Читать книгу A Select Collection of Old English Plays - Группа авторов - Страница 6

On every side, whereas I glance my roving eye,

Silence in all ears bent I plainly do espy:

But if your eager looks do long such toys to see,

As heretofore in comical wise were wont abroad to be,

Your lust is lost, and all the pleasures that you sought,

Is frustrate quite of toying plays. A sudden change is wrought:

For lo, our author’s muse, that masked in delight,

Hath forc’d his pen against his kind[12] no more such sports to write.

Muse he that lust (right worshipful), for chance hath made this change,

For that to some he seemed too much in young desires to range:

In which, right glad to please, seeing that he did offend,

Of all he humbly pardon craves: his pen that shall amend.

And yet (worshipful audience) thus much I dare avouch,

In comedies the greatest skill is this, rightly to touch

All things to the quick; and eke to frame each person so,

That by his common talk you may his nature rightly know:

A roister ought not preach, that were too strange to hear,

But as from virtue he doth swerve, so ought his words appear:

The old man is sober, the young man rash, the lover triumphing in joys.

The matron grave, the harlot wild, and full of wanton toys.

Which all in one course they no wise do agree;

So correspondent to their kind their speeches ought to be.

Which speeches well-pronounc’d, with action lively framed,

If this offend the lookers on, let Horace then be blamed,

Which hath our author taught at school, from whom he doth not swerve,

In all such kind of exercise decorum to observe.

Thus much for his defence (he saith), as poets earst have done,

Which heretofore in comedies the self-same race did run.

But now for to be brief, the matter to express,

Which here we shall present, is this: Damon and Pithias.

A rare ensample of friendship true, it is no legend-lie,

But a thing once done indeed, as histories do descry,

Which done of yore in long time past, yet present shall be here.

Even as it were in doing now, so lively it shall appear.

Lo, here in Syracuse th’ ancient town, which once the Romans won,

Here Dionysius palace, within whose court this thing most strange was done.

Which matter mix’d with mirth and care, a just name to apply,

As seems most fit, we have it termed a tragical comedy.

Wherein talking of courtly toys, we do protest this flat,

We talk of Dionysius court, we mean no court but that:

And that we do so mean, who wisely calleth to mind

The time, the place, the author,[13] here most plainly shall it find.

Lo, this I speak[14] for our defence, lest of others we should be shent:

But, worthy audience, we you pray, take things as they be meant;

Whose upright judgment we do crave with heedful ear and eye

To hear the cause and see th’ effect of this new tragical comedy.

[Exit.

DAMON AND PITHIAS. [15]

Here entereth Aristippus.

Aristippus. Tho’ strange (perhaps) it seems to some,

That I, Aristippus, a courtier am become:

A philosopher of late, not of the meanest name,

But now to the courtly behaviour my life I frame.

Muse he that list, to you of good skill,

I say that I am a philosopher still.

Loving of wisdom is termed philosophy,[16]

Then who is a philosopher so rightly as I?

For in loving of wisdom proof doth this try,

That frustra sapit, qui non sapit sibi.

I am wise for myself: then tell me of troth,

Is not that great wisdom, as the world go’th?

Some philosophers in the street go ragged and torn,

And feed on vile roots, whom boys laugh to scorn:

But I in fine silks haunt Dionysius’ palace,

Wherein with dainty fare myself I do solace.

I can talk of philosophy as well as the best,

But the strait kind of life I leave to the rest.

And I profess now the courtly philosophy,

To crouch, to speak fair, myself I apply,

To feed the king’s humour with pleasant devices,

For which I am called Regius canis.

But wot ye who named me first the king’s dog?

It was the rogue Diogenes, that vile grunting hog.

Let him roll in his tub, to win a vain praise:

In the court pleasantly I will spend all my days;

Wherein what to do I am not to learn,

What will serve mine own turn, I can quickly discern.

All my time at school I have not spent vainly,

I can help one: is not that a good point of philosophy?

Here entereth Carisophus.

Carisophus. I beshrew your fine ears, since you came from school,

In the court you have made many a wise man a fool:

And though you paint out your feigned philosophy,

So God help me, it is but a plain kind of flattery,

Which you use so finely in so pleasant a sort,

That none but Aristippus now makes the king sport.

Ere you came hither, poor I was somebody;

The king delighted in me, now I am but a noddy.

Aristippus. In faith, Carisophus, you know yourself best,

But I will not call you noddy, but only in jest,

And thus I assure you, though I came from school

To serve in this court, I came not yet to be the king’s fool;

Or to fill his ears with servile squirrility.[17]

That office is yours, you know it right perfectly.

Of parasites and sycophants you are a grave[18] bencher,

The king feeds you often from his own trencher,

I envy not your state, nor yet your great favour,

Then grudge not at all, if in my behaviour

I make the king merry with pleasant urbanity,

Whom I never abused to any man’s injury.

Carisophus. By Cock, sir, yet in the court you do[19] best thrive,

For you get more in one day than I do in five.

Aristippus. Why, man, in the court do you not see

Rewards given for virtue to every degree?

To reward the unworthy—that world is done:

The court is changed, a good thread hath been spun

Of dog’s wool heretofore, and why because it was liked,

And not for that it was best trimmed and picked:

But now men’s ears are finer, such gross toys are not set by,

Therefore to a trimmer kind of mirth myself I apply:

Wherein though I please, it cometh not of my desert,

But of the king’s favour.

Carisophus. It may so be; yet in your prosperity

Despise not an old courtier: Carisophus is he,

Which hath long time fed Dionysius’ humour:

Diligently to please still at hand: there was never rumour

Spread in this[20] town of any small thing, but I

Brought it to the king in post by and by.

Yet now I crave your friendship, which if I may attain,

Most sure and unfeigned friendship I promise you again:

So we two link’d in friendship, brother and brother,

Full well in the court may help one another.

Aristippus. By’r Lady, Carisophus, though you know not philosophy,

Yet surely you are a better courtier than I:

And yet I not so evil a courtier, that will seem to despise

Such an old courtier as you, so expert and so wise.

But where as you crave mine, and offer your friendship so willingly,

With heart I give you thanks for this your great courtesy:

Assuring of friendship both with tooth and nail,

Whiles life lasteth, never to fail.

Carisophus. A thousand thanks I give you, O friend Aristippus.

Aristippus. O friend Carisophus.

Carisophus. How joyful am I, sith I have to friend Aristippus now?

Aristippus. None so glad of Carisophus’ friendship as I, I make God a vow,

I speak as I think, believe me.

Carisophus. Sith we are now so friendly joined, it seemeth to me,

That one of us help each other in every degree:

Prefer you my cause, when you are in presence,

To further your matters to the king let me alone in your absence.

Aristippus. Friend Carisophus, this shall be done as you would wish:

But I pray you tell me thus much by the way,

Whither now from this place will you take your journey?

Carisophus. I will not dissemble, that were against friendship,

I go into the city some knaves to nip

For talk, with their goods to increase the king’s treasure,

In such kind of service I set my chief pleasure:

Farewell, friend[21] Aristippus, now for a time.

[Exit.

Aristippus. Adieu, friend Carisophus—In good faith now,

Of force I must laugh at this solemn vow.

Is Aristippus link’d in friendship with Carisophus?

Quid cum tanto asino talis philosophus?

They say, Morum similitudo consuit[22] amicitias;

Then how can this friendship between us two come to pass?

We are as like in condition as Jack Fletcher and his bolt;[23]

I brought up in learning, but he is a very dolt

As touching good letters; but otherwise such a crafty knave,

If you seek a whole region, his like you cannot have:

A villain for his life, a varlet dyed in grain,

You lose money by him, if you sell him for one knave,[24] for he serves for twain:

A flattering parasite, a sycophant also,

A common accuser of men, to the good an open foe.

Of half a word he can make a legend of lies,

Which he will avouch with such tragical cries,

As though all were true that comes out of his mouth.

Whereas indeed, to be hanged by and by,[25]

He cannot tell one tale, but twice he must lie.

He spareth no man’s life to get the king’s favour,

In which kind of service he hath got such a savour,[26]

That he will never leave. Methink then that I

Have done very wisely to join in friendship with him, lest perhaps I

Coming in his way might be nipp’d; for such knaves in presence

We see oft times put honest men to silence:

Yet I have played with his beard in knitting this knot,

I promis’d friendship; but, you love few words—I spake it, but I meant it not.[27]

Who marks this friendship between us two

Shall judge of the worldly friendship without any more ado.

It may be a right pattern[28] thereof; but true friendship indeed

Of nought but of virtue doth truly proceed.

But why do I now enter into philosophy,

Which do profess the fine kind of courtesy?

I will hence to the court with all haste I may;

I think the king be stirring, it is now bright day.

To wait at a pinch still in sight I mean,

For wot ye what? a new broom sweeps clean[29]

As to high honour I mind not to climb,

So I mean in the court to lose no time:

Wherein, happy man be his dole,[30] I trust that I

Shall not speed worst, and that very quickly.

[Exit.

Here entereth Damon and Pithias like mariners.

Damon. O Neptune, immortal be thy praise,

For that so safe from Greece we have pass’d the seas

To this noble city Syracuse, where we

The ancient reign of the Romans may see.

Whose force Greece also heretofore hath known,

Whose virtue the shrill trump of fame so far hath blown.

Pithias. My Damon, of right high praise we ought to give

To Neptune and all the gods, that we safely did arrive:

The seas, I think, with contrary winds never raged so;

I am even yet so seasick, that I faint as I go;

Therefore let us get some lodging quickly.

But where is Stephano?

Here entereth Stephano.

Stephano. Not far hence: a pox take these mariner-knaves,

Not one would help me to carry this stuff, such drunken slaves

I think be accursed of the gods’ own mouths.

Damon. Stephano, leave thy raging, and let us enter Syracuse,

We will provide lodging, and thou shalt be eased of thy burden by and by.

Stephano. Good master, make haste, for I tell you plain,

This heavy burden puts poor Stephano to much pain.

Pithias. Come on thy ways, thou shalt be eased, and that anon.

[Exeunt.

Here entereth Carisophus.

Carisophus. It is a true saying, that oft hath been spoken,

The pitcher goeth so long to the water, that it[31] cometh home broken.

My own proof this hath taught me, for truly, sith I

In the city have used to walk very slyly,

Not with one can I meet, that will in talk join with me,

And to creep into men’s bosoms,[32] some talk for to snatch,

But which, into one trip or other, I might trimly them catch,

And so accuse them—now, not with one can I meet,

That will join in talk with me, I am shunn’d like a devil in the street.

My credit is crack’d, where I am known; but I hear say,

Certain strangers are arrived: they were a good prey;

If happily I might meet with them, I fear not, I,

But in talk I should trip them, and that very finely.

Which thing, I assure you, I do for mine own gain,

Or else I would not plod thus up and down, I tell you plain.

Well, I will for a while to the court, to see

What Aristippus doth; I would be loth in favour he should overrun me;

He is a subtle child, he flattereth so finely, that I fear me

He will lick the fat from my lips, and so outwear[33] me:

Therefore I will not be long absent, but at hand,

That all his fine drifts I may understand.

[Exit.

Here entereth Will and Jack.

Will. I wonder what my master Aristippus means now-a-days,

That he leaveth philosophy, and seeks[34] to please

King Dionysius with such merry toys:

In Dionysius’ court now he only joys,

As trim a courtier as the best,

Ready to answer, quick in taunts, pleasant to jest;

A lusty companion to devise with fine dames,

Whose humour to feed his wily wit he frames.

Jack. By Cock, as you say, your master is a minion:

A foul coil he keeps in this court; Aristippus alone

Now rules the roost with his pleasant devices,

That I fear he will put out of conceit my master Carisophus.

Will. Fear not that, Jack; for, like brother and brother,

They are knit in true friendship the one with the other;

They are fellows, you know, and honest men both,

Therefore the one to hinder the other they will be loth.

Jack. Yea, but I have heard say there is falsehood in fellowship,

In the court sometimes one gives another finely the slip:

Which when it is spied, it is laugh’d out with a scoff,[35]

And with sporting and playing quickly[36] shaken off:

In which kind of toying thy master hath such a grace,

That he will never blush, he hath a wooden face.

But, Will, my master hath bees in his head,

If he find me here prating, I am but dead:

He is still trotting in the city, there is somewhat in the wind;

His looks bewray his inward troubled mind:

Therefore I will be packing to the court by and by;

If he be once angry, Jack shall cry, woe the pie!

Will. By’r Lady, if I tarry long here, of the same sauce shall I taste,

For my master sent me on an errand, and bad me make haste,

Therefore we will depart together.

[Exeunt.

Here entereth Stephano.

Stephano. Ofttimes I have heard, before I came hither,

That no man can serve two masters together;

A sentence so true, as most men do take it,

At any time false that no man can make it:

And yet by their leave, that first have it spoken,

How that may prove false, even here I will open:

For I, Stephano, lo, so named by my father,

At this time serve two masters together,

And love them alike: the one and the other

I duly obey, I can do no other.

A bondman I am, so nature hath wrought me,

One Damon of Greece, a gentleman, bought me.

To him I stand bound, yet serve I another,

Whom Damon my master loves as his own brother:

A gentleman too, and Pithias he is named,

Fraught with virtue, whom vice never defamed.

These two, since at school they fell acquainted,

In mutual friendship at no time have fainted.

But loved so kindly and friendly each other,

As though they were brothers by father and mother.

Pythagoras learning these two have embraced,

Which both are in virtue so narrowly laced,

That all their whole doings do fall to this issue,

To have no respect but only to virtue:

All one in effect, all one in their going,

All one in their study, all one in their doing.

These gentlemen both, being of one condition.

Both alike of my service have all the fruition:

Pithias is joyful, if Damon be pleased:

If Pithias is served, then Damon is eased.

Serve one, serve both (so near[37]), who would win them:

I think they have but one heart between them.

In travelling countries we three have contrived[38]

Full many a year, and this day arrived

At Syracuse in Sicilia, that ancient town,

Where my masters are lodged; and I up and down

Go seeking to learn what news here are walking,

To hark of what things the people are talking.

I like not this soil, for as I go plodding,

I mark there two, there three, their heads always nodding,

In close secret wise, still whispering together.

If I ask any question, no man doth answer:

But shaking their heads, they go their ways speaking;

I mark how with tears their wet eyes are leaking:

Some strangeness there is, that breedeth this musing.

Well, I will to my masters, and tell of their using,

That they may learn, and walk wisely together:

I fear we shall curse the time we came hither.

[Exit.

Here entereth Aristippus and Will.