Act I

Act I. Scene I. Athens. A hall in Timon's house.

Good day, sir.

I am glad you're well.

I have not seen you long: how goes the world?

It wears, sir, as it grows.

Ay, that's well known:

But what particular rarity? what strange,

Which manifold record not matches? See,

Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power

Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.

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I know them both; th' other's a jeweller.

O, 'tis a worthy lord.

Nay, that's most fix'd.

A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,

To an untirable and continuate goodness:

He passes.

Jeweller: I have a jewel here--

O, pray, let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir?

Jeweller: If he will touch the estimate: but, for that--

[Reciting to himself] 'When we for recompense have

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praised the vile,

It stains the glory in that happy verse

Which aptly sings the good.'

'Tis a good form.

And rich: here is a water, look ye.

You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication

To the great lord.

A thing slipp'd idly from me.

Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes

From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint

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Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame

Provokes itself and like the current flies

Each bound it chafes. What have you there?

A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?

Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.

Let's see your piece.

'Tis a good piece.

So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent.

Indifferent.

Admirable: how this grace

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Speaks his own standing! what a mental power

This eye shoots forth! how big imagination

Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture

One might interpret.

It is a pretty mocking of the life.

Here is a touch; is't good?

I will say of it,

It tutors nature: artificial strife

Lives in these touches, livelier than life.

How this lord is follow'd!

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The senators of Athens: happy man!

Look, more!

You see this confluence, this great flood

of visitors.

I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,

Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug

With amplest entertainment: my free drift

Halts not particularly, but moves itself

In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice

Infects one comma in the course I hold;

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But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,

Leaving no tract behind.

How shall I understand you?

I will unbolt to you.

You see how all conditions, how all minds,

As well of glib and slippery creatures as

Of grave and austere quality, tender down

Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune

Upon his good and gracious nature hanging

Subdues and properties to his love and tendance

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All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced flatterer

To Apemantus, that few things loves better

Than to abhor himself: even he drops down

The knee before him, and returns in peace

Most rich in Timon's nod.

I saw them speak together.

Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill

Feign'd Fortune to be throned: the base o' the mount

Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,

That labour on the bosom of this sphere

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To propagate their states: amongst them all,

Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,

One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,

Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;

Whose present grace to present slaves and servants

Translates his rivals.

'Tis conceived to scope.

This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,

With one man beckon'd from the rest below,

Bowing his head against the sleepy mount

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To climb his happiness, would be well express'd

In our condition.

Nay, sir, but hear me on.

All those which were his fellows but of late,

Some better than his value, on the moment

Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,

Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,

Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him

Drink the free air.

Ay, marry, what of these?

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When Fortune in her shift and change of mood

Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants

Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top

Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,

Not one accompanying his declining foot.

'Tis common:

A thousand moral paintings I can show

That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's

More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well

To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen

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The foot above the head.

Imprison'd is he, say you?

Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt,

His means most short, his creditors most strait:

Your honourable letter he desires

To those have shut him up; which failing,

Periods his comfort.

Noble Ventidius! Well;

I am not of that feather to shake off

My friend when he must need me. I do know him

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A gentleman that well deserves a help:

Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt,

and free him.

Your lordship ever binds him.

Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;

And being enfranchised, bid him come to me.

'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,

But to support him after. Fare you well.

All happiness to your honour!

Lord Timon, hear me speak.

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Freely, good father.

Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.

I have so: what of him?

Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.

Attends he here, or no? Lucilius!

Here, at your lordship's service.

This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,

By night frequents my house. I am a man

That from my first have been inclined to thrift;

And my estate deserves an heir more raised

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Than one which holds a trencher.

Well; what further?

One only daughter have I, no kin else,

On whom I may confer what I have got:

The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,

And I have bred her at my dearest cost

In qualities of the best. This man of thine

Attempts her love: I prithee, noble lord,

Join with me to forbid him her resort;

Myself have spoke in vain.

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The man is honest.

Therefore he will be, Timon:

His honesty rewards him in itself;

It must not bear my daughter.

Does she love him?

She is young and apt:

Our own precedent passions do instruct us

What levity's in youth.

[To Lucilius] Love you the maid?

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

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If in her marriage my consent be missing,

I call the gods to witness, I will choose

Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,

And dispossess her all.

How shall she be endow'd,

if she be mated with an equal husband?

Three talents on the present; in future, all.

This gentleman of mine hath served me long:

To build his fortune I will strain a little,

For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:

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What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,

And make him weigh with her.

Most noble lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.

My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.

Humbly I thank your lordship: never may

The state or fortune fall into my keeping,

Which is not owed to you!

Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!

I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:

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Go not away. What have you there, my friend?

A piece of painting, which I do beseech

Your lordship to accept.

Painting is welcome.

The painting is almost the natural man;

or since dishonour traffics with man's nature,

He is but outside: these pencill'd figures are

Even such as they give out. I like your work;

And you shall find I like it: wait attendance

Till you hear further from me.

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The gods preserve ye!

Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;

We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel

Hath suffer'd under praise.

What, my lord! dispraise?

A more satiety of commendations.

If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,

It would unclew me quite.

My lord, 'tis rated

As those which sell would give: but you well know,

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Things of like value differing in the owners

Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear lord,

You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

Well mock'd.

No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,

Which all men speak with him.

Look, who comes here: will you be chid?

Jeweller: We'll bear, with your lordship.

He'll spare none.

Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!

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Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;

When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.

Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.

Are they not Athenians?

Yes.

Then I repent not.

Jeweller: You know me, Apemantus?

Thou know'st I do: I call'd thee by thy name.

Thou art proud, Apemantus.

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

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Whither art going?

To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.

That's a deed thou'lt die for.

Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.

How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?

The best, for the innocence.

Wrought he not well that painted it?

He wrought better that made the painter; and yet

he's but a filthy piece of work.

You're a dog.

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

Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

No; I eat not lords.

An thou shouldst, thou 'ldst anger ladies.

O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

That's a lascivious apprehension.

So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.

How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a

man a doit.

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What dost thou think 'tis worth?

Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!

How now, philosopher!

Thou liest.

Art not one?

Yes.

Then I lie not.

Art not a poet?

Yes.

Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou

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hast feigned him a worthy fellow.

That's not feigned; he is so.

Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy

labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o'

the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!

What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.

What, thyself?

Ay.

Wherefore?

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That I had no angry wit to be a lord.

Art not thou a merchant?

Ay, Apemantus.

Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!

If traffic do it, the gods do it.

Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee!

What trumpet's that?

'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,

All of companionship.

Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.

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You must needs dine with me: go not you hence

Till I have thank'd you: when dinner's done,

Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.

Most welcome, sir!

So, so, there!

Aches contract and starve your supple joints!

That there should be small love 'mongst these

sweet knaves,

And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out

Into baboon and monkey.

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Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed

Most hungerly on your sight.

Right welcome, sir!

Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time

In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

What time o' day is't, Apemantus?

Time to be honest.

That time serves still.

The more accursed thou, that still omitt'st it.

Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast?

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

Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

Why, Apemantus?

Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to

give thee none.

Hang thyself!

No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy

requests to thy friend.

Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence!

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

He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,

And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes

The very heart of kindness.

He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,

Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays

Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,

But breeds the giver a return exceeding

All use of quittance.

The noblest mind he carries

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That ever govern'd man.

Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?

I'll keep you company.

Act I. Scene II. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.

Most honour'd Timon,

It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age,

And call him to long peace.

He is gone happy, and has left me rich:

Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound

To your free heart, I do return those talents,

Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help

I derived liberty.

O, by no means,

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Honest Ventidius; you mistake my love:

I gave it freely ever; and there's none

Can truly say he gives, if he receives:

If our betters play at that game, we must not dare

To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.

A noble spirit!

Nay, my lords,

Ceremony was but devised at first

To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,

Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;

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But where there is true friendship, there needs none.

Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes

Than my fortunes to me.

My lord, we always have confess'd it.

Ho, ho, confess'd it! hang'd it, have you not?

O, Apemantus, you are welcome.

No;

You shall not make me welcome:

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

Fie, thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there

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Does not become a man: 'tis much to blame.

They say, my lords, 'ira furor brevis est;' but yond

man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by

himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is

he fit for't, indeed.

Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon: I come to

observe; I give thee warning on't.

I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian,

therefore welcome: I myself would have no power;

prithee, let my meat make thee silent.

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I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should

ne'er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of

men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me

to see so many dip their meat in one man's blood;

and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:

Methinks they should invite them without knives;

Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.

There's much example for't; the fellow that sits

next him now, parts bread with him, pledges the

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breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest

man to kill him: 't has been proved. If I were a

huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;

Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:

Great men should drink with harness on their throats.

My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.

Let it flow this way, my good lord.

Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keeps his tides

well. Those healths will make thee and thy state

look ill, Timon. Here's that which is too weak to

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be a sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:

This and my food are equals; there's no odds:

Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

Apemantus' grace.

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;

I pray for no man but myself:

Grant I may never prove so fond,

To trust man on his oath or bond;

Or a harlot, for her weeping;

Or a dog, that seems a-sleeping:

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Or a keeper with my freedom;

Or my friends, if I should need 'em.

Amen. So fall to't:

Rich men sin, and I eat root.

Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!

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

My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a

dinner of friends.

So the were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat

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like 'em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Would all those fatterers were thine enemies then,

that then thou mightst kill 'em and bid me to 'em!

Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you

would once use our hearts, whereby we might express

some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves

for ever perfect.

O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods

themselves have provided that I shall have much help

from you: how had you been my friends else? why

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have you that charitable title from thousands, did

not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told

more of you to myself than you can with modesty

speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm

you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any

friends, if we should ne'er have need of 'em? they

were the most needless creatures living, should we

ne'er have use for 'em, and would most resemble

sweet instruments hung up in cases that keep their

sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished

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myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We

are born to do benefits: and what better or

properer can we can our own than the riches of our

friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have

so many, like brothers, commanding one another's

fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere 't can be born!

Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to

forget their faults, I drink to you.

Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon.

Joy had the like conception in our eyes

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And at that instant like a babe sprung up.

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

I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.

Much!

What means that trump?

How now?

Please you, my lord, there are certain

ladies most desirous of admittance.

Ladies! what are their wills?

There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which

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bears that office, to signify their pleasures.

I pray, let them be admitted.

Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all

That of his bounties taste! The five best senses

Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely

To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th' ear,

Taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tale rise;

They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:

Music, make their welcome!

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

Hoy-day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way!

They dance! they are mad women.

Like madness is the glory of this life.

As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.

We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;

And spend our flatteries, to drink those men

Upon whose age we void it up again,

With poisonous spite and envy.

Who lives that's not depraved or depraves?

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Who dies, that bears not one spurn to their graves

Of their friends' gift?

I should fear those that dance before me now

Would one day stamp upon me: 't has been done;

Men shut their doors against a setting sun.

You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,

Which was not half so beautiful and kind;

You have added worth unto 't and lustre,

And entertain'd me with mine own device;

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I am to thank you for 't.

My lord, you take us even at the best.

'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold

taking, I doubt me.

Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you:

Please you to dispose yourselves.

Most thankfully, my lord.

Flavius.

My lord?

The little casket bring me hither.

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Yes, my lord. More jewels yet!

There is no crossing him in 's humour;

Else I should tell him,--well, i' faith I should,

When all's spent, he 'ld be cross'd then, an he could.

'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,

That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.

Where be our men?

Here, my lord, in readiness.

Our horses!

O my friends,

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I have one word to say to you: look you, my good lord,

I must entreat you, honour me so much

As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,

Kind my lord.

I am so far already in your gifts,--

So are we all.

My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate

Newly alighted, and come to visit you.

They are fairly welcome.

I beseech your honour,

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Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.

Near! why then, another time I'll hear thee:

I prithee, let's be provided to show them

entertainment.

[Aside] I scarce know how.

May it please your honour, Lord Lucius,

Out of his free love, hath presented to you

Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.

I shall accept them fairly; let the presents

Be worthily entertain'd.

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How now! what news?

Please you, my lord, that honourable

gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company

to-morrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honour

two brace of greyhounds.

I'll hunt with him; and let them be received,

Not without fair reward.

[Aside] What will this come to?

He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,

And all out of an empty coffer:

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Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this,

To show him what a beggar his heart is,

Being of no power to make his wishes good:

His promises fly so beyond his state

That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes

For every word: he is so kind that he now

Pays interest for 't; his land's put to their books.

Well, would I were gently put out of office

Before I were forced out!

Happier is he that has no friend to feed

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Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.

I bleed inwardly for my lord.

You do yourselves

Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits:

Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.

With more than common thanks I will receive it.

O, he's the very soul of bounty!

And now I remember, my lord, you gave

Good words the other day of a bay courser

I rode on: it is yours, because you liked it.

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O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.

You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man

Can justly praise but what he does affect:

I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;

I'll tell you true. I'll call to you.

O, none so welcome.

I take all and your several visitations

So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give;

Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends,

And ne'er be weary. Alcibiades,

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Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich;

It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living

Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast

Lie in a pitch'd field.

Ay, defiled land, my lord.

We are so virtuously bound--

And so

Am I to you.

So infinitely endear'd--

All to you. Lights, more lights!

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The best of happiness,

Honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!

Ready for his friends.

What a coil's here!

Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!

I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums

That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:

Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs,

Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies.

Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be

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good to thee.

No, I'll nothing: for if I should be bribed too,

there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then

thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long,

Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in

paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps and

vain-glories?

Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am

sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come

with better music.

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So:

Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then:

I'll lock thy heaven from thee.

O, that men's ears should be

To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!

Act II

Act II. Scene I. A Senator's house.

And late, five thousand: to Varro and to Isidore

He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,

Which makes it five and twenty. Still in motion

Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.

If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,

And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.

If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more

Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,

Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,

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And able horses. No porter at his gate,

But rather one that smiles and still invites

All that pass by. It cannot hold: no reason

Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho!

Caphis, I say!

Here, sir; what is your pleasure?

Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon;

Importune him for my moneys; be not ceased

With slight denial, nor then silenced when--

'Commend me to your master'--and the cap

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Plays in the right hand, thus: but tell him,

My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn

Out of mine own; his days and times are past

And my reliances on his fracted dates

Have smit my credit: I love and honour him,

But must not break my back to heal his finger;

Immediate are my needs, and my relief

Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,

But find supply immediate. Get you gone:

Put on a most importunate aspect,

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A visage of demand; for, I do fear,

When every feather sticks in his own wing,

Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,

Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.

I go, sir.

'I go, sir!'--Take the bonds along with you,

And have the dates in contempt.

I will, sir.

Go.

Act II. Scene II. The same. A hall in Timon's house.

No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,

That he will neither know how to maintain it,

Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account

How things go from him, nor resumes no care

Of what is to continue: never mind

Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.

What shall be done? he will not hear, till feel:

I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.

Fie, fie, fie, fie!

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Good even, Varro: what,

You come for money?

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

It is: and yours too, Isidore?

Isidore's Servant It is so.

Would we were all discharged!

Varro's Servant I fear it.

Here comes the lord.

So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,

My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will?

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My lord, here is a note of certain dues.

Dues! Whence are you?

Of Athens here, my lord.

Go to my steward.

Please it your lordship, he hath put me off

To the succession of new days this month:

My master is awaked by great occasion

To call upon his own, and humbly prays you

That with your other noble parts you'll suit

In giving him his right.

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Mine honest friend,

I prithee, but repair to me next morning.

Nay, good my lord,--

Contain thyself, good friend.

Varro's Servant One Varro's servant, my good lord,--

Isidore's Servant From Isidore;

He humbly prays your speedy payment.

If you did know, my lord, my master's wants--

Varro's Servant 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks And past.

Isidore's Servant Your steward puts me off, my lord;

And I am sent expressly to your lordship.

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Give me breath.

I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;

I'll wait upon you instantly.

Come hither: pray you,

How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd

With clamourous demands of date-broke bonds,

And the detention of long-since-due debts,

Against my honour?

Please you, gentlemen,

The time is unagreeable to this business:

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Your importunacy cease till after dinner,

That I may make his lordship understand

Wherefore you are not paid.

Do so, my friends. See them well entertain'd.

Pray, draw near.

Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus:

let's ha' some sport with 'em.

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

Isidore's Servant A plague upon him, dog!

Varro's Servant How dost, fool?

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Dost dialogue with thy shadow?

Varro's Servant I speak not to thee.

No,'tis to thyself.

Come away.

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

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

Where's the fool now?

He last asked the question. Poor rogues, and

usurers' men! bawds between gold and want!

What are we, Apemantus?

70

Asses.

Why?

That you ask me what you are, and do not know

yourselves. Speak to 'em, fool.

How do you, gentlemen?

Gramercies, good fool: how does your mistress?

She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens

as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!

Good! gramercy.

Look you, here comes my mistress' page.

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[To the Fool] Why, how now, captain! what do you

in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?

Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer

thee profitably.

Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of

these letters: I know not which is which.

Canst not read?

No.

There will little learning die then, that day thou

art hanged. This is to Lord Timon; this to

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Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou't

die a bawd.

Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish a

dog's death. Answer not; I am gone.

E'en so thou outrunnest grace. Fool, I will go with

you to Lord Timon's.

Will you leave me there?

If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers?

Ay; would they served us!

So would I,--as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.

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Are you three usurers' men?

Ay, fool.

I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant: my

mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come

to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and

go away merry; but they enter my mistress' house

merrily, and go away sadly: the reason of this?

Varro's Servant I could render one.

Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster

and a knave; which not-withstanding, thou shalt be

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no less esteemed.

Varro's Servant What is a whoremaster, fool?

A fool in good clothes, and something like thee.

'Tis a spirit: sometime't appears like a lord;

sometime like a lawyer; sometime like a philosopher,

with two stones moe than's artificial one: he is

very often like a knight; and, generally, in all

shapes that man goes up and down in from fourscore

to thirteen, this spirit walks in.

Varro's Servant Thou art not altogether a fool.

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Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as

I have, so much wit thou lackest.

That answer might have become Apemantus.

Aside, aside; here comes Lord Timon.

Come with me, fool, come.

I do not always follow lover, elder brother and

woman; sometime the philosopher.

Pray you, walk near: I'll speak with you anon.

You make me marvel: wherefore ere this time

Had you not fully laid my state before me,

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That I might so have rated my expense,

As I had leave of means?

You would not hear me,

At many leisures I proposed.

Go to:

Perchance some single vantages you took.

When my indispos ition put you back:

And that unaptness made your minister,

Thus to excuse yourself.

O my good lord,

140

At many times I brought in my accounts,

Laid them before you; you would throw them off,

And say, you found them in mine honesty.

When, for some trifling present, you have bid me

Return so much, I have shook my head and wept;

Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you

To hold your hand more close: I did endure

Not seldom, nor no slight cheques, when I have

Prompted you in the ebb of your estate

And your great flow of debts. My loved lord,

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Though you hear now, too late--yet now's a time--

The greatest of your having lacks a half

To pay your present debts.

Let all my land be sold.

'Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone;

And what remains will hardly stop the mouth

Of present dues: the future comes apace:

What shall defend the interim? and at length

How goes our reckoning?

To Lacedaemon did my land extend.

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O my good lord, the world is but a word:

Were it all yours to give it in a breath,

How quickly were it gone!

You tell me true.

If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,

Call me before the exactest auditors

And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,

When all our offices have been oppress'd

With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept

With drunken spilth of wine, when every room

170

Hath blazed with lights and bray'd with minstrelsy,

I have retired me to a wasteful cock,

And set mine eyes at flow.

Prithee, no more.

Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!

How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants

This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?

What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is

Lord Timon's?

Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!

180

Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,

The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:

Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,

These flies are couch'd.

Come, sermon me no further:

No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart;

Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.

Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack,

To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;

If I would broach the vessels of my love,

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And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,

Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use

As I can bid thee speak.

Assurance bless your thoughts!

And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd,

That I account them blessings; for by these

Shall I try friends: you shall perceive how you

Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.

Within there! Flaminius! Servilius!

My lord? my lord?

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I will dispatch you severally; you to Lord Lucius;

to Lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his honour

today: you, to Sempronius: commend me to their

loves, and, I am proud, say, that my occasions have

found time to use 'em toward a supply of money: let

the request be fifty talents.

As you have said, my lord.

[Aside] Lord Lucius and Lucullus? hum!

Go you, sir, to the senators--

Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have

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Deserved this hearing--bid 'em send o' the instant

A thousand talents to me.

I have been bold--

For that I knew it the most general way--

To them to use your signet and your name;

But they do shake their heads, and I am here

No richer in return.

Is't true? can't be?

They answer, in a joint and corporate voice,

That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot

220

Do what they would; are sorry--you are honourable,--

But yet they could have wish'd--they know not--

Something hath been amiss--a noble nature

May catch a wrench--would all were well--'tis pity;--

And so, intending other serious matters,

After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,

With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods

They froze me into silence.

You gods, reward them!

Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows

230

Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:

Their blood is caked, 'tis cold, it seldom flows;

'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;

And nature, as it grows again toward earth,

Is fashion'd for the journey, dull and heavy.

Go to Ventidius.

Prithee, be not sad,

Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak.

No blame belongs to thee.

Ventidius lately

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Buried his father; by whose death he's stepp'd

Into a great estate: when he was poor,

Imprison'd and in scarcity of friends,

I clear'd him with five talents: greet him from me;

Bid him suppose some good necessity

Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd

With those five talents.

That had, give't these fellows

To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think,

That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink.

250

I would I could not think it: that thought is

bounty's foe;

Being free itself, it thinks all others so.

Act III

Act III. Scene I. A room in Lucullus' house.

I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.

I thank you, sir.

Here's my lord.

[Aside] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I

warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver

basin and ewer toight. Flaminius, honest

Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.

Fill me some wine.

And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted

10

gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord

and master?

His health is well sir.

I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and

what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my

lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to

supply; who, having great and instant occasion to

use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to

furnish him, nothing doubting your present

20

assistance therein.

La, la, la, la! 'nothing doubting,' says he? Alas,

good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not

keep so good a house. Many a time and often I ha'

dined with him, and told him on't, and come again to

supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less,

and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning

by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty

is his: I ha' told him on't, but I could ne'er get

him from't.

30

Please your lordship, here is the wine.

Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.

Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt

spirit--give thee thy due--and one that knows what

belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if

the time use thee well: good parts in thee.

Get you gone, sirrah.

Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a

bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou

40

knowest well enough, although thou comest to me,

that this is no time to lend money, especially upon

bare friendship, without security. Here's three

solidares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say

thou sawest me not. Fare thee well.

Is't possible the world should so much differ,

And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,

To him that worships thee!

Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.

May these add to the number that may scald thee!

50

Let moulten coin be thy damnation,

Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!

Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,

It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,

I feel master's passion! this slave,

Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:

Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment,

When he is turn'd to poison?

O, may diseases only work upon't!

And, when he's sick to death, let not that part of nature

60

Which my lord paid for, be of any power

To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!

Act III. Scene II. A public place.

Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and

an honourable gentleman.

We know him for no less, though we are but strangers

to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and

which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon's

happy hours are done and past, and his estate

shrinks from him.

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

But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago,

10

one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow

so many talents, nay, urged extremely for't and

showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.

How!

I tell you, denied, my lord.

What a strange case was that! now, before the gods,

I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man!

there was very little honour showed in't. For my own

part, I must needs confess, I have received some

small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels

20

and such-like trifles, nothing comparing to his;

yet, had he mistook him and sent to me, I should

ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.

See, by good hap, yonder's my lord;

I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,--

Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:

commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very

exquisite friend.

May it please your honour, my lord hath sent--

Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to

30

that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank

him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?

Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;

requesting your lordship to supply his instant use

with so many talents.

I know his lordship is but merry with me;

He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.

But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.

If his occasion were not virtuous,

I should not urge it half so faithfully.

40

Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Upon my soul,'tis true, sir.

What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself

against such a good time, when I might ha' shown

myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I

should purchase the day before for a little part,

and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,

before the gods, I am not able to do,--the more

beast, I say:--I was sending to use Lord Timon

myself, these gentlemen can witness! but I would

50

not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done't now.

Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I

hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me,

because I have no power to be kind: and tell him

this from me, I count it one of my greatest

afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an

honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you

befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?

Yes, sir, I shall.

I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.

60

True as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;

And he that's once denied will hardly speed.

Do you observe this, Hostilius?

Ay, too well.

Why, this is the world's soul; and just of the

same piece

Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him

His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in

My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,

And kept his credit with his purse,

70

Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money

Has paid his men their wages: he ne'er drinks,

But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;

And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man

When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!--

He does deny him, in respect of his,

What charitable men afford to beggars.

Religion groans at it.

For mine own part,

I never tasted Timon in my life,

80

Nor came any of his bounties over me,

To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,

For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue

And honourable carriage,

Had his necessity made use of me,

I would have put my wealth into donation,

And the best half should have return'd to him,

So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,

Men must learn now with pity to dispense;

For policy sits above conscience.

Act III. Scene III. A room in Sempronius' house.

Must he needs trouble me in 't,--hum!--'bove

all others?

He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;

And now Ventidius is wealthy too,

Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these

Owe their estates unto him.

My lord,

They have all been touch'd and found base metal, for

They have au denied him.

10

How! have they denied him?

Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?

And does he send to me? Three? hum!

It shows but little love or judgment in him:

Must I be his last refuge! His friends, like

physicians,

Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me?

Has much disgraced me in't; I'm angry at him,

That might have known my place: I see no sense for't,

But his occasion might have woo'd me first;

20

For, in my conscience, I was the first man

That e'er received gift from him:

And does he think so backwardly of me now,

That I'll requite its last? No:

So it may prove an argument of laughter

To the rest, and 'mongst lords I be thought a fool.

I'ld rather than the worth of thrice the sum,

Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;

I'd such a courage to do him good. But now return,

And with their faint reply this answer join;

30

Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.

Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The

devil knew not what he did when he made man

politic; he crossed himself by 't: and I cannot

think but, in the end, the villainies of man will

set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to

appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked,

like those that under hot ardent zeal would set

whole realms on fire: Of such a nature is his

politic love.

40

This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,

Save only the gods: now his friends are dead,

Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards

Many a bounteous year must be employ'd

Now to guard sure their master.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.

Act III. Scene IV. The same. A hall in Timon's house.

Varro's

Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

The like to you kind Varro.

Lucius!

What, do we meet together?

Lucilius' Servant Ay, and I think

One business does command us all; for mine Is money.

So is theirs and ours.

Lucilius' Servant And Sir Philotus too!

10

Good day at once.

Lucilius' Servant Welcome, good brother.

What do you think the hour?

Labouring for nine.

Lucilius' Servant So much?

Is not my lord seen yet?

Lucilius' Servant Not yet.

I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.

Lucilius' Servant Ay, but the days are wax'd shorter with him:

You must consider that a prodigal course

20

Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.

I fear 'tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;

That is one may reach deep enough, and yet

Find little.

I am of your fear for that.

I'll show you how to observe a strange event.

Your lord sends now for money.

Most true, he does.

And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,

For which I wait for money.

30

It is against my heart.

Lucilius' Servant Mark, how strange it shows,

Timon in this should pay more than he owes:

And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,

And send for money for 'em.

I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness:

I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,

And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.

Varro's

Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?

40

Lucilius' Servant Five thousand mine.

Varro's

'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,

Your master's confidence was above mine;

Else, surely, his had equall'd.

Enter Flaminius.

One of Lord Timon's men.

Lucilius' Servant Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to

come forth?

No, indeed, he is not.

We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.

50

I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.

Lucilius' Servant Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?

He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.

Do you hear, sir?

Varro's

By your leave, sir,--

What do ye ask of me, my friend?

We wait for certain money here, sir.

Ay,

If money were as certain as your waiting,

60

'Twere sure enough.

Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills,

When your false masters eat of my lord's meat?

Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts

And take down the interest into their

gluttonous maws.

You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;

Let me pass quietly:

Believe 't, my lord and I have made an end;

I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

70

Lucilius' Servant Ay, but this answer will not serve.

If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;

For you serve knaves.

Varro's

How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?

Varro's

No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge

enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no

house to put his head in? such may rail against

great buildings.

80

O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.

If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some

other hour, I should derive much from't; for,

take't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to

discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook him;

he's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

Lucilius' Servant: Many do keep their chambers are not sick:

And, if it be so far beyond his health,

Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,

And make a clear way to the gods.

90

Good gods!

We cannot take this for answer, sir.

[Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!

What, are my doors opposed against my passage?

Have I been ever free, and must my house

Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?

The place which I have feasted, does it now,

Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

Lucilius' Servant Put in now, Titus.

My lord, here is my bill.

100

Lucilius' Servant Here's mine.

And mine, my lord.

Both

Varro's Servants And ours, my lord.

All our bills.

Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.

Lucilius' Servant Alas, my lord,-

Cut my heart in sums.

Mine, fifty talents.

Tell out my blood.

110

Lucilius' Servant Five thousand crowns, my lord.

Five thousand drops pays that.

What yours?--and yours?

Varro's

My lord,--

Varro's

My lord,--

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

'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps

at their money: these debts may well be called

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desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.

They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.

Creditors? devils!

My dear lord,--

What if it should be so?

My lord,--

I'll have it so. My steward!

Here, my lord.

So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,

Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:

130

All, sirrah, all:

I'll once more feast the rascals.

O my lord,

You only speak from your distracted soul;

There is not so much left, to furnish out

A moderate table.

Be't not in thy care; go,

I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide

Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.

Act III. Scene V. The same. The senate-house. The Senate sitting.

My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's

Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die:

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

Most true; the law shall bruise him.

Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!

Now, captain?

I am an humble suitor to your virtues;

For pity is the virtue of the law,

And none but tyrants use it cruelly.

10

It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy

Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood,

Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth

To those that, without heed, do plunge into 't.

He is a man, setting his fate aside,

Of comely virtues:

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice--

An honour in him which buys out his fault--

But with a noble fury and fair spirit,

Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,

20

He did oppose his foe:

And with such sober and unnoted passion

He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent,

As if he had but proved an argument.

You undergo too strict a paradox,

Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:

Your words have took such pains as if they labour'd

To bring manslaughter into form and set quarrelling

Upon the head of valour; which indeed

Is valour misbegot and came into the world

30

When sects and factions were newly born:

He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer

The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs

His outsides, to wear them like his raiment,

carelessly,

And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,

To bring it into danger.

If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill,

What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill!

My lord,--

40

You cannot make gross sins look clear:

To revenge is no valour, but to bear.

My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,

If I speak like a captain.

Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,

And not endure all threats? sleep upon't,

And let the foes quietly cut their throats,

Without repugnancy? If there be

Such valour in the bearing, what make we

Abroad? why then, women are more valiant

50

That stay at home, if bearing carry it,

And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon

Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,

If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,

As you are great, be pitifully good:

Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?

To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;

But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.

To be in anger is impiety;

But who is man that is not angry?

60

Weigh but the crime with this.

You breathe in vain.

In vain! his service done

At Lacedaemon and Byzantium

Were a sufficient briber for his life.

What's that?

I say, my lords, he has done fair service,

And slain in fight many of your enemies:

How full of valour did he bear himself

In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!

70

He has made too much plenty with 'em;

He's a sworn rioter: he has a sin that often

Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner:

If there were no foes, that were enough

To overcome him: in that beastly fury

He has been known to commit outrages,

And cherish factions: 'tis inferr'd to us,

His days are foul and his drink dangerous.

He dies.

Hard fate! he might have died in war.

80

My lords, if not for any parts in him--

Though his right arm might purchase his own time

And be in debt to none--yet, more to move you,

Take my deserts to his, and join 'em both:

And, for I know your reverend ages love

Security, I'll pawn my victories, all

My honours to you, upon his good returns.

If by this crime he owes the law his life,

Why, let the war receive 't in valiant gore

For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

90

We are for law: he dies; urge it no more,

On height of our displeasure: friend or brother,

He forfeits his own blood that spills another.

Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,

I do beseech you, know me.

How!

Call me to your remembrances.

What!

I cannot think but your age has forgot me;

It could not else be, I should prove so base,

100

To sue, and be denied such common grace:

My wounds ache at you.

Do you dare our anger?

'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;

We banish thee for ever.

Banish me!

Banish your dotage; banish usury,

That makes the senate ugly.

If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee,

Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell

110

our spirit,

He shall be executed presently.

Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!

I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,

While they have told their money and let out

Their coin upon large interest, I myself

Rich only in large hurts. All those for this?

Is this the balsam that the usuring senate

Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment!

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It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;

It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,

That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up

My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.

'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds;

Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

Act III. Scene VI. The same. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.

The good time of day to you, sir.

I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord

did but try us this other day.

Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we

encountered: I hope it is not so low with him as

he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

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

I should think so: he hath sent me an earnest

inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me

10

to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and

I must needs appear.

In like manner was I in debt to my importunate

business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am

sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my

provision was out.

I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all

things go.

Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of

you?

20

A thousand pieces.

A thousand pieces!

What of you?

He sent to me, sir,--Here he comes.

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

Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

The swallow follows not summer more willing than we

your lordship.

[Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such

summer-birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not

30

recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the

music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' the

trumpet's sound; we shall to 't presently.

I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship

that I returned you an empty messenger.

O, sir, let it not trouble you.

My noble lord,--

Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame,

that, when your lordship this other day sent to me,

40

I was so unfortunate a beggar.

Think not on 't, sir.

If you had sent but two hours before,--

Let it not cumber your better remembrance.

Come, bring in all together.

All covered dishes!

Royal cheer, I warrant you.

Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield

it.

How do you? What's the news?

50

Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?

Alcibiades banished!

'Tis so, be sure of it.

How! how!

I pray you, upon what?

My worthy friends, will you draw near?

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

This is the old man still.

Will 't hold? will 't hold?

It does: but time will--and so--

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I do conceive.

Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to

the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all

places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let

the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place:

sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with

thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves

praised: but reserve still to give, lest your

deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that

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one need not lend to another; for, were your

godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the

gods. Make the meat be beloved more than the man

that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without

a score of villains: if there sit twelve women at

the table, let a dozen of them be--as they are. The

rest of your fees, O gods--the senators of Athens,

together with the common lag of people--what is

amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for

destruction. For these my present friends, as they

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are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to

nothing are they welcome.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

What does his lordship mean?

I know not.

May you a better feast never behold,

You knot of mouth-friends I smoke and lukewarm water

Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;

Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,

Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

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Your reeking villany.

Live loathed and long,

Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,

Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,

You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,

Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!

Of man and beast the infinite malady

Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?

Soft! take thy physic first--thou too--and thou;--

Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.

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What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,

Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.

Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be

Of Timon man and all humanity!

How now, my lords!

Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?

Push! did you see my cap?

I have lost my gown.

He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him.

He gave me a jewel th' other day, and now he has

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beat it out of my hat: did you see my jewel?

Did you see my cap?

Here 'tis.

Here lies my gown.

Let's make no stay.

Lord Timon's mad.

I feel 't upon my bones.

One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

Act IV

Act IV. Scene I. Without the walls of Athens.

Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall,

That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth,

And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!

Obedience fail in children! slaves and fools,

Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench,

And minister in their steads! to general filths

Convert o' the instant, green virginity,

Do 't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, hold fast;

Rather than render back, out with your knives,

10

And cut your trusters' throats! bound servants, steal!

Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,

And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed;

Thy mistress is o' the brothel! Son of sixteen,

pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire,

With it beat out his brains! Piety, and fear,

Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,

Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighbourhood,

Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,

Degrees, observances, customs, and laws,

20

Decline to your confounding contraries,

And let confusion live! Plagues, incident to men,

Your potent and infectious fevers heap

On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,

Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt

As lamely as their manners. Lust and liberty

Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,

That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive,

And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,

Sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop

30

Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath,

at their society, as their friendship, may

merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee,

But nakedness, thou detestable town!

Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!

Timon will to the woods; where he shall find

The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.

The gods confound--hear me, you good gods all--

The Athenians both within and out that wall!

And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow

40

To the whole race of mankind, high and low! Amen.

Act IV. Scene II. Athens. A room in Timon's house.

Hear you, master steward, where's our master?

Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?

Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?

Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,

I am as poor as you.

Such a house broke!

So noble a master fall'n! All gone! and not

One friend to take his fortune by the arm,

And go along with him!

10

As we do turn our backs

From our companion thrown into his grave,

So his familiars to his buried fortunes

Slink all away, leave their false vows with him,

Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,

A dedicated beggar to the air,

With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty,

Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.

All broken implements of a ruin'd house.

Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery;

20

That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,

Serving alike in sorrow: leak'd is our bark,

And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,

Hearing the surges threat: we must all part

Into this sea of air.

Good fellows all,

The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.

Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake,

Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,

As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,

30

'We have seen better days.' Let each take some;

Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:

Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.

O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!

Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,

Since riches point to misery and contempt?

Who would be so mock'd with glory? or to live

But in a dream of friendship?

To have his pomp and all what state compounds

But only painted, like his varnish'd friends?

40

Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,

Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,

When man's worst sin is, he does too much good!

Who, then, dares to be half so kind again?

For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.

My dearest lord, bless'd, to be most accursed,

Rich, only to be wretched, thy great fortunes

Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!

He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat

Of monstrous friends, nor has he with him to

50

Supply his life, or that which can command it.

I'll follow and inquire him out:

I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;

Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still.

Act IV. Scene III. Woods and cave, near the seashore.

O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth

Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb

Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,

Whose procreation, residence, and birth,

Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes;

The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,

To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune,

But by contempt of nature.

Raise me this beggar, and deny 't that lord;

10

The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,

The beggar native honour.

It is the pasture lards the rother's sides,

The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares,

In purity of manhood stand upright,

And say 'This man's a flatterer?' if one be,

So are they all; for every grise of fortune

Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate

Ducks to the golden fool: all is oblique;

There's nothing level in our cursed natures,

20

But direct villany. Therefore, be abhorr'd

All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!

His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:

Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!

Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate

With thy most operant poison! What is here?

Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods,

I am no idle votarist: roots, you clear heavens!

Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair,

Wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant.

30

Ha, you gods! why this? what this, you gods? Why, this

Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,

Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:

This yellow slave

Will knit and break religions, bless the accursed,

Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves

And give them title, knee and approbation

With senators on the bench: this is it

That makes the wappen'd widow wed again;

She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores

40

Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices

To the April day again. Come, damned earth,

Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds

Among the route of nations, I will make thee

Do thy right nature.

Ha! a drum ? Thou'rt quick,

But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,

When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand.

Nay, stay thou out for earnest.

What art thou there? speak.

50

A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart,

For showing me again the eyes of man!

What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee,

That art thyself a man?

I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind.

For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,

That I might love thee something.

I know thee well;

But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange.

I know thee too; and more than that I know thee,

60

I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;

With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules:

Religious canons, civil laws are cruel;

Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine

Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,

For all her cherubim look.

Thy lips rot off!

I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns

To thine own lips again.

How came the noble Timon to this change?

70

As the moon does, by wanting light to give:

But then renew I could not, like the moon;

There were no suns to borrow of.

Noble Timon,

What friendship may I do thee?

None, but to

Maintain my opinion.

What is it, Timon?

Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou

wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art

80

a man! if thou dost perform, confound thee, for

thou art a man!

I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.

Thou saw'st them, when I had prosperity.

I see them now; then was a blessed time.

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

Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world

Voiced so regardfully?

Art thou Timandra?

Yes.

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Be a whore still: they love thee not that use thee;

Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.

Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves

For tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth

To the tub-fast and the diet.

Hang thee, monster!

Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits

Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.

I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,

The want whereof doth daily make revolt

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In my penurious band: I have heard, and grieved,

How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,

Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,

But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them,--

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

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

How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?

I had rather be alone.

Why, fare thee well:

Here is some gold for thee.

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Keep it, I cannot eat it.

When I have laid proud Athens on a heap,--

Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens?

Ay, Timon, and have cause.

The gods confound them all in thy conquest;

And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd!

Why me, Timon?

That, by killing of villains,

Thou wast born to conquer my country.

Put up thy gold: go on,--here's gold,--go on;

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Be as a planetary plague, when Jove

Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison

In the sick air: let not thy sword skip one:

Pity not honour'd age for his white beard;

He is an usurer: strike me the counterfeit matron;

It is her habit only that is honest,

Herself's a bawd: let not the virgin's cheek

Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps,

That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes,

Are not within the leaf of pity writ,

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But set them down horrible traitors: spare not the babe,

Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;

Think it a bastard, whom the oracle

Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut,

And mince it sans remorse: swear against objects;

Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes;

Whose proof, nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,

Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,

Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay soldiers:

Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,

140

Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.

Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou

givest me,

Not all thy counsel.

Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse

upon thee!

Give us some gold, good Timon: hast thou more?

Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,

And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,

Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable,

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Although, I know, you 'll swear, terribly swear

Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues

The immortal gods that hear you,--spare your oaths,

I'll trust to your conditions: be whores still;

And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,

Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up;

Let your close fire predominate his smoke,

And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,

Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofs

With burthens of the dead;--some that were hang'd,

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No matter:--wear them, betray with them: whore still;

Paint till a horse may mire upon your face,

A pox of wrinkles!

Well, more gold: what then?

Believe't, that we'll do any thing for gold.

Consumptions sow

In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,

And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice,

That he may never more false title plead,

Nor sound his quillets shrilly: hoar the flamen,

170

That scolds against the quality of flesh,

And not believes himself: down with the nose,

Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away

Of him that, his particular to foresee,

Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate

ruffians bald;

And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war

Derive some pain from you: plague all;

That your activity may defeat and quell

The source of all erection. There's more gold:

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Do you damn others, and let this damn you,

And ditches grave you all!

More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.

More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest.

Strike up the drum towards Athens! Farewell, Timon:

If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.

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

I never did thee harm.

Yes, thou spokest well of me.

Call'st thou that harm?

190

Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take

Thy beagles with thee.

We but offend him. Strike!

That nature, being sick of man's unkindness,

Should yet be hungry! Common mother, thou,

Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast,

Teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle,

Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puff'd,

Engenders the black toad and adder blue,

The gilded newt and eyeless venom'd worm,

200

With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven

Whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine;

Yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate,

From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!

Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,

Let it no more bring out ingrateful man!

Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears;

Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face

Hath to the marbled mansion all above

Never presented!--O, a root,--dear thanks!--

210

Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough-torn leas;

Whereof ungrateful man, with liquorish draughts

And morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind,

That from it all consideration slips!

More man? plague, plague!

I was directed hither: men report

Thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them.

'Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog,

Whom I would imitate: consumption catch thee!

This is in thee a nature but infected;

220

A poor unmanly melancholy sprung

From change of fortune. Why this spade? this place?

This slave-like habit? and these looks of care?

Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft;

Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot

That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods,

By putting on the cunning of a carper.

Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive

By that which has undone thee: hinge thy knee,

And let his very breath, whom thou'lt observe,

230

Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,

And call it excellent: thou wast told thus;

Thou gavest thine ears like tapsters that bid welcome

To knaves and all approachers: 'tis most just

That thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again,

Rascals should have 't. Do not assume my likeness.

Were I like thee, I'ld throw away myself.

Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself;

A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st

That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,

240

Will put thy shirt on warm? will these moss'd trees,

That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels,

And skip where thou point'st out? will the

cold brook,

Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste,

To cure thy o'er-night's surfeit? Call the creatures

Whose naked natures live in an the spite

Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks,

To the conflicting elements exposed,

Answer mere nature; bid them flatter thee;

250

O, thou shalt find--

A fool of thee: depart.

I love thee better now than e'er I did.

I hate thee worse.

Why?

Thou flatter'st misery.

I flatter not; but say thou art a caitiff.

Why dost thou seek me out?

To vex thee.

Always a villain's office or a fool's.

260

Dost please thyself in't?

Ay.

What! a knave too?

If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on

To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou

Dost it enforcedly; thou'ldst courtier be again,

Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery

Outlives encertain pomp, is crown'd before:

The one is filling still, never complete;

The other, at high wish: best state, contentless,

270

Hath a distracted and most wretched being,

Worse than the worst, content.

Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.

Not by his breath that is more miserable.

Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm

With favour never clasp'd; but bred a dog.

Hadst thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded

The sweet degrees that this brief world affords

To such as may the passive drugs of it

Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself

280

In general riot; melted down thy youth

In different beds of lust; and never learn'd

The icy precepts of respect, but follow'd

The sugar'd game before thee. But myself,

Who had the world as my confectionary,

The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men

At duty, more than I could frame employment,

That numberless upon me stuck as leaves

Do on the oak, hive with one winter's brush

Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare

290

For every storm that blows: I, to bear this,

That never knew but better, is some burden:

Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time

Hath made thee hard in't. Why shouldst thou hate men?

They never flatter'd thee: what hast thou given?

If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,

Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff

To some she beggar and compounded thee

Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, be gone!

If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,

300

Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.

Art thou proud yet?

Ay, that I am not thee.

I, that I was

No prodigal.

I, that I am one now:

Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,

I'ld give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.

That the whole life of Athens were in this!

Thus would I eat it.

310

Here; I will mend thy feast.

First mend my company, take away thyself.

So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.

'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd;

if not, I would it were.

What wouldst thou have to Athens?

Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,

Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have.

Here is no use for gold.

The best and truest;

320

For here it sleeps, and does no hired harm.

Where liest o' nights, Timon?

Under that's above me.

Where feed'st thou o' days, Apemantus?

Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat

it.

Would poison were obedient and knew my mind!

Where wouldst thou send it?

To sauce thy dishes.

The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the

330

extremity of both ends: when thou wast in thy gilt

and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much

curiosity; in thy rags thou knowest none, but art

despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for

thee, eat it.

On what I hate I feed not.

Dost hate a medlar?

Ay, though it look like thee.

An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, thou shouldst

have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou

340

ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means?

Who, without those means thou talkest of, didst thou

ever know beloved?

Myself.

I understand thee; thou hadst some means to keep a

dog.

What things in the world canst thou nearest compare

to thy flatterers?

Women nearest; but men, men are the things

themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world,

350

Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

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

Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of

men, and remain a beast with the beasts?

Ay, Timon.

A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t'

attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would

beguile thee; if thou wert the lamb, the fox would

eat three: if thou wert the fox, the lion would

suspect thee, when peradventure thou wert accused by

360

the ass: if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would

torment thee, and still thou livedst but as a

breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy

greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst

hazard thy life for thy dinner: wert thou the

unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee and

make thine own self the conquest of thy fury: wert

thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse:

wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the

leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to

370

the lion and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on

thy life: all thy safety were remotion and thy

defence absence. What beast couldst thou be, that

were not subject to a beast? and what a beast art

thou already, that seest not thy loss in

transformation!

If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou

mightst have hit upon it here: the commonwealth of

Athens is become a forest of beasts.

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

380

Yonder comes a poet and a painter: the plague of

company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it

and give way: when I know not what else to do, I'll

see thee again.

When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be

welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.

Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.

Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!

A plague on thee! thou art too bad to curse.

All villains that do stand by thee are pure.

390

There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.

If I name thee.

I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.

I would my tongue could rot them off!

Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!

Choler does kill me that thou art alive;

I swound to see thee.

Would thou wouldst burst!

Away,

Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose

400

A stone by thee.

Beast!

Slave!

Toad!

Rogue, rogue, rogue!

I am sick of this false world, and will love nought

But even the mere necessities upon 't.

Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;

Lie where the light foam the sea may beat

Thy grave-stone daily: make thine epitaph,

410

That death in me at others' lives may laugh.

O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce

'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler

Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars!

Thou ever young, fresh, loved and delicate wooer,

Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow

That lies on Dian's lap! thou visible god,

That solder'st close impossibilities,

And makest them kiss! that speak'st with

every tongue,

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To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts!

Think, thy slave man rebels, and by thy virtue

Set them into confounding odds, that beasts

May have the world in empire!

Would 'twere so!

But not till I am dead. I'll say thou'st gold:

Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.

Throng'd to!

Ay.

Thy back, I prithee.

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Live, and love thy misery.

Long live so, and so die.

I am quit.

Moe things like men! Eat, Timon, and abhor them.

Where should he have this gold? It is some poor

fragment, some slender sort of his remainder: the

mere want of gold, and the falling-from of his

friends, drove him into this melancholy.

It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.

Let us make the assay upon him: if he care not

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for't, he will supply us easily; if he covetously

reserve it, how shall's get it?

True; for he bears it not about him, 'tis hid.

Is not this he?

Where?

'Tis his description.

He; I know him.

Save thee, Timon.

Now, thieves?

Soldiers, not thieves.

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Both too; and women's sons.

We are not thieves, but men that much do want.

Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.

Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots;

Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;

The oaks bear mast, the briers scarlet hips;

The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush

Lays her full mess before you. Want! why want?

We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,

As beasts and birds and fishes.

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Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and fishes;

You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con

That you are thieves profess'd, that you work not

In holier shapes: for there is boundless theft

In limited professions. Rascal thieves,

Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape,

Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,

And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician;

His antidotes are poison, and he slays

Moe than you rob: take wealth and lives together;

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Do villany, do, since you protest to do't,

Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery.

The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction

Robs the vast sea: the moon's an arrant thief,

And her pale fire she snatches from the sun:

The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves

The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,

That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen

From general excrement: each thing's a thief:

The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power

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Have uncheque'd theft. Love not yourselves: away,

Rob one another. There's more gold. Cut throats:

All that you meet are thieves: to Athens go,

Break open shops; nothing can you steal,

But thieves do lose it: steal no less for this

I give you; and gold confound you howsoe'er! Amen.

Has almost charmed me from my profession, by

persuading me to it.

'Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises

us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.

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I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade.

Let us first see peace in Athens: there is no time

so miserable but a man may be true.

O you gods!

Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?

Full of decay and failing? O monument

And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd!

What an alteration of honour

Has desperate want made!

What viler thing upon the earth than friends

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Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!

How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,

When man was wish'd to love his enemies!

Grant I may ever love, and rather woo

Those that would mischief me than those that do!

Has caught me in his eye: I will present

My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord,

Still serve him with my life. My dearest master!

Away! what art thou?

Have you forgot me, sir?

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Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men;

Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee.

An honest poor servant of yours.

Then I know thee not:

I never had honest man about me, I; all

I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains.

The gods are witness,

Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief

For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.

What, dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I

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love thee,

Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st

Flinty mankind; whose eyes do never give

But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping:

Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping!

I beg of you to know me, good my lord,

To accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts

To entertain me as your steward still.

Had I a steward

So true, so just, and now so comfortable?

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It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.

Let me behold thy face. Surely, this man

Was born of woman.

Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,

You perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim

One honest man--mistake me not--but one;

No more, I pray,--and he's a steward.

How fain would I have hated all mankind!

And thou redeem'st thyself: but all, save thee,

I fell with curses.

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Methinks thou art more honest now than wise;

For, by oppressing and betraying me,

Thou mightst have sooner got another service:

For many so arrive at second masters,

Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true--

For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure--

Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,

If not a usuring kindness, and, as rich men deal gifts,

Expecting in return twenty for one?

No, my most worthy master; in whose breast

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Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late:

You should have fear'd false times when you did feast:

Suspect still comes where an estate is least.

That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,

Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,

Care of your food and living; and, believe it,

My most honour'd lord,

For any benefit that points to me,

Either in hope or present, I'ld exchange

For this one wish, that you had power and wealth

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To requite me, by making rich yourself.

Look thee, 'tis so! Thou singly honest man,

Here, take: the gods out of my misery

Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy;

But thus condition'd: thou shalt build from men;

Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,

But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone,

Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs

What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow 'em,

Debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like

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blasted woods,

And may diseases lick up their false bloods!

And so farewell and thrive.

O, let me stay,

And comfort you, my master.

If thou hatest curses,

Stay not; fly, whilst thou art blest and free:

Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.

Act V

Act V. Scene I. The woods. Before Timon's cave.

As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where

he abides.

What's to be thought of him? does the rumour hold

for true, that he's so full of gold?

Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and

Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor

straggling soldiers with great quantity: 'tis said

he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.

Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.

10

Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens

again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore

'tis not amiss we tender our loves to him, in this

supposed distress of his: it will show honestly in

us; and is very likely to load our purposes with

what they travail for, if it be a just true report

that goes of his having.

What have you now to present unto him?

Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I will

promise him an excellent piece.

20

I must serve him so too, tell him of an intent

that's coming toward him.

Good as the best. Promising is the very air o' the

time: it opens the eyes of expectation:

performance is ever the duller for his act; and,

but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the

deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is

most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind

of will or testament which argues a great sickness

in his judgment that makes it.

30

[Aside] Excellent workman! thou canst not paint a

man so bad as is thyself.

I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for

him: it must be a personating of himself; a satire

against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery

of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.

[Aside] Must thou needs stand for a villain in

thine own work? wilt thou whip thine own faults in

other men? Do so, I have gold for thee.

Nay, let's seek him:

40

Then do we sin against our own estate,

When we may profit meet, and come too late.

True;

When the day serves, before black-corner'd night,

Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light. Come.

[Aside] I'll meet you at the turn. What a

god's gold,

That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple

Than where swine feed!

'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plough'st the foam,

50

Settlest admired reverence in a slave:

To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye

Be crown'd with plagues that thee alone obey!

Fit I meet them.

Hail, worthy Timon!

Our late noble master!

Have I once lived to see two honest men?

Sir,

Having often of your open bounty tasted,

Hearing you were retired, your friends fall'n off,

60

Whose thankless natures--O abhorred spirits!--

Not all the whips of heaven are large enough:

What! to you,

Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence

To their whole being! I am rapt and cannot cover

The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude

With any size of words.

Let it go naked, men may see't the better:

You that are honest, by being what you are,

Make them best seen and known.

70

He and myself

Have travail'd in the great shower of your gifts,

And sweetly felt it.

Ay, you are honest men.

We are hither come to offer you our service.

Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you?

Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no.

What we can do, we'll do, to do you service.

Ye're honest men: ye've heard that I have gold;

I am sure you have: speak truth; ye're honest men.

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So it is said, my noble lord; but therefore

Came not my friend nor I.

Good honest men! Thou draw'st a counterfeit

Best in all Athens: thou'rt, indeed, the best;

Thou counterfeit'st most lively.

So, so, my lord.

E'en so, sir, as I say. And, for thy fiction,

Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth

That thou art even natural in thine art.

But, for all this, my honest-natured friends,

90

I must needs say you have a little fault:

Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I

You take much pains to mend.

Beseech your honour

To make it known to us.

You'll take it ill.

Most thankfully, my lord.

Will you, indeed?

Doubt it not, worthy lord.

There's never a one of you but trusts a knave,

100

That mightily deceives you.

Do we, my lord?

Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,

Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,

Keep in your bosom: yet remain assured

That he's a made-up villain.

I know none such, my lord.

Nor I.

Look you, I love you well; I'll give you gold,

Rid me these villains from your companies:

110

Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught,

Confound them by some course, and come to me,

I'll give you gold enough.

Name them, my lord, let's know them.

You that way and you this, but two in company;

Each man apart, all single and alone,

Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.

If where thou art two villains shall not be,

Come not near him. If thou wouldst not reside

But where one villain is, then him abandon.

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Hence, pack! there's gold; you came for gold, ye slaves:

You have work'd for me; there's payment for you: hence!

You are an alchemist; make gold of that.

Out, rascal dogs!

It is in vain that you would speak with Timon;

For he is set so only to himself

That nothing but himself which looks like man

Is friendly with him.

Bring us to his cave:

It is our part and promise to the Athenians

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To speak with Timon.

At all times alike

Men are not still the same: 'twas time and griefs

That framed him thus: time, with his fairer hand,

Offering the fortunes of his former days,

The former man may make him. Bring us to him,

And chance it as it may.

Here is his cave.

Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon!

Look out, and speak to friends: the Athenians,

140

By two of their most reverend senate, greet thee:

Speak to them, noble Timon.

Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn! Speak, and

be hang'd:

For each true word, a blister! and each false

Be as cauterizing to the root o' the tongue,

Consuming it with speaking!

Worthy Timon,--

Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.

The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.

150

I thank them; and would send them back the plague,

Could I but catch it for them.

O, forget

What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.

The senators with one consent of love

Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought

On special dignities, which vacant lie

For thy best use and wearing.

They confess

Toward thee forgetfulness too general, gross:

160

Which now the public body, which doth seldom

Play the recanter, feeling in itself

A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal

Of its own fail, restraining aid to Timon;

And send forth us, to make their sorrow'd render,

Together with a recompense more fruitful

Than their offence can weigh down by the dram;

Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth

As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs

And write in thee the figures of their love,

170

Ever to read them thine.

You witch me in it;

Surprise me to the very brink of tears:

Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes,

And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.

Therefore, so please thee to return with us

And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take

The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,

Allow'd with absolute power and thy good name

Live with authority: so soon we shall drive back

180

Of Alcibiades the approaches wild,

Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up

His country's peace.

And shakes his threatening sword

Against the walls of Athens.

Therefore, Timon,--

Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; thus:

If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,

Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,

That Timon cares not. But if be sack fair Athens,

190

And take our goodly aged men by the beards,

Giving our holy virgins to the stain

Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war,

Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it,

In pity of our aged and our youth,

I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not,

And let him take't at worst; for their knives care not,

While you have throats to answer: for myself,

There's not a whittle in the unruly camp

But I do prize it at my love before

200

The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you

To the protection of the prosperous gods,

As thieves to keepers.

Stay not, all's in vain.

Why, I was writing of my epitaph;

it will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness

Of health and living now begins to mend,

And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;

Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,

And last so long enough!

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We speak in vain.

But yet I love my country, and am not

One that rejoices in the common wreck,

As common bruit doth put it.

That's well spoke.

Commend me to my loving countrymen,--

These words become your lips as they pass

thorough them.

And enter in our ears like great triumphers

In their applauding gates.

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Commend me to them,

And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,

Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,

Their pangs of love, with other incident throes

That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain

In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:

I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.

I like this well; he will return again.

I have a tree, which grows here in my close,

That mine own use invites me to cut down,

230

And shortly must I fell it: tell my friends,

Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree

From high to low throughout, that whoso please

To stop affliction, let him take his haste,

Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe,

And hang himself. I pray you, do my greeting.

Trouble him no further; thus you still shall find him.

Come not to me again: but say to Athens,

Timon hath made his everlasting mansion

Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;

240

Who once a day with his embossed froth

The turbulent surge shall cover: thither come,

And let my grave-stone be your oracle.

Lips, let sour words go by and language end:

What is amiss plague and infection mend!

Graves only be men's works and death their gain!

Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign.

His discontents are unremoveably

Coupled to nature.

Our hope in him is dead: let us return,

250

And strain what other means is left unto us

In our dear peril.

It requires swift foot.

Act V. Scene II. Before the walls of Athens.

Thou hast painfully discover'd: are his files

As full as thy report?

have spoke the least:

Besides, his expedition promises

Present approach.

We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon.

I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;

Whom, though in general part we were opposed,

Yet our old love made a particular force,

10

And made us speak like friends: this man was riding

From Alcibiades to Timon's cave,

With letters of entreaty, which imported

His fellowship i' the cause against your city,

In part for his sake moved.

Here come our brothers.

No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.

The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring

Doth choke the air with dust: in, and prepare:

Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes the snare.

Act V. Scene III. The woods. Timon's cave, and a rude tomb seen.

By all description this should be the place.

Who's here? speak, ho! No answer! What is this?

Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span:

Some beast rear'd this; there does not live a man.

Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb

I cannot read; the character I'll take with wax:

Our captain hath in every figure skill,

An aged interpreter, though young in days:

Before proud Athens he's set down by this,

10

Whose fall the mark of his ambition is.

Act V. Scene IV. Before the walls of Athens.

Sound to this coward and lascivious town

Our terrible approach.

Till now you have gone on and fill'd the time

With all licentious measure, making your wills

The scope of justice; till now myself and such

As slept within the shadow of your power

Hav e wander'd with our traversed arms and breathed

Our sufferance vainly: now the time is flush,

When crouching marrow in the bearer strong

10

Cries of itself 'No more:' now breathless wrong

Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,

And pursy insolence shall break his wind

With fear and horrid flight.

Noble and young,

When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,

Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,

We sent to thee, to give thy rages balm,

To wipe out our ingratitude with loves

Above their quantity.

20

So did we woo

Transformed Timon to our city's love

By humble message and by promised means:

We were not all unkind, nor all deserve

The common stroke of war.

These walls of ours

Were not erected by their hands from whom

You have received your griefs; nor are they such

That these great towers, trophies and schools

should fall

30

For private faults in them.

Nor are they living

Who were the motives that you first went out;

Shame that they wanted cunning, in excess

Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,

Into our city with thy banners spread:

By decimation, and a tithed death--

If thy revenges hunger for that food

Which nature loathes--take thou the destined tenth,

And by the hazard of the spotted die

40

Let die the spotted.

All have not offended;

For those that were, it is not square to take

On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands,

Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,

Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:

Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin

Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall

With those that have offended: like a shepherd,

Approach the fold and cull the infected forth,

50

But kill not all together.

What thou wilt,

Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile

Than hew to't with thy sword.

Set but thy foot

Against our rampired gates, and they shall ope;

So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,

To say thou'lt enter friendly.

Throw thy glove,

Or any token of thine honour else,

60

That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress

And not as our confusion, all thy powers

Shall make their harbour in our town, till we

Have seal'd thy full desire.

Then there's my glove;

Descend, and open your uncharged ports:

Those enemies of Timon's and mine own

Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof

Fall and no more: and, to atone your fears

With my more noble meaning, not a man

70

Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream

Of regular justice in your city's bounds,

But shall be render'd to your public laws

At heaviest answer.

'Tis most nobly spoken.

Descend, and keep your words.

My noble general, Timon is dead;

Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea;

And on his grave-stone this insculpture, which

With wax I brought away, whose soft impression

80

Interprets for my poor ignorance.

[Reads the epitaph] 'Here lies a

wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft:

Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked

caitiffs left!

Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate:

Pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay

not here thy gait.'

These well express in thee thy latter spirits:

Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs,

90

Scorn'dst our brain's flow and those our

droplets which

From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit

Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye

On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead

Is noble Timon: of whose memory

Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,

And I will use the olive with my sword,

Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make each

Prescribe to other as each other's leech.

100

Let our drums strike.