PITHIAS. O thou cruel minister, why didst not thou thine office? Did I not beg thee make haste in any wise? Hast thou spared to kill me once, that I may die twice? Not to die for my friend is present death to me; and alas! Shall I see my sweet Damon slain before my face? What double death is this? but, O mighty Dionysius, Do true justice now: weigh this aright, thou noble Eubulus; Let me have no wrong, as now stands the case: Damon ought not to die, but Pithias: By misadventure, not by his will, his hour is past; therefore I, Because he came not at his just time, ought justly to die: So was my promise, so was thy promise, O king, All this court can bear witness of this thing. DAMON. Not so, O mighty king: to justice it is contrary, That for another man’s fault the innocent should die: Ne yet is my time plainly expired, it is not fully noon. Of this my day appointed, by all the clocks in the town. PITHIAS. Believe no clock, the hour is past by the sun. DAMON. Ah my Pithias, shall we now break the bonds of amity? Will you now overthwart me, which heretofore so well did agree? PITHIAS. My Damon, the gods forbid but we should agree; Therefore agree to this, let me perform the promise made for thee. Let me die for thee: do me not that injury, Both to break my promise, and to suffer me to see thee die, Whom so dearly I love: this small request grant me, I shall never ask thee more, my desire is but friendly. Do me this honour, that fame may report triumphantly, That Pithias for his friend Damon was contented to die.