I smiled in my sleve, how to see by tournyng his name he drest him,
And how for Damon his master's sake, with a wodden cougell he blest him. -
None pittied the knave, no man nor woman, but al laught him to scorne.
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.
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. ”
in
so
let
a
at
be
in at in
it
my a
B.
at
*
It is
If he
of
is, I
to
in
a of
he
DAMON AND PITHIAS. 227
Jacke. Yea, as bigge as a codshed, and bleades too.
Carisophus. I am ashamed to show my face with this hew.
Jacke. No shame at all; men have bin beaten farre
better then you.
Carisophus. Imuste go to the chirurgian's; what
shal I say when I am a dressyng?
Jacke. You may say truly you met with a knave's
blessing. -
Here entreth ARISTIPPUs.
[Ereunt.
Aristippus. By mine owne experience I prove true that many men tell,
To live in courte not beloved, better be in hell:
What criyng out, what cursyng is there within of Cari sophus,
Because he accused Damon to kinge Dionisius:
Even now he came whining and crying into the courte
for the nonce,
Shewinge that one Onaphets had broke his knave's SCOnce.
Which straunge name when they heard every man laught hartely,
And I by myselfe scan’d his name secretly;
For well I knewe it was some mad-heded chylde
That invented this name, that the log headed knave
might be begilde.
In tossing it often with myselfe two and fro,
I found out that Onaphets backward, spelled Stephano.
I smiled in my sleve, how to see by tournyng his name he drest him,
And how for Damon his master's sake, with a wodden cougell he blest him. -
None pittied the knave, no man nor woman, but al laught him to scorne.
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.
