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.

Timon. 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.

Timon. [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. Timon. O, sir, let it not trouble you.

2 Lord. My noble lord,

Timon. Ah, my good friend! what cheer?

[the banquet brought in.

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

Timon. Think not on 't, sir.

2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before,

Timon. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.1-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?

2 Lord. I pray you, upon what?

Timon. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a

noble feast toward.2

2 Lord. This is the old man still.

3 Lord. Will 't hold? will 't hold ?

2 Lord. It does: but time will-and so

3 Lord. I do conceive.

Timon. 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 one

1 Your good memory.

2 In a state of readiness.

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 lag1 of people,-what is amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends,—as they are to be 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.

Timon. May you a better feast never behold,

You knot of mouth-friends! smoke, and lukewarm

water

Is your perfection.

This is Timon's last;

Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[throwing water in their faces.
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,

1 The lowest.

1

Cap and knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks! 1
Of man and beast, the infinite malady 2
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 them out. Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.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! [Exit.

Re-enter LORDS, with other Lords and Senators. 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 naught but humor 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?

2 Lord. Here 'tis.

4 Lord. Here lies my gown.

1 Lord. Let's make no stay.

2 Lord. Lord Timon's mad. 3 Lord.

I feel 't upon my bones.

Wooden figures which strike the hour, affixed to clocks. 2 Every kind of disease.

SHAK.

X.

P

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

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

Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,
And pill1 by law! maid, to thy master's bed:
Thy mistress is o' the brothel! son of sixteen,
Pluck the lined crutch from the old limping sire,
With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear,
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighborhood,

1 Pillage.