The Play of Damon And Pythias
CAST:
|
Females Narrator |
Males Zeus |
(DANCE)
Zeus: An excellent performance indeed...... What do you see, speedy Hermes?
Hermes: It is great Poseidon, ruler of the seas.
Poseidon: Greetings, mighty Zeus, king of the gods. I have brought gifts for you -- pearls and coral from the ocean's depths.
Zeus: Welcome to Mt. Olympus, noble Poseidon. These are excellent gifts.
(Off-stage arguing)
Hera: No you are wrong! (enter the 2 goddesses) Wealth and power are better.
Aphrodite: But I disagree. Wealth does not matter if you don't have love and friends.
Zeus: What is the trouble, my dear goddesses?
Aphrodite: I think that love and friendship are better gifts than power and wealth.
Hera: Aphrodite is wrong! I say that wealth and power are best. What do you think, Zeus? Would you rather have power and riches or love and friendship?
Zeus: Hmmm. I don't think I'd like to give up either power or friends. What do you think, Athena? You are the wisest of all the gods of Olympus?
Athena: I have a suggestion. In the Greek colony of Syracuse lives the wealthy King Dionysus. He is one of the most powerful of all humans. Also in his kingdom are two men visiting together named Damon and Pythias.
They are the best of friends. Why not let Aphrodite and Hera visit the Kingdom of Syracuse. Then they can decide for themselves which is better -- the power and wealth of Dionysus or the love and friendship between Damon and Pythias.
Zeus: A splendid idea, Athena. Does this suit you two goddesses?
Hera: Yes.
Aphrodite: It does indeed.
Zeus: Then descend to Earth! (cymbals crash and curtains)
Narrator: Now King Dionysus was extremely rich, but he had become a cruel tyrant. When Damon's best friend came to visit he was surprised to find that such a heartless dictator ruled over the kingdom of Syracuse. Unfortunately, Pythias made the mistake of saying in public that he thought Dionysus was a wicked ruler.
(curtains open)
(Queen is admiring herself in a mirror)
Dionysus: 4998, 4999, 5000! Tell me captain. How many more bags of silver have my soldiers brought in today?
Captain: 40 bags of silver, and from your servants in the mines, you have 3 bags full of gold.
Dionysus: Good! Soon I will be the richest man in the world. 5001, 5002.......
Queen: Well you certainly can afford to buy your wife a new silk robe and a gold bracelet to wear to the banquet. I'll die if I have to wear these same old jewels again.
Aphrodite: (aside) Well this fellow certainly seems to be wealthy enough. I wonder what it is like for the two friends, Damon and Pythias?
Hera: Let's watch and see.
(enter guards with Pythias)
Queen: Dear, your guards have dragged some peasant into our chamber. How dreadful, he's liable to get dirt on my new Persian rug.
Dionysus: Who is this knave you soldiers have brought?
Chief jailer: It is the man you sent us to arrest for speaking against you, mighty Dionysus.
Dionysus: So you are the scoundrel that spoke against me, the great King of Syracuse. Tell me what you have dared to say against my good name.
Pythias: All I said was the truth -- that although you are powerful, you are a cruel and foolish king. Cruel because you rule with a fierce army. Foolish because your people serve you out of fear, not because they respect and love you. A good ruler would .....
Dionysus: Silence! I have heard enough. Because of your brazen words you shall learn how powerful I truly am. You will be thrown into prison and at the end of three months you shall be put to death.
Damon: Please mighty king, spare his life. My friend Pythias is a stranger here and he did not know that it was against the law to criticize you in public.
Dionysus: Too bad, but I am dictator here, and in my kingdom my word is the law. He will learn this the hard way, and after his death others will think twice before speaking against the mighty Dionysus.
Pythias: King Dionysus, I must accept your harsh law, but I ask a favor of you. I ask that you will let me return to my country and make arrangements for my wife and children. Then I will return to receive my punishment.
Dionysus: You expect me to believe that if I let you go you will return. Hah! Guards, throw this vermin into the prison.
Damon: Wait great king. My friend Pythias is an honest man. If he promised to return, he will keep his word. If he does not return, then on the day appointed for his execution I will take his punishment of death.
Dionysus: Well if you are foolish enough to take his place then you deserve his death. Throw Damon into prison instead. (exit Dionysus & Q)
Pythias: Thank you, Damon. I will feel better after my family has been cared for. Then I shall return. I will not let you take my penalty of death.
Damon: I believe you my friend. Good luck on your journey. (shake hands & guards take Damon)
Narrator: So Pythias returned home. He had a safe speedy trip and made arrangements for his family. But his return to Syracuse was not so easy. He ran into storms and wild animals. As the date of the execution drew near he had still not returned.
(enter Dionysus & guards)
Dionysus: So Damon, the execution is almost here. Do you still think Pythias will return.
Damon: My friend is loyal and will come if he is able. If not I will gladly take his penalty.
Dionysus: Then you are a numskull. Pythias has outfoxed you and you will die in his place.
(curtains close for robber scene)
Pythias: Many obstacles have slowed my return and I am weary. But my travels are almost to an end. I shall camp here tonight and tomorrow I shall reach Syracuse.
(enter robbers)
Skags: Grab him, mates!
Phagos: Shall I slit his throat, Skags?
Draco: Or how about if I poke out his eyes and then run him through with a dagger?
Skags: No, let's see what he's got first. Ahhh, a bag of coins.
Pythias: What is this?
Skags: We're just collecting a fee for camping out, and it happens to be everything you have. (robbers laugh)
Pythias: Why you're just common robbers.
Phagos: Oh, he's a bright one, isn't he?
Canis: Shall we kill him or just tie him up?
Skags: Just tie him up good. That'll give us a chance to get away.
Pythias: Please, sirs, take all I have but don't tie me up. I must make it to Syracuse by tomorrow at noon or my friend Damon will be executed in my place.
Skags: Why you ought to thank us twice then. Once for not killing you ourselves, and secondly for keeping that thief with a crown, Dionysus, from chopping off your head. (exit)
Pythias: Wait! Come back! It's no use, they've gone and now Damon will die thinking that I deserted him.
Oh gods of Olympus, have pity. I do not care what happens to me, but please spare my friend from an undeserved death. (he sleeps)
Aphrodite: He has a troubled slumber, Hera. This is a sad end to a friendship. (exit)
Hera: I hate to lose and argument to Aphrodite, but I have come to respect these two loyal friends. (she takes the ropes)
Pythias: What's this? My ropes are gone. But the sun is already risen. I've overslept in my grief and I'm afraid I'm too late to save Damon. (runs)
(Curtains open)
Thetis: It is a terrible day when Damon, one of our best citizens, should die at the command of our cruel king.
Mara: Quiet! If the guards hear you, then you will suffer the same evil fate.
(People bow to Dionysus)
Dionysus: Bring out the prisoner. (enter Damon) You were a fool to take Pythias' place, Damon. Now prepare for your doom.
(enter executioner with ax & drums roll)
Ursa: I can't believe it.
Artemisia: Look my friends!
Pythias: Wait! Stop the execution!
Marpessa: It's Pythias.
Io: He's returned to Syracuse. (crowd mutters)
Damon: I knew you'd come back my friend.
Guard: Shall Pythias be slain instead of Damon.
Dionysus: Though I have great treasures and a mighty army, these two men have something more valuable -- friendship. They have taught me a great lesson. Set them both free.
(Cheers)