Be Alcibiades your plague, you his, And last so long enough! I Sen. We speak in vain. Tim. But yet I love my country, and am not One that rejoices in the common wrack, As common bruit doth put it. I Sen. That's well spoke. Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen, I Sen. These words become your lips as they pass through them. 2 Sen. And enter in our cars like great triumphers In their applauding gates. Tim. Commend me to them; And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them : 2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again. Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close, That mine own use invites me to cut down, 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. Flav. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall find him. Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens, Timon hath made his everlasting mansion Upon the beached verge of the salt flood; 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. [Exit TIMON. 1 Sen. His discontents are unremovably Coupled to nature. 2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear peril. I Sen. It requires swift foot. SCENE III.-The Walls of Athens. Enter Two Senators, and a Messenger. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are his files 1 Sen. As full as thy report? Mess. I have spoke the least; [Exeunt. Besides, his expedition promises Present approach. 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend ;Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd, Yet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends :-this man was riding With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i' the cause against your city, I Sen. Enter Senators from TIMON. Here come our brothers. 3 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.- [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The Woods. Timon's Cave, and a Tomb-stone seen. Enter a Soldier, seeking TIMON. Sold. By all description this should be the place. Who's here? speak, hoa!-No answer?-What is this? Some beast-Read this. There does not live a man. Our captain hath in every figure skill; An ag'd interpreter, though young in days: SCENE V.-Before the walls of Athens. Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES and Forces. Our terrible approach. Enter Senators on the walls. [Exit. [A parley sounded. Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time Have wander'd with our travers'd arms, and breath'd And pursy insolence shall break his wind, I Sen. Noble, and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, 2 Sen. So did we woo Transformed Timon to our city's love, By humble message, and by promis'd means; The common stroke of war. I Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands from whom You have receiv'd your griefs: nor are they such That these great towers, trophies, and schools should fall For private faults in them. 2 Sen. 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 By decimation, and a tithed death, (If thy revenges hunger for that food, Which nature loaths,) take thou the destin'd tenth; Let die the spotted. I Sen. All have not offended; For those that were, it is not square to take, 2 Sen. What thou wilt, Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile, I Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope; To say thou 'lt enter friendly. 2 Sen. Throw thy glove; Or any token of thine honour else, That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, Alcib. Then there's my glove; Descend, and open your uncharged ports; Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken. Alcib. Descend, and keep your words. The Senators descend, and open the gates. Sol. My noble general, Timon is dead; Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea: With wax I brought away, whose soft impression Alcib. [Reads.] 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 will express in thee thy latter spirits: Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs, 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. Is noble Timon; of whose memory Dead 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 Let our drums strike. [Excunt. SCENE I.-Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve: get thee to bed, Francisco. And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Fran. Ber. Well, good night. Not a mouse stirring. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Fran. I think I hear them.--Stand! who is there? Hor. |