Damon and Pithias (Quarto 1, 1571)
Page 8
The Tragicall Commedie
Which he wyll aduouch with such tragicall cryes,
190As though all were true that comes out of his mouth,
Where in dede to be hanged by and by,
He cannot tell one tale but twyse he mu st lie,
He spareth no mans life to get the kinges fauour,
In which kind of seruis he hath got such a sauour,
195That he wyll neuer leaue, me thinke then that I,
Haue done very wisely to ioyne in friend ship with him, le st perhaps I
Comming in his way might be nipt, for such knaues in presence,
We s ee oft times put hone st men to silence:
Yet I haue played with his beard in knitting this knot,
200I promi st frend ship, but you loue few words: I spake it, but I meant it (not.
Who markes this friend ship betwene vs two,
Shal iudge of the worldly friend ship without any more a doo,
It may be a ryght Patron therof, but true friend ship in deede,
Of nought but of vertue, doth truly pros eede,
205But why doo I now enter into Philosophie,
Which doo profe s s e the fine kind of curtesie?
I wyll hence to the Courte with all ha ste I may,
I thinke the king be stirring, it is now bright day,
To waite at a pinche still in sight I meane,
210For wot ye what? a new Broome sweepes cleane,
As to hie honour I mynde not to clime,
So I meane in the courte to lose no time:
Wherein happy man be his dole, I trust that I,
Shall not speede wor st, and that very quickly EXIT.

215 P Here entreth DAMON and PITHIAS
lyke Mariners.
O NEPTVNE, immortall be thy prayse,
For that so safe from Greece we haue pa st the seas,
To this noble citie SIRACVSAE , where we
220The auncient raygne of the Romaines may s ee,
Whose force, Greece also heretofore hath knowne,
Whose vertue, the shrill trump of fame so farre hath blowne.
PITHIAS .
My Damon, of right high prayse we ought to geue,
225To Neptune and all the Gods, that we safely dyd arryue,
The Seas I thinke with contrary winds, neuer raged so,
I am euen yet so Sea sicke, that I faynt as I go:
Therfore let vs get some lodgyng quickely:
But where is Stephano?
P Here

Damon and Pithias (Quarto 1, 1571)