Читать книгу A Select Collection of Old English Plays - Группа авторов - Страница 7

Aristippus. Will, didst thou hear the ladies so talk of me?

What aileth them? from their nips[39] shall I never be free?

Will. Good faith, sir, all the ladies in the court do plainly report,

That without mention of them you can make no sport:

They are your plain-song to sing descant upon;[40]

If they were not, your mirth were gone.

Therefore, master, jest no more with women in any wise,

If you do, by Cock, you are like to know the price.

Aristippus. By’r Lady, Will, this is good counsel: plainly to jest

Of women, proof hath taught me is not the best:

I will change my copy, howbeit I care not a quinch,[41]

I know the gall’d horse will soonest winch:

But learn thou secretly how privily they talk

Of me in the court: among them slyly walk,

And bring me true news thereof.

Will. I will, sir master, thereof have no doubt, for I

Where they talk of you will inform you perfectly.

Aristippus. Do so, my boy: if thou bring it finely to pass,

For thy good service thou shalt go in thine old coat at Christmas.

[Exeunt.

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 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. What then? An nescis longas regibus esse manus?

It is no safe talking of them that strikes afar off.

But leaving kings’ matters, I pray you show me this courtesy,

To describe in few words the state of this city.

A traveller I am, desirous to know

The state of each country, wherever I go:

Not to the hurt of any state, but to get experience thereby.

It is not for nought, that the poet doth cry,

Dic mihi musa virum, captæ post tempora Trojæ,

Qui mores hominum multorum vidit et urbes. [49]

In which verses, as some writers do scan,

The poet describeth a perfect wise man:

Even so I, being a stranger, addicted to philosophy,

To see the state of countries myself I apply.

Carisophus. Sir, I like this intent, but may I ask your name without scorn?

Damon. My name is Damon, well known in my country, a gentleman born.

Carisophus. You do wisely to search the state of each country

To bear intelligence thereof, whither you lust. He is a spy, [Aside.

Sir, I pray you, have patience awhile, for I have to do hereby:

View this weak part of this city as you stand, and I very quickly

Will return to you again, and then will I show

The state of all this country, and of the court also.

Damon. I thank you for your courtesy.

[Exit Caris.]

This chanceth well, that I

Met with this gentleman so happily,

Which, as it seemeth, misliketh something,

Else he would not talk so boldly of the king,

And that to a stranger: but lo, where he comes in haste.

Here entereth Carisophus and Snap.

Carisophus. This is the[50] fellow: Snap, snap him up: away with him.

Snap. Good fellow, thou must go with me to the court.

Damon. To the court, sir? and why?

Carisophus. Well, we will dispute that before the king. Away with him quickly.

Damon. Is this the courtesy you promised me, and that very lately?

Carisophus. Away with him, I say.

Damon. Use no violence, I will go with you quietly.

[Exeunt omnes.

Here entereth Aristippus.

Aristippus. Ah, sirrah, by’r Lady, Aristippus likes Dionysius’ court very well,

Which in passing joys and pleasures doth excel.

Where he hath dapsiles cœnas, geniales lectos, et auro

Fulgentem tyranni zonam.[51]

I have plied the harvest, and stroke when the iron was hot;

When I spied my time, I was not squeamish to crave, God wot!

But with some pleasant toy[52] I crept into the king’s bosom,

For which Dionysius gave me Auri talentum magnum—

A large reward for so simple services.

What, then? the king’s praise standeth chiefly in bountifulness:

Which thing though I told the king very pleasantly,

Yet can I prove it by good writers of great antiquity:

But that shall not need at this time, since that I have abundantly:

When I lack hereafter, I will use this point of philosophy:

But now, whereas I have felt the king’s liberality,

As princely as it came, I will spend it as regally:

Money is current, men say, and current comes of Currendo:

Then will I make money run, as his nature requireth, I trow.

For what becomes a philosopher best,

But to despise money above the rest?

And yet not so despise it, but to have in store

Enough to serve his own turn, and somewhat more.

With sundry sports and taunts yesternight I delighted the king,

That with his loud laughter the whole court did ring,

And I thought he laugh’d not merrier than I, when I got this money.

But, mumbudget,[53] for Carisophus I espy

In haste to come hither: I must handle the knave finely.

Here entereth Carisophus.

O Carisophus, my dearest friend, my trusty companion!

What news with you? where have you been so long?

Carisophus. My best beloved friend Aristippus, I am come at last;

I have not spent all my time in waste.

I have got a prey, and that a good one, I trow.

Aristippus. What prey is that? fain would I know.

Carisophus. Such a crafty spy I have caught, I dare say,

As never was in Sicilia before this day;

Such a one as viewed every weak place in the city,

Surviewed the haven and each bulwark in talk very witty:

And yet by some words himself he did bewray.

Aristippus. I think so in good faith, as you did handle him.

Carisophus. I handled him clerkly, I joined in talk with him courteously:

But when we were entered, I let him speak his will, and I

Suck’d out thus much of his words, that I made him say plainly,

He was come hither to know the state of the city;

And not only this, but that he would understand

The state of Dionysius’ court and of the whole land.

Which words when I heard, I desired him to stay,

Till I had done a little business of the way.

Promising him to return again quickly; and so did convey

Myself to the court for Snap the tipstaff, which came and upsnatched him,

Brought him to the court, and in the porter’s lodge dispatched him,

After I ran to Dionysius, as fast as I could,

And bewrayed this matter to him, which I have you told;

Which thing when he heard, being very merry before,

He suddenly fell in dump, and foaming like a boar,

At last he swore in great rage, that he should die

By the sword or the wheel, and that very shortly.

I am too shamefast: for my travail and toil

I crave nothing of Dionysius, but only his spoil:

Little hath he about him, but a few motheaten crowns of gold,

Cha pouch’d them up already, they are sure in hold:

And now I go into the city, to say sooth,

To see what he hath at his lodging to make up my mouth.[54]

Aristippus. My Carisophus, you have done good service, But what is the spy’s name?

Carisophus. He is called Damon, born in Greece, from whence lately he came.

Aristippus. By my troth, I will go see him, and speak with him too, if I may.

Carisophus. Do so, I pray you; but yet by the way,

As occasion serveth, commend my service to the king.

Aristippus. Dictum sapienti sat est: friend Carisophus, shall I forget that thing?

No, I warrant you: though I say little to your face,

I will lay on with my mouth for you to Dionysius,[55] when I am in place.

[Aside] If I speak one word for such a knave, hang me.

[Exit.

Carisophus. Our fine philosopher, our trim learned elf,

Is gone to see as false a spy as himself.

Damon smatters as well as he of crafty philosophy,

And can turn cat in the pan[56] very prettily:

But Carisophus hath given him such a mighty check,

As I think in the end will break his neck.

What care I for that? why would[57] he then pry,

And learn the secret estate of our country and city?

He is but a stranger, by his fall let others be wise,

I care not who fall, so that I may rise.

As for fine Aristippus, I will keep in with him,

He is a shrewd fool to deal withal, he can swim;

And yet by my troth, to speak my conscience plainly,

I will use his friendship to mine own commodity.[58]

While Dionysius favoureth him, Aristippus shall be mine;

But if the king once frown on him, then good night, Tomalin:

He shall be as strange, as though I never saw him before.

But I tarry too long, I will prate no more.

Jack, come away.

Jack. At hand, sir.

Carisophus. At Damon’s lodging, if that you see

Any stir to arise, be still at hand by me:

Rather than I will lose the spoil, I will blade[59] it out.

[Exeunt.

Here entereth Pithias and Stephano.

Pithias. What strange news are these! ah, my Stephano,

Is my Damon in prison, as the voice doth go?

Stephano. It is true, O cruel hap! he is taken for a spy,

And as they say, by Dionysius’ own mouth condemned to die.

Pithias. To die! Alas! For what cause?

Stephano. A sycophant falsely accused him: other cause there is none.

But, O Jupiter, of all wrongs the revenger,

Seest thou this unjustice, and wilt thou stay any longer

From heaven to send down thy hot consuming fire,

To destroy the workers of wrong, which provoke thy just ire?

Alas! Master Pithias, what shall we do,

Being in a strange country, void of friends and acquaintance too?

Ah, poor Stephano, hast thou lived to see this day,

To see thy true master unjustly made away?

Pithias. Stephano, seeing the matter is come to this extremity,

Let us make virtue our friend of mere necessity.

Run thou to the court, and understand secretly

As much as thou canst of Damon’s cause, and I

Will make some means to entreat Aristippus:

He can do much, as I hear, with King Dionysius.

Stephano. I am gone, sir. Ah, I would to God my travail and pain

Might restore my master to his liberty again!

Pithias. Ah woful Pithias! sith now I am alone,

What way shall I first begin to make my moan?

What words shall I find apt for my complaint?

Damon, my friend, my joy, my life, is in peril. Of force I must now faint.

But, O music, as in joyful times[60] thy merry notes did borrow,

So now lend me thy yearnful tunes to utter my sorrow.

Here Pithias sings and the regals[61] play.

Awake, ye woful wights,

That long have wept in woe:

Resign to me your plaints and tears,

My hapless hap to show.

My woe no tongue can tell,

No pen can well descry:

O, what a death is this to hear,

Damon my friend must die!

The loss of worldly wealth

Man’s wisdom may restore,

And physic hath provided too

A salve for every sore:

But my true friend once lost,

No art can well supply:

Then, what a death is this to hear,

Damon my friend must die!

My mouth, refuse the food,

That should my limbs sustain:

Let sorrow sink into my breast,

And ransack every vein:

Ye Furies, all at once

On me your torments try:

Why should I live, since that I hear [62]

Damon my friend must[63] die!

Gripe me, you greedy grief

And present pangs of death,

You sisters three, with cruel hands

With speed come[64] stop my breath:

Shrine me in clay alive,

Some good man stop mine eye:

O death, come now, seeing I hear

Damon my friend must die.

He speaketh this after the song.

In vain I call for death, which heareth not my complaint:

But what wisdom is this, in such extremity to faint?

Multum juvat in re malâ animus bonus.

I will to the court myself, to make friends, and that presently.

I will never forsake my friend in time of misery—

But do I see Stephano amazed hither to run?

Here entereth Stephano.

Stephano. O Pithias, Pithias, we are all undone!

Mine own ears have sucked in mine own sorrow;

I heard Dionysius swear, that Damon should die to-morrow.

Pithias. How camest thou so near the presence of the king,

That thou mightest hear Dionysius speak this thing?

Stephano. By friendship I gat into the court, where in great audience

I heard Dionysius with his own mouth give this cruel sentence

By these express words: that Damon the Greek, that crafty spy,

Without further judgment to-morrow should die:

Believe me, Pithias, with these ears I heard it myself.

Pithias. Then how near is my death also! Ah, woe is me!

Ah my Damon, another myself, shall I forego thee?

Stephano. Sir, there is no time of lamenting now: it behoveth us

To make means to them which can do much with Dionysius,

That he be not made away, ere his cause be fully heard; for we see

By evil report things be made to princes far worse than they be.

But lo, yonder cometh Aristippus, in great favour with king Dionysius,

Entreat him to speak a good word to the king for us,

And in the mean season I will to your lodging to see all things safe there.

Pithias. To that I agree: but let us slip aside his talk to hear.

Here entereth Aristippus.

Aristippus. Here is a sudden change indeed, a strange metamorphosis,

This court is clean altered: who would have thought this?

Dionysius, of late so pleasant and merry,

Is quite changed now into such melancholy,

That nothing can please him: he walketh up and down,

Fretting and chaffing, on every man he doth frown;

In so much that, when I in pleasant words began to play,

So sternly he frowned on me, and knit me up so short,

I perceive it is no safe playing with lions, but when it please them;

If you claw where it itch not, you shall disease them,

And so perhaps get a clap; mine own proof taught me this,

That it is very good to be merry and wise.

The only cause of this hurly-burly is Carisophus, that wicked man,

Which lately took Damon for a spy, a poor gentleman,

And hath incensed the king against him so despitefully,

That Dionysius hath judged him to-morrow to die.

I have talk’d with Damon, whom though in words I found very witty,

Yet was he more curious than wise in viewing this city:

But truly, for aught I can learn, there is no cause why

So suddenly and cruelly he should be condemned to die:

Howsoever it be, this is the short and long,

I dare not gainsay the king, be it right or wrong:

I am sorry, and that is all I may or can do in this case:

Nought availeth persuasion, where froward opinion taketh place.

Pithias. Sir, if humble suits you would not despise,

Then bow on[65] me your pitiful eyes.

My name is Pithias, in Greece well known,

A perfect friend to that woful Damon,

Which now a poor captive in this court doth lie,

By the king’s own mouth, as I hear, condemned to die;

For whom I crave your mastership’s goodness,

To stand his friend in this his great distress.

Nought hath he done worthy of death; but very fondly,

Being a stranger, he viewed this city:

For no evil practices, but to feed his eyes.

But seeing Dionysius is informed otherwise,

My suit is to you, when you see time and place,

To assuage the king’s anger, and to purchase his grace:

In which doing you shall not do good to one only,

But you shall further two,[66] and that fully.

Aristippus. My friend, in this case I can do you no pleasure.

Pithias. Sir, you serve in the court, as fame doth tell.

Aristippus. I am of the court indeed, but none of the council.

Pithias. As I hear, none is in greater favour with the king, than you at this day.

Aristippus. The more in favour, the less I dare say.

Pithias. It is a courtier’s praise to help strangers in misery.

Aristippus. To help another, and hurt myself, it is an evil point of courtesy.

Pithias. You shall not hurt yourself to speak for the innocent.

Aristippus. He is not innocent, whom the king judgeth nocent.

Pithias. Why, sir, do you think this matter past all remedy?

Aristippus. So far past, that Dionysius hath sworn, Damon to-morrow shall die.

Pithias. This word my trembling heart cutteth in two.

Ah, sir, in this woful case that[67] wist I best to do?

Aristippus. Best to content yourself, when there is no remedy,

He is well relieved that foreknoweth his misery:

Yet, if any comfort be, it resteth in Eubulus,

The chiefest councillor about King Dionysius:

Which pitieth Damon’s case in this great extremity,

Persuading the king from all kind of cruelty.

Pithias. The mighty gods preserve you for this word of comfort.

Taking my leave of your goodness, I will now resort

To Eubulus, that good councillor:

But hark! methink I hear a trumpet blow.

Aristippus. The king is at hand, stand close in the prease.[68] Beware, if he know

You are friend to Damon, he will take you for a spy also.

Farewell, I dare not be seen with you.

Here entereth King Dionysius, Eubulus the Councillor, and Gronno the Hangman.