And none but tyrants use it cruelly. Of comely virtues : Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox, Is valor misbegot, and came into the world The worst that man can breathe; and make his Wrongs 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 valor, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favor, pardon me, Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, And th' ass more captain than the lion; the felon, If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords, Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? But who is man, that is not angry? you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I am worse than mad: I have kept back their While they have told their money, and let out [Exit. SCENE VI.-A magnificent Room in Timon's Music. Tables out: Servants attending. Enter 1 Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. 2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honorable lord did but try us this other day. 1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring.4 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, In vain his service done that my provision was out. 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. Alcib. At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, Were a sufficient briber for his life. 1 Sen. What's that? 1 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 Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair have borrowed of you? service. And slain in fight many of your enemies: How full of valor did he bear himself In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds! 2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with'em, he Is a sworn rioter; h'as a sin that often Drowns him, and takes his valor prisoner: If there were no foes, that were enough alone To overcome him: in that beastly fury Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more, 2 Sen. How? 1 Lord. A thousand pieces. 2 Lord. A thousand pieces? 1 Lord. What of you? 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 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 honorable 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 For dishonored. We should now say-lay out for hearts, i. e. the affections of the people. To tire on a thing, meant to be idly employed on it. 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 banish'd: 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? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. feast toward. 2 Lord. This is the old man still. 3 Lord. Will't hold? will't hold? Here's a noble 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 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 need not lend to another; for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meal 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-warın water, Is your perfection. This is Timon's last; [Throwing water in their faces. them out. Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.-- 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 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. 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. [Exeunt. 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, Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, And minister in their steads! to general filths6 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 pill by law! maid, to thy master's bed: Thy mistress is o' the brothel! son of sixteen, Pluck the lin'd 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, Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades, Degrees, observances, customs, and laws, Decline to your confounding contraries, And yet confusion live!-Plagues, incident to men, Your potent and infectious fevers heap On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica, Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt As lamely as their manners! lust and liberty? Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth; That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive, And drown themselves in riot! itches, blains, Sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop Be general leprosy! breath infect breath; That their society, as their friendship, may Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee, But nakedness, thou détestable town! Take thou that too, with multiplying bans !9 Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three Servants. 1 Serv. Hear you, master steward, where's our master? Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining? I am as poor as you. With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty, 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, Jacks of the clock; like those of St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet street. 9 Accumulated curses. [Exeunt Servants. O, the fierce! wretchedness that glory brings us! To have his pomp, and all what state compounds, SCENE III-The Woods. Enter TIMON. Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature, Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord; The beggar native honor. It is the pasture lards the brother's sides, The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares, In purity of manhood stand upright, roots! 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. 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; Hasty, precipitate. Bet by is here used for without. 4 Seize. gripe. Sorrowful. i.. Gold restores her to all the sweetness and fresh ness of youth. 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. I know thee well: Alcib. I not desire to know. Follow thy drum; Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine Alcib. How came the noble Timon to this change? Alcib. Noble Timon, None, but to What friendship may I do thee? Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. Tim. Timan. Art thou Timandra! Yes. Tim. Be a whore still! they love thee not, that use thee; Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust. Timan. Why, fare thee well: Here's some gold for thee. Tim. That, 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,9 whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut, Not all thy counsel. Tem. Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse upon thee! Phr. & Timan. Give us some gold, good Timon: Hast thou more? Tim. Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, I'll trust to your conditions :3 Be whores still; Be quite contrary: And thatch your poor thin roofs Paint till a horse may mire upon your face: Phr. & Timan. Well, more gold-What then?- In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins, Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate ruffians bald: And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war The source of all erection.-There's more gold:- Phr. & Timan. More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon. Tim. More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest. 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. Alcib. Call'st thou that harm? Tim. Men daily find it such. Get thee away, And take thy beagles with thee. Alcib. Strike. We but offend him. [Drum beats. Exit ALCIBIADES, PHRYNIA, and TIMANDRA. Tim. That nature, being sick of man's unkindness, Should yet be hungry!-Common mother, thou Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast, 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 Whom I would imitate: Consumption catch thee! Apem. This is in thee a nature but affected; From change of fortune. Why this spade? this A poor unmanly melancholy, sprung place? This slave-like habit, and these looks of care? By putting on the cunning of a carper. come, To knaves, and all approachers; 'Tis most just, That thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again, Rascals should have't. Do not assume my likeness. Tim. Were I like thee, I'd throw away myself. Apem. Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself; A madman so long, now a fool: What, think'st brook, Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste, Tim. A fool of thee: Depart Apem. I love thee better now than e'er I did. Tim. I hate thee worse. Apem. Tim. Why? Thou flatter'st misery. Apem. I flatter not; but say thou art a caitill. Tim. Why dost thou seek me out? Apem. To vex thee. Tim. Always a villain's office, or a fool's. Dost please thyself in't? Ay. Apem. Tim. What! a knave too? Apem. If thou didst put this sour cold habit on To castigate thy pride, "twere well: but thou Dost it enforcedly; thou'dst courtier be again, Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery Outlives uncertain pomp, is crown'd before;7 The one is filling still, never complete; The other at high wish: Best state, contentless, The serpent called the blind-worm. • Curved. i.e. Arrives sooner at the completion of its wishes. Hath a distracted and most wretched being, Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable, They never flatter'd thee. What hast thou given? Tim. Ay, that I am not thee. Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine. Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd; If not, I would it were. Apem. What wouldst thou have to Athens? Tim. Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have. Apem. Here is no use for gold. Tim. The best and truest; For here it sleeps and does no hired harm. Apem. Where ly'st o'nights, Timon? Tim. Under that's above me. Where feed'st thou o'days, Apemantus? Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat it. Tim. 'Would poison were obedient, and knew my mind! Apem. Where wouldst thou send it? Apem. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends; When thou wast in thy gilt, and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity; in thy rags thou knowest none, but art despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee, eat it. Tim. On what I hate, I feed not. Tim. Ay, though it look like thee. Apem. An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift, that was beloved after his means? Tim. Who, without those means thou talkest of, didst thou ever know beloved? Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. Tim. Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the con fusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts! Apem. Ay, Timon. Tim. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee: if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee: if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee,when,peradventure,thou wert accused by the ass: if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would torment thee; and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse: wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life: all thy safety were remotion; and thy defence,absence. What beast couldst thou be, that wert not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation? Apem. If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou mightst have hit upon it here: The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts. Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city! Apem. Yonder comes a poet and a painter: The plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way: When I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again. Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog, than Apemantus. Apem. Thou art the cap3 of all the fools alive. Tim. 'Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon. Apem. A plague on thee, thou art too bad to curse. Tim. All villains, that do stand by thee, are pure. I'll beat thee,--but I should infect my hands. 'Would thou would'st burst! Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry, I shall lose Apem. Tim. Apem. Tim. Beast! Slave! Toad! Rogue, rogue, rogue! [APEMANTUS retreats backward, as going. I am sick of this false world; and will love nought But even the mere necessities upon it. Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave; Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat Thy grave-stone daily; make thine epitaph, That death in me at others' lives may laugh. O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce [Looking on the Gold. 'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright deliler Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars! Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd, and delicate woer, Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow That lies on Dian's lap; thou visible god, That solder'st close impossibilities. And mak'st them kiss! that speak'st with every tongue, To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts! Tim. Apem. Tim. Thy back, I pr'ythee. Apem. Throng'd to! Ay. Live, and love thy misery. Tim. Long live so, and so die!-I am qu [Exit APEMAN TUS. From infancy. lion. Remoteness; the being placed at a distance from the The top, the principal. 4 Touchstone. |