Enter Damon, Pithias, Stephano.
Damon. Stephano, is all this true that thou hast told me?
Stephano. Sir, for lies hitherto ye never controll’d me.
O, that we had never set foot on this land,
Where Dionysius reigns with so bloody a hand!
Every day he showeth some token of cruelty,
With blood he hath filled all the streets in the city:
I tremble to hear the people’s murmuring,
I lament to see his most cruel dealing:
I think there is no such tyrant under the sun.
O, my dear masters, this morning what hath he done!
Damon. What is that? tell us quickly.
Stephano. As I this morning pass’d in the street,
With a woful man (going to his death) did I meet,
Many people followed, and I of one secretly
Asked the cause, why he was condemned to die?
[Who] whispered in mine ear, nought hath he done but thus,
In his sleep he dreamed he had killed Dionysius:[42]
Which dream told abroad, was brought to the king in post,
By whom, condemned for suspicion, his life he hath lost.
Marcia was his name, as the people said.
Pithias. My dear friend Damon, I blame not Stephano
For wishing we had not come hither, seeing it is so,
That for so small cause such cruel death doth ensue.
Damon. My Pithias, where tyrants reign, such cases are not new,
Which fearing their own state for great cruelty,[43]
To sit fast as they think, do execute speedily
All such as any light suspicion have tainted.
Stephano (Aside). With such quick carvers I list not be acquainted.
Damon. So are they never in quiet, but in suspicion still,
When one is made away, they take occasion another to kill:
Ever in fear, having no trusty friend, void of all peoples’ love,
And in their own conscience a continual hell they prove.
Pithias. As things by their contraries are always best proved,
How happy then are merciful princes, of their people beloved!
Having sure friends everywhere, no fear doth touch them:
They may safely spend the day pleasantly, at night securè dormiunt in utramque aurem,
O my Damon, if choice were offered me, I would choose to be Pithias,
As I am Damon’s friend, rather than to be king Dionysius.
Stephano. And good cause why; for you are entirely beloved of one,
And as far as I hear, Dionysius is beloved of none.
Damon. That state is most miserable; thrice happy are we,
Whom true love hath joined in perfect amity:
Which amity first sprung—without vaunting be it spoken, that is true—
Of likeness of manners, took root by company, and now is conserved by virtue;
Which virtue always though[44] worldly things do not frame,
Yet doth she achieve to her followers immortal fame:
Whereof if men were careful for virtue’s sake only,
They would honour friendship, and not for commodity.
But such as for profit in friendship do link,
When storms come, they slide away sooner than a man will think.
My Pithias, the sum of my talk falls to this issue,
To prove no friendship is sure, but that which is grounded on virtue.
Pithias. My Damon, of this thing there needs no proof to me,
The gods forbid, but that Pithias with Damon in all things should agree.
For why is it said, Amicus alter ipse,
But that true friends should be two in body, but one in mind?
As it were transformed into another, which against kind
Though it seem, yet in good faith, when I am alone,
I forget I am Pithias, methink I am Damon.
Stephano. That could I never do, to forget myself; full well I know,
Wheresoever I go, that I am pauper Stephano:
But I pray you, sir, for all your philosophy,
See that in this court you walk very wisely.
You are but newly come hither; being strangers, ye know,
Many eyes are bent on you, in the streets as ye go:
Many spies are abroad, you can not be too circumspect.
Damon. Stephano, because thou art careful of me, thy master, I do thee praise;
Yet think this for a surety: no state to displease
By talk or otherwise my friend and I intend: we will here,
As men that come to see the soil and manners of all men of every degree.
Pythagoras said, that this world was like a stage,[45]
Whereon many play their parts: the lookers-on, the sage.
Philosophers are, saith he, whose part is to learn
The manners of all nations, and the good from the bad to discern.
Stephano. Good faith, sir, concerning the people they are not gay,
And as far as I see, they be mummers; for nought they say,
For the most part, whatsoever you ask them.
The
