soil is such, that to live here I cannot like.
Damon. Thou speakest according to thy learning, but I say,
Omne solum forti partia,[46] a wise man may live everywhere;
Therefore, my dear friend Pithias,
Let us view this town in every place,
And then consider the people’s manners also.
Pithias. As you will, my Damon; but how say you, Stephano?
Is it not best, ere we go further, to take some repast?
Stephano. In faith, I like this question, sir: for all your haste,
To eat somewhat I pray you think it no folly;
It is high dinner time, I know by my belly.
Damon. Then let us to our lodging depart: when dinner is done,
We will view this city as we have begun.
[Exeunt.
Here entereth Carisophus.
Carisophus. Once again in hope of good wind, I hoise up my sail,
I go into the city to find some prey for mine avail:
I hunger while I may see these strangers that lately
Arrived: I were safe, if once I might meet them happily.
Let them bark that lust at this kind of gain,
He is a fool that for his profit will not pain:
Though it be joined with other men’s hurt, I care not at all
For profit I will accuse any man, hap what shall.
But soft, sirs, I pray you hush: what are they that comes here?
By their apparel and countenance some strangers they appear.
I will shroud myself secretly, even here for a while,
To hear all their talk, that I may them beguile.
Here entereth Damon and Stephano.
Stephano. A short horse soon curried[47]; my belly waxeth thinner,
I am as hungry now, as when I went to dinner:
Your philosophical diet is so fine and small,
That you may eat your dinner and supper at once, and not surfeit at all.
Damon. Stephano, much meat breeds heaviness: thin diet makes thee light.
Stephano. I may be lighter thereby, but I shall never run the faster.
Damon. I have had sufficiently discourse of amity,
Which I had at dinner with Pithias; and his pleasant company
Hath fully satisfied me: it doth me good to feed mine eyes on him.
Stephano. Course or discourse, your course is very coarse; for all your talk,
You had but one bare course, and that was pick, rise, and walk:
And surely, for all your talk of philosophy,
I never heard that a man with words could fill his belly.
Feed your eyes, quoth you? the reason from my wisdom swerveth,
I stared on you both, and yet my belly starveth.
Damon. Ah, Stephano, small diet maketh a fine memory.
Stephano. I care not for your crafty sophistry,
You two are fine, let me be fed like a gross knave still;
I pray you licence me for a while to have my will,
At home to tarry, whiles you take view of this city!
To find some odd victuals in a corner I am very witty.
Damon. At your pleasure, sir: I will wait on myself this day;
Yet attend upon Pithias, which for a purpose tarrieth at home:
So doing, you wait upon me also.
Stephano. With wings on my feet I go.
[Exit.
Damon. Not in vain the poet saith, Naturam furcâ expellas, tamen usque recurret;
For train up a bondman never to so good a behaviour,
Yet in some point of servility he will savour:
As this Stephano, trusty to me his master, loving and kind,
Yet touching his belly a very bondman I him find.
He is to be borne withal, being so just and true,
I assure you, I would not change him for no new.
But methinks this is a pleasant city;
The seat is good,[48] and yet not strong; and that is great pity.
Carisophus (Aside). I am safe, he is mine own.
Damon. The air subtle and fine, the people should be witty,
That dwell under this climate in so pure a region:
A trimmer plat I have not seen in my peregrination.
Nothing misliketh me in this country,
But that I heard such muttering of cruelty:
Fame reporteth strange things of Dionysius,
But kings’ matters passing our reach, pertain not to us.
Carisophus. Dionysius, quoth you? since the world began,
In Sicilia never reigned so cruel a man:
A despiteful tyrant to all men; I marvel, I,
That none makes him away, and that suddenly.
Damon. My friend, the gods forbid so cruel a thing
That any man should lift up his sword against the king!
Or seek other means by death him to prevent,
Whom to rule on earth the mighty gods have sent.
But, my friend, leave off this talk of King Dionysius.
Carisophus. Why, sir? he cannot hear us.
Damon.
