The Project Gutenberg eBook of Timon of Athens, by William Shakespeare
Executive Director's Notes: In addition to the notes below,castle playsets for 11 year olds under 100 dollars and so you will *NOT* think allthe spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time havebeen corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as theyare presented herein: Barnardo. Who's there? Bar. Long liue the King * * * * As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain wordsor letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is theoriginal meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwillingto unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutionsthat look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u,above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presumingShakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . . The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at atime when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" inplace of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day,as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spendmore on a wider selection of characters than they had to. You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as Ihave mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have anextreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them avery high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read anassortment of these made available to him by Cambridge Universityin England for several months in a glass room constructed for thepurpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes,that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of avariety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famousfor signing his name with several different spellings. So, please take this into account when reading the comments belowmade by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errorsthat are "not" errors. . . . So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors,here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play. Michael S. Hart * * * * Scanner's Notes: What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and theconjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling,punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printedtext. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have puttogether a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings ofthe Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unifiedspellings according to this template), typo's and expandedabbreviations as I have come across them. Everything withinbrackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that youcan delete everything within the brackets if you want a purerShakespeare. Another thing that you should be aware of is that there aretextual differences between various copies of the first folio. Sothere may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above)between this and other first folio editions. This is due to theprinter's habit of setting the type and running off a number ofcopies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the typeand then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrownaway but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just theway it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30different First Folio editions' best pages. David Reed ===================================================================== The Life of Timon of Athens Enter Poet, Painter, Ieweller, Merchant, and Mercer, at seueralldoores. Poet. Good day Sir Pain. I am glad y'are well Poet. I haue not seene you long, how goes Poet. I that's well knowne: Pain. I know them both: th' others a Ieweller Mer. O 'tis a worthy Lord Iew. Nay that's most fixt Mer. A most incomparable man, breath'd as it were, Iew. I haue a Iewell heere Mer. O pray let's see't. For the Lord Timon, sir? Mer. 'Tis a good forme Iewel. And rich: heere is a Water looke ye Pain. You are rapt sir, in some worke, some Dedication Poet. A thing slipt idlely from me. Pain. 'Tis a good Peece Poet. So 'tis, this comes off well, and excellent Pain. Indifferent Poet. Admirable: How this grace Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life: Pain. How this Lord is followed Poet. The Senators of Athens, happy men Pain. Looke moe Po. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors, Pain. How shall I vnderstand you? Pain. I saw them speake together Poet. Sir, I haue vpon a high and pleasant hill Pain. 'Tis conceyu'd, to scope Poet. Nay Sir, but heare me on: Pain. I marry, what of these? Pain. Tis common: Enter Lord Timon, addressing himselfe curteously to euery Sutor. Tim. Imprison'd is he, say you? Tim. Noble Ventidius, well: Mes. Your Lordship euer bindes him Tim. Commend me to him, I will send his ransome, Mes. All happinesse to your Honor. Enter an old Athenian. Oldm. Lord Timon, heare me speake Tim. Freely good Father Oldm. Thou hast a Seruant nam'd Lucilius Tim. I haue so: What of him? Tim. Attends he heere, or no? Lucillius Luc. Heere at your Lordships seruice Oldm. This Fellow heere, L[ord]. Timon, this thy Creature, Tim. Well: what further? Tim. The man is honest Oldm. Therefore he will be Timon, Tim. Does she loue him? Tim. Loue you the Maid? Oldm. If in her Marriage my consent be missing, Tim. How shall she be endowed, Tim. This Gentleman of mine Oldm. Most Noble Lord, Tim. My hand to thee, Luc. Humbly I thanke your Lordship, neuer may Exit Poet. Vouchsafe my Labour, Tim. I thanke you, you shall heare from me anon: Tim. Painting is welcome. Pain. The Gods preserue ye Tim. Well fare you Gentleman: giue me your hand. Iewel. What my Lord, dispraise? Iewel. My Lord, 'tis rated Tim. Well mock'd. Mer. No my good Lord, he speakes y common toong Tim. Looke who comes heere, will you be chid? Mer. Hee'l spare none Tim. Good morrow to thee, Ape. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow. Tim. Why dost thou call them Knaues, thou know'st Ape. Then I repent not Iew. You know me, Apemantus? Tim. Thou art proud Apemantus? Tim. That's a deed thou't dye for Ape. Right, if doing nothing be death by th' Law Tim. How lik'st thou this picture Apemantus? Tim. Wrought he not well that painted it Ape. He wrought better that made the Painter, andyet he's but a filthy peece of worke Pain. Y'are a Dogge Ape. Thy Mothers of my generation: what's she, if I Tim. And thou should'st, thoud'st anger Ladies Ape. O they eate Lords; Tim. That's a lasciuious apprehension Ape. So, thou apprehend'st it, Tim. How dost thou like this Iewell, Apemantus? Tim. What dost thou thinke 'tis worth? Poet. Art not one? Poet. Then I lye not Ape. Art not a Poet? Ape. Then thou lyest:Looke in thy last worke, where thou hast feign'd him aworthy Fellow Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so Ape. Yes he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thylabour. He that loues to be flattered, is worthy o'th flatterer.Heauens, that I were a Lord Tim. What wouldst do then Apemantus? Tim. What thy selfe? Tim. Wherefore? Ape. Traffick confound thee, if the Gods will not Mer. If Trafficke do it, the Gods do it Ape. Traffickes thy God, & thy God confound thee. Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger. Tim. What Trumpets that? Tim. Pray entertaine them, giue them guide to vs. Most welcome Sir Ape. So, so; their Aches contract, and sterue yoursupple ioynts: that there should bee small loue amongestthese sweet Knaues, and all this Curtesie. The straine ofmans bred out into Baboon and Monkey Alc. Sir, you haue sau'd my longing, and I feed Tim. Right welcome Sir: Exeunt. Enter two Lords. 1.Lord What time a day is't Apemantus? Ape. Time to be honest 1 That time serues still Ape. The most accursed thou that still omitst it 2 Thou art going to Lord Timons Feast Ape. I, to see meate fill Knaues, and Wine heat fooles 2 Farthee well, farthee well Ape. Thou art a Foole to bid me farewell twice 2 Why Apemantus? 1 Hang thy selfe Ape. No I will do nothing at thy bidding: 2 Away vnpeaceable Dogge, Ape. I will flye like a dogge, the heeles a'th' Asse 1 Hee's opposite to humanity. 2 He powres it out: Plutus the God of Gold 1 The Noblest minde he carries, 2 Long may he liue in Fortunes. Shall we in? Exeunt. Hoboyes Playing lowd Musicke. A great Banquet seru'd in: andthen, EnterLord Timon, the States, the Athenian Lords, Ventigius whichTimon redeem'dfrom prison. Then comes dropping after all Apemantusdiscontentedly likehimselfe. Ventig. Most honoured Timon, Tim. O by no meanes, Vint. A Noble spirit Tim. Nay my Lords, Ceremony was but deuis'd at first 1.Lord. My Lord, we alwaies haue confest it Aper. Ho ho, confest it? Handg'd it? Haue you not? Aper. No: You shall not make me welcome: Tim. Fie, th'art a churle, ye'haue got a humour there Aper. Let me stay at thine apperill Timon, Tim. I take no heede of thee: Th'art an Athenian,therefore welcome: I my selfe would haue no power,prythee let my meate make thee silent Aper. I scorne thy meate, 'twould choake me: for Ishould nere flatter thee. Oh you Gods! What a numberof men eats Timon, and he sees 'em not? It greeues meto see so many dip there meate in one mans blood, andall the madnesse is, he cheeres them vp too.I wonder men dare trust themselues with men.Me thinks they should enuite them without kniues,Good for there meate, and safer for their liues.There's much example for't, the fellow that sits next him,now parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him ina diuided draught: is the readiest man to kill him. 'Tasbeene proued, if I were a huge man I should feare todrinke at meales, least they should spie my wind-pipesdangerous noates, great men should drinke with harnesseon their throates Tim. My Lord in heart: and let the health go round 2.Lord. Let it flow this way my good Lord Aper. Flow this way? A braue fellow. He keepes his Apermantus Grace. Immortall Gods, I craue no pelfe, Alci. My heart is euer at your seruice, my Lord Tim. You had rather be at a breakefast of Enemies, Alc. So they were bleeding new my Lord, there's no Aper. Would all those Flatterers were thine Enemies 1.Lord. Might we but haue that happinesse my Lord,that you would once vse our hearts, whereby we mightexpresse some part of our zeales, we should thinke ourselues for euer perfect Timon. Oh no doubt my good Friends, but the Godsthemselues haue prouided that I shall haue much helpefrom you: how had you beene my Friends else. Whyhaue you that charitable title from thousands? Did notyou chiefely belong to my heart? I haue told more ofyou to my selfe, then you can with modestie speake inyour owne behalfe. And thus farre I confirme you. Ohyou Gods (thinke I,) what need we haue any Friends; ifwe should nere haue need of 'em? They were the mostneedlesse Creatures liuing; should we nere haue vse for'em? And would most resemble sweete Instrumentshung vp in Cases, that keepes there sounds to themselues.Why I haue often wisht my selfe poorer, thatI might come neerer to you: we are borne to do benefits.And what better or properer can we call our owne,then the riches of our Friends? Oh what a pretious comfort'tis, to haue so many like Brothers commandingone anothers Fortunes. Oh ioyes, e'ne made away er'tcan be borne: mine eies cannot hold out water me thinksto forget their Faults. I drinke to you Aper. Thou weep'st to make them drinke, Timon 2.Lord. Ioy had the like conception in our eies,And at that instant, like a babe sprung vp Aper. Ho, ho: I laugh to thinke that babe a bastard 3.Lord. I promise you my Lord you mou'd me much Aper. Much. Sound Tucket. Enter the Maskers of Amazons, with Lutes in theirhands,dauncing and playing. Tim. What meanes that Trumpe? How now? Ser. Please you my Lord, there are certaine Ladies Tim. Ladies? what are their wils? Tim. I pray let them be admitted. Cup. Haile to thee worthy Timon and to all that ofhis Bounties taste: the fiue best Sences acknowledge theetheir Patron, and come freely to gratulate thy plentiousbosome.There tast, touch all, pleas'd from thy Table rise:They onely now come but to Feast thine eies Timo. They'r welcome all, let 'em haue kind admittance. Luc. You see my Lord, how ample y'are belou'd Aper. Hoyday, The Lords rise from Table, with much adoring of Timon, and toshew theirloues, each single out an Amazon, and all Dance, men withwomen, a loftiestraine or two to the Hoboyes, and cease. Tim. You haue done our pleasures 1 Lord. My Lord you take vs euen at the best Aper. Faith for the worst is filthy, and would not hold Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you, All La. Most thankfully, my Lord. Exeunt. Tim. Flauius Fla. My Lord Tim. The little Casket bring me hither Fla. Yes, my Lord. More Iewels yet? 1 Lord. Where be our men? 2 Lord. Our Horses Tim. O my Friends: 1 Lord. I am so farre already in your guifts All. So are we all. Ser. My Lord, there are certaine Nobles of the Senate Tim. They are fairely welcome. Fla. I beseech your Honor, vouchsafe me a word, it Tim. Neere? why then another time Ile heare thee. Fla. I scarse know how. Ser. May it please your Honor, Lord Lucius Tim. I shall accept them fairely: let the Presents How now? What newes? 3.Ser. Please you my Lord, that honourable GentlemanLord Lucullus, entreats your companie to morrow,to hunt with him, and ha's sent your Honour two braceof Grey-hounds Tim. Ile hunt with him, Fla. What will this come to? Exit Tim. You do your selues much wrong, 2.Lord. With more then common thankes 3.Lord. O he's the very soule of Bounty Tim. And now I remember my Lord, you gaue goodwords the other day of a Bay Courser I rod on. Tis yoursbecause you lik'd it 1.L. Oh, I beseech you pardon mee, my Lord, in that Tim. You may take my word my Lord: I know noman can iustly praise, but what he does affect. I weighemy Friends affection with mine owne: Ile tell you true,Ile call to you All Lor. O none so welcome Tim. I take all, and your seuerall visitations Alc. I, defil'd Land, my Lord 1.Lord. We are so vertuously bound Tim. And so am I to you 2.Lord. So infinitely endeer'd Tim. All to you. Lights, more Lights 1.Lord. The best of Happines, Honor, and FortunesKeepe with you Lord Timon Tim. Ready for his Friends. Exeunt. Lords Aper. What a coiles heere, seruing of beckes, and iuttingout of bummes. I doubt whether their Legges beworth the summes that are giuen for 'em.Friendships full of dregges,Me thinkes false hearts, should neuer haue sound legges.Thus honest Fooles lay out their wealth on Curtsies Tim. Now Apermantus (if thou wert not sullen) Aper. No, Ile nothing; for if I should be brib'd too,there would be none left to raile vpon thee, and then thouwouldst sinne the faster. Thou giu'st so long Timon (Ifeare me) thou wilt giue away thy selfe in paper shortly.What needs these Feasts, pompes, and Vaine-glories? Tim. Nay, and you begin to raile on Societie once, Iam sworne not to giue regard to you. Farewell, & comewith better Musicke. Exit Aper. So: Thou wilt not heare mee now, thou shalt Exit Enter a Senator. Sen. And late fiue thousand: to Varro and to Isidore Ca. Heere sir, what is your pleasure Sen. Get on your cloake, & hast you to Lord Timon, Ca. I go sir Sen. I go sir? Ca. I will Sir Sen. Go. Exeunt. Enter Steward, with many billes in his hand. Stew. No care, no stop, so senselesse of expence, Cap. Good euen Varro: what, you come for money? Cap. Would we were all discharg'd Var. I feare it, Tim. So soone as dinners done, wee'l forth againe Tim. Dues? whence are you? Tim. Go to my Steward Cap. Please it your Lordship, he hath put me off Tim. Mine honest Friend, Cap. Nay, good my Lord Tim. Containe thy selfe, good Friend Var. One Varroes seruant, my good Lord Isid. From Isidore, he humbly prayes your speedy payment Cap. If you did know my Lord, my Masters wants Var. 'Twas due on forfeyture my Lord, sixe weekes, Isi. Your Steward puts me off my Lord, and I Tim. Giue me breath: Tim. Do so my Friends, see them well entertain'd Stew. Pray draw neere. Enter Apemantus and Foole. Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the Foole with Apemantus,let's ha some sport with 'em Var. Hang him, hee'l abuse vs Isid. A plague vpon him dogge Var. How dost Foole? Ape. No 'tis to thy selfe. Come away Isi. There's the Foole hangs on your backe already Ape. No thou stand'st single, th'art not on him yet Cap. Where's the Foole now? Al. What are we Apemantus? All. Why? Foole. How do you Gentlemen? Ape. Good, Gramercy. Foole. Looke you, heere comes my Masters Page Page. Why how now Captaine? what do you in this Boy. Prythee Apemantus reade me the superscription Ape. Canst not read? Ape. There will litle Learning dye then that day thouart hang'd. This is to Lord Timon, this to Alcibiades. Gothou was't borne a Bastard, and thou't dye a Bawd Page. Thou was't whelpt a Dogge, and thou shaltfamish a Dogges death.Answer not, I am gone. Exit Ape. E'ne so thou out-runst Grace, Foole. Will you leaue me there? Ape. So would I: Foole. Are you three Vsurers men? Foole. I thinke no Vsurer, but ha's a Foole to his Seruant.My Mistris is one, and I am her Foole: when mencome to borrow of your Masters, they approach sadly,and go away merry: but they enter my Masters housemerrily, and go away sadly. The reason of this? Var. I could render one Ap. Do it then, that we may account thee a Whoremaster,and a Knaue, which notwithstanding thou shaltbe no lesse esteemed Varro. What is a Whoremaster Foole? Foole. A Foole in good cloathes, and something likethee. 'Tis a spirit, sometime t' appeares like a Lord, somtimelike a Lawyer, sometime like a Philosopher, withtwo stones moe then's artificiall one. Hee is verie oftenlike a Knight; and generally, in all shapes that man goesvp and downe in, from fourescore to thirteen, this spiritwalkes in Var. Thou art not altogether a Foole Foole. Nor thou altogether a Wise man, Ape. That answer might haue become Apemantus All. Aside, aside, heere comes Lord Timon. Ape. Come with me (Foole) come Foole. I do not alwayes follow Louer, elder Brother, Stew. Pray you walke neere, Exeunt. Tim. You make me meruell wherefore ere this time Stew. You would not heare me: Tim. Go too: Stew. O my good Lord, Tim. Let all my Land be sold Stew. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeyted and gone, Stew. O my good Lord, the world is but a word, Tim. You tell me true Stew. If you suspect my Husbandry or Falshood, Tim. Prythee no more Stew. Heauens, haue I said, the bounty of this Lord: Tim. Come sermon me no further. Ste. Assurance blesse your thoughts Tim. And in some sort these wants of mine are crown'd, Ser. My Lord, my Lord Tim. I will dispatch you seuerally.You to Lord Lucius, to Lord Lucullus you, I huntedwith his Honor to day; you to Sempronius; commend meto their loues; and I am proud say, that my occasionshaue found time to vse 'em toward a supply of mony: letthe request be fifty Talents Flam. As you haue said, my Lord Stew. Lord Lucius and Lucullus? Humh Tim. Go you sir to the Senators; Ste. I haue beene bold Tim. Is't true? Can't be? Tim. You Gods reward them: Stew. I would I could not thinke it: Exeunt. Flaminius waiting to speake with a Lord from his Master, enters aseruantto him. Ser. I haue told my Lord of you, he is comming down Flam. I thanke you Sir. Ser. Heere's my Lord Luc. One of Lord Timons men? A Guift I warrant.Why this hits right: I dreampt of a Siluer Bason & Ewreto night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are verie respectiuelywelcome sir. Fill me some Wine. And howdoes that Honourable, Compleate, Free-hearted Gentlemanof Athens, thy very bountifull good Lord and Mayster? Flam. His health is well sir Luc. I am right glad that his health is well sir: andwhat hast thou there vnder thy Cloake, pretty Flaminius? Flam. Faith, nothing but an empty box Sir, which inmy Lords behalfe, I come to intreat your Honor to supply:who hauing great and instant occasion to vse fiftieTalents, hath sent to your Lordship to furnish him: nothingdoubting your present assistance therein Luc. La, la, la, la: Nothing doubting sayes hee? Alasgood Lord, a Noble Gentleman 'tis, if he would not keepso good a house. Many a time and often I ha din'd withhim, and told him on't, and come againe to supper to himof purpose, to haue him spend lesse, and yet he wold embraceno counsell, take no warning by my comming, eueryman has his fault, and honesty is his. I ha told him on't,but I could nere get him from't.Enter Seruant with Wine. Ser. Please your Lordship, heere is the Wine Luc. Flaminius, I haue noted thee alwayes wise. Flam. Your Lordship speakes your pleasure Luc. I haue obserued thee alwayes for a towardlieprompt spirit, giue thee thy due, and one that knoweswhat belongs to reason; and canst vse the time wel, if thetime vse thee well. Good parts in thee; get you gone sirrah.Draw neerer honest Flaminius. Thy Lords a bountifullGentleman, but thou art wise, and thou know'stwell enough (although thou com'st to me) that this is notime to lend money, especially vpon bare friendshippewithout securitie. Here's three Solidares for thee, goodBoy winke at me, and say thou saw'st mee not. Fare theewell Flam. Is't possible the world should so much differ, Luc. Ha? Now I see thou art a Foole, and fit for thy Exit L[ucullus]. Flam. May these adde to the number y may scald thee: Enter Lucius, with three strangers. Luc. Who the Lord Timon? He is my very good friendand an Honourable Gentleman 1 We know him for no lesse, thogh we are but strangersto him. But I can tell you one thing my Lord, andwhich I heare from common rumours, now Lord Timonshappie howres are done and past, and his estate shrinkesfrom him Lucius. Fye no, doe not beleeue it: hee cannot wantfor money 2 But beleeue you this my Lord, that not long agoe,one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus, to borrow somany Talents, nay vrg'd extreamly for't, and shewedwhat necessity belong'd too't, and yet was deny'de Luci. How? 2 I tell you, deny'de my Lord Luci. What a strange case was that? Now before theGods I am asham'd on't. Denied that honourable man?There was verie little Honour shew'd in't. For my ownepart, I must needes confesse, I haue receyued some smallkindnesses from him, as Money, Plate, Iewels, and suchlike Trifles; nothing comparing to his: yet had hee mistookehim, and sent to me, I should ne're haue denied hisOccasion so many Talents.Enter Seruilius. Seruil. See, by good hap yonders my Lord, I haueswet to see his Honor. My Honor'd Lord Lucil. Seruilius? You are kindely met sir. Farthewell,commend me to thy Honourable vertuous Lord, my veryexquisite Friend Seruil. May it please your Honour, my Lord hathsent- Luci. Ha? what ha's he sent? I am so much endeeredto that Lord; hee's euer sending: how shall I thank himthink'st thou? And what has he sent now? Seruil. Has onely sent his present Occasion now myLord: requesting your Lordship to supply his instant vsewith so many Talents Lucil. I know his Lordship is but merry with me, Seruil. But in the mean time he wants lesse my Lord. Luc. Dost thou speake seriously Seruilius? Luci. What a wicked Beast was I to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might ha shewn myselfe Honourable? How vnluckily it hapned, that I sholdPurchase the day before for a little part, and vndo a greatdeale of Honour? Seruilius, now before the Gods I amnot able to do (the more beast I say) I was sending to vseLord Timon my selfe, these Gentlemen can witnesse; butI would not for the wealth of Athens I had done't now.Commend me bountifully to his good Lordship, and Ihope his Honor will conceiue the fairest of mee, becauseI haue no power to be kinde. And tell him this from me,I count it one of my greatest afflictions say, that I cannotpleasure such an Honourable Gentleman. Good Seruilius,will you befriend mee so farre, as to vse mine ownewords to him? Ser. Yes sir, I shall. Exit Seruil[ius]. Lucil. Ile looke you out a good turne Seruilius. 1 Do you obserue this Hostilius? 1 Why this is the worlds soule, 3 Religion grones at it 1 For mine owne part, I neuer tasted Timon in my life Exeunt. Enter a third seruant with Sempronius, another of Timons Friends. Semp. Must he needs trouble me in't? Hum. Ser. My Lord, Semp. How? Haue they deny'de him? Exit Ser. Excellent: Your Lordships a goodly Villain: thediuell knew not what he did, when hee made man Politicke;he crossed himselfe by't: and I cannot thinke, butin the end, the Villanies of man will set him cleere. Howfairely this Lord striues to appeare foule? Takes VertuousCopies to be wicked: like those, that vnder hotte ardentzeale, would set whole Realmes on fire, of such a natureis his politike loue.This was my Lords best hope, now all are fledSaue onely the Gods. Now his Friends are dead,Doores that were ne're acquainted with their WardsMany a bounteous yeere, must be imploy'dNow to guard sure their Master:And this is all a liberall course allowes,Who cannot keepe his wealth, must keep his house.Enter. Enter Varro's man, meeting others. All Timons Creditors to waitfor hiscomming out. Then enter Lucius and Hortensius. Var.man. Well met, goodmorrow Titus & Hortensius Hort. Lucius, what do we meet together? Tit. So is theirs, and ours. Luci. And sir Philotus too Phil. Good day at once Luci. Welcome good Brother. Luci. So much? Phil. I wonder on't, he was wont to shine at seauen Luci. I, but the dayes are waxt shorter with him: Phil. I am of your feare, for that Tit. Ile shew you how t' obserue a strange euent: Tit. And he weares Iewels now of Timons guift, Hort. It is against my heart Luci. Marke how strange it showes, Hort. I'me weary of this Charge, Varro. Yes, mine's three thousand Crownes: Varro. 'Tis much deepe, and it should seem by th' sum Tit. One of Lord Timons men Luc. Flaminius? Sir, a word: Pray is my Lord readie Tit. We attend his Lordship: pray signifie so much Flam. I need not tell him that, he knowes you are too diligent. Luci. Ha: is not that his Steward muffled so? Tit. Do you heare, sir? Stew. What do ye aske of me, my Friend Tit. We waite for certaine Money heere, sir Stew. I, if Money were as certaine as your waiting, Luci. I, but this answer will not serue Stew. If't 'twill not serue, 'tis not so base as you, 1.Varro. How? What does his casheer'd Worshipmutter? 2.Varro. No matter what, hee's poore, and that's reuengeenough. Who can speake broader, then hee thathas no house to put his head in? Such may rayle againstgreat buildings.Enter Seruilius. Tit. Oh heere's Seruilius: now wee shall know someanswere Seru. If I might beseech you Gentlemen, to repayresome other houre, I should deriue much from't. For tak'tof my soule, my Lord leanes wondrously to discontent:His comfortable temper has forsooke him, he's much outof health, and keepes his Chamber Luci. Many do keepe their Chambers, are not sicke: Seruil. Good Gods Titus. We cannot take this for answer, sir Flaminius within. Seruilius helpe, my Lord, my Lord. Tim. What, are my dores oppos'd against my passage? Tit. My Lord, heere is my Bill Luci. Here's mine 1.Var. And mine, my Lord 2.Var. And ours, my Lord Philo. All our Billes Tim. Knocke me downe with 'em, cleaue mee to the Luc. Alas, my Lord Tim. Cut my heart in summes Tit. Mine, fifty Talents Tim. Tell out my blood Luc. Fiue thousand Crownes, my Lord Tim. Fiue thousand drops payes that. 2.Var. My Lord Tim. Teare me, take me, and the Gods fall vpon you. Exit Timon. Hort. Faith I perceiue our Masters may throwe theircaps at their money, these debts may well be call'd desperateones, for a madman owes 'em. Exeunt. Enter Timon. Timon. They haue e'ene put my breath from mee theslaues. Creditors? Diuels Stew. My deere Lord Tim. What if it should be so? Tim. Ile haue it so. My Steward? Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my Friends againe, Stew. O my Lord, you onely speake from your distractedsoule; there's not so much left to furnish out a moderateTable Tim. Be it not in thy care: Exeunt. Enter three Senators at one doore, Alcibiades meeting them, with 1.Sen. My Lord, you haue my voyce, too't, 2 Most true; the Law shall bruise 'em Alc. Honor, health, and compassion to the Senate 1 Now Captaine Alc. I am an humble Sutor to your Vertues; 1.Sen. You vndergo too strict a Paradox, Alci. My Lord 1.Sen. You cannot make grosse sinnes looke cleare, Alci. My Lords, then vnder fauour, pardon me, 2.Sen. You breath in vaine Alci. In vaine? 1 What's that? 1 He dyes Alci. Hard fate: he might haue dyed in warre. 1 We are for Law, he dyes, vrge it no moreOn height of our displeasure: Friend, or Brother,He forfeits his owne blood, that spilles another Alc. Must it be so? It must not bee: 2 How? 3 What Alc. I cannot thinke but your Age has forgot me, 1 Do you dare our anger?'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect:We banish thee for euer Alc. Banish me? 1 If after two dayes shine, Athens containe thee, Exeunt. Alc. Now the Gods keepe you old enough, Enter diuers Friends at seuerall doores. 1 The good time of day to you, sir 2 I also wish it to you: I thinke this Honorable Lorddid but try vs this other day 1 Vpon that were my thoughts tyring when wee encountred.I hope it is not so low with him as he made itseeme in the triall of his seuerall Friends 2 It should not be, by the perswasion of his new Feasting 1 I should thinke so. He hath sent mee an earnest inuiting,which many my neere occasions did vrge mee toput off: but he hath coniur'd mee beyond them, and Imust needs appeare 2 In like manner was I in debt to my importunat businesse,but he would not heare my excuse. I am sorrie,when he sent to borrow of mee, that my Prouision wasout 1 I am sicke of that greefe too, as I vnderstand how allthings go 2 Euery man heares so: what would hee haue borrowed 2 A thousand Peeces? Tim. With all my heart Gentlemen both; and how 2 The Swallow followes not Summer more willing,then we your Lordship Tim. Nor more willingly leaues Winter, such SummerBirds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompencethis long stay: Feast your eares with the Musickeawhile: If they will fare so harshly o'th' Trumpetssound: we shall too't presently 1 I hope it remaines not vnkindely with your Lordship,that I return'd you an empty Messenger Tim. O sir, let it not trouble you 2 My Noble Lord Tim. Ah my good Friend, what cheere? The Banket brought in. 2 My most Honorable Lord, I am e'ne sick of shame,that when your Lordship this other day sent to me, I wasso vnfortunate a Beggar Tim. Thinke not on't, sir 2 If you had sent but two houres before Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. 2 All couer'd Dishes 1 Royall Cheare, I warrant you 3 Doubt not that, if money and the season can yeild it 1 How? How? 3 Wilt hold? Wilt hold? 2 It do's: but time will, and so 3 I do conceyue Tim. Each man to his stoole, with that spurre as heewould to the lip of his Mistris: your dyet shall bee in allplaces alike. Make not a Citie Feast of it, to let the meatcoole, ere we can agree vpon the first place. Sit, sit.The Gods require our Thankes.You great Benefactors, sprinkle our Society with Thankefulnesse.For your owne guifts, make your selues prais'd: Butreserue still to giue, least your Deities be despised. Lend to eachman enough, that one neede not lend to another. For were yourGodheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the Gods. Makethe Meate be beloued, more then the Man that giues it. Letno Assembly of Twenty, be without a score of Villaines. If theresit twelue Women at the Table, let a dozen of them bee as theyare. The rest of your Fees, O Gods, the Senators of Athens,together with the common legge of People, what is amisse inthem, you Gods, make suteable for destruction. For these mypresent Friends, as they are to mee nothing, so in nothing blessethem, and to nothing are they welcome.Vncouer Dogges, and lap Some speake. What do's his Lordship meane? Timon. May you a better Feast neuer behold Exit Enter the Senators, with other Lords. 1 How now, my Lords? 2 Know you the quality of Lord Timons fury? 3 Push, did you see my Cap? 4 I haue lost my Gowne 1 He's but a mad Lord, & nought but humors swaieshim. He gaue me a Iewell th' other day, and now hee hasbeate it out of my hat.Did you see my Iewell? 2 Did you see my Cap 3 Heere 'tis 4 Heere lyes my Gowne 1 Let's make no stay 2 Lord Timons mad 3 I feel't vpon my bones 4 One day he giues vs Diamonds, next day stones. Exeunt. the Senators. Enter Timon. Tim. Let me looke backe vpon thee. O thou Wall Enter Steward with two or three Seruants. 1 Heare you M[aster]. Steward, where's our Master? 1 Such a House broke? 2 As we do turne our backes Stew. All broken Implements of a ruin'd house 3 Yet do our hearts weare Timons Liuery, Stew. Good Fellowes all, Embrace and part seuerall wayes. Oh the fierce wretchednesse that Glory brings vs! Enter Timon in the woods. Tim. O blessed breeding Sun, draw from the earth March afarre off. Ha? A Drumme? Th'art quicke, Alc. What art thou there? speake Tim. A Beast as thou art. The Canker gnaw thy hart Alc. What is thy name? Is man so hatefull to thee, Alc. I know thee well: Tim. I know thee too, and more then that I know thee Phrin. Thy lips rot off Tim. I will not kisse thee, then the rot returnes Alc. How came the Noble Timon to this change? Alc. Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee? Alc. What is it Timon? Tim. Promise me Friendship, but performe none.If thou wilt not promise, the Gods plague thee, for thouart a man: if thou do'st performe, confound thee, forthou art a man Alc. I haue heard in some sort of thy Miseries Tim. Thou saw'st them when I had prosperitie Alc. I see them now, then was a blessed time Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of Harlots Timan. Is this th' Athenian Minion, whom the world Tim. Be a whore still, they loue thee not that vse thee,giue them diseases, leauing with thee their Lust. Makevse of thy salt houres, season the slaues for Tubbes andBathes, bring downe Rose-cheekt youth to the Fubfast,and the Diet Timan. Hang thee Monster Alc. Pardon him sweet Timandra, for his wits Tim. I prythee beate thy Drum, and get thee gone Alc. I am thy Friend, and pitty thee deere Timon Tim. How doest thou pitty him whom y dost troble, Alc. Why fare thee well: Tim. Keepe it, I cannot eate it Alc. When I haue laid proud Athens on a heape Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens Alc. I Timon, and haue cause Tim. The Gods confound them all in thy Conquest, Alc. Why me, Timon? Alc. Hast thou Gold yet, Ile take the Gold thou giuest Tim. Dost thou or dost thou not, Heauens curse vpon Both. Giue vs some Gold good Timon, hast y more? Both. Well, more Gold, what then? Tim. Consumptions sowe Both. More counsell with more Money, bounteous Tim. More whore, more Mischeefe first, I haue giuen Alc. Strike vp the Drum towardes Athens, farewell Tim. If I hope well, Ile neuer see thee more Alc. I neuer did thee harme Tim. Yes, thou spok'st well of me Alc. Call'st thou that harme? Alc. We but offend him, strike. Exeunt. Tim. That Nature being sicke of mans vnkindnesse More man? Plague, plague Ape. I was directed hither. Men report, Tim. 'Tis then, because thou dost not keepe a dogge Ape. This is in thee a Nature but infected, Tim. Were I like thee, I'de throw away my selfe Ape. Thou hast cast away thy selfe, being like thy self Tim. A Foole of thee: depart Ape. I loue thee better now, then ere I did Tim. I hate thee worse Ape. Why? Ape. I flatter not, but say thou art a Caytiffe Tim. Why do'st thou seeke me out? Tim. Alwayes a Villaines Office, or a Fooles. Tim. What, a Knaue too? Tim. Not by his breath, that is more miserable. Ape. Art thou proud yet? Ape. I, that I was no Prodigall Tim. I, that I am one now. Ape. Heere, I will mend thy Feast Tim. First mend thy company, take away thy selfe Ape. So I shall mend mine owne, by'th' lacke of thine Ape. What would'st thou haue to Athens? Ape. Heere is no vse for Gold Tim. The best, and truest: Ape. Where lyest a nights Timon? Tim. Would poyson were obedient, & knew my mind Ape. The middle of Humanity thou neuer knewest,but the extremitie of both ends. When thou wast in thyGilt, and thy Perfume, they mockt thee for too muchCuriositie: in thy Ragges thou know'st none, but art despis'dfor the contrary. There's a medler for thee, eate it Tim. On what I hate, I feed not Ape. Do'st hate a Medler? Ape. And th'hadst hated Medlers sooner, y should'st Tim. I vnderstand thee: thou had'st some meanes to Apem. What things in the world canst thou neerest Tim. Would'st thou haue thy selfe fall in the confusion Ape. I Timon Tim. A beastly Ambition, which the Goddes grauntthee t' attaine to. If thou wert the Lyon, the Fox wouldbeguile thee. if thou wert the Lambe, the Foxe wouldeate thee: if thou wert the Fox, the Lion would suspectthee, when peraduenture thou wert accus'd by the Asse:If thou wert the Asse, thy dulnesse would torment thee;and still thou liu'dst but as a Breakefast to the Wolfe. Ifthou wert the Wolfe, thy greedinesse would afflict thee,& oft thou should'st hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wertthou the Vnicorne, pride and wrath would confoundthee, and make thine owne selfe the conquest of thy fury.Wert thou a Beare, thou would'st be kill'd by the Horse:wert thou a Horse, thou would'st be seaz'd by the Leopard:wert thou a Leopard, thou wert Germane to theLion, and the spottes of thy Kindred, were Iurors on thylife. All thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence.What Beast could'st thou bee, that were not subiectto a Beast: and what a Beast art thou already, thatseest not thy losse in transformation Ape. If thou could'st please me Tim. How ha's the Asse broke the wall, that thou art Ape. Yonder comes a Poet and a Painter: Tim. When there is nothing liuing but thee, Ape. Thou art the Cap Tim. Would thou wert cleane enough Ape. A plague on thee, Tim. All Villaines Ape. There is no Leprosie, Tim. If I name thee, Ile beate thee; Ape. I would my tongue Tim. Away thou issue of a mangie dogge, Ape. Would thou would'st burst Tim. Away thou tedious Rogue, I am sorry I shalllose a stone by thee Ape. Beast Tim. Slaue Ape. Toad Tim. Rogue, Rogue, Rogue. Ape. Would 'twere so, Tim. Throng'd too? Tim. Thy backe I prythee Ape. Liue, and loue thy misery Tim. Long liue so, and so dye. I am quit Ape. Mo things like men, Exit Apeman[tus]. Enter the Bandetti. 1 Where should he haue this Gold? It is some pooreFragment, some slender Ort of his remainder: the meerewant of Gold, and the falling from of his Friendes, drouehim into this Melancholly 2 It is nois'dHe hath a masse of Treasure 3 Let vs make the assay vpon him, if he care not for't,he will supply vs easily: if he couetously reserue it, howshall's get it? 2 True: for he beares it not about him:'Tis hid 1 Is not this hee? All. Where? 2 'Tis his description 3 He? I know him All. Saue thee Timon Tim. Now Theeues All. Soldiers, not Theeues Tim. Both too, and womens Sonnes All. We are not Theeues, but men Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat: Ti. Nor on the Beasts themselues, the Birds & Fishes, 3 Has almost charm'd me from my Profession, by perswading 1 'Tis in the malice of mankinde, that he thus aduises 2 Ile beleeue him as an Enemy, 1 Let vs first see peace in Athens, there is no time so Exit Theeues. Enter the Steward to Timon. Stew. Oh you Gods! Tim. Away: what art thou? Stew. An honest poore seruant of yours Tim. Then I know thee not: Stew. The Gods are witnesse, Tim. What, dost thou weepe? Stew. I begge of you to know me, good my Lord, Tim. Had I a Steward Tim. Looke thee, 'tis so: thou singly honest man, Stew. O let me stay, and comfort you, my Master Tim. If thou hat'st Curses Exit Enter Poet, and Painter. Pain. As I tooke note of the place, it cannot be farre Poet. What's to be thought of him? Poet. Then this breaking of his, Poet. What haue you now Poet. I must serue him so too; Painter. Good as the best. Timon. Excellent Workeman, Poet. I am thinking Timon. Must thou needes Poet. Nay let's seeke him. Painter. True: Tim. Ile meete you at the turne: Poet. Haile worthy Timon Pain. Our late Noble Master Timon. Haue I once liu'd Timon. Let it go, Pain. He, and my selfe Timon. I, you are honest man Painter. We are hither come Timon. Most honest men: Tim. Y'are honest men, Pain. So it is said my Noble Lord, but therefore Timon. Good honest men: Thou draw'st a counterfet Pain. So, so, my Lord Tim. E'ne so sir as I say. And for thy fiction, Both. Beseech your Honour Tim. You'l take it ill Both. Most thankefully, my Lord Timon. Will you indeed? Tim. There's neuer a one of you but trusts a Knaue, Both. Do we, my Lord? Pain. I know none such, my Lord Poet. Nor I Timon. Looke you, Both. Name them my Lord, let's know them Tim. You that way, and you this: Exeunt. Enter Steward, and two Senators. Stew. It is vaine that you would speake with Timon: 1.Sen. Bring vs to his Caue.It is our part and promise to th' AtheniansTo speake with Timon 2.Sen. At all times alike Stew. Heere is his Caue: Tim. Thou Sunne that comforts burne, 1 Worthy Timon Tim. Of none but such as you, 1 The Senators of Athens, greet thee Timon Tim. I thanke them, 1 O forget 2 They confesse Tim. You witch me in it; 1 Therefore so please thee to returne with vs, 2 And shakes his threatning Sword 1 Therefore Timon Tim. Well sir, I will: therefore I will sir thus: Stew. Stay not, all's in vaine Tim. Why I was writing of my Epitaph, 1 We speake in vaine Tim. But yet I loue my Country, and am not 1 That's well spoke Tim. Commend me to my louing Countreymen 1 These words become your lippes as they passe thorow 2 And enter in our eares, like great Triumphers Tim. Commend me to them, 1 I like this well, he will returne againe Tim. I haue a Tree which growes heere in my Close, Stew. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall Tim. Come not to me againe, but say to Athens, Exit Timon. 1 His discontents are vnremoueably coupled to Nature 2 Our hope in him is dead: let vs returne,And straine what other meanes is left vnto vsIn our deere perill 1 It requires swift foot. Exeunt. Enter two other Senators, with a Messenger. 1 Thou hast painfully discouer'd: are his Files 2 We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon Mes. I met a Currier, one mine ancient Friend, 1 Heere come our Brothers 3 No talke of Timon, nothing of him expect, Exeunt. Enter a Souldier in the Woods, seeking Timon. Sol. By all description this should be the place. Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his Powers before Athens. Alc. Sound to this Coward, and lasciuious Towne, Sounds a Parly. The Senators appeare vpon the wals. Till now you haue gone on, and fill'd the time 1.Sen. Noble, and young; 2 So did we wooe 1 These walles of ours, 2 Nor are they liuing 1 All haue not offended: 2 What thou wilt,Thou rather shalt inforce it with thy smile,Then hew too't, with thy Sword 1 Set but thy foot 2 Throw thy Gloue, Alc. Then there's my Gloue, Both. 'Tis most Nobly spoken Alc. Descend, and keepe your words. Mes. My Noble Generall, Timon is dead, Alcibiades reades the Epitaph. Heere lies a wretched Coarse, of wretched Soule bereft, Exeunt. TYMON of Athens.
Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold
your selfe
Project Gutenberg
Executive Director
Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in
ASCII to the printed text.
the World?
Pain. It weares sir, as it growes
But what particular Rarity? What strange,
Which manifold record not matches: see
Magicke of Bounty, all these spirits thy power
Hath coniur'd to attend.
I know the Merchant
To an vntyreable and continuate goodnesse:
He passes
Iewel. If he will touch the estimate. But for that-
Poet. When we for recompence haue prais'd the vild,
It staines the glory in that happy Verse,
Which aptly sings the good
to the great Lord
Our Poesie is as a Gowne, which vses
From whence 'tis nourisht: the fire i'th' Flint
Shewes not, till it be strooke: our gentle flame
Prouokes it selfe, and like the currant flyes
Each bound it chases. What haue you there?
Pain. A Picture sir: when comes your Booke forth?
Poet. Vpon the heeles of my presentment sir.
Let's see your peece
Speakes his owne standing: what a mentall power
This eye shootes forth? How bigge imagination
Moues in this Lip, to th' dumbnesse of the gesture,
One might interpret
Heere is a touch: Is't good?
Poet. I will say of it,
It Tutors Nature, Artificiall strife
Liues in these toutches, liuelier then life.
Enter certaine Senators.
I haue in this rough worke, shap'd out a man
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hugge
With amplest entertainment: My free drift
Halts not particularly, but moues it selfe
In a wide Sea of wax, no leuell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold,
But flies an Eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
Leauing no Tract behinde
Poet. I will vnboult to you.
You see how all Conditions, how all Mindes,
As well of glib and slipp'ry Creatures, as
Of Graue and austere qualitie, tender downe
Their seruices to Lord Timon: his large Fortune,
Vpon his good and gracious Nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his loue and tendance
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glasse-fac'd Flatterer
To Apemantus, that few things loues better
Then to abhorre himselfe; euen hee drops downe
The knee before him, and returnes in peace
Most rich in Timons nod
Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd.
The Base o'th' Mount
Is rank'd with all deserts, all kinde of Natures
That labour on the bosome of this Sphere,
To propagate their states; among'st them all,
Whose eyes are on this Soueraigne Lady fixt,
One do I personate of Lord Timons frame,
Whom Fortune with her Iuory hand wafts to her,
Whose present grace, to present slaues and seruants
Translates his Riuals
This Throne, this Fortune, and this Hill me thinkes
With one man becken'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the sleepy Mount
To climbe his happinesse, would be well exprest
In our Condition
All those which were his Fellowes but of late,
Some better then his valew; on the moment
Follow his strides, his Lobbies fill with tendance,
Raine Sacrificiall whisperings in his eare,
Make Sacred euen his styrrop, and through him
Drinke the free Ayre
Poet. When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
Spurnes downe her late beloued; all his Dependants
Which labour'd after him to the Mountaines top,
Euen on their knees and hand, let him sit downe,
Not one accompanying his declining foot
A thousand morall Paintings I can shew,
That shall demonstrate these quicke blowes of Fortunes,
More pregnantly then words. Yet you do well,
To shew Lord Timon, that meane eyes haue seene
The foot aboue the head.
Trumpets sound.
Mes. I my good Lord, fiue Talents is his debt,
His meanes most short, his Creditors most straite:
Your Honourable Letter he desires
To those haue shut him vp, which failing,
Periods his comfort
I am not of that Feather, to shake off
My Friend when he must neede me. I do know him
A Gentleman, that well deserues a helpe,
Which he shall haue. Ile pay the debt, and free him
And being enfranchized bid him come to me;
'Tis not enough to helpe the Feeble vp,
But to support him after. Fare you well
Enter.
Oldm. Most Noble Timon, call the man before thee
By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first haue beene inclin'd to thrift,
And my estate deserues an Heyre more rais'd,
Then one which holds a Trencher
Old. One onely Daughter haue I, no Kin else,
On whom I may conferre what I haue got:
The Maid is faire, a'th' youngest for a Bride,
And I haue bred her at my deerest cost
In Qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her loue: I prythee (Noble Lord)
Ioyne with me to forbid him her resort,
My selfe haue spoke in vaine
His honesty rewards him in it selfe,
It must not beare my Daughter
Oldm. She is yong and apt:
Our owne precedent passions do instruct vs
What leuities in youth
Luc. I my good Lord, and she accepts of it
I call the Gods to witnesse, I will choose
Mine heyre from forth the Beggers of the world,
And dispossesse her all
If she be mated with an equall Husband?
Oldm. Three Talents on the present; in future, all
Hath seru'd me long:
To build his Fortune, I will straine a little,
For 'tis a Bond in men. Giue him thy Daughter,
What you bestow, in him Ile counterpoize,
And make him weigh with her
Pawne me to this your Honour, she is his
Mine Honour on my promise
That state or Fortune fall into my keeping,
Which is not owed to you.
And long liue your Lordship
Go not away. What haue you there, my Friend?
Pain. A peece of Painting, which I do beseech
Your Lordship to accept
The Painting is almost the Naturall man:
For since Dishonor Traffickes with mans Nature,
He is but out-side: These Pensil'd Figures are
Euen such as they giue out. I like your worke,
And you shall finde I like it; Waite attendance
Till you heare further from me
We must needs dine together: sir your Iewell
Hath suffered vnder praise
Tim. A meere saciety of Commendations,
If I should pay you for't as 'tis extold,
It would vnclew me quite
As those which sell would giue: but you well know,
Things of like valew differing in the Owners,
Are prized by their Masters. Beleeu't deere Lord,
You mend the Iewell by the wearing it
Enter Apermantus.
Which all men speake with him
Iewel. Wee'l beare with your Lordship
Gentle Apermantus
When thou art Timons dogge, and these Knaues honest
them not?
Ape. Are they not Athenians?
Tim. Yes
Ape. Thou know'st I do, I call'd thee by thy name
Ape. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Timon
Tim. Whether art going?
Ape. To knocke out an honest Athenians braines
Ape. The best, for the innocence
be a Dogge?
Tim. Wilt dine with me Apemantus?
Ape. No: I eate not Lords
So they come by great bellies
Take it for thy labour
Ape. Not so well as plain-dealing, which wil not cast
a man a Doit
Ape. Not worth my thinking.
How now Poet?
Poet. How now Philosopher?
Ape. Thou lyest
Ape. Yes
Poet. Yes
Ape. E'ne as Apemantus does now, hate a Lord with
my heart
Ape. I
Ape. That I had no angry wit to be a Lord.
Art not thou a Merchant?
Mer. I Apemantus
Mes. 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty Horse
All of Companionship
You must needs dine with me: go not you hence
Till I haue thankt you: when dinners done
Shew me this peece, I am ioyfull of your sights.
Enter Alcibiades with the rest.
Most hungerly on your sight
Ere we depart, wee'l share a bounteous time
In different pleasures.
Pray you let vs in.
Ape. Should'st haue kept one to thy selfe, for I meane
to giue thee none
Make thy requests to thy Friend
Or Ile spurne thee hence
Come shall we in,
And taste Lord Timons bountie: he out-goes
The verie heart of kindnesse
Is but his Steward: no meede but he repayes
Seuen-fold aboue it selfe: No guift to him,
But breeds the giuer a returne: exceeding
All vse of quittance
That euer gouern'd man
Ile keepe you Company.
It hath pleas'd the Gods to remember my Fathers age,
And call him to long peace:
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
Then, as in gratefull Vertue I am bound
To your free heart, I do returne those Talents
Doubled with thankes and seruice, from whose helpe
I deriu'd libertie
Honest Ventigius: You mistake my loue,
I gaue it freely euer, and ther's none
Can truely say he giues, if he receiues:
If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them: faults that are rich are faire
To set a glosse on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodnesse, sorry ere 'tis showne:
But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray sit, more welcome are ye to my Fortunes,
Then my Fortunes to me
Timo. O Apermantus, you are welcome
I come to haue thee thrust me out of doores
Does not become a man, 'tis much too blame:
They say my Lords, Ira furor breuis est,
But yond man is verie angrie.
Go, let him haue a Table by himselfe:
For he does neither affect companie,
Nor is he fit for't indeed
I come to obserue, I giue thee warning on't
tides well, those healths will make thee and thy state
looke ill, Timon.
Heere's that which is too weake to be a sinner,
Honest water, which nere left man i'th' mire:
This and my food are equals, there's no ods,
Feasts are to proud to giue thanks to the Gods.
I pray for no man but my selfe,
Graunt I may neuer proue so fond,
To trust man on his Oath or Bond.
Or a Harlot for her weeping,
Or a Dogge that seemes asleeping,
Or a keeper with my freedome,
Or my friends if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall too't:
Richmen sin, and I eat root.
Much good dich thy good heart, Apermantus
Tim. Captaine,
Alcibiades, your hearts in the field now
then a dinner of Friends
meat like 'em, I could wish my best friend at such a Feast
then, that then thou might'st kill 'em: & bid me to 'em
Enter Seruant.
Most desirous of admittance
Ser. There comes with them a fore-runner my Lord,
which beares that office, to signifie their pleasures
Enter Cupid with the Maske of Ladies.
Musicke make their welcome
What a sweepe of vanitie comes this way.
They daunce? They are madwomen,
Like Madnesse is the glory of this life,
As this pompe shewes to a little oyle and roote.
We make our selues Fooles, to disport our selues,
And spend our Flatteries, to drinke those men,
Vpon whose Age we voyde it vp agen
With poysonous Spight and Enuy.
Who liues, that's not depraued, or depraues;
Who dyes, that beares not one spurne to their graues
Of their Friends guift:
I should feare, those that dance before me now,
Would one day stampe vpon me: 'Tas bene done,
Men shut their doores against a setting Sunne.
Much grace (faire Ladies)
Set a faire fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not halfe so beautifull, and kinde:
You haue added worth vntoo't, and luster,
And entertain'd me with mine owne deuice.
I am to thanke you for't
taking, I doubt me
Please you to dispose your selues
There is no crossing him in's humor,
Else I should tell him well, yfaith I should;
When all's spent, hee'ld be crost then, and he could:
'Tis pitty Bounty had not eyes behinde,
That man might ne're be wretched for his minde.
Enter.
Ser. Heere my Lord, in readinesse
I haue one word to say to you: Looke you, my good L[ord].
I must intreat you honour me so much,
As to aduance this Iewell, accept it, and weare it,
Kinde my Lord
Enter a Seruant.
newly alighted, and come to visit you
Enter Flauius.
does concerne you neere
I prythee let's be prouided to shew them entertainment
Enter another Seruant.
(Out of his free loue) hath presented to you
Foure Milke-white Horses, trapt in Siluer
Be worthily entertain'd.
Enter a third Seruant.
And let them be receiu'd, not without faire Reward
He commands vs to prouide, and giue great guifts, and
all out of an empty Coffer:
Nor will he know his Purse, or yeeld me this,
To shew him what a Begger his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good.
His promises flye so beyond his state,
That what he speaks is all in debt, he ows for eu'ry word:
He is so kinde, that he now payes interest for't;
His Land's put to their Bookes. Well, would I were
Gently put out of Office, before I were forc'd out:
Happier is he that has no friend to feede,
Then such that do e'ne Enemies exceede.
I bleed inwardly for my Lord.
You bate too much of your owne merits.
Heere my Lord, a trifle of our Loue
I will receyue it
So kinde to heart, 'tis not enough to giue:
Me thinkes, I could deale Kingdomes to my Friends,
And nere be wearie. Alcibiades,
Thou art a Soldiour, therefore sildome rich,
It comes in Charitie to thee: for all thy liuing
Is mong'st the dead: and all the Lands thou hast
Lye in a pitcht field
I would be good to thee
not then. Ile locke thy heauen from thee:
Oh that mens eares should be
To Counsell deafe, but not to Flatterie.
He owes nine thousand, besides my former summe,
Which makes it fiue and twenty. Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold, it will not.
If I want Gold, steale but a beggers Dogge,
And giue it Timon, why the Dogge coines Gold.
If I would sell my Horse, and buy twenty moe
Better then he; why giue my Horse to Timon.
Aske nothing, giue it him, it Foles me straight
And able Horses: No Porter at his gate,
But rather one that smiles, and still inuites
All that passe by. It cannot hold, no reason
Can sound his state in safety. Caphis hoa,
Caphis I say.
Enter Caphis.
Importune him for my Moneyes, be not ceast
With slight deniall; nor then silenc'd, when
Commend me to your Master, and the Cap
Playes in the right hand, thus: but tell him,
My Vses cry to me; I must serue my turne
Out of mine owne, his dayes and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates
Haue smit my credit. I loue, and honour him,
But must not breake my backe, to heale his finger.
Immediate are my needs, and my releefe
Must not be tost and turn'd to me in words,
But finde supply immediate. Get you gone,
Put on a most importunate aspect,
A visage of demand: for I do feare
When euery Feather stickes in his owne wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
Which flashes now a Phoenix, get you gone
Take the Bonds along with you,
And haue the dates in. Come
That he will neither know how to maintaine it,
Nor cease his flow of Riot. Takes no accompt
How things go from him, nor resume no care
Of what is to continue: neuer minde,
Was to be so vnwise, to be so kinde.
What shall be done, he will not heare, till feele:
I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.
Fye, fie, fie, fie.
Enter Caphis, Isidore, and Varro.
Var. Is't not your businesse too?
Cap. It is, and yours too, Isidore?
Isid. It is so
Cap. Heere comes the Lord.
Enter Timon, and his Traine
My Alcibiades. With me, what is your will?
Cap. My Lord, heere is a note of certaine dues
Cap. Of Athens heere, my Lord
To the succession of new dayes this moneth:
My Master is awak'd by great Occasion,
To call vpon his owne, and humbly prayes you,
That with your other Noble parts, you'l suite,
In giuing him his right
I prythee but repaire to me next morning
and past
Am sent expressely to your Lordship
I do beseech you good my Lords keepe on,
Ile waite vpon you instantly. Come hither: pray you
How goes the world, that I am thus encountred
With clamorous demands of debt, broken Bonds,
And the detention of long since due debts
Against my Honor?
Stew. Please you Gentlemen,
The time is vnagreeable to this businesse:
Your importunacie cease, till after dinner,
That I may make his Lordship vnderstand
Wherefore you are not paid
Enter.
Ape. Dost Dialogue with thy shadow?
Var. I speake not to thee
Ape. He last ask'd the question. Poore Rogues, and
Vsurers men, Bauds betweene Gold and want
Ape. Asses
Ape. That you ask me what you are, & do not know
your selues. Speake to 'em Foole
All. Gramercies good Foole:
How does your Mistris?
Foole. She's e'ne setting on water to scal'd such Chickens
as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth
Enter Page.
wise Company.
How dost thou Apermantus?
Ape. Would I had a Rod in my mouth, that I might
answer thee profitably
of these Letters, I know not which is which
Page. No
Foole I will go with you to Lord Timons
Ape. If Timon stay at home.
You three serue three Vsurers?
All. I would they seru'd vs
As good a tricke as euer Hangman seru'd Theefe
All. I Foole
As much foolerie as I haue, so much wit thou lack'st
Enter Timon and Steward.
and Woman, sometime the Philosopher
Ile speake with you anon.
Had you not fully laide my state before me,
That I might so haue rated my expence
As I had leaue of meanes
At many leysures I propose
Perchance some single vantages you tooke,
When my indisposition put you backe,
And that vnaptnesse made your minister
Thus to excuse your selfe
At many times I brought in my accompts,
Laid them before you, you would throw them off,
And say you sound them in mine honestie,
When for some trifling present you haue bid me
Returne so much, I haue shooke my head, and wept:
Yea 'gainst th' Authoritie of manners, pray'd you
To hold your hand more close: I did indure
Not sildome, nor no slight checkes, when I haue
Prompted you in the ebbe of your estate,
And your great flow of debts; my lou'd Lord,
Though you heare now (too late) yet nowes a time,
The greatest of your hauing, lackes a halfe,
To pay your present debts
And what remaines will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues; the future comes apace:
What shall defend the interim, and at length
How goes our reck'ning?
Tim. To Lacedemon did my Land extend
Were it all yours, to giue it in a breath,
How quickely were it gone
Call me before th' exactest Auditors,
And set me on the proofe. So the Gods blesse me,
When all our Offices haue beene opprest
With riotous Feeders, when our Vaults haue wept
With drunken spilth of Wine; when euery roome
Hath blaz'd with Lights, and braid with Minstrelsie,
I haue retyr'd me to a wastefull cocke,
And set mine eyes at flow
How many prodigall bits haue Slaues and Pezants
This night englutted: who is not Timons,
What heart, head, sword, force, meanes, but is L[ord]. Timons:
Great Timon, Noble, Worthy, Royall Timon:
Ah, when the meanes are gone, that buy this praise,
The breath is gone, whereof this praise is made:
Feast won, fast lost; one cloud of Winter showres,
These flyes are coucht
No villanous bounty yet hath past my heart;
Vnwisely, not ignobly haue I giuen.
Why dost thou weepe, canst thou the conscience lacke,
To thinke I shall lacke friends: secure thy heart,
If I would broach the vessels of my loue,
And try the argument of hearts, by borrowing,
Men, and mens fortunes could I frankely vse
As I can bid thee speake
That I account them blessings. For by these
Shall I trie Friends. You shall perceiue
How you mistake my Fortunes:
I am wealthie in my Friends.
Within there, Flauius, Seruilius?
Enter three Seruants.
Of whom, euen to the States best health; I haue
Deseru'd this Hearing: bid 'em send o'th' instant
A thousand Talents to me
(For that I knew it the most generall way)
To them, to vse your Signet, and your Name,
But they do shake their heads, and I am heere
No richer in returne
Stew. They answer in a ioynt and corporate voice,
That now they are at fall, want Treasure cannot
Do what they would, are sorrie: you are Honourable,
But yet they could haue wisht, they know not,
Something hath beene amisse; a Noble Nature
May catch a wrench; would all were well; tis pitty,
And so intending other serious matters,
After distastefull lookes; and these hard Fractions
With certaine halfe-caps, and cold mouing nods,
They froze me into Silence
Prythee man looke cheerely. These old Fellowes
Haue their ingratitude in them Hereditary:
Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it sildome flowes,
'Tis lacke of kindely warmth, they are not kinde;
And Nature, as it growes againe toward earth,
Is fashion'd for the iourney, dull and heauy.
Go to Ventiddius (prythee be not sad,
Thou art true, and honest; Ingeniously I speake,
No blame belongs to thee:) Ventiddius lately
Buried his Father, by whose death hee's stepp'd
Into a great estate: When he was poore,
Imprison'd, and in scarsitie of Friends,
I cleer'd him with fiue Talents: Greet him from me,
Bid him suppose, some good necessity
Touches his Friend, which craues to be remembred
With those fiue Talents; that had, giue't these Fellowes
To whom 'tis instant due. Neu'r speake, or thinke,
That Timons fortunes 'mong his Friends can sinke
That thought is Bounties Foe;
Being free it selfe, it thinkes all others so.
to you
Enter Lucullus.
Heere's to thee
And we aliue that liued? Fly damned basenesse
To him that worships thee
Master.
Let moulten Coine be thy damnation,
Thou disease of a friend, and not himselfe:
Has friendship such a faint and milkie heart,
It turnes in lesse then two nights? O you Gods!
I feele my Masters passion. This Slaue vnto his Honor,
Has my Lords meate in him:
Why should it thriue, and turne to Nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poyson?
O may Diseases onely worke vpon't:
And when he's sicke to death, let not that part of Nature
Which my Lord payd for, be of any power
To expell sicknesse, but prolong his hower.
Enter.
He cannot want fifty fiue hundred Talents
If his occasion were not vertuous,
I should not vrge it halfe so faithfully
Seruil. Vpon my soule 'tis true Sir
True as you said, Timon is shrunke indeede,
And he that's once deny'de, will hardly speede.
Enter.
2 I, to well
And iust of the same peece
Is euery Flatterers sport: who can call him his Friend
That dips in the same dish? For in my knowing
Timon has bin this Lords Father,
And kept his credit with his purse:
Supported his estate, nay Timons money
Has paid his men their wages. He ne're drinkes,
But Timons Siluer treads vpon his Lip,
And yet, oh see the monstrousnesse of man,
When he lookes out in an vngratefull shape;
He does deny him (in respect of his)
What charitable men affoord to Beggers
Nor came any of his bounties ouer me,
To marke me for his Friend. Yet I protest,
For his right Noble minde, illustrious Vertue,
And Honourable Carriage,
Had his necessity made vse of me,
I would haue put my wealth into Donation,
And the best halfe should haue return'd to him,
So much I loue his heart: But I perceiue,
Men must learne now with pitty to dispence,
For Policy sits aboue Conscience.
'Boue all others?
He might haue tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus,
And now Ventidgius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison. All these
Owes their estates vnto him
They haue all bin touch'd, and found Base-Mettle,
For they haue all denied him
Has Ventidgius and Lucullus deny'de him,
And does he send to me? Three? Humh?
It shewes but little loue, or iudgement in him.
Must I be his last Refuge? His Friends (like Physitians)
Thriue, giue him ouer: Must I take th' Cure vpon me?
Has much disgrac'd me in't, I'me angry at him,
That might haue knowne my place. I see no sense for't,
But his Occasions might haue wooed me first:
For in my conscience, I was the first man
That ere receiued guift from him.
And does he thinke so backwardly of me now,
That Ile requite it last? No:
So it may proue an Argument of Laughter
To th' rest, and 'mong'st Lords be thought a Foole:
I'de rather then the worth of thrice the summe,
Had sent to me first, but for my mindes sake:
I'de such a courage to do him good. But now returne,
And with their faint reply, this answer ioyne;
Who bates mine Honor, shall not know my Coyne.
Tit. The like to you kinde Varro
Luci. I, and I think one businesse do's command vs all.
For mine is money
Enter Philotus.
What do you thinke the houre?
Phil. Labouring for Nine
Phil. Is not my Lord seene yet?
Luci. Not yet
You must consider, that a Prodigall course
Is like the Sunnes, but not like his recouerable, I feare:
'Tis deepest Winter in Lord Timons purse, that is: One
may reach deepe enough, and yet finde little
Your Lord sends now for Money?
Hort. Most true, he doe's
For which I waite for money
Timon in this, should pay more then he owes:
And e'ne as if your Lord should weare rich Iewels,
And send for money for 'em
The Gods can witnesse:
I know my Lord hath spent of Timons wealth,
And now Ingratitude, makes it worse then stealth
What's yours?
Luci. Fiue thousand mine
Your Masters confidence was aboue mine,
Else surely his had equall'd.
Enter Flaminius.
to come forth?
Flam. No, indeed he is not
Enter Steward in a Cloake, muffled.
He goes away in a Clowd: Call him, call him
2.Varro. By your leaue, sir
'Twere sure enough.
Why then preferr'd you not your summes and Billes
When your false Masters eate of my Lords meat?
Then they could smile, and fawne vpon his debts.
And take downe th' Intrest into their glutt'nous Mawes.
You do your selues but wrong, to stirre me vp,
Let me passe quietly:
Beleeue't, my Lord and I haue made an end,
I haue no more to reckon, he to spend
For you serue Knaues
And if it be so farre beyond his health,
Me thinkes he should the sooner pay his debts,
And make a cleere way to the Gods
Enter Timon in a rage.
Haue I bin euer free, and must my house
Be my retentiue Enemy? My Gaole?
The place which I haue Feasted, does it now
(Like all Mankinde) shew me an Iron heart?
Luci. Put in now Titus
Girdle
What yours? and yours?
1.Var. My Lord
Stew. My Lord
Stew. Heere my Lord
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius Vllorxa: All,
Ile once more feast the Rascals
Go I charge thee, inuite them all, let in the tide
Of Knaues once more: my Cooke and Ile prouide.
Attendants
The faults Bloody:
'Tis necessary he should dye:
Nothing imboldens sinne so much, as Mercy
For pitty is the vertue of the Law,
And none but Tyrants vse it cruelly.
It pleases time and Fortune to lye heauie
Vpon a Friend of mine, who in hot blood
Hath stept into the Law: which is past depth
To those that (without heede) do plundge intoo't.
He is a Man (setting his Fate aside) of comely Vertues,
Nor did he soyle the fact with Cowardice.
(And Honour in him, which buyes out his fault)
But with a Noble Fury, and faire spirit,
Seeing his Reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his Foe:
And with such sober and vnnoted passion
He did behooue his anger ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prou'd an Argument
Striuing to make an vgly deed looke faire:
Your words haue tooke such paines, as if they labour'd
To bring Man-slaughter into forme, and set Quarrelling
Vpon the head of Valour; which indeede
Is Valour mis-begot, and came into the world,
When Sects, and Factions were newly borne.
Hee's truly Valiant, that can wisely suffer
The worst that man can breath,
And make his Wrongs, his Out-sides,
To weare them like his Rayment, carelessely,
And ne're preferre his iniuries to his heart,
To bring it into danger.
If Wrongs be euilles, and inforce vs kill,
What Folly 'tis, to hazard life for Ill
To reuenge is no Valour, but to beare
If I speake like a Captaine.
Why do fond men expose themselues to Battell,
And not endure all threats? Sleepe vpon't,
And let the Foes quietly cut their Throats
Without repugnancy? If there be
Such Valour in the bearing, what make wee
Abroad? Why then, Women are more valiant
That stay at home, if Bearing carry it:
And the Asse, more Captaine then the Lyon?
The fellow loaden with Irons, wiser then the Iudge?
If Wisedome be in suffering. Oh my Lords,
As you are great, be pittifully Good,
Who cannot condemne rashnesse in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sinnes extreamest Gust,
But in defence, by Mercy, 'tis most iust.
To be in Anger, is impietie:
But who is Man, that is not Angrie.
Weigh but the Crime with this
His seruice done at Lacedemon, and Bizantium,
Were a sufficient briber for his life
Alc. Why say my Lords ha's done faire seruice,
And slaine in fight many of your enemies:
How full of valour did he beare himselfe
In the last Conflict, and made plenteous wounds?
2 He has made too much plenty with him:
He's a sworne Riotor, he has a sinne
That often drownes him, and takes his valour prisoner.
If there were no Foes, that were enough
To ouercome him. In that Beastly furie,
He has bin knowne to commit outrages,
And cherrish Factions. 'Tis inferr'd to vs,
His dayes are foule, and his drinke dangerous
My Lords, if not for any parts in him,
Though his right arme might purchase his owne time,
And be in debt to none: yet more to moue you,
Take my deserts to his, and ioyne 'em both.
And for I know, your reuerend Ages loue Security,
Ile pawne my Victories, all my Honour to you
Vpon his good returnes.
If by this Crime, he owes the Law his life,
Why let the Warre receiue't in valiant gore,
For Law is strict, and Warre is nothing more
My Lords, I do beseech you know mee
Alc. Call me to your remembrances
It could not else be, I should proue so bace,
To sue and be deny'de such common Grace.
My wounds ake at you
Banish your dotage, banish vsurie,
That makes the Senate vgly
Attend our waightier Iudgement.
And not to swell our Spirit,
He shall be executed presently.
That you may liue
Onely in bone, that none may looke on you.
I'm worse then mad: I haue kept backe their Foes
While they haue told their Money, and let out
Their Coine vpon large interest. I my selfe,
Rich onely in large hurts. All those, for this?
Is this the Balsome, that the vsuring Senat
Powres into Captaines wounds? Banishment.
It comes not ill: I hate not to be banisht,
It is a cause worthy my Spleene and Furie,
That I may strike at Athens. Ile cheere vp
My discontented Troopes, and lay for hearts;
'Tis Honour with most Lands to be at ods,
Souldiers should brooke as little wrongs as Gods.
Enter.
of you?
1 A thousand Peeces
1 What of you?
2 He sent to me sir- Heere he comes.
Enter Timon and Attendants.
fare you?
1 Euer at the best, hearing well of your Lordship
Come bring in all together
1 How do you? What's the newes?
3 Alcibiades is banish'd: heare you of it?
Both. Alcibiades banish'd?
3 'Tis so, be sure of it
2 I pray you vpon what?
Tim. My worthy Friends, will you draw neere?
3 Ile tell you more anon. Here's a Noble feast toward
2 This is the old man still
Some other. I know not
You knot of Mouth-Friends: Smoke, & lukewarm water
Is your perfection. This is Timons last,
Who stucke and spangled you with Flatteries,
Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces
Your reeking villany. Liue loath'd, and long
Most smiling, smooth, detested Parasites,
Curteous Destroyers, affable Wolues, meeke Beares:
You Fooles of Fortune, Trencher-friends, Times Flyes,
Cap and knee-Slaues, vapours, and Minute Iackes.
Of Man and Beast, the infinite Maladie
Crust you quite o're. What do'st thou go?
Soft, take thy Physicke first; thou too, and thou:
Stay I will lend thee money, borrow none.
What? All in Motion? Henceforth be no Feast,
Whereat a Villaine's not a welcome Guest.
Burne house, sinke Athens, henceforth hated be
Of Timon Man, and all Humanity.
That girdles in those Wolues, diue in the earth,
And fence not Athens. Matrons, turne incontinent,
Obedience fayle in Children: Slaues and Fooles
Plucke the graue wrinkled Senate from the Bench,
And minister in their steeds, to generall Filthes.
Conuert o'th' Instant greene Virginity,
Doo't in your Parents eyes. Bankrupts, hold fast
Rather then render backe; out with your Kniues,
And cut your Trusters throates. Bound Seruants, steale,
Large-handed Robbers your graue Masters are,
And pill by Law. Maide, to thy Masters bed,
Thy Mistris is o'th' Brothell. Some of sixteen,
Plucke the lyn'd Crutch from thy old limping Sire,
With it, beate out his Braines. Piety, and Feare,
Religion to the Gods, Peace, Iustice, Truth,
Domesticke awe, Night-rest, and Neighbourhood,
Instruction, Manners, Mysteries, and Trades,
Degrees, Obseruances, Customes, and Lawes,
Decline to your confounding contraries.
And yet Confusion liue: Plagues incident to men,
Your potent and infectious Feauors, heape
On Athens ripe for stroke. Thou cold Sciatica,
Cripple our Senators, that their limbes may halt
As lamely as their Manners. Lust, and Libertie
Creepe in the Mindes and Marrowes of our youth,
That 'gainst the streame of Vertue they may striue,
And drowne themselues in Riot. Itches, Blaines,
So we all th' Athenian bosomes, and their crop
Be generall Leprosie: Breath, infect breath,
That their Society (as their Friendship) may
Be meerely poyson. Nothing Ile beare from thee
But nakednesse, thou detestable Towne,
Take thou that too, with multiplying Bannes:
Timon will to the Woods, where he shall finde
Th' vnkindest Beast, more kinder then Mankinde.
The Gods confound (heare me you good Gods all)
Th' Athenians both within and out that Wall:
And graunt as Timon growes, his hate may grow
To the whole race of Mankinde, high and low.
Amen.
Enter.
Are we vndone, cast off, nothing remaining?
Stew. Alack my Fellowes, what should I say to you?
Let me be recorded by the righteous Gods,
I am as poore as you
So Noble a Master falne, all gone, and not
One Friend to take his Fortune by the arme,
And go along with him
From our Companion, throwne into his graue,
So his Familiars to his buried Fortunes
Slinke all away, leaue their false vowes with him
Like empty purses pickt; and his poore selfe
A dedicated Beggar to the Ayre,
With his disease, of all shunn'd pouerty,
Walkes like contempt alone. More of our Fellowes.
Enter other Seruants.
That see I by our Faces: we are Fellowes still,
Seruing alike in sorrow: Leak'd is our Barke,
And we poore Mates, stand on the dying Decke,
Hearing the Surges threat: we must all part
Into this Sea of Ayre
The latest of my wealth Ile share among'st you.
Where euer we shall meete, for Timons sake,
Let's yet be Fellowes. Let's shake our heads, and say
As 'twere a Knell vnto our Masters Fortunes,
We haue seene better dayes. Let each take some:
Nay put out all your hands: Not one word more,
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poore.
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 to liue
But in a Dreame of Friendship,
To haue his pompe, and all what state compounds,
But onely painted like his varnisht Friends:
Poore honest Lord, brought lowe by his owne heart,
Vndone by Goodnesse: Strange vnvsuall blood,
When mans worst sinne is, He do's too much Good.
Who then dares to be halfe so kinde agen?
For Bounty that makes Gods, do still marre Men.
My deerest Lord, blest to be most accurst,
Rich onely to be wretched; thy great Fortunes
Are made thy cheefe Afflictions. Alas (kinde Lord)
Hee's flung in Rage from this ingratefull Seate
Of monstrous Friends:
Nor ha's he with him to supply his life,
Or that which can command it:
Ile follow and enquire him out.
Ile euer serue his minde, with my best will,
Whilst I haue Gold, Ile be his Steward still.
Enter.
Rotten humidity: below thy Sisters Orbe
Infect the ayre. Twin'd Brothers of one wombe,
Whose procreation, residence, and birth,
Scarse is diuidant; touch them with seuerall fortunes,
The greater scornes the lesser. Not Nature
(To whom all sores lay siege) can beare great Fortune
But by contempt of Nature.
Raise me this Begger, and deny't that Lord,
The Senators shall beare contempt Hereditary,
The Begger Natiue Honor.
It is the Pastour Lards, the Brothers sides,
The want that makes him leaue: who dares? who dares
In puritie of Manhood stand vpright
And say, this mans a Flatterer. If one be,
So are they all: for euerie grize of Fortune
Is smooth'd by that below. The Learned pate
Duckes to the Golden Foole. All's obliquie:
There's nothing leuell in our cursed Natures
But direct villanie. Therefore be abhorr'd,
All Feasts, Societies, and Throngs of men.
His semblable, yea himselfe Timon disdaines,
Destruction phang mankinde; Earth yeeld me Rootes,
Who seekes for better of thee, sawce his pallate
With thy most operant Poyson. What is heere?
Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious Gold?
No Gods, I am no idle Votarist,
Roots you cleere Heauens. Thus much of this will make
Blacke, white; fowle, faire; wrong, right;
Base, Noble; Old, young; Coward, valiant.
Ha you Gods! why this? what this, you Gods? why this
Will lugge your Priests and Seruants from your sides:
Plucke stout mens pillowes from below their heads.
This yellow Slaue,
Will knit and breake Religions, blesse th' accurst,
Make the hoare Leprosie ador'd, place Theeues,
And giue them Title, knee, and approbation
With Senators on the Bench: This is it
That makes the wappen'd Widdow wed againe;
Shee, whom the Spittle-house, and vlcerous sores,
Would cast the gorge at. This Embalmes and Spices
To'th' Aprill day againe. Come damn'd Earth,
Thou common whore of Mankinde, that puttes oddes
Among the rout of Nations, I will make thee
Do thy right Nature.
But yet Ile bury thee: Thou't go (strong Theefe)
When Gowty keepers of thee cannot stand:
Nay stay thou out for earnest.
Enter Alcibiades with Drumme and Fife in warlike manner, and
Phrynia and
Timandra.
For shewing me againe the eyes of Man
That art thy selfe a Man?
Tim. I am Misantropos, and hate Mankinde.
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dogge,
That I might loue thee something
But in thy Fortunes am vnlearn'd, and strange
I not desire to know. Follow thy Drumme,
With mans blood paint the ground Gules, Gules:
Religious Cannons, ciuill Lawes are cruell,
Then what should warre be? This fell whore of thine,
Hath in her more destruction then thy Sword,
For all her Cherubin looke
To thine owne lippes againe
Tim. As the Moone do's, by wanting light to giue:
But then renew I could not like the Moone,
There were no Sunnes to borrow of
Tim. None, but to maintaine my opinion
Voic'd so regardfully?
Tim. Art thou Timandra?
Timan. Yes
Are drown'd and lost in his Calamities.
I haue but little Gold of late, braue Timon,
The want whereof, doth dayly make reuolt
In my penurious Band. I haue heard and greeu'd
How cursed Athens, mindelesse of thy worth,
Forgetting thy great deeds, when Neighbour states
But for thy Sword and Fortune trod vpon them
I had rather be alone
Heere is some Gold for thee
And thee after, when thou hast Conquer'd
Tim. That by killing of Villaines
Thou was't borne to conquer my Country.
Put vp thy Gold. Go on, heeres Gold, go on;
Be as a Plannetary plague, when Ioue
Will o're some high-Vic'd City, hang his poyson
In the sicke ayre: let not thy sword skip one:
Pitty not honour'd Age for his white Beard,
He is an Vsurer. Strike me the counterfet Matron,
It is her habite onely, that is honest,
Her selfe's a Bawd. Let not the Virgins cheeke
Make soft thy trenchant Sword: for those Milke pappes
That through the window Barne bore at mens eyes,
Are not within the Leafe of pitty writ,
But set them down horrible Traitors. Spare not the Babe
Whose dimpled smiles from Fooles exhaust their mercy;
Thinke it a Bastard, whom the Oracle
Hath doubtfully pronounced, the throat shall cut,
And mince it sans remorse. Sweare against Obiects,
Put Armour on thine eares, and on thine eyes,
Whose proofe, nor yels of Mothers, Maides, nor Babes,
Nor sight of Priests in holy Vestments bleeding,
Shall pierce a iot. There's Gold to pay thy Souldiers,
Make large confusion: and thy fury spent,
Confounded be thy selfe. Speake not, be gone
me, not all thy Counsell
thee
Tim. Enough to make a Whore forsweare her Trade,
And to make Whores, a Bawd. Hold vp you Sluts
Your Aprons mountant; you are not Othable,
Although I know you'l sweare, terribly sweare
Into strong shudders, and to heauenly Agues
Th' immortall Gods that heare you. Spare your Oathes:
Ile trust to your Conditions, be whores still.
And he whose pious breath seekes to conuert you,
Be strong in Whore, allure him, burne him vp,
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
And be no turne-coats: yet may your paines six months
Be quite contrary, And Thatch
Your poore thin Roofes with burthens of the dead,
(Some that were hang'd) no matter:
Weare them, betray with them; Whore still,
Paint till a horse may myre vpon your face:
A pox of wrinkles
Beleeue't that wee'l do any thing for Gold
In hollow bones of man, strike their sharpe shinnes,
And marre mens spurring. Cracke the Lawyers voyce,
That he may neuer more false Title pleade,
Nor sound his Quillets shrilly: Hoare the Flamen,
That scold'st against the quality of flesh,
And not beleeues himselfe. Downe with the Nose,
Downe with it flat, take the Bridge quite away
Of him, that his particular to foresee
Smels from the generall weale. Make curl'd pate Ruffians bald
And let the vnscarr'd Braggerts of the Warre
Deriue some paine from you. Plague all,
That your Actiuity may defeate and quell
The sourse of all Erection. There's more Gold.
Do you damne others, and let this damne you,
And ditches graue you all
Timon
you earnest
Timon: if I thriue well, Ile visit thee againe
Tim. Men dayly finde it. Get thee away,
And take thy Beagles with thee
Should yet be hungry: Common Mother, thou
Whose wombe vnmeasureable, and infinite brest
Teemes and feeds all: whose selfesame Mettle
Whereof thy proud Childe (arrogant man) is puft,
Engenders the blacke Toad, and Adder blew,
The gilded Newt, and eyelesse venom'd Worme,
With all th' abhorred Births below Crispe Heauen,
Whereon Hyperions quickning fire doth shine:
Yeeld him, who all the humane Sonnes do hate,
From foorth thy plenteous bosome, one poore roote:
Enseare thy Fertile and Conceptious wombe,
Let it no more bring out ingratefull man.
Goe great with Tygers, Dragons, Wolues, and Beares,
Teeme with new Monsters, whom thy vpward face
Hath to the Marbled Mansion all aboue
Neuer presented. O, a Root, deare thankes:
Dry vp thy Marrowes, Vines, and Plough-torne Leas,
Whereof ingratefull man with Licourish draughts
And Morsels Vnctious, greases his pure minde,
That from it all Consideration slippes-
Enter Apemantus.
Thou dost affect my Manners, and dost vse them
Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee
A poore vnmanly Melancholly sprung
From change of future. Why this Spade? this place?
This Slaue-like Habit, and these lookes of Care?
Thy Flatterers yet weare Silke, drinke Wine, lye soft,
Hugge their diseas'd Perfumes, and haue forgot
That euer Timon was. Shame not these Woods,
By putting on the cunning of a Carper.
Be thou a Flatterer now, and seeke to thriue
By that which ha's vndone thee; hindge thy knee,
And let his very breath whom thou'lt obserue
Blow off thy Cap: praise his most vicious straine,
And call it excellent: thou wast told thus:
Thou gau'st thine eares (like Tapsters, that bad welcom)
To Knaues, and all approachers: 'Tis most iust
That thou turne Rascall, had'st thou wealth againe,
Rascals should haue't. Do not assume my likenesse
A Madman so long, now a Foole: what think'st
That the bleake ayre, thy boysterous Chamberlaine
Will put thy shirt on warme? Will these moyst Trees,
That haue out-liu'd the Eagle, page thy heeles
And skip when thou point'st out? Will the cold brooke
Candied with Ice, Cawdle thy Morning taste
To cure thy o're-nights surfet? Call the Creatures,
Whose naked Natures liue in all the spight
Of wrekefull Heauen, whose bare vnhoused Trunkes,
To the conflicting Elements expos'd
Answer meere Nature: bid them flatter thee.
O thou shalt finde
Tim. Thou flatter'st misery
Ape. To vex thee
Dost please thy selfe in't?
Ape. I
Ape. If thou did'st put this sowre cold habit on
To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou
Dost it enforcedly: Thou'dst Courtier be againe
Wert thou not Beggar: willing misery
Out-liues: incertaine pompe, is crown'd before:
The one is filling still, neuer compleat:
The other, at high wish: best state Contentlesse,
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
Worse then the worst, Content.
Thou should'st desire to dye, being miserable
Thou art a Slaue, whom Fortunes tender arme
With fauour neuer claspt: but bred a Dogge.
Had'st thou like vs from our first swath proceeded,
The sweet degrees that this breefe world affords,
To such as may the passiue drugges of it
Freely command'st: thou would'st haue plung'd thy self
In generall Riot, melted downe thy youth
In different beds of Lust, and neuer learn'd
The Icie precepts of respect, but followed
The Sugred game before thee. But my selfe,
Who had the world as my Confectionarie,
The mouthes, the tongues, the eyes, and hearts of men,
At duty more then I could frame employment;
That numberlesse vpon me stucke, as leaues
Do on the Oake, haue with one Winters brush
Fell from their boughes, and left me open, bare,
For euery storme that blowes. I to beare this,
That neuer knew but better, is some burthen:
Thy Nature, did commence in sufferance, Time
Hath made thee hard in't. Why should'st y hate Men?
They neuer flatter'd thee. What hast thou giuen?
If thou wilt curse; thy Father (that poore ragge)
Must be thy subiect; who in spight put stuffe
To some shee-Begger, and compounded thee
Poore Rogue, hereditary. Hence, be gone,
If thou hadst not bene borne the worst of men,
Thou hadst bene a Knaue and Flatterer
Tim. I, that I am not thee
Were all the wealth I haue shut vp in thee,
I'ld giue thee leaue to hang it. Get thee gone:
That the whole life of Athens were in this,
Thus would I eate it
Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botcht;
If not, I would it were
Tim. Thee thither in a whirlewind: if thou wilt,
Tell them there I haue Gold, looke, so I haue
For heere it sleepes, and do's no hyred harme
Tim. Vnder that's aboue me.
Where feed'st thou a-dayes Apemantus?
Ape. Where my stomacke findes meate, or rather
where I eate it
Ape. Where would'st thou send it?
Tim. To sawce thy dishes
Tim. I, though it looke like thee
haue loued thy selfe better now. What man didd'st thou
euer know vnthrift, that was beloued after his meanes!
Tim. Who without those meanes thou talk'st of, didst
thou euer know belou'd?
Ape. My selfe
keepe a Dogge
compare to thy Flatterers?
Tim. Women neerest, but men: men are the things
themselues. What would'st thou do with the world Apemantus,
if it lay in thy power?
Ape. Giue it the Beasts, to be rid of the men
of men, and remaine a Beast with the Beasts
With speaking to me, thou might'st
Haue hit vpon it heere.
The Commonwealth of Athens, is become
A Forrest of Beasts
out of the Citie
The plague of Company light vpon thee:
I will feare to catch it, and giue way.
When I know not what else to do,
Ile see thee againe
Thou shalt be welcome.
I had rather be a Beggers Dogge,
Then Apemantus
Of all the Fooles aliue
To spit vpon
Thou art too bad to curse
That do stand by thee, are pure
But what thou speak'st
But I should infect my hands
Could rot them off
Choller does kill me,
That thou art aliue, I swoond to see thee
I am sicke of this false world, and will loue nought
But euen the meere necessities vpon't:
Then Timon presently prepare thy graue:
Lye where the light Fome of the Sea may beate
Thy graue stone dayly, make thine Epitaph,
That death in me, at others liues may laugh.
O thou sweete King-killer, and deare diuorce
Twixt naturall Sunne and fire: thou bright defiler
Of Himens purest bed, thou valiant Mars,
Thou euer, yong, fresh, loued, and delicate wooer,
Whose blush doth thawe the consecrated Snow
That lyes on Dians lap.
Thou visible God,
That souldrest close Impossibilities,
And mak'st them kisse; that speak'st with euerie Tongue
To euerie purpose: O thou touch of hearts,
Thinke thy slaue-man rebels, and by thy vertue
Set them into confounding oddes, that Beasts
May haue the world in Empire
But not till I am dead. Ile say th'hast Gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd too shortly
Ape. I
Eate Timon, and abhorre then.
That much do want
Why should you want? Behold, the Earth hath Rootes:
Within this Mile breake forth a hundred Springs:
The Oakes beare Mast, the Briars Scarlet Heps,
The bounteous Huswife Nature, on each bush,
Layes her full Messe before you. Want? why Want?
1 We cannot liue on Grasse, on Berries, Water,
As Beasts, and Birds, and Fishes
You must eate men. Yet thankes I must you con,
That you are Theeues profest: that you worke not
In holier shapes: For there is boundlesse Theft
In limited Professions. Rascall Theeues
Heere's Gold. Go, sucke the subtle blood o'th' Grape,
Till the high Feauor seeth your blood to froth,
And so scape hanging. Trust not the Physitian,
His Antidotes are poyson, and he slayes
Moe then you Rob: Take wealth, and liues together,
Do Villaine do, since you protest to doo't.
Like Workemen, Ile example you with Theeuery:
The Sunnes a Theefe, and with his great attraction
Robbes the vaste Sea. The Moones an arrant Theefe,
And her pale fire, she snatches from the Sunne.
The Seas a Theefe, whose liquid Surge, resolues
The Moone into Salt teares. The Earth's a Theefe,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stolne
From gen'rall excrement: each thing's a Theefe.
The Lawes, your curbe and whip, in their rough power
Ha's vncheck'd Theft. Loue not your selues, away,
Rob one another, there's more Gold, cut throates,
All that you meete are Theeues: to Athens go,
Breake open shoppes, nothing can you steale
But Theeues do loose it: steale lesse, for this I giue you,
And Gold confound you howsoere: Amen
me to it
vs not to haue vs thriue in our mystery
And giue ouer my Trade
miserable, but a man may be true.
Is yon'd despis'd and ruinous man my Lord?
Full of decay and fayling? Oh Monument
And wonder of good deeds, euilly bestow'd!
What an alteration of Honor has desp'rate want made?
What vilder thing vpon the earth, then Friends,
Who can bring Noblest mindes, to basest ends.
How rarely does it meete with this times guise,
When man was wisht to loue his Enemies:
Grant I may euer loue, and rather woo
Those that would mischeefe me, then those that doo.
Has caught me in his eye, I will present my honest griefe
vnto him; and as my Lord, still serue him with my life.
My deerest Master
Stew. Haue you forgot me, Sir?
Tim. Why dost aske that? I haue forgot all men.
Then, if thou grunt'st, th'art a man.
I haue forgot thee
I neuer had honest man about me, I all
I kept were Knaues, to serue in meate to Villaines
Neu'r did poore Steward weare a truer greefe
For his vndone Lord, then mine eyes for you
Come neerer, then I loue thee
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankinde: whose eyes do neuer giue,
But thorow Lust and Laughter: pittie's sleeping:
Strange times y weepe with laughing, not with weeping
T' accept my greefe, and whil'st this poore wealth lasts,
To entertaine me as your Steward still
So true, so iust, and now so comfortable?
It almost turnes my dangerous Nature wilde.
Let me behold thy face: Surely, this man
Was borne of woman.
Forgiue my generall, and exceptlesse rashnesse
You perpetuall sober Gods. I do proclaime
One honest man: Mistake me not, but one:
No more I pray, and hee's a Steward.
How faine would I haue hated all mankinde,
And thou redeem'st thy selfe. But all saue thee,
I fell with Curses.
Me thinkes thou art more honest now, then wise:
For, by oppressing and betraying mee,
Thou might'st haue sooner got another Seruice:
For many so arriue at second Masters,
Vpon their first Lords necke. But tell me true,
(For I must euer doubt, though ne're so sure)
Is not thy kindnesse subtle, couetous,
If not a Vsuring kindnesse, and as rich men deale Guifts,
Expecting in returne twenty for one?
Stew. No my most worthy Master, in whose brest
Doubt, and suspect (alas) are plac'd too late:
You should haue fear'd false times, when you did Feast.
Suspect still comes, where an estate is least.
That which I shew, Heauen knowes, is meerely Loue,
Dutie, and Zeale, to your vnmatched minde;
Care of your Food and Liuing, and beleeue it,
My most Honour'd Lord,
For any benefit that points to mee,
Either in hope, or present, I'de exchange
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
To requite me, by making rich your selfe
Heere take: the Gods out of my miserie
Ha's sent thee Treasure. Go, liue rich and happy,
But thus condition'd: Thou shalt build from men:
Hate all, curse all, shew Charity to none,
But let the famisht flesh slide from the Bone,
Ere thou releeue the Begger. Giue to dogges
What thou denyest to men. Let Prisons swallow 'em,
Debts wither 'em to nothing, be men like blasted woods
And may Diseases licke vp their false bloods,
And so farewell, and thriue
Stay not: flye, whil'st thou art blest and free:
Ne're see thou man, and let me ne're see thee.
where he abides
Does the Rumor hold for true,
That hee's so full of Gold?
Painter. Certaine.
Alcibiades reports it: Phrinica and Timandylo
Had Gold of him. He likewise enrich'd
Poore stragling Souldiers, with great quantity.
'Tis saide, he gaue vnto his Steward
A mighty summe
Ha's beene but a Try for his Friends?
Painter. Nothing else:
You shall see him a Palme in Athens againe,
And flourish with the highest:
Therefore, 'tis not amisse, we tender our loues
To him, in this suppos'd distresse of his:
It will shew honestly in vs,
And is very likely, to loade our purposes
With what they trauaile for,
If it be a iust and true report, that goes
Of his hauing
To present vnto him?
Painter. Nothing at this time
But my Visitation: onely I will promise him
An excellent Peece
Tell him of an intent that's comming toward him
Promising, is the verie Ayre o'th' Time;
It opens the eyes of Expectation.
Performance, is euer the duller for his acte,
And but in the plainer and simpler kinde of people,
The deede of Saying is quite out of vse.
To Promise, is most Courtly and fashionable;
Performance, is a kinde of Will or Testament
Which argues a great sicknesse in his iudgement
That makes it.
Enter Timon from his Caue.
Thou canst not paint a man so badde
As is thy selfe
What I shall say I haue prouided for him:
It must be a personating of himselfe:
A Satyre against the softnesse of Prosperity,
With a Discouerie of the infinite Flatteries
That follow youth and opulencie
Stand for a Villaine in thine owne Worke?
Wilt thou whip thine owne faults in other men?
Do so, I haue Gold for thee
Then do we sinne against our owne estate,
When we may profit meete, and come too late
When the day serues before blacke-corner'd night;
Finde what thou want'st, by free and offer'd light.
Come
What a Gods Gold, that he is worshipt
In a baser Temple, then where Swine feede?
'Tis thou that rigg'st the Barke, and plow'st the Fome,
Setlest admired reuerence in a Slaue,
To thee be worshipt, and thy Saints for aye:
Be crown'd with Plagues, that thee alone obay.
Fit I meet them
To see two honest men?
Poet. Sir:
Hauing often of your open Bounty tasted,
Hearing you were retyr'd, your Friends falne off,
Whose thankelesse Natures (O abhorred Spirits)
Not all the Whippes of Heauen, are large enough.
What, to you,
Whose Starre-like Noblenesse gaue life and influence
To their whole being? I am rapt, and cannot couet
The monstrous bulke of this Ingratitude
With any size of words
Naked men may see't the better:
You that are honest, by being what you are,
Make them best seene, and knowne
Haue trauail'd in the great showre of your guifts,
And sweetly felt it
To offer you our seruice
Why how shall I requite you?
Can you eate Roots, and drinke cold water, no?
Both. What we can do,
Wee'l do to do you seruice
Y'haue heard that I haue Gold,
I am sure you haue, speake truth, y'are honest men
Came not my Friend, nor I
Best in all Athens, th'art indeed the best,
Thou counterfet'st most liuely
Why thy Verse swels with stuffe so fine and smooth,
That thou art euen Naturall in thine Art.
But for all this (my honest Natur'd friends)
I must needs say you haue a little fault,
Marry 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I
You take much paines to mend
To make it knowne to vs
Both. Doubt it not worthy Lord
That mightily deceiues you
Tim. I, and you heare him cogge,
See him dissemble,
Know his grosse patchery, loue him, feede him,
Keepe in your bosome, yet remaine assur'd
That he's a made-vp-Villaine
I loue you well, Ile giue you Gold
Rid me these Villaines from your companies;
Hang them, or stab them, drowne them in a draught,
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
Ile giue you Gold enough
But two in Company:
Each man a part, all single, and alone,
Yet an arch Villaine keepes him company:
If where thou art, two Villaines shall not be,
Come not neere him. If thou would'st not recide
But where one Villaine is, then him abandon.
Hence, packe, there's Gold, you came for Gold ye slaues:
You haue worke for me; there's payment, hence,
You are an Alcumist, make Gold of that:
Out Rascall dogges.
For he is set so onely to himselfe,
That nothing but himselfe, which lookes like man,
Is friendly with him
Men are not still the same: 'twas Time and Greefes
That fram'd him thus. Time with his fairer hand,
Offering the Fortunes of his former dayes,
The former man may make him: bring vs to him
And chanc'd it as it may
Peace and content be heere. Lord Timon, Timon,
Looke out, and speake to Friends: Th' Athenians
By two of their most reuerend Senate greet thee:
Speake to them Noble Timon.
Enter Timon out of his Caue.
Speake and be hang'd:
For each true word, a blister, and each false
Be as a Cantherizing to the root o'th' Tongue,
Consuming it with speaking
And you of Timon
And would send them backe the plague,
Could I but catch it for them
What we are sorry for our selues in thee:
The Senators, with one consent of loue,
Intreate thee backe to Athens, who haue thought
On speciall Dignities, which vacant lye
For thy best vse and wearing
Toward thee, forgetfulnesse too generall grosse;
Which now the publike Body, which doth sildome
Play the recanter, feeling in it selfe
A lacke of Timons ayde, hath since withall
Of it owne fall, restraining ayde to Timon,
And send forth vs, to make their sorrowed render,
Together, with a recompence more fruitfull
Then their offence can weigh downe by the Dramme,
I euen such heapes and summes of Loue and Wealth,
As shall to thee blot out, what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee the figures of their loue,
Euer to read them thine
Surprize me to the very brinke of teares;
Lend me a Fooles heart, and a womans eyes,
And Ile beweepe these comforts, worthy Senators
And of our Athens, thine and ours to take
The Captainship, thou shalt be met with thankes,
Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
Liue with Authoritie: so soone we shall driue backe
Of Alcibiades th' approaches wild,
Who like a Bore too sauage, doth root vp
His Countries peace
Against the walles of Athens
If Alcibiades kill my Countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
That Timon cares not. But if he sacke faire Athens,
And take our goodly aged men by'th' Beards,
Giuing our holy Virgins to the staine
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd warre:
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speakes it,
In pitty of our aged, and our youth,
I cannot choose but tell him that I care not,
And let him tak't at worst: For their Kniues care not,
While you haue throats to answer. For my selfe,
There's not a whittle, in th' vnruly Campe,
But I do prize it at my loue, before
The reuerends Throat in Athens. So I leaue you
To the protection of the prosperous Gods,
As Theeues to Keepers
It will be seene to morrow. My long sicknesse
Of Health, and Liuing, now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go, liue still,
Be Alcibiades your plague; you his,
And last so long enough
One that reioyces in the common wracke,
As common bruite doth put it
them
In their applauding gates
And tell them, that to ease them of their greefes,
Their feares of Hostile strokes, their Aches losses,
Their pangs of Loue, with other incident throwes
That Natures fragile Vessell doth sustaine
In lifes vncertaine voyage, I will some kindnes do them,
Ile teach them to preuent wilde Alcibiades wrath
That mine owne vse inuites me to cut downe,
And shortly must I fell it. Tell my Friends,
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree,
From high to low throughout, that who so please
To stop Affliction, let him take his haste;
Come hither ere my Tree hath felt the Axe,
And hang himselfe. I pray you do my greeting
Finde him
Timon hath made his euerlasting Mansion
Vpon the Beached Verge of the salt Flood,
Who once a day with his embossed Froth
The turbulent Surge shall couer; thither come,
And let my graue-stone be your Oracle:
Lippes, let foure words go by, and Language end:
What is amisse, Plague and Infection mend.
Graues onely be mens workes, and Death their gaine;
Sunne, hide thy Beames, Timon hath done his Raigne.
As full as thy report?
Mes. I haue spoke the least.
Besides his expedition promises present approach
Whom though in generall part we were oppos'd,
Yet our old loue made a particular force,
And made vs speake like Friends. This man was riding
From Alcibiades to Timons Caue,
With Letters of intreaty, which imported
His Fellowship i'th' cause against your City,
In part for his sake mou'd.
Enter the other Senators.
The Enemies Drumme is heard, and fearefull scouring
Doth choake the ayre with dust: In, and prepare,
Ours is the fall I feare, our Foes the Snare.
Whose heere? Speake hoa. No answer? What is this?
Tymon is dead, who hath out-stretcht his span,
Some Beast reade this; There do's not liue a Man.
Dead sure, and this his Graue, what's on this Tomb,
I cannot read: the Charracter Ile take with wax,
Our Captaine hath in euery Figure skill;
An ag'd Interpreter, though yong in dayes:
Before proud Athens hee's set downe by this,
Whose fall the marke of his Ambition is.
Enter.
Our terrible approach.
With all Licentious measure, making your willes
The scope of Iustice. Till now, my selfe and such
As slept within the shadow of your power
Haue wander'd with our trauerst Armes, and breath'd
Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush,
When crouching Marrow in the bearer strong
Cries (of it selfe) no more: Now breathlesse wrong,
Shall sit and pant in your great Chaires of ease,
And pursie Insolence shall breake his winde
With feare and horrid flight
When thy first greefes were but a meere conceit,
Ere thou had'st power, or we had cause of feare,
We sent to thee, to giue thy rages Balme,
To wipe out our Ingratitude, with Loues
Aboue their quantitie
Transformed Timon, to our Citties loue
By humble Message, and by promist meanes:
We were not all vnkinde, nor all deserue
The common stroke of warre
Were not erected by their hands, from whom
You haue receyu'd your greefe: Nor are they such,
That these great Towres, Trophees, & Schools shold fall
For priuate faults in them
Who were the motiues that you first went out,
(Shame that they wanted, cunning in excesse)
Hath broke their hearts. March, Noble Lord,
Into our City with thy Banners spred,
By decimation and a tythed death;
If thy Reuenges hunger for that Food
Which Nature loathes, take thou the destin'd tenth,
And by the hazard of the spotted dye,
Let dye the spotted
For those that were, it is not square to take
On those that are, Reuenge: Crimes, like Lands
Are not inherited, then deere Countryman,
Bring in thy rankes, but leaue without thy rage,
Spare thy Athenian Cradle, and those Kin
Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall
With those that haue offended, like a Shepheard,
Approach the Fold, and cull th' infected forth,
But kill not altogether
Against our rampyr'd gates, and they shall ope:
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say thou't enter Friendly
Or any Token of thine Honour else,
That thou wilt vse the warres as thy redresse,
And not as our Confusion: All thy Powers
Shall make their harbour in our Towne, till wee
Haue seal'd thy full desire
Defend and open your vncharged Ports,
Those Enemies of Timons, and mine owne
Whom you your selues shall set out for reproofe,
Fall and no more; and to attone your feares
With my more Noble meaning, not a man
Shall passe his quarter, or offend the streame
Of Regular Iustice in your Citties bounds,
But shall be remedied to your publique Lawes
At heauiest answer
Enter a Messenger.
Entomb'd vpon the very hemme o'th' Sea,
And on his Grauestone, this Insculpture which
With wax I brought away: whose soft Impression
Interprets for my poore ignorance.
Seek not my name: A Plague consume you, wicked Caitifs left:
Heere lye I Timon, who aliue, all liuing men did hate,
Passe by, and curse thy fill, but passe and stay not here thy gate.
These well expresse in thee thy latter spirits:
Though thou abhorrd'st in vs our humane griefes,
Scornd'st our Braines flow, and those our droplets, which
From niggard Nature fall; yet Rich Conceit
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weepe for aye
On thy low Graue, on faults forgiuen. Dead
Is Noble Timon, of whose Memorie
Heereafter more. Bring me into your Citie,
And I will vse the Oliue, with my Sword:
Make war breed peace; make peace stint war, make each
Prescribe to other, as each others Leach.
Let our Drummes strike.FINIS.
THE ACTORS NAMES.
Lucius, And Lucullus, two Flattering Lords.
Appemantus, a Churlish Philosopher.
Sempronius another flattering Lord.
Alcibiades, an Athenian Captaine.
Poet.
Painter.
Ieweller.
Merchant.
Certaine Theeues.
Flaminius, one of Tymons Seruants.
Seruilius, another.
Caphis.
Varro.
Philo.
Titus.
Lucius.
Hortensis Seuerall Seruants to Vsurers.
Ventigius. one of Tymons false Friends.
Cupid.
Sempronius. With diuers other Seruants, And Attendants.
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