diff --git "a/res/timon_of_athens.txt" "b/res/timon_of_athens.txt" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/res/timon_of_athens.txt" @@ -0,0 +1,3994 @@ +Timon of Athens +by William Shakespeare + + +Characters in the Play +====================== +TIMON, a noble Athenian +FLAVIUS, his steward +Servants of Timon: + LUCILIUS + FLAMINIUS + SERVILIUS +Other SERVANTS of Timon +APEMANTUS, a Cynic philosopher +ALCIBIADES, an Athenian Captain +His concubines: + PHRYNIA + TIMANDRA +SOLDIER of Alcibiades +SENATORS and LORDS of Athens +Friends of Timon: + LUCIUS + LUCULLUS + SEMPRONIUS + VENTIDIUS +Other FRIENDS of Timon +Servants of Timon's creditors: + CAPHIS, servant to a Senator + ISIDORE'S MAN + VARRO'S two MEN + TITUS + LUCIUS' MAN + HORTENSIUS + PHILOTUS +A POET +A PAINTER +A JEWELER +A MERCHANT +An OLD ATHENIAN +FOOL +PAGE +Three STRANGERS, one called HOSTILIUS +BANDITTI, theives +"Cupid" and other Maskers (as Amazons) +Soldiers, Servants, Messengers, Attendants, Musicians + + +ACT 1 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweler, and Merchant, at several +doors.] + + +POET Good day, sir. + +PAINTER I am glad you're well. + +POET +I have not seen you long. How goes the world? + +PAINTER +It wears, sir, as it grows. + +POET Ay, that's well known. +But what particular rarity, what strange, +Which manifold record not matches? See, +Magic of bounty, all these spirits thy power +Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant. + +PAINTER I know them both. Th' other's a jeweler. + +MERCHANT, [to Jeweler] +O, 'tis a worthy lord! + +JEWELER Nay, that's most fixed. + +MERCHANT +A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were, +To an untirable and continuate goodness. +He passes. + +JEWELER I have a jewel here-- + +MERCHANT +O, pray, let's see 't. For the Lord Timon, sir? + +JEWELER +If he will touch the estimate. But for that-- + +POET, [to Painter] +When we for recompense have praised the vile, +It stains the glory in that happy verse +Which aptly sings the good. + +MERCHANT, [looking at the jewel] +'Tis a good form. + +JEWELER And rich. Here is a water, look ye. + +PAINTER, [to Poet] +You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication +To the great lord. + +POET A thing slipped idly from me. +Our poesy is as a gum which oozes +From whence 'tis nourished. The fire i' th' flint +Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame +Provokes itself and, like the current, flies +Each bound it chases. What have you there? + +PAINTER +A picture, sir. When comes your book forth? + +POET +Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. +Let's see your piece. + +PAINTER 'Tis a good piece. + +POET +So 'tis. This comes off well and excellent. + +PAINTER +Indifferent. + +POET Admirable! How this grace +Speaks his own standing! What a mental power +This eye shoots forth! How big imagination +Moves in this lip! To th' dumbness of the gesture +One might interpret. + +PAINTER +It is a pretty mocking of the life. +Here is a touch. Is 't good? + +POET I will say of it, +It tutors nature. Artificial strife +Lives in these touches livelier than life. + +[Enter certain Senators.] + + +PAINTER How this lord is followed. + +POET +The senators of Athens, happy men. + +PAINTER Look, more. + +POET +You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. +[(Indicating his poem.)] I have in this rough work +shaped out a man +Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug +With amplest entertainment. My free drift +Halts not particularly but moves itself +In a wide sea of wax. No leveled malice +Infects one comma in the course I hold, +But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on, +Leaving no tract behind. + +PAINTER How shall I understand you? + +POET I will unbolt to you. +You see how all conditions, how all minds, +As well of glib and slipp'ry creatures as +Of grave and austere quality, tender down +Their services to Lord Timon. His large fortune, +Upon his good and gracious nature hanging, +Subdues and properties to his love and tendance +All sorts of hearts--yea, from the glass-faced flatterer +To Apemantus, that few things loves better +Than to abhor himself; even he drops down +The knee before him and returns in peace +Most rich in Timon's nod. + +PAINTER I saw them speak together. + +POET +Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill +Feigned Fortune to be throned. The base o' th' mount +Is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures +That labor on the bosom of this sphere +To propagate their states. Amongst them all +Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed, +One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame, +Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her, +Whose present grace to present slaves and servants +Translates his rivals. + +PAINTER 'Tis conceived to scope. +This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks, +With one man beckoned from the rest below, +Bowing his head against the steepy mount +To climb his happiness, would be well expressed +In our condition. + +POET Nay, sir, but hear me on. +All those which were his fellows but of late, +Some better than his value, on the moment +Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance, +Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear, +Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him +Drink the free air. + +PAINTER Ay, marry, what of these? + +POET +When Fortune in her shift and change of mood +Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants, +Which labored after him to the mountain's top +Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down, +Not one accompanying his declining foot. + +PAINTER 'Tis common. +A thousand moral paintings I can show +That shall demonstrate these quick blows of +Fortune's +More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well +To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen +The foot above the head. + +[Trumpets sound. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself +courteously to every suitor. He is accompanied by a +Messenger and followed by Lucilius and other +Servants.] + + +TIMON Imprisoned is he, say you? + +MESSENGER +Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt, +His means most short, his creditors most strait. +Your honorable letter he desires +To those have shut him up, which failing +Periods his comfort. + +TIMON Noble Ventidius. Well, +I am not of that feather to shake off +My friend when he must need me. I do know him +A gentleman that well deserves a help, +Which he shall have. I'll pay the debt and free him. + +MESSENGER Your Lordship ever binds him. + +TIMON +Commend me to him. I will send his ransom; +And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me. +'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, +But to support him after. Fare you well. + +MESSENGER All happiness to your Honor. [He exits.] + +[Enter an old Athenian.] + + +OLD MAN +Lord Timon, hear me speak. + +TIMON Freely, good father. + +OLD MAN +Thou hast a servant named Lucilius. + +TIMON I have so. What of him? + +OLD MAN +Most noble Timon, call the man before thee. + +TIMON +Attends he here or no?--Lucilius! + +LUCILIUS Here, at your Lordship's service. + +OLD MAN +This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature, +By night frequents my house. I am a man +That from my first have been inclined to thrift, +And my estate deserves an heir more raised +Than one which holds a trencher. + +TIMON Well. What further? + +OLD MAN +One only daughter have I, no kin else +On whom I may confer what I have got. +The maid is fair, o' th' youngest for a bride, +And I have bred her at my dearest cost +In qualities of the best. This man of thine +Attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord, +Join with me to forbid him her resort. +Myself have spoke in vain. + +TIMON The man is honest. + +OLD MAN Therefore he will be, Timon. +His honesty rewards him in itself; +It must not bear my daughter. + +TIMON Does she love him? + +OLD MAN She is young and apt. +Our own precedent passions do instruct us +What levity's in youth. + +TIMON, [to Lucilius] Love you the maid? + +LUCILIUS +Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it. + +OLD MAN +If in her marriage my consent be missing-- +I call the gods to witness--I will choose +Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world +And dispossess her all. + +TIMON How shall she be endowed +If she be mated with an equal husband? + +OLD MAN +Three talents on the present; in future, all. + +TIMON +This gentleman of mine hath served me long. +To build his fortune, I will strain a little, +For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter. +What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise, +And make him weigh with her. + +OLD MAN Most noble lord, +Pawn me to this your honor, she is his. + +TIMON +My hand to thee; mine honor on my promise. + +LUCILIUS +Humbly I thank your Lordship. Never may +That state or fortune fall into my keeping +Which is not owed to you. +[He exits with the old Athenian.] + +POET, [presenting his poem to Timon] +Vouchsafe my labor, and long live your Lordship. + +TIMON +I thank you. You shall hear from me anon. +Go not away.--What have you there, my friend? + +PAINTER +A piece of painting which I do beseech +Your Lordship to accept. + +TIMON Painting is welcome. +The painting is almost the natural man, +For, since dishonor traffics with man's nature, +He is but outside; these penciled figures are +Even such as they give out. I like your work, +And you shall find I like it. Wait attendance +Till you hear further from me. + +PAINTER The gods preserve you. + +TIMON +Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand. +We must needs dine together.--Sir, your jewel +Hath suffered under praise. + +JEWELER What, my lord? Dispraise? + +TIMON +A mere satiety of commendations. +If I should pay you for 't as 'tis extolled, +It would unclew me quite. + +JEWELER My lord, 'tis rated +As those which sell would give. But you well know +Things of like value, differing in the owners, +Are prized by their masters. Believe 't, dear lord, +You mend the jewel by the wearing it. + +TIMON Well mocked. + +MERCHANT +No, my good lord. He speaks the common tongue, +Which all men speak with him. + +[Enter Apemantus.] + + +TIMON Look who comes here. Will you be chid? + +JEWELER We'll bear, with your Lordship. + +MERCHANT He'll spare none. + +TIMON +Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus. + +APEMANTUS +Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow-- +When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest. + +TIMON +Why dost thou call them knaves? Thou know'st +them not. + +APEMANTUS Are they not Athenians? + +TIMON Yes. + +APEMANTUS Then I repent not. + +JEWELER You know me, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS Thou know'st I do. I called thee by thy +name. + +TIMON Thou art proud, Apemantus. + +APEMANTUS Of nothing so much as that I am not like +Timon. + +TIMON Whither art going? + +APEMANTUS To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. + +TIMON That's a deed thou 'lt die for. + +APEMANTUS Right, if doing nothing be death by th' law. + +TIMON How lik'st thou this picture, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS The best, for the innocence. + +TIMON Wrought he not well that painted it? + +APEMANTUS He wrought better that made the painter, +and yet he's but a filthy piece of work. + +PAINTER You're a dog. + +APEMANTUS Thy mother's of my generation. What's +she, if I be a dog? + +TIMON Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS No. I eat not lords. + +TIMON An thou shouldst, thou 'dst anger ladies. + +APEMANTUS O, they eat lords. So they come by great +bellies. + +TIMON That's a lascivious apprehension. + +APEMANTUS So thou apprehend'st it. Take it for thy +labor. + +TIMON How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS Not so well as plain-dealing, which will +not cost a man a doit. + +TIMON What dost thou think 'tis worth? + +APEMANTUS Not worth my thinking.--How now, poet? + +POET How now, philosopher? + +APEMANTUS Thou liest. + +POET Art not one? + +APEMANTUS Yes. + +POET Then I lie not. + +APEMANTUS Art not a poet? + +POET Yes. + +APEMANTUS Then thou liest. Look in thy last work, +where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow. + +POET That's not feigned. He is so. + +APEMANTUS Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee +for thy labor. He that loves to be flattered is worthy +o' th' flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! + +TIMON What wouldst do then, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS E'en as Apemantus does now--hate a lord +with my heart. + +TIMON What? Thyself? + +APEMANTUS Ay. + +TIMON Wherefore? + +APEMANTUS That I had no angry wit to be a lord.--Art +not thou a merchant? + +MERCHANT Ay, Apemantus. + +APEMANTUS Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not. + +MERCHANT If traffic do it, the gods do it. + +APEMANTUS Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound +thee! + +[Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.] + + +TIMON What trumpet's that? + +MESSENGER +'Tis Alcibiades and some twenty horse, +All of companionship. + +TIMON +Pray, entertain them. Give them guide to us. +[Some Servants exit with Messenger.] +You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence +Till I have thanked you.--When dinner's done +Show me this piece.--I am joyful of your sights. + +[Enter Alcibiades with the rest.] + +Most welcome, sir. [They bow to each other.] + +APEMANTUS, [apart] So, so, there! +Aches contract and starve your supple joints! +That there should be small love amongst these sweet +knaves, +And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out +Into baboon and monkey. + +ALCIBIADES, [to Timon] +Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed +Most hungerly on your sight. + +TIMON Right welcome, sir. +Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time +In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. +[All but Apemantus exit.] + +[Enter two Lords.] + + +FIRST LORD What time o' day is 't, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS Time to be honest. + +FIRST LORD That time serves still. + +APEMANTUS +The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it. + +SECOND LORD Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast? + +APEMANTUS +Ay, to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools. + +SECOND LORD Fare thee well, fare thee well. + +APEMANTUS +Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice. + +SECOND LORD Why, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS +Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give +thee none. + +FIRST LORD Hang thyself. + +APEMANTUS +No, I will do nothing at thy bidding. +Make thy requests to thy friend. + +SECOND LORD +Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. + +APEMANTUS I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' th' ass. +[He exits.] + +FIRST LORD +He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in +And taste Lord Timon's bounty? He outgoes +The very heart of kindness. + +SECOND LORD +He pours it out. Plutus, the god of gold, +Is but his steward. No meed but he repays +Sevenfold above itself. No gift to him +But breeds the giver a return exceeding +All use of quittance. + +FIRST LORD The noblest mind he carries +That ever governed man. + +SECOND LORD +Long may he live in fortunes. Shall we in? +I'll keep you company. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served +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 Most honored Timon, +It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age +And call him to long peace. +He is gone happy and has left me rich. +Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound +To your free heart, I do return those talents, +Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help +I derived liberty. [He offers a purse.] + +TIMON O, by no means, +Honest Ventidius. You mistake my love. +I gave it freely ever, and there's none +Can truly say he gives if he receives. +If our betters play at that game, we must not dare +To imitate them. Faults that are rich are fair. + +VENTIDIUS A noble spirit! + +TIMON +Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devised at first +To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes, +Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown; +But where there is true friendship, there needs none. +Pray, sit. More welcome are you to my fortunes +Than my fortunes to me. [They sit.] + +FIRST LORD My lord, we always have confessed it. + +APEMANTUS +Ho, ho, "confessed it"? Hanged it, have you not? + +TIMON O Apemantus, you are welcome. + +APEMANTUS No, you shall not make me welcome. +I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. + +TIMON +Fie, thou 'rt a churl. You've got a humor there +Does not become a man. 'Tis much to blame.-- +They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est, but yond +man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by +himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is +he fit for 't indeed. + +APEMANTUS Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon. I +come to observe; I give thee warning on 't. + +TIMON I take no heed of thee. Thou 'rt an Athenian, +therefore welcome. I myself would have no power; +prithee, let my meat make thee silent. + +APEMANTUS I scorn thy meat. 'Twould choke me, for I +should ne'er flatter thee. [(Apart.)] O you gods, +what a number of men eats Timon, and he sees 'em +not! It grieves me to see so many dip their meat in +one man's blood; and all the madness is, he cheers +them up too. +I wonder men dare trust themselves with men. +Methinks they should invite them without knives. +Good for their meat, and safer for their lives. +There's much example for 't. The fellow that sits +next him, now parts bread with him, pledges the +breath of him in a divided draft, is the readiest +man to kill him. 'T 'as been proved. If I were a huge +man, I should fear to drink at meals, +Lest they should spy my wind-pipe's dangerous +notes. +Great men should drink with harness on their +throats. + +TIMON, [responding to a toast] +My lord, in heart! And let the health go round. + +SECOND LORD Let it flow this way, my good lord. + +APEMANTUS, [apart] "Flow this way"? A brave fellow. +He keeps his tides well. Those healths will make +thee and thy state look ill, Timon. +Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, +Honest water, which ne'er left man i' th' mire. +This and my food are equals. There's no odds. +Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods. + +Apemantus' grace. + + Immortal gods, I crave no pelf. + I pray for no man but myself. + Grant I may never prove so fond + To trust man on his oath or bond, + Or a harlot for her weeping, + Or a dog that seems a-sleeping, + Or a keeper with my freedom, + Or my friends if I should need 'em. + Amen. So fall to 't. + Rich men sin, and I eat root. +[He eats and drinks.] +Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus! + +TIMON Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. + +ALCIBIADES My heart is ever at your service, my lord. + +TIMON You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies +than a dinner of friends. + +ALCIBIADES So they were bleeding new, my lord, +there's no meat like 'em. I could wish my best +friend at such a feast. + +APEMANTUS, [apart] Would all those flatterers were +thine enemies, then, that then thou mightst kill +'em and bid me to 'em. + +FIRST LORD Might we but have that happiness, my +lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby +we might express some part of our zeals, we +should think ourselves forever perfect. + +TIMON O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods +themselves have provided that I shall have much +help from you. How had you been my friends else? +Why have you that charitable title from thousands, +did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told +more of you to myself than you can with modesty +speak in your own behalf. And thus far I confirm +you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any +friends if we should ne'er have need of 'em? They +were the most needless creatures living, should we +ne'er have use for 'em, and would most resemble +sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keeps +their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often +wished myself poorer that I might come nearer to +you. We are born to do benefits. And what better or +properer can we call our own than the riches of +our friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis to +have so many, like brothers, commanding one +another's fortunes. O, joy's e'en made away ere 't +can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, +methinks. To forget their faults, I drink to you. + +APEMANTUS, [apart] Thou weep'st to make them drink, +Timon. + +SECOND LORD +Joy had the like conception in our eyes +And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. + +APEMANTUS, [apart] +Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard. + +THIRD LORD +I promise you, my lord, you moved me much. + +APEMANTUS, [apart] Much! [Sound tucket.] + +TIMON What means that trump? + +[Enter Servant.] + +How now? + +SERVANT Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies +most desirous of admittance. + +TIMON Ladies? What are their wills? + +SERVANT There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, +which bears that office to signify their pleasures. + +TIMON I pray, let them be admitted. [Servant exits.] + +[Enter "Cupid."] + + +CUPID +Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all +That of his bounties taste! The five best senses +Acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely +To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. There +Taste, touch, all, pleased from thy table rise; +They only now come but to feast thine eyes. + +TIMON +They're welcome all. Let 'em have kind admittance. +Music, make their welcome! + +LUCIUS +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] Hoy-day! +What a sweep of vanity comes this way. +They dance? They are madwomen. +Like madness is the glory of this life +As this pomp shows to a little oil and root. +We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves +And spend our flatteries to drink those men +Upon whose age we void it up again +With poisonous spite and envy. +Who lives that's not depraved or depraves? +Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves +Of their friends' gift? +I should fear those that dance before me now +Would one day stamp upon me. 'T 'as been done. +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 +You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies, +Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, +Which was not half so beautiful and kind. +You have added worth unto 't and luster, +And entertained me with mine own device. +I am to thank you for 't. + +FIRST LADY +My lord, you take us even at the best. + +APEMANTUS, [apart] Faith, for the worst is filthy and +would not hold taking, I doubt me. + +TIMON +Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you. +Please you to dispose yourselves. + +ALL LADIES Most thankfully, my lord. +[Cupid and Ladies exit.] + +TIMON Flavius. + +FLAVIUS +My lord? + +TIMON The little casket bring me hither. + +FLAVIUS Yes, my lord. [(Aside.)] More jewels yet? +There is no crossing him in 's humor; +Else I should tell him well, i' faith I should. +When all's spent, he'd be crossed then, an he could. +'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind, +That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. +[He exits.] + +FIRST LORD Where be our men? + +SERVANT Here, my lord, in readiness. + +SECOND LORD +Our horses. + +[Enter Flavius, with the casket.] + + +TIMON O my friends, I have one word +To say to you. Look you, my good lord, +I must entreat you, honor me so much +As to advance this jewel. Accept it and wear it, +Kind my lord. + +FIRST LORD +I am so far already in your gifts-- + +ALL So are we all. + +[Enter a Servant.] + + +SERVANT +My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate +Newly alighted and come to visit you. + +TIMON +They are fairly welcome. [Servant exits.] + +FLAVIUS I beseech your Honor, +Vouchsafe me a word. It does concern you near. + +TIMON +Near? Why, then, another time I'll hear thee. +I prithee, let's be provided to show them +entertainment. + +FLAVIUS, [aside] I scarce know how. + +[Enter another Servant.] + + +SECOND SERVANT +May it please your Honor, Lord Lucius, +Out of his free love, hath presented to you +Four milk-white horses trapped in silver. + +TIMON +I shall accept them fairly. Let the presents +Be worthily entertained. [Servant exits.] + +[Enter a third Servant.] + +How now? What news? + +THIRD SERVANT Please you, my lord, that honorable +gentleman Lord Lucullus entreats your company +tomorrow to hunt with him and has sent your +Honor two brace of greyhounds. + +TIMON +I'll hunt with him; and let them be received, +Not without fair reward. [Servant exits.] + +FLAVIUS, [aside] What will this come to? +He commands us to provide, and give great gifts, +And all out of an empty coffer. +Nor will he know his purse or yield me this-- +To show him what a beggar his heart is, +Being of no power to make his wishes good. +His promises fly so beyond his state +That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes +For ev'ry word. He is so kind that he +Now pays interest for 't. His land's put to their books. +Well, would I were gently put out of office +Before I were forced out. +Happier is he that has no friend to feed +Than such that do e'en enemies exceed. +I bleed inwardly for my lord. [He exits.] + +TIMON, [to Lords] You do yourselves much wrong. +You bate too much of your own merits. +[(Offering a gift.)] Here, my lord, a trifle of our love. + +SECOND LORD +With more than common thanks I will receive it. + +THIRD LORD O, he's the very soul of bounty! + +TIMON And now I remember, my lord, you gave good +words the other day of a bay courser I rode on. 'Tis +yours because you liked it. + +FIRST LORD +O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that. + +TIMON +You may take my word, my lord. I know no man +Can justly praise but what he does affect. +I weigh my friends' affection with mine own. +I'll tell you true, I'll call to you. + +ALL LORDS O, none so welcome. + +TIMON +I take all and your several visitations +So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give. +Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends +And ne'er be weary.--Alcibiades, +Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich. +It comes in charity to thee, for all thy living +Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast +Lie in a pitched field. + +ALCIBIADES Ay, defiled land, my lord. + +FIRST LORD We are so virtuously bound-- + +TIMON And so am I to you. + +SECOND LORD So infinitely endeared-- + +TIMON All to you.--Lights, more lights. + +FIRST LORD +The best of happiness, honor, and fortunes +Keep with you, Lord Timon. + +TIMON Ready for his friends. +[All but Timon and Apemantus exit.] + +APEMANTUS What a coil's here, +Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums! +I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums +That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs. +Methinks false hearts should never have sound legs. +Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies. + +TIMON +Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, +I would be good to thee. + +APEMANTUS No, I'll nothing, for if I should be bribed +too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and +then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv'st so +long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself +in paper shortly. What needs these feasts, pomps, +and vainglories? + +TIMON Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am +sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell, and +come with better music. [He exits.] + +APEMANTUS So. Thou wilt not hear me now, thou shalt +not then. I'll lock thy heaven from thee. +O, that men's ears should be +To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! +[He exits.] + + +ACT 2 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter a Senator, with papers.] + + +SENATOR +And late five thousand. To Varro and to Isidore +He owes nine thousand, besides my former sum, +Which makes it five-and-twenty. Still in motion +Of raging waste! It cannot hold; it will not. +If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog +And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold. +If I would sell my horse and buy twenty more +Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon-- +Ask nothing; give it him--it foals me straight, +And able horses. No porter at his gate +But rather one that smiles and still invites +All that pass by. It cannot hold. No reason +Can sound his state in safety.--Caphis, ho! +Caphis, I say! + +[Enter Caphis.] + + +CAPHIS Here, sir. What is your pleasure? + +SENATOR +Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Timon. +Importune him for my moneys. Be not ceased +With slight denial, nor then silenced when +"Commend me to your master" and the cap +Plays in the right hand thus; but tell him +My uses cry to me. I must serve my turn +Out of mine own. His days and times are past, +And my reliances on his fracted dates +Have smit my credit. I love and honor him +But must not break my back to heal his finger. +Immediate are my needs, and my relief +Must not be tossed and turned to me in words +But find supply immediate. Get you gone. +Put on a most importunate aspect, +A visage of demand, for I do fear +When every feather sticks in his own wing +Lord Timon will be left a naked gull, +Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone. + +CAPHIS I go, sir. + +SENATOR +"I go, sir"? Take the bonds along with you +And have the dates in. Come. +[He hands Caphis papers.] + +CAPHIS I will, sir. + +SENATOR Go. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Steward Flavius, with many bills in his hand.] + + +FLAVIUS +No care, no stop, so senseless of expense +That he will neither know how to maintain it +Nor cease his flow of riot. Takes no account +How things go from him nor resumes no care +Of what is to continue. Never mind +Was to be so unwise to be so kind. +What shall be done? He will not hear till feel. +I must be round with him, now he comes from +hunting. +Fie, fie, fie, fie! + +[Enter Caphis, and the Men of Isidore and Varro.] + + +CAPHIS +Good even, Varro. What, you come for money? + +VARRO'S MAN Is 't not your business too? + +CAPHIS It is. And yours too, Isidore? + +ISIDORE'S MAN It is so. + +CAPHIS Would we were all discharged! + +VARRO'S MAN I fear it. + +CAPHIS Here comes the lord. + +[Enter Timon, and his train, with Alcibiades.] + + +TIMON +So soon as dinner's done we'll forth again, +My Alcibiades. [(To Caphis.)] With me? What is your +will? + +CAPHIS, [offering Timon a paper] +My lord, here is a note of certain dues. + +TIMON Dues? Whence are you? + +CAPHIS Of Athens here, my lord. + +TIMON Go to my steward. + +CAPHIS +Please it your Lordship, he hath put me off +To the succession of new days this month. +My master is awaked by great occasion +To call upon his own and humbly prays you +That with your other noble parts you'll suit +In giving him his right. + +TIMON Mine honest friend, +I prithee but repair to me next morning. + +CAPHIS +Nay, good my lord-- + +TIMON Contain thyself, good friend. + +VARRO'S MAN, [offering a paper] One Varro's servant, +my good lord-- + +ISIDORE'S MAN, [offering a paper] +From Isidore. He humbly prays your speedy +payment. + +CAPHIS +If you did know, my lord, my master's wants-- + +VARRO'S MAN +'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past. + +ISIDORE'S MAN +Your steward puts me off, my lord, and I +Am sent expressly to your Lordship. + +TIMON Give me breath.-- +I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on. +I'll wait upon you instantly. +[Alcibiades and Timon's train exit.] +[To Flavius.] Come hither. Pray you, +How goes the world that I am thus encountered +With clamorous demands of debt, broken bonds, +And the detention of long-since-due debts +Against my honor? + +FLAVIUS, [to the creditors' Men] Please you, gentlemen, +The time is unagreeable to this business. +Your importunacy cease till after dinner, +That I may make his Lordship understand +Wherefore you are not paid. + +TIMON Do so, my friends.-- +See them well entertained. + +FLAVIUS Pray, draw near. +[Timon and Flavius exit.] + +[Enter Apemantus and Fool.] + + +CAPHIS Stay, stay, here comes the Fool with Apemantus. +Let's ha' some sport with 'em. + +VARRO'S MAN Hang him! He'll abuse us. + +ISIDORE'S MAN A plague upon him, dog! + +VARRO'S MAN How dost, Fool? + +APEMANTUS Dost dialogue with thy shadow? + +VARRO'S MAN I speak not to thee. + +APEMANTUS No, 'tis to thyself. [(To the Fool.)] Come +away. + +ISIDORE'S MAN, [to Varro's Man] There's the fool hangs +on your back already. + +APEMANTUS No, thou stand'st single; thou 'rt not on +him yet. + +CAPHIS, [to Isidore's Man] Where's the fool now? + +APEMANTUS He last asked the question. Poor rogues +and usurers' men, bawds between gold and want. + +ALL THE MEN What are we, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS Asses. + +ALL THE MEN Why? + +APEMANTUS That you ask me what you are, and do not +know yourselves.--Speak to 'em, Fool. + +FOOL How do you, gentlemen? + +ALL THE MEN Gramercies, good Fool. How does your +mistress? + +FOOL She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens +as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth! + +APEMANTUS Good. Gramercy. + +[Enter Page.] + + +FOOL Look you, here comes my master's page. + +PAGE, [to Fool] Why, how now, captain? What do you in +this wise company?--How dost thou, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS Would I had a rod in my mouth that I +might answer thee profitably. + +PAGE Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription +of these letters. I know not which is which. +[He shows some papers.] + +APEMANTUS Canst not read? + +PAGE No. + +APEMANTUS There will little learning die, then, that +day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Timon, this to +Alcibiades. Go. Thou wast born a bastard, and +thou 'lt die a bawd. + +PAGE Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish +a dog's death. Answer not. I am gone. [He exits.] + +APEMANTUS E'en so thou outrunn'st grace.--Fool, I +will go with you to Lord Timon's. + +FOOL Will you leave me there? + +APEMANTUS If Timon stay at home.--You three serve +three usurers? + +ALL THE MEN Ay. Would they served us! + +APEMANTUS So would I--as good a trick as ever hangman +served thief. + +FOOL Are you three usurers' men? + +ALL THE MEN Ay, fool. + +FOOL I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant. +My mistress is one, and I am her Fool. When men +come to borrow of your masters, they approach +sadly and go away merry, but they enter my master's +house merrily and go away sadly. The reason +of this? + +VARRO'S MAN I could render one. + +APEMANTUS Do it then, that we may account thee a +whoremaster and a knave, which notwithstanding, +thou shalt be no less esteemed. + +VARRO'S MAN What is a whoremaster, fool? + +FOOL A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. +'Tis a spirit; sometime 't appears like a lord, sometime +like a lawyer, sometime like a philosopher, +with two stones more than 's artificial one. He is +very often like a knight, and generally in all shapes +that man goes up and down in from fourscore to +thirteen, this spirit walks in. + +VARRO'S MAN Thou art not altogether a Fool. + +FOOL Nor thou altogether a wise man. As much foolery +as I have, so much wit thou lack'st. + +APEMANTUS That answer might have become Apemantus. + +ALL THE MEN Aside, aside! Here comes Lord Timon. + +[Enter Timon and Steward Flavius.] + + +APEMANTUS Come with me, fool, come. + +FOOL I do not always follow lover, elder brother, and +woman; sometime the philosopher. +[Apemantus and the Fool exit.] + +FLAVIUS, [to the creditors' Men] +Pray you, walk near. I'll speak with you anon. +[The Men exit.] + +TIMON +You make me marvel wherefore ere this time +Had you not fully laid my state before me, +That I might so have rated my expense +As I had leave of means. + +FLAVIUS You would not hear me. +At many leisures I proposed-- + +TIMON Go to. +Perchance some single vantages you took +When my indisposition put you back, +And that unaptness made your minister +Thus to excuse yourself. + +FLAVIUS O, my good lord, +At many times I brought in my accounts, +Laid them before you. You would throw them off +And say you found them in mine honesty. +When for some trifling present you have bid me +Return so much, I have shook my head and wept-- +Yea, 'gainst th' authority of manners prayed you +To hold your hand more close. I did endure +Not seldom nor no slight checks when I have +Prompted you in the ebb of your estate +And your great flow of debts. My loved lord, +Though you hear now too late, yet now's a time. +The greatest of your having lacks a half +To pay your present debts. + +TIMON Let all my land be sold. + +FLAVIUS +'Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone, +And what remains will hardly stop the mouth +Of present dues. The future comes apace. +What shall defend the interim? And at length +How goes our reck'ning? + +TIMON +To Lacedaemon did my land extend. + +FLAVIUS +O my good lord, the world is but a word. +Were it all yours to give it in a breath, +How quickly were it gone! + +TIMON You tell me true. + +FLAVIUS +If you suspect my husbandry of falsehood, +Call me before th' exactest auditors, +And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me, +When all our offices have been oppressed +With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept +With drunken spilth of wine, when every room +Hath blazed with lights and brayed with minstrelsy, +I have retired me to a wasteful cock +And set mine eyes at flow. + +TIMON Prithee, no more. + +FLAVIUS +Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord! +How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants +This night englutted. Who is not Timon's? +What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord +Timon's? +Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon! +Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise, +The breath is gone whereof this praise is made. +Feast-won, fast-lost. One cloud of winter showers, +These flies are couched. + +TIMON Come, sermon me no further. +No villainous bounty yet hath passed my heart; +Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given. +Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack +To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart. +If I would broach the vessels of my love +And try the argument of hearts by borrowing, +Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use +As I can bid thee speak. + +FLAVIUS Assurance bless your thoughts! + +TIMON +And in some sort these wants of mine are crowned, +That I account them blessings. For by these +Shall I try friends. You shall perceive how you +Mistake my fortunes. I am wealthy in my friends.-- +Within there! Flaminius!--Servilius! + +[Enter three Servants, Flaminius, Servilius, and another.] + + +SERVANTS My lord, my lord. + +TIMON I will dispatch you severally. [(To Servilius)] +You to Lord Lucius, [(to Flaminius)] to Lord +Lucullus you--I hunted with his Honor today; [(to +the third Servant)] you to Sempronius. Commend +me to their loves, and I am proud, say, that my +occasions have found time to use 'em toward a +supply of money. Let the request be fifty talents. + +FLAMINIUS As you have said, my lord. [Servants exit.] + +FLAVIUS, [aside] Lord Lucius and Lucullus? Humh! + +TIMON Go you, sir, to the Senators, +Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have +Deserved this hearing. Bid 'em send o' th' instant +A thousand talents to me. + +FLAVIUS I have been bold-- +For that I knew it the most general way-- +To them to use your signet and your name, +But they do shake their heads, and I am here +No richer in return. + +TIMON Is 't true? Can 't be? + +FLAVIUS +They answer in a joint and corporate voice +That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot +Do what they would, are sorry. You are honorable, +But yet they could have wished--they know not-- +Something hath been amiss--a noble nature +May catch a wrench--would all were well--'tis pity. +And so, intending other serious matters, +After distasteful looks and these hard fractions, +With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods +They froze me into silence. + +TIMON You gods, reward them! +Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows +Have their ingratitude in them hereditary. +Their blood is caked, 'tis cold, it seldom flows; +'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind; +And nature, as it grows again toward earth, +Is fashioned for the journey, dull and heavy. +Go to Ventidius. Prithee, be not sad. +Thou art true and honest--ingeniously I speak-- +No blame belongs to thee. Ventidius lately +Buried his father, by whose death he's stepped +Into a great estate. When he was poor, +Imprisoned, and in scarcity of friends, +I cleared him with five talents. Greet him from me. +Bid him suppose some good necessity +Touches his friend, which craves to be remembered +With those five talents. That had, give 't these fellows +To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak or think +That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink. +[He exits.] + +FLAVIUS I would I could not think it. +That thought is bounty's foe; +Being free itself, it thinks all others so. +[He exits.] + + +ACT 3 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Flaminius waiting to speak with Lucullus, +from his master.] + +[Enter a Servant to him.] + + +SERVANT I have told my lord of you. He is coming +down to you. + +FLAMINIUS I thank you, sir. + +[Enter Lucullus.] + + +SERVANT Here's my lord. + +LUCULLUS, [aside] One of Lord Timon's men? A gift, I +warrant. Why, this hits right. I dreamt of a silver +basin and ewer tonight.--Flaminius, honest +Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir. +[(To Servant.)] Fill me some wine. [(Servant exits.)] +And how does that honorable, complete, free-hearted +gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful +good lord and master? + +FLAMINIUS His health is well, sir. + +LUCULLUS I am right glad that his health is well, sir. +And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty +Flaminius? + +FLAMINIUS Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir, which +in my lord's behalf I come to entreat your Honor +to supply; who, having great and instant occasion +to use fifty talents, hath sent to your Lordship to +furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance +therein. + +LUCULLUS La, la, la, la. "Nothing doubting" says he? +Alas, good lord! A noble gentleman 'tis, if he would +not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I +ha' dined with him and told him on 't, and come +again to supper to him of purpose to have him +spend less, and yet he would embrace no counsel, +take no warning by my coming. Every man has his +fault, and honesty is his. I ha' told him on 't, but I +could ne'er get him from 't. + +[Enter Servant with wine.] + + +SERVANT Please your Lordship, here is the wine. + +LUCULLUS Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. +Here's to thee. [He drinks.] + +FLAMINIUS Your Lordship speaks your pleasure. + +LUCULLUS I have observed thee always for a towardly +prompt spirit--give thee thy due--and one that +knows what belongs to reason and canst use the +time well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in +thee.--Get you gone, sirrah. [Servant exits.] +Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful +gentleman, but thou art wise and thou +know'st well enough, although thou com'st to me, +that this is no time to lend money, especially upon +bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares +for thee. [(Gives him money.)] Good boy, +wink at me, and say thou saw'st me not. Fare thee +well. + +FLAMINIUS +Is 't possible the world should so much differ, +And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness, +To him that worships thee! +[He throws the money back at Lucullus.] + +LUCULLUS Ha! Now I see thou art a fool and fit for thy +master. [Lucullus exits.] + +FLAMINIUS +May these add to the number that may scald thee! +Let molten coin be thy damnation, +Thou disease of a friend and not himself! +Has friendship such a faint and milky heart +It turns in less than two nights? O you gods, +I feel my master's passion. This slave +Unto his honor has my lord's meat in him. +Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment +When he is turned to poison? +O, may diseases only work upon 't, +And when he's sick to death, let not that part of +nature +Which my lord paid for be of any power +To expel sickness, but prolong his hour. +[He exits.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.] + + +LUCIUS Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good +friend and an honorable gentleman. + +FIRST STRANGER We know him for no less, though we +are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one +thing, my lord, and which I hear from common +rumors: now Lord Timon's happy hours are done +and past, and his estate shrinks from him. + +LUCIUS Fie, no, do not believe it. He cannot want for +money. + +SECOND STRANGER But believe you this, my lord, that +not long ago one of his men was with the Lord +Lucullus to borrow fifty talents, nay, urged +extremely for 't, and showed what necessity +belonged to 't, and yet was denied. + +LUCIUS How? + +SECOND STRANGER I tell you, denied, my lord. + +LUCIUS What a strange case was that! Now, before the +gods, I am ashamed on 't. Denied that honorable +man? There was very little honor showed in 't. For +my own part, I must needs confess I have received +some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, +jewels, and suchlike trifles, nothing comparing to +his; yet had he mistook him and sent to me, I +should ne'er have denied his occasion fifty talents. + +[Enter Servilius.] + + +SERVILIUS, [aside] See, by good hap, yonder's my lord. +I have sweat to see his Honor. [To Lucius.] My +honored lord. + +LUCIUS Servilius. You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee +well. Commend me to thy honorable virtuous lord, +my very exquisite friend. [He turns to exit.] + +SERVILIUS May it please your Honor, my lord hath +sent-- + +LUCIUS Ha! What has he sent? I am so much endeared +to that lord; he's ever sending. How shall I thank +him, think'st thou? And what has he sent now? + +SERVILIUS Has only sent his present occasion now, my +lord, requesting your Lordship to supply his +instant use with fifty talents. + +LUCIUS +I know his Lordship is but merry with me. +He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. + +SERVILIUS +But in the meantime he wants less, my lord. +If his occasion were not virtuous, +I should not urge it half so faithfully. + +LUCIUS +Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? + +SERVILIUS Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir. + +LUCIUS What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish +myself against such a good time, when I might ha' +shown myself honorable! How unluckily it happened +that I should purchase the day before for a +little part, and undo a great deal of honor! Servilius, +now before the gods, I am not able to do--the +more beast, I say!--I was sending to use Lord +Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I +would not for the wealth of Athens I had done 't +now. Commend me bountifully to his good Lordship, +and I hope his Honor will conceive the fairest +of me, because I have no power to be kind. And tell +him this from me: I count it one of my greatest +afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honorable +gentleman. Good Servilius, will you +befriend me so far as to use mine own words to +him? + +SERVILIUS Yes, sir, I shall. + +LUCIUS I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius. +[Servilius exits.] +True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed, +And he that's once denied will hardly speed. +[He exits.] + +FIRST STRANGER Do you observe this, Hostilius? + +SECOND STRANGER Ay, too well. + +FIRST STRANGER +Why, this is the world's soul, and just of the same +piece +Is every flatterer's sport. Who can call him his friend +That dips in the same dish? For, in my knowing, +Timon has been this lord's father +And kept his credit with his purse, +Supported his estate, nay, Timon's money +Has paid his men their wages. He ne'er drinks +But Timon's silver treads upon his lip. +And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man +When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!-- +He does deny him, in respect of his, +What charitable men afford to beggars. + +THIRD STRANGER +Religion groans at it. + +FIRST STRANGER For mine own part, +I never tasted Timon in my life, +Nor came any of his bounties over me +To mark me for his friend. Yet I protest, +For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue, +And honorable carriage, +Had his necessity made use of me, +I would have put my wealth into donation, +And the best half should have returned to him, +So much I love his heart. But I perceive +Men must learn now with pity to dispense, +For policy sits above conscience. +[They exit.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter a Third Servant of Timon's with Sempronius, +another of Timon's friends.] + + +SEMPRONIUS +Must he needs trouble me in 't? Hum! 'Bove all others? +He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus; +And now Ventidius is wealthy too, +Whom he redeemed from prison. All these +Owes their estates unto him. + +SERVANT My lord, +They have all been touched and found base metal, +For they have all denied him. + +SEMPRONIUS How? Have they denied him? +Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him, +And does he send to me? Three? Humh! +It shows but little love or judgment in him. +Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians, +Thrive, give him over. Must I take th' cure upon me? +Has much disgraced me in 't. I'm angry at him +That might have known my place. I see no sense for 't +But his occasions might have wooed me first; +For, in my conscience, I was the first man +That e'er received gift from him. +And does he think so backwardly of me now +That I'll requite it last? No. +So it may prove an argument of laughter +To th' rest, and I 'mongst lords be thought a fool. +I'd rather than the worth of thrice the sum +Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake; +I'd such a courage to do him good. But now return, +And with their faint reply this answer join: +Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin. +[He exits.] + +SERVANT Excellent! Your Lordship's a goodly villain. +The devil knew not what he did when he made +man politic. He crossed himself by 't, and I cannot +think but, in the end, the villainies of man will set +him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear +foul! Takes virtuous copies to be wicked, like those +that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms +on fire. +Of such a nature is his politic love. +This was my lord's best hope. Now all are fled, +Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead, +Doors that were ne'er acquainted with their wards +Many a bounteous year must be employed +Now to guard sure their master. +And this is all a liberal course allows: +Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house. +[He exits.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Enter Varro's two Men, meeting Titus and others, all +being Men of Timon's creditors to wait for his coming +out. Then enter Lucius' Man and Hortensius.] + + +VARRO'S FIRST MAN +Well met. Good morrow, Titus and Hortensius. + +TITUS +The like to you, kind Varro. + +HORTENSIUS Lucius! +What, do we meet together? + +LUCIUS' MAN Ay, and I think +One business does command us all, +For mine is money. + +TITUS So is theirs and ours. + +[Enter Philotus.] + + +LUCIUS' MAN +And, sir, Philotus' too. + +PHILOTUS Good day at once. + +LUCIUS' MAN Welcome, good brother. +What do you think the hour? + +PHILOTUS Laboring for nine. + +LUCIUS' MAN +So much? + +PHILOTUS Is not my lord seen yet? + +LUCIUS' MAN Not yet. + +PHILOTUS +I wonder on 't. He was wont to shine at seven. + +LUCIUS' MAN +Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him. +You must consider that a prodigal course +Is like the sun's, +But not, like his, recoverable. I fear +'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse: +That is, one may reach deep enough and yet +Find little. + +PHILOTUS I am of your fear for that. + +TITUS +I'll show you how t' observe a strange event. +Your lord sends now for money? + +HORTENSIUS Most true, he does. + +TITUS +And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, +For which I wait for money. + +HORTENSIUS It is against my heart. + +LUCIUS' MAN Mark how strange it shows: +Timon in this should pay more than he owes, +And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels +And send for money for 'em. + +HORTENSIUS +I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness. +I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth, +And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth. + +VARRO'S FIRST MAN +Yes, mine's three thousand crowns. What's yours? + +LUCIUS' MAN Five thousand mine. + +VARRO'S FIRST MAN +'Tis much deep, and it should seem by th' sum +Your master's confidence was above mine, +Else surely his had equaled. + +[Enter Flaminius.] + + +TITUS One of Lord Timon's men. + +LUCIUS' MAN Flaminius? Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord +ready to come forth? + +FLAMINIUS No, indeed he is not. + +TITUS We attend his Lordship. Pray, signify so much. + +FLAMINIUS I need not tell him that. He knows you are +too diligent. [He exits.] + +[Enter Flavius, the Steward in a cloak, muffled.] + + +LUCIUS' MAN +Ha! Is not that his steward muffled so? +He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him. + +TITUS Do you hear, sir? + +VARRO'S SECOND MAN By your leave, sir. + +FLAVIUS What do you ask of me, my friend? + +TITUS +We wait for certain money here, sir. + +FLAVIUS Ay, +If money were as certain as your waiting, +'Twere sure enough. +Why then preferred you not your sums and bills +When your false masters eat of my lord's meat? +Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts +And take down th' int'rest into their glutt'nous maws. +You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up. +Let me pass quietly. +Believe 't, my lord and I have made an end. +I have no more to reckon, he to spend. + +LUCIUS' MAN Ay, but this answer will not serve. + +FLAVIUS +If 'twill not serve, 'tis not so base as you, +For you serve knaves. [He exits.] + +VARRO'S FIRST MAN How? What does his cashiered +Worship mutter? + +VARRO'S SECOND MAN No matter what. He's poor, and +that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader +than he that has no house to put his head in? Such +may rail against great buildings. + +[Enter Servilius.] + + +TITUS O, here's Servilius. Now we shall know some +answer. + +SERVILIUS If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair +some other hour, I should derive much from 't. For +take 't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent. +His comfortable temper has forsook him. +He's much out of health and keeps his chamber. + +LUCIUS' MAN +Many do keep their chambers are not sick; +And if it be so far beyond his health, +Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts +And make a clear way to the gods. + +SERVILIUS Good gods! + +TITUS We cannot take this for answer, sir. + +FLAMINIUS, [within] Servilius, help! My lord, my lord! + +[Enter Timon in a rage.] + + +TIMON +What, are my doors opposed against my passage? +Have I been ever free, and must my house +Be my retentive enemy, my jail? +The place which I have feasted, does it now, +Like all mankind, show me an iron heart? + +LUCIUS' MAN Put in now, Titus. + +TITUS My lord, here is my bill. + +LUCIUS' MAN Here's mine. + +HORTENSIUS And mine, my lord. + +VARRO'S SECOND MAN And ours, my lord. + +PHILOTUS All our bills. + +TIMON +Knock me down with 'em! Cleave me to the girdle. + +LUCIUS' MAN Alas, my lord-- + +TIMON Cut my heart in sums! + +TITUS Mine, fifty talents. + +TIMON Tell out my blood. + +LUCIUS' MAN Five thousand crowns, my lord. + +TIMON +Five thousand drops pays that.--What yours?--And +yours? + +VARRO'S FIRST MAN My lord-- + +VARRO'S SECOND MAN My lord-- + +TIMON +Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you! +[Timon exits.] + +HORTENSIUS Faith, I perceive our masters may throw +their caps at their money. These debts may well be +called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em. +[They exit.] + +[Enter Timon and Flavius.] + + +TIMON +They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves! +Creditors? Devils! + +FLAVIUS My dear lord-- + +TIMON What if it should be so? + +FLAVIUS My lord-- + +TIMON +I'll have it so.--My steward! + +FLAVIUS Here, my lord. + +TIMON +So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again, +Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all. +I'll once more feast the rascals. + +FLAVIUS O my lord, +You only speak from your distracted soul. +There's not so much left to furnish out +A moderate table. + +TIMON Be it not in thy care. Go, +I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide +Of knaves once more. My cook and I'll provide. +[They exit.] + +Scene 5 +======= +[Enter three Senators at one door, Alcibiades meeting +them, with Attendants.] + + +FIRST SENATOR, [to the Second Senator] +My lord, you have my voice to 't. The fault's +Bloody. 'Tis necessary he should die. +Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy. + +SECOND SENATOR Most true. The law shall bruise 'em. + +ALCIBIADES +Honor, health, and compassion to the Senate! + +FIRST SENATOR Now, captain? + +ALCIBIADES +I am an humble suitor to your virtues, +For pity is the virtue of the law, +And none but tyrants use it cruelly. +It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy +Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood +Hath stepped into the law, which is past depth +To those that without heed do plunge into 't. +He is a man--setting his fate aside-- +Of comely virtues. +Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice-- +An honor in him which buys out his fault-- +But with a noble fury and fair spirit, +Seeing his reputation touched to death, +He did oppose his foe; +And with such sober and unnoted passion +He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent, +As if he had but proved an argument. + +FIRST SENATOR +You undergo too strict a paradox, +Striving to make an ugly deed look fair. +Your words have took such pains as if they labored +To bring manslaughter into form and set quarreling +Upon the head of valor--which indeed +Is valor misbegot, and came into the world +When sects and factions were newly born. +He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer +The worst that man can breathe +And make his wrongs his outsides, +To wear them like his raiment, carelessly, +And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart +To bring it into danger. +If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill, +What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill! + +ALCIBIADES +My lord-- + +FIRST SENATOR You cannot make gross sins look clear. +To revenge is no valor, but to bear. + +ALCIBIADES +My lords, then, under favor, pardon me +If I speak like a captain. +Why do fond men expose themselves to battle +And not endure all threats? Sleep upon 't, +And let the foes quietly cut their throats +Without repugnancy? If there be +Such valor in the bearing, what make we +Abroad? Why, then, women are more valiant +That stay at home, if bearing carry it, +And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon +Loaden with irons wiser than the judge, +If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords, +As you are great, be pitifully good. +Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? +To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust, +But in defense, by mercy, 'tis most just. +To be in anger is impiety, +But who is man that is not angry? +Weigh but the crime with this. + +SECOND SENATOR You breathe in vain. + +ALCIBIADES In vain? His service done +At Lacedaemon and Byzantium +Were a sufficient briber for his life. + +FIRST SENATOR What's that? + +ALCIBIADES +Why, I say, my lords, has done fair service +And slain in fight many of your enemies. +How full of valor did he bear himself +In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds! + +SECOND SENATOR +He has made too much plenty with 'em. +He's a sworn rioter. He has a sin +That often drowns him and takes his valor prisoner. +If there were no foes, that were enough +To overcome him. In that beastly fury, +He has been known to commit outrages +And cherish factions. 'Tis inferred to us +His days are foul and his drink dangerous. + +FIRST SENATOR +He dies. + +ALCIBIADES Hard fate! He might have died in war. +My lords, if not for any parts in him-- +Though his right arm might purchase his own time +And be in debt to none--yet, more to move you, +Take my deserts to his and join 'em both. +And, for I know your reverend ages love +Security, I'll pawn my victories, all +My honor, to you, upon his good returns. +If by this crime he owes the law his life, +Why, let the war receive 't in valiant gore, +For law is strict, and war is nothing more. + +FIRST SENATOR +We are for law. He dies. Urge it no more, +On height of our displeasure. Friend or brother, +He forfeits his own blood that spills another. + +ALCIBIADES Must it be so? It must not be. +My lords, I do beseech you, know me. + +SECOND SENATOR How? + +ALCIBIADES Call me to your remembrances. + +THIRD SENATOR What? + +ALCIBIADES +I cannot think but your age has forgot me. +It could not else be I should prove so base +To sue and be denied such common grace. +My wounds ache at you. + +FIRST SENATOR Do you dare our anger? +'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect: +We banish thee forever. + +ALCIBIADES Banish me? +Banish your dotage, banish usury, +That makes the Senate ugly! + +FIRST SENATOR +If after two days' shine Athens contain thee, +Attend our weightier judgment. +And, not to swell our spirit, +He shall be executed presently. [Senators exit.] + +ALCIBIADES +Now the gods keep you old enough that you may live +Only in bone, that none may look on you!-- +I'm worse than mad. I have kept back their foes +While they have told their money and let out +Their coin upon large interest, I myself +Rich only in large hurts. All those for this? +Is this the balsam that the usuring Senate +Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment. +It comes not ill. I hate not to be banished. +It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury, +That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up +My discontented troops and lay for hearts. +'Tis honor with most lands to be at odds. +Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods. +[He exits.] + +Scene 6 +======= +[Music. Enter divers Friends at several doors.] + + +FIRST FRIEND The good time of day to you, sir. + +SECOND FRIEND I also wish it to you. I think this honorable +lord did but try us this other day. + +FIRST FRIEND Upon that were my thoughts tiring when +we encountered. I hope it is not so low with him as +he made it seem in the trial of his several friends. + +SECOND FRIEND It should not be, by the persuasion of +his new feasting. + +FIRST FRIEND I should think so. He hath sent me an +earnest inviting, which many my near occasions +did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me +beyond them, and I must needs appear. + +SECOND FRIEND In like manner was I in debt to my +importunate business, but he would not hear my +excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, +that my provision was out. + +FIRST FRIEND I am sick of that grief too, as I understand +how all things go. + +SECOND FRIEND Every man here's so. What would he +have borrowed of you? + +FIRST FRIEND A thousand pieces. + +SECOND FRIEND A thousand pieces! + +FIRST FRIEND What of you? + +SECOND FRIEND He sent to me, sir-- + +[Enter Timon and Attendants.] + +Here he comes. + +TIMON With all my heart, gentlemen both! And how +fare you? + +FIRST FRIEND Ever at the best, hearing well of your +Lordship. + +SECOND FRIEND The swallow follows not summer +more willing than we your Lordship. + +TIMON, [aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter, such +summer birds are men.--Gentlemen, our dinner +will not recompense this long stay. Feast your ears +with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly +o' th' trumpets' sound. We shall to 't presently. + +FIRST FRIEND I hope it remains not unkindly with your +Lordship that I returned you an empty messenger. + +TIMON O, sir, let it not trouble you. + +SECOND FRIEND My noble lord-- + +TIMON Ah, my good friend, what cheer? + +SECOND FRIEND My most honorable lord, I am e'en +sick of shame that when your Lordship this other +day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. + +TIMON Think not on 't, sir. + +SECOND FRIEND If you had sent but two hours before-- + +TIMON Let it not cumber your better remembrance. + +[The banquet brought in.] + + +Come, bring in all together. + +SECOND FRIEND All covered dishes! + +FIRST FRIEND Royal cheer, I warrant you. + +THIRD FRIEND Doubt not that, if money and the season +can yield it. + +FIRST FRIEND How do you? What's the news? + +THIRD FRIEND Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it? + +FIRST AND SECOND FRIENDS Alcibiades banished? + +THIRD FRIEND 'Tis so. Be sure of it. + +FIRST FRIEND How? How? + +SECOND FRIEND I pray you, upon what? + +TIMON My worthy friends, will you draw near? + +THIRD FRIEND I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble +feast toward. + +SECOND FRIEND This is the old man still. + +THIRD FRIEND Will 't hold? Will 't hold? + +SECOND FRIEND It does, but time will--and so-- + +THIRD FRIEND I do conceive. + +TIMON Each man to his stool, with that spur as he +would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet shall +be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let +the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place. +Sit, sit. [(They sit.)] The gods require our thanks: + +You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with +thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves +praised, but reserve still to give, lest your deities be +despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need +not lend to another; for, were your godheads to +borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make +the meat be beloved more than the man that gives +it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of +villains. If there sit twelve women at the table, let a +dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your fees, +O gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the +common tag of people, what is amiss in them, +you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these +my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so +in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they +welcome. + +Uncover, dogs, and lap. +[The dishes are uncovered. They contain +only water and stones.] + +SOME SPEAK What does his Lordship mean? + +SOME OTHER I know not. + +TIMON +May you a better feast never behold, +You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm +water +Is your perfection. This is Timon's last, +Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries, +Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces +Your reeking villainy. [(He throws water in their +faces.)] Live loathed and long, +Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites, +Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, +You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies, +Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks. +Of man and beast the infinite malady +Crust you quite o'er! [(They stand.)] What, dost thou +go? +Soft! Take thy physic first--thou too--and thou.-- +Stay. I will lend thee money, borrow none. +[He attacks them and forces them out.] +What? All in motion? Henceforth be no feast +Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest. +Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be +Of Timon man and all humanity! [He exits.] + +[Enter Timon's Friends, the Senators, with other Lords.] + + +FIRST FRIEND How now, my lords? + +SECOND FRIEND Know you the quality of Lord Timon's +fury? + +THIRD FRIEND Push! Did you see my cap? + +FOURTH FRIEND I have lost my gown. + +FIRST FRIEND He's but a mad lord, and naught but +humors sways him. He gave me a jewel th' other +day, and now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you +see my jewel? + +SECOND FRIEND Did you see my cap? + +THIRD FRIEND Here 'tis. + +FOURTH FRIEND Here lies my gown. + +FIRST FRIEND Let's make no stay. + +SECOND FRIEND +Lord Timon's mad. + +THIRD FRIEND I feel 't upon my bones. + +FOURTH FRIEND +One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. +[The Senators and the others exit.] + + +ACT 4 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Timon.] + + +TIMON +Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall +That girdles in those wolves, dive in the earth +And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent! +Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools, +Pluck the grave wrinkled Senate from the bench +And minister in their steads! To general filths +Convert o' th' instant, green virginity! +Do 't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast! +Rather than render back, out with your knives +And cut your trusters' throats! Bound servants, steal! +Large-handed robbers your grave masters are, +And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed! +Thy mistress is o' th' brothel. Son of sixteen, +Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire; +With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear, +Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth, +Domestic awe, night rest, and neighborhood, +Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades, +Degrees, observances, customs, and laws, +Decline to your confounding contraries, +And yet confusion live! Plagues incident to men, +Your potent and infectious fevers heap +On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica, +Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt +As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty, +Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth, +That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive +And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains, +Sow all th' Athenian bosoms, and their crop +Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath, +That their society, as their friendship, may +Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee +But nakedness, thou detestable town! +Take thou that too, with multiplying bans! +Timon will to the woods, where he shall find +Th' unkindest beast more kinder than mankind. +The gods confound--hear me, you good gods all!-- +Th' Athenians both within and out that wall, +And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow +To the whole race of mankind, high and low! +Amen. +[He exits.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter Steward Flavius with two or three Servants.] + + +FIRST SERVANT +Hear you, Master Steward, where's our master? +Are we undone, cast off, nothing remaining? + +FLAVIUS +Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you? +Let me be recorded by the righteous gods, +I am as poor as you. + +FIRST SERVANT Such a house broke? +So noble a master fall'n, all gone, and not +One friend to take his fortune by the arm +And go along with him? + +SECOND SERVANT As we do turn our backs +From our companion thrown into his grave, +So his familiars to his buried fortunes +Slink all away, leave their false vows with him, +Like empty purses picked; and his poor self, +A dedicated beggar to the air, +With his disease of all-shunned poverty, +Walks, like contempt, alone. + +[Enter other Servants.] + +More of our fellows. + +FLAVIUS +All broken implements of a ruined house. + +THIRD SERVANT +Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery. +That see I by our faces. We are fellows still, +Serving alike in sorrow. Leaked is our bark, +And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck, +Hearing the surges threat. We must all part +Into this sea of air. + +FLAVIUS Good fellows all, +The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you. +Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake +Let's yet be fellows. Let's shake our heads and say, +As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes, +"We have seen better days." [(He offers them +money.)] Let each take some. +Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more. +Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor. +[The Servants embrace and part several ways.] +O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! +Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt, +Since riches point to misery and contempt? +Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live +But in a dream of friendship, +To have his pomp and all what state compounds +But only painted, like his varnished friends? +Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart, +Undone by goodness! Strange unusual blood +When man's worst sin is he does too much good! +Who then dares to be half so kind again? +For bounty, that makes gods, do still mar men. +My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed, +Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes +Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord! +He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat +Of monstrous friends, +Nor has he with him to supply his life, +Or that which can command it. +I'll follow and inquire him out. +I'll ever serve his mind with my best will. +Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. +[He exits.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter Timon in the woods, with a spade.] + + +TIMON +O blessed breeding sun, draw from the Earth +Rotten humidity! Below thy sister's orb +Infect the air! Twinned brothers of one womb, +Whose procreation, residence, and birth +Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes, +The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature, +To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune +But by contempt of nature. +Raise me this beggar, and deny 't that lord; +The Senators shall bear contempt hereditary, +The beggar native honor. +It is the pasture lards the brother's sides, +The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who +dares +In purity of manhood stand upright +And say "This man's a flatterer"? If one be, +So are they all, for every grise of fortune +Is smoothed by that below. The learned pate +Ducks to the golden fool. All's obliquy. +There's nothing level in our cursed natures +But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred +All feasts, societies, and throngs of men. +His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains. +Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots! +Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate +With thy most operant poison! [(Digging, he finds +gold.)] What is here? +Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold? +No, gods, I am no idle votarist. +Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this will +make +Black white, foul fair, wrong right, +Base noble, old young, coward valiant. +Ha, you gods! Why this? What this, you gods? Why, +this +Will lug your priests and servants from your sides, +Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads. +This yellow slave +Will knit and break religions, bless th' accursed, +Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves +And give them title, knee, and approbation +With senators on the bench. This is it +That makes the wappened widow wed again; +She whom the spital house and ulcerous sores +Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices +To th' April day again. Come, damned earth, +Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds +Among the rout of nations, I will make thee +Do thy right nature. [(March afar off.)] Ha? A drum? +Thou 'rt quick, +But yet I'll bury thee. Thou 'lt go, strong thief, +When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand. +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 What art thou there? Speak. + +TIMON +A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart +For showing me again the eyes of man! + +ALCIBIADES +What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee +That art thyself a man? + +TIMON +I am Misanthropos and hate mankind. +For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, +That I might love thee something. + +ALCIBIADES I know thee well. +But in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange. + +TIMON +I know thee too, and more than that I know thee +I not desire to know. Follow thy drum. +With man's blood paint the ground gules, gules! +Religious canons, civil laws are cruel. +Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine +Hath in her more destruction than thy sword, +For all her cherubin look. + +PHRYNIA Thy lips rot off! + +TIMON +I will not kiss thee. Then the rot returns +To thine own lips again. + +ALCIBIADES +How came the noble Timon to this change? + +TIMON +As the moon does, by wanting light to give. +But then renew I could not, like the moon; +There were no suns to borrow of. + +ALCIBIADES +Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee? + +TIMON +None, but to maintain my opinion. + +ALCIBIADES What is it, Timon? + +TIMON Promise me friendship, but perform none. If +thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for +thou art a man. If thou dost perform, confound +thee, for thou art a man. + +ALCIBIADES +I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. + +TIMON +Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity. + +ALCIBIADES +I see them now. Then was a blessed time. + +TIMON +As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots. + +TIMANDRA +Is this th' Athenian minion whom the world +Voiced so regardfully? + +TIMON Art thou Timandra? + +TIMANDRA Yes. + +TIMON +Be a whore still. They love thee not that use thee. +Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust. +Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves +For tubs and baths. Bring down rose-cheeked youth +To the tub-fast and the diet. + +TIMANDRA Hang thee, monster! + +ALCIBIADES +Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits +Are drowned and lost in his calamities.-- +I have but little gold of late, brave Timon, +The want whereof doth daily make revolt +In my penurious band. I have heard and grieved +How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth, +Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states, +But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them-- + +TIMON +I prithee, beat thy drum and get thee gone. + +ALCIBIADES +I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon. + +TIMON +How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble? +I had rather be alone. + +ALCIBIADES +Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee. + +TIMON Keep it. I cannot eat it. + +ALCIBIADES +When I have laid proud Athens on a heap-- + +TIMON +Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens? + +ALCIBIADES Ay, Timon, and have cause. + +TIMON +The gods confound them all in thy conquest, +And thee after, when thou hast conquered! + +ALCIBIADES +Why me, Timon? + +TIMON That by killing of villains +Thou wast born to conquer my country. +Put up thy gold. Go on. Here's gold. Go on. +Be as a planetary plague when Jove +Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison +In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one. +Pity not honored age for his white beard; +He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron; +It is her habit only that is honest, +Herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek +Make soft thy trenchant sword, for those milk paps, +That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes, +Are not within the leaf of pity writ, +But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the +babe, +Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their +mercy; +Think it a bastard whom the oracle +Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut, +And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects; +Put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes, +Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, +Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, +Shall pierce a jot. [(He offers gold.)] There's gold to +pay thy soldiers. +Make large confusion and, thy fury spent, +Confounded be thyself! Speak not. Begone. + +ALCIBIADES +Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me, +Not all thy counsel. + +TIMON +Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven's curse upon thee! + +BOTH WOMEN +Give us some gold, good Timon. Hast thou more? + +TIMON +Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, +And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts, +Your aprons mountant. [(He begins throwing gold +into their aprons.)] You are not oathable, +Although I know you'll swear--terribly swear +Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues +Th' immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths. +I'll trust to your conditions. Be whores still. +And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you, +Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up. +Let your close fire predominate his smoke, +And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months +Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs +With burdens of the dead--some that were hanged, +No matter; wear them, betray with them. Whore +still. +Paint till a horse may mire upon your face. +A pox of wrinkles! + +BOTH WOMEN Well, more gold. What then? +Believe 't that we'll do anything for gold. + +TIMON Consumptions sow +In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins, +And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice, +That he may never more false title plead +Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen, +That scolds against the quality of flesh +And not believes himself. Down with the nose-- +Down with it flat, take the bridge quite away-- +Of him that, his particular to foresee, +Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate +ruffians bald, +And let the unscarred braggarts of the war +Derive some pain from you. Plague all, +That your activity may defeat and quell +The source of all erection. There's more gold. +Do you damn others, and let this damn you, +And ditches grave you all! + +BOTH WOMEN +More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon. + +TIMON +More whore, more mischief first! I have given you +earnest. + +ALCIBIADES +Strike up the drum towards Athens.--Farewell, +Timon. +If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again. + +TIMON +If I hope well, I'll never see thee more. + +ALCIBIADES I never did thee harm. + +TIMON +Yes, thou spok'st well of me. + +ALCIBIADES Call'st thou that harm? + +TIMON +Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take +Thy beagles with thee. + +ALCIBIADES, [to the Women] We but offend him.-- +Strike. [The drum sounds; all but Timon exit.] + +TIMON +That nature, being sick of man's unkindness, +Should yet be hungry! [(He digs.)] Common mother, +thou +Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast +Teems and feeds all; whose selfsame mettle-- +Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed-- +Engenders the black toad and adder blue, +The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm, +With all th' abhorred births below crisp heaven +Whereon Hyperion's quick'ning fire doth shine: +Yield him who all thy human sons do hate, +From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root! +Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb; +Let it no more bring out ingrateful man. +Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears; +Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face +Hath to the marbled mansion all above +Never presented. O, a root! Dear thanks! +Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plow-torn leas, +Whereof ingrateful man with liquorish drafts +And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind, +That from it all consideration slips-- + +[Enter Apemantus.] + +More man? Plague, plague! + +APEMANTUS +I was directed hither. Men report +Thou dost affect my manners and dost use them. + +TIMON +'Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog, +Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee! + +APEMANTUS +This is in thee a nature but infected, +A poor unmanly melancholy sprung +From change of future. Why this spade? This place? +This slavelike habit and these looks of care? +Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft, +Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot +That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods +By putting on the cunning of a carper. +Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive +By that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee, +And let his very breath whom thou 'lt observe +Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain, +And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus. +Thou gav'st thine ears, like tapsters that bade +welcome, +To knaves and all approachers. 'Tis most just +That thou turn rascal. Had'st thou wealth again, +Rascals should have 't. Do not assume my likeness. + +TIMON +Were I like thee, I'd throw away myself. + +APEMANTUS +Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself-- +A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st +That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, +Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moist trees, +That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels +And skip when thou point'st out? Will the cold brook, +Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste +To cure thy o'ernight's surfeit? Call the creatures +Whose naked natures live in all the spite +Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks, +To the conflicting elements exposed, +Answer mere nature. Bid them flatter thee. +O, thou shalt find-- + +TIMON A fool of thee. Depart. + +APEMANTUS +I love thee better now than e'er I did. + +TIMON +I hate thee worse. + +APEMANTUS Why? + +TIMON Thou flatter'st misery. + +APEMANTUS +I flatter not but say thou art a caitiff. + +TIMON Why dost thou seek me out? + +APEMANTUS To vex thee. + +TIMON +Always a villain's office or a fool's. +Dost please thyself in 't? + +APEMANTUS Ay. + +TIMON What, a knave too? + +APEMANTUS +If thou didst put this sour cold habit on +To castigate thy pride, 'twere well, but thou +Dost it enforcedly. Thou 'dst courtier be again +Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery +Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before; +The one is filling still, never complete, +The other at high wish. Best state, contentless, +Hath a distracted and most wretched being, +Worse than the worst, content. +Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable. + +TIMON +Not by his breath that is more miserable. +Thou art a slave whom Fortune's tender arm +With favor never clasped but bred a dog. +Hadst thou, like us from our first swathe, proceeded +The sweet degrees that this brief world affords +To such as may the passive drugs of it +Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged +thyself +In general riot, melted down thy youth +In different beds of lust, and never learned +The icy precepts of respect, but followed +The sugared game before thee. But myself-- +Who had the world as my confectionary, +The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of +men +At duty, more than I could frame employment, +That numberless upon me stuck as leaves +Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush +Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare, +For every storm that blows--I to bear this, +That never knew but better, is some burden. +Thy nature did commence in sufferance. Time +Hath made thee hard in 't. Why shouldst thou hate +men? +They never flattered thee. What hast thou given? +If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag, +Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff +To some she-beggar and compounded thee +Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, begone. +If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, +Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer. + +APEMANTUS +Art thou proud yet? + +TIMON Ay, that I am not thee. + +APEMANTUS I, that I was no prodigal. + +TIMON I, that I am one now. +Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee, +I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone. +That the whole life of Athens were in this! +Thus would I eat it. [He gnaws a root.] + +APEMANTUS, [offering food] Here, I will mend thy feast. + +TIMON +First mend my company. Take away thyself. + +APEMANTUS +So I shall mend mine own by th' lack of thine. + +TIMON +'Tis not well mended so; it is but botched. +If not, I would it were. + +APEMANTUS What wouldst thou have to Athens? + +TIMON +Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, +Tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have. + +APEMANTUS +Here is no use for gold. + +TIMON The best and truest, +For here it sleeps and does no hired harm. + +APEMANTUS Where liest a-nights, Timon? + +TIMON Under that's above me. Where feed'st thou +a-days, Apemantus? + +APEMANTUS Where my stomach finds meat, or rather +where I eat it. + +TIMON Would poison were obedient and knew my +mind! + +APEMANTUS Where wouldst thou send it? + +TIMON To sauce thy dishes. + +APEMANTUS The middle of humanity thou never +knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When +thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they +mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags +thou know'st none, but art despised for the contrary. +There's a medlar for thee. Eat it. + +TIMON On what I hate I feed not. + +APEMANTUS Dost hate a medlar? + +TIMON Ay, though it look like thee. + +APEMANTUS An thou 'dst hated meddlers sooner, thou +shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man +didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved +after his means? + +TIMON Who, without those means thou talk'st of, didst +thou ever know beloved? + +APEMANTUS Myself. + +TIMON I understand thee. Thou hadst some means to +keep a dog. + +APEMANTUS What things in the world canst thou nearest +compare to thy flatterers? + +TIMON Women nearest, but men--men are the things +themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, +Apemantus, if it lay in thy power? + +APEMANTUS Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. + +TIMON Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion +of men and remain a beast with the beasts? + +APEMANTUS Ay, Timon. + +TIMON A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee +t' attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would +beguile thee. If thou wert the lamb, the fox would +eat thee. If thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect +thee when peradventure thou wert accused by +the ass. If thou wert the ass, thy dullness would +torment thee, and still thou lived'st but as a breakfast +to the wolf. If thou wert the wolf, thy greediness +would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard +thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn, +pride and wrath would confound thee and +make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. Wert +thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse. +Wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the +leopard. Wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane +to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were +jurors on thy life. All thy safety were remotion, and +thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be +that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast +art thou already that seest not thy loss in +transformation! + +APEMANTUS If thou couldst please me with speaking to +me, thou mightst have hit upon it here. The commonwealth +of Athens is become a forest of beasts. + +TIMON How, has the ass broke the wall that thou art +out of the city? + +APEMANTUS Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The +plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to +catch it and give way. When I know not what else +to do, I'll see thee again. + +TIMON When there is nothing living but thee, thou +shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog +than Apemantus. + +APEMANTUS +Thou art the cap of all the fools alive. + +TIMON +Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon! + +APEMANTUS +A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse. + +TIMON +All villains that do stand by thee are pure. + +APEMANTUS +There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st. + +TIMON If I name thee. +I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands. + +APEMANTUS I would my tongue could rot them off! + +TIMON +Away, thou issue of a mangy dog! +Choler does kill me that thou art alive. +I swoon to see thee. + +APEMANTUS +Would thou wouldst burst! + +TIMON Away, thou tedious rogue! +I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee. +[Timon throws a stone at Apemantus.] + +APEMANTUS Beast! + +TIMON Slave! + +APEMANTUS Toad! + +TIMON Rogue, rogue, rogue! +I am sick of this false world, and will love nought +But even the mere necessities upon 't. +Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave. +Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat +Thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph, +That death in me at others' lives may laugh. +[(To his gold.)] O thou sweet king-killer and dear +divorce +'Twixt natural son and sire, thou bright defiler +Of Hymen's purest bed, thou valiant Mars, +Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer, +Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow +That lies on Dian's lap; thou visible god, +That sold'rest close impossibilities +And mak'st them kiss, that speak'st with every +tongue +To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts, +Think thy slave, man, rebels, and by thy virtue +Set them into confounding odds, that beasts +May have the world in empire! + +APEMANTUS Would 'twere so! +But not till I am dead. I'll say thou 'st gold; +Thou wilt be thronged to shortly. + +TIMON Thronged to? + +APEMANTUS Ay. + +TIMON +Thy back, I prithee. + +APEMANTUS Live and love thy misery. + +TIMON Long live so, and so die. I am quit. + +[Enter the Banditti.] + + +APEMANTUS +More things like men.--Eat, Timon, and abhor +them. [Apemantus exits.] + +FIRST BANDIT Where should he have this gold? It is +some poor fragment, some slender ort of his +remainder. The mere want of gold and the falling-from +of his friends drove him into this melancholy. + +SECOND BANDIT It is noised he hath a mass of treasure. + +THIRD BANDIT Let us make the assay upon him. If he +care not for 't, he will supply us easily. If he covetously +reserve it, how shall 's get it? + +SECOND BANDIT True, for he bears it not about him. 'Tis +hid. + +FIRST BANDIT Is not this he? + +OTHERS Where? + +SECOND BANDIT 'Tis his description. + +THIRD BANDIT He. I know him. + +ALL Save thee, Timon. + +TIMON Now, thieves? + +ALL +Soldiers, not thieves. + +TIMON Both, too, and women's sons. + +ALL +We are not thieves, but men that much do want. + +TIMON +Your greatest want is, you want much of meat. +Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots. +Within this mile break forth a hundred springs. +The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips. +The bounteous huswife Nature on each bush +Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want? + +FIRST BANDIT +We cannot live on grass, on berries, water, +As beasts and birds and fishes. + +TIMON +Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes; +You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con +That you are thieves professed, that you work not +In holier shapes, for there is boundless theft +In limited professions. Rascal thieves, +Here's gold. [(He gives them gold.)] Go, suck the +subtle blood o' th' grape +Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth, +And so 'scape hanging. Trust not the physician; +His antidotes are poison, and he slays +More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together. +Do, villainy, do, since you protest to do 't, +Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery. +The sun's a thief and with his great attraction +Robs the vast sea. The moon's an arrant thief, +And her pale fire she snatches from the sun. +The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves +The moon into salt tears. The earth's a thief, +That feeds and breeds by a composture stol'n +From gen'ral excrement. Each thing's a thief. +The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power +Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves. Away! +Rob one another. There's more gold. [(He gives them +gold.)] Cut throats. +All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go. +Break open shops. Nothing can you steal +But thieves do lose it. Steal less for this I give you, +And gold confound you howsoe'er! Amen. + +THIRD BANDIT Has almost charmed me from my profession +by persuading me to it. + +FIRST BANDIT 'Tis in the malice of mankind that he +thus advises us, not to have us thrive in our +mystery. + +SECOND BANDIT I'll believe him as an enemy and give +over my trade. + +FIRST BANDIT Let us first see peace in Athens. There is +no time so miserable but a man may be true. +[Thieves exit.] + +[Enter Flavius the Steward, to Timon.] + + +FLAVIUS O you gods! +Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord? +Full of decay and flailing? O, monument +And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed! +What an alteration of honor has desp'rate want +made! +What viler thing upon the Earth than friends, +Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends! +How rarely does it meet with this time's guise, +When man was wished to love his enemies! +Grant I may ever love, and rather woo +Those that would mischief me than those that do! +Has caught me in his eye. I will present +My honest grief unto him and as my lord +Still serve him with my life.--My dearest master. + +TIMON +Away! What art thou? + +FLAVIUS Have you forgot me, sir? + +TIMON +Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men. +Then, if thou grant'st thou 'rt a man, I have forgot +thee. + +FLAVIUS An honest poor servant of yours. + +TIMON Then I know thee not. +I never had honest man about me, I. All +I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains. + +FLAVIUS The gods are witness, +Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief +For his undone lord than mine eyes for you. +[He weeps.] + +TIMON +What, dost thou weep? Come nearer, then. I love +thee +Because thou art a woman and disclaim'st +Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give +But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping. +Strange times that weep with laughing, not with +weeping! + +FLAVIUS +I beg of you to know me, good my lord, +T' accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts, +To entertain me as your steward still. +[He offers money.] + +TIMON Had I a steward +So true, so just, and now so comfortable? +It almost turns my dangerous nature mild. +Let me behold thy face. Surely this man +Was born of woman. +Forgive my general and exceptless rashness, +You perpetual-sober gods. I do proclaim +One honest man--mistake me not, but one; +No more, I pray!--and he's a steward. +How fain would I have hated all mankind, +And thou redeem'st thyself. But all, save thee, +I fell with curses. +Methinks thou art more honest now than wise, +For by oppressing and betraying me +Thou mightst have sooner got another service; +For many so arrive at second masters +Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true-- +For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure-- +Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous, +A usuring kindness, and as rich men deal gifts, +Expecting in return twenty for one? + +FLAVIUS +No, my most worthy master, in whose breast +Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late. +You should have feared false times when you did +feast. +Suspect still comes where an estate is least. +That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, +Duty, and zeal to your unmatched mind, +Care of your food and living. And believe it, +My most honored lord, +For any benefit that points to me, +Either in hope or present, I'd exchange +For this one wish, that you had power and wealth +To requite me by making rich yourself. + +TIMON +Look thee, 'tis so. Thou singly honest man, +Here, take. [(Timon offers gold.)] The gods out of my +misery +Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy, +But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men; +Hate all, curse all, show charity to none, +But let the famished flesh slide from the bone +Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs +What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow 'em, +Debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like blasted +woods, +And may diseases lick up their false bloods! +And so farewell and thrive. + +FLAVIUS O, let me stay +And comfort you, my master. + +TIMON If thou hat'st curses, +Stay not. Fly whilst thou art blest and free. +Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee. +[They exit.] + + +ACT 5 +===== + +Scene 1 +======= +[Enter Poet and Painter.] + + +PAINTER As I took note of the place, it cannot be far +where he abides. + +POET What's to be thought of him? Does the rumor +hold for true that he's so full of gold? + +PAINTER Certain. Alcibiades reports it. Phrynia and +Timandra had gold of him. He likewise enriched +poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. 'Tis +said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum. + +POET Then this breaking of his has been but a try for +his friends? + +PAINTER Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in +Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore +'tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in +this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly +in us and is very likely to load our purposes with +what they travail for, if it be a just and true report +that goes of his having. + +[Enter Timon, behind them, from his cave.] + + +POET What have you now to present unto him? + +PAINTER Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I +will promise him an excellent piece. + +POET I must serve him so too--tell him of an intent +that's coming toward him. + +PAINTER Good as the best. Promising is the very air o' +th' time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance +is ever the duller for his act, and but in the +plainer and simpler kind of people the deed of saying +is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly +and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or +testament which argues a great sickness in his +judgment that makes it. + +TIMON, [aside] Excellent workman! Thou canst not +paint a man so bad as is thyself. + +POET I am thinking what I shall say I have provided +for him. It must be a personating of himself, a +satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery +of the infinite flatteries that follow youth +and opulency. + +TIMON, [aside] Must thou needs stand for a villain in +thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults +in other men? Do so. I have gold for thee. + +POET Nay, let's seek him. +Then do we sin against our own estate +When we may profit meet and come too late. + +PAINTER True. +When the day serves, before black-cornered night, +Find what thou want'st by free and offered light. +Come. + +TIMON, [aside] +I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold +That he is worshiped in a baser temple +Than where swine feed! +'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plow'st the foam, +Settlest admired reverence in a slave. +To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye +Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey! +Fit I meet them. [He comes forward.] + +POET +Hail, worthy Timon. + +PAINTER Our late noble master. + +TIMON +Have I once lived to see two honest men? + +POET Sir, +Having often of your open bounty tasted, +Hearing you were retired, your friends fall'n off, +Whose thankless natures--O, abhorred spirits! +Not all the whips of heaven are large enough-- +What, to you, +Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence +To their whole being? I am rapt and cannot cover +The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude +With any size of words. + +TIMON +Let it go naked. Men may see 't the better. +You that are honest, by being what you are +Make them best seen and known. + +PAINTER He and myself +Have travailed in the great shower of your gifts +And sweetly felt it. + +TIMON Ay, you are honest men. + +PAINTER +We are hither come to offer you our service. + +TIMON +Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? +Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No? + +BOTH +What we can do we'll do to do you service. + +TIMON +You're honest men. You've heard that I have gold. +I am sure you have. Speak truth. You're honest men. + +PAINTER +So it is said, my noble lord, but therefor +Came not my friend nor I. + +TIMON +Good honest men. [(To the Painter.)] Thou draw'st a +counterfeit +Best in all Athens. Thou 'rt indeed the best. +Thou counterfeit'st most lively. + +PAINTER So-so, my lord. + +TIMON +E'en so, sir, as I say. [(To the Poet.)] And for thy +fiction, +Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth +That thou art even natural in thine art. +But for all this, my honest-natured friends, +I must needs say you have a little fault. +Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I +You take much pains to mend. + +BOTH Beseech your Honor +To make it known to us. + +TIMON You'll take it ill. + +BOTH Most thankfully, my lord. + +TIMON Will you indeed? + +BOTH Doubt it not, worthy lord. + +TIMON +There's never a one of you but trusts a knave +That mightily deceives you. + +BOTH Do we, my lord? + +TIMON +Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble, +Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, +Keep in your bosom. Yet remain assured +That he's a made-up villain. + +PAINTER I know none such, my lord. + +POET Nor I. + +TIMON +Look you, I love you well. I'll give you gold. +Rid me these villains from your companies, +Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draft, +Confound them by some course, and come to me, +I'll give you gold enough. + +BOTH Name them, my lord, let 's know them. + +TIMON +You that way and you this, but two in company. +Each man apart, all single and alone, +Yet an archvillain keeps him company. +[(To one.)] If where thou art, two villains shall not be, +Come not near him. [(To the other.)] If thou wouldst +not reside +But where one villain is, then him abandon.-- +Hence, pack. There's gold. You came for gold, you +slaves. +[(To one.)] You have work for me. There's payment. +Hence. +[(To the other.)] You are an alchemist; make gold of +that. +Out, rascal dogs! +[Timon drives them out and then exits.] + +[Enter Steward Flavius, and two Senators.] + + +FLAVIUS +It is vain that you would speak with Timon, +For he is set so only to himself +That nothing but himself which looks like man +Is friendly with him. + +FIRST SENATOR Bring us to his cave. +It is our part and promise to th' Athenians +To speak with Timon. + +SECOND SENATOR At all times alike +Men are not still the same. 'Twas time and griefs +That framed him thus. Time, with his fairer hand +Offering the fortunes of his former days, +The former man may make him. Bring us to him, +And chance it as it may. + +FLAVIUS Here is his cave.-- +Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon! +Look out, and speak to friends. Th' Athenians +By two of their most reverend Senate greet thee. +Speak to them, noble Timon. + +[Enter Timon out of his cave.] + + +TIMON +Thou sun that comforts, burn!--Speak and be +hanged! +For each true word a blister, and each false +Be as a cauterizing to the root o' th' tongue, +Consuming it with speaking. + +FIRST SENATOR Worthy Timon-- + +TIMON +Of none but such as you, and you of Timon. + +FIRST SENATOR +The Senators of Athens greet thee, Timon. + +TIMON +I thank them and would send them back the plague, +Could I but catch it for them. + +FIRST SENATOR O, forget +What we are sorry for ourselves in thee. +The Senators with one consent of love +Entreat thee back to Athens, who have thought +On special dignities which vacant lie +For thy best use and wearing. + +SECOND SENATOR They confess +Toward thee forgetfulness too general gross; +Which now the public body, which doth seldom +Play the recanter, feeling in itself +A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal +Of it own fall, restraining aid to Timon, +And send forth us to make their sorrowed render, +Together with a recompense more fruitful +Than their offense can weigh down by the dram-- +Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth +As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs +And write in thee the figures of their love, +Ever to read them thine. + +TIMON You witch me in it, +Surprise me to the very brink of tears. +Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes, +And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators. + +FIRST SENATOR +Therefore, so please thee to return with us +And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take +The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks; +Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name +Live with authority. So soon we shall drive back +Of Alcibiades th' approaches wild, +Who like a boar too savage doth root up +His country's peace. + +SECOND SENATOR And shakes his threat'ning sword +Against the walls of Athens. + +FIRST SENATOR Therefore, Timon-- + +TIMON +Well sir, I will. Therefore I will, sir, thus: +If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, +Let Alcibiades know this of Timon-- +That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens +And take our goodly aged men by th' beards, +Giving our holy virgins to the stain +Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war, +Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it +In pity of our aged and our youth, +I cannot choose but tell him that I care not, +And let him take 't at worst--for their knives care not, +While you have throats to answer. For myself, +There's not a whittle in th' unruly camp +But I do prize it at my love before +The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you +To the protection of the prosperous gods +As thieves to keepers. + +FLAVIUS, [to Senators] Stay not. All's in vain. + +TIMON +Why, I was writing of my epitaph. +It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness +Of health and living now begins to mend, +And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still. +Be Alcibiades your plague, you his, +And last so long enough! + +FIRST SENATOR We speak in vain. + +TIMON +But yet I love my country and am not +One that rejoices in the common wrack, +As common bruit doth put it. + +FIRST SENATOR That's well spoke. + +TIMON +Commend me to my loving countrymen. + +FIRST SENATOR +These words become your lips as they pass through +them. + +SECOND SENATOR +And enter in our ears like great triumphers +In their applauding gates. + +TIMON Commend me to them +And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, +Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, +Their pangs of love, with other incident throes +That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain +In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do +them. +I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath. + +FIRST SENATOR, [to Second Senator] +I like this well. He will return again. + +TIMON +I have a tree, which grows here in my close, +That mine own use invites me to cut down, +And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends, +Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree +From high to low throughout, that whoso please +To stop affliction, let him take his haste, +Come hither ere my tree hath felt the ax, +And hang himself. I pray you, do my greeting. + +FLAVIUS, [to Senators] +Trouble him no further. Thus you still shall find him. + +TIMON +Come not to me again, but say to Athens, +Timon hath made his everlasting mansion +Upon the beached verge of the salt flood, +Who once a day with his embossed froth +The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come +And let my gravestone be your oracle. +Lips, let four words go by and language end. +What is amiss, plague and infection mend. +Graves only be men's works, and death their gain. +Sun, hide thy beams. Timon hath done his reign. +[Timon exits.] + +FIRST SENATOR +His discontents are unremovably +Coupled to nature. + +SECOND SENATOR +Our hope in him is dead. Let us return +And strain what other means is left unto us +In our dear peril. + +FIRST SENATOR It requires swift foot. +[They exit.] + +Scene 2 +======= +[Enter two other Senators, with a Messenger.] + + +THIRD SENATOR +Thou hast painfully discovered. Are his files +As full as thy report? + +MESSENGER I have spoke the least. +Besides, his expedition promises +Present approach. + +FOURTH SENATOR +We stand much hazard if they bring not Timon. + +MESSENGER +I met a courier, one mine ancient friend, +Whom, though in general part we were opposed, +Yet our old love made a particular force +And made us speak like friends. This man was riding +From Alcibiades to Timon's cave +With letters of entreaty which imported +His fellowship i' th' cause against your city, +In part for his sake moved. + +[Enter the other Senators.] + + +THIRD SENATOR Here come our brothers. + +FIRST SENATOR +No talk of Timon; nothing of him expect. +The enemy's drum is heard, and fearful scouring +Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare. +Ours is the fall, I fear, our foe's the snare. +[They exit.] + +Scene 3 +======= +[Enter a Soldier in the woods, seeking Timon.] + + +SOLDIER +By all description this should be the place. +Who's here? Speak, ho! No answer? What is this? +[He reads an epitaph.] +Timon is dead, who hath out-stretched his span. +Some beast read this; there does not live a man. +Dead, sure, and this his grave. What's on this tomb +I cannot read. The character I'll take with wax. +Our captain hath in every figure skill, +An aged interpreter, though young in days. +Before proud Athens he's set down by this, +Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. +[He exits.] + +Scene 4 +======= +[Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his Powers +before Athens.] + + +ALCIBIADES +Sound to this coward and lascivious town +Our terrible approach. [Sounds a parley.] + +[The Senators appear upon the walls.] + +Till now you have gone on and filled the time +With all licentious measure, making your wills +The scope of justice. Till now myself and such +As slept within the shadow of your power +Have wandered with our traversed arms and breathed +Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush, +When crouching marrow in the bearer strong +Cries of itself "No more!" Now breathless wrong +Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease, +And pursy insolence shall break his wind +With fear and horrid flight. + +FIRST SENATOR Noble and young, +When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, +Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear, +We sent to thee to give thy rages balm, +To wipe out our ingratitude with loves +Above their quantity. + +SECOND SENATOR So did we woo +Transformed Timon to our city's love +By humble message and by promised means. +We were not all unkind, nor all deserve +The common stroke of war. + +FIRST SENATOR These walls of ours +Were not erected by their hands from whom +You have received your grief, nor are they such +That these great towers, trophies, and schools +should fall +For private faults in them. + +SECOND SENATOR Nor are they living +Who were the motives that you first went out. +Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess +Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord, +Into our city with thy banners spread. +By decimation and a tithed death, +If thy revenges hunger for that food +Which nature loathes, take thou the destined tenth +And, by the hazard of the spotted die, +Let die the spotted. + +FIRST SENATOR All have not offended. +For those that were, it is not square to take, +On those that are, revenge. Crimes, like lands, +Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman, +Bring in thy ranks but leave without thy rage. +Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin +Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall +With those that have offended. Like a shepherd +Approach the fold and cull th' infected forth, +But kill not all together. + +SECOND SENATOR What thou wilt, +Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile +Than hew to 't with thy sword. + +FIRST SENATOR Set but thy foot +Against our rampired gates and they shall ope, +So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before +To say thou 'lt enter friendly. + +SECOND SENATOR Throw thy glove, +Or any token of thine honor else, +That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress +And not as our confusion, all thy powers +Shall make their harbor in our town till we +Have sealed thy full desire. + +ALCIBIADES Then there's my glove. +Descend and open your uncharged ports. +Those enemies of Timon's and mine own +Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof +Fall, and no more. And to atone your fears +With my more noble meaning, not a man +Shall pass his quarter or offend the stream +Of regular justice in your city's bounds +But shall be remedied to your public laws +At heaviest answer. + +BOTH 'Tis most nobly spoken. + +ALCIBIADES Descend and keep your words. +[The Senators descend.] + +[Enter a Soldier, with the wax tablet.] + + +SOLDIER +My noble general, Timon is dead, +Entombed upon the very hem o' th' sea, +And on his gravestone this insculpture, which +With wax I brought away, whose soft impression +Interprets for my poor ignorance. + +ALCIBIADES [reads the epitaph.] +Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft. +Seek not my name. A plague consume you, wicked +caitiffs left! +Here lie I, Timon, who, alive, all living men did hate. +Pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay not here +thy gait. +These well express in thee thy latter spirits. +Though thou abhorred'st in us our human griefs, +Scorned'st our brains' flow and those our droplets +which +From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit +Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye +On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead +Is noble Timon, of whose memory +Hereafter more. Bring me into your city, +And I will use the olive with my sword, +Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make +each +Prescribe to other as each other's leech. +Let our drums strike. +[Drums. They exit.] \ No newline at end of file