Timon of Athens - Entire Play
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Timon of Athens - Entire PlaySynopsis:
In Timon of Athens, Lord Timon discovers the limits of wealth and friendship. He spends freely on others and hosts banquets for many guests. Despite his servants’ warnings, he spends so excessively that his money runs out—and the philosopher Apemantus condemns his flatterers as insincere.
Soon Timon’s creditors begin to call in their loans. Timon expects help from his friends, but they all refuse him money. Furious, he invites them again to a banquet, but serves only water and stones before he dismisses them, cursing Athens. He exiles himself to a wilderness.
There the embittered Timon finds gold. He gives some to enemies of Athens and to prostitutes and bandits. When senators beg him to return to Athens as a military leader to save the city from his banished friend Alcibiades, he refuses and retreats to a cave to die. Alcibiades defeats Athens but promises to protect the city and its citizens. Learning of the despairing inscription on Timon’s tombstone, he repeats his offer of bringing peace to the city.
doors.
POET 0001 Good day, sir.
PAINTER 0002 I am glad you’re well.
POET
0003 I have not seen you long. How goes the world?
PAINTER
0004 It wears, sir, as it grows.
POET 0005 5 Ay, that’s well known.
0006 But what particular rarity, what strange,
0007 Which manifold record not matches? See,
0008 Magic of bounty, all these spirits thy power
0009 Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.
PAINTER 0010 10I know them both. Th’ other’s a jeweler.
MERCHANT, ⌜to Jeweler⌝
0011 O, ’tis a worthy lord!
JEWELER 0012 Nay, that’s most fixed.
MERCHANT
0013 A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
0014 To an untirable and continuate goodness.
0015 15 He passes.
JEWELER 0016 I have a jewel here—
MERCHANT
0017 O, pray, let’s see ’t. For the Lord Timon, sir?
0018 If he will touch the estimate. But for that—
POET, ⌜to Painter⌝
0019 When we for recompense have praised the vile,
0020 20 It stains the glory in that happy verse
0021 Which aptly sings the good.
MERCHANT, ⌜looking at the jewel⌝
0022 ’Tis a good form.
JEWELER 0023 And rich. Here is a water, look ye.
PAINTER, ⌜to Poet⌝
0024 You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
0025 25 To the great lord.
POET 0026 A thing slipped idly from me.
0027 Our poesy is as a ⌜gum⌝ which ⌜oozes⌝
0028 From whence ’tis nourished. The fire i’ th’ flint
0029 Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
0030 30 Provokes itself and, like the current, flies
0031 Each bound it chases. What have you there?
PAINTER
0032 A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?
POET
0033 Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
0034 Let’s see your piece.
PAINTER 0035 35’Tis a good piece.
POET
0036 So ’tis. This comes off well and excellent.
PAINTER
0037 Indifferent.
POET 0038 Admirable! How this grace
0039 Speaks his own standing! What a mental power
0040 40 This eye shoots forth! How big imagination
0041 Moves in this lip! To th’ dumbness of the gesture
0042 One might interpret.
PAINTER
0043 It is a pretty mocking of the life.
0044 Here is a touch. Is ’t good?
0046 It tutors nature. Artificial strife
0047 Lives in these touches livelier than life.
Enter certain Senators.
PAINTER 0048 How this lord is followed.
POET
0049 The senators of Athens, happy men.
PAINTER 0050 50Look, more.
POET
0051 You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
0052 (⌜Indicating his poem.⌝) I have in this rough work
0053 shaped out a man
0054 Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
0055 55 With amplest entertainment. My free drift
0056 Halts not particularly but moves itself
0057 In a wide sea of wax. No leveled malice
0058 Infects one comma in the course I hold,
0059 But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
0060 60 Leaving no tract behind.
PAINTER 0061 How shall I understand you?
POET 0062 I will unbolt to you.
0063 You see how all conditions, how all minds,
0064 As well of glib and slipp’ry creatures as
0065 65 Of grave and austere quality, tender down
0066 Their services to Lord Timon. His large fortune,
0067 Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
0068 Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
0069 All sorts of hearts—yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
0070 70 To Apemantus, that few things loves better
0071 Than to abhor himself; even he drops down
0072 The knee before him and returns in peace
0073 Most rich in Timon’s nod.
PAINTER 0074 I saw them speak together.
POET
0075 75 Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
0077 Is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures
0078 That labor on the bosom of this sphere
0079 To propagate their states. Amongst them all
0080 80 Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed,
0081 One do I personate of Lord Timon’s frame,
0082 Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her,
0083 Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
0084 Translates his rivals.
PAINTER 0085 85 ’Tis conceived to scope.
0086 This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
0087 With one man beckoned from the rest below,
0088 Bowing his head against the steepy mount
0089 To climb his happiness, would be well expressed
0090 90 In our condition.
POET 0091 Nay, sir, but hear me on.
0092 All those which were his fellows but of late,
0093 Some better than his value, on the moment
0094 Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
0095 95 Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
0096 Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
0097 Drink the free air.
PAINTER 0098 Ay, marry, what of these?
POET
0099 When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
0100 100 Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants,
0101 Which labored after him to the mountain’s top
0102 Even on their knees and ⌜hands,⌝ let him ⌜slip⌝ down,
0103 Not one accompanying his declining foot.
PAINTER 0104 ’Tis common.
0105 105 A thousand moral paintings I can show
0106 That shall demonstrate these quick blows of
0107 Fortune’s
0108 More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
0109 To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
0110 110 The foot above the head.
courteously to every suitor. ⌜He is accompanied by a
Messenger and followed by Lucilius and other
Servants.⌝
TIMON 0111 Imprisoned is he, say you?
MESSENGER
0112 Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt,
0113 His means most short, his creditors most strait.
0114 Your honorable letter he desires
0115 115 To those have shut him up, which failing
0116 Periods his comfort.
TIMON 0117 Noble Ventidius. Well,
0118 I am not of that feather to shake off
0119 My friend when he must need me. I do know him
0120 120 A gentleman that well deserves a help,
0121 Which he shall have. I’ll pay the debt and free him.
MESSENGER 0122 Your Lordship ever binds him.
TIMON
0123 Commend me to him. I will send his ransom;
0124 And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me.
0125 125 ’Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
0126 But to support him after. Fare you well.
MESSENGER 0127 All happiness to your Honor.He exits.
Enter an old Athenian.
OLD MAN
0128 Lord Timon, hear me speak.
TIMON 0129 Freely, good father.
OLD MAN
0130 130 Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.
TIMON 0131 I have so. What of him?
OLD MAN
0132 Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.
TIMON
0133 Attends he here or no?—Lucilius!
OLD MAN
0135 135 This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
0136 By night frequents my house. I am a man
0137 That from my first have been inclined to thrift,
0138 And my estate deserves an heir more raised
0139 Than one which holds a trencher.
TIMON 0140 140 Well. What further?
OLD MAN
0141 One only daughter have I, no kin else
0142 On whom I may confer what I have got.
0143 The maid is fair, o’ th’ youngest for a bride,
0144 And I have bred her at my dearest cost
0145 145 In qualities of the best. This man of thine
0146 Attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord,
0147 Join with me to forbid him her resort.
0148 Myself have spoke in vain.
TIMON 0149 The man is honest.
OLD MAN 0150 150Therefore he will be, Timon.
0151 His honesty rewards him in itself;
0152 It must not bear my daughter.
TIMON 0153 Does she love him?
OLD MAN 0154 She is young and apt.
0155 155 Our own precedent passions do instruct us
0156 What levity’s in youth.
TIMON, ⌜to Lucilius⌝ 0157 Love you the maid?
LUCILIUS
0158 Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
OLD MAN
0159 If in her marriage my consent be missing—
0160 160 I call the gods to witness—I will choose
0161 Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world
0162 And dispossess her all.
TIMON 0163 How shall she be endowed
0164 If she be mated with an equal husband?
0165 165 Three talents on the present; in future, all.
TIMON
0166 This gentleman of mine hath served me long.
0167 To build his fortune, I will strain a little,
0168 For ’tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter.
0169 What you bestow, in him I’ll counterpoise,
0170 170 And make him weigh with her.
OLD MAN 0171 Most noble lord,
0172 Pawn me to this your honor, she is his.
TIMON
0173 My hand to thee; mine honor on my promise.
LUCILIUS
0174 Humbly I thank your Lordship. Never may
0175 175 That state or fortune fall into my keeping
0176 Which is not owed to you.
He exits ⌜with the old Athenian.⌝
POET, ⌜presenting his poem to Timon⌝
0177 Vouchsafe my labor, and long live your Lordship.
TIMON
0178 I thank you. You shall hear from me anon.
0179 Go not away.—What have you there, my friend?
PAINTER
0180 180 A piece of painting which I do beseech
0181 Your Lordship to accept.
TIMON 0182 Painting is welcome.
0183 The painting is almost the natural man,
0184 For, since dishonor traffics with man’s nature,
0185 185 He is but outside; these penciled figures are
0186 Even such as they give out. I like your work,
0187 And you shall find I like it. Wait attendance
0188 Till you hear further from me.
PAINTER 0189 The gods preserve you.
TIMON
0190 190 Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand.
0192 Hath suffered under praise.
JEWELER 0193 What, my lord? Dispraise?
TIMON
0194 A mere satiety of commendations.
0195 195 If I should pay you for ’t as ’tis extolled,
0196 It would unclew me quite.
JEWELER 0197 My lord, ’tis rated
0198 As those which sell would give. But you well know
0199 Things of like value, differing in the owners,
0200 200 Are prizèd by their masters. Believe ’t, dear lord,
0201 You mend the jewel by the wearing it.
TIMON 0202 Well mocked.
MERCHANT
0203 No, my good lord. He speaks the common tongue,
0204 Which all men speak with him.
Enter Apemantus.
TIMON 0205 205Look who comes here. Will you be chid?
JEWELER 0206 We’ll bear, with your Lordship.
MERCHANT 0207 He’ll spare none.
TIMON
0208 Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus.
APEMANTUS
0209 Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow—
0210 210 When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.
TIMON
0211 Why dost thou call them knaves? Thou know’st
0212 them not.
APEMANTUS 0213 Are they not Athenians?
TIMON 0214 Yes.
APEMANTUS 0215 215Then I repent not.
JEWELER 0216 You know me, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0217 Thou know’st I do. I called thee by thy
0218 name.
TIMON 0219 Thou art proud, Apemantus.
0221 Timon.
TIMON 0222 Whither art going?
APEMANTUS 0223 To knock out an honest Athenian’s brains.
TIMON 0224 That’s a deed thou ’lt die for.
APEMANTUS 0225 225Right, if doing nothing be death by th’ law.
TIMON 0226 How lik’st thou this picture, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0227 The best, for the innocence.
TIMON 0228 Wrought he not well that painted it?
APEMANTUS 0229 He wrought better that made the painter,
0230 230 and yet he’s but a filthy piece of work.
PAINTER 0231 You’re a dog.
APEMANTUS 0232 Thy mother’s of my generation. What’s
0233 she, if I be a dog?
TIMON 0234 Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0235 235No. I eat not lords.
TIMON 0236 An thou shouldst, thou ’dst anger ladies.
APEMANTUS 0237 O, they eat lords. So they come by great
0238 bellies.
TIMON 0239 That’s a lascivious apprehension.
APEMANTUS 0240 240So thou apprehend’st it. Take it for thy
0241 labor.
TIMON 0242 How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0243 Not so well as plain-dealing, which will
0244 not ⌜cost⌝ a man a doit.
TIMON 0245 245What dost thou think ’tis worth?
APEMANTUS 0246 Not worth my thinking.—How now, poet?
POET 0247 How now, philosopher?
APEMANTUS 0248 Thou liest.
POET 0249 Art not one?
APEMANTUS 0250 250Yes.
POET 0251 Then I lie not.
APEMANTUS 0252 Art not a poet?
POET 0253 Yes.
APEMANTUS 0254 Then thou liest. Look in thy last work,
0255 255 where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
APEMANTUS 0257 Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee
0258 for thy labor. He that loves to be flattered is worthy
0259 o’ th’ flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!
TIMON 0260 260What wouldst do then, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0261 E’en as Apemantus does now—hate a lord
0262 with my heart.
TIMON 0263 What? Thyself?
APEMANTUS 0264 Ay.
TIMON 0265 265Wherefore?
APEMANTUS 0266 That I had no angry wit to be a lord.—Art
0267 not thou a merchant?
MERCHANT 0268 Ay, Apemantus.
APEMANTUS 0269 Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not.
MERCHANT 0270 270If traffic do it, the gods do it.
APEMANTUS 0271 Traffic’s thy god, and thy god confound
0272 thee!
Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.
TIMON 0273 What trumpet’s that?
MESSENGER
0274 ’Tis Alcibiades and some twenty horse,
0275 275 All of companionship.
TIMON
0276 Pray, entertain them. Give them guide to us.
⌜Some Servants exit with Messenger.⌝
0277 You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence
0278 Till I have thanked you.—When dinner’s done
0279 Show me this piece.—I am joyful of your sights.
Enter Alcibiades with the rest.
0280 280 Most welcome, sir.⌜They bow to each other.⌝
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ 0281 So, so, there!
0282 Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
0283 That there should be small love amongst these sweet
0284 knaves,
0286 Into baboon and monkey.
ALCIBIADES, ⌜to Timon⌝
0287 Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
0288 Most hungerly on your sight.
TIMON 0289 Right welcome, sir.
0290 290 Ere we depart, we’ll share a bounteous time
0291 In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
⌜All but Apemantus⌝ exit.
Enter two Lords.
FIRST LORD 0292 What time o’ day is ’t, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0293 Time to be honest.
FIRST LORD 0294 That time serves still.
APEMANTUS
0295 295 The most accursèd thou, that still omit’st it.
SECOND LORD 0296 Thou art going to Lord Timon’s feast?
APEMANTUS
0297 Ay, to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.
SECOND LORD 0298 Fare thee well, fare thee well.
APEMANTUS
0299 Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
SECOND LORD 0300 300Why, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
0301 Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give
0302 thee none.
FIRST LORD 0303 Hang thyself.
APEMANTUS
0304 No, I will do nothing at thy bidding.
0305 305 Make thy requests to thy friend.
SECOND LORD
0306 Away, unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence.
APEMANTUS 0307 I will fly, like a dog, the heels o’ th’ ass.
⌜He exits.⌝
FIRST LORD
0308 He’s opposite to humanity. ⌜Come,⌝ shall we in
0310 310 The very heart of kindness.
SECOND LORD
0311 He pours it out. Plutus, the god of gold,
0312 Is but his steward. No meed but he repays
0313 Sevenfold above itself. No gift to him
0314 But breeds the giver a return exceeding
0315 315 All use of quittance.
FIRST LORD 0316 The noblest mind he carries
0317 That ever governed man.
SECOND LORD
0318 Long may he live in fortunes. Shall we in?
0319 I’ll keep you company.
They exit.
in, and then enter Lord Timon, the States, the Athenian
Lords ⌜(including Lucius), Alcibiades, and⌝ Ventidius
(which Timon redeemed from prison). ⌜Flavius and others
are in attendance.⌝ Then comes dropping after all
Apemantus discontentedly like himself.
VENTIDIUS 0320 Most honored Timon,
0321 It hath pleased the gods to remember my father’s age
0322 And call him to long peace.
0323 He is gone happy and has left me rich.
0324 5 Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
0325 To your free heart, I do return those talents,
0326 Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
0327 I derived liberty.⌜He offers a purse.⌝
TIMON 0328 O, by no means,
0329 10 Honest Ventidius. You mistake my love.
0330 I gave it freely ever, and there’s none
0331 Can truly say he gives if he receives.
0333 To imitate them. Faults that are rich are fair.
VENTIDIUS 0334 15A noble spirit!
TIMON
0335 Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devised at first
0336 To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
0337 Recanting goodness, sorry ere ’tis shown;
0338 But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
0339 20 Pray, sit. More welcome are you to my fortunes
0340 Than my fortunes to me.⌜They sit.⌝
FIRST LORD 0341 My lord, we always have confessed it.
APEMANTUS
0342 Ho, ho, “confessed it”? Hanged it, have you not?
TIMON 0343 O Apemantus, you are welcome.
APEMANTUS 0344 25No, you shall not make me welcome.
0345 I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
TIMON
0346 Fie, thou ’rt a churl. You’ve got a humor there
0347 Does not become a man. ’Tis much to blame.—
0348 They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est, but yond
0349 30 man is ⌜ever⌝ angry. Go, let him have a table by
0350 himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is
0351 he fit for ’t indeed.
APEMANTUS 0352 Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon. I
0353 come to observe; I give thee warning on ’t.
TIMON 0354 35I take no heed of thee. Thou ’rt an Athenian,
0355 therefore welcome. I myself would have no power;
0356 prithee, let my meat make thee silent.
APEMANTUS 0357 I scorn thy meat. ’Twould choke me, for I
0358 should ne’er flatter thee. (⌜Apart.⌝) O you gods,
0359 40 what a number of men eats Timon, and he sees ’em
0360 not! It grieves me to see so many dip their meat in
0361 one man’s blood; and all the madness is, he cheers
0362 them up too.
0363 I wonder men dare trust themselves with men.
0364 45 Methinks they should invite them without knives.
0366 There’s much example for ’t. The fellow that sits
0367 next him, now parts bread with him, pledges the
0368 breath of him in a divided draft, is the readiest
0369 50 man to kill him. ’T ’as been proved. If I were a huge
0370 man, I should fear to drink at meals,
0371 Lest they should spy my wind-pipe’s dangerous
0372 notes.
0373 Great men should drink with harness on their
0374 55 throats.
TIMON, ⌜responding to a toast⌝
0375 My lord, in heart! And let the health go round.
SECOND LORD 0376 Let it flow this way, my good lord.
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ 0377 “Flow this way”? A brave fellow.
0378 He keeps his tides well. Those healths will make
0379 60 thee and thy state look ill, Timon.
0380 Here’s that which is too weak to be a sinner,
0381 Honest water, which ne’er left man i’ th’ mire.
0382 This and my food are equals. There’s no odds.
0383 Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
0384 65 Immortal gods, I crave no pelf.
0385 I pray for no man but myself.
0386 Grant I may never prove so fond
0387 To trust man on his oath or bond,
0388 Or a harlot for her weeping,
0389 70 Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,
0390 Or a keeper with my freedom,
0391 Or my friends if I should need ’em.
0392 Amen. So fall to ’t.
0393 Rich men sin, and I eat root.
⌜He eats and drinks.⌝
0394 75 Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
TIMON 0395 Captain Alcibiades, your heart’s in the field now.
ALCIBIADES 0396 My heart is ever at your service, my lord.
0398 than a dinner of friends.
ALCIBIADES 0399 80So they were bleeding new, my lord,
0400 there’s no meat like ’em. I could wish my best
0401 friend at such a feast.
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ 0402 Would all those flatterers were
0403 thine enemies, then, that then thou mightst kill
0404 85 ’em and bid me to ’em.
FIRST LORD 0405 Might we but have that happiness, my
0406 lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby
0407 we might express some part of our zeals, we
0408 should think ourselves forever perfect.
TIMON 0409 90O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods
0410 themselves have provided that I shall have much
0411 help from you. How had you been my friends else?
0412 Why have you that charitable title from thousands,
0413 did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told
0414 95 more of you to myself than you can with modesty
0415 speak in your own behalf. And thus far I confirm
0416 you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any
0417 friends if we should ne’er have need of ’em? They
0418 were the most needless creatures living, should we
0419 100 ne’er have use for ’em, and would most resemble
0420 sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keeps
0421 their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often
0422 wished myself poorer that I might come nearer to
0423 you. We are born to do benefits. And what better or
0424 105 properer can we call our own than the riches of
0425 our friends? O, what a precious comfort ’tis to
0426 have so many, like brothers, commanding one
0427 another’s fortunes. O, joy’s e’en made away ere ’t
0428 can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water,
0429 110 methinks. To forget their faults, I drink to you.
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ 0430 Thou weep’st to make them drink,
0431 Timon.
0432 Joy had the like conception in our eyes
0433 And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up.
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝
0434 115 Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.
THIRD LORD
0435 I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ 0436 Much!Sound tucket.
TIMON 0437 What means that trump?
Enter Servant.
0438 How now?
SERVANT 0439 120Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies
0440 most desirous of admittance.
TIMON 0441 Ladies? What are their wills?
SERVANT 0442 There comes with them a forerunner, my lord,
0443 which bears that office to signify their pleasures.
TIMON 0444 125I pray, let them be admitted.⌜Servant exits.⌝
Enter “Cupid.”
CUPID
0445 Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
0446 That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
0447 Acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely
0448 To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. There
0449 130 Taste, touch, all, pleased from thy table rise;
0450 They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
TIMON
0451 They’re welcome all. Let ’em have kind admittance.
0452 Music, make their welcome!
LUCIUS
0453 You see, my lord, how ample you’re beloved.
⌜Music.⌝ Enter the masque of Ladies ⌜as⌝ Amazons,
with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ 0454 135Hoy-day!
0456 They dance? They are madwomen.
0457 Like madness is the glory of this life
0458 As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
0459 140 We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves
0460 And spend our flatteries to drink those men
0461 Upon whose age we void it up again
0462 With poisonous spite and envy.
0463 Who lives that’s not depravèd or depraves?
0464 145 Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves
0465 Of their friends’ gift?
0466 I should fear those that dance before me now
0467 Would one day stamp upon me. ’T ’as been done.
0468 Men shut their doors against a setting sun.
The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of Timon,
and to show their loves each single out an Amazon, and
all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the
hautboys, and cease.
TIMON
0469 150 You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
0470 Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
0471 Which was not half so beautiful and kind.
0472 You have added worth unto ’t and luster,
0473 And entertained me with mine own device.
0474 155 I am to thank you for ’t.
FIRST ⌜LADY⌝
0475 My lord, you take us even at the best.
APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ 0476 Faith, for the worst is filthy and
0477 would not hold taking, I doubt me.
TIMON
0478 Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you.
0479 160 Please you to dispose yourselves.
ALL LADIES 0480 Most thankfully, my lord.
⌜Cupid and Ladies⌝ exit.
TIMON 0481 Flavius.
0482 My lord?
TIMON 0483 The little casket bring me hither.
FLAVIUS 0484 165Yes, my lord. (⌜Aside.⌝) More jewels yet?
0485 There is no crossing him in ’s humor;
0486 Else I should tell him well, i’ faith I should.
0487 When all’s spent, he’d be crossed then, an he could.
0488 ’Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
0489 170 That man might ne’er be wretched for his mind.
He exits.
FIRST LORD 0490 Where be our men?
SERVANT 0491 Here, my lord, in readiness.
SECOND LORD
0492 Our horses.
Enter Flavius, ⌜with the casket.⌝
TIMON 0493 O my friends, I have one word
0494 175 To say to you. Look you, my good lord,
0495 I must entreat you, honor me so much
0496 As to advance this jewel. Accept it and wear it,
0497 Kind my lord.
FIRST LORD
0498 I am so far already in your gifts—
ALL 0499 180So are we all.
Enter a Servant.
SERVANT
0500 My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate
0501 Newly alighted and come to visit you.
TIMON
0502 They are fairly welcome.⌜Servant exits.⌝
FLAVIUS 0503 I beseech your Honor,
0504 185 Vouchsafe me a word. It does concern you near.
TIMON
0505 Near? Why, then, another time I’ll hear thee.
0507 entertainment.
FLAVIUS, ⌜aside⌝ 0508 I scarce know how.
Enter another Servant.
⌜SECOND⌝ SERVANT
0509 190 May it please your Honor, Lord Lucius,
0510 Out of his free love, hath presented to you
0511 Four milk-white horses trapped in silver.
TIMON
0512 I shall accept them fairly. Let the presents
0513 Be worthily entertained.⌜Servant exits.⌝
Enter a third Servant.
0514 195 How now? What news?
THIRD SERVANT 0515 Please you, my lord, that honorable
0516 gentleman Lord Lucullus entreats your company
0517 tomorrow to hunt with him and has sent your
0518 Honor two brace of greyhounds.
TIMON
0519 200 I’ll hunt with him; and let them be received,
0520 Not without fair reward.⌜Servant exits.⌝
FLAVIUS, ⌜aside⌝ 0521 What will this come to?
0522 He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
0523 And all out of an empty coffer.
0524 205 Nor will he know his purse or yield me this—
0525 To show him what a beggar his heart is,
0526 Being of no power to make his wishes good.
0527 His promises fly so beyond his state
0528 That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
0529 210 For ev’ry word. He is so kind that he
0530 Now pays interest for ’t. His land’s put to their books.
0531 Well, would I were gently put out of office
0532 Before I were forced out.
0533 Happier is he that has no friend to feed
0535 I bleed inwardly for my lord.He exits.
TIMON, ⌜to Lords⌝ 0536 You do yourselves much wrong.
0537 You bate too much of your own merits.
0538 (⌜Offering a gift.⌝) Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
SECOND LORD
0539 220 With more than common thanks I will receive it.
THIRD LORD 0540 O, he’s the very soul of bounty!
TIMON 0541 And now I remember, my lord, you gave good
0542 words the other day of a bay courser I rode on. ’Tis
0543 yours because you liked it.
FIRST LORD
0544 225 O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
TIMON
0545 You may take my word, my lord. I know no man
0546 Can justly praise but what he does affect.
0547 I weigh my friends’ affection with mine own.
0548 I’ll tell you true, I’ll call to you.
ALL LORDS 0549 230O, none so welcome.
TIMON
0550 I take all and your several visitations
0551 So kind to heart, ’tis not enough to give.
0552 Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends
0553 And ne’er be weary.—Alcibiades,
0554 235 Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich.
0555 It comes in charity to thee, for all thy living
0556 Is ’mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
0557 Lie in a pitched field.
ALCIBIADES 0558 Ay, defiled land, my lord.
FIRST LORD 0559 240We are so virtuously bound—
TIMON 0560 And so am I to you.
SECOND LORD 0561 So infinitely endeared—
TIMON 0562 All to you.—Lights, more lights.
FIRST LORD
0563 The best of happiness, honor, and fortunes
0564 245 Keep with you, Lord Timon.
⌜All but Timon and Apemantus⌝ exit.
APEMANTUS 0566 What a coil’s here,
0567 Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!
0568 I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
0569 250 That are given for ’em. Friendship’s full of dregs.
0570 Methinks false hearts should never have sound legs.
0571 Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court’sies.
TIMON
0572 Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
0573 I would be good to thee.
APEMANTUS 0574 255No, I’ll nothing, for if I should be bribed
0575 too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and
0576 then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv’st so
0577 long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself
0578 in paper shortly. What needs these feasts, pomps,
0579 260 and vainglories?
TIMON 0580 Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am
0581 sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell, and
0582 come with better music.He exits.
APEMANTUS 0583 So. Thou wilt not hear me now, thou shalt
0584 265 not then. I’ll lock thy heaven from thee.
0585 O, that men’s ears should be
0586 To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
He exits.
SENATOR
0587 And late five thousand. To Varro and to Isidore
0588 He owes nine thousand, besides my former sum,
0589 Which makes it five-and-twenty. Still in motion
0590 Of raging waste! It cannot hold; it will not.
0591 5 If I want gold, steal but a beggar’s dog
0592 And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.
0593 If I would sell my horse and buy twenty more
0594 Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon—
0595 Ask nothing; give it him—it foals me straight,
0596 10 And able horses. No porter at his gate
0597 But rather one that smiles and still invites
0598 All that pass by. It cannot hold. No reason
0599 Can sound his state in safety.—Caphis, ho!
0600 Caphis, I say!
Enter Caphis.
CAPHIS 0601 15 Here, sir. What is your pleasure?
SENATOR
0602 Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Timon.
0603 Importune him for my moneys. Be not ceased
0604 With slight denial, nor then silenced when
0605 “Commend me to your master” and the cap
0606 20 Plays in the right hand thus; but tell him
0607 My uses cry to me. I must serve my turn
0609 And my reliances on his fracted dates
0610 Have smit my credit. I love and honor him
0611 25 But must not break my back to heal his finger.
0612 Immediate are my needs, and my relief
0613 Must not be tossed and turned to me in words
0614 But find supply immediate. Get you gone.
0615 Put on a most importunate aspect,
0616 30 A visage of demand, for I do fear
0617 When every feather sticks in his own wing
0618 Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
0619 Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.
CAPHIS 0620 I go, sir.
SENATOR
0621 35 “I go, sir”? Take the bonds along with you
0622 And have the dates in. Come.
⌜He hands Caphis papers.⌝
CAPHIS 0623 I will, sir.
SENATOR 0624 Go.
They exit.
FLAVIUS
0625 No care, no stop, so senseless of expense
0626 That he will neither know how to maintain it
0627 Nor cease his flow of riot. Takes no account
0628 How things go from him nor ⌜resumes⌝ no care
0629 5 Of what is to continue. Never mind
0630 Was to be so unwise to be so kind.
0631 What shall be done? He will not hear till feel.
0632 I must be round with him, now he comes from
0633 hunting.
0634 10 Fie, fie, fie, fie!
CAPHIS
0635 Good even, Varro. What, you come for money?
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0636 Is ’t not your business too?
CAPHIS 0637 It is. And yours too, Isidore?
⌜ISIDORE’S MAN⌝ 0638 It is so.
CAPHIS 0639 15Would we were all discharged!
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0640 I fear it.
CAPHIS 0641 Here comes the lord.
Enter Timon, and his train, ⌜with Alcibiades.⌝
TIMON
0642 So soon as dinner’s done we’ll forth again,
0643 My Alcibiades. (⌜To Caphis.⌝) With me? What is your
0644 20 will?
CAPHIS, ⌜offering Timon a paper⌝
0645 My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
TIMON 0646 Dues? Whence are you?
CAPHIS 0647 Of Athens here, my lord.
TIMON 0648 Go to my steward.
CAPHIS
0649 25 Please it your Lordship, he hath put me off
0650 To the succession of new days this month.
0651 My master is awaked by great occasion
0652 To call upon his own and humbly prays you
0653 That with your other noble parts you’ll suit
0654 30 In giving him his right.
TIMON 0655 Mine honest friend,
0656 I prithee but repair to me next morning.
CAPHIS
0657 Nay, good my lord—
TIMON 0658 Contain thyself, good friend.
⌜VARRO’S MAN, offering a paper⌝ 0659 35One Varro’s servant,
0660 my good lord—
0661 From Isidore. He humbly prays your speedy
0662 payment.
CAPHIS
0663 If you did know, my lord, my master’s wants—
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝
0664 40 ’Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past.
⌜ISIDORE’S MAN⌝
0665 Your steward puts me off, my lord, and I
0666 Am sent expressly to your Lordship.
TIMON 0667 Give me breath.—
0668 I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on.
0669 45 I’ll wait upon you instantly.
⌜Alcibiades and Timon’s train exit.⌝
⌜To Flavius.⌝ 0670 Come hither. Pray you,
0671 How goes the world that I am thus encountered
0672 With clamorous demands of debt, broken bonds,
0673 And the detention of long-since-due debts
0674 50 Against my honor?
FLAVIUS, ⌜to the creditors’ Men⌝ 0675 Please you, gentlemen,
0676 The time is unagreeable to this business.
0677 Your importunacy cease till after dinner,
0678 That I may make his Lordship understand
0679 55 Wherefore you are not paid.
TIMON 0680 Do so, my friends.—
0681 See them well entertained.
FLAVIUS 0682 Pray, draw near.
⌜Timon and Flavius⌝ exit.
Enter Apemantus and Fool.
CAPHIS 0683 Stay, stay, here comes the Fool with Apemantus.
0684 60 Let’s ha’ some sport with ’em.
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0685 Hang him! He’ll abuse us.
⌜ISIDORE’S MAN⌝ 0686 A plague upon him, dog!
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0687 How dost, Fool?
APEMANTUS 0688 Dost dialogue with thy shadow?
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0689 65I speak not to thee.
0691 away.
⌜ISIDORE’S MAN, to Varro’s Man⌝ 0692 There’s the fool hangs
0693 on your back already.
APEMANTUS 0694 70No, thou stand’st single; thou ’rt not on
0695 him yet.
CAPHIS, ⌜to Isidore’s Man⌝ 0696 Where’s the fool now?
APEMANTUS 0697 He last asked the question. Poor rogues
0698 and usurers’ men, bawds between gold and want.
ALL ⌜THE MEN⌝ 0699 75What are we, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0700 Asses.
ALL ⌜THE MEN⌝ 0701 Why?
APEMANTUS 0702 That you ask me what you are, and do not
0703 know yourselves.—Speak to ’em, Fool.
FOOL 0704 80How do you, gentlemen?
ALL ⌜THE MEN⌝ 0705 Gramercies, good Fool. How does your
0706 mistress?
FOOL 0707 She’s e’en setting on water to scald such chickens
0708 as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!
APEMANTUS 0709 85Good. Gramercy.
Enter Page.
FOOL 0710 Look you, here comes my master’s page.
PAGE, ⌜to Fool⌝ 0711 Why, how now, captain? What do you in
0712 this wise company?—How dost thou, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 0713 Would I had a rod in my mouth that I
0714 90 might answer thee profitably.
PAGE 0715 Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription
0716 of these letters. I know not which is which.
⌜He shows some papers.⌝
APEMANTUS 0717 Canst not read?
PAGE 0718 No.
APEMANTUS 0719 95There will little learning die, then, that
0720 day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Timon, this to
0721 Alcibiades. Go. Thou wast born a bastard, and
0722 thou ’lt die a bawd.
0724 100 a dog’s death. Answer not. I am gone.He exits.
APEMANTUS 0725 E’en so thou outrunn’st grace.—Fool, I
0726 will go with you to Lord Timon’s.
FOOL 0727 Will you leave me there?
APEMANTUS 0728 If Timon stay at home.—You three serve
0729 105 three usurers?
ALL ⌜THE MEN⌝ 0730 Ay. Would they served us!
APEMANTUS 0731 So would I—as good a trick as ever hangman
0732 served thief.
FOOL 0733 Are you three usurers’ men?
ALL ⌜THE MEN⌝ 0734 110Ay, fool.
FOOL 0735 I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant.
0736 My mistress is one, and I am her Fool. When men
0737 come to borrow of your masters, they approach
0738 sadly and go away merry, but they enter my master’s
0739 115 house merrily and go away sadly. The reason
0740 of this?
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0741 I could render one.
APEMANTUS 0742 Do it then, that we may account thee a
0743 whoremaster and a knave, which notwithstanding,
0744 120 thou shalt be no less esteemed.
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0745 What is a whoremaster, fool?
FOOL 0746 A fool in good clothes, and something like thee.
0747 ’Tis a spirit; sometime ’t appears like a lord, sometime
0748 like a lawyer, sometime like a philosopher,
0749 125 with two stones more than ’s artificial one. He is
0750 very often like a knight, and generally in all shapes
0751 that man goes up and down in from fourscore to
0752 thirteen, this spirit walks in.
⌜VARRO’S MAN⌝ 0753 Thou art not altogether a Fool.
FOOL 0754 130Nor thou altogether a wise man. As much foolery
0755 as I have, so much wit thou lack’st.
APEMANTUS 0756 That answer might have become Apemantus.
ALL ⌜THE MEN⌝ 0757 Aside, aside! Here comes Lord Timon.
APEMANTUS 0758 Come with me, fool, come.
FOOL 0759 135I do not always follow lover, elder brother, and
0760 woman; sometime the philosopher.
⌜Apemantus and the Fool exit.⌝
FLAVIUS, ⌜to the creditors’ Men⌝
0761 Pray you, walk near. I’ll speak with you anon.
⌜The Men⌝ exit.
TIMON
0762 You make me marvel wherefore ere this time
0763 Had you not fully laid my state before me,
0764 140 That I might so have rated my expense
0765 As I had leave of means.
FLAVIUS 0766 You would not hear me.
0767 At many leisures I ⌜proposed⌝—
TIMON 0768 Go to.
0769 145 Perchance some single vantages you took
0770 When my indisposition put you back,
0771 And that unaptness made your minister
0772 Thus to excuse yourself.
FLAVIUS 0773 O, my good lord,
0774 150 At many times I brought in my accounts,
0775 Laid them before you. You would throw them off
0776 And say you ⌜found⌝ them in mine honesty.
0777 When for some trifling present you have bid me
0778 Return so much, I have shook my head and wept—
0779 155 Yea, ’gainst th’ authority of manners prayed you
0780 To hold your hand more close. I did endure
0781 Not seldom nor no slight checks when I have
0782 Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
0783 And your great flow of debts. My lovèd lord,
0784 160 Though you hear now too late, yet now’s a time.
0785 The greatest of your having lacks a half
0786 To pay your present debts.
TIMON 0787 Let all my land be sold.
0788 ’Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone,
0789 165 And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
0790 Of present dues. The future comes apace.
0791 What shall defend the interim? And at length
0792 How goes our reck’ning?
TIMON
0793 To Lacedaemon did my land extend.
FLAVIUS
0794 170 O my good lord, the world is but a word.
0795 Were it all yours to give it in a breath,
0796 How quickly were it gone!
TIMON 0797 You tell me true.
FLAVIUS
0798 If you suspect my husbandry ⌜of⌝ falsehood,
0799 175 Call me before th’ exactest auditors,
0800 And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
0801 When all our offices have been oppressed
0802 With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept
0803 With drunken spilth of wine, when every room
0804 180 Hath blazed with lights and brayed with minstrelsy,
0805 I have retired me to a wasteful cock
0806 And set mine eyes at flow.
TIMON 0807 Prithee, no more.
FLAVIUS
0808 Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!
0809 185 How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants
0810 This night englutted. Who is not Timon’s?
0811 What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord
0812 Timon’s?
0813 Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!
0814 190 Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,
0815 The breath is gone whereof this praise is made.
0816 Feast-won, fast-lost. One cloud of winter showers,
0817 These flies are couched.
TIMON 0818 Come, sermon me no further.
0820 Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
0821 Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack
0822 To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart.
0823 If I would broach the vessels of my love
0824 200 And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
0825 Men and men’s fortunes could I frankly use
0826 As I can bid thee speak.
FLAVIUS 0827 Assurance bless your thoughts!
TIMON
0828 And in some sort these wants of mine are crowned,
0829 205 That I account them blessings. For by these
0830 Shall I try friends. You shall perceive how you
0831 Mistake my fortunes. I am wealthy in my friends.—
0832 Within there! ⌜Flaminius!⌝—Servilius!
Enter three Servants, ⌜Flaminius, Servilius, and another.⌝
SERVANTS 0833 My lord, my lord.
TIMON 0834 210I will dispatch you severally. (⌜To Servilius⌝)
0835 You to Lord Lucius, (⌜to Flaminius⌝) to Lord
0836 Lucullus you—I hunted with his Honor today; (⌜to
the third Servant⌝) 0837 you to Sempronius. Commend
0838 me to their loves, and I am proud, say, that my
0839 215 occasions have found time to use ’em toward a
0840 supply of money. Let the request be fifty talents.
FLAMINIUS 0841 As you have said, my lord.⌜Servants exit.⌝
FLAVIUS, ⌜aside⌝ 0842 Lord Lucius and Lucullus? Humh!
TIMON 0843 Go you, sir, to the Senators,
0844 220 Of whom, even to the state’s best health, I have
0845 Deserved this hearing. Bid ’em send o’ th’ instant
0846 A thousand talents to me.
FLAVIUS 0847 I have been bold—
0848 For that I knew it the most general way—
0849 225 To them to use your signet and your name,
0850 But they do shake their heads, and I am here
0851 No richer in return.
FLAVIUS
0853 They answer in a joint and corporate voice
0854 230 That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot
0855 Do what they would, are sorry. You are honorable,
0856 But yet they could have wished—they know not—
0857 Something hath been amiss—a noble nature
0858 May catch a wrench—would all were well—’tis pity.
0859 235 And so, intending other serious matters,
0860 After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,
0861 With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods
0862 They froze me into silence.
TIMON 0863 You gods, reward them!
0864 240 Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows
0865 Have their ingratitude in them hereditary.
0866 Their blood is caked, ’tis cold, it seldom flows;
0867 ’Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;
0868 And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
0869 245 Is fashioned for the journey, dull and heavy.
0870 Go to Ventidius. Prithee, be not sad.
0871 Thou art true and honest—ingeniously I speak—
0872 No blame belongs to thee. Ventidius lately
0873 Buried his father, by whose death he’s stepped
0874 250 Into a great estate. When he was poor,
0875 Imprisoned, and in scarcity of friends,
0876 I cleared him with five talents. Greet him from me.
0877 Bid him suppose some good necessity
0878 Touches his friend, which craves to be remembered
0879 255 With those five talents. That had, give ’t these fellows
0880 To whom ’tis instant due. Ne’er speak or think
0881 That Timon’s fortunes ’mong his friends can sink.
⌜He exits.⌝
FLAVIUS 0882 I would I could not think it.
0883 That thought is bounty’s foe;
0884 260 Being free itself, it thinks all others so.
⌜He⌝ exits.
from his master.
⌜Enter⌝ a Servant to him.
SERVANT 0885 I have told my lord of you. He is coming
0886 down to you.
FLAMINIUS 0887 I thank you, sir.
Enter Lucullus.
SERVANT 0888 Here’s my lord.
LUCULLUS, ⌜aside⌝ 0889 5One of Lord Timon’s men? A gift, I
0890 warrant. Why, this hits right. I dreamt of a silver
0891 basin and ewer tonight.—Flaminius, honest
0892 Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir.
0893 (⌜To Servant.⌝) Fill me some wine.(⌜Servant exits.⌝)
0894 10 And how does that honorable, complete, free-hearted
0895 gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful
0896 good lord and master?
FLAMINIUS 0897 His health is well, sir.
LUCULLUS 0898 I am right glad that his health is well, sir.
0899 15 And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty
0900 Flaminius?
FLAMINIUS 0901 Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir, which
0902 in my lord’s behalf I come to entreat your Honor
0903 to supply; who, having great and instant occasion
0905 furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance
0906 therein.
LUCULLUS 0907 La, la, la, la. “Nothing doubting” says he?
0908 Alas, good lord! A noble gentleman ’tis, if he would
0909 25 not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I
0910 ha’ dined with him and told him on ’t, and come
0911 again to supper to him of purpose to have him
0912 spend less, and yet he would embrace no counsel,
0913 take no warning by my coming. Every man has his
0914 30 fault, and honesty is his. I ha’ told him on ’t, but I
0915 could ne’er get him from ’t.
Enter Servant with wine.
SERVANT 0916 Please your Lordship, here is the wine.
LUCULLUS 0917 Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise.
0918 Here’s to thee.⌜He drinks.⌝
FLAMINIUS 0919 35Your Lordship speaks your pleasure.
LUCULLUS 0920 I have observed thee always for a towardly
0921 prompt spirit—give thee thy due—and one that
0922 knows what belongs to reason and canst use the
0923 time well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in
0924 40 thee.—Get you gone, sirrah.⌜Servant exits.⌝
0925 Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord’s a bountiful
0926 gentleman, but thou art wise and thou
0927 know’st well enough, although thou com’st to me,
0928 that this is no time to lend money, especially upon
0929 45 bare friendship, without security. Here’s three solidares
0930 for thee. (⌜Gives him money.⌝) Good boy,
0931 wink at me, and say thou saw’st me not. Fare thee
0932 well.
FLAMINIUS
0933 Is ’t possible the world should so much differ,
0934 50 And we alive that lived? Fly, damnèd baseness,
0935 To him that worships thee!
⌜He throws the money back at Lucullus.⌝
0937 master.Lucullus exits.
FLAMINIUS
0938 May these add to the number that may scald thee!
0939 55 Let molten coin be thy damnation,
0940 Thou disease of a friend and not himself!
0941 Has friendship such a faint and milky heart
0942 It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
0943 I feel my master’s passion. This slave
0944 60 Unto his honor has my lord’s meat in him.
0945 Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment
0946 When he is turned to poison?
0947 O, may diseases only work upon ’t,
0948 And when he’s sick to death, let not that part of
0949 65 nature
0950 Which my lord paid for be of any power
0951 To expel sickness, but prolong his hour.
He exits.
LUCIUS 0952 Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good
0953 friend and an honorable gentleman.
FIRST STRANGER 0954 We know him for no less, though we
0955 are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one
0956 5 thing, my lord, and which I hear from common
0957 rumors: now Lord Timon’s happy hours are done
0958 and past, and his estate shrinks from him.
LUCIUS 0959 Fie, no, do not believe it. He cannot want for
0960 money.
SECOND STRANGER 0961 10But believe you this, my lord, that
0962 not long ago one of his men was with the Lord
0963 Lucullus to borrow ⌜fifty⌝ talents, nay, urged
0964 extremely for ’t, and showed what necessity
0965 belonged to ’t, and yet was denied.
SECOND STRANGER 0967 I tell you, denied, my lord.
LUCIUS 0968 What a strange case was that! Now, before the
0969 gods, I am ashamed on ’t. Denied that honorable
0970 man? There was very little honor showed in ’t. For
0971 20 my own part, I must needs confess I have received
0972 some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate,
0973 jewels, and suchlike trifles, nothing comparing to
0974 his; yet had he mistook him and sent to me, I
0975 should ne’er have denied his occasion ⌜fifty⌝ talents.
Enter Servilius.
SERVILIUS, ⌜aside⌝ 0976 25See, by good hap, yonder’s my lord.
0977 I have sweat to see his Honor. ⌜To Lucius.⌝ My
0978 honored lord.
LUCIUS 0979 Servilius. You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee
0980 well. Commend me to thy honorable virtuous lord,
0981 30 my very exquisite friend.⌜He turns to exit.⌝
SERVILIUS 0982 May it please your Honor, my lord hath
0983 sent—
LUCIUS 0984 Ha! What has he sent? I am so much endeared
0985 to that lord; he’s ever sending. How shall I thank
0986 35 him, think’st thou? And what has he sent now?
SERVILIUS 0987 Has only sent his present occasion now, my
0988 lord, requesting your Lordship to supply his
0989 instant use with ⌜fifty⌝ talents.
LUCIUS
0990 I know his Lordship is but merry with me.
0991 40 He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.
SERVILIUS
0992 But in the meantime he wants less, my lord.
0993 If his occasion were not virtuous,
0994 I should not urge it half so faithfully.
LUCIUS
0995 Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
SERVILIUS 0996 45Upon my soul, ’tis true, sir.
0998 myself against such a good time, when I might ha’
0999 shown myself honorable! How unluckily it happened
1000 that I should purchase the day before for a
1001 50 little part, and undo a great deal of honor! Servilius,
1002 now before the gods, I am not able to do—the
1003 more beast, I say!—I was sending to use Lord
1004 Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I
1005 would not for the wealth of Athens I had done ’t
1006 55 now. Commend me bountifully to his good Lordship,
1007 and I hope his Honor will conceive the fairest
1008 of me, because I have no power to be kind. And tell
1009 him this from me: I count it one of my greatest
1010 afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honorable
1011 60 gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
1012 befriend me so far as to use mine own words to
1013 him?
SERVILIUS 1014 Yes, sir, I shall.
LUCIUS 1015 I’ll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
Servilius exits.
1016 65 True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed,
1017 And he that’s once denied will hardly speed.
He exits.
FIRST STRANGER 1018 Do you observe this, Hostilius?
SECOND STRANGER 1019 Ay, too well.
FIRST STRANGER
1020 Why, this is the world’s soul, and just of the same
1021 70 piece
1022 Is every flatterer’s sport. Who can call him his friend
1023 That dips in the same dish? For, in my knowing,
1024 Timon has been this lord’s father
1025 And kept his credit with his purse,
1026 75 Supported his estate, nay, Timon’s money
1027 Has paid his men their wages. He ne’er drinks
1028 But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip.
1029 And yet—O, see the monstrousness of man
1031 80 He does deny him, in respect of his,
1032 What charitable men afford to beggars.
THIRD STRANGER
1033 Religion groans at it.
FIRST STRANGER 1034 For mine own part,
1035 I never tasted Timon in my life,
1036 85 Nor came any of his bounties over me
1037 To mark me for his friend. Yet I protest,
1038 For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
1039 And honorable carriage,
1040 Had his necessity made use of me,
1041 90 I would have put my wealth into donation,
1042 And the best half should have returned to him,
1043 So much I love his heart. But I perceive
1044 Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
1045 For policy sits above conscience.
They exit.
another of Timon’s friends.
SEMPRONIUS
1046 Must he needs trouble me in ’t? Hum! ’Bove all others?
1047 He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
1048 And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
1049 Whom he redeemed from prison. All these
1050 5 Owes their estates unto him.
SERVANT 1051 My lord,
1052 They have all been touched and found base metal,
1053 For they have all denied him.
SEMPRONIUS 1054 How? Have they denied him?
1055 10 Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him,
1056 And does he send to me? Three? Humh!
1058 Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
1059 Thrive, give him over. Must I take th’ cure upon me?
1060 15 Has much disgraced me in ’t. I’m angry at him
1061 That might have known my place. I see no sense for ’t
1062 But his occasions might have wooed me first;
1063 For, in my conscience, I was the first man
1064 That e’er received gift from him.
1065 20 And does he think so backwardly of me now
1066 That I’ll requite it last? No.
1067 So it may prove an argument of laughter
1068 To th’ rest, and ⌜I⌝ ’mongst lords be thought a fool.
1069 I’d rather than the worth of thrice the sum
1070 25 Had sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake;
1071 I’d such a courage to do him good. But now return,
1072 And with their faint reply this answer join:
1073 Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin.
He exits.
SERVANT 1074 Excellent! Your Lordship’s a goodly villain.
1075 30 The devil knew not what he did when he made
1076 man politic. He crossed himself by ’t, and I cannot
1077 think but, in the end, the villainies of man will set
1078 him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear
1079 foul! Takes virtuous copies to be wicked, like those
1080 35 that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms
1081 on fire.
1082 Of such a nature is his politic love.
1083 This was my lord’s best hope. Now all are fled,
1084 Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead,
1085 40 Doors that were ne’er acquainted with their wards
1086 Many a bounteous year must be employed
1087 Now to guard sure their master.
1088 And this is all a liberal course allows:
1089 Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
He exits.
⌜being Men of⌝ Timon’s creditors to wait for his coming
out. Then enter ⌜Lucius’ Man⌝ and Hortensius.
VARRO’S ⌜FIRST⌝ MAN
1090 Well met. Good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS
1091 The like to you, kind Varro.
HORTENSIUS 1092 Lucius!
1093 What, do we meet together?
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1094 5 Ay, and I think
1095 One business does command us all,
1096 For mine is money.
TITUS 1097 So is theirs and ours.
Enter Philotus.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝
1098 And, sir, Philotus’ too.
PHILOTUS 1099 10 Good day at once.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1100 Welcome, good brother.
1101 What do you think the hour?
PHILOTUS 1102 Laboring for nine.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝
1103 So much?
PHILOTUS 1104 15 Is not my lord seen yet?
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1105 Not yet.
PHILOTUS
1106 I wonder on ’t. He was wont to shine at seven.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝
1107 Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him.
1108 You must consider that a prodigal course
1109 20 Is like the sun’s,
1110 But not, like his, recoverable. I fear
1111 ’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse:
1113 Find little.
PHILOTUS 1114 25 I am of your fear for that.
TITUS
1115 I’ll show you how t’ observe a strange event.
1116 Your lord sends now for money?
HORTENSIUS 1117 Most true, he does.
TITUS
1118 And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
1119 30 For which I wait for money.
HORTENSIUS 1120 It is against my heart.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1121 Mark how strange it shows:
1122 Timon in this should pay more than he owes,
1123 And e’en as if your lord should wear rich jewels
1124 35 And send for money for ’em.
HORTENSIUS
1125 I’m weary of this charge, the gods can witness.
1126 I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth,
1127 And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.
⌜VARRO’S FIRST MAN⌝
1128 Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1129 40Five thousand mine.
⌜VARRO’S FIRST MAN⌝
1130 ’Tis much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum
1131 Your master’s confidence was above mine,
1132 Else surely his had equaled.
Enter Flaminius.
TITUS 1133 One of Lord Timon’s men.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1134 45Flaminius? Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord
1135 ready to come forth?
FLAMINIUS 1136 No, indeed he is not.
TITUS 1137 We attend his Lordship. Pray, signify so much.
FLAMINIUS 1138 I need not tell him that. He knows you are
1139 50 too diligent.⌜He exits.⌝
Enter ⌜Flavius, the⌝ Steward in a cloak, muffled.
1140 Ha! Is not that his steward muffled so?
1141 He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.
TITUS 1142 Do you hear, sir?
VARRO’S SECOND MAN 1143 By your leave, sir.
FLAVIUS 1144 55What do you ask of me, my friend?
TITUS
1145 We wait for certain money here, sir.
FLAVIUS 1146 Ay,
1147 If money were as certain as your waiting,
1148 ’Twere sure enough.
1149 60 Why then preferred you not your sums and bills
1150 When your false masters eat of my lord’s meat?
1151 Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts
1152 And take down th’ int’rest into their glutt’nous maws.
1153 You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up.
1154 65 Let me pass quietly.
1155 Believe ’t, my lord and I have made an end.
1156 I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1157 Ay, but this answer will not serve.
FLAVIUS
1158 If ’twill not serve, ’tis not so base as you,
1159 70 For you serve knaves.⌜He exits.⌝
VARRO’S FIRST MAN 1160 How? What does his cashiered
1161 Worship mutter?
VARRO’S SECOND MAN 1162 No matter what. He’s poor, and
1163 that’s revenge enough. Who can speak broader
1164 75 than he that has no house to put his head in? Such
1165 may rail against great buildings.
Enter Servilius.
TITUS 1166 O, here’s Servilius. Now we shall know some
1167 answer.
SERVILIUS 1168 If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair
1169 80 some other hour, I should derive much from ’t. For
1170 take ’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent.
1172 He’s much out of health and keeps his chamber.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝
1173 Many do keep their chambers are not sick;
1174 85 And if it be so far beyond his health,
1175 Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts
1176 And make a clear way to the gods.
SERVILIUS 1177 Good gods!
TITUS 1178 We cannot take this for answer, sir.
FLAMINIUS, within 1179 90Servilius, help! My lord, my lord!
Enter Timon in a rage.
TIMON
1180 What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
1181 Have I been ever free, and must my house
1182 Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
1183 The place which I have feasted, does it now,
1184 95 Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1185 Put in now, Titus.
TITUS 1186 My lord, here is my bill.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1187 Here’s mine.
⌜HORTENSIUS⌝ 1188 And mine, my lord.
VARRO’S SECOND MAN 1189 100And ours, my lord.
PHILOTUS 1190 All our bills.
TIMON
1191 Knock me down with ’em! Cleave me to the girdle.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1192 Alas, my lord—
TIMON 1193 Cut my heart in sums!
TITUS 1194 105Mine, fifty talents.
TIMON 1195 Tell out my blood.
⌜LUCIUS’ MAN⌝ 1196 Five thousand crowns, my lord.
TIMON
1197 Five thousand drops pays that.—What yours?—And
1198 yours?
VARRO’S FIRST MAN 1199 110My lord—
VARRO’S SECOND MAN 1200 My lord—
1201 Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
Timon exits.
HORTENSIUS 1202 Faith, I perceive our masters may throw
1203 their caps at their money. These debts may well be
1204 115 called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.
They exit.
Enter Timon ⌜and Flavius.⌝
TIMON
1205 They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves!
1206 Creditors? Devils!
FLAVIUS 1207 My dear lord—
TIMON 1208 What if it should be so?
FLAVIUS 1209 120My lord—
TIMON
1210 I’ll have it so.—My steward!
FLAVIUS 1211 Here, my lord.
TIMON
1212 So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
1213 Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all.
1214 125 I’ll once more feast the rascals.
FLAVIUS 1215 O my lord,
1216 You only speak from your distracted soul.
1217 There’s not so much left to furnish out
1218 A moderate table.
TIMON 1219 130Be it not in thy care. Go,
1220 I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide
1221 Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.
They exit.
them, with Attendants.
FIRST SENATOR, ⌜to the Second Senator⌝
1222 My lord, you have my voice to ’t. The fault’s
1223 Bloody. ’Tis necessary he should die.
1224 Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
SECOND SENATOR 1225 Most true. The law shall bruise ’em.
ALCIBIADES
1226 5 Honor, health, and compassion to the Senate!
FIRST SENATOR 1227 Now, captain?
ALCIBIADES
1228 I am an humble suitor to your virtues,
1229 For pity is the virtue of the law,
1230 And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
1231 10 It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
1232 Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood
1233 Hath stepped into the law, which is past depth
1234 To those that without heed do plunge into ’t.
1235 He is a man—setting his fate aside—
1236 15 Of comely virtues.
1237 Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice—
1238 ⌜An⌝ honor in him which buys out his fault—
1239 But with a noble fury and fair spirit,
1240 Seeing his reputation touched to death,
1241 20 He did oppose his foe;
1242 And with such sober and unnoted passion
1243 He did ⌜behave⌝ his anger, ere ’twas spent,
1244 As if he had but proved an argument.
FIRST SENATOR
1245 You undergo too strict a paradox,
1246 25 Striving to make an ugly deed look fair.
1247 Your words have took such pains as if they labored
1248 To bring manslaughter into form and set quarreling
1249 Upon the head of valor—which indeed
1251 30 When sects and factions were newly born.
1252 He’s truly valiant that can wisely suffer
1253 The worst that man can breathe
1254 And make his wrongs his outsides,
1255 To wear them like his raiment, carelessly,
1256 35 And ne’er prefer his injuries to his heart
1257 To bring it into danger.
1258 If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill,
1259 What folly ’tis to hazard life for ill!
ALCIBIADES
1260 My lord—
FIRST SENATOR 1261 40 You cannot make gross sins look clear.
1262 To revenge is no valor, but to bear.
ALCIBIADES
1263 My lords, then, under favor, pardon me
1264 If I speak like a captain.
1265 Why do fond men expose themselves to battle
1266 45 And not endure all threats? Sleep upon ’t,
1267 And let the foes quietly cut their throats
1268 Without repugnancy? If there be
1269 Such valor in the bearing, what make we
1270 Abroad? Why, then, women are more valiant
1271 50 That stay at home, if bearing carry it,
1272 And the ass more captain than the lion, the ⌜felon⌝
1273 Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,
1274 If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
1275 As you are great, be pitifully good.
1276 55 Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
1277 To kill, I grant, is sin’s extremest gust,
1278 But in defense, by mercy, ’tis most just.
1279 To be in anger is impiety,
1280 But who is man that is not angry?
1281 60 Weigh but the crime with this.
SECOND SENATOR 1282 You breathe in vain.
ALCIBIADES 1283 In vain? His service done
1285 Were a sufficient briber for his life.
FIRST SENATOR 1286 65What’s that?
ALCIBIADES
1287 Why, ⌜I⌝ say, my lords, has done fair service
1288 And slain in fight many of your enemies.
1289 How full of valor did he bear himself
1290 In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!
SECOND SENATOR
1291 70 He has made too much plenty with ⌜’em.⌝
1292 He’s a sworn rioter. He has a sin
1293 That often drowns him and takes his valor prisoner.
1294 If there were no foes, that were enough
1295 To overcome him. In that beastly fury,
1296 75 He has been known to commit outrages
1297 And cherish factions. ’Tis inferred to us
1298 His days are foul and his drink dangerous.
FIRST SENATOR
1299 He dies.
ALCIBIADES 1300 Hard fate! He might have died in war.
1301 80 My lords, if not for any parts in him—
1302 Though his right arm might purchase his own time
1303 And be in debt to none—yet, more to move you,
1304 Take my deserts to his and join ’em both.
1305 And, for I know your reverend ages love
1306 85 Security, I’ll pawn my victories, all
1307 My honor, to you, upon his good returns.
1308 If by this crime he owes the law his life,
1309 Why, let the war receive ’t in valiant gore,
1310 For law is strict, and war is nothing more.
FIRST SENATOR
1311 90 We are for law. He dies. Urge it no more,
1312 On height of our displeasure. Friend or brother,
1313 He forfeits his own blood that spills another.
ALCIBIADES 1314 Must it be so? It must not be.
1315 My lords, I do beseech you, know me.
ALCIBIADES 1317 Call me to your remembrances.
THIRD SENATOR 1318 What?
ALCIBIADES
1319 I cannot think but your age has forgot me.
1320 It could not else be I should prove so base
1321 100 To sue and be denied such common grace.
1322 My wounds ache at you.
FIRST SENATOR 1323 Do you dare our anger?
1324 ’Tis in few words, but spacious in effect:
1325 We banish thee forever.
ALCIBIADES 1326 105 Banish me?
1327 Banish your dotage, banish usury,
1328 That makes the Senate ugly!
FIRST SENATOR
1329 If after two days’ shine Athens contain thee,
1330 Attend our weightier judgment.
1331 110 And, not to swell our spirit,
1332 He shall be executed presently.⌜Senators⌝ exit.
ALCIBIADES
1333 Now the gods keep you old enough that you may live
1334 Only in bone, that none may look on you!—
1335 I’m worse than mad. I have kept back their foes
1336 115 While they have told their money and let out
1337 Their coin upon large interest, I myself
1338 Rich only in large hurts. All those for this?
1339 Is this the balsam that the usuring Senate
1340 Pours into captains’ wounds? Banishment.
1341 120 It comes not ill. I hate not to be banished.
1342 It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
1343 That I may strike at Athens. I’ll cheer up
1344 My discontented troops and lay for hearts.
1345 ’Tis honor with most lands to be at odds.
1346 125 Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.
He exits.
FIRST FRIEND 1347 The good time of day to you, sir.
SECOND FRIEND 1348 I also wish it to you. I think this honorable
1349 lord did but try us this other day.
FIRST FRIEND 1350 Upon that were my thoughts tiring when
1351 5 we encountered. I hope it is not so low with him as
1352 he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.
SECOND FRIEND 1353 It should not be, by the persuasion of
1354 his new feasting.
FIRST FRIEND 1355 I should think so. He hath sent me an
1356 10 earnest inviting, which many my near occasions
1357 did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me
1358 beyond them, and I must needs appear.
SECOND FRIEND 1359 In like manner was I in debt to my
1360 importunate business, but he would not hear my
1361 15 excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me,
1362 that my provision was out.
FIRST FRIEND 1363 I am sick of that grief too, as I understand
1364 how all things go.
SECOND FRIEND 1365 Every man here’s so. What would he
1366 20 have borrowed of you?
FIRST FRIEND 1367 A thousand pieces.
SECOND FRIEND 1368 A thousand pieces!
FIRST FRIEND 1369 What of you?
SECOND FRIEND 1370 He sent to me, sir—
Enter Timon and Attendants.
1371 25 Here he comes.
TIMON 1372 With all my heart, gentlemen both! And how
1373 fare you?
FIRST FRIEND 1374 Ever at the best, hearing well of your
1375 Lordship.
SECOND FRIEND 1376 30The swallow follows not summer
1377 more willing than we your Lordship.
1379 summer birds are men.—Gentlemen, our dinner
1380 will not recompense this long stay. Feast your ears
1381 35 with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly
1382 o’ th’ trumpets’ sound. We shall to ’t presently.
FIRST FRIEND 1383 I hope it remains not unkindly with your
1384 Lordship that I returned you an empty messenger.
TIMON 1385 O, sir, let it not trouble you.
SECOND FRIEND 1386 40My noble lord—
TIMON 1387 Ah, my good friend, what cheer?
SECOND FRIEND 1388 My most honorable lord, I am e’en
1389 sick of shame that when your Lordship this other
1390 day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.
TIMON 1391 45Think not on ’t, sir.
SECOND FRIEND 1392 If you had sent but two hours before—
TIMON 1393 Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
The banquet brought in.
1394 Come, bring in all together.
SECOND FRIEND 1395 All covered dishes!
FIRST FRIEND 1396 50Royal cheer, I warrant you.
THIRD FRIEND 1397 Doubt not that, if money and the season
1398 can yield it.
FIRST FRIEND 1399 How do you? What’s the news?
THIRD FRIEND 1400 Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it?
FIRST AND SECOND FRIENDS 1401 55Alcibiades banished?
THIRD FRIEND 1402 ’Tis so. Be sure of it.
FIRST FRIEND 1403 How? How?
SECOND FRIEND 1404 I pray you, upon what?
TIMON 1405 My worthy friends, will you draw near?
THIRD FRIEND 1406 60I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble
1407 feast toward.
SECOND FRIEND 1408 This is the old man still.
THIRD FRIEND 1409 Will ’t hold? Will ’t hold?
SECOND FRIEND 1410 It does, but time will—and so—
THIRD FRIEND 1411 65I do conceive.
1413 would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet shall
1414 be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let
1415 the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place.
1416 70 Sit, sit. (⌜They sit.⌝) The gods require our thanks:
1417 You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with
1418 thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves
1419 praised, but reserve still to give, lest your deities be
1420 despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need
1421 75 not lend to another; for, were your godheads to
1422 borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make
1423 the meat be beloved more than the man that gives
1424 it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of
1425 villains. If there sit twelve women at the table, let a
1426 80 dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your fees,
1427 O gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the
1428 common ⌜tag⌝ of people, what is amiss in them,
1429 you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these
1430 my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so
1431 85 in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they
1432 welcome.
1433 Uncover, dogs, and lap.
⌜The dishes are uncovered. They contain
only water and stones.⌝
SOME SPEAK 1434 What does his Lordship mean?
SOME OTHER 1435 I know not.
TIMON
1436 90 May you a better feast never behold,
1437 You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm
1438 water
1439 Is your perfection. This is Timon’s last,
1440 Who, stuck and spangled ⌜with your⌝ flatteries,
1441 95 Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces
1442 Your reeking villainy. (⌜He throws water in their
faces.⌝) 1443 Live loathed and long,
1445 Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
1446 100 You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies,
1447 Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks.
1448 Of man and beast the infinite malady
1449 Crust you quite o’er! (⌜They stand.⌝) What, dost thou
1450 go?
1451 105 Soft! Take thy physic first—thou too—and thou.—
1452 Stay. I will lend thee money, borrow none.
⌜He attacks them and forces them out.⌝
1453 What? All in motion? Henceforth be no feast
1454 Whereat a villain’s not a welcome guest.
1455 Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be
1456 110 Of Timon man and all humanity!⌜He exits.⌝
Enter ⌜Timon’s Friends,⌝ the Senators, with other Lords.
FIRST FRIEND 1457 How now, my lords?
SECOND FRIEND 1458 Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s
1459 fury?
THIRD FRIEND 1460 Push! Did you see my cap?
FOURTH FRIEND 1461 115I have lost my gown.
FIRST FRIEND 1462 He’s but a mad lord, and naught but
1463 humors sways him. He gave me a jewel th’ other
1464 day, and now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you
1465 see my jewel?
SECOND FRIEND 1466 120Did you see my cap?
THIRD FRIEND 1467 Here ’tis.
FOURTH FRIEND 1468 Here lies my gown.
FIRST FRIEND 1469 Let’s make no stay.
SECOND FRIEND
1470 Lord Timon’s mad.
THIRD FRIEND 1471 125 I feel ’t upon my bones.
FOURTH FRIEND
1472 One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.
The Senators ⌜and the others⌝ exit.
TIMON
1473 Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall
1474 That girdles in those wolves, dive in the earth
1475 And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
1476 Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,
1477 5 Pluck the grave wrinkled Senate from the bench
1478 And minister in their steads! To general filths
1479 Convert o’ th’ instant, green virginity!
1480 Do ’t in your parents’ eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast!
1481 Rather than render back, out with your knives
1482 10 And cut your trusters’ throats! Bound servants, steal!
1483 Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,
1484 And pill by law. Maid, to thy master’s bed!
1485 Thy mistress is o’ th’ brothel. ⌜Son⌝ of sixteen,
1486 Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire;
1487 15 With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,
1488 Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
1489 Domestic awe, night rest, and neighborhood,
1490 Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,
1491 Degrees, observances, customs, and laws,
1492 20 Decline to your confounding contraries,
1493 And yet confusion live! Plagues incident to men,
1494 Your potent and infectious fevers heap
1495 On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,
1497 25 As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty,
1498 Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
1499 That ’gainst the stream of virtue they may strive
1500 And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,
1501 Sow all th’ Athenian bosoms, and their crop
1502 30 Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath,
1503 That their society, as their friendship, may
1504 Be merely poison! Nothing I’ll bear from thee
1505 But nakedness, thou detestable town!
1506 Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!
1507 35 Timon will to the woods, where he shall find
1508 Th’ unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
1509 The gods confound—hear me, you good gods all!—
1510 Th’ Athenians both within and out that wall,
1511 And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
1512 40 To the whole race of mankind, high and low!
1513 Amen.
He exits.
FIRST SERVANT
1514 Hear you, Master Steward, where’s our master?
1515 Are we undone, cast off, nothing remaining?
FLAVIUS
1516 Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?
1517 Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
1518 5 I am as poor as you.
FIRST SERVANT 1519 Such a house broke?
1520 So noble a master fall’n, all gone, and not
1521 One friend to take his fortune by the arm
1522 And go along with him?
SECOND SERVANT 1523 10 As we do turn our backs
1525 So his familiars to his buried fortunes
1526 Slink all away, leave their false vows with him,
1527 Like empty purses picked; and his poor self,
1528 15 A dedicated beggar to the air,
1529 With his disease of all-shunned poverty,
1530 Walks, like contempt, alone.
Enter other Servants.
1531 More of our fellows.
FLAVIUS
1532 All broken implements of a ruined house.
THIRD SERVANT
1533 20 Yet do our hearts wear Timon’s livery.
1534 That see I by our faces. We are fellows still,
1535 Serving alike in sorrow. Leaked is our bark,
1536 And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,
1537 Hearing the surges threat. We must all part
1538 25 Into this sea of air.
FLAVIUS 1539 Good fellows all,
1540 The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you.
1541 Wherever we shall meet, for Timon’s sake
1542 Let’s yet be fellows. Let’s shake our heads and say,
1543 30 As ’twere a knell unto our master’s fortunes,
1544 “We have seen better days.” (⌜He offers them
money.⌝) 1545 Let each take some.
1546 Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more.
1547 Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
⌜The Servants⌝ embrace and part several ways.
1548 35 O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!
1549 Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
1550 Since riches point to misery and contempt?
1551 Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live
1552 But in a dream of friendship,
1553 40 To have his pomp and all what state compounds
1554 But only painted, like his varnished friends?
1556 Undone by goodness! Strange unusual blood
1557 When man’s worst sin is he does too much good!
1558 45 Who then dares to be half so kind again?
1559 For bounty, that makes gods, do still mar men.
1560 My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed,
1561 Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
1562 Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!
1563 50 He’s flung in rage from this ingrateful seat
1564 Of monstrous friends,
1565 Nor has he with him to supply his life,
1566 Or that which can command it.
1567 I’ll follow and inquire him out.
1568 55 I’ll ever serve his mind with my best will.
1569 Whilst I have gold, I’ll be his steward still.
He exits.
TIMON
1570 O blessèd breeding sun, draw from the Earth
1571 Rotten humidity! Below thy sister’s orb
1572 Infect the air! ⌜Twinned⌝ brothers of one womb,
1573 Whose procreation, residence, and birth
1574 5 Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes,
1575 The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature,
1576 To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune
1577 But by contempt of nature.
1578 Raise me this beggar, and deny ’t that lord;
1579 10 The Senators shall bear contempt hereditary,
1580 The beggar native honor.
1581 It is the pasture lards the brother’s sides,
1582 The want that makes him ⌜lean.⌝ Who dares, who
1583 dares
1585 And say “This man’s a flatterer”? If one be,
1586 So are they all, for every grise of fortune
1587 Is smoothed by that below. The learnèd pate
1588 Ducks to the golden fool. All’s obliquy.
1589 20 There’s nothing level in our cursèd natures
1590 But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred
1591 All feasts, societies, and throngs of men.
1592 His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains.
1593 Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!
1594 25 Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
1595 With thy most operant poison! (⌜Digging, he finds
gold.⌝) 1596 What is here?
1597 Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold?
1598 No, gods, I am no idle votarist.
1599 30 Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this will
1600 make
1601 Black white, foul fair, wrong right,
1602 Base noble, old young, coward valiant.
1603 Ha, you gods! Why this? What this, you gods? Why,
1604 35 this
1605 Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
1606 Pluck stout men’s pillows from below their heads.
1607 This yellow slave
1608 Will knit and break religions, bless th’ accursed,
1609 40 Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves
1610 And give them title, knee, and approbation
1611 With senators on the bench. This is it
1612 That makes the wappened widow wed again;
1613 She whom the spital house and ulcerous sores
1614 45 Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices
1615 To th’ April day again. Come, damnèd earth,
1616 Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds
1617 Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
1618 Do thy right nature. (March afar off.) Ha? A drum?
1619 50 Thou ’rt quick,
1621 When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand.
1622 Nay, stay thou out for earnest.
⌜He buries the gold, keeping some out.⌝
Enter Alcibiades, with Drum and Fife, in warlike
manner, and Phrynia and Timandra.
ALCIBIADES 1623 What art thou there? Speak.
TIMON
1624 55 A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart
1625 For showing me again the eyes of man!
ALCIBIADES
1626 What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee
1627 That art thyself a man?
TIMON
1628 I am Misanthropos and hate mankind.
1629 60 For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
1630 That I might love thee something.
ALCIBIADES 1631 I know thee well.
1632 But in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.
TIMON
1633 I know thee too, and more than that I know thee
1634 65 I not desire to know. Follow thy drum.
1635 With man’s blood paint the ground gules, gules!
1636 Religious canons, civil laws are cruel.
1637 Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine
1638 Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
1639 70 For all her cherubin look.
PHRYNIA 1640 Thy lips rot off!
TIMON
1641 I will not kiss thee. Then the rot returns
1642 To thine own lips again.
ALCIBIADES
1643 How came the noble Timon to this change?
TIMON
1644 75 As the moon does, by wanting light to give.
1646 There were no suns to borrow of.
ALCIBIADES
1647 Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?
TIMON
1648 None, but to maintain my opinion.
ALCIBIADES 1649 80What is it, Timon?
TIMON 1650 Promise me friendship, but perform none. If
1651 thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for
1652 thou art a man. If thou dost perform, confound
1653 thee, for thou art a man.
ALCIBIADES
1654 85 I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.
TIMON
1655 Thou saw’st them when I had prosperity.
ALCIBIADES
1656 I see them now. Then was a blessèd time.
TIMON
1657 As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
TIMANDRA
1658 Is this th’ Athenian minion whom the world
1659 90 Voiced so regardfully?
TIMON 1660 Art thou Timandra?
TIMANDRA 1661 Yes.
TIMON
1662 Be a whore still. They love thee not that use thee.
1663 Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
1664 95 Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves
1665 For tubs and baths. Bring down rose-cheeked youth
1666 To the tub-fast and the diet.
TIMANDRA 1667 Hang thee, monster!
ALCIBIADES
1668 Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
1669 100 Are drowned and lost in his calamities.—
1670 I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
1671 The want whereof doth daily make revolt
1673 How cursèd Athens, mindless of thy worth,
1674 105 Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states,
1675 But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—
TIMON
1676 I prithee, beat thy drum and get thee gone.
ALCIBIADES
1677 I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon.
TIMON
1678 How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
1679 110 I had rather be alone.
ALCIBIADES
1680 Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee.
TIMON 1681 Keep it. I cannot eat it.
ALCIBIADES
1682 When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—
TIMON
1683 Warr’st thou ’gainst Athens?
ALCIBIADES 1684 115 Ay, Timon, and have cause.
TIMON
1685 The gods confound them all in thy conquest,
1686 And thee after, when thou hast conquered!
ALCIBIADES
1687 Why me, Timon?
TIMON 1688 That by killing of villains
1689 120 Thou wast born to conquer my country.
1690 Put up thy gold. Go on. Here’s gold. Go on.
1691 Be as a planetary plague when Jove
1692 Will o’er some high-viced city hang his poison
1693 In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one.
1694 125 Pity not honored age for his white beard;
1695 He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron;
1696 It is her habit only that is honest,
1697 Herself’s a bawd. Let not the virgin’s cheek
1698 Make soft thy trenchant sword, for those milk paps,
1699 130 That through the ⌜window-bars⌝ bore at men’s eyes,
1701 But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the
1702 babe,
1703 Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their
1704 135 mercy;
1705 Think it a bastard whom the oracle
1706 Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut,
1707 And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects;
1708 Put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes,
1709 140 Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,
1710 Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,
1711 Shall pierce a jot. (⌜He offers gold.⌝) There’s gold to
1712 pay thy soldiers.
1713 Make large confusion and, thy fury spent,
1714 145 Confounded be thyself! Speak not. Begone.
ALCIBIADES
1715 Hast thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou givest me,
1716 Not all thy counsel.
TIMON
1717 Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven’s curse upon thee!
BOTH ⌜WOMEN⌝
1718 Give us some gold, good Timon. Hast thou more?
TIMON
1719 150 Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,
1720 And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,
1721 Your aprons mountant. (⌜He begins throwing gold
into their aprons.⌝) 1722 You are not oathable,
1723 Although I know you’ll swear—terribly swear
1724 155 Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues
1725 Th’ immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths.
1726 I’ll trust to your conditions. Be whores still.
1727 And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
1728 Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up.
1729 160 Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
1730 And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months
1731 Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs
1733 No matter; wear them, betray with them. Whore
1734 165 still.
1735 Paint till a horse may mire upon your face.
1736 A pox of wrinkles!
BOTH ⌜WOMEN⌝ 1737 Well, more gold. What then?
1738 Believe ’t that we’ll do anything for gold.
TIMON 1739 170Consumptions sow
1740 In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,
1741 And mar men’s spurring. Crack the lawyer’s voice,
1742 That he may never more false title plead
1743 Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen,
1744 175 That ⌜scolds⌝ against the quality of flesh
1745 And not believes himself. Down with the nose—
1746 Down with it flat, take the bridge quite away—
1747 Of him that, his particular to foresee,
1748 Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate
1749 180 ruffians bald,
1750 And let the unscarred braggarts of the war
1751 Derive some pain from you. Plague all,
1752 That your activity may defeat and quell
1753 The source of all erection. There’s more gold.
1754 185 Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
1755 And ditches grave you all!
BOTH ⌜WOMEN⌝
1756 More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.
TIMON
1757 More whore, more mischief first! I have given you
1758 earnest.
ALCIBIADES
1759 190 Strike up the drum towards Athens.—Farewell,
1760 Timon.
1761 If I thrive well, I’ll visit thee again.
TIMON
1762 If I hope well, I’ll never see thee more.
ALCIBIADES 1763 I never did thee harm.
1764 195 Yes, thou spok’st well of me.
ALCIBIADES 1765 Call’st thou that harm?
TIMON
1766 Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take
1767 Thy beagles with thee.
ALCIBIADES, ⌜to the Women⌝ 1768 We but offend him.—
1769 200 Strike.⌜The drum sounds; all but Timon⌝ exit.
TIMON
1770 That nature, being sick of man’s unkindness,
1771 Should yet be hungry! (⌜He digs.⌝) Common mother,
1772 thou
1773 Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast
1774 205 Teems and feeds all; whose selfsame mettle—
1775 Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed—
1776 Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
1777 The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm,
1778 With all th’ abhorrèd births below crisp heaven
1779 210 Whereon Hyperion’s quick’ning fire doth shine:
1780 Yield him who all ⌜thy⌝ human sons do hate,
1781 From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
1782 Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb;
1783 Let it no more bring out ingrateful man.
1784 215 Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears;
1785 Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
1786 Hath to the marbled mansion all above
1787 Never presented. O, a root! Dear thanks!
1788 Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plow-torn leas,
1789 220 Whereof ingrateful man with liquorish drafts
1790 And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind,
1791 That from it all consideration slips—
Enter Apemantus.
1792 More man? Plague, plague!
APEMANTUS
1793 I was directed hither. Men report
1794 225 Thou dost affect my manners and dost use them.
1795 ’Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog,
1796 Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee!
APEMANTUS
1797 This is in thee a nature but infected,
1798 A poor unmanly melancholy sprung
1799 230 From change of future. Why this spade? This place?
1800 This slavelike habit and these looks of care?
1801 Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
1802 Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot
1803 That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods
1804 235 By putting on the cunning of a carper.
1805 Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
1806 By that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee,
1807 And let his very breath whom thou ’lt observe
1808 Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,
1809 240 And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus.
1810 Thou gav’st thine ears, like tapsters that bade
1811 welcome,
1812 To knaves and all approachers. ’Tis most just
1813 That thou turn rascal. Had’st thou wealth again,
1814 245 Rascals should have ’t. Do not assume my likeness.
TIMON
1815 Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself.
APEMANTUS
1816 Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself—
1817 A madman so long, now a fool. What, think’st
1818 That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,
1819 250 Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moist trees,
1820 That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels
1821 And skip when thou point’st out? Will the cold brook,
1822 Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste
1823 To cure thy o’ernight’s surfeit? Call the creatures
1824 255 Whose naked natures live in all the spite
1825 Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhousèd trunks,
1827 Answer mere nature. Bid them flatter thee.
1828 O, thou shalt find—
TIMON 1829 260 A fool of thee. Depart.
APEMANTUS
1830 I love thee better now than e’er I did.
TIMON
1831 I hate thee worse.
APEMANTUS 1832 Why?
TIMON 1833 Thou flatter’st misery.
APEMANTUS
1834 265 I flatter not but say thou art a caitiff.
TIMON 1835 Why dost thou seek me out?
APEMANTUS 1836 To vex thee.
TIMON
1837 Always a villain’s office or a fool’s.
1838 Dost please thyself in ’t?
APEMANTUS 1839 270 Ay.
TIMON 1840 What, a knave too?
APEMANTUS
1841 If thou didst put this sour cold habit on
1842 To castigate thy pride, ’twere well, but thou
1843 Dost it enforcedly. Thou ’dst courtier be again
1844 275 Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery
1845 Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before;
1846 The one is filling still, never complete,
1847 The other at high wish. Best state, contentless,
1848 Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
1849 280 Worse than the worst, content.
1850 Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.
TIMON
1851 Not by his breath that is more miserable.
1852 Thou art a slave whom Fortune’s tender arm
1853 With favor never clasped but bred a dog.
1854 285 Hadst thou, like us from our first swathe, proceeded
1855 The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
1857 Freely ⌜command,⌝ thou wouldst have plunged
1858 thyself
1859 290 In general riot, melted down thy youth
1860 In different beds of lust, and never learned
1861 The icy precepts of respect, but followed
1862 The sugared game before thee. But myself—
1863 Who had the world as my confectionary,
1864 295 The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of
1865 men
1866 At duty, more than I could frame employment,
1867 That numberless upon me stuck as leaves
1868 Do on the oak, have with one winter’s brush
1869 300 Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare,
1870 For every storm that blows—I to bear this,
1871 That never knew but better, is some burden.
1872 Thy nature did commence in sufferance. Time
1873 Hath made thee hard in ’t. Why shouldst thou hate
1874 305 men?
1875 They never flattered thee. What hast thou given?
1876 If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,
1877 Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff
1878 To some she-beggar and compounded thee
1879 310 Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, begone.
1880 If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
1881 Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.
APEMANTUS
1882 Art thou proud yet?
TIMON 1883 Ay, that I am not thee.
APEMANTUS 1884 315I, that I was no prodigal.
TIMON 1885 I, that I am one now.
1886 Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
1887 I’d give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
1888 That the whole life of Athens were in this!
1889 320 Thus would I eat it.⌜He gnaws a root.⌝
APEMANTUS, ⌜offering food⌝ 1890 Here, I will mend thy feast.
1891 First mend ⌜my⌝ company. Take away thyself.
APEMANTUS
1892 So I shall mend mine own by th’ lack of thine.
TIMON
1893 ’Tis not well mended so; it is but botched.
1894 325 If not, I would it were.
APEMANTUS 1895 What wouldst thou have to Athens?
TIMON
1896 Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,
1897 Tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have.
APEMANTUS
1898 Here is no use for gold.
TIMON 1899 330 The best and truest,
1900 For here it sleeps and does no hired harm.
APEMANTUS 1901 Where liest a-nights, Timon?
TIMON 1902 Under that’s above me. Where feed’st thou
1903 a-days, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS 1904 335Where my stomach finds meat, or rather
1905 where I eat it.
TIMON 1906 Would poison were obedient and knew my
1907 mind!
APEMANTUS 1908 Where wouldst thou send it?
TIMON 1909 340To sauce thy dishes.
APEMANTUS 1910 The middle of humanity thou never
1911 knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When
1912 thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they
1913 mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags
1914 345 thou know’st none, but art despised for the contrary.
1915 There’s a medlar for thee. Eat it.
TIMON 1916 On what I hate I feed not.
APEMANTUS 1917 Dost hate a medlar?
TIMON 1918 Ay, though it look like thee.
APEMANTUS 1919 350An thou ’dst hated meddlers sooner, thou
1920 shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man
1921 didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved
1922 after his means?
1924 355 thou ever know beloved?
APEMANTUS 1925 Myself.
TIMON 1926 I understand thee. Thou hadst some means to
1927 keep a dog.
APEMANTUS 1928 What things in the world canst thou nearest
1929 360 compare to thy flatterers?
TIMON 1930 Women nearest, but men—men are the things
1931 themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world,
1932 Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?
APEMANTUS 1933 Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.
TIMON 1934 365Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion
1935 of men and remain a beast with the beasts?
APEMANTUS 1936 Ay, Timon.
TIMON 1937 A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee
1938 t’ attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would
1939 370 beguile thee. If thou wert the lamb, the fox would
1940 eat thee. If thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect
1941 thee when peradventure thou wert accused by
1942 the ass. If thou wert the ass, thy dullness would
1943 torment thee, and still thou lived’st but as a breakfast
1944 375 to the wolf. If thou wert the wolf, thy greediness
1945 would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard
1946 thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn,
1947 pride and wrath would confound thee and
1948 make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. Wert
1949 380 thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse.
1950 Wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the
1951 leopard. Wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane
1952 to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were
1953 jurors on thy life. All thy safety were remotion, and
1954 385 thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be
1955 that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast
1956 art thou already that seest not thy loss in
1957 transformation!
APEMANTUS 1958 If thou couldst please me with speaking to
1960 of Athens is become a forest of beasts.
TIMON 1961 How, has the ass broke the wall that thou art
1962 out of the city?
APEMANTUS 1963 Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The
1964 395 plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to
1965 catch it and give way. When I know not what else
1966 to do, I’ll see thee again.
TIMON 1967 When there is nothing living but thee, thou
1968 shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar’s dog
1969 400 than Apemantus.
APEMANTUS
1970 Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.
TIMON
1971 Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!
APEMANTUS
1972 A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse.
TIMON
1973 All villains that do stand by thee are pure.
APEMANTUS
1974 405 There is no leprosy but what thou speak’st.
TIMON 1975 If I name thee.
1976 I’ll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.
APEMANTUS 1977 I would my tongue could rot them off!
TIMON
1978 Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
1979 410 Choler does kill me that thou art alive.
1980 I swoon to see thee.
APEMANTUS
1981 Would thou wouldst burst!
TIMON 1982 Away, thou tedious rogue!
1983 I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee.
⌜Timon throws a stone at Apemantus.⌝
APEMANTUS 1984 415Beast!
TIMON 1985 Slave!
APEMANTUS 1986 Toad!
1988 I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
1989 420 But even the mere necessities upon ’t.
1990 Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave.
1991 Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
1992 Thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph,
1993 That death in me at others’ lives may laugh.
1994 425 (⌜To his gold.⌝) O thou sweet king-killer and dear
1995 divorce
1996 ’Twixt natural son and ⌜sire,⌝ thou bright defiler
1997 Of Hymen’s purest bed, thou valiant Mars,
1998 Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer,
1999 430 Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
2000 That lies on Dian’s lap; thou visible god,
2001 That sold’rest close impossibilities
2002 And mak’st them kiss, that speak’st with every
2003 tongue
2004 435 To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts,
2005 Think thy slave, man, rebels, and by thy virtue
2006 Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
2007 May have the world in empire!
APEMANTUS 2008 Would ’twere so!
2009 440 But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou ’st gold;
2010 Thou wilt be thronged to shortly.
TIMON 2011 Thronged to?
APEMANTUS 2012 Ay.
TIMON
2013 Thy back, I prithee.
APEMANTUS 2014 445 Live and love thy misery.
TIMON 2015 Long live so, and so die. I am quit.
Enter the Banditti.
APEMANTUS
2016 More things like men.—Eat, Timon, and abhor
2017 ⌜them.⌝Apemantus exits.
FIRST BANDIT 2018 Where should he have this gold? It is
2020 remainder. The mere want of gold and the falling-from
2021 of his friends drove him into this melancholy.
SECOND BANDIT 2022 It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.
THIRD BANDIT 2023 Let us make the assay upon him. If he
2024 455 care not for ’t, he will supply us easily. If he covetously
2025 reserve it, how shall ’s get it?
SECOND BANDIT 2026 True, for he bears it not about him. ’Tis
2027 hid.
FIRST BANDIT 2028 Is not this he?
⌜OTHERS⌝ 2029 460Where?
SECOND BANDIT 2030 ’Tis his description.
THIRD BANDIT 2031 He. I know him.
ALL 2032 Save thee, Timon.
TIMON 2033 Now, thieves?
ALL
2034 465 Soldiers, not thieves.
TIMON 2035 Both, too, and women’s sons.
ALL
2036 We are not thieves, but men that much do want.
TIMON
2037 Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.
2038 Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots.
2039 470 Within this mile break forth a hundred springs.
2040 The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips.
2041 The bounteous huswife Nature on each bush
2042 Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want?
FIRST BANDIT
2043 We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
2044 475 As beasts and birds and fishes.
TIMON
2045 Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes;
2046 You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
2047 That you are thieves professed, that you work not
2048 In holier shapes, for there is boundless theft
2049 480 In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
2051 subtle blood o’ th’ grape
2052 Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
2053 And so ’scape hanging. Trust not the physician;
2054 485 His antidotes are poison, and he slays
2055 More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together.
2056 Do, ⌜villainy,⌝ do, since you protest to do ’t,
2057 Like workmen. I’ll example you with thievery.
2058 The sun’s a thief and with his great attraction
2059 490 Robs the vast sea. The moon’s an arrant thief,
2060 And her pale fire she snatches from the sun.
2061 The sea’s a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
2062 The moon into salt tears. The earth’s a thief,
2063 That feeds and breeds by a composture stol’n
2064 495 From gen’ral excrement. Each thing’s a thief.
2065 The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
2066 Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves. Away!
2067 Rob one another. There’s more gold. (⌜He gives them
gold.⌝) 2068 Cut throats.
2069 500 All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go.
2070 Break open shops. Nothing can you steal
2071 But thieves do lose it. Steal less for this I give you,
2072 And gold confound you howsoe’er! Amen.
THIRD BANDIT 2073 Has almost charmed me from my profession
2074 505 by persuading me to it.
FIRST BANDIT 2075 ’Tis in the malice of mankind that he
2076 thus advises us, not to have us thrive in our
2077 mystery.
SECOND BANDIT 2078 I’ll believe him as an enemy and give
2079 510 over my trade.
FIRST BANDIT 2080 Let us first see peace in Athens. There is
2081 no time so miserable but a man may be true.
Thieves exit.
Enter ⌜Flavius⌝ the Steward, to Timon.
FLAVIUS 2082 O you gods!
2084 515 Full of decay and flailing? O, monument
2085 And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed!
2086 What an alteration of honor has desp’rate want
2087 made!
2088 What viler thing upon the Earth than friends,
2089 520 Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
2090 How rarely does it meet with this time’s guise,
2091 When man was wished to love his enemies!
2092 Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
2093 Those that would mischief me than those that do!
2094 525 Has caught me in his eye. I will present
2095 My honest grief unto him and as my lord
2096 Still serve him with my life.—My dearest master.
TIMON
2097 Away! What art thou?
FLAVIUS 2098 Have you forgot me, sir?
TIMON
2099 530 Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men.
2100 Then, if thou ⌜grant’st⌝ thou ’rt a man, I have forgot
2101 thee.
FLAVIUS 2102 An honest poor servant of yours.
TIMON 2103 Then I know thee not.
2104 535 I never had honest man about me, I. All
2105 I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains.
FLAVIUS 2106 The gods are witness,
2107 Ne’er did poor steward wear a truer grief
2108 For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.
⌜He weeps.⌝
TIMON
2109 540 What, dost thou weep? Come nearer, then. I love
2110 thee
2111 Because thou art a woman and disclaim’st
2112 Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
2113 But thorough lust and laughter. Pity’s sleeping.
2115 weeping!
FLAVIUS
2116 I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
2117 T’ accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts,
2118 To entertain me as your steward still.
⌜He offers money.⌝
TIMON 2119 550Had I a steward
2120 So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
2121 It almost turns my dangerous nature ⌜mild.⌝
2122 Let me behold thy face. Surely this man
2123 Was born of woman.
2124 555 Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
2125 You perpetual-sober gods. I do proclaim
2126 One honest man—mistake me not, but one;
2127 No more, I pray!—and he’s a steward.
2128 How fain would I have hated all mankind,
2129 560 And thou redeem’st thyself. But all, save thee,
2130 I fell with curses.
2131 Methinks thou art more honest now than wise,
2132 For by oppressing and betraying me
2133 Thou mightst have sooner got another service;
2134 565 For many so arrive at second masters
2135 Upon their first lord’s neck. But tell me true—
2136 For I must ever doubt, though ne’er so sure—
2137 Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
2138 A usuring kindness, and as rich men deal gifts,
2139 570 Expecting in return twenty for one?
FLAVIUS
2140 No, my most worthy master, in whose breast
2141 Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late.
2142 You should have feared false times when you did
2143 feast.
2144 575 Suspect still comes where an estate is least.
2145 That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
2146 Duty, and zeal to your unmatchèd mind,
2148 My most honored lord,
2149 580 For any benefit that points to me,
2150 Either in hope or present, I’d exchange
2151 For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
2152 To requite me by making rich yourself.
TIMON
2153 Look thee, ’tis so. Thou singly honest man,
2154 585 Here, take. (⌜Timon offers gold.⌝) The gods out of my
2155 misery
2156 Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy,
2157 But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men;
2158 Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
2159 590 But let the famished flesh slide from the bone
2160 Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs
2161 What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow ’em,
2162 Debts wither ’em to nothing; be men like blasted
2163 woods,
2164 595 And may diseases lick up their false bloods!
2165 And so farewell and thrive.
FLAVIUS 2166 O, let me stay
2167 And comfort you, my master.
TIMON 2168 If thou hat’st curses,
2169 600 Stay not. Fly whilst thou art blest and free.
2170 Ne’er see thou man, and let me ne’er see thee.
⌜They⌝ exit.
PAINTER 2171 As I took note of the place, it cannot be far
2172 where he abides.
POET 2173 What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumor
2174 hold for true that he’s so full of gold?
PAINTER 2175 5Certain. Alcibiades reports it. Phrynia and
2176 Timandra had gold of him. He likewise enriched
2177 poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. ’Tis
2178 said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.
POET 2179 Then this breaking of his has been but a try for
2180 10 his friends?
PAINTER 2181 Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in
2182 Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore
2183 ’tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in
2184 this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly
2185 15 in us and is very likely to load our purposes with
2186 what they travail for, if it be a just and true report
2187 that goes of his having.
Enter Timon, ⌜behind them,⌝ from his cave.
POET 2188 What have you now to present unto him?
PAINTER 2189 Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I
2190 20 will promise him an excellent piece.
POET 2191 I must serve him so too—tell him of an intent
2192 that’s coming toward him.
2194 th’ time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance
2195 25 is ever the duller for his act, and but in the
2196 plainer and simpler kind of people the deed of saying
2197 is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly
2198 and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or
2199 testament which argues a great sickness in his
2200 30 judgment that makes it.
TIMON, ⌜aside⌝ 2201 Excellent workman! Thou canst not
2202 paint a man so bad as is thyself.
POET 2203 I am thinking what I shall say I have provided
2204 for him. It must be a personating of himself, a
2205 35 satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery
2206 of the infinite flatteries that follow youth
2207 and opulency.
TIMON, ⌜aside⌝ 2208 Must thou needs stand for a villain in
2209 thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults
2210 40 in other men? Do so. I have gold for thee.
POET 2211 Nay, let’s seek him.
2212 Then do we sin against our own estate
2213 When we may profit meet and come too late.
PAINTER 2214 True.
2215 45 When the day serves, before black-cornered night,
2216 Find what thou want’st by free and offered light.
2217 Come.
TIMON, ⌜aside⌝
2218 I’ll meet you at the turn. What a god’s gold
2219 That he is worshiped in a baser temple
2220 50 Than where swine feed!
2221 ’Tis thou that rigg’st the bark and plow’st the foam,
2222 Settlest admirèd reverence in a slave.
2223 To thee be ⌜worship,⌝ and thy saints for aye
2224 Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey!
2225 55 Fit I meet them.⌜He comes forward.⌝
POET
2226 Hail, worthy Timon.
TIMON
2228 Have I once lived to see two honest men?
POET 2229 Sir,
2230 60 Having often of your open bounty tasted,
2231 Hearing you were retired, your friends fall’n off,
2232 Whose thankless natures—O, abhorrèd spirits!
2233 Not all the whips of heaven are large enough—
2234 What, to you,
2235 65 Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence
2236 To their whole being? I am rapt and cannot cover
2237 The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude
2238 With any size of words.
TIMON
2239 Let it go naked. Men may see ’t the better.
2240 70 You that are honest, by being what you are
2241 Make them best seen and known.
PAINTER 2242 He and myself
2243 Have travailed in the great shower of your gifts
2244 And sweetly felt it.
TIMON 2245 75 Ay, you are honest ⌜men.⌝
PAINTER
2246 We are hither come to offer you our service.
TIMON
2247 Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you?
2248 Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No?
BOTH
2249 What we can do we’ll do to do you service.
TIMON
2250 80 You’re honest men. You’ve heard that I have gold.
2251 I am sure you have. Speak truth. You’re honest men.
PAINTER
2252 So it is said, my noble lord, but therefor
2253 Came not my friend nor I.
TIMON
2254 Good honest men. (⌜To the Painter.⌝) Thou draw’st a
2255 85 counterfeit
2257 Thou counterfeit’st most lively.
PAINTER 2258 So-so, my lord.
TIMON
2259 E’en so, sir, as I say. (⌜To the Poet.⌝) And for thy
2260 90 fiction,
2261 Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth
2262 That thou art even natural in thine art.
2263 But for all this, my honest-natured friends,
2264 I must needs say you have a little fault.
2265 95 Marry, ’tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I
2266 You take much pains to mend.
BOTH 2267 Beseech your Honor
2268 To make it known to us.
TIMON 2269 You’ll take it ill.
BOTH 2270 100Most thankfully, my lord.
TIMON 2271 Will you indeed?
BOTH 2272 Doubt it not, worthy lord.
TIMON
2273 There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave
2274 That mightily deceives you.
BOTH 2275 105 Do we, my lord?
TIMON
2276 Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,
2277 Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,
2278 Keep in your bosom. Yet remain assured
2279 That he’s a made-up villain.
PAINTER 2280 110I know none such, my lord.
POET 2281 Nor I.
TIMON
2282 Look you, I love you well. I’ll give you gold.
2283 Rid me these villains from your companies,
2284 Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draft,
2285 115 Confound them by some course, and come to me,
2286 I’ll give you gold enough.
BOTH 2287 Name them, my lord, let ’s know them.
2288 You that way and you this, but two in company.
2289 Each man apart, all single and alone,
2290 120 Yet an archvillain keeps him company.
2291 (⌜To one.⌝) If where thou art, two villains shall not be,
2292 Come not near him. (⌜To the other.⌝) If thou wouldst
2293 not reside
2294 But where one villain is, then him abandon.—
2295 125 Hence, pack. There’s gold. You came for gold, you
2296 slaves.
2297 (⌜To one.⌝) You have work for me. There’s payment.
2298 Hence.
2299 (⌜To the other.⌝) You are an alchemist; make gold of
2300 130 that.
2301 Out, rascal dogs!
⌜Timon drives them out and then⌝ exits.
Enter Steward ⌜Flavius,⌝ and two Senators.
FLAVIUS
2302 It is vain that you would speak with Timon,
2303 For he is set so only to himself
2304 That nothing but himself which looks like man
2305 135 Is friendly with him.
FIRST SENATOR 2306 Bring us to his cave.
2307 It is our part and promise to th’ Athenians
2308 To speak with Timon.
SECOND SENATOR 2309 At all times alike
2310 140 Men are not still the same. ’Twas time and griefs
2311 That framed him thus. Time, with his fairer hand
2312 Offering the fortunes of his former days,
2313 The former man may make him. Bring us to him,
2314 And ⌜chance⌝ it as it may.
FLAVIUS 2315 145 Here is his cave.—
2316 Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon!
2317 Look out, and speak to friends. Th’ Athenians
2318 By two of their most reverend Senate greet thee.
2319 Speak to them, noble Timon.
TIMON
2320 150 Thou sun that comforts, burn!—Speak and be
2321 hanged!
2322 For each true word a blister, and each false
2323 Be as a cauterizing to the root o’ th’ tongue,
2324 Consuming it with speaking.
FIRST SENATOR 2325 155 Worthy Timon—
TIMON
2326 Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.
FIRST SENATOR
2327 The Senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.
TIMON
2328 I thank them and would send them back the plague,
2329 Could I but catch it for them.
FIRST SENATOR 2330 160 O, forget
2331 What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
2332 The Senators with one consent of love
2333 Entreat thee back to Athens, who have thought
2334 On special dignities which vacant lie
2335 165 For thy best use and wearing.
SECOND SENATOR 2336 They confess
2337 Toward thee forgetfulness too general gross;
2338 Which now the public body, which doth seldom
2339 Play the recanter, feeling in itself
2340 170 A lack of Timon’s aid, hath ⌜sense⌝ withal
2341 Of it own fall, restraining aid to Timon,
2342 And send forth us to make their sorrowed render,
2343 Together with a recompense more fruitful
2344 Than their offense can weigh down by the dram—
2345 175 Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth
2346 As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs
2347 And write in thee the figures of their love,
2348 Ever to read them thine.
TIMON 2349 You witch me in it,
2351 Lend me a fool’s heart and a woman’s eyes,
2352 And I’ll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.
FIRST SENATOR
2353 Therefore, so please thee to return with us
2354 And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take
2355 185 The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks;
2356 Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
2357 Live with authority. So soon we shall drive back
2358 Of Alcibiades th’ approaches wild,
2359 Who like a boar too savage doth root up
2360 190 His country’s peace.
SECOND SENATOR 2361 And shakes his threat’ning sword
2362 Against the walls of Athens.
FIRST SENATOR 2363 Therefore, Timon—
TIMON
2364 Well sir, I will. Therefore I will, sir, thus:
2365 195 If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
2366 Let Alcibiades know this of Timon—
2367 That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens
2368 And take our goodly agèd men by th’ beards,
2369 Giving our holy virgins to the stain
2370 200 Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war,
2371 Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it
2372 In pity of our agèd and our youth,
2373 I cannot choose but tell him that I care not,
2374 And let him take ’t at worst—for their knives care not,
2375 205 While you have throats to answer. For myself,
2376 There’s not a whittle in th’ unruly camp
2377 But I do prize it at my love before
2378 The reverend’st throat in Athens. So I leave you
2379 To the protection of the prosperous gods
2380 210 As thieves to keepers.
FLAVIUS, ⌜to Senators⌝ 2381 Stay not. All’s in vain.
TIMON
2382 Why, I was writing of my epitaph.
2384 Of health and living now begins to mend,
2385 215 And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still.
2386 Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
2387 And last so long enough!
FIRST SENATOR 2388 We speak in vain.
TIMON
2389 But yet I love my country and am not
2390 220 One that rejoices in the common wrack,
2391 As common bruit doth put it.
FIRST SENATOR 2392 That’s well spoke.
TIMON
2393 Commend me to my loving countrymen.
FIRST SENATOR
2394 These words become your lips as they pass through
2395 225 them.
SECOND SENATOR
2396 And enter in our ears like great triumphers
2397 In their applauding gates.
TIMON 2398 Commend me to them
2399 And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,
2400 230 Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,
2401 Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
2402 That nature’s fragile vessel doth sustain
2403 In life’s uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do
2404 them.
2405 235 I’ll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades’ wrath.
FIRST SENATOR, ⌜to Second Senator⌝
2406 I like this well. He will return again.
TIMON
2407 I have a tree, which grows here in my close,
2408 That mine own use invites me to cut down,
2409 And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends,
2410 240 Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree
2411 From high to low throughout, that whoso please
2412 To stop affliction, let him take his haste,
2414 And hang himself. I pray you, do my greeting.
FLAVIUS, ⌜to Senators⌝
2415 245 Trouble him no further. Thus you still shall find him.
TIMON
2416 Come not to me again, but say to Athens,
2417 Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
2418 Upon the beachèd verge of the salt flood,
2419 Who once a day with his embossèd froth
2420 250 The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come
2421 And let my gravestone be your oracle.
2422 Lips, let four words go by and language end.
2423 What is amiss, plague and infection mend.
2424 Graves only be men’s works, and death their gain.
2425 255 Sun, hide thy beams. Timon hath done his reign.
Timon exits.
FIRST SENATOR
2426 His discontents are unremovably
2427 Coupled to nature.
SECOND SENATOR
2428 Our hope in him is dead. Let us return
2429 And strain what other means is left unto us
2430 260 In our dear peril.
FIRST SENATOR 2431 It requires swift foot.
They exit.
⌜THIRD⌝ SENATOR
2432 Thou hast painfully discovered. Are his files
2433 As full as thy report?
MESSENGER 2434 I have spoke the least.
2435 Besides, his expedition promises
2436 5 Present approach.
2437 We stand much hazard if they bring not Timon.
MESSENGER
2438 I met a courier, one mine ancient friend,
2439 Whom, though in general part we were opposed,
2440 Yet our old love made a particular force
2441 10 And made us speak like friends. This man was riding
2442 From Alcibiades to Timon’s cave
2443 With letters of entreaty which imported
2444 His fellowship i’ th’ cause against your city,
2445 In part for his sake moved.
Enter the other Senators.
⌜THIRD⌝ SENATOR 2446 15 Here come our brothers.
⌜FIRST⌝ SENATOR
2447 No talk of Timon; nothing of him expect.
2448 The enemy’s drum is heard, and fearful scouring
2449 Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare.
2450 Ours is the fall, I fear, our foe’s the snare.
They exit.
SOLDIER
2451 By all description this should be the place.
2452 Who’s here? Speak, ho! No answer? What is this?
⌜He reads an epitaph.⌝
2453 Timon is dead, who hath out-stretched his span.
2454 Some beast read this; there does not live a man.
2455 5 Dead, sure, and this his grave. What’s on this tomb
2456 I cannot read. The character I’ll take with wax.
2457 Our captain hath in every figure skill,
2458 An aged interpreter, though young in days.
2460 10 Whose fall the mark of his ambition is.
He exits.
before Athens.
ALCIBIADES
2461 Sound to this coward and lascivious town
2462 Our terrible approach.Sounds a parley.
The Senators appear upon the walls.
2463 Till now you have gone on and filled the time
2464 With all licentious measure, making your wills
2465 5 The scope of justice. Till now myself and such
2466 As slept within the shadow of your power
2467 Have wandered with our traversed arms and breathed
2468 Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush,
2469 When crouching marrow in the bearer strong
2470 10 Cries of itself “No more!” Now breathless wrong
2471 Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
2472 And pursy insolence shall break his wind
2473 With fear and horrid flight.
FIRST SENATOR 2474 Noble and young,
2475 15 When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
2476 Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,
2477 We sent to thee to give thy rages balm,
2478 To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
2479 Above their quantity.
SECOND SENATOR 2480 20 So did we woo
2481 Transformèd Timon to our city’s love
2482 By humble message and by promised means.
2483 We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
2484 The common stroke of war.
2486 Were not erected by their hands from whom
2487 You have received your grief, nor are they such
2488 That these great towers, trophies, and schools
2489 should fall
2490 30 For private faults in them.
SECOND SENATOR 2491 Nor are they living
2492 Who were the motives that you first went out.
2493 Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess
2494 Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
2495 35 Into our city with thy banners spread.
2496 By decimation and a tithèd death,
2497 If thy revenges hunger for that food
2498 Which nature loathes, take thou the destined tenth
2499 And, by the hazard of the spotted die,
2500 40 Let die the spotted.
FIRST SENATOR 2501 All have not offended.
2502 For those that were, it is not square to take,
2503 On those that are, revenge. Crimes, like lands,
2504 Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
2505 45 Bring in thy ranks but leave without thy rage.
2506 Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin
2507 Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall
2508 With those that have offended. Like a shepherd
2509 Approach the fold and cull th’ infected forth,
2510 50 But kill not all together.
SECOND SENATOR 2511 What thou wilt,
2512 Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile
2513 Than hew to ’t with thy sword.
FIRST SENATOR 2514 Set but thy foot
2515 55 Against our rampired gates and they shall ope,
2516 So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before
2517 To say thou ’lt enter friendly.
SECOND SENATOR 2518 Throw thy glove,
2519 Or any token of thine honor else,
2520 60 That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress
2522 Shall make their harbor in our town till we
2523 Have sealed thy full desire.
ALCIBIADES 2524 Then there’s my glove.
2525 65 ⌜Descend⌝ and open your unchargèd ports.
2526 Those enemies of Timon’s and mine own
2527 Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof
2528 Fall, and no more. And to atone your fears
2529 With my more noble meaning, not a man
2530 70 Shall pass his quarter or offend the stream
2531 Of regular justice in your city’s bounds
2532 But shall be remedied to your public laws
2533 At heaviest answer.
BOTH 2534 ’Tis most nobly spoken.
ALCIBIADES 2535 75Descend and keep your words.
⌜The Senators descend.⌝
Enter a ⌜Soldier, with the wax tablet.⌝
⌜SOLDIER⌝
2536 My noble general, Timon is dead,
2537 Entombed upon the very hem o’ th’ sea,
2538 And on his gravestone this insculpture, which
2539 With wax I brought away, whose soft impression
2540 80 Interprets for my poor ignorance.
ALCIBIADES reads the epitaph.
2541 Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft.
2542 Seek not my name. A plague consume you, wicked
2543 caitiffs left!
2544 Here lie I, Timon, who, alive, all living men did hate.
2545 85 Pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay not here
2546 thy gait.
2547 These well express in thee thy latter spirits.
2548 Though thou abhorred’st in us our human griefs,
2549 Scorned’st our brains’ flow and those our droplets
2550 90 which
2551 From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit
2553 On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead
2554 Is noble Timon, of whose memory
2555 95 Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,
2556 And I will use the olive with my sword,
2557 Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make
2558 each
2559 Prescribe to other as each other’s leech.
2560 100 Let our drums strike.
⌜Drums.⌝ They exit.