Read the book: «The Life of Timon of Athens»

THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS

by William Shakespeare

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

TIMON, a noble Athenian

LUCIUS

LUCULLUS flattering Lords.

SEMPRONIUS

VENTIDIUS, one of Timon's false Friends.

APEMANTUS, a churlish Philosopher.

ALCIBIADES, an Athenian Captain.

FLAVIUS, Steward to Timon.

FLAMINIUS

LUCILIUS Servants to Timon.

SERVILIUS

CAPHIS

PHILOTUS Servants to Timon's Creditors.

TITUS

HORTENSIUS

Servants of Ventidius, and of Varro and Isidore (two of Timon's Creditor's).

THREE STRANGERS.

AN OLD ATHENIAN.

A PAGE.

A FOOL.

Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant.

PHRYNIA Mistresses to Alcibiades.

TIMANDRA

Lords, Senators, Officers, Soldiers, Servants, Thieves, and Attendants

CUPID and Amazons in the Masque.

Scene. – Athens, and the neighbouring Woods

Act I. Scene I. – Athens. A Hall in TIMON'S House

[Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and Others, at several doors.]

POET

 
Good day, sir.
 

PAINTER

 
I am glad you're well.
 

POET

 
I have not seen you long. How goes the world?
 

PAINTER

 
It wears, sir, as it grows.
 

POET

 
Ay, that's well known;
But what particular rarity? what strange,
Which manifold record not matches? See,
Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power
Hath conjur'd to attend! I know the merchant.
 

PAINTER

 
I know them both; th' other's a jeweller.
 

MERCHANT

 
O, 'tis a worthy lord!
 

JEWELLER

 
Nay, that's most fix'd.
 

MERCHANT

 
A most incomparable man; breath'd, as it were,
To an untirable and continuate goodness.
He passes.
 

JEWELLER

 
I have a jewel here —
 

MERCHANT

 
O, pray let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir?
 

JEWELLER

 
If he will touch the estimate: but for that —
 

POET

 
When we for recompense have prais'd the vile,
It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.
 

MERCHANT

[Looking at the jewel.]

 
'Tis a good form.
 

JEWELLER

 
And rich: here is a water, look ye.
 

PAINTER

 
You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
To the great lord.
 

POET

 
A thing slipp'd idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes
From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
Provokes itself, and like the current flies
Each bound it chafes. What have you there?
 

PAINTER

 
A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?
 

POET

 
Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
Let's see your piece.
 

PAINTER

 
'Tis a good piece.
 

POET

 
So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent.
 

PAINTER

 
Indifferent.
 

POET

 
Admirable! How this grace
Speaks his own standing! what a mental power
This eye shoots forth! how big imagination
Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture
One might interpret.
 

PAINTER

 
It is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch; is't good?
 

POET

 
I'll say of it,
It tutors nature: artificial strife
Lives in these touches, livelier than life.
 

[Enter certain SENATORS, who pass over the stage.]

PAINTER

 
How this lord is followed!
 

POET

 
The senators of Athens: happy man!
 

PAINTER

 
Look, more!
 

POET

 
You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment: my free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold:
But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.
 

PAINTER

 
How shall I understand you?
 

POET

 
I will unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds —
As well of glib and slipp'ry creatures as
Of grave and austere quality – tender down
Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-fac'd flatterer
To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself: even he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod.
 

PAINTER

 
I saw them speak together.
 

POET

 
Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: the base o' the mount
Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states: amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd
One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;
Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
Translates his rivals.
 

PAINTER

 
'Tis conceiv'd to scope.
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
In our condition.
 

POET

 
Nay, sir, but hear me on.
All those which were his fellows but of late,
Some better than his value, on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
Drink the free air.
 

PAINTER

 
Ay, marry, what of these?
 

POET

 
When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants,
Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
Not one accompanying his declining foot.
 

PAINTER

 
'Tis common:
A thousand moral paintings I can show
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
The foot above the head.
 

[Trumpets sound. Enter LORD TIMON, addressing himself courteously to every suitor: a MESSENGER from VENTIDIUS talking with him; LUCILIUS and other servants following.]

TIMON

 
Imprison'd is he, say you?
 

MESSENGER

 
Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt,
His means most short, his creditors most strait:
Your honourable letter he desires
To those have shut him up; which, failing,
Periods his comfort.
 

TIMON

 
Noble Ventidius! Well:
I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he must need me. I do know him
A gentleman that well deserves a help,
Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt and free him.
 

MESSENGER

 
Your lordship ever binds him.
 

TIMON

 
Commend me to him; I will send his ransom;
And being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me.
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to support him after. Fare you well.
 

MESSENGER

 
All happiness to your honour.
 

[Exit.]

[Enter an OLD ATHENIAN.]

OLD ATHENIAN

 
Lord Timon, hear me speak.
 

TIMON

 
Freely, good father.
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius.
 

TIMON

 
I have so: what of him?
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.
 

TIMON

 
Attends he here or no? Lucilius!
 

LUCILIUS

 
Here, at your lordship's service.
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd
Than one which holds a trencher.
 

TIMON

 
Well; what further?
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got:
The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest cost
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I prithee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.
 

TIMON

 
The man is honest.
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
Therefore he will be, Timon:
His honesty rewards him in itself;
It must not bear my daughter.
 

TIMON

 
Does she love him?
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
She is young and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.
TIMON. [To Lucilius.]
Love you the maid?
 

LUCILIUS

 
Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
If in her marriage my consent be missing,
I call the gods to witness, I will choose
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.
 

TIMON

 
How shall she be endow'd,
If she be mated with an equal husband?
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
Three talents on the present; in future, all.
 

TIMON

 
This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long:
To build his fortune I will strain a little,
For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,
And make him weigh with her.
 

OLD ATHENIAN

 
Most noble lord,
Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.
 

TIMON

 
My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.
 

LUCILIUS

 
Humbly I thank your lordship. Never may
That state or fortune fall into my keeping
Which is not owed to you!
 

[Exeunt LUCILIUS and OLD ATHENIAN.]

POET

[Presenting his poem]

 
Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!
 

TIMON

 
I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
Go not away. What have you there, my friend?
 

PAINTER

 
A piece of painting, which I do beseech
Your lordship to accept.
 

TIMON

 
Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;
For since dishonour traffics with man's nature,
He is but outside: these pencill'd figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work;
And you shall find I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear further from me.
 

PAINTER

 
The gods preserve you!
 

TIMON

 
Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
Hath suffered under praise.
 

JEWELLER

 
What, my lord! dispraise?
 

TIMON

 
A mere satiety of commendations;
If I should pay you for 't as 'tis extoll'd,
It would unclew me quite.
 

JEWELLER

 
My lord, 'tis rated
As those which sell would give: but you well know,
Things of like value, differing in the owners,
Are prized by their masters. Believe't, dear lord,
You mend the jewel by the wearing it.
 

TIMON

 
Well mock'd.
 

MERCHANT

 
No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
Which all men speak with him.
 

TIMON

 
Look who comes here. Will you be chid?
 

[Enter APEMANTUS.]

JEWELLER

 
We'll bear, with your lordship.
 

MERCHANT

 
He'll spare none.
 

TIMON

 
Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!
 

APEMANTUS

 
Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;
When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.
 

TIMON

 
Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Are they not Athenians?
 

TIMON

 
Yes.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Then I repent not.
 

JEWELLER

 
You know me, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Thou know'st I do; I call'd thee by thy name.
 

TIMON

 
Thou art proud, Apemantus.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.
 

TIMON

 
Whither art going?
 

APEMANTUS

 
To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.
 

TIMON

 
That's a deed thou'lt die for.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.
 

TIMON

 
How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
The best, for the innocence.
 

TIMON

 
Wrought he not well that painted it?
 
 
APEMANTUS. He wrought better that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.
 

PAINTER

 
You're a dog.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog?
 

TIMON

 
Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
No; I eat not lords.
 

TIMON

 
An thou shouldst, thou'dst anger ladies.
 

APEMANTUS

 
O! they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.
 

TIMON

 
That's a lascivious apprehension.
 

APEMANTUS

 
So thou apprehendest it, take it for thy labour.
 

TIMON

 
How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
 
 
APEMANTUS. Not so well as plain dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.
 

TIMON

 
What dost thou think 'tis worth?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!
 

POET

 
How now, philosopher!
 

APEMANTUS

 
Thou liest.
 

POET

 
Art not one?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Yes.
 

POET

 
Then I lie not.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Art not a poet?
 

POET

 
Yes.
 
 
APEMANTUS. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
 

POET

 
That's not feigned; he is so.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy
labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.
Heavens, that I were a lord!
 

TIMON

 
What wouldst do then, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Even as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.
 

TIMON

 
What, thyself?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Ay.
 

TIMON

 
 Wherefore?
 

APEMANTUS

 
That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not thou a merchant?
 

MERCHANT

 
Ay, Apemantus.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
 

MERCHANT

 
If traffic do it, the gods do it.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee!
 

[Trumpet sounds. Enter a MESSENGER.]

TIMON

 
What trumpet's that?
 

MESSENGER

 
'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship.
 

TIMON

 
Pray entertain them; give them guide to us.
 

[Exeunt some attendants.]

 
You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence
Till I have thank'd you; when dinner's done,
Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.
 

[Enter ALCIBIADES, with the his Company.]

 
Most welcome, sir!
 

[They salute.]

APEMANTUS

 
So, so, there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves,
And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out
Into baboon and monkey.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly on your sight.
 

TIMON

 
Right welcome, sir!
Ere we depart we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
 

[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.]

[Enter two LORDS.]

FIRST LORD

 
What time o' day is't, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Time to be honest.
 

FIRST LORD

 
That time serves still.
 

APEMANTUS

 
The more accursed thou that still omitt'st it.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Ay; to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Fare thee well, fare thee well.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Why, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.
 

FIRST LORD

 
Hang thyself!
 
 
APEMANTUS. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Away, unpeaceable dog! or I'll spurn thee hence.
 

APEMANTUS

 
I will fly, like a dog, the heels of an ass.
 

[Exit.]

FIRST LORD

 
He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.
 

SECOND LORD

 
He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward: no meed but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
All use of quittance.
 

FIRST LORD

 
The noblest mind he carries
That ever govern'd man.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?
 

FIRST LORD

 
I'll keep you company.
 

[Exeunt.]

Scene II. – The Same. A room of state in TIMON'S House

[Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and Others attending: then enter LORD TIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, and Senators, VENTIDIUS and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself.]

VENTIDIUS

 
Most honour'd Timon,
It hath pleas'd the gods to remember my father's age,
And call him to long peace.
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
To your free heart, I do return those talents,
Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
I deriv'd liberty.
 

TIMON

 
O! by no means,
Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love;
I gave it freely ever; and there's none
Can truly say he gives, if he receives:
If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.
 

VENTIDIUS

 
A noble spirit.
 

[They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON.]

TIMON

 
Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devis'd at first
To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship there needs none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes
Than my fortunes to me.
 

[They sit.]

FIRST LORD

 
My lord, we always have confess'd it.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Ho, ho! confess'd it; hang'd it, have you not?
 

TIMON

 
O! Apemantus, you are welcome.
 

APEMANTUS

 
No,
You shall not make me welcome:
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
 

TIMON

 
Fie! thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there
Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.
They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est;
But yond man is ever angry.
Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon:
I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.
 

TIMON

 
I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian, therefore, welcome.
I myself would have no power; prithee; let my meat make thee
silent.
 

APEMANTUS

 
I scorn thy meat; 't'would choke me, for I should
Ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number
Of men eats Timon, and he sees 'em not!
It grieves me to see so many dip their meat
In one man's blood; and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too.
I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There's much example for 't; the fellow that
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, pledges
The breath of him in a divided draught,
Is the readiest man to kill him: 't has been prov'd.
If I were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my wind-pipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their throats.
 

TIMON

 
My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Let it flow this way, my good lord.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keeps his tides well. Those
healths will make thee and thy state look ill, Timon.
Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner,
Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
This and my food are equals; there's no odds:
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
 
 
   Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
   I pray for no man but myself.
   Grant I may never prove so fond
   To trust man on his oath or bond;
   Or a harlot for her weeping;
   Or a dog that seems a-sleeping;
   Or a keeper with my freedom;
   Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
   Amen. So fall to't.
   Rich men sin, and I eat root.
 

[Eats and drinks.]

 
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
 

TIMON

 
Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
My heart is ever at your service, my lord.
 
 
TIMON. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a dinner of friends.
 
 
ALCIBIADES. So they were bleeding – new, my lord, there's no meat like 'em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.
 
 
APEMANTUS. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then, that then thou mightst kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.
 
 
FIRST LORD. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.
 
 
TIMON. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: how had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable title from thousands, did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O you gods! think I, what need we have any friends if we should ne'er have need of 'em? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for 'em; 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! O joy! e'en made away ere it can be born. Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
And, at that instant like a babe, sprung up.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.
 

THIRD LORD

 
I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Much!
 

[Tucket sounded.]

TIMON

 
What means that trump?
 

[Enter a SERVANT.]

 
How now!
 
 
SERVANT. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance.
 

TIMON

 
Ladies? What are their wills?
SERVANT. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures.
 

TIMON

 
I pray, let them be admitted.
 

[Enter CUPID.]

CUPID

 
Hail to thee, worthy Timon; and to all
That of his bounties taste! The five best Senses
Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. Th' Ear,
Taste, Touch, Smell, pleas'd from thy table rise;
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
 

TIMON

 
They are welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:
Music, make their welcome!
 

[Exit CUPID.]

FIRST LORD

 
You see, my lord, how ample you're belov'd.
 

[Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of LADIES as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.]

APEMANTUS

 
Hoy-day! what a sweep of vanity comes this way:
They dance! they are mad women.
Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries to drink those men
Upon whose age we void it up again,
With poisonous spite and envy.
Who lives that's not depraved or depraves?
Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves
Of their friend's gift?
I should fear those that dance before me now
Would one day stamp upon me: it has been done:
Men shut their doors against a setting sun.
 

[The LORDS rise from table, with much adoring of TIMON; and to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease.]

TIMON

 
You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't and lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for 't.
 

FIRST LADY

 
My lord, you take us even at the best.
APEMANTUS. Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.
 

TIMON

 
Ladies, there is an idle banquet
Attends you; please you to dispose yourselves.
 

ALL LADIES

 
Most thankfully, my lord.
 

[Exeunt CUPID and LADIES.]

TIMON

 
Flavius!
 

FLAVIUS

 
My lord!
 

TIMON

 
The little casket bring me hither.
 

FLAVIUS

 
Yes, my lord. [Aside.] More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in 's humour;
Else I should tell him well, i' faith, I should,
When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could.
'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
 

[Exit.]

FIRST LORD

 
Where be our men?
 

SERVANT

 
Here, my lord, in readiness.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Our horses!
 

[Re-enter FLAVIUS, with the casket.]

TIMON

 
O, my friends! I have one word to say to you;
Look you, my good lord,
I must entreat you, honour me so much
As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,
Kind my lord.
 

FIRST LORD

 
I am so far already in your gifts —
 

ALL

 
So are we all.
 

[Enter a SERVANT.]

SERVANT

 
My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate
Newly alighted and come to visit you.
 

TIMON

 
They are fairly welcome.
 

FLAVIUS

 
I beseech your honour,
Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
 

TIMON

 
Near! why then, another time I'll hear thee.
I prithee let's be provided to show them entertainment.
 

FLAVIUS

[Aside.]

 
I scarce know how.
 

[Enter another SERVANT.]

SECOND SERVANT

 
May it please vour honour, Lord Lucius,
Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.
 

TIMON

 
I shall accept them fairly; let the presents
Be worthily entertain'd.
 

[Enter a third SERVANT.]

 
How now! What news?
 
 
THIRD SERVANT. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds.
 

TIMON

 
I'll hunt with him; and let them be receiv'd,
Not without fair reward.
 

FLAVIUS

[Aside.] What will this come to?

 
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer;
Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this,
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good.
His promises fly so beyond his state
That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
For every word: he is so kind that he now
Pays interest for 't; his land's put to their books.
Well, would I were gently put out of office
Before I were forc'd out!
Happier he that has no friend to feed
Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
 

[Exit.]

TIMON

 
You do yourselves much wrong;
You bate too much of your own merits;
Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
 

SECOND LORD

 
With more than common thanks I will receive it.
 

THIRD LORD

 
O! he's the very soul of bounty!
 

TIMON

 
And now I remember, my lord, you gave
Good words the other day of a bay courser
I rode on: it is yours because you lik'd it.
 

THIRD LORD

 
O! I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
 

TIMON

 
You may take my word, my lord: I know no man
Can justly praise but what he does affect:
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own.
I'll tell you true; I'll call to you.
 

ALL LORDS

 
O! none so welcome!
 

TIMON

 
I take all and your several visitations
So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give;
Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends,
And ne'er be weary. Alcibiades,
Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich;
It comes in charity to thee; for all thy living
Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
Lie in a pitch'd field.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Ay, defil'd land, my lord.
 

FIRST LORD

 
We are so virtuously bound, —
 

TIMON

 
And so am I to you.
 

SECOND LORD

 
So infinitely endear'd, —
 

TIMON

 
All to you. Lights, more lights!
 

FIRST LORD

 
The best of happiness,
Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!
 

TIMON

 
Ready for his friends.
 

[Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, and etc.].]

APEMANTUS

 
What a coil's here!
Serving of becks and jutting out of bums!
I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:
Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs.
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsies.
 

TIMON

 
Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
I would be good to thee.
 
 
APEMANTUS. No, I'll nothing; for if I should be bribed too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly: What needs these feasts, pomps, and vain-glories?
TIMON. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come with better music.
 

[Exit.]

APEMANTUS

 
So: Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then;
I'll lock thy heaven from thee.
O! that men's ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
 

[Exit.]

Act II

Scene I. Athens. A Room in a SENATOR'S House

[Enter A SENATOR, with papers in his hand.]

SENATOR

 
And late, five thousand: to Varro and to Isidore
He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,
Which makes it five-and-twenty. Still in motion
Of raging waste! It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold;
If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me straight,
And able horses. No porter at his gate,
But rather one that smiles and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason
Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho!
Caphis, I say!
 

[Enter CAPHIS.]

CAPHIS

 
Here, sir; what is your pleasure?
 

SENATOR

 
Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon;
Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'd
With slight denial, nor then silenc'd when —
'Commend me to your master' – and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus; – but tell him,
My uses cry to me; I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates
Have smit my credit: I love and honour him,
But must not break my back to heal his finger;
Immediate are my needs, and my relief
Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate aspect,
A visage of demand; for I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.
 

CAPHIS

 
I go, sir.
 

SENATOR

 
Take the bonds along with you,
And have the dates in compt.
 

CAPHIS

 
I will, sir.
 

SENATOR

 
Go.
 

[Exeunt.]

Scene II. The same. A Hall in TIMON'S House

[Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand.]

FLAVIUS

 
No care, no stop! So senseless of expense,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account
How things go from him, nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue: never mind
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.
What shall be done? He will not hear, till feel:
I must be round with him. Now he comes from hunting.
Fie, fie, fie, fie!
 

[Enter CAPHIS, and the SERVANTS Of ISIDORE and VARRO.]

CAPHIS

 
Good even, Varro. What! You come for money?
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
Is't not your business too?
 

CAPHIS

 
It is: and yours too, Isidore?
 

ISIDORE'S SERVANT

 
It is so.
 

CAPHIS

 
Would we were all discharg'd!
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
I fear it.
 

CAPHIS

 
Here comes the lord!
 

[Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, etc.]

TIMON

 
So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again.
My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will?
 

CAPHIS

 
My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
 

TIMON

 
Dues! Whence are you?
 

CAPHIS

 
Of Athens here, my lord.
 

TIMON

 
Go to my steward.
 

CAPHIS

 
Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awak'd by great occasion
To call upon his own; and humbly prays you
That with your other noble parts you'll suit
In giving him his right.
 

TIMON

 
Mine honest friend,
I prithee, but repair to me next morning.
 

CAPHIS

 
Nay, good my lord, —
 

TIMON

 
Contain thyself, good friend.
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
One Varro's servant, my good lord, —
 

ISIDORE'S SERVANT

 
From Isidore; he humbly prays your speedy payment.
 

CAPHIS

 
If you did know, my lord, my master's wants, —
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past.
 

ISIDORE'S SERVANT

 
Your steward puts me off, my lord; and
I am sent expressly to your lordship.
 

TIMON

 
Give me breath.
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;
I'll wait upon you instantly.
 

[Exeunt ALCIBIADES and LORDS.]

[To FLAVIUS.]

 
Come hither: pray you,
How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd
With clamorous demands of date-broke bonds,
And the detention of long-since-due debts,
Against my honour?
 

FLAVIUS

 
Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business:
Your importunacy cease till after dinner,
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.
 

TIMON

 
Do so, my friends.
See them well entertain'd.
 

[Exit.]

FLAVIUS

 
Pray, draw near.
 

[Exit.]

[Enter APEMANTUS and FOOL.]

CAPHIS

 
Stay, stay; here comes the fool with Apemantus:
Let's ha' some sport with 'em.
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
Hang him, he'll abuse us!
 

ISIDORE'S SERVANT

 
A plague upon him, dog!
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
How dost, fool?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Dost dialogue with thy shadow?
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
I speak not to thee.
 

APEMANTUS

 
No; 'tis to thyself. [To the FOOL.]
Come away.
 
 
ISIDORE'S SERVANT. [To VARRO'S SERVANT.]
There's the fool hangs on your back already.
 

APEMANTUS

 
No, thou stand'st single; thou'rt not on him yet.
 

CAPHIS

 
Where's the fool now?
 
 
APEMANTUS. He last asked the question. Poor rogues and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want!
 

ALL SERVANTS

 
What are we, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Asses.
 

ALL SERVANTS

 
Why?
 
 
APEMANTUS. That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves. Speak to 'em, fool.
 

FOOL

 
How do you, gentlemen?
 

ALL SERVANTS

 
Gramercies, good fool. How does your mistress?
 
 
FOOL. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!
 

APEMANTUS

 
Good! gramercy.
 

[Enter PAGE.]

FOOL

 
Look you, here comes my mistress' page.
 
 
PAGE. [To the FOOL.] Why, how now, Captain! what do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?
 
 
APEMANTUS. Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer thee profitably.
 
 
PAGE. Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters: I know not which is which.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Canst not read?
 

PAGE

 
No.
 
 
APEMANTUS. There will little learning die, then, that day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou'lt die a bawd.
 

PAGE

 
Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish a dog's death.
Answer not; I am gone.
 

[Exit PAGE.]

APEMANTUS

 
E'en so thou outrunn'st grace. —
Fool, I will go with you to Lord Timon's.
 

FOOL

 
Will you leave me there?
 

APEMANTUS

 
If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers?
 

ALL SERVANTS

 
Ay; would they served us!
 

APEMANTUS

 
So would I, as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.
 

FOOL

 
Are you three usurers' men?
 

ALL SERVANTS

 
Ay, fool.
 
 
FOOL. I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant: my mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and go away merry; but they enter my mistress' house merrily, and go away sadly: the reason of this?
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
I could render one.
 
 
APEMANTUS. Do it, then, that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave; which notwithstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed.
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
What is a whoremaster, fool?
 
 
FOOL. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. 'Tis a spirit: sometime 't appears like a lord; sometime like a lawyer; sometime like a philosopher, with two stones more than's artificial one. He is very often like a knight; and generally, in all shapes that man goes up and down in from fourscore to thirteen, this spirit walks in.
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
Thou art not altogether a fool.
 
 
FOOL. Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest.
 

APEMANTUS

 
That answer might have become Apemantus.
 

VARRO'S SERVANT

 
Aside, aside; here comes Lord Timon.
 

[Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.]

APEMANTUS

 
Come with me, fool, come.
 
 
FOOL. I do not always follow lover, elder brother, and woman; sometime the philosopher.
 

[Exeunt APEMANTUS and FOOL.]

FLAVIUS

 
Pray you walk near: I'll speak with you anon.
 

[Exeunt SERVANTS.]

TIMON

 
You make me marvel: wherefore, ere this time,
Had you not fully laid my state before me,
That I might so have rated my expense
As I had leave of means?
 

FLAVIUS

 
You would not hear me,
At many leisures I propos'd.
 

TIMON

 
Go to:
Perchance some single vantages you took,
When my indisposition put you back;
And that unaptness made your minister
Thus to excuse yourself.
 

FLAVIUS

 
O my good lord!
At many times I brought in my accounts,
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
And say you found them in mine honesty.
When for some trifling present you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head, and wept;
Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you
To hold your hand more close: I did endure
Not seldom, nor no slight checks, when I have
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
And your great flow of debts. My loved lord,
Though you hear now, too late, yet now's a time,
The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts.
 

TIMON

 
Let all my land be sold.
 

FLAVIUS

 
'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone;
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues; the future comes apace:
What shall defend the interim? and at length
How goes our reckoning?
 

TIMON

 
To Lacedaemon did my land extend.
 

FLAVIUS

 
O my good lord! the world is but a word;
Were it all yours to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone!
 

TIMON

 
You tell me true.
 

FLAVIUS

 
If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,
Call me before the exactest auditors
And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been oppress'd
With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine, when every room
Hath blaz'd with lights and bray'd with minstrelsy,
I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock,
And set mine eyes at flow.
 

TIMON

 
Prithee, no more.
 

FLAVIUS

 
Heavens! have I said, the bounty of this lord!
How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants
This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?
What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord Timon's?
Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!'
Ah! when the means are gone that buy this praise,
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:
Feast – won, fast – lost; one cloud of winter showers,
These flies are couch'd.
 

TIMON

 
Come, sermon me no further;
No villainous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart;
Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack,
To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love,
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use
As I can bid thee speak.
 

FLAVIUS

 
Assurance bless your thoughts!
 

TIMON

 
And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd
That I account them blessings; for by these
Shall I try friends. You shall perceive how you
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there! Flaminius! Servilius!
 

[Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants.]

SERVANTS

 
My lord! my lord!
 
 
TIMON. I will dispatch you severally: you to Lord Lucius; to Lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his honour to-day; you, to Sempronius. Commend me to their loves; and I am proud, say, that my occasions have found time to use them toward a supply of money: let the request be fifty talents.
 

FLAMINIUS

 
As you have said, my lord.
 

FLAVIUS

[Aside.] Lord Lucius and Lucullus? hum!

 
TIMON. [To another Servant.]
Go you, sir, to the senators, —
Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have
Deserv'd this hearing, – Bid 'em send o' the instant
A thousand talents to me.
 

FLAVIUS

 
I have been bold, —
For that I knew it the most general way, —
To them to use your signet and your name;
But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return.
 

TIMON

 
Is't true? can't be?
 

FLAVIUS

 
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;
But yet they could have wish'd; they know not;
Something hath been amiss; a noble nature
May catch a wrench; would all were well; 'tis pity;
And so, intending other serious matters,
After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions,
With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods,
They froze me into silence.
 

TIMON

 
You gods, reward them!
Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary;
Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it seldom flows;
'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion'd for the journey, dull and heavy.
 

[To a Servant.] Go to Ventidius. – [To Flavius.]

 
Prithee, be not sad,
Thou art true and honest; ingenuously I speak,
No blame belongs to thee. – [To Servant.] Ventidius lately
Buried his father; by whose death he's stepp'd
Into a great estate. When he was poor,
Imprison'd and in scarcity of friends,
I clear'd him with five talents; greet him from me,
Bid him suppose some good necessity
Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd
With those five talents.
[Exit Servant.]
 

[To Flavius.]

 
That had, give't these fellows
To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think
That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink.
 

FLAVIUS

 
I would I could not think it:
That thought is bounty's foe;
Being free itself, it thinks all others so.
 

[Exeunt.]

Act III. Scene I. Athens. A Room in LUCULLUS' House

[FLAMINIUS waiting.]

[Enter a SERVANT to him.]

SERVANT

 
I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.
 

FLAMINIUS

 
I thank you, sir.
 

[Enter LUCULLUS.]

SERVANT

 
Here's my lord.
 
 
LUCULLUS. [Aside.] One of Lord Timon's men! a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir. Fill me some wine.
 

[Exit SERVANT.]

 
And how does that honourable, complete, freehearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?
 

FLAMINIUS

 
His health is well, sir.
 
 
LUCULLUS. I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?
 
 
FLAMINIUS. Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance therein.
 
 
LUCULLIUS. La, la, la, la! 'Nothing doubting,' says he? Alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I ha' dined with him, and told him on't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less; and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty is his. I ha' told him on't, but I could ne'er get him from it.
 

[Re-enter SERVANT with wine.]

SERVANT

 
Please your lordship, here is the wine.
 

LUCULLUS

 
Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.
 

FLAMINIUS

 
Your lordship speaks your pleasure.
 
 
LUCULLUS. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit, give thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs to reason, and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee. [To SERVANT.] – Get you gone, sirrah. —
 

[Exit SERVANT.]

 
Draw nearer, honest Flaminius.Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman; but thou art wise, and thou know'st well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money, especially upon bare friendship without security. Here's three solidares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say thou sawest me not. Fare thee well.
 

FLAMINIUS

 
Is't possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that liv'd? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee.
 

[Throwing the money away.]

LUCULLUS

 
Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.
 

[Exit.]

FLAMINIUS

 
May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let molten coin be thy damnation,
Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods!
I feel my master's passion! This slave unto his honour
Has my lord's meat in him:
Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment
When he is turn'd to poison?
O! may diseases only work upon't!
And when he's sick to death, let not that part of nature
Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour.
 

[Exit.]

Scene II. A Public Place

[Enter Lucius, with three STRANGERS.]

 
LUCIUS. Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman.
 
 
FIRST STRANGER. We know him for no less, though we are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.
 

LUCIUS

 
Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.
 
 
SECOND STRANGER. But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow so many talents, nay, urged extremely for't, and showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.
 

LUCIUS

 
How!
 

SECOND STRANGER

 
I tell you, denied, my lord.
 
 
LUCIUS. What a strange case was that! now, before the gods, I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man! there was very little honour showed in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.
 

[Enter SERVILIUS.]

 
SERVILIUS. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see his honour. [To LUCIUS.] My honoured lord!
 
 
LUCIUS. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well: commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.
 

SERVILIUS

 
May it please your honour, my lord hath sent —
 
 
LUCIUS. 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?
 
 
SERVILIUS. Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.
 

LUCIUS

 
I know his lordship is but merry with me;
He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.
 

SERVILIUS

 
But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.
 

LUCIUS

 
Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
 

SERVILIUS

 
Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.
 
 
LUCIUS. What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might ha' shown 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; 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 kin: 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?
 

SERVILIUS

 
Yes, sir, I shall.
 

LUCIUS

 
I'll 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.
 

[Exit.]

FIRST STRANGER

 
Do you observe this, Hostilius?
 

SECOND STRANGER

 
Ay, too well.
 

FIRST STRANGER

 
Why, this is the world's soul; and just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse,
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet, O! see the monstrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape,
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
 

THIRD STRANGER

 
Religion groans at it.
 

FIRST STRANGER

 
For mine own part,
I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me
To mark me for his friend; yet I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart. But, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.
 

[Exeunt.]

Scene III. The Same. A Room in SEMPRONIUS' House

[Enter SEMPRONIUS and a SERVANT of TIMON'S.]

SEMPRONIUS

 
Must he needs trouble me in't? Hum! 'bove all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these
Owe their estates unto him.
 

SERVANT

 
My lord,
They have all been touch'd and found base metal, for
They have all denied him.
 

SEMPRONIUS

 
How! have they denied him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?
And does he send to me? Three? Hum!
It shows but little love or judgment in him:
Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
Thrice give him over; must I take the cure upon me?
Has much disgrac'd me in't; I'm angry at him,
That might have known my place. I see no sense for't,
But his occasions might have woo'd me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e'er received gift from him:
And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No:
So it may prove an argument of laughter
To the rest, and I 'mongst lords be thought a fool.
I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;
I'd such a courage to do him good. But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
 

[Exit.]

 
SERVANT. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did when he made man politic; he crossed himself by't: and I cannot think but, in the end the villainies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked, like those that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms on fire: Of such a nature is his politic love. This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead, Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd Now to guard sure their master: And this is all a liberal course allows: Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
 

[Exit.]

Scene IV. A hall in TIMON'S House

[Enter two Servants of VARRO, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out.]

FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT

 
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
 

TITUS

 
The like to you, kind Varro.
 

HORTENSIUS

 
Lucius! What! do we meet together!
 
 
LUCIUS' SERVANT. Ay, and I think one business does command us all; for mine is money.
 

TITUS

 
So is theirs and ours.
 

[Enter PHILOTUS.]

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
And Sir Philotus too!
 

PHILOTUS

 
Good day at once.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Wlcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
 

PHILOTUS

 
Labouring for nine.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
So much?
 

PHILOTUS

 
Is not my lord seen yet?
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Not yet.
 

PHILOTUS

 
I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him:
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun's, but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear,
'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;
That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.
 

PHILOTUS

 
I am of your fear for that.
 

TITUS

 
I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.
 

HORTENSIUS

 
Most true, he does.
 

TITUS

 
And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
For which I wait for money.
 

HORTENSIUS

 
It is against my heart.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Mark, how strange it shows,
Timon in this should pay more than he owes:
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for 'em.
 

HORTENSIUS

 
I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness:
I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.
 

FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT

 
Yes, mine's three thousand crowns; what's yours?
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Five thousand mine.
 

FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT

 
'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sum,
Your master's confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall'd.
 

[Enter FLAMINIUS.]

TITUS

 
One of Lord Timon's men.
 
 
LUCIUS' SERVANT. Flaminius! Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord ready to come forth?
 

FLAMINIUS

 
No, indeed, he is not.
 

TITUS

 
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
 

FLAMINIUS

 
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
 

[Exit FLAMINUS.]

[Enter FLAVIUS, in a cloak, muffled.]

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
 

TITUS

 
Do you hear, sir?
 

SECOND VARRO'S SERVANT

 
By your leave, sir.
 

FLAVIUS

 
What do you ask of me, my friend?
 

TITUS

 
We wait for certain money here, sir.
 

FLAVIUS

 
Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twere sure enough.
Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills,
When your false masters eat of my lord's meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down the interest into their gluttonous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;
Let me pass quietly:
Believe't, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
 

FLAVIUS

 
If 'twill not serve, 'tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
 

[Exit.]

FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT

 
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
 
 
SECOND VARRO'S SERVANT. No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? such may rail against great buildings.
 

[Enter SERVILIUS.]

TITUS

 
O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
 
 
SERVILIUS. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from't; for, take't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him; he's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Many do keep their chambers are not sick:
And, if it be so far beyond his health,
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.
 

SERVILIUS

 
Good gods!
 

TITUS

 
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
 

FLAMINIUS

 
[Within.] Servilius, help! my lord! my lord!
 

[Enter TIMON, in a rage; FLAMINIUS following.]

TIMON

 
What! are my doors oppos'd against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Put in now, Titus.
 

TITUS

 
My lord, here is my bill.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Here's mine.
 

HORTENSIUS

 
And mine, my lord.
 

BOTH VARRO'S SERVANTS

 
And ours, my lord.
 

PHILOTUS

 
All our bills.
 

TIMON

 
Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Alas, my lord —
 

TIMON

 
Cut my heart in sums.
 

TITUS

 
Mine, fifty talents.
 

TIMON

 
Tell out my blood.
 

LUCIUS' SERVANT

 
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
 

TIMON

 
Five thousand drops pays that. What yours? and yours?
 

FIRST VARRO'S SERVANT

 
My lord —
 

SECOND VARRO'S SERVANT

 
My lord —
 

TIMON

 
Tear me, take me; and the gods fall upon you!
 

[Exit.]

 
HORTENSIUS. Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money: these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.
 

[Exeunt.]

[Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.]

TIMON

 
They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? devils!
 

FLAVIUS

 
My dear lord —
 

TIMON

 
What if it should be so?
 

FLAMINIUS

 
My lord —
 

TIMON

 
I'll have it so. My steward!
 

FLAVIUS

 
Here, my lord.
 

TIMON

 
So fitly! Go, bid all my friends again:
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all:
I'll once more feast the rascals.
 

FLAVIUS

 
O my lord!
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.
 

TIMON

 
Be it not in thy care: go.
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.
 

[Exeunt.]

Scene V. The Same. The Senate House. The Senate Sitting

FIRST SENATOR

 
My lord, you have my voice to it: the fault's
Bloody. 'tis necessary he should die;
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
Most true; the law shall bruise him.
 

[Enter ALCIBIADES, attended.]

ALCIBIADES

 
Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Now, captain.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I am a humble suitor to your virtues;
For pity is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that without heed do plunge into't.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,
Of comely virtues;
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice, —
An honour in him which buys out his fault, —
But, with a noble fury and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe;
And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
You undergo too strict a paradox,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
Your words have took such pains as if they labour'd
To bring manslaughter into form, and set
Quarrelling upon the head of valour; which indeed
Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born.
He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer
The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs
his outsides, to wear them like his raiment, carelessly,
And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,
To bring it into danger.
If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill!
 

ALCIBIADES

 
My lord, —
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
You cannot make gross sins look clear;
To revenge is no valour, but to bear.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,
If I speak like a captain.
Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threats? sleep upon't,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats
Without repugnancy? If there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad? why, then, women are more valiant
That stay at home, if bearing carry it,
And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords!
As you are great, be pitifully good:
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.
To be in anger is impiety;
But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
You breathe in vain.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
In vain! his service done
At Lacedaemon and Byzantium
Were a sufficient briber for his life.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
What's that?
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I say, my lords, has done fair service,
And slain in fight many of your enemies.
How full of valour did he bear himself
In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
He has made too much plenty with 'em;
He's a sworn rioter; he has a sin that often
Drowns him and takes his valour prisoner;
If there were no foes, that were enough
To overcome him; in that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages
And cherish factions; 'tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul and his drink dangerous.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
He dies.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Hard fate! he might have died in war.
My lords, if not for any parts in him, —
Though his right arm might purchase his own time,
And be in debt to none, – yet, more to move you,
Take my deserts to his, and join 'em both;
And, for I know your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all
My honour to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receive't in valiant gore;
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
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.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,
I do beseech you, know me.
 

SECOND SENATOR

 
How!
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Call me to your remembrances.
 

THIRD SENATOR

 
What!
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I cannot think but your age has forgot me;
It could not else be I should prove so base,
To sue, and be denied such common grace.
My wounds ache at you.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
Do you dare our anger?
'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;
We banish thee for ever.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Banish me!
Banish your dotage; banish usury,
That makes the Senate ugly.
 

FIRST SENATOR

 
If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee,
Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit,
He shall be executed presently.
 

[Exeunt SENATORS.]

ALCIBIADES

 
Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live
Only in bone, that none may look on you!
I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,
While they have told their money and let out
Their coin upon large interest; I myself
Rich only in large hurts: all those for this?
Is this the balsam that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment!
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.
'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.
 

[Exit.]

Scene VI. A room of State in TIMON'S House

[Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers LORDS,

 
SENATORS, and Others, at several doors.]
 

FIRST LORD

 
The good time of day to you, sir.
 
 
SECOND LORD. I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord did but try us this other day.
 

FIRST 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.
 

SECOND LORD

 
It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.
 
 
FIRST 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.
 
 
SECOND 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.
 

FIRST LORD

 
I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed you?
 

FIRST LORD

 
A thousand pieces.
 

SECOND LORD

 
A thousand pieces!
 

FIRST LORD

 
What of you?
 

SECOND LORD

 
He sent to me, sir – here he comes.
 

[Enter TIMON and Attendants.]

TIMON

 
With all my heart, gentlemen both; And how fare you?
 

FIRST LORD

 
Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.
 
 
SECOND 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 o' the trumpet's sound; we shall to't presently.

FIRST LORD

 
I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that
I return'd you an empty messenger.
 

TIMON

 
O! sir, let it not trouble you.
 

SECOND LORD

 
My noble lord, —
 

TIMON

 
Ah! my good friend, what cheer?
 
 
SECOND 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.
 

TIMON

 
Think not on't, sir.
 

SECOND LORD

 
If you had sent but two hours before, —
 

TIMON

 
Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
 

[The banquet brought in.]

 
Come, bring in all together.
 

SECOND LORD

 
All covered dishes!
 

FIRST LORD

 
Royal cheer, I warrant you.
 

THIRD LORD

 
Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it.
 

FIRST LORD

 
How do you? What's the news?
 

THIRD LORD

 
Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?
 

FIRST AND SECOND LORDS

 
Alcibiades banished!
 

THIRD LORD

 
'Tis so, be sure of it.
 

FIRST LORD

 
How? how?
 

SECOND LORD

 
I pray you, upon what?
 

TIMON

 
My worthy friends, will you draw near?
 

THIRD LORD

 
I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.
 

SECOND LORD

 
This is the old man still.
 

THIRD LORD

 
Will't hold? will't hold?
 

SECOND LORD

 
It does; but time will – and so —
 

THIRD 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 need not lend to another; for, were your god – heads 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 foes, 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 are they 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 with your flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces
 

[Throwing the water in their faces.]

 
Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,
Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!
Of man and beast the infinite malady
Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?
Soft! take thy physic first, – thou too, – and thou; —
Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.
 

[Throws the dishes at them.]

 
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 the LORDS, SENATORS, and &c.]

FIRST LORD

 
How now, my lords!
 

SECOND LORD

 
Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?
 

THIRD LORD

 
Push! did you see my cap?
 

FOURTH LORD

 
I have lost my gown.
 

FIRST LORD

 
He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him.
He gave me a jewel th' other day, and now he has beat it out of
my hat: did you see my jewel?
 

THIRD LORD

 
Did you see my cap?
 

SECOND LORD

 
Here 'tis.
 

FOURTH LORD

 
Here lies my gown.
 

FIRST LORD

 
Let's make no stay.
 

SECOND LORD

 
Lord Timon's mad.
 

THIRD LORD

 
I feel't upon my bones.
 

FOURTH LORD

 
One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.
 

[Exeunt.]

Act IV

Scene I. Without the walls of Athens

[Enter TIMON.]

TIMON

 
Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall,
That girdles 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 pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed;
Thy mistress is o' the brothel! Son of sixteen,
Pluck the lin'd crutch from thy old limping sire,
With it beat out his brains! Piety, and fear,
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest and neighbourhood,
Instruction, manners, mysteries and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries,
And let 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 detestable town!
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!
Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
Th' unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
The gods confound – hear me, you good gods all —
The Athenians both within and out that wall!
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high and low!
Amen.
 

[Exit.]

Scene II. Athens. A Room in TIMON's House

[Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three SERVANTS.]

FIRST SERVANT

 
Hear you, Master Steward! where's our master?
Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?
 

FLAVIUS

 
Alack! my fellows, what should I say to you?
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
I am as poor as you.
 

FIRST SERVANT

 
Such a house broke!
So noble a master fall'n! All gone! and not
One friend to take his fortune by the arm
And go along with him!
 

SECOND SERVANT

 
As we do turn our backs
From our companion, thrown into his grave,
So his familiars to his buried fortunes
Slink all away, leave their false vows with him,
Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,
A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all – shunn'd poverty,
Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.
 

[Enter other SERVANTS.]

FLAVIUS

 
All broken implements of a ruin'd house.
 

THIRD SERVANT

 
Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery,
That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,
Serving alike in sorrow. Leak'd is our bark,
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,
Hearing the surges threat: we must all part
Into this sea of air.
 

FLAVIUS

 
Good fellows all,
The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake
Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortune,
'We have seen better days.' Let each take some;
 

[Giving them money.]

 
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
 

[They embrace, and part several ways.]

 
O! the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us.
Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Who would be so mock'd with glory? or so live,
But in a dream of friendship?
To have his pomp, and all what state compounds
But only painted, like his varnish'd friends?
Poor honest lord! brought low by his own heart,
Undone by goodness. Strange, unusual blood,
When man's worst sin is he does too much good!
Who then dares to be half so kind agen?
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.
My dearest lord, bless'd, to be most accurs'd,
Rich, only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas! kind lord,
He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat
Of monstrous friends;
Nor has he with him to supply his life,
Or that which can command it.
I'll follow and enquire him out:
I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;
Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still.
 

[Exit.]

SCENE III. Woods and Caves near the Sea-shore

[Enter TIMON from the Cave.]

TIMON

 
O blessed breeding sun! draw from the earth
Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb
Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence and birth,
Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes;
The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune,
But by contempt of nature.
Raise me this beggar, and deny't that lord;
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,
The beggar native honour.
It is the pasture lards the rother's sides,
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares,
In purity of manhood stand upright,
And say, 'This man's a flatterer'? if one be,
So are they all; for every grize of fortune
Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: all is oblique;
There's nothing level in our cursed natures
But direct villainy. Therefore, be abhorr'd
All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!
 

[Digging.]

 
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,
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their head:
This yellow slave
Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd,
Make the hoar leprosy ador'd; place thieves,
And give them title, knee, and approbation,
With senators on the bench; this is it
That makes the wappen'd widow wed again;
She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices
To the April day again. Come, damned earth,
Thou common whore of mankind, that putt'st odds
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. – [March afar off.]
Ha! a drum? thou'rt quick,
But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand:
Nay, stay thou out for earnest.
 

[Keeping some gold.]

[Enter ALCIBIADES, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA.]

ALCIBIADES

 
What art thou there? speak.
 

TIMON

 
A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart,
For showing me again the eyes of man!
 

ALCIBIADES

 
What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee,
That art thyself a man?
 

TIMON

 
I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind.
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
That I might love thee something.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I know thee well,
But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange.
 

TIMON

 
I know thee too; and more than that I know thee
I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;
With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules;
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel;
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword
For all her cherubin look.
 

PHRYNIA

 
Thy lips rot off!
 

TIMON

 
I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns
To thine own lips again.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
How came the noble Timon to this change?
 

TIMON

 
As the moon does, by wanting light to give:
But then renew I could not like the moon;
There were no suns to borrow of.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Noble Timon,
What friendship may I do thee?
 

TIMON

 
None, but to maintain my opinion.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
What is it, Timon?
 
 
TIMON. Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art man! If thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man!
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.
 

TIMON

 
Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I see them now; then was a blessed time.
 

TIMON

 
As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
 

TIMANDRA

 
Is this the Athenian minion whom the world
Voic'd so regardfully?
 

TIMON

 
Art thou Timandra?
 

TIMANDRA

 
Yes.
 

TIMON

 
Be a whore still; they love thee not that use thee;
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
Make use of thy salt hours; season the slaves
For tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth
To the tub – fast and the diet.
 

TIMANDRA

 
Hang thee, monster!
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
The want whereof doth daily make revolt
In my penurious band: I have heard, and griev'd
How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,
Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them, —
 

TIMON

 
I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.
 

TIMON

 
How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
I had rather be alone.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Why, fare thee well:
Here is some gold for thee.
 

TIMON

 
Keep it, I cannot eat it.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
When I have laid proud Athens on a heap, —
 

TIMON

 
Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens?
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Ay, Timon, and have cause.
 

TIMON

 
The gods confound them all in thy conquest;
And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd!
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Why me, Timon?
 

TIMON

 
That, by killing of villains,
Thou wast born to conquer my country.
Put up thy gold: go on, – here's gold, – go on;
Be as a planetary plague, when Jove
Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison
In the sick air: let not thy sword skip one.
Pity not honour'd age for his white beard;
He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron;
It is her habit only that is honest,
Herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek
Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk paps
That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes,
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe,
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;
Think it a bastard, whom the oracle
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.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou giv'st me,
Not all thy counsel.
 

TIMON

 
Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse upon thee!
 

PHRYNIA AND TIMANDRA

 
Give us some gold, good Timon:
Hast thou more?
 

TIMON

 
Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,
And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,
Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable,
Although, I know, you'll swear, terribly swear
Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues,
The immortal gods that hear you, spare your oaths,
I'll trust to your conditions: be whores still;
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up;
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,
Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofs
With burdens of the dead; some that were hang'd,
No matter; wear them, betray with them: whore still;
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:
A pox of wrinkles!
 

PHRYNIA AND TIMANDRA

 
Well, more gold. What then?
Believe't that we'll do anything for gold.
 

TIMON

 
Consumptions sow
In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,
And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice,
That he may never more false title plead,
Nor sound his quillets shrilly; hoar the flamen,
That scolds against the quality of flesh,
And not believes himself: down with the nose,
Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away
Of him that, his particular to foresee,
Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate ruffians bald,
And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war
Derive some pain from you: plague all,
That your activity may defeat and quell
The source of all erection. There's more gold;
Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
And ditches grave you all!
 

PHRYNIA AND TIMANDRA

 
More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.
 

TIMON

 
More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Strike up the drum towards Athens! Farewell, Timon:
If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.
 

TIMON

 
If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
I never did thee harm.
 

TIMON

 
Yes, thou spok'st well of me.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
Call'st thou that harm?
 

TIMON

 
Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take
Thy beagles with thee.
 

ALCIBIADES

 
We but offend him. Strike!
 

[Drum beats. Exeunt all but TIMON.]

TIMON

 
That nature, being sick of man's unkindness,
Should yet be hungry! Common mother, thou,
 

[Digging.]

 
Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast,
Teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle,
Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puff'd,
Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
The gilded newt and eyeless venom'd worm,
With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven
Whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine;
Yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate,
From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man!
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears;
Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Hath to the marbled mansion all above
Never presented! O! a root; dear thanks:
Dry up thy marrows, vines and plough-torn leas;
Whereof ingrateful man, with liquorish draughts
And morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind,
That from it all consideration slips!
 

[Enter APEMANTUS.]

 
More man! Plague! plague!
 

APEMANTUS

 
I was directed hither: men report
Thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them.
 

TIMON

 
'Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog
Whom I would imitate: consumption catch thee!
 

APEMANTUS

 
This is in thee a nature but infected;
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung
From change of fortune. Why this spade, this place?
This slave-like habit? and these looks of care?
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
Hug their diseas'd perfumes, and have forgot
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods
By putting on the cunning of a carper.
Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
By that which has undone thee: hinge thy knee
And let his very breath, whom thou'lt observe
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,
And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus;
Thou gav'st thine ears, like tapsters that bade welcome,
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.
 

TIMON

 
Were I like thee I'd throw away myself.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself;
A madman so long, now a fool. What! think'st
That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,
Will put thy shirt on warm? will these moss'd trees,
That have outliv'd the eagle, page thy heels
And skip when thou point'st out? will the cold brook,
Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste
To cure thy o'ernight's surfeit? Call the creatures
Whose naked natures live in all the spite
Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks,
To the conflicting elements expos'd,
Answer mere nature; bid them flatter thee;
O! thou shalt find —
 

TIMON

 
A fool of thee. Depart.
 

APEMANTUS

 
I love thee better now than e'er I did.
 

TIMON

 
I hate thee worse.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Why?
 

TIMON

 
Thou flatter'st misery.
 

APEMANTUS

 
I flatter not, but say thou art a caitiff.
 

TIMON

 
Why dost thou seek me out?
 

APEMANTUS

 
To vex thee.
 

TIMON

 
Always a villain's office or a fool's.
Dost please thyself in't?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Ay.
 

TIMON

 
What! a knave too?
 

APEMANTUS

 
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 incertain pomp, is crown'd before;
The one is filling still, never complete;
The other, at high wish: best state, contentless,
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
Worse than the worst, content.
Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.
 

TIMON

 
Not by his breath that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm
With favour never clasp'd, but bred a dog.
Hadst thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded
The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command, thou wouldst have plung'd thyself
In general riot; melted down thy youth
In different beds of lust; and never learn'd
The icy precepts of respect, but follow'd
The sugar'd game before thee. But myself,
Who had the world as my confectionary,
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes, and hearts of men
At duty, more than I could frame employment,
That numberless upon me stuck as leaves
Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush
Fell from their boughs, and left me open, bare
For every storm that blows; I, to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burden:
Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time
Hath made thee hard in't. Why shouldst thou hate men?
They never flatter'd thee: what hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,
Must be thy subject; who in spite put stuff
To some she-beggar and compounded thee
Poor rogue hereditary. Hence! be gone!
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Art thou proud yet?
 

TIMON

 
Ay, that I am not thee.
 

APEMANTUS

 
I, that I was
No prodigal.
 

TIMON

 
I, that I am one now;
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
That the whole life of Athens were in this!
Thus would I eat it.
 

[Eating a root.]

APEMANTUS

 
Here; I will mend thy feast.
 

TIMON

 
First mend my company, take away thyself.
 

APEMANTUS

 
So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.
 

TIMON

 
'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd.
If not, I would it were.
 

APEMANTUS

 
What wouldst thou have to Athens?
 

TIMON

 
Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,
Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Here is no use for gold.
 

TIMON

 
The best and truest;
For here it sleeps and does no hired harm.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Where liest o' nights, Timon?
 

TIMON

 
Under that's above me.
Where feed'st thou o' days, Apemantus?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Where my stomach finds meat; or rather, where I eat it.
 

TIMON

 
Would poison were obedient and knew my mind!
 

APEMANTUS

 
Where wouldst thou send it?
 

TIMON

 
To sauce thy dishes.
 
 
APEMANTUS. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mock'd thee for too much curiosity; in thy rags thou know'st none, but art despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee; eat it.
 

TIMON

 
On what I hate I feed not.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Dost hate a medlar?
 

TIMON

 
Ay, though it look like thee.
 
 
APEMANTUS. An thou hadst hated medlars sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means?
 
 
TIMON. Who, without those means thou talkest of, didst thou ever know beloved?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Myself.
 

TIMON

 
I understand thee; thou hadst some means to keep a dog.
 
 
APEMANTUS. What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers?
 
 
TIMON. Women nearest; but men, men are the things themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.
 
 
TIMON. Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Ay, Timon.
 
 
TIMON. 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 were not subject to a beast? and what beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation!
 
 
APEMANTUS. 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.
 
 
TIMON. How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?
 
 
APEMANTUS. 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.
 
 
TIMON. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.
 

TIMON

 
Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!
 

APEMANTUS

 
A plague on thee! thou art too bad to curse!
 

TIMON

 
All villains that do stand by thee are pure.
 

APEMANTUS

 
There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.
 

TIMON

 
If I name thee,
I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.
 

APEMANTUS

 
I would my tongue could rot them off!
 

TIMON

 
Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
Choler does kill me that thou art alive;
I swound to see thee.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Would thou wouldst burst!
 

TIMON

 
Away,
Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose
A stone by thee.
 

[Throws a stone at him.]

APEMANTUS

 
Beast!
 

TIMON

 
Slave!
 

APEMANTUS

 
Toad!
 

TIMON

 
Rogue, rogue, rogue!
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon't.
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy gravestone daily: make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others' lives may laugh.
 

[Looking on the gold.]

 
O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce
'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler
Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars!
Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd, and delicate wooer,
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!
Think, thy slave man rebels, and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!
 

APEMANTUS

 
Would 'twere so:
But not till I am dead; I'll say thou'st gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.
 

TIMON

 
Throng'd to?
 

APEMANTUS

 
Ay.
 

TIMON

 
Thy back, I prithee.
 

APEMANTUS

 
Live, and love thy misery!
 

TIMON

 
Long live so, and so die!
 

[Exit APEMANTUS.]

 
I am quit.
More things like men! Eat, Timon, and abhor them.
 

[Enter BANDITTI.]

 
FIRST BANDIT. Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder. The mere want of gold, and the falling-from of his friends, drove him into this melancholy.
 

SECOND BANDIT

 
It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.
 
 
THIRD BANDIT. Let us make the assay upon him: if he care not for't, he will supply us easily; if he covetously reserve it, how shall's get it?
 

SECOND BANDIT

 
True; for he bears it not about him, 'tis hid.
 

FIRST BANDIT

 
Is not this he?
 

BANDITTI

 
Where?
 

SECOND BANDIT

 
'Tis his description.
 

THIRD BANDIT

 
He; I know him.
 

BANDITTI

 
Save thee, Timon!
 

TIMON

 
Now, thieves?
 

BANDITTI

 
Soldiers, not thieves.
 

TIMON

 
Both too, and women's sons.
 

BANDITTI

 
We are not thieves, but men that much do want.
 

TIMON

 
Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots;
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;
The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips;
The bounteous housewife, Nature, on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want! Why want?
 

FIRST BANDIT

 
We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts and birds and fishes.
 

TIMON

 
Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and fishes;
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves profess'd, that you work not
In holier shapes; for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
More than you rob: take wealth and lives together;
Do villainy, do, since you protest to do't,
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery:
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea; the moon's an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun;
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The moon into salt tears; the earth's a thief,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen
From general excrement, each thing's a thief;
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Has uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves; away!
Rob one another. There's more gold; cut throats;
All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go,
Break open shops; nothing can you steal
But thieves do lose it: steal no less for this
I give you; and gold confound you howsoe'er!
Amen.
 
 
THIRD BANDIT. Has almost charm'd me from my profession by persuading me to it.
 
 
FIRST BANDIT. 'Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.
 

SECOND BANDIT

 
I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade.
FIRST BANDIT. Let us first see peace in Athens. There is no time so miserable but a man may be true.
 

[Exeunt BANDITTI.]

[Enter FLAVIUS.]

FLAVIUS

 
O you gods!
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd!
What an alteration of honour
Has desperate want made!
What viler thing upon the earth than friends
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
When man was wish'd to love his enemies!
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would mischief me than those that do!
He has caught me in his eye: I will present
My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord,
Still serve him with my life. My dearest master!
 

[TIMON comes forward.]

TIMON

 
Away! What art thou?
 

FLAVIUS

 
Have you forgot me, sir?
 

TIMON

 
Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men;
Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee.
 

FLAVIUS

 
An honest poor servant of yours.
 

TIMON

 
Then I know thee not:
I never had honest man about me; ay all
I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains.
 

FLAVIUS

 
The gods are witness,
Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.
 

TIMON

 
What! dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I love thee,
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping:
Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping!
 

FLAVIUS

 
I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
To accept my grief, and whilst this poor wealth lasts
To entertain me as your steward still.
 

TIMON

 
Had I a steward
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.
Let me behold thy face. Surely, this man
Was born of woman.
Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual sober gods! I do proclaim
One honest man, mistake me not, but one;
No more, I pray, and he's a steward.
How fain would I have hated all mankind!
And thou redeem'st thyself: but all, save thee,
I fell with curses.
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise;
For, by oppressing and betraying me,
Thou mightst have sooner got another service:
For many so arrive at second masters
Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true, —
For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure, —
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
If not a usuring kindness and as rich men deal gifts,
Expecting in return, twenty for one?
 

FLAVIUS

 
No, my most worthy master, in whose breast
Doubt and suspect, alas! are plac'd too late!
You should have fear'd false times when you did feast;
Suspect still comes where an estate is least.
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,
Care of your food and living; and, believe it,
My most honour'd lord,
For any benefit that points to me,
Either in hope or present, I'd exchange
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
To requite me by making rich yourself.
 

TIMON

 
Look thee, 'tis so! Thou singly honest man,
Here, take: the gods, out of my misery,
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy,
But thus condition'd: thou shalt build from men;
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone,
Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs
What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow 'em,
Debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like blasted woods,
And may diseases lick up their false bloods!
And so, farewell and thrive.
 

FLAVIUS

 
O! let me stay
And comfort you, my master.
 

TIMON

 
If thou hatest curses,
Stay not; fly, whilst thou'rt bless'd and free:
Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.
 

[Exeunt severally.]