n Phi. All our bills. To bring manslaughter into form, set quarrelling Tim. Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to Upon the head of valour; which, indeed, the girdle. Lue. Serv. Alas! my lord, Tim. Cut my heart in sums. Tim. Tell out my blood. Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord. What yours?- and yours? 1 Var. Serv. My lord, 2 Var. Serv. My lord, Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon [Exit. Hor. 'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw caps at their money; these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em. their Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS. [Exeunt. Is valour misbegot, and came into the world The worst that man can breathe; and make his His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly; If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, 1 Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear; To revenge is no valour, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the Without repugnancy? but if there be slaves: 1 Sen. Now, captain? Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues ; Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox, Such valour in the bearing, what make we And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, As you are great, be pitifully good: Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. In vain? his service done At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, And slain in fight many of your enemies: Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. 1 Sen. 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. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How? foes, While they have told their money, and let out [Exit. SCENE VI. — A magnificent Room in Timon's House. Musick. 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. 1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Lord. Every man here's so have borrowed of you? 1 Lord. A thousand pieces. 2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you? What would he 3 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 din ner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the musick 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. 'Tis so, be sure of it. 1 Lord. How? how? 2 Lord. I pray you, upon what? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward. 2 Lord. This is the old man still. 3 Lord. Will't hold, will't hold? | 2 Lord. It does: but time will-and so3 Lord. I do conceive. Tim. 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 re thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yoursel praised: but reserve still to give, lest your destes be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one not lend to another: for, were your godheads to b row of men, men would forsake the gods. Make meat be beloved, more than the man that gives & Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of lains: If there sit twelve women at the table, et The rest of dozen of them be—as they are. — fees, O gods, the senators of Athens, together the common lag of people, what is amiss in thems you gods, make suitable for destruction. For thes present friends, · — as they are to me nothing, 1 * thing bless them, and to nothing they are welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap. [The dishes uncovered, are full of warm wars 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 fach SCENE VI. TIMON OF ATHENS. Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long, Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. 1 Lord. How now, my lords? 2 Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's 4 Lord. I have lost my gown. 3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but 4 Lord. Did you see my cap? 4 Lord. Here lies my gown. 1 Lord. Let's make no stay. 2 Lord. Lord Timon's mad. I feel't upon my bones. 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day [Exeunt. stones. Tim. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall, Do't in your parent's eyes! bankrupts, hold fast; steal! Large-handed robbers your grave masters are, And yet confusion live! — Plagues, incident to men, Your potent and infectious fevers heap On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica, [Exit. 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 Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining? 1 Serv. Such a house broke! 2 Serv. As we do turn our backs With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty, Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows. Enter other Servants. Flau. All broken implements of a ruin'd house. Good fellows all, Nay, put out all your hands. [Giving them money. Not one word more : parting poor. [Exeunt Servants. To have his pomp, and all what state compounds, Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. [Exit. That art thyself a man? SCENE III. The Woods. Enter TIMON. Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind. Tim. O blessed bleeding sun, draw from the But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange. earth Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb, Whose procreation, residence, and birth, Tim. I know thee too; and more, than that I I not desire to know. Follow thy drum; Scarce is dividant, - touch them with several for- Religious canons, civil laws are cruel; tunes; The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature, To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune, Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord : It is the pasture lards the brother's sides, Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine Phry. Alcib. How came the noble Timon to this change? Tim. As the moon does, by wanting light to give : The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who But then renew I could not, like the moon; dares, In purity of manhood stand upright, roots! Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate Wrong, right; base, noble; old, young; coward, valiant. Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you gods? Why this Will lug your priests and servants from your sides; Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd; There were no suns to borrow of. Tim. Alcib. Noble Timon, None, but to What is it, Timon? Tim. Promise me friendship, but perform none: If Thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for Thou art a man! if thou dost perform, confound thee, For thou'rt a man! Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. Tim. Thou saw'st them, when I had prosperity. Alcib. I see them now; then was a blessed time. Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots. Timan. Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world Voic'd so regardfully? Tim. Timan. Yes.. Art thou Timandra? Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust. Timan. By killing villains, thou wast born to conquer My country. Put up thy gold; Go on,- here's gold, — go on; Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison He's an usurer: Strike me the counterfeit matron; Set them down horrible traitors: Spare not the babe, Hath doubtfully pronounc'd 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 thy soldiers: Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent, Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone. Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou giv'st me, Not all thy counsel. Tim. Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse Par. & Timan. Give us some gold, good Timon: Tim. Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, Be quite contrary: And thatch your poor thin roofs With burdens of the dead; --some that were hang'd, o matter: wear them, betray with them: whore still; aint till a horse may mire upon your face: pox of wrinkles! Phr. & Timan. Well, more gold;-What then?liev't, that we'll do any thing for gold. Tim. Consumptions sow hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins, ed 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 There's more gold: · Phr. & Timan. More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon. [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, Enter APEMAntus. More man? Plague! plague! Apem. I was directed hither: Men report, Thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them. Tim. 'Tis then, because thou dost not keep a dog This slave-like habit? and these looks of care? |