Shakespeare, William; Middleton, Thomas ?

Timon of Athens


Source text for this digital edition:
Shakespeare, William, and Thomas Middleton. The Life of Timon of Athens. Edited by Jesús Tronch for the Internet Shakespeare Editions. València: ARTELOPE Universitat de València, 2018.

Note on this digital edition

This critical edition is a contribution to the Internet Shakespeare Editions (University of Victoria). As for February 2018, it has not been peer reviewed by its editorial board.

With the support of research project GVAICO2016-094, funded by Generalitat Valenciana (2016-2017).

__________________________________________________



THE ACTORS’ NAMES [Characters in the Play]

Timon of Athens
[ Flavius steward to Timon]
Flaminius one of Timon's servants
Servilius another
[ Lucilius another servant
1 Servant
2 Servant
3 Servant ]
Apemantus a churlish philosopher
Alcibiades an Athenian captain
[ Timandra }
Phrynia } mistresses to Alcibiades
A Messenger
A Soldier ]
Lucius }
Lucullus } two flattering lords
Sempronius another flattering lord
Ventidius one of Timon's false friends
Certain Senators
[ 1 Senator
2 Senator
3 Senator
4 Senator
1 Lord
2 Lord
3 Lord
4 Lord
Several servants to userers [Timon’s creditors]:
Caphis [servant to a senator]
Varro’s [1 Servant]
[ Varro’s 2 Servant
Philotus
Titus
Lucius’ [Servant]
Hortensius
[ Isidore’s Servant
Lucullus’ Servant
A Messenger from Ventidius ]
Poet
Painter
Jeweler
Merchant
[ An Old Ahtenian
A Fool
A Page ]
Certain masquers: }
1 Lady }
Other Ladies ] }
Cupid }
Certain Thieves [:
1 Thief
2 Thief
3 Thief ]
[ 1 Stranger
2 Stranger
3 Stranger
A Messenger for the Senators ]
With divers other Servants and Attendants.

The Life of Timon of Athens

11.1

2Enter Poet, Painter, [carrying a picture,] Jeweler, [with a jewel,] Merchant, and Mercer,
3at several doors.

Poet
4-5
Good day, sir.

Painter
6
I am glad you're well.

Poet
7
I have not seen you long. How goes the world?

Painter
9
It wears, sir, as it grows.

Poet
10
Ay, that's well known.
11
But what particular rarity, what strange,
12
Which manifold record not matches? See,
13
Magic of bounty, all these spirits thy power
14
Hath conjured to attend.
15
I know the merchant.

Painter
16
I know them both: th'other's a jeweler.

Merchant
17
Oh, 'tis a worthy lord.

Jeweler
18
Nay, that's most fixed.

Merchant
19
A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
20
To an untireable and continuate goodness.
21
He passes.

Jeweler
22
I have a jewel here.

Merchant
23
Oh, pray, let's see't. For the Lord Timon, sir?

Jeweler
24
If he will touch the estimate. But for that—

Poet
25
To himself
When we for recompense have praised the vile,
26
It stains the glory in that happy verse
27
Which aptly sings the good.

Merchant
28
'Tis a good form.

Jeweler
29
And rich. Here is a water, look ye.

Painter
30
You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
31
To the great lord.

Poet
32
A thing slipped idly from me.
33
Our poesy is as a gum which oozes
34
From whence 'tis nourished. The fire i'th'flint
35
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
36
Provokes itself and, like the current, flies
37
Each bound it chafes. What have you there?

Painter
38
A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?

Poet
39
Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
40
Let's see your piece.

Painter
41
'Tis a good piece.

Poet
42
So 'tis. This comes off well and excellent.

Painter
43
Indifferent.

Poet
44
Admirable. How this grace
45
Speaks his own standing! What a mental power
46
This eye shoots forth! How big imagination
47
Moves in this lip! To th'dumbness of the gesture,
48
One might interpret.

Painter
49
It is a pretty mocking of the life.
50
Here is a touch. Is't good?

Poet
51
I will say of it
52
It tutors Nature. Artificial strife
53
Lives in these touches, livelier than life.

54Enter certain senators.

Painter
55
How this lord is followed!

Poet
56
The senators of Athens, happy men!

Painter
57
Look, more.

Poet
58
You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
59
I have in this rough work shaped out a man
60
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
61
With amplest entertainment. My free drift
62
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
63
In a wide sea of wax; no leveled malice
64
Infects one comma in the course I hold,
65
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
66
Leaving no tract behind.

Painter
67
How shall I understand you?

Poet
68
I will unbolt to you.
69
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
70
As well of glib and slipp'ry creatures as
71
Of grave and austere quality, tender down
72
Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune,
73
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
74
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
75
All sorts of hearts — yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
76
To Apemantus, that few things loves better
77
Than to abhor himself, even he drops down
78
The knee before him and returns in peace
79
Most rich in Timon's nod.

Painter
80
I saw them speak together.

Poet
81
Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
82
Feigned Fortune to be throned.
83
The base o'th'mount
84
Is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures
85
That labor on the bosom of this sphere
86
To propagate their states. Among'st them all,
87
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed,
88
One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,
89
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her,
90
Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
91
Translates his rivals.

Painter
92
'Tis conceived to scope.
93
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
94
With one man beckoned from the rest below,
95
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
96
To climb his happiness, would be well expressed
97
In our condition.

Poet
98
Nay, sir, but hear me on:
99
All those which were his fellows but of late,
100
Some better than his value, on the moment
101
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
102
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
103
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
104
Drink the free air.

Painter
105
Ay, marry, what of these?

Poet
106
When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
107
Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants,
108
Which labored after him to the mountain's top
109
Even on their knees and hands, let him flit down,
110
Not one accompanying his declining foot.

Painter
111
'Tis common:
112
A thousand moral paintings I can show
113
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's
114
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
115
To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
116
The foot above the head.

117Trumpets sound.
118Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself courteously
119to every suitor.

Timon
120
Imprisoned is he, say you?

Messenger
121
Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt,
122
His means most short, his creditors most strait.
123
Your honourable letter he desires
124
To those have shut him up, which, failing,
125
Periods his comfort.

Timon
126
Noble Ventidius — well:
127
I am not of that feather to shake off
128
My friend when he must need me. I do know him
129
A gentleman that well deserves a help,
130
Which he shall have. I'll pay the debt and free him.

Messenger
131
Your lordship ever binds him.

Timon
132
Commend me to him. I will send his ransom,
133
And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me:
134
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up
135
But to support him after. Fare you well.

Messenger
136
All happiness to your honor.

136Exit.
137Enter an old Athenian.

Old Athenian
138
Lord Timon, hear me speak.

Timon
139
Freely, good father.

Old Athenian
140
Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.

Timon
141
I have so. What of him?

Old Athenian
142
Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.

Timon
143
Attends he here, or no? Lucilius!

Lucilius
144
Here at your lordship's service.

Old Athenian
145
This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
146
By night frequents my house. I am a man
147
That from my first have been inclined to thrift,
148
And my estate deserves an heir more raised
149
Than one which holds a trencher.

Timon
150
Well, what further?

Old Athenian
151
One only daughter have I, no kin else
152
On whom I may confer what I have got:
153
The maid is fair, o'th'youngest for a bride,
154
And I have bred her at my dearest cost
155
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
156
Attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord,
157
join with me to forbid him her resort;
158
Myself have spoke in vain.

Timon
159
The man is honest.

Old Athenian
160
Therefore he will be, Timon.
161
His honesty rewards him in itself,
162
It must not bear my daughter.

Timon
163
Does she love him?

Old Athenian
164
She is young and apt:
165
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
166
What levity's in youth.

Timon
167
Love you the maid?

Lucilius
168
Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.

Old Athenian
169
If in her marriage my consent be missing,
170
I call the gods to witness, I will choose
171
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world
172
And dispossess her all.

Timon
173
How shall she be endowed,
174
If she be mated with an equal husband?

Old Athenian
175
Three talents on the present; in future, all.

Timon
176-7
This gentleman of mine hath served me long.
178
To build his fortune I will strain a little,
179
For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter;
180
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise
181
And make him weigh with her.

Old Athenian
182
Most noble lord,
183
Pawn me to this your honor, she is his.

Timon
184-5
My hand to thee, mine honor on my promise.

Lucilius
186
Humbly I thank your lordship. Never may
187
That state or fortune fall into my keeping
188
Which is not owed to you.

188Exit [with Old Athenian].

Poet
189-90
Vouchsafe my labor, and long live your lordship.

Timon
191
I thank you; you shall hear from me anon,
192
Go not away. — What have you there, my friend?

Painter
193
A piece of painting, which I do beseech
194
Your lordship to accept.

Timon
195
Painting is welcome.
196
The painting is almost the natural man,
197
For since dishonor traffics with man's nature,
198
He is but outside: these penciled figures are
199
Even such as they give out. I like your work,
200
And you shall find I like it. Wait attendance
201
Till you hear further from me.

Painter
202
The gods preserve ye.

Timon
203
Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand.
204
We must needs dine together. — Sir, your jewel
205
Hath suffered under praise.

Jeweler
206
What, my lord, dispraise?

Timon
207
A mere satiety of commendations.
208
If I should pay you for't as 'tis extolled,
209
It would unclew me quite.

Jeweler
210
My lord, 'tis rated
211
As those which sell would give; but you well know,
212
Things of like value differing in the owners
213
Are prized by their masters. Believe't, dear lord,
214
You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

Timon
215
Well mocked.

215Enter Apemantus.

Merchant
216
No, my good lord, he speaks the common tongue
217
Which all men speak with him.

Timon
218
Look who comes here. Will you be chid?

Jeweler
219
We'll bear with your lordship.

Merchant
220
He'll spare none.

Timon
221
Good morrow to thee,
222
gentle Apemantus.

Apemantus
223
Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow —
224
When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.

Timon
225-6
Why dost thou call them knaves? Thou know'st them not.

Apemantus
227Are they not Athenians?

Timon
228Yes.

Apemantus
229Then I repent not.

Jeweler
230You know me, Apemantus?

Apemantus
231
Thou know'st I do, I called thee by thy name.

Timon
232Thou art proud, Apemantus?

Apemantus
233Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.

Timon
234Whither art going?

Apemantus
235To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.

Timon
236That's a deed thou'lt die for.

Apemantus
237Right, if doing nothing be death by th'law.

Timon
238How lik'st thou this picture, Apemantus?

Apemantus
239The best, for the innocence.

Timon
240Wrought he not well that painted it?

Apemantus
241He wrought better that made the painter, and 242yet he's but a filthy piece of work.

Painter
243You're a dog.

Apemantus
244Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I 245be a dog?

Timon
246Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

Apemantus
247No, I eat not lords.

Timon
248An thou shouldst, thou'dst anger ladies.

Apemantus
249Oh, they eat lords; 250so they come by great bellies.

Timon
251That's a lascivious apprehension.

Apemantus
252So, thou apprehend'st it; 253take it for thy labor.

Timon
254How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

Apemantus
255Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cast 256a man a doit.

Timon
257What dost thou think 'tis worth?

Apemantus
258Not worth my thinking. 259— How now, poet?

Poet
260How now, philosopher?

Apemantus
261Thou liest.

Poet
262Art not one?

Apemantus
263Yes.

Poet
264Then I lie not.

Apemantus
265Art not a poet?

Poet
266Yes.

Apemantus
267Then thou liest: 268Look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a 269worthy fellow.

Poet
270That's not feigned, he is so.

Apemantus
271Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy 272labor. He that loves to be flattered is worthy o'th'flatterer. 273Heavens, that I were a lord!

Timon
274What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

Apemantus
275E'en as Apemantus does now: hate a lord with 276my heart.

Timon
277What, thyself?

Apemantus
278Ay.

Timon
279Wherefore?

Apemantus
280That I had no angry wit to be a lord. 281— Art not thou a merchant?

Merchant
282Ay, Apemantus.

Apemantus
283Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not.

Merchant
284If traffic do it, the gods do it.

Apemantus
285Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee.

286Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.

Timon
287What trumpet's that?

Messenger
288
'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse
289
All of companionship.

Timon
290
Pray entertain them, give them guide to us.
290[Exit one or more Attendants.]
291
You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence
292
Till I have thanked you. When dinner's done
293
Show me this piece, I am joyful of your sights.
294Enter Alcibiades with the rest.
295
Most welcome, sir.

Apemantus
296So, so, there! Aches contract and starve your 297supple joints! That there should be small love amongst 298these sweet knaves, and all this courtesy! The strain of 299man's bred out into baboon and monkey.

Alcibiades
300
Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
301
Most hungerly on your sight.

Timon
302
Right welcome, sir.
303
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
304
In different pleasures.
305
Pray you, let us in.

305Exeunt [all but Apemantus].
306Enter two Lords.

1 Lord
307What time o'day is't, Apemantus?

Apemantus
308Time to be honest.

1 Lord
309That time serves still.

Apemantus
310The most accursèd thou that still omitt'st it.

2 Lord
311Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast?

Apemantus
312Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.

2 Lord
313Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Apemantus
314Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

2 Lord
315Why, Apemantus?

Apemantus
316Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean 317to give thee none.

1 Lord
318Hang thyself.

Apemantus
319No, I will do nothing at thy bidding. 320Make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord
321Away, unpeaceable dog, 322or I'll spurn thee hence.

Apemantus
323I will fly, like a dog, the heels o'th'ass.

323[Exit.]

1 Lord
324-5
He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in
326
And taste Lord Timon's bounty? He outgoes
327
The very heart of kindness.

2 Lord
328
He pours it out: Plutus, the god of gold,
329
Is but his steward: no meed but he repays
330
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him
331
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
332
All use of quittance.

1 Lord
333
The noblest mind he carries,
334
That ever governed man.

2 Lord
335
Long may he live in fortunes. Shall we in?
336
I'll keep you company.

336Exeunt.

[1.2]

337Hautboys playing loud music.
338A great banquet served in[, Flavius and Servants attending]; and then enter Lord Timon, the
339states, the Athenian lords, [Alcibiades and] Ventidius, which Timon
340redeemed from prison. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus,
341discontentedly, like himself.

Ventidius
342
Most honored Timon,
343
It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age
344
And call him to long peace.
345
He is gone happy and has left me rich.
346
Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
347
To your free heart, I do return those talents,
348
Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
349
I derived liberty.

Timon
350
Oh, by no means,
351
Honest Ventidius. You mistake my love:
352
I gave it freely ever, and there's none
353
Can truly say he gives if he receives.
354
If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
355
To imitate them: faults that are rich are fair.

Ventidius
356
A noble spirit!

Timon
357
Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devised at first
358
To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
359
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
360
But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
361
Pray sit, more welcome are ye to my fortunes
362
Than my fortunes to me.

1 Lord
363
My lord, we always have confessed it.

Apemantus
364
Ho, ho, confessed it? Hanged it, have you not?

Timon
365
Oh, Apemantus, you are welcome.

Apemantus
366
No,
366
You shall not make me welcome:
367
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

Timon
368
Fie, thou'rt a churl, you've got a humor there
369
Does not become a man; 'tis much too blame.
370
They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est,
371
But yon man is ever angry.
372
Go, let him have a table by himself,
373
For he does neither affect company,
374
Nor is he fit for't indeed.

Apemantus
375
Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon.
376
I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.

Timon
377I take no heed of thee. Thou'rt an Athenian, 378therefore welcome. I myself would have no power: 379prithee, let my meat make thee silent.

Apemantus
380I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I 381should ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! What a number 382of men eats Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me 383to see so many dip their meat in one man's blood, and 384all the madness is he cheers them up too.
ErrorMetrica
385
I wonder men dare trust themselves with men.
386
Methinks they should invite them without knives:
387
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
388
There's much example for't: the fellow that sits next him,
389now parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in 390a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him. 'T'as 391been proved. If I were a huge man I should fear to 392drink at meals,
ErrorMetrica
392-3
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes.
393-4
Great men should drink with harness on their throats.

Timon
395
My lord, in heart! And let the health go round.

2 Lord
396
Let it flow this way, my good lord.

Apemantus
397Flow this way? A brave fellow! He keeps his 398tides well. Those healths will make thee and thy state 399look ill, Timon.
ErrorMetrica
400
Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner:
401
Honest water, which ne'er left man i'th'mire.
402
This and my food are equals; there's no odds.
403
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
405
Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
406
I pray for no man but myself:
407
Grant I may never prove so fond
408
To trust man on his oath or bond,
409
Or a harlot for her weeping,
410
Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,
411
Or a keeper with my freedom,
412
Or my friends if I should need 'em.
413
Amen. So fall to't.
414
Richmen sin, and I eat root.
415
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus.

Timon
416Captain 417Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.

Alcibiades
418My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

Timon
419You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies 420than a dinner of friends.

Alcibiades
421So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no 422meat like 'em. I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Apemantus
423Would all those flatterers were thine enemies 424then, that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

1 Lord
425Might we but have that happiness, my lord, 426that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might 427express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves 428for ever perfect.

Timon
429Oh, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods 430themselves have provided that I shall have much help 431from you. How had you been my friends else? Why 432have you that charitable title from thousands, did not 433you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of 434you to myself than you can with modesty speak in 435your own behalf. And thus far I confirm you. "O 436you gods," think I, "what need we have any friends, if 437we should ne'er have need of 'em? They were the most 438needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for 439'em, and would most resemble sweet instruments 440hung up in cases that keeps their sounds to themselves." 441Why, I have often wished myself poorer that 442I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits. 443And what better or properer can we call our own 444than the riches of our friends? Oh, what a precious comfort 445'tis to have so many like brothers commanding 446one another's fortunes! Oh, joy's e'en made away ere't 447can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks. 448To forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apemantus
449Thou weep'st to make them drink, Timon.

2 Lord
450Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
ErrorMetrica
451
And at that instant like a babe sprung up.

Apemantus
452Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.

3 Lord
453I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.

Apemantus
454Much!

455Sound tucket.

Timon
457What means that trump? How now?

Servant
459Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies 460most desirous of admittance.

Timon
461Ladies? What are their wills?

Servant
462There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, 463which bears that office to signify their pleasures.

Timon
464I pray, let them be admitted.

465Enter Cupid

Cupid
466Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all that of 467his bounties taste! The five best senses acknowledge thee 468their patron and come freely to gratulate thy plenteous 469bosom.
ErrorMetrica
470
There taste, touch, all, pleased from thy table rise.
471
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

Timon
472
They're welcome all. Let 'em have kind admittance.
473
Music make their welcome!

Lucius
474
You see, my lord, how ample you're beloved.

465Enter the masque of Ladies (masquers of Amazons with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing).

Apemantus
475
Hoyday!
476
What a sweep of vanity comes this way!
477
They dance? They are madwomen.
478
Like madness is the glory of this life
479
As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
480
We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves,
481
And spend our flatteries to drink those men
482
Upon whose age we void it up again
483
With poisonous spite and envy.
484
Who lives that's not depravèd or depraves?
485
Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves
486
Of their friends' gift:
487
I should fear those that dance before me now
488
Would one day stamp upon me. 'T'as been done:
489
Men shut their doors against a setting sun.

490The Lords rise from table with much adoring of Timon, and
491to show their loves each single out an Amazon and all
492dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the
493hautboys, and cease.

Timon
494-5
You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
496
Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
497
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
498
You have added worth unto't and luster,
499
And entertained me with mine own device.
500
I am to thank you for't.

1 Lady
501
My lord, you take us even at the best.

Apemantus
502Faith, for the worst is filthy and would not hold 203taking, I doubt me.

Timon
504
Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you,
505
Please you to dispose yourselves.

All Ladies
506
Most thankfully, my lord.

506Exeunt [Ladies and Cupid].

Timon
507
Flavius.

Flavius
508
My lord.

Timon
509
The little casket bring me hither.

Flavius
510
Yes, my lord.
[Aside]
More jewels yet?
511
There is no crossing him in's humor,
512
Else I should tell him well, i'faith, I should.
513
When all's spent, he'd be crossed then, an he could.
514
'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind
515
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.

515Exit.

1 Lord
516
Where be our men?

Servant
517
Here, my lord, in readiness.

2 Lord
518
Our horses.

530Enter Flavius [with a casket].

Timon
519
O my friends,
520
I have one word to say to you: look you, my good lord,
521
I must entreat you honor me so much
522
As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,
523
Kind my lord.

1 Lord
524
I am so far already in your gifts.

All Lords
525
So are we all.

526Enter a Servant.

1 Servant
527My Lord, there are certain nobles of the senate 528newly alighted, and come to visit you.

Timon
529They are fairly welcome.

Flavius
531I beseech your honor, vouchsafe me a word; it 532does concern you near.

Timon
533Near? Why, then another time I'll hear thee. 534I prithee let's be provided to show them entertainment.

Flavius
535I scarce know how.

536Enter another Servant.

2 Servant
537
May it please your honor, Lord Lucius
538
Out of his free love hath presented to you
539
Four milk-white horses trapped in silver.

Timon
540
I shall accept them fairly. Let the presents
541
Be worthily entertained.
542Enter a third Servant.
543
How now? What news?

3 Servant
544Please you, my lord, that honorable gentleman, 545Lord Lucullus, entreats your company tomorrow 546to hunt with him, and has sent your honor two brace 547of greyhounds.

Timon
548-9
I'll hunt with him, and let them be received
549
Not without fair reward.

Flavius
550
What will this come to?
551
He commands us to provide and give great gifts,
551-2
And all out of an empty coffer;
553
Nor will he know his purse or yield me this:
554
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
555
Being of no power to make his wishes good.
556
His promises fly so beyond his state
557
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes for every word.
558
He is so kind that he now pays interest for't;
559
His land's put to their books. Well, would I were
560
Gently put out of office before I were forced out.
561
Happier is he that has no friend to feed
562
Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.
563
I bleed inwardly for my lord.

563Exit.

Timon
564
You do yourselves much wrong,
565
You bate too much of your own merits.
566
Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.

2 Lord
567
With more than common thanks
568
I will receive it.

3 Lord
569
Oh, he's the very soul of bounty.

Timon
570And now I remember, my lord, you gave good 571words the other day of a bay courser I rode on. 'Tis yours 572because you liked it.

1 Lord
573
Oh, I beseech you pardon me, my lord, in that.

Timon
574-5
You may take my word, my lord: I know no man
575
Can justly praise but what he does affect.
575-6
I weigh my friends' affection with mine own.
576-7
I'll tell you true, I'll call to you.

All Lords
578
Oh, none so welcome.

Timon
579
I take all and your several visitations
580
So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give.
581
Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends
582
And ne'er be weary. Alcibiades,
583
Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich.
584
It comes in charity to thee, for all thy living
585
Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
586
Lie in a pitched field.

Alcibiades
587
Ay, defiled land, my lord.

1 Lord
588
We are so virtuously bound.

Timon
589
And so am I to you.

2 Lord
590
So infinitely endeared.

Timon
591
All to you. — Lights, more Lights!

1 Lord
592
The best of happiness, honor, and fortunes
593
Keep with you, Lord Timon.

Timon
594
Ready for his friends.

594Exeunt Lords [and all but Timon and Apemantus].

Apemantus
595
What a coil's here,
595-6
Serving of becks, and jutting-out of bums!
596-7
I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
597-8
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs.
599
Methinks false hearts should never have sound legs.
600
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsies.

Timon
601
Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
602
I would be good to thee.

Apemantus
603No, I'll nothing; for if I should be bribed too, 604there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then thou 605wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I 606fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly. 607What needs these feasts, pomps, and vainglories?

Timon
608Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I 609am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell, and come 610with better music.

610Exit.

Apemantus
611So. Thou wilt not hear me now, thou shalt 612not then. I'll lock thy heaven from thee.
ErrorMetrica
613
Oh, that men's ears should be
614
To counsel deaf but not to flattery!

614Exit.

614.1[2.1]

615Enter a Senator.

Senator
616
And late five thousand; to Varro and to Isidore
617
He owes nine thousand, besides my former sum,
618
Which makes it five-and-twenty. Still in motion
619
Of raging waste! It cannot hold, it will not.
620
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog
621
And give it Timon; why, the dog coins gold.
622
If I would sell my horse and buy twenty more
623
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
624
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me straight
625
And able horses. No porter at his gate,
626
But rather one that smiles and still invites
627
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason
628
Can sound his state in safety. Caphis, ho!
629
Caphis, I say!

630Enter Caphis.

Caphis
631
Here, sir, what is your pleasure?

Senator
632
Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Timon;
633
Importune him for my moneys; be not ceased
634
With slight denial, nor then silenced when
635
"Commend me to your master," and the cap
636
Plays in the right hand, thus, but tell him
637
My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
638
Out of mine own, his days and times are past,
639
And my reliances on his fracted dates
640
Have smit my credit. I love and honor him
641
But must not break my back to heal his finger.
642
Immediate are my needs, and my relief
643
Must not be tossed and turned to me in words,
644
But find supply immediate. Get you gone,
645
Put on a most importunate aspect,
646
A visage of demand; for I do fear
647
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
648
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
649
Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.

Caphis
650
I go, sir.

Senator
651-2
"I go, sir"? Take the bonds along with you,
653
And have the dates in. Come.

Caphis
654
I will, sir.

Senator
655
Go.

655Exeunt.

655.1[2.2]

656Enter [Flavius, Timon's] Steward, with many bills in his hand.

Flavius
657
No care, no stop, so senseless of expense
658
That he will neither know how to maintain it
659
Nor cease his flow of riot; takes no account
660
How things go from him, nor resumes no care
661
Of what is to continue. Never mind
662
Was to be so unwise to be so kind.
663
What shall be done? He will not hear till feel.
664
I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.
665
Fie, fie, fie, fie.

666Enter Caphis, Isidore's Servant, and Varro's Servant.

Caphis
667
Good even, Varro. What, you come for money?

Varro's Servant
668
Is't not your business too?

Caphis
669
It is. And yours too, Isidore?

Isidore's Servant
670
It is so.

Caphis
671
Would we were all discharged.

Varro's Servant
672
I fear it.

Caphis
673
Here comes the lord.

674Enter Timon and his train.

Timon
675
So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,
676
My Alcibiades. — With me? What is your will?

Caphis
677
My lord, here is a note of certain dues.

Timon
678
Dues? Whence are you?

Caphis
679
Of Athens here, my lord.

Timon
680
Go to my steward.

Caphis
681
Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
682
To the succession of new days this month.
683
My master is awaked by great occasion
684
To call upon his own, and humbly prays you
685
That with your other noble parts you'll suit
686
In giving him his right.

Timon
687
Mine honest friend,
688
I prithee but repair to me next morning.

Caphis
689
Nay, good my lord.

Timon
690
Contain thyself, good friend.

Varro's Servant
691
One Varro's servant, my good lord.

Isidore's Servant
692
From Isidore, he humbly prays your speedy payment.

Caphis
694
If you did know, my lord, my master's wants —

Varro's Servant
695-6
'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past.

Isidore's Servant
697
Your steward puts me off, my Lord, and I
698
Am sent expressly to your lordship —

Timon
699
Give me breath. —
700
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on.
701
I'll wait upon you instantly. —
701[Exeunt Alcibiades and Timon's train.]
701
[To Flavius]
Come hither. Pray you,
702
How goes the world that I am thus encountered
703
With clamorous demands of debt, broken bonds,
704
And the detention of long-since-due debts
705
Against my honor?

Flavius
706
Please you, gentlemen,
707
The time is unagreeable to this business:
708
Your importunacy cease till after dinner,
709
That I may make his lordship understand
710
Wherefore you are not paid.

Timon
711
Do so, my friends. —
711
[To Flavius]
See them well entertained.

711.1[Exit.]

Flavius
712
Pray draw near.

712Exit.
713Enter Apemantus and Fool.

Caphis
714-5
Stay, stay, here comes the Fool with Apemantus. Let's ha' some sport with 'em.

Varro's Servant
716Hang him, he'll abuse us.

Isidore's Servant
717A plague upon him, dog!

Varro's Servant
718How dost, Fool?

Apemantus
719Dost dialogue with thy shadow?

Varro's Servant
720I speak not to thee.

Apemantus
721No, 'tis to thyself. — [To Fool] Come away.

Isidore's Servant
722There's the fool hangs on your back already.

Apemantus
723No, thou stand'st single, thou'rt not on him yet.

Caphis
724Where's the fool now?

Apemantus
425He last asked the question. Poor rogues and 726usurers' men, bawds between gold and want.

All Servants
727What are we, Apemantus?

Apemantus
728Asses.

All Servants
729Why?

Apemantus
730That you ask me what you are and do not know 731yourselves. Speak to 'em, Fool.

Fool
732How do you, gentlemen?

All Servants
733Gramercies, good Fool. 734How does your mistress?

Fool
735She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens 736as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth.

Apemantus
737Good, gramercy.

738Enter Page[, with two letters].

Fool
739Look you, here comes my master's page.

Page
740Why, how now, captain? What do you in this 741wise company? 742How dost thou, Apermantus?

Apemantus
743Would I had a rod in my mouth that I might 744answer thee profitably.

Page
745Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription 746of these letters, I know not which is which.

Apemantus
747Canst not read?

Page
748No.

Apemantus
749There will litle learning die then that day thou 750art hanged. This is to Lord Timon, this to Alcibiades. Go, 751thou wast born a bastard and thou'lt die a bawd.

Page
752Thou wast whelped a dog and thou shalt 753famish a dog's death. 754Answer not, I am gone.

754Exit.

Apemantus
755E'en so thou outrunn'st grace. 756Fool, I will go with you to Lord Timon's.

Fool
757Will you leave me there?

Apemantus
758If Timon stay at home. 759— You three serve three usurers?

All Servants
760Ay — would they served us.

Apemantus
761So would I — 762as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.

Fool
763Are you three usurers' men?

All Servants
764Ay, Fool.

Fool
765I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant. 766My mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men 767come to borrow of your masters, they approach sad 768and go away merry; but they enter my master's house 769merrily and go away sadly. The reason of this?

Varro's Servant
770I could render one.

Apemantus
771Do it then, that we may account thee a whore 772master and a knave, which notwithstanding thou shalt 773be no less esteemed.

Varro's Servant
774What is a whoremaster, Fool?

Fool
775A fool in good clothes, and something like 776thee. 'Tis a spirit; sometime 't appears like a lord, sometime 777like a lawyer, sometime like a philosopher with 778two stones more than 's artificial one. He is very often 779like a knight; and generally, in all shapes that man goes 780up and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, this spirit 781walks in.

Varro's Servant
782Thou art not altogether a fool.

Fool
783Nor thou altogether a wise man. 784As much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lack'st.

Apemantus
785That answer might have become Apemantus.

All Servants
786Aside, aside, here comes Lord Timon.

787Enter Timon and steward [Flavius].

Apemantus
788Come with me, Fool, come.

Fool
789I do not always follow lover, elder brother, 790and woman; sometime the philosopher.

790.1[Exeunt Apemantus and Fool]

Flavius
791
Pray you walk near;
792
I'll speak with you anon.

792Exeunt [Servants].

Timon
793
You make me marvel wherefore ere this time
794
Had you not fully laid my state before me,
795
That I might so have rated my expense
796
As I had leave of means.

Flavius
797
You would not hear me;
798
At many leisures I proposed —

Timon
799
Go to.
800
Perchance some single vantages you took
801
When my indisposition put you back,
802
And that unaptness made your minister
803
Thus to excuse yourself.

Flavius
804
O my good lord,
805
At many times I brought in my accounts,
806
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
807
And say you found them in mine honesty.
808
When for some trifling present you have bid me
809
Return so much, I have shook my head and wept —
810
Yea, 'gainst th'authority of manners, prayed you
811
To hold your hand more close. I did endure
812
Not seldom nor no slight checks, when I have
813
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
814
And your great flow of debts. My lovèd lord,
815
Though you hear now, too late, yet now's a time:
816
The greatest of your having lacks a half
817
To pay your present debts.

Timon
818
Let all my land be sold.

Flavius
819
'Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone,
820
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
821
Of present dues. The future comes apace.
822
What shall defend the interim, and at length
823
How goes our reck'ning?

Timon
824
To Lacedaemon did my land extend.

Flavius
825
O my good lord, the world is but a word;
826
Were it all yours to give it in a breath,
827
How quickly were it gone.

Timon
828
You tell me true.

Flavius
829
If you suspect my husbandry of falsehood,
830
Call me before th'exactest auditors
831
And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
832
When all our offices have been oppressed
833
With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept
834
With drunken spilth of wine, when every room
835
Hath blazed with lights and brayed with minstrelsy,
836
I have retired me to a wasteful cock
837
And set mine eyes at flow.

Timon
838
Prithee, no more.

Flavius
839
"Heavens," have I said, "the bounty of this lord!
840
How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants
841
This night englutted! Who is not Timon's,
842
What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord Timon's?
843
'Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!'"
844
Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,
845
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made.
846
Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,
847
These flies are couched.

Timon
848
Come, sermon me no further.
849
No villainous bounty yet hath past my heart;
850
unwisely, not ignobly have I given.
851
Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack
852
To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart:
853
If I would broach the vessels of my love
854
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
855
Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use
856
As I can bid thee speak.

Flavius
857
Assurance bless your thoughts.

Timon
858
And in some sort these wants of mine are crowned
859
That I account them blessings. For by these
860
Shall I try friends. You shall perceive
861
How you mistake my fortunes:
862
I am wealthy in my friends.
863
Within there, Flaminius, Servilius!

864Enter three Servants[: Flaminius, Servilius, and a third Servant].

Timon's Servants
865My lord, my lord.

Timon
866I will dispatch you severally: 867 [to Servilius] You to Lord Lucius; 867 [to Flaminius] to Lord Lucullus you, I hunted 868with his honor today; 868 [to Third Servant] you to Sempronius. Commend me 869to their loves; and I am proud, say, that my occasions 870have found time to use 'em toward a supply of money: let 871the request be fifty talents.

Flaminius
872As you have said, my lord.

872.1[Exeunt Servants.]

Flavius
873Lord Lucius and Lucullus? Hum!

Timon
874
Go you, sir, to the senators,
875
Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have
876
Deserved this hearing; bid 'em send o'th'instant
877
A thousand talents to me.

Flavius
878
I have been bold
879
(For that I knew it the most general way)
880
To them to use your signet and your name,
881
But they do shake their heads, and I am here
882
No richer in return.

Timon
883
Is't true? Can't be?

Flavius
884
They answer in a joint and corporate voice
885
That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot
886
Do what they would, are sorry, you are honorable,
887
But yet they could have wished — they know not,
888
Something hath been amiss, a noble nature
889
May catch a wrench, would all were well, 'tis pity —
890
And so, intending other serious matters,
891
After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,
892
With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods
893
They froze me into silence.

Timon
894
You gods, reward them!
895
Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows
896
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:
897
Their blood is caked, 'tis cold, it seldom flows,
898
'Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind;
899
And Nature, as it grows again toward earth,
900
Is fashioned for the journey, dull and heavy.
901
Go to Ventidius — prithee be not sad,
902
Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak,
903
No blame belongs to thee — Ventidius lately
904
Buried his father, by whose death he's stepped
905
Into a great estate. When he was poor,
906
Imprisoned, and in scarcity of friends,
907
I cleared him with five talents. Greet him from me,
908
Bid him suppose some good necessity
909
Touches his friend, which craves to be remembered
910
With those five talents; that had, give't these fellows
911
To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think,
912
That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink.

Flavius
913
I would I could not think it:
914
that thought is bounty's foe;
915
Being free itself, it thinks all others so.

915Exeunt.

915.1[3.1]

916[Enter] Flaminius, [with a box under his cloak,] waiting to speak with a lord, [Lucullus,] from his master.
917Enters a Servant to him.

Lucullus' Servant
918I have told my lord of you; he is coming down 919to you.

Flaminius
920I thank you, sir.

921Enter Lucullus.

Lucullus' Servant
922Here's my lord.

Lucullus
923[Aside] One of Lord Timon's men? A gift, I warrant. 924 Why, this hits right: I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer 925 tonight. — Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are very respectively 926welcome, sir. — [To Servant] Fill me some wine. — And how 927does that honorable, complete, Free-hearted gentleman 928of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

Flaminius
930His health is well, sir.

Lucullus
931I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And 932what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

Flaminius
933Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir, which, in 934my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honor to supply; 935who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty 936talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him: nothing 937doubting your present assistance therein.

Lucullus
938La, la, la, la. "Nothing doubting," says he? Alas, 939good lord, a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep 940so good a house. Many a time and often I ha' dined with 941him, and told him on't, and come again to supper to him 942of purpose, to have him spend less, and yet he would embrace 943no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every 944man has his fault, and honesty is his. I ha' told him on't, 945but I could ne'er get him from't.

946Enter Servant with wine.

Lucullus' Servant
947Please your lordship, here is the wine.

Lucullus
948Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. 949Here's to thee!

Flaminius
950Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

Lucullus
951I have observed thee always for a towardly 952prompt spirit — give thee thy du — and one that knows 953what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the 954time use thee well. Good parts in thee. — [To Servant] Get you gone, sirrah. [Exit Servant.] 955Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful 956gentleman, but thou art wise, and thou know'st 957well enough (although thou com'st to me) that this is no 958time to lend money, especially upon bare friendship 959without security. Here's three solidares for thee; good 960boy, wink at me and say thou saw'st me not. Fare thee 961well.

Flaminius
962
Is't possible the world should so much differ,
963
And we alive that lived? Fly, damnèd baseness,
964
To him that worships thee.

964.1[He throws the money back.]

Lucullus
965Ha? Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy 966master.

966Exit.

Flaminius
967
May these add to the number that may scald thee!
968
Let molten coin be thy damnation,
969
Thou disease of a friend and not himself!
970
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
971
It turns in less than two nights? O you Gods!
972
I feel my master's passion. This slave
972-3
Unto his honor
973
has my lord's meat in him.
974
Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment
975
When he is turned to poison?
976
Oh, may diseases only work upon't;
977
And when he's sick to death, let not that part of nature
978
Which my lord paid for be of any power
979
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour.

979Exit.

979.1[3.2]

980Enter Lucius, with three strangers.

Lucius
981Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend 982and an honorable gentleman.

1 Stranger
983We know him for no less, though we are but strangers 984to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and 985which I hear from common rumors: now Lord Timon's 986happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks 987from him.

Lucius
988Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want 989for money.

2 Stranger
990But believe you this, my lord, that not long ago 991one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow so 992many talents, nay, urged extremely for't, and showed 993what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.

Lucius
994How?

2 Stranger
995I tell you, denied, my lord.

Lucius
996What a strange case was that? Now, before the 997gods I am ashamed on't. Denied that honorable man? 998There was very little honor showed in't. For my own 999part, I must needs confess, I have received some small 1000kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such 1001like trifles (nothing comparing to his), yet had he mistook 1002him and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his 1003occasion so many talents.

1004Enter Servilius.

Servilius
1005See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have 1006sweat to see his honor. — My honored lord.

Lucius
1007Servilius? You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well; 1008commend me to thy honorable virtuous lord, my very 1009exquisite friend.

1009.1[He starts to go.]

Servilius
1010May it please your honor, my lord hath 1011sent—-

Lucius
1012Ha? What has he sent? I am so much endeared 1013to that lord; he's ever sending. How shall I thank him, 1014think'st thou? And what has he sent now?

Servilius
1015He's only sent his present occasion now, my 1016lord, requesting your lordship to supply his instant use 1017with so many talents.

Lucius
1018
I know his lordship is but merry with me,
1019
He cannot want fifty — five hundred talents.

Servilius
1020
But in the meantime he wants less, my lord.
1021
If his occasion were not virtuous,
1022
I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Lucius
1023
Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Servilius
1024
Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.

Lucius
1025What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself 1026against such a good time when I might ha' shown myself 1027honorable! How unluckily it happened that I should 1028purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great 1029deal of honor! Servilius, now before the gods, I am 1030not able to do (the more beast, I say) I was sending to use 1031Lord Timon myself, these Gentlemen can witness; but 1032I would not for the wealth of Athens I had done't now. 1033Commend me bountifully to his good lordship, and I 1034hope his honor will conceive the fairest of me, because 1035I have no power to be kind. And tell him this from me: 1036I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot 1037pleasure such an honorable gentleman. Good Servilius, 1038will you befriend me so far as to use mine own 1039words to him?

Servilius
1040Yes, sir, I shall.

Lucius
1041
I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
1040Exit Servilius.
1042
True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;
1043
And he that's once denied will hardly speed.

1043Exit.

1 Stranger
1044
Do you observe this, Hostilius?

2 Stranger
1045
Ay, too well.

1 Stranger
1046-7
Why, this is the world's soul, and just of the same piece
1048
Is every flatterer's sport. Who can call him his friend
1049
That dips in the same dish? For in my knowing
1050
Timon has been this lord's father,
1051
And kept his credit with his purse,
1052
Supported his estate, nay, Timon's money
1053
Has paid his men their wages. He ne'er drinks
1054
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip,
1055
And yet — Oh, see the monstrousness of man
1056
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape! —
1057
He does deny him, in respect of his,
1058
What charitable men afford to beggars.

3 Stranger
1059
Religion groans at it.

1 Stranger
1060
For mine own part,
1060
I never tasted Timon in my life,
1061
Nor came any of his bounties over me
1062
To mark me for his friend. Yet I protest,
1063
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
1064
And honorable carriage,
1065
Had his necessity made use of me,
1066
I would have put my wealth into donation
1067
And the best half should have returned to him,
1068
So much I love his heart. But I perceive
1069
Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
1070
For policy sits above conscience.

1070Exeunt.

1070.1[3.3]

1071Enter a Third Servant with Sempronius, another
1072of Timon's friends.

Sempronius
1073-4
Must he needs trouble me in't? Hum! 'Bove all others?
1075
He might have tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus;
1076
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
1077
Whom he redeemed from prison. All these
1078
Owes their estates unto him.

3 Servant
1079
My lord,
1080
They have all been touched and found base metal,
1081
For they have all denied him.

Sempronius
1082
How? Have they denied him?
1083
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him,
1084
And does he send to me? Three? Hum!
1085
It shows but little love or judgement in him.
1086
Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
1087
Thrive, give him over; must I take th'cure upon me?
1088
He's much disgraced me in't; I'm angry at him,
1089
That might have known my place. I see no sense for't
1090
But his occasions might have wooed me first,
1091
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
1092
That e'er receivèd gift from him.
1093
And does he think so backwardly of me now
1094
That I'll requite it last? No;
1095
So it may prove an argument of laughter
1096
To th'rest, and I 'mongst lords be thought a fool.
1097
I'd rather than the worth of thrice the sum
1098
He'd sent to me first, but for my mind's sake,
1099
I'd such a courage to do him good. But now return,
1100
And with their faint reply this answer join:
1101
Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin.

1101Exit.

3 Servant
1102Excellent. Your lordship's a goodly villain. The 1103devil knew not what he did when he made man politic; 1104he crossed himself by't, and I cannot think, but 1105in the end the villainies of man will set him clear. How 1106fairly this lord strives to appear foul! Takes virtuous 1107copies to be wicked, like those that under hot ardent 1108zeal would set whole realms on fire, of such a nature 1109is his politic love.
ErrorMetrica
1110
This was my lord's best hope. Now all are fled
1111
Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead.
1112
Doors that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
1113
Many a bounteous year must be employed
1114
Now to guard sure their master.
1115
And this is all a liberal course allows:
1116
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.

1116Exit.

1116.1[3.4]

1117Enter Varro's man, meeting others. All Timon's creditors to
1118wait for his coming out. Then enter Lucius
1119and Hortensius.

Varro's 1 Servant
1120
Well met, good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

Titus
1121
The like to you, kind Varro.

Hortensius
1122
Lucius, what, do we meet together?

Lucius' Servant
1123
Ay, and I think one business does command us all;
1124
For mine is money.

Titus
1125
So is theirs, and ours.

1126Enter Philotus.

Lucius' Servant
1127
And, sir, Philotus' too.

Philotus
1128
Good day at once.

Lucius' Servant
1129
Welcome, good brother.
1130
What do you think the hour?

Philotus
1131
Laboring for nine.

Lucius' Servant
1132
So much?

Philotus
1133
Is not my lord seen yet?

Lucius' Servant
1134
Not yet.

Philotus
1135
I wonder on't, he was wont to shine at seven.

Lucius' Servant
1136
Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him.
1137
You must consider that a prodigal course
1138
Is like the sun's, but not, like his, recoverable. I fear
1139
'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse, that is,
1139-40
One may reach deep enough, and yet find little.

Philotus
1141
I am of your fear for that.

Titus
1142
I'll show you how t'observe a strange event:
1143
Your lord sends now for money?

Hortensius
1144
Most true, he does.

Titus
1145
And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
1146
For which I wait for money.

Hortensius
1147
It is against my heart.

Lucius' Servant
1148
Mark how strange it shows:
1149
Timon in this should pay more then he owes;
1150
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels
1151
And send for money for 'em.

Hortensius
1152-3
I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness.
1154
I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,
1155
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.

Varro's 1 Servant
1156-7
Yes, mine's three thousand crowns.
1157
What's yours?

Lucius' Servant
1158
Five thousand, mine.

Varro's 1 Servant
1159
'Tis much deep, and it should seem by th'sum
1160
Your master's confidence was above mine,
1161
Else surely his had equaled.

1162Enter Flaminius.

Titus
1163One of Lord Timon's men.

Lucius' Servant
1164Flaminius? Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord ready 1165to come forth?

Flaminius
1166No, indeed he is not.

Titus
1167We attend his lordship. Pray signify so much.

Flaminius
1168I need not tell him that, he knows you are too diligent.

1168.1[Exit.]
1169Enter steward [Flavius] in a cloak, muffled.

Lucius' Servant
1170
Ha! Is not that his steward muffled so?
1171
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.

Titus
1172
Do you hear, sir?

Varro's 2 Servant
1173
By your leave, sir.

Flavius
1174
What do ye ask of me, my friend?

Titus
1175
We wait for certain money here, sir.

Flavius
1176
Ay,
1176
If money were as certain as your waiting,
1177
'Twere sure enough.
1178
Why then preferred you not your sums and bills
1179
When your false masters ate of my lord's meat?
1180
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts,
1181
And take down th'int'rest into their glutt'nous maws.
1182
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;
1183
Let me pass quietly.
1184
Believe't, my Lord and I have made an end;
1185
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

Lucius' Servant
1186
Ay, but this answer will not serve.

Flavius
1187
If 'twill not serve, 'tis not so base as you,
1188
For you serve knaves.

Varro's 1 Servant
1189How? What does his cashiered worship 1190mutter?

Varro's 2 Servant
1191No matter what, he's poor and that's revenge 1192enough. Who can speak broader than he that 1193has no house to put his head in? Such may rail against 1194great buildings.

1195Enter Servilius.

Titus
1196Oh, here's Servilius: now we shall know some 1197answer.

Servilius
1198If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair 1199some other hour, I should derive much from't; for, take't 1200of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent: 1201his comfortable temper has forsook him, he's much out 1202of health and keeps his chamber.

Lucius' Servant
1203
Many do keep their chambers are not sick,
1204
And if it be so far beyond his health,
1205
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts
1206
And make a clear way to the gods.

Servilius
1207
Good gods!

Titus
1208
We cannot take this for answer, sir.

Flaminius
1209
(within)
Servilius, help! My lord, my lord!

1210Enter Timon in a rage.

Timon
1211
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
1212
Have I been ever free and must my house
1213
Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
1214
The place which I have feasted does it now
1215
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

Lucius' Servant
1216
Put in now, Titus.

Titus
1217
My lord, here is my bill.

Lucius' Servant
1218
Here's mine.

Varro's 1 Servant
1219
And mine, my lord.

Varro's 2 Servant
1220
And ours, my lord.

Philotus
1221
All our bills.

Timon
1222
Knock me down with 'em, cleave me to the
1223
girdle.

Lucius' Servant
1224
Alas, my lord.

Timon
1225
Cut my heart in sums.

Titus
1226
Mine, fifty talents.

Timon
1227
Tell out my blood.

Lucius' Servant
1228
Five thousand crowns, my lord.

Timon
1229
Five thousand drops pays that.
1230
What yours? And yours?

Varro's 1 Servant
1231
My lord!

Varro's 2 Servant
1232
My lord!

Timon
1233
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!

1234Exit Timon.

Hortensius
1235Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their 1236caps at their money; these debts may well be called desperate 1237ones, for a madman owes 'em.

1237Exeunt.

1237.1[3.5]

1238Enter Timon [and Flavius].

Timon
1239-40
They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.
1240
Creditors? Devils!

Flavius
1241
My dear lord —

Timon
1242
What if it should be so?

Flavius
1243
My lord —

Timon
1244
I'll have it so. My steward!

Flavius
1245
Here, my lord.

Timon
1246
So, fitly! Go, bid all my friends again,
1247
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius — all luxurs, all!
1248
I'll once more feast the rascals.

Flavius
1249
O my lord,
1249-50
You only speak from your distracted soul;
1250
There's not so much left to furnish out
1250-1
A moderate table.

Timon
1252
Be it not in thy care.
1253
Go, I charge thee, invite them all, let in the tide
1254
Of knaves once more. My cook and I'll provide.

1254Exeunt.

1254.1[3.6]

1255Enter three Senators at one door, Alcibiades meeting them,
1256with Attendants.

1 Senator
1257
My lord, you have my voice to't,
1258
the fault's bloody:
1259
'Tis necessary he should die.
1260
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

2 Senator
1261
Most true; the law shall bruise 'em.

Alcibiades
1262
Honor, health, and compassion to the Senate!

1 Senator
1263
Now, captain.

Alcibiades
1264
I am an humble suitor to your virtues;
1265
For pity is the virtue of the law
1266
And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
1267
It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
1268
Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood
1269
Hath stepped into the law, which is past depth
1270
To those that, without heed, do plunge into't.
1271
He is a man, setting his fate aside,
1271
Of comely virtues;
1272
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice
1273
(An honor in him which buys out his fault),
1274
But with a noble fury, and fair spirit,
1275
Seeing his reputation touched to death,
1276
He did oppose his foe,
1277
And with such sober and unnoted passion
1278
He did behove his anger ere 'twas spent,
1279
As if he had but proved an argument.

1 Senator
1280
You undergo too strict a paradox,
1281
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
1282
Your words have took such pains as if they labored
1283
To bring manslaughter into form and set quarrelling
1284
Upon the head of valor, which indeed
1285
Is valour mis-begot and came into the world
1286
When sects and factions were newly born.
1287
He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer
1288
The worst that man can breathe,
1289
And make his wrongs his outsides
1290
To wear them like his raiment, carelessly,
1291
And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart
1292
To bring it into danger.
1293
If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill,
1294
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill!

Alcibiades
1295
My lord —

1 Senator
1296
You cannot make gross sins look clear.
1297
To revenge is no valor, but to bear.

Alcibiades
1298
My lords, then, under favor, pardon me
1299
If I speak like a captain.
1300
Why do fond men expose themselves to battle
1301
And not endure all threats? Sleep upon't
1302
And let the foes quietly cut their throats
1303
Without repugnancy? If there be
1304
Such valor in the bearing, what make we
1305
Abroad? Why then, women are more valiant
1306
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;
1307-8
And the ass more captain than the lion, the fellow
1308
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge
1309
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
1310
As you are great, be pitifully good.
1311
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
1312
To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust,
1313
But in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.
1314
To be in anger is impiety,
1315
But who is man that is not angry?
1316
Weigh but the crime with this.

2 Senator
1317
You breathe in vain.

Alcibiades
1318
In vain?
1319
His service done at Lacedaemon and Byzantium
1320
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

1 Senator
1321
What's that?

Alcibiades
1322
Why, I say, my lords, he's done fair service,
1323
And slain in fight many of your enemies.
1324
How full of valor did he bear himself
1325
In the last conflict and made plenteous wounds!

2 Senator
1326
He has made too much plenty with 'em.
1327
He's a sworn rioter, he has a sin
1328
That often drowns him and takes his valor prisoner.
1329
If there were no foes, that were enough
1330
To overcome him. In that beastly fury,
1331
He has been known to commit outrages
1332
And cherish factions. 'Tis inferred to us
1333
His days are foul and his drink dangerous.

1 Senator
1334
He dies.

Alcibiades
1335
Hard fate! He might have died in war.
1336
My lords, if not for any parts in him,
1337
Though his right arm might purchase his own time
1338
And be in debt to none, yet, more to move you,
1339
Take my deserts to his and join 'em both.
1340
And for I know your reverend ages love security,
1341
I'll pawn my victories, all my honor, to you
1342
Upon his good returns.
1343
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
1344
Why, let the war receive't in valiant gore,
1345
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

1 Senator
1346
We are for law: he dies; urge it no more
1347
On height of our displeasure. Friend or brother,
1348
He forfeits his own blood that spills another.

Alcibiades
1349
Must it be so? It must not be.
1350
My lords, I do beseech you, know me.

2 Senator
1351
How?

Alcibiades
1352
Call me to your remembrances.

3 Senator
1353
What?

Alcibiades
1354
I cannot think but your age has forgot me;
1355
It could not else be I should prove so base
1356
To sue and be denied such common grace.
1357
My wounds ache at you.

1 Senator
1358
Do you dare our anger?
1359
'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect:
1360
We banish thee for ever.

Alcibiades
1361
Banish me?
1362
Banish your dotage, banish usury
1363
That makes the Senate ugly.

1 Senator
1364
If after two days' shine, Athens contain thee,
1365
Attend our weightier judgment.
1366
And not to swell our spirit,
1367
He shall be executed presently.

1367Exeunt [all but Alcibiades].

Alcibiades
1368-9
Now the gods keep you old enough that you may live
1370
Only in bone, that none may look on you!
1371
I'm worse than mad. I have kept back their foes
1372
While they have told their money and let out
1373
Their coin upon large interest. I myself,
1374
Rich only in large hurts. All those, for this?
1375
Is this the balsam that the usuring Senate
1376
Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment.
1377
It comes not ill: I hate not to be banished,
1378
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury
1379
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
1380
My discontented troops and lay for hearts.
1381
'Tis honor with most lands to be at odds.
1382
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

1382Exit.

1382.1[3.7]

1383Enter divers friends at several doors.

1 Lord
1384The good time of day to you, sir.

2 Lord
1385I also wish it to you. I think this honorable lord 1386did but try us this other day.

1 Lord
1387Upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encountered. 1388I hope it is not so low with him as he made it 1389seem in the trial of his several friends.

2 Lord
1390It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

1 Lord
1392I should think so. He hath sent me an earnest inviting, 1393which many my near occasions did urge me to 1394put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I 1395must needs appear.

2 Lord
1396In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, 1397but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, 1398when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was 1399out.

1 Lord
1400I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all 1401things go.

2 Lord
1402Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed 1403of you?

1 Lord
1404A thousand pieces.

2 Lord
1405A thousand pieces?

1 Lord
1406What of you?

2 Lord
1407He sent to me, sir — Here he comes.

1408Enter Timon and Attendants.

Timon
1409With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how 1410fare you?

1 Lord
1411Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

2 Lord
1412The swallow follows not summer more willing 1413than we your lordship.

Timon
1414Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer 1415birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense 1416this long stay: feast your ears with the music 1417awhile, if they will fare so harshly o'th'trumpet's 1418sound. We shall to't presently.

1 Lord
1419I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship 1420that I returned you an empty messenger.

Timon
1421Oh, sir, let it not trouble you.

2 Lord
1422My noble lord —

Timon
1243Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

1424The banquet brought in.

2 Lord
1425My most honorable lord, I am e'en sick of shame 1426that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was 1427so unfortunate a beggar.

Timon
1428Think not on't, sir.

2 Lord
1429If you had sent but two hours before —

Timon
1430Let it not cumber your better remembrance. — 1431 [To Attendants] Come bring in all together.

2 Lord
1432All covered dishes.

1 Lord
1433Royal cheer, I warrant you.

3 Lord
1434Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it

1 Lord
1435How do you? What's the news?

3 Lord
1436Alcibiades is banished, hear you of it?

1 Lord, 2 Lord
1437Alcibiades banished?

3 Lord
1438'Tis so, be sure of it.

1 Lord
1439How? How?

2 Lord
1440I pray you, upon what?

Timon
1441My worthy friends, will you draw near?

3 Lord
1442I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward

2 Lord
1443This is the old man still.

3 Lord
1444Will't hold? Will't hold?

2 Lord
1445It does; but time will — and so —

3 Lord
1446I do conceive.

Timon
1447Each man to his stool, with that spur as he 1448would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet shall be in all 1449places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat 1450cool ere we can agree upon the first place. Sit, sit. 1451The gods require our thanks: 1452You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. 1453For your own gifts, make yourselves praised, but 1454reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each 1455man enough, that one need not lend to another; for, were your 1456godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make 1457the meat be beloved more than the man that gives it. Let 1458no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains. If there 1459sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be as they 1460are. The rest of your fees, O gods, the senators of Athens 1461together with the common leg of people, what is amiss in 1462them, you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these my 1463present friends, as they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless 1464them, and to nothing are they welcome.
ErrorMetrica
1465
Uncover, dogs, and lap!

Some Lords
1466What does his lordship mean?

Some Other Lords
1467
I know not.

Timon
1468
May you a better feast never behold,
1469
You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm water
1470
Is your perfection. This is Timon's last,
1471
Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,
1472
Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces
1473
Your reeking villainy.
1473[He throws water in their faces.]
1473
Live loathed and long,
1474
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
1475
courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears:
1476
You fools of Fortune, trencher-friends, Time's flies,
1477
Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks!
1478
Of man and beast the infinite malady
1479
Crust you quite o'er! — What, dost thou go?
1480
Soft, take thy physic first; thou too, and thou!
1481
Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.
1482
What? All in motion? Henceforth be no feast
1483
Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
1484
Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be
1485
Of Timon, man and all humanity!

1485Exit.
1486Enter the Senators, with other Lords.

1 Lord
1487
How now, my lords?

2 Lord
1488
Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?

3 Lord
1489
Push! Did you see my cap?

4 Lord
1490
I have lost my gown.

1 Lord
1491He's but a mad lord, and naught but humors sways 1495him. He gave me a jewel th'other day and now he has 1493beat it out of my hat.
ErrorMetrica
1494
Did you see my jewel?

3 Lord
1495
Did you see my cap?

2 Lord
1496
Here 'tis.

4 Lord
1497
Here lies my gown.

1 Lord
1498
Let's make no stay.

2 Lord
1499
Lord Timon's mad.

3 Lord
1500
I feel't upon my bones.

4 Lord
1501
One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

1502Exeunt the [Lords and] Senators.

1502.1[4.1]

1503Enter Timon.

Timon
1504
Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall
1505
That girdles in those wolves, dive in the earth
1506
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent;
1507
Obedience, fail in children; slaves and fools,
1508
Pluck the grave wrinkled Senate from the bench
1509
And minister in their steads. To general filths,
1510
Convert o'th'instant, green virginity,
1511
Do't in your parents' eyes. Bankrupts, hold fast
1512
Rather than render back, out with your knives
1513
And cut your trusters' throats. Bound servants, steal;
1514
Large-handed robbers your grave masters are
1515
And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed,
1516
Thy mistress is o'th'brothel. Son of sixteen,
1517
Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire;
1518
With it beat out his brains. Piety and fear,
1519
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
1520
Domestic awe, night-rest and neighborhood,
1521
Instruction, manners, mysteries and trades,
1522
Degrees, observances, customs and laws,
1523
Decline to your confounding contraries.
1524
And yet confusion live! Plagues incident to men,
1525
Your potent and infectious fevers heap
1526
On Athens, ripe for stroke. Thou cold sciatica,
1527
Cripple our Senators, that their limbs may halt
1528
As lamely as their manners. Lust and liberty,
1529
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
1530
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive
1531
And drown themselves in riot. Itches, blains,
1532
Sow all th'Athenian bosoms, and their crop
1533
Be general leprosy. Breath, infect breath,
1534
That their society, as their friendship, may
1535
Be merely poison. Nothing I'll bear from thee
1536
But nakedness, thou detestable town;
1537
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans.
1538
Timon will to the woods, where he shall find
1539
Th'unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
1540
The gods confound — hear me, you good gods all —
1541
Th'Athenians both within and out that wall,
1542
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
1543
To the whole race of mankind, high and low.
1544
Amen.

1544Exit.

1544.1[4.2]

1545Enter steward [Flavius] with two or three [of Timon's] servants.

1 Servant
1546
Hear you, master steward, where's our master?
1547
Are we undone, cast off, nothing remaining?

Flavius
1548
Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?
1549
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
1550
I am as poor as you.

1 Servant
1551
Such a house broke?
1552
So noble a master fall'n, all gone, and not
1553
One friend to take his fortune by the arm
1554
And go along with him?

2 Servant
1555
As we do turn our backs
1556
From our companion thrown into his grave,
1557
So his familiars to his buried fortunes
1558
Slink all away, leave their false vows with him
1559
Like empty purses picked; and his poor self,
1560
A dedicated beggar to the air,
1561
With his disease of all-shunned poverty,
1562
Walks like contempt alone. More of our fellows.

1563Enter other Servants.

Flavius
1564
All broken implements of a ruined house.

3 Servant
1565
Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery,
1566
That see I by our faces. We are fellows still,
1567
Serving alike in sorrow. Leaked is our bark,
1568
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,
1569
Hearing the surges threat. We must all part
1570
Into this sea of air.

Flavius
1571
Good fellows all,
1572
The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.
1573
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake
1574
Let's yet be fellows. Let's shake our heads and say,
1575
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
1576
"We have seen better days." Let each take some.
1577
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more,
1578
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
1579[They] embrace, and [the servants] part several ways.
1580
Oh, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!
1581
Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
1582
Since riches point to misery and contempt?
1583
Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live
1584
But in a dream of friendship,
1585
To have his pomp and all what state compounds
1586
But only painted, like his varnished friends?
1587
Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,
1588
Undone by goodness. Strange unusual blood,
1589
When man's worst sin is he does too much good.
1590
Who then dares to be half so kind again?
1591
For bounty, that makes gods, do still mar men.
1592
My dearest lord, blessed to be most accursed,
1593
Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
1594
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord,
1595
He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat
1596
Of monstrous friends;
1597
Nor has he with him to supply his life,
1598
Or that which can command it.
1599
I'll follow and enquire him out.
1600
I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;
1601
Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still.

1601Exit.

1601.1[4.3]

1602Enter Timon in the woods.

Timon
1603
O blessèd breeding sun, draw from the earth
1604
Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb
1605
Infect the air. Twinned brothers of one womb,
1606
Whose procreation, residence, and birth
1607
Scarce is divident, touch them with several fortunes —
1608
The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature,
1609
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune
1610
But by contempt of nature.
1611
Raise me this beggar and deny't that lord:
1612
The Senators shall bear contempt hereditary,
1613
The beggar native honor.
1614
It is the pasture lards the brother's sides,
1615
The want that makes him lean. Who dares? Who dares
1616
In purity of manhood stand upright
1617
And say "This man's a flatterer"? If one be,
1618
So are they all: for every grece of fortune
1619
Is smoothed by that below. The learnèd pate
1620
Ducks to the golden fool. All's obliquy:
1621
There's nothing level in our cursèd natures
1622
But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred
1623
All feasts, societies, and throngs of men.
1624
His semblable, yea, himself Timon disdains.
1625
Destruction fang mankind. Earth, yield me roots;
1626
Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
1627
With thy most operant poison. What is here?
1628
Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold?
1629
No, gods, I am no idle votarist.
1630
Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this will make
1631
Black white, foul fair, wrong right,
1632
Base noble, old young, coward valiant.
1633
Ha, you gods! Why this? What this, you gods? Why, this
1634
Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
1635
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads.
1636
This yellow slave
1637
Will knit and break religions, bless th'accursed,
1638
Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves
1639
And give them title, knee, and approbation
1640
With senators on the bench. This is it
1641
That makes the wappered widow wed again;
1642
She whom the spital house and ulcerous sores
1643
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices
1644
To th'April day again. Come, damned earth,
1645
Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds
1646
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
1647
Do thy right nature.
1647March afar off.
1648
Ha? A drum? Thou'rt quick,
1649
But yet I'll bury thee. Thou'lt go, strong thief,
1650
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand.
1651
Nay, stay thou out for earnest.

1652Enter Alcibiades with drum and fife in warlike manner,
1653and Phrynia and Timandra.

Alcibiades
1654
What art thou there? Speak.

Timon
1655
A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart
1656
For showing me again the eyes of man.

Alcibiades
1657
What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee
1658
That art thyself a man?

Timon
1659
I am Misanthropos and hate mankind.
1660
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
1661
That I might love thee something.

Alcibiades
1662
I know thee well,
1663
But in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.

Timon
1664
I know thee too, and more than that I know thee
1665
I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;
1666
With man's blood paint the ground gules, gules.
1667
Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel;
1668
Then, what should war be? This fell whore of thine
1669
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
1670
For all her cherubin look.

Phrynia
1671
Thy lips rot off.

Timon
1671
I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns
1673
To thine own lips again.

Alcibiades
1674
How came the noble Timon to this change?

Timon
1675
As the moon does, by wanting light to give:
1676
But then renew I could not like the moon;
1677
There were no suns to borrow of.

Alcibiades
1678
Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?

Timon
1679
None, but to maintain my opinion.

Alcibiades
1680
What is it, Timon?

Timon
1681
Promise me friendship, but perform none.
1682If thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou 1683art a man; if thou dost perform, confound thee, for 1684thou art a man.

Alcibiades
1685
I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.

Timon
1686
Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity.

Alcibiades
1687
I see them now; then was a blessèd time.

Timon
1688
As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.

Timandra
1689
Is this th'Athenian minion, whom the world
1690
Voiced so regardfully?

Timon
1691
Art thou Timandra?

Timandra
1691
Yes.

Timon
1692
Be a whore still, they love thee not that use thee;
1693
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
1693-4
Make use of thy salt hours, season the slaves
1694-5
For tubs and baths, bring down rose-cheeked youth
1695-6
To the tub-fast and the diet.

Timandra
1697
Hang thee, monster!

Alcibiades
1698
Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
1699
Are drowned and lost in his calamities.
1700
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
1701
The want whereof doth daily make revolt
1702
In my penurious band. I have heard and grieved
1703
How cursèd Athens, mindless of thy worth,
1704
Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states
1705
But for thy sword and fortune trod upon them —

Timon
1706
I prithee, beat thy drum and get thee gone.

Alcibiades
1707
I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.

Timon
1708
How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
1709
I had rather be alone.

Alcibiades
1710
Why, fare thee well.
1711
Here is some gold for thee.

Timon
1712
Keep it, I cannot eat it.

Alcibiades
1713
When I have laid proud Athens on a heap —

Timon
1714
Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens?

Alcibiades
1715
Ay, Timon, and have cause.

Timon
1716The gods confound them all in thy conquest, 1717and thee after, when thou hast conquered.

Alcibiades
1718Why me, Timon?

Timon
1719That by killing of villains 1720thou wast born to conquer my country.
ErrorMetrica
1721
Put up thy gold. Go on, here's gold, go on.
1722
Be as a planetary plague when Jove
1723
Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison
1724
In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one.
1725
Pity not honoured age for his white beard,
1726
He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron,
1727
It is her habit only that is honest,
1728
Herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek
1729
Make soft thy trenchant sword, for those milk-paps
1730
That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes
1731
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
1732
But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe,
1733
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;
1734
Think it a bastard whom the oracle
1735
Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut
1736
And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects,
1737
Put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes,
1738
Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,
1739
Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,
1740
Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers;
1741
Make large confusion, and, thy fury spent,
1742
Confounded be thyself. Speak not, be gone.

Alcibiades
1743
Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou giv'st me,
1744
Not all thy counsel.

Timon
1745
Dost thou or dost thou not, heavens' curse upon
1746
thee!

Phrynia, Timandra
1747
Give us some gold, good Timon. Hast thou more?

Timon
1748
Enough to make a whore forswear her trade
1749
And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,
1750
Your aprons mountant. You are not oathable,
1751
Although I know you'll swear, terribly swear,
1752
Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues
1753
Th'immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths;
1754
I'll trust to your conditions. Be whores still,
1755
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
1756
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up,
1757
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
1758
And be no turn-coats; yet may your pains' six months
1759-60
Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs
1760-1
With burdens of the dead — some that were hanged,
1761
No matter.
1762
Wear them, betray with them, whore still,
1763
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:
1764
A pox of wrinkles!

Phrynia, Timandra
1765
Well, more gold, what then?
1766
Believe't that we'll do anything for gold.

Timon
1767
Consumptions sow
1768
In hollow bones of man, strike their sharp shins
1769
And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice
1770
That he may never more false title plead
1771
Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen
1772
That scolds against the quality of flesh,
1773
And not believes himself. Down with the nose,
1774
Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away
1775
Of him that his particular to foresee
1776
Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate ruffians bald
1777
And let the unscarred braggarts of the war
1778
Derive some pain from you. Plague all,
1779
That your activity may defeat and quell
1780
The source of all erection. There's more gold.
1781
Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
1782
And ditches grave you all.

Phrynia, Timandra
1783
More counsel with more money, bounteous
1784
Timon.

Timon
1785
More whore, more mischief first: I have given
1786
you earnest.

Alcibiades
1787-8
Strike up the drum towards Athens. — Farewell, Timon.
1788
If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.

Timon
1789
If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.

Alcibiades
1790
I never did thee harm.

Timon
1791
Yes, thou spok'st well of me.

Alcibiades
1792
Call'st thou that harm?

Timon
1793
Men daily find it. Get thee away
1794
And take thy beagles with thee.

Alcibiades
1795
We but offend him. — Strike.

1795Exeunt [all but Timon].

Timon
1796
That nature being sick of man's unkindness
1797
Should yet be hungry. Common Mother — thou
1798
Whose womb unmeasureable and infinite breast
1799
Teems and feeds all, whose selfsame mettle,
1800
Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed,
1801
Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
1802
The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm,
1803
With all th'abhorrèd births below crisp heaven
1804
Whereon Hyperion's quick'ning fire doth shine —
1805
Yield him who all the human sons do hate,
1806
From forth thy plenteous bosom one poor root.
1807
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,
1808
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man.
1809
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears,
1810
Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
1811
Hath to the marbled mansion all above
1812
Never presented. Oh, a root! Dear thanks.
1813
Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough-torn leas,
1814
Whereof ingrateful man with liquorish drafts
1815
And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind,
1816
That from it all consideration slips —
1817Enter Apemantus.
1818
More man? Plague, plague.

Apemantus
1819
I was directed hither. Men report
1820
Thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them.

Timon
1821
'Tis then because thou dost not keep a dog
1822
Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee!

Apemantus
1823
This is in thee a nature but infected,
1824
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung
1825
From change of fortune. Why this spade? this place,
1826
This slave-like habit, and these looks of care?
1827
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
1828
Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot
1829
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods
1830
By putting on the cunning of a carper.
1831
Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
1832
By that which has undone thee: hinge thy knee,
1833
And let his very breath whom thou'lt observe
1834
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain
1835
And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus.
1836
Thou gav'st thine ears, like tapsters that bade welcome,
1837
To knaves and all approachers. 'Tis most just
1838
That thou turn rascal; had'st thou wealth again,
1839
Rascals should have't. Do not assume my likeness.

Timon
1840
Were I like thee, I'd throw away myself.

Apemantus
1841
Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself
1842
A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st
1843
That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,
1844
Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moist trees,
1845
That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels
1846
And skip when thou point'st out? Will the cold brook,
1847
Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste
1848
To cure thy o'ernight's surfeit? Call the creatures
1849
Whose naked natures live in all the spite
1850
Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhousèd trunks
1851
To the conflicting elements exposed
1852
Answer mere nature; bid them flatter thee.
1853
Oh, thou shalt find —

Timon
1854
A fool of thee. Depart.

Apemantus
1855
I love thee better now than ere I did.

Timon
1856
I hate thee worse.

Apemantus
1857
Why?

Timon
1858
Thou flatter'st misery.

Apemantus
1859
I flatter not, but say thou art a caitiff.

Timon
1860
Why dost thou seek me out?

Apemantus
1861
To vex thee.

Timon
1862
Always a villain's office, or a fool's.
1863
Dost please thyself in't?

Apemantus
1864
Ay.

Timon
1865
What, a knave too?

Apemantus
1866
If thou didst put this sour cold habit on
1867
To castigate thy pride, 'twere well; but thou
1868
Dost it enforcèdly. Thou'dst courtier be again,
1869
Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery
1870
Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before:
1871
The one is filling still, never complete;
1872
The other, at high wish. Best state, contentless,
1873
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
1874
Worse than the worst, content.
1875
Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.

Timon
1876
Not by his breath that is more miserable.
1877
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm
1878
With favour never clasped — but bred a dog.
1789
Hadst thou like us from our first swath proceeded,
1880
The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
1881
To such as may the passive drugs of it
1882
Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself
1883
In general riot, melted down thy youth
1884
In different beds of lust, and never learned
1885
The icy precepts of respect but followed
1886
The sugared game before thee. But myself,
1887
Who had the world as my confectionary,
18898
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes, and hearts of men
1889
At duty more than I could frame employment;
1890
That numberless upon me stuck, as leaves
1891
Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush
1892
Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare,
1893
For every storm that blows. Ay, to bear this,
1894
That never knew but better, is some burden.
1895
Thy nature did commence in sufferance; time
1896
Hath made thee hard in't. Why shouldst thou hate men?
1897
They never flattered thee. What hast thou given?
1898
If thou wilt curse, thy father (that poor rag)
1899
Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff
1900
To some shee-beggar and compounded thee,
1901
Poor rogue, hereditary. Hence, be gone.
1902
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
1903
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.

Apemantus
1904
Art thou proud yet?

Timon
1905
Ay, that I am not thee.

Apemantus
1906
Ay, that I was no prodigal.

Timon
1907
Ay, that I am one now.
1908
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
1909
I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
1910
That the whole life of Athens were in this,
1911
Thus would I eat it.

Apemantus
1912
Here, I will mend thy feast.

Timon
1913
First mend my company: take away thyself.

Apemantus
1914
So I shall mend mine own by th'lack of thine.

Timon
1915
'Tis not well mended so, it is but botched;
1916
If not, I would it were.

Apemantus
1917
What would'st thou have to Athens?

Timon
1918
Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,
1919
Tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have.

Apemantus
1920
Here is no use for gold.

Timon
1921
The best and truest,
1922
For here it sleeps and does no hired harm.

Apemantus
1923Where liest a-nights, Timon?

Timon
1924Under that's above me. 1925Where feed'st thou a-days, Apemantus?

Apemantus
1926Where my stomach finds meat, or rather 1927where I eat it.

Timon
1928Would poison were obedient and knew my mind.

Apemantus
1929Where wouldst thou send it?

Timon
1930To sauce thy dishes.

Apemantus
1931The middle of humanity thou never knewest, 1932but the extremity of both ends. When thou wast in thy 1933gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much 1934curiosity; in thy rags thou know'st none, but art despised 1935for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee: eat it.

Timon
1936On what I hate I feed not.

Apemantus
1937Dost hate a medlar?

Timon
1938Ay, though it look like thee.

Apemantus
1939An thou'dst hated meddlers sooner, thou shouldst 1940have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou 1941ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means?

Timon
1942Who, without those means thou talk'st of, didst 1943thou ever know beloved?

Apemantus
1944Myself.

Timon
1945I understand thee: thou hadst some means to 1946keep a dog.

Apemantus
1974What things in the world canst thou nearest 1948compare to thy flatterers?

Timon
1949Women nearest; but men — men are the things 1950themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, 1951if it lay in thy power?

Apemantus
1952Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.

Timon
1953Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion 1954of men, and remain a beast with the beasts?

Apemantus
1955Ay, Timon.

Timon
1956A beastly ambition, which the gods grant 1957thee t'attain to. If thou wert the lion, the fox would 1958beguile thee. If thou wert the lamb, the fox would 1959eat thee. If thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect 1960thee, when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass. 1961If thou wert the ass, thy dullness would torment thee, 1962and still thou lived'st but as a breakfast to the wolf. If 1963thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, 1964and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert 1965thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound 1966thee, and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. 1967Wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse. 1968Wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard. 1969Wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane to the 1970lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy 1971life. All thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence. 1972What beast couldst thou be that were not subject 1973to a beast? And what a beast art thou already that 1974seest not thy loss in transformation!

Apemantus
1975If thou couldst please me 1976with speaking to me, thou mightst 1977have hit upon it here. 1978The commonwealth of Athens is become 1979a forest of beasts.

Timon
1980How, has the ass broke the wall, that thou art 1981out of the city?

Apemantus
1982Yonder comes a poet and a painter. 1983The plague of company light upon thee! 1984I will fear to catch it and give way. 1985When I know not what else to do, 1986I'll see thee again.

Timon
1987When there is nothing living but thee, 1988thou shalt be welcome. 1989I had rather be a beggar's dog 1990than Apemantus.

Apemantus
1991-2
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.

Timon
1993-4
Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!

Apemantus
1995-6
A plague on thee, thou art too bad to curse.

Timon
1997-8
All villains that do stand by thee are pure.

Apemantus
1999-2000
There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.

Timon
2001-2
If I name thee,
2001-2
I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.

Apemantus
2003-5
I would my tongue could rot them off.

Timon
2005
Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
2006-7
Choler does kill me that thou art alive.
2007
I swoon to see thee.

Apemantus
2008
Would thou wouldst burst!

Timon
2009
Away, thou tedious rogue!
2009-10
I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee.

2010.1[Throws a stone.]

Apemantus
2011
Beast!

Timon
2012
Slave!

Apemantus
2013
Toad!

Timon
2014
Rogue, rogue, rogue!
2015
I am sick of this false world and will love naught
2016
But even the mere necessities upon't.
2017
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave:
2018
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
2019
Thy gravestone daily; make thine epitaph,
2020
That death in me at others' lives may laugh.
2021
O thou sweet king-killer and dear divorce
2022
Twixt natural sun and fire; thou bright defiler
2023
Of Hymen's purest bed; thou valiant Mars;
2024
Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer,
2025
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
2026
That lies on Dian's lap;
2027
thou visible god,
2028
That sold'rest close impossibilities
2029
And mak'st them kiss, that speak'st with every tongue
2030
To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts,
2031
Think thy slave-man rebels, and by thy virtue
2032
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
2033
May have the world in empire!

Apemantus
2034
Would 'twere so,
2035
But not till I am dead. I'll say thou'st gold:
2036
Thou wilt be thronged to shortly.

Timon
2037
Thronged to?

Apemantus
2038
Ay.

Timon
2039
Thy back, I prithee.

Apemantus
2040
Live and love thy misery.

Timon
2041
Long live so, and so die. I am quit.

2044Enter the Banditti [or Thieves].

Apemantus
2042-3
More things like men. Eat, Timon, and abhor them.

2043Exit.

1 Thief
2045Where should he have this gold? It is some poor 2046fragment, some slender ort of his remainder: the mere 2047want of gold and the falling-from of his friends drove 2048him into this melancholy.

2 Thief
2049It is noised 2050he hath a mass of treasure.

3 Thief
2051Let us make the assay upon him. If he care not for't, 2052he will supply us easily; if he covetously reserve it, how 2053shall's get it?

2 Thief
2054True, for he bears it not about him. 2055'Tis hid.

1 Thief
2056Is not this he?

2 Thief, 3 Thief
2057Where?

2 Thief
2058'Tis his description.

3 Thief
2059He? I know him.

All Thieves
2060Save thee, Timon.

Timon
2061Now, thieves.

All Thieves
2062
Soldiers, not thieves.

Timon
2063
Both too, and women's sons.

All Thieves
2064
We are not thieves, but men
2065
that much do want.

Timon
2066
Your greatest want is you want much of meat.
2067
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots;
2068
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;
2039
The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips;
2070
The bounteous housewife Nature, on each bush,
2071
Lays her full mess before you. Want? why want?

1 Thief
2072
We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
2073
As beasts and birds and fishes.

Timon
2074
Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes:
2075
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
2076
That you are thieves professed, that you work not
2077
In holier shapes; for there is boundless theft
2078
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
2079
Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o'th'grape
2080
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
2081
And so scape hanging. Trust not the physician:
2082
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
2083
More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together.
2084
Do, villains, do, since you protest to do't,
2085
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery.
2086
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
2087
Robs the vast sea. The moon's an arrant thief,
2088
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun.
2089
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
2090
The moon into salt tears. The earth's a thief
2091
That feeds and breeds by a composture stol'n
2092
From gen'ral excrement. Each thing's a thief.
2093
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
2094
Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves. Away.
2095
Rob one another — there's more gold —, cut throats,
2096
All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go,
2097
Break open shops; nothing can you steal
2098
But thieves do lose it. Steal less, for this I give you,
2099
And gold confound you howsoe'er. Amen.

3 Thief
2100He's almost charmed me from my profession, by persuading 2101me to it.

1 Thief
2102'Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises 2103us not to have us thrive in our mystery.

2 Thief
2104I'll believe him as an enemy 2105and give over my trade.

1 Thief
2106Let us first see peace in Athens. There is no time so 2107miserable, but a man may be true.

2107Exeunt thieves.
2108Enter [Flavius] the Steward to Timon.

Flavius
2109
O you gods!
2110
Is yon despised and ruinous man my lord,
2111
Full of decay and failing? Oh, monument
2112
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed!
2113
What an alteration of honor has desp'rate want made?
2114
What viler thing upon the earth than friends,
2115
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
2116
How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
2117
When man was wished to love his enemies!
2118
Grant I may ever love and rather woo
2119
Those that would mischief me than those that do.
2120
He's caught me in his eye. I will present
2120-1
My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord,
2121-2
Still serve him with my life. — My dearest master.

Timon
2123
Away! What art thou?

Flavius
2124
Have you forgot me, sir?

Timon
2125
Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men.
2126-7
Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee.

Flavius
2128
An honest poor servant of yours.

Timon
2129
Then I know thee not:
2130
I never had honest man about me; ay, all
2131
I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains.

Flavius
2132
The gods are witness,
2133
Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief
2134
For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.

Timon
2135-6
What, dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I love thee
2137
Because thou art a woman and disclaim'st
2138
Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
2139
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping.
2140
Strange times that weep with laughing, not with weeping.

Flavius
2141
I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
2142
T'accept my grief, and whilst this poor wealth lasts,
2143
To entertain me as your steward still.

Timon
2144
Had I a steward
2145
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
2146
It almost turns my dangerous nature wild.
2147
Let me behold thy face. Surely this man
2148
Was born of woman.
2149
Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
2150
You perpetual sober gods! I do proclaim
2151
One honest man — mistake me not, but one,
2152
No more, I pray — and he's a steward.
2153
How fain would I have hated all mankind,
2154
And thou redeem'st thyself! But all save thee
2155
I fell with curses.
2156
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise,
2157
For, by oppressing and betraying me,
2158
Thou mightst have sooner got another service.
2159
For many so arrive at second masters,
2160
Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true,
2161
(For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure)
2162
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
2163
If not a usuring kindness, and, as rich men deal gifts,
2164
Expecting in return twenty for one?

Flavius
2165
No, my most worthy master, in whose breast
2166
Doubt and suspect (alas!) are placed too late.
2167
You should have feared false times when you did feast.
2168
Suspect still comes where an estate is least.
2169
That which I show, Heaven knows, is merely love,
2170
Duty, and zeal to your unmatchèd mind,
2171
Care of your food and living. And believe it,
2172
My most honored lord,
2173
For any benefit that points to me
2174
Either in hope or present, I'd exchange
2175
For this one wish: that you had power and wealth
2176
To requite me by making rich yourself.

Timon
2177
Look thee, 'tis so. Thou singly honest man,
2178
Here, take
[He offers gold.]
The gods out of my misery
2179
Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy,
2180
But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men,
2181
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
2182
But let the famished flesh slide from the bone
2183
Ere thou relieve the beggar. Give to dogs
2184
What thou deniest to men. Let prisons swallow 'em,
2185
Debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like blasted woods,
2186
And may diseases lick up their false bloods.
2187
And so farewell, and thrive.

Flavius
2188
Oh, let me stay and comfort you, my master.

Timon
2189
If thou hat'st curses,
2190
Stay not. Fly whilst thou art blest and free.
2191
Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.

2191Exit [Flavius; Timon withdraws to his cave.]

2191.1[5.1]

2192Enter Poet, and Painter.

Painter
2193As I took note of the place, it cannot be far 2194where he abides.

Poet
2195What's to be thought of him? 2196Does the rumor hold for true 2197that he's so full of gold?

Painter
2198Certain. 2199Alcibiades reports it: Phrynia and Timandra 2200had gold of him. He likewise enriched 2201poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. 2202'Tis said he gave unto his steward 2203a mighty sum.

Poet
2204Then this breaking of his 2205has been but a try for his friends?

Painter
2206Nothing else. 2207You shall see him a palm in Athens again 2208and flourish with the highest. 2209Therefore 'tis not amiss we tender our loves 2210to him in this supposed distress of his. 2211It will show honestly in us, 2212and is very likely to load our purposes 2213with what they travail for, 2214if it be a just and true report that goes 2215of his having.

Poet
2216What have you now 2217to present unto him?

Painter
2218Nothing at this time 2219but my visitation; only I will promise him 2220an excellent piece.

Poet
2221I must serve him so too, 2222tell him of an intent that's coming toward him.

Painter
2223Good as the best. 2224Promising is the very air o'th'time; 2225it opens the eyes of expectation. 2226Performance is ever the duller for his act, 2227and but in the plainer and simpler kind of people 2228the deed of saying is quite out of use. 2229To promise is most courtly and fashionable. 2230Performance is a kind of will or testament 2231which argues a great sickness in his judgment 2232that makes it.

2233Enter Timon from his cave.

Timon
2234[Aside] Excellent workman, 2235 thou canst not paint a man so bad 2236 as is thyself.

Poet
2237I am thinking 2238what I shall say I have provided for him. 2239It must be a personating of himself, 2240a satire against the softness of prosperity, 2241with a discovery of the infinite flatteries 2242that follow youth and opulency.

Timon
2243[Aside] Must thou needs 2244 stand for a villain in thine own work? 2245 Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? 2246 Do so; I have gold for thee.

Poet
2247Nay, let's seek him.
ErrorMetrica
2248
Then do we sin against our own estate
2249
When we may profit meet and come too late.

Painter
2250
True.
2251
When the day serves before black-cornered night,
2252
Find what thou want'st by free and offered light.
2253
Come.

Timon
2254
[Aside]
I'll meet you at the turn.
2255
What a gods' gold, that he is worshipped
2256
In a baser temple than where swine feed!
2257
'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plow'st the foam,
2258
Settlest admirèd reverence in a slave.
2259
To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye
2260
Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey.
2261
Fit I meet them.

2261.1[He comes forward.]

Poet
2262
Hail, worthy Timon!

Painter
2263
Our late noble master!

Timon
2264-5
Have I once lived to see two honest men?

Poet
2266
Sir,
2267
having often of your open bounty tasted,
2268
Hearing you were retired, your friends fall'n off,
2269
Whose thankless natures — O abhorrèd spirits,
2270
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough —
2271
What, to you,
2272
Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence
2273
To their whole being! I am rapt and cannot cover
2274
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude
2275
With any size of words.

Timon
2276-7
Let it go naked; men may see't the better.
2278
You that are honest, by being what you are,
2279
Make them best seen and known.

Painter
2280
He and myself
2281
Have traveled in the great show'r of your gifts
2283
And sweetly felt it.

Timon
2284
Ay, you are honest men.

Painter
2284-5
We are hither come to offer you our service.

Timon
2286-7
Most honest men. Why, how shall I requite you?
2288
Can you eat roots and drink cold water, no?

Poet, Painter
2289
What we can do
2290
we'll do to do you service.

Timon
2291-2
You're honest men. You've heard that I have gold,
2293
I am sure you have — speak truth, you're honest men.

Painter
2294
So it is said, my noble lord, but therefore
2295
Came not my friend nor I.

Timon
2296
Good honest men. — Thou draw'st a counterfeit
2297
Best in all Athens; thou'rt indeed the best;
2298
Thou counterfeit'st most lively.

Painter
2299
So so, my lord.

Timon
2300
E'en so, sir, as I say. — And for thy fiction,
2301
Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth
2302
That thou art even natural in thine art.
2303
But for all this, my honest-natured friends,
2304
I must needs say you have a little fault,
2305
Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I
2306
You take much pains to mend.

Poet, Painter
2307
Beseech your honour
2308
To make it known to us.

Timon
2309
You'll take it ill.

Poet, Painter
2310
Most thankfully, my lord.

Timon
2311
Will you indeed?

Poet, Painter
2312
Doubt it not, worthy lord.

Timon
2313
There's never a one of you but trusts a knave
2314
That mightily deceives you.

Poet, Painter
2315
Do we, my lord?

Timon
2316-7
Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,
2318
Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,
2319
Keep in your bossom; yet remain assured
2320
That he's a made-up villain.

Painter
2321
I know none such, my lord.

Poet
2322
Nor I.

Timon
2323
Look you,
2324
I love you well, I'll give you gold:
2325
Rid me these villains from your companies,
2326
Hang them, or stab them, drown them in a draft,
2327
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
2328
I'll give you gold enough.

Poet, Painter
2329
Name them, my lord, let's know them.

Timon
2330
You that way, and you this, but two in company;
2332
Each man apart, all single and alone,
2333
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company. —
2334
[To one]
If where thou art two villains shall not be,
2335
Come not near him. —
[To the other]
If thou wouldst not reside
2336
But where one villain is, then him abandon. —
2336.1[Timon attacks them.]
2337Hence, pack! There’s gold, you came for gold, ye slaves! 2338You have work for me; there’s payment. Hence! — 2339 [To one] You are an alchemist, make gold of that. — 2340Out, rascal dogs!

2340Exeunt [Poet and Painter; Timon retires to his cave].

2340.1[5.2]

2341Enter steward [Flavius] and two Senators.

Flavius
2342
It is in vain that you would speak with Timon,
2343
For he is set so only to himself
2344
That nothing but himself which looks like man
2345
Is friendly with him.

1 Senator
2346
Bring us to his cave.
2347
It is our part and promise to th'Athenians
2348
To speak with Timon.

2 Senator
2349
At all times alike
2350
Men are not still the same. 'Twas time and griefs
2351
That framed him thus. Time with his fairer hand,
2352
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
2353
The former man may make him. Bring us to him
2354
And chance it as it may.

Flavius
2355
Here is his cave. —
2356
Peace and content be here. Lord Timon, Timon,
2357
Look out, and speak to friends: th'Athenians
2358
By two of their most reverend Senate greet thee.
2359
Speak to them, noble Timon.

2360Enter Timon out of his cave.

Timon
2361-2
Thou, sun that comforts, burn. — Speak and be hanged:
2363
For each true word, a blister, and each false
2364
Be as a cantherizing to the root o'th'tongue,
2365
Consuming it with speaking.

1 Senator
2366
Worthy Timon!

Timon
2367-8
Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.

1 Senator
2369
The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.

Timon
2370
I thank them,
2371
and would send them back the plague,
2372
Could I but catch it for them.

1 Senator
2373
Oh, forget
2374
What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
2375
The senators, with one consent of love,
2376
Entreat thee back to Athens, who have thought
2377
On special dignities, which vacant lie
2378
For thy best use and wearing.

2 Senator
2379
They confess
2380
Toward thee forgetfulness too general gross,
2381
Which now the public body, which doth seldom
2382
Play the recanter, feeling in itself
2383
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal
2384
Of it own fall, restraining aide to Timon,
2385
And send forth us to make their sorrowed render,
2386
Together with a recompense more fruitful
2387
Than their offense can weigh down by the dram,
2388
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth
2389
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,
2390
And write in thee the figures of their love,
2391
Ever to read them thine.

Timon
2392
You witch me in it,
2393
Surprise me to the very brink of tears.
2394
Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes,
2395
And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.

1 Senator
2396
Therefore so please thee to return with us,
2397
And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take
2398
The captainship. Thou shalt be met with thanks,
2399
Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
2400
Live with authority. So, soon we shall drive back
2401
Of Alcibiades th'approaches wild,
2402
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
2403
His country's peace.

2 Senator
2404
And shakes his threat'ning sword
2405
Against the walls of Athens.

1 Senator
2406
Therefore, Timon —

Timon
2407
Well, sir, I will. Therefore I will, sir thus:
2408
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
2409
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon:
2410
That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,
2411
And take our goodly agèd men by th'beards,
2412
Giving our holy virgins to the stain
2413
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war,
2414
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it
2415
In pity of our agèd and our youth,
2416
I cannot choose but tell him that I care not,
2417
And let him take't at worst. For their knives care not,
2418
While you have throats to answer. For myself,
2419
There's not a whittle in th'unruly camp
2420
But I do prize it at my love, before
2421
The reverends throat in Athens. So I leave you
2422
To the protection of the prosperous gods,
2423
As thieves to keepers.

Flavius
2425
Stay not, all's in vain.

Timon
2425
Why, I was writing of my epitaph.
2426
It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness
2427
Of health and livin, now begins to mend,
2428
And nothing brings me all things. Go; live still;
2429
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
2430
And last so long enough.

1 Senator
2431
We speak in vain.

Timon
2432
But yet I love my country and am not
2433
One that rejoices in the common wrack,
2434
As common bruit doth put it.

1 Senator
2435
That's well spoke.

Timon
2436
Commend me to my loving countrymen.

1 Senator
2437
These words become your lips as they passe through
2438
them.

2 Senator
2439
And enter in our ears like great triumphers
2440
In their applauding gates.

Timon
2441
Commend me to them,
2442
And tell them that to ease them of their griefs,
2443
Their fears of hostile strokes, their achès, losses,
2444
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
2445
That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain
2446
In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them;
2447
I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.

1 Senator
2448
I like this well. He will return again.

Timon
2449
I have a tree which grows here in my close,
2450
That mine own use invites me to cut down,
2451
And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends,
2452
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree
2453
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
2454
To stop affliction, let him take his haste,
2455
Come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe,
2456
And hang himself. I pray you do my greeting.

Flavius
2457-8
Trouble him no further, thus you still shall
2458
find him.

Timon
2459
Come not to me again, but say to Athens
2460
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
2461
Upon the beachèd verge of the salt flood,
2462
Who once a day with his embossèd froth
2463
The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come,
2464
And let my gravestone be your oracle.
2465
Lips, let four words go by, and language end.
2466
What is amiss, plague and infection mend.
2467
Graves only be men's works, and death their gain.
2468
Sun, hide thy beams, Timon hath done his reign.

2469Exit Timon.

1 Senator
2470
His discontents are unremovably
2471
Coupled to nature.

2 Senator
2472
Our hope in him is dead. Let us return
2473
And strain what other means is left unto us
2474
In our dear peril.

1 Senator
2475
It requires swift foot.

2475Exeunt.

2475.1[5.3]

2476Enter two other Senators, with a Messenger.

3 Senator
2477
Thou hast painfully discovered. Are his files
2478
As full as thy report?

Messenger
2479
I have spoke the least.
2480
Besides, his expedition promises
2480
Present approach.

4 Senator
2481
We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon.

Messenger
2482
I met a courier, one mine ancient friend,
2483
Whom, though in general part we were opposed,
2484
Yet our old love made a particular force
2485
And made us speak like friends. This man was riding
2486
From Alcibiades to Timon's cave
2487
With letters of entreaty which imported
2488
His fellowship i'th'cause against your city,
2489
In part for his sake moved.

2490Enter the other Senators.

3 Senator
2491
Here come our brothers.

1 Senator
2492
No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.
2493
The enemy's drum is heard, and fearful scouring
2494
Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare.
2495
Ours is the fall, I fear, our foe's the snare.

2495Exeunt

2495.1[5.4]

2496Enter a Soldier in the woods, seeking Timon.

Soldier
2497
By all description this should be the place.
2498
Who's here? Speak, ho! No answer? What is this?
2498.1[Reads.]
2499
"Timon is dead, who hath outstretched his span.
2500
Some beast read this; there does not live a man."
2501
Dead, sure, and this his grave. What's on this tomb
2502
I cannot read. The character I'll take with wax.
2503
Our captain hath in every figure skill,
2504
An aged interpreter though young in days.
2505
Before proud Athens he's set down by this,
2506
Whose fall the mark of his ambition is.

2506Exit.

2506.1[5.5]

2507Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his powers
2508before Athens.

Alcibiades
2509
Sound to this coward and lascivious town
2510
Our terrible approach.
2511Sounds a parley.
2512The Senators appear upon the walls.
2513
Till now you have gone on and filled the time
2514
With all licentious measure, making your wills
2515
The scope of justice. Till now myself and such
2516
As slept within the shadow of your power
2517
have wandered with our traversed arms and breathed
2518
Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush,
2519
When crouching marrow in the bearer strong
2520
Cries of it self "no more." Now breathless wrong
2521
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
2522
And pursy insolence shall break his wind
2523
With fear and horrid flight.

1 Senator
2524
Noble and young,
2525
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
2526
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,
2527
We sent to thee to give thy rages balm,
2528
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
2529
Above their quantity.

2 Senator
2530
So did we woo
2531
Transformèd Timon to our city's love
2532
By humble message and by promised means.
2533
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
2534
The common stroke of war.

1 Senator
2535
These walls of ours
2536
Were not erected by their hands from whom
2537
You have received your grief. Nor are they such
2538
That these great tow'rs, trophies, and schools should fall
2539
For private faults in them.

2 Senator
2540
Nor are they living
2541
Who were the motives that you first went out,
2542
Shame that they wanted, coming in excess,
2543
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
2544
Into our city with thy banners spread;
2545
By decimation and a tithèd death,
2546
If thy revenges hunger for that food
2547
Which nature loathes, take thou the destined tenth,
2548
And by the hazard of the spotted die
2549
Let die the spotted.

1 Senator
2550
All have not offended.
2551
For those that were, it is not square to take;
2552
On those that are, revenge. Crimes, like lands,
2553
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
2554
Bring in thy ranks but leave without thy rage;
2555
Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin
2556
Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall
2557
With those that have offended; like a shepherd,
2558
Approach the fold, and cull th'infected forth,
2559
But kill not all together.

2 Senator
2560
What thou wilt,
2561
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile
2562
Than hew to't with thy sword.

1 Senator
2563
Set but thy foot
2564
Against our rampired gates and they shall ope;
2565
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before
2566
To say thou'lt enter friendly.

2 Senator
2567
Throw thy glove,
2568
Or any token of thine honor else,
2569
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress
2570
And not as our confusion. All thy powers
2571
Shall make their harbor in our town till we
2572
Have sealed thy full desire.

Alcibiades
2573
Then there's my glove.
2574
Descend and open your unchargèd ports.
2575
Those enemies of Timon's and mine own
2576
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof
2577
Fall, and no more; and to atone your fears
2578
With my more noble meaning, not a man
2579
Shall pass his quarter or offend the stream
2580
Of regular justice in your city's bounds
2581
But shall be remedied to your public laws
2582
At heaviest answer.

Both Senators
2583
'Tis most nobly spoken.

Alcibiades
2584
Descend, and keep your words.

2585Enter [Soldier as] a messenger [with a wax tablet].

Soldier
2586
My noble general, Timon is dead,
2587
Entombed upon the very hem o'th'sea,
2588
And on his gravestone, this insculpture, which
2589
With wax I brought away, whose soft impression
2590
Interprets for my poor ignorance.

2591Alcibiades reads the epitaph.

Alcibiades
2592
"Here lies a wretched corpse, of wretched soul bereft.
2593
Seek not my name. A plague consume you, wicked caitiffs left!
2594
Here lie I, Timon, who alive all living men did hate.
2595
Pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay not here thy gait."
2596
These well express in thee thy latter spirits.
2597
Though thou abhorred'st in us our human griefs,
2598
Scorned'st our brains' flow and those our droplets which
2599
From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit
2600
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye
2601
On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead
2602
Is noble Timon, of whose memory
2603
Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,
2604
And I will use the olive with my sword,
2605
Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make each
2606
Prescribe to other, as each other's leech.
2607
Let our drums strike.

2607[Drums.]
2607Exeunt.
FINIS.