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.