Come, bitter conduct,* come, unsavoury guide! The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! [Dies. Timon of Athens. ACT I. PAINTING. THE painting is almost the natural man; THE PLEASURE OF DOING GOOD. O, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them: and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits: and what better or properer can we call our own, than the riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! ACT II. A FAITHFUL STEWARD. So the gods bless me, When all our offices have been oppress'd *Conductor. Pictures have no hypocrisy; they are what they profess to be. With riotous feeders; when our vaults have wept And set mine eyes at flow. INGRATITUDE. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, That now they are at fall,† want treasure, cannot Do what they would; are sorry-you are honourable,And yet they could have wish'd-they know not-but Something hath been amiss- -a noble nature. May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis pity- After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions,§ ACT III. THE MISERABLE SHIFTS OF INGRATITUDE. Ser. My honoured lord, [To Lucius. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:-commend me to thy honourable-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend. Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sentLuc. Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now? Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents. * A pipe with a turning stopple running to waste. Intending had anciently the same meaning as attending. || A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off. Luc. I know his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous,* I should not urge it half so faithfully. Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shewn myself honourable? How unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honour!-Servilius, now, before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I say:I was sending to use Lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it 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? Ser. Yes, sir, I shall. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.— [Exit Servilius. True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed; And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed. AGAINST DUELLING. [Exit. Your words have took such pains, as if they labour'd To bring manslaughter into form, set quarrelling Upon the head of valour; which, indeed, Is valour misbegot, and came into the world When sects and factions were but newly born: *If he did not want it for a good use. He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger. ACT IV. TIMON'S EXECRATIONS OF THE ATHENIANS. SCENE. Without the walls of Athens. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall, Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica, *Common sewers. fi. e. Contrarieties, whose nature it is to waste or detroy each other. As lamely as their manners! lust and liberty,* A FRIEND FORSAKEN. As we do turn our backs From our companion thrown into his grave, Slink all away; leave their false vows with them, A dedicated beggar to the air, With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty, Walks, like contempt, alone. ON GOLD. Earth, yield me roots! [Digging. Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate valiant. Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you gods? Why this Will lug your priests and servants from your sides; *For libertinism. † No insincere or inconstant supplicant. Gold will not serve me instead of roots. |