Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd; If not, I would it were. Apem. What would'st thou have to Athens ? Tim. Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have. Apem. Here is no use for gold. Tim. The best, and truest: For here it sleeps, and does no hired harm. Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat it. Tim. 'Would poison were obedient, and knew my mind! Apem. Where would'st thou send it? Apem. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends: When thou wast in thy gilt, and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity; in thy rags thou knowest none, but art despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee, eat it. Tim. On what I hate, I feed not. Apem. Dost hate a medlar? Tim. Ay, though it look like thee. Apem. An thou had'st hated medlers sooner, thou should'st have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift, that was beloved after his means? Tim. Who, without those means thou talkest of, didst thou ever know beloved? Apem. Myself. Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst some means to keep a dog. Apem. What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers? Tim. Women nearest; but men, men are the things themselves. What would'st thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power? Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. Tim. Would'st thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts? Apem. Ay, Timon. I 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 would'st be killed by the horse; wert thou a horse, thou would'st 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 could'st thou be, that were not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation? Apem. If thou could'st please me with speaking to me, thou might'st have hit upon it here: The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts. Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city? Apem. Yonder comes a poet, and a painter: The plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way: When I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again. Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog, than Apemantus. Apem. Thou art the capt of all the fools alive. Apem. Toad! Tim. Rogue, rogue, rogue! [APEMANTUS retreats backward, as going. I am sick of this false world; and will love nought But even the mere necessities upon it. [Looking on the gold. "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 Tim. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee: if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee: if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, wher, perad-To every purpose! O thou touch; of hearts! venture, 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 For too much finical delicacy. Think, thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue Set them into confounding odds, that beasts May have the world in empire! * Remoteness, the being placed at a distance from the 'ion, The top, the principal, 1 For touchstone. - Apem. 'Would 'twere so, Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly. All that you meet are thieves: To Athens, go, But not till I am dead!-I'll say, thou hast gold: Break open shops; nothing can you steal, But thieves do lose it: Steal not less, for this I give you; and gold confound you howsoever! [TIMON retires to his Cave. 3 Thief. He has almost charmed me from my profession, by persuading me to it. Tim. Throng'd to? Арет. Ау. Tim. Thy back, I pr'ythee. Apem. Live, and love thy misery! Tim. Long live so, and so die!-I am quit.[Exit APEMANTUS. More things like men?-Eat, Timon, and abhor them. grape, Till the high fever seeth your blood to froth, Do villany, do, since you profess to do't, 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 composturet stolen From general excrement; each thing's a thief; The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough [away; Have uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves: Rob one another. There's more gold: Cut throats; power Amen. 1 Thief. "Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery. 2 Thief. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade. 1 Thief. Let us first see peace in Athens: There is no time so miserable, but a man may [Exeunt THIEVes. be true. guise, When man was wish'd to love his enemies: Grant, I may ever love, and rather woo [do! Those that would mischief me, than those that 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 from his Cave. Tim. Away! what art thou? men; Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt man, I have forgot thee. I Flav. An honest poor servant of yours. know thee not: I ne'er had honest man About me, I; all that I kept were knaves, To serve in meat to villains. Flav. The gods are witness, Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief For his undone lord, than mine eyes for you. Tim. 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! Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord, [lasts, To accept my grief, and whilst this poor wealth To entertain me as your steward still. Tim. Had I a steward so true, so just, and So comfortable? It almost turns [now My dangerous nature wild. Let me behold Thy face.-Surely, this man was born of wo man. I fell with curses. If not a usuring kindness; and as rich men deal gifts, Expecting in return twenty for one? Flav. 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, For any benefit that points to me, To requite me, by making rich yourself. Tim. Look thee, 'tis so!-Thou singly honest Here take the gods out of my misery [man, Have sent the treasure. Go, live rich, and happy: [men; But thus condition'd; Thou shalt build from 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 them, Debts wither them: Be men like blasted woods, And may diseases lick up their false bloods! And so, farewell, and thrive. Flav. O, let me stay, And comfort you, my master. 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. ACT V. SCENE 1.-The same.-Before TIMON'S Cuve. Enter POET and PAINTER; TIMON behind, un seen. Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides. Poet. What's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true, that he is so full of gold? Pain. Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity: 'Tis said, he gave unto his steward a mighty sum. Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends. Pain. Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore, 'tis not amiss, we tender our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his : it will show honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having. Poet. What have you now to present unto him? om human habitation. Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only 1 will promise him an excellent piece. Poet. I must serve him so too; tell him of an intent that's coming toward him. Pain. Good as the best. Promising is the very air o'the time: it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying* is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind of will and testament, which argues a great sickness in his judgement that makes it. Tim. Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself. Poet. I am thinking, what I shall say I have provided for him: It must be a personating of himself: a satire against the softness of prosperity; with a discovery of the infinite flatteries, that follow youth and opulency. Tim. Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have gold for thee. Poet. Nay, let's seek him: Then do we sin against our own estate, When we may profit meet, and come too late. Pain. True; When the day serves, before black-corner'd night, Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light. Come. Tim. I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold, That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple, Than where swine feed! 'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark, and plough st the foam; Settlest admired reverence in a slave: Poet. Hail, worthy Timon! Tim. Have I once liv'd to see two honest Having often of your open bounty tasted, Whose star-like nobleness gave life and in- Tim. Let it go naked, men may see't the better: You, that are honest, by being what you are, Make them best seen, and known. Pain. He, and myself, Have travell'd in the great shower of your gifts, And sweetly felt it. Tim. Ay, you are honest men. Pain. We are hither come to offer you our service. Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I requit you? Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no. Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you service. Tim. You are honest men: You have heard that I have gold; The doing of that we said we would do. I am sure you have: speak truth: you are honest men. Pain. So it is said, my noble lord: but thereCame not my friend, nor I. [fore Tim. Good honest men!-Thou draw'st a counterfeit* Best in all Athens: thou art, indeed, the best; Thou counterfeit'st most lively. Pain. So, so, my lord. Tim. Even so, Sir, as I say:-And, for thy fiction, [To the POET. Why thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth, That thou art even natural in thine art.- Both. Beseech your honour, To make it known to us. Tim. You'll take it ill. Both. Most thankfully, my lord. Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord. [I, Tim. There's ne'er a one of you but trusts a That mightily deceives you. Both. Do we, my lord? [knave, Tim. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble, Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, Pain. I know none such, my lord. Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give Rid me these villains from your companies: Hang them, or stab them, drown them in a draught,+ Confound them by some course, and come to I'll give you gold enough. [me, Both. Name them, my lord, let's know them. Tim. You that way, and you this, but two in company: Each man apart, all single and alone, Yet an arch-villain keeps him company. If, where thou art, two villains shall not be. [To the PAINTER. Come not near him.-If thou would'st not reside [To the POET. But where one villain is, then him abandon.Hence! pack! there's gold, ye came for gold, ye slaves: [Hence! You have done work for me, there's payment: You are an alchymist, make gold of that:Out, rascal dogs! [Exit, beating and driving them out. SCENE II.-The same. Enter FLAVIUS, and two SENATORS. Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with For he is set so only to himself, [Timon; That nothing but himself, which looks like Is friendly with him. 1 Sen. Bring us to his cave: [man, It is our part, and promise to the Athenians, To speak with Timon. 2 Sen. At all times alike Men are not still the same: 'Twas time, and A portrait was so called. ↑ In a jakes. Flav. Here is his cave. [mor Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! T Look out, and speak to friends: The Athenians, By two of their most reverend senate, greet Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn!-- For each true word, a blister! and each false Be as a caut'rizing to the root o'the tongue, Consuming it with speaking! 1 Sen. Worthy Timon Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon. 2 Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee, Ti mon. Tim. I thank them; and would send them back the plague, Could I but catch it for them. 1 Sen. O, forget What we are sorry for ourselves in thee. For thy best use and wearing. 2 Sen. They confess, [dom Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross. Together with a recompense more fruitful And write in thee the figures of their love, Tim. You witch me in it; tors. 1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with us, And of our Athens (thine, and ours,) to take The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks, Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name Live with authority:-so soon we shall drive 2 Sen. And shakes his threat'ning sword Against the walls of Athens. 1 Sen. Therefore, Timon, Tim. Well, Sir, I will; therefore, I will, Sir; Thus, If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, Let Alcibiades know this of Timon, [Athens, That-Timon cares not. But if he sack fair And take our goodly aged men by the beards, Giving our holy virgins to the stain Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war; Then, let him know,-and tell him, Timon speaks it, In pity of our aged, and our youth, With one united voice of affection. And let him tak't at worst; for their knives While you have throats to answer: for myself, Flav. Stay not, all's in vain. Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph, 1 Sen. We speak in vain. [still; Tim. But yet I love my country; and am not 1 Sen. That's well spoke. it. Tim. Commend me to my loving country men, 1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass through them. 2 Sen. And enter in our ears like great triúmphers In their applauding gates. Tim. Commend me to them; And tell them, that, to ease them of their griefs, Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, Their pangs of love, with other incident throes I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath. 2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again. That mine own use invites me to cut down, To stop affliction, let him take his haste, Flav. Trouble him no further, thus you still Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Timon hath made his everlasting mansion Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his 2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear** peril. 3 Sen. It requires swift foot. *A clasp knife. SCENE III.-The Walls of Athens. 1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are As full as thy report? Mess. I have spoke the least: Besides, his expedition promises Present approach. 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;[pos'd, Whom, though in general part we were opYet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends:-this man was riding From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, Enter SENATORS from TIMON. 1 Sen. Here come our brothers. 2 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect. [ing The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scour Doth choke the air with dust: in and prepare; Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes, the snare. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The Woods.-TIMON'S Care, and a Tomb-stone seen. Enter a SOLDIER, seeking TIMON. Sol. By all description this should be the place. Who's here? speak, ho!-No answer?-What [man. Our captain hath in every figure skill; SCENE V.-Before the Walls of Athens. Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach. [A Parley sounded. Enter SENATORS on the Walls. Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time With all licentious measure, making your wills The scope of justice; till now, myself, and such As slept within the shadow of your power, Have wander'd with our travers'd arms, and breath'd Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush,t When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong, Cries, of itself, No more: now breathless wrong, Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease; [Exeunt. And pursy insolence shall break his wind, With fear and horrid flight. +1 c. The gods who are the authors of the prosperity of mankind. He means-the disease of life begins to promise me a period. Report, rumour. Methodically, from highest to lowest. Swollen froth. ** Dreadful, 1 Sen. Noble and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, Ere thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear We sent to thee; to give thy rages balm, + Mature. * Arms across. |