Aleib. Banish me? Banish your dotage; banish usury, 1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee, Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit, He shall be executed presently. [Exeunt Senators. Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! [Exit. SCENE VI.-A magnificent room in TIMON'S house. Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, at several doors. 1 Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. 2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day. 1 Lord. 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. 2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting. 1 Lord. I should think so: He hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear. 2 Lord. 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'Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Lord. Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you? 1 Lord. A thousand pieces. 2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you? 2 Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes. Enter TIMON and Attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :And how fare you? 1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. 2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship. Tim. Aside. Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently. 1 Lord. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger. Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you. 2 Lord. My noble lord,— Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer? [The banquet brought in. 2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e’en sick of shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. Tim. Think not on't, sir. 2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before, Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.-Come, bring in all together. 2 Lord. All covered dishes! 1 Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you. 3 Lord. Doubt not that, if money, and the season can yield it. 1 Lord. How do you? What's the news? 3 Lord. Alcibiades is banished: Hear you of it? 1 & 2 Lord. Alcibiades banished! 3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it. 1 Lord. How? how? heads 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 are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing they are welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap. [The dishes uncovered are full of warm water. Some speak. What does his lordship mean? Some other. I know not. Tim. May you a better feast never behold, You knot of mouth-friends! smoke, and luke warm water Is your perfection. This is Timon's last; [Throwing water in their faces. Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, 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 : [Throws the dishes at them, and drives Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.— Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and 1 Lord. How now, my lords? 2 Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury? 3 Lord. Pish! did you see my cap? 4 Lord. I have lost my gown. 3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat:-Did you see my jewel? 4 Lord. Did you see my cap? 4 Lord. Here lies my gown. 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next ACT IV. SCENE I.-Without the walls of Athens. Enter TIMON. Tim. 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, Large-handed robbers your grave masters are, Degrees, observances, customs, and laws, men, Your potent and infectious fevers heap SCENE II.—Athens. A room in TIMON's house. Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three Servants. 1 Serv. Hear you, master steward, where's our master? Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining? Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you? Let me be recorded by the righteous gods, 1 Serv. Such a house broke! So noble a master fallen! All gone! and not 2 Serv. 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, I'll follow, and inquire him out : Enter TIMON. Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature, But by contempt of nature. Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord; With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty, Enter other Servants. Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house. 3 Serv. Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery, 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. Flav. Good fellows all, The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you. say, As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes, We have seen better days. Let each take some; [Giving them money. Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more: Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor. [Exeunt Servants. 0, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt, Since riches point to misery and contempt? Who'd 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? 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. who dares, In purity of manhood stand upright, And say, This man's a flatterer? if one be, So are they all; for every grize 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, But direct villainy. Therefore, be abhorr'd All feasts, societies, and throngs of men! His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains : Destruction fang mankind!-Earth,_yield me roots! [Digging. 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. | Will lug your priests and servants from your sides; Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you gods? Why this Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads: Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd; Among the rout of nations, I will make thee But yet I'll bury thee: Thou'lt go, strong thief, | Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand :- For tubs, and baths; bring down rose-cheeked Nay, stay thou out for earnest. [Keeping some gold. Enter ALCIBIADES, with drum and fife, in warlike manner: PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA. Alcib. What art thou there? Speak. Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart, For showing me again the eyes of man! Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, That art thyself a man? Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind. For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, That I might love thee something. Alcib. I know thee well; But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange. Tim. I know thee too; and more, than that youth To the tub-fast, and the diet. Timan. Hang thee, monster! Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his By killing villains, thou wast born to conquer Put up thy gold; Go on,-here's gold,—go on ; That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes, Set them down horrible traitors: Spare not the babe, Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy; Think it a bastard, whom the oracle Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, diers: Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent, Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone. And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts, I'll trust to your conditions: Be whores still; Be quite contrary: And thatch your poor thin roofs With burdens of the dead;-some that were hang'd, No matter:-wear them, betray with them: whore still; Paint, till a horse may mire upon your face: Phr. & Timan. Well, more gold;-What then? Believe't, that we'll do any thing for gold. Tim. 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, And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war Phr. & Timan. More counsel with more mo- Alcib. Strike up the drum towards Athens. Farewell, Timon; If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again. Tim. If I hope well, I'll never see thee more. Tim. Yes, thou spok'st well of me. Tim. Men daily find it such. Get thee away, And take thy beagles with thee. Alcib. We but offend him. Strike. [Drum beats. Exeunt Alcibiades, Phrynia, and Timandra. Tim. That nature, being sick of man's unkindness, Should yet be hungry!-Common mother, thou, [Digging. Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast, Whom I would imitate: Consumption catch thee! This slave-like habit? and these looks of care? |