Timon of Athens

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Total Speeches - 833
Total Lines - 2,639
Characters - 65

Roles - 5 Readers

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Reader 1

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    a noble Athenian
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  • Fool

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Reader 2

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  • 1 Servants Lucullus

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  • 1 Servants Timon

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  • Timandra

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  • Lucius

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  • Painter

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  • Poet

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ACT 1

Scene 1

Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweler, and Merchant, at several
doors.

POET

Good day, sir.

PAINTER

I am glad you’re well.

POET


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

PAINTER


It wears, sir, as it grows.

POET

55Ay, that’s well known.
But what particular rarity, what strange,
Which manifold record not matches? See,
Magic of bounty, all these spirits thy power
Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.

PAINTER

1010I know them both. Th’ other’s a jeweler.

MERCHANT , to Jeweler


O, ’tis a worthy lord!

JEWELER

Nay, that’s most fixed.

MERCHANT


A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
To an untirable and continuate goodness.
1515He passes.

JEWELER

I have a jewel here—

MERCHANT


O, pray, let’s see ’t. For the Lord Timon, sir?

JEWELER


If he will touch the estimate. But for that—

POET , to Painter


When we for recompense have praised the vile,
2020It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.

MERCHANT , looking at the jewel


’Tis a good form.

JEWELER

And rich. Here is a water, look ye.

PAINTER , to Poet


You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
2525To the great lord.

POET

A thing slipped idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum which oozes
From whence ’tis nourished. The fire i’ th’ flint
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
3030Provokes itself and, like the current, flies
Each bound it chases. What have you there?

PAINTER


A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?

POET


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

PAINTER

3535’Tis a good piece.

POET


So ’tis. This comes off well and excellent.

PAINTER


Indifferent.

POET

Admirable! How this grace
Speaks his own standing! What a mental power
4040This eye shoots forth! How big imagination
Moves in this lip! To th’ dumbness of the gesture
One might interpret.

PAINTER


It is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch. Is ’t good?

POET

4545I will say of it,
It tutors nature. Artificial strife
Lives in these touches livelier than life.

Enter certain Senators.

PAINTER

How this lord is followed.

POET


The senators of Athens, happy men.

PAINTER

5050Look, more.

POET


You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
(Indicating his poem.) I have in this rough work
shaped out a man
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
5555With amplest entertainment. My free drift
Halts not particularly but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax. No leveled malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold,
But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
6060Leaving no tract behind.

PAINTER

How shall I understand you?

POET

I will unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
As well of glib and slipp’ry creatures as
6565Of grave and austere quality, tender down
Their services to Lord Timon. His large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
All sorts of hearts—yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
7070To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself; even he drops down
The knee before him and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon’s nod.

PAINTER

I saw them speak together.

POET


7575Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
Feigned Fortune to be throned. The base o’ th’ mount
Is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures
That labor on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states. Amongst them all
8080Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed,
One do I personate of Lord Timon’s frame,
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her,
Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
Translates his rivals.

PAINTER

8585’Tis conceived to scope.
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckoned from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well expressed
9090In our condition.

POET

Nay, sir, but hear me on.
All those which were his fellows but of late,
Some better than his value, on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
9595Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
Drink the free air.

PAINTER

Ay, marry, what of these?

POET


When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
100100Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants,
Which labored after him to the mountain’s top
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
Not one accompanying his declining foot.

PAINTER

’Tis common.
105105A thousand moral paintings I can show
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of
Fortune’s
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
110110The foot above the head.

Trumpets sound. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself
courteously to every suitor. He is accompanied by a
Messenger and followed by Lucilius and other
Servants.

TIMON

Imprisoned is he, say you?

MESSENGER


Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt,
His means most short, his creditors most strait.
Your honorable letter he desires
115115To those have shut him up, which failing
Periods his comfort.

TIMON

Noble Ventidius. Well,
I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he must need me. I do know him
120120A gentleman that well deserves a help,
Which he shall have. I’ll pay the debt and free him.

MESSENGER

Your Lordship ever binds him.

TIMON


Commend me to him. I will send his ransom;
And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me.
125125’Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to support him after. Fare you well.

MESSENGER

All happiness to your Honor.

He exits.Enter an old Athenian.

OLD MAN


Lord Timon, hear me speak.

TIMON

Freely, good father.

OLD MAN


130130Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.

TIMON

I have so. What of him?

OLD MAN


Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.

TIMON


Attends he here or no?—Lucilius!

LUCILIUS

Here, at your Lordship’s service.

OLD MAN


135135This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclined to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir more raised
Than one which holds a trencher.

TIMON

140140Well. What further?

OLD MAN


One only daughter have I, no kin else
On whom I may confer what I have got.
The maid is fair, o’ th’ youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest cost
145145In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort.
Myself have spoke in vain.

TIMON

The man is honest.

OLD MAN

150150Therefore he will be, Timon.
His honesty rewards him in itself;
It must not bear my daughter.

TIMON

Does she love him?

OLD MAN

She is young and apt.
155155Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity’s in youth.

TIMON , to Lucilius

Love you the maid?

LUCILIUS


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

OLD MAN


If in her marriage my consent be missing—
160160I call the gods to witness—I will choose
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world
And dispossess her all.

TIMON

How shall she be endowed
If she be mated with an equal husband?

OLD MAN


165165Three talents on the present; in future, all.

TIMON


This gentleman of mine hath served me long.
To build his fortune, I will strain a little,
For ’tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter.
What you bestow, in him I’ll counterpoise,
170170And make him weigh with her.

OLD MAN

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

TIMON


My hand to thee; mine honor on my promise.

LUCILIUS


Humbly I thank your Lordship. Never may
175175That state or fortune fall into my keeping
Which is not owed to you.

He exits with the old Athenian.

POET , presenting his poem to Timon


Vouchsafe my labor, and long live your Lordship.

TIMON


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

PAINTER


180180A piece of painting which I do beseech
Your Lordship to accept.

TIMON

Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man,
For, since dishonor traffics with man’s nature,
185185He is but outside; these penciled figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work,
And you shall find I like it. Wait attendance
Till you hear further from me.

PAINTER

The gods preserve you.

TIMON


190190Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand.
We must needs dine together.—Sir, your jewel
Hath suffered under praise.

JEWELER

What, my lord? Dispraise?

TIMON


A mere satiety of commendations.
195195If I should pay you for ’t as ’tis extolled,
It would unclew me quite.

JEWELER

My lord, ’tis rated
As those which sell would give. But you well know
Things of like value, differing in the owners,
200200Are prizèd by their masters. Believe ’t, dear lord,
You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

TIMON

Well mocked.

MERCHANT


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

Enter Apemantus.

TIMON

205205Look who comes here. Will you be chid?

JEWELER

We’ll bear, with your Lordship.

MERCHANT

He’ll spare none.

TIMON


Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus.

APEMANTUS


Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow—
210210When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.

TIMON


Why dost thou call them knaves? Thou know’st
them not.

APEMANTUS

Are they not Athenians?

TIMON

Yes.

APEMANTUS

215215Then I repent not.

JEWELER

You know me, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

Thou know’st I do. I called thee by thy
name.

TIMON

Thou art proud, Apemantus.

APEMANTUS

220220Of nothing so much as that I am not like
Timon.

TIMON

Whither art going?

APEMANTUS

To knock out an honest Athenian’s brains.

TIMON

That’s a deed thou ’lt die for.

APEMANTUS

225225Right, if doing nothing be death by th’ law.

TIMON

How lik’st thou this picture, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

The best, for the innocence.

TIMON

Wrought he not well that painted it?

APEMANTUS

He wrought better that made the painter,
230230and yet he’s but a filthy piece of work.

PAINTER

You’re a dog.

APEMANTUS

Thy mother’s of my generation. What’s
she, if I be a dog?

TIMON

Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

235235No. I eat not lords.

TIMON

An thou shouldst, thou ’dst anger ladies.

APEMANTUS

O, they eat lords. So they come by great
bellies.

TIMON

That’s a lascivious apprehension.

APEMANTUS

240240So thou apprehend’st it. Take it for thy
labor.

TIMON

How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

Not so well as plain-dealing, which will
not cost a man a doit.

TIMON

245245What dost thou think ’tis worth?

APEMANTUS

Not worth my thinking.—How now, poet?

POET

How now, philosopher?

APEMANTUS

Thou liest.

POET

Art not one?

APEMANTUS

250250Yes.

POET

Then I lie not.

APEMANTUS

Art not a poet?

POET

Yes.

APEMANTUS

Then thou liest. Look in thy last work,
255255where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.

POET

That’s not feigned. He is so.

APEMANTUS

Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee
for thy labor. He that loves to be flattered is worthy
o’ th’ flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!

TIMON

260260What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

E’en as Apemantus does now—hate a lord
with my heart.

TIMON

What? Thyself?

APEMANTUS

Ay.

TIMON

265265Wherefore?

APEMANTUS

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

MERCHANT

Ay, Apemantus.

APEMANTUS

Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not.

MERCHANT

270270If traffic do it, the gods do it.

APEMANTUS

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

Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.

TIMON

What trumpet’s that?

MESSENGER


’Tis Alcibiades and some twenty horse,
275275All of companionship.

TIMON


Pray, entertain them. Give them guide to us.
Some Servants exit with Messenger.
You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence
Till I have thanked you.—When dinner’s done
Show me this piece.—I am joyful of your sights.

Enter Alcibiades with the rest.

280280Most welcome, sir.

They bow to each other.

APEMANTUS , apart

So, so, there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
That there should be small love amongst these sweet
knaves,
285285And all this courtesy! The strain of man’s bred out
Into baboon and monkey.

ALCIBIADES , to Timon


Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly on your sight.

TIMON

Right welcome, sir.
290290Ere we depart, we’ll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

All but Apemantus exit.Enter two Lords.

FIRST LORD

What time o’ day is ’t, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

Time to be honest.

FIRST LORD

That time serves still.

APEMANTUS


295295The most accursèd thou, that still omit’st it.

SECOND LORD

Thou art going to Lord Timon’s feast?

APEMANTUS


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

SECOND LORD

Fare thee well, fare thee well.

APEMANTUS


Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

SECOND LORD

300300Why, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS


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

FIRST LORD

Hang thyself.

APEMANTUS


No, I will do nothing at thy bidding.
305305Make thy requests to thy friend.

SECOND LORD


Away, unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence.

APEMANTUS

I will fly, like a dog, the heels o’ th’ ass.

He exits.

FIRST LORD


He’s opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in
And taste Lord Timon’s bounty? He outgoes
310310The very heart of kindness.

SECOND LORD


He pours it out. Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward. No meed but he repays
Sevenfold above itself. No gift to him
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
315315All use of quittance.

FIRST LORD

The noblest mind he carries
That ever governed man.

SECOND LORD


Long may he live in fortunes. Shall we in?
I’ll keep you company.

They exit.

Scene 2

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served
in, and then enter Lord Timon, the States, the Athenian
Lords (including Lucius), Alcibiades, and Ventidius
(which Timon redeemed from prison). Flavius and others
are in attendance. Then comes dropping after all
Apemantus discontentedly like himself.

VENTIDIUS

320Most honored Timon,
It hath pleased the gods to remember my father’s age
And call him to long peace.
He is gone happy and has left me rich.
5Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
325To your free heart, I do return those talents,
Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
I derived liberty.

He offers a purse.

TIMON

O, by no means,
10Honest Ventidius. You mistake my love.
330I gave it freely ever, and there’s none
Can truly say he gives if he receives.
If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them. Faults that are rich are fair.

VENTIDIUS

15A noble spirit!

TIMON


335Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devised at first
To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere ’tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
20Pray, sit. More welcome are you to my fortunes
340Than my fortunes to me.

They sit.

FIRST LORD

My lord, we always have confessed it.

APEMANTUS


Ho, ho, “confessed it”? Hanged it, have you not?

TIMON

O Apemantus, you are welcome.

APEMANTUS

25No, you shall not make me welcome.
345I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

TIMON


Fie, thou ’rt a churl. You’ve got a humor there
Does not become a man. ’Tis much to blame.—
They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est, but yond
30man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by
350himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is
he fit for ’t indeed.

APEMANTUS

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

TIMON

35I take no heed of thee. Thou ’rt an Athenian,
355therefore welcome. I myself would have no power;
prithee, let my meat make thee silent.

APEMANTUS

I scorn thy meat. ’Twould choke me, for I
should ne’er flatter thee. (Apart.) O you gods,
40what a number of men eats Timon, and he sees ’em
360not! It grieves me to see so many dip their meat in
one man’s blood; and all the madness is, he cheers
them up too.
I wonder men dare trust themselves with men.
45Methinks they should invite them without knives.
365Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There’s much example for ’t. The fellow that sits
next him, now parts bread with him, pledges the
breath of him in a divided draft, is the readiest
50man to kill him. ’T ’as been proved. If I were a huge
370man, I should fear to drink at meals,
Lest they should spy my wind-pipe’s dangerous
notes.
Great men should drink with harness on their
55throats.

TIMON , responding to a toast


375My lord, in heart! And let the health go round.

SECOND LORD

Let it flow this way, my good lord.

APEMANTUS , apart

“Flow this way”? A brave fellow.
He keeps his tides well. Those healths will make
60thee and thy state look ill, Timon.
380Here’s that which is too weak to be a sinner,
Honest water, which ne’er left man i’ th’ mire.
This and my food are equals. There’s no odds.
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.



65Immortal gods, I crave no pelf.
385I pray for no man but myself.
Grant I may never prove so fond
To trust man on his oath or bond,
Or a harlot for her weeping,
70Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,
390Or a keeper with my freedom,
Or my friends if I should need ’em.
Amen. So fall to ’t.
Rich men sin, and I eat root.
He eats and drinks.
75Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!

TIMON

395Captain Alcibiades, your heart’s in the field now.

ALCIBIADES

My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

TIMON

You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies
than a dinner of friends.

ALCIBIADES

80So they were bleeding new, my lord,
400there’s no meat like ’em. I could wish my best
friend at such a feast.

APEMANTUS , apart

Would all those flatterers were
thine enemies, then, that then thou mightst kill
85’em and bid me to ’em.

FIRST LORD

405Might we but have that happiness, my
lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby
we might express some part of our zeals, we
should think ourselves forever perfect.

TIMON

90O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods
410themselves have provided that I shall have much
help from you. How had you been my friends else?
Why have you that charitable title from thousands,
did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told
95more of you to myself than you can with modesty
415speak in your own behalf. And thus far I confirm
you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any
friends if we should ne’er have need of ’em? They
were the most needless creatures living, should we
100ne’er have use for ’em, and would most resemble
420sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keeps
their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often
wished myself poorer that I might come nearer to
you. We are born to do benefits. And what better or
105properer can we call our own than the riches of
425our friends? O, what a precious comfort ’tis to
have so many, like brothers, commanding one
another’s fortunes. O, joy’s e’en made away ere ’t
can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water,
110methinks. To forget their faults, I drink to you.

APEMANTUS , apart

430Thou weep’st to make them drink,
Timon.

SECOND LORD


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

APEMANTUS , apart


115Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.

THIRD LORD


435I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.

APEMANTUS , apart

Much!

Sound tucket.

TIMON

What means that trump?

Enter Servant.

How now?

SERVANT

120Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies
440most desirous of admittance.

TIMON

Ladies? What are their wills?

SERVANT

There comes with them a forerunner, my lord,
which bears that office to signify their pleasures.

TIMON

125I pray, let them be admitted.

Servant exits.Enter “Cupid.”

CUPID


445Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
Acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. There
130Taste, touch, all, pleased from thy table rise;
450They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

TIMON


They’re welcome all. Let ’em have kind admittance.
Music, make their welcome!

LUCIUS


You see, my lord, how ample you’re beloved.

Music. Enter the masque of Ladies as Amazons,
with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.

APEMANTUS , apart

135Hoy-day!
455What a sweep of vanity comes this way.
They dance? They are madwomen.
Like madness is the glory of this life
As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
140We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves
460And spend our flatteries to drink those men
Upon whose age we void it up again
With poisonous spite and envy.
Who lives that’s not depravèd or depraves?
145Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves
465Of their friends’ gift?
I should fear those that dance before me now
Would one day stamp upon me. ’T ’as been done.
Men shut their doors against a setting sun.

The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of Timon,
and to show their loves each single out an Amazon, and
all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the
hautboys, and cease.

TIMON


150You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
470Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind.
You have added worth unto ’t and luster,
And entertained me with mine own device.
155I am to thank you for ’t.

FIRST LADY


475My lord, you take us even at the best.

APEMANTUS , apart

Faith, for the worst is filthy and
would not hold taking, I doubt me.

TIMON


Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you.
160Please you to dispose yourselves.

ALL LADIES

480Most thankfully, my lord.

Cupid and Ladies exit.

TIMON

Flavius.

FLAVIUS


My lord?

TIMON

The little casket bring me hither.

FLAVIUS

165Yes, my lord. (Aside.) More jewels yet?
485There is no crossing him in ’s humor;
Else I should tell him well, i’ faith I should.
When all’s spent, he’d be crossed then, an he could.
’Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
170That man might ne’er be wretched for his mind.

He exits.

FIRST LORD

490Where be our men?

SERVANT

Here, my lord, in readiness.

SECOND LORD


Our horses.

Enter Flavius, with the casket.

TIMON

O my friends, I have one word
175To say to you. Look you, my good lord,
495I must entreat you, honor me so much
As to advance this jewel. Accept it and wear it,
Kind my lord.

FIRST LORD


I am so far already in your gifts—

ALL

180So are we all.

Enter a Servant.

SERVANT


500My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate
Newly alighted and come to visit you.

TIMON


They are fairly welcome.

Servant exits.

FLAVIUS

I beseech your Honor,
185Vouchsafe me a word. It does concern you near.

TIMON


505Near? Why, then, another time I’ll hear thee.
I prithee, let’s be provided to show them
entertainment.

FLAVIUS , aside

I scarce know how.

Enter another Servant.

SECOND SERVANT


190May it please your Honor, Lord Lucius,
510Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses trapped in silver.

TIMON


I shall accept them fairly. Let the presents
Be worthily entertained.Servant exits.

Enter a third Servant.

195How now? What news?

THIRD SERVANT

515Please you, my lord, that honorable
gentleman Lord Lucullus entreats your company
tomorrow to hunt with him and has sent your
Honor two brace of greyhounds.

TIMON


200I’ll hunt with him; and let them be received,
520Not without fair reward.

Servant exits.

FLAVIUS , aside

What will this come to?
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer.
205Nor will he know his purse or yield me this—
525To show him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good.
His promises fly so beyond his state
That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
210For ev’ry word. He is so kind that he
530Now pays interest for ’t. His land’s put to their books.
Well, would I were gently put out of office
Before I were forced out.
Happier is he that has no friend to feed
215Than such that do e’en enemies exceed.
535I bleed inwardly for my lord.

He exits.

TIMON , to Lords

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

SECOND LORD


220With more than common thanks I will receive it.

THIRD LORD

540O, he’s the very soul of bounty!

TIMON

And now I remember, my lord, you gave good
words the other day of a bay courser I rode on. ’Tis
yours because you liked it.

FIRST LORD


225O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.

TIMON


545You may take my word, my lord. I know no man
Can justly praise but what he does affect.
I weigh my friends’ affection with mine own.
I’ll tell you true, I’ll call to you.

ALL LORDS

230O, none so welcome.

TIMON


550I take all and your several visitations
So kind to heart, ’tis not enough to give.
Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends
And ne’er be weary.—Alcibiades,
235Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich.
555It comes in charity to thee, for all thy living
Is ’mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
Lie in a pitched field.

ALCIBIADES

Ay, defiled land, my lord.

FIRST LORD

240We are so virtuously bound—

TIMON

560And so am I to you.

SECOND LORD

So infinitely endeared—

TIMON

All to you.—Lights, more lights.

FIRST LORD


The best of happiness, honor, and fortunes
245Keep with you, Lord Timon.

TIMON

565Ready for his friends.

All but Timon and Apemantus exit.

APEMANTUS

What a coil’s here,
Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!
I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
250That are given for ’em. Friendship’s full of dregs.
570Methinks false hearts should never have sound legs.
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court’sies.

TIMON


Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
I would be good to thee.

APEMANTUS

255No, I’ll nothing, for if I should be bribed
575too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and
then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv’st so
long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself
in paper shortly. What needs these feasts, pomps,
260and vainglories?

TIMON

580Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am
sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell, and
come with better music.

He exits.

APEMANTUS

So. Thou wilt not hear me now, thou shalt
265not then. I’ll lock thy heaven from thee.
585O, that men’s ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!

He exits.

ACT 2

Scene 1

Enter a Senator, with papers.

SENATOR


And late five thousand. To Varro and to Isidore
He owes nine thousand, besides my former sum,
Which makes it five-and-twenty. Still in motion
590Of raging waste! It cannot hold; it will not.
5If I want gold, steal but a beggar’s dog
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.
If I would sell my horse and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon—
595Ask nothing; give it him—it foals me straight,
10And able horses. No porter at his gate
But rather one that smiles and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold. No reason
Can sound his state in safety.—Caphis, ho!
600Caphis, I say!

Enter Caphis.

CAPHIS

15Here, sir. What is your pleasure?

SENATOR


Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Timon.
Importune him for my moneys. Be not ceased
With slight denial, nor then silenced when
605“Commend me to your master” and the cap
20Plays in the right hand thus; but tell him
My uses cry to me. I must serve my turn
Out of mine own. His days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates
610Have smit my credit. I love and honor him
25But must not break my back to heal his finger.
Immediate are my needs, and my relief
Must not be tossed and turned to me in words
But find supply immediate. Get you gone.
615Put on a most importunate aspect,
30A visage of demand, for I do fear
When every feather sticks in his own wing
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.

CAPHIS

620I go, sir.

SENATOR


35“I go, sir”? Take the bonds along with you
And have the dates in. Come.

He hands Caphis papers.

CAPHIS

I will, sir.

SENATOR

Go.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Steward Flavius, with many bills in his hand.

FLAVIUS


625No care, no stop, so senseless of expense
That he will neither know how to maintain it
Nor cease his flow of riot. Takes no account
How things go from him nor resumes no care
5Of what is to continue. Never mind
630Was to be so unwise to be so kind.
What shall be done? He will not hear till feel.
I must be round with him, now he comes from
hunting.
10Fie, fie, fie, fie!

Enter Caphis, and the Men of Isidore and Varro.

CAPHIS


635Good even, Varro. What, you come for money?

VARRO’S MAN

Is ’t not your business too?

CAPHIS

It is. And yours too, Isidore?

ISIDORE’S MAN

It is so.

CAPHIS

15Would we were all discharged!

VARRO’S MAN

640I fear it.

CAPHIS

Here comes the lord.

Enter Timon, and his train, with Alcibiades.

TIMON


So soon as dinner’s done we’ll forth again,
My Alcibiades. (To Caphis.) With me? What is your
20will?

CAPHIS , offering Timon a paper


645My lord, here is a note of certain dues.

TIMON

Dues? Whence are you?

CAPHIS

Of Athens here, my lord.

TIMON

Go to my steward.

CAPHIS


25Please it your Lordship, he hath put me off
650To the succession of new days this month.
My master is awaked by great occasion
To call upon his own and humbly prays you
That with your other noble parts you’ll suit
30In giving him his right.

TIMON

655Mine honest friend,
I prithee but repair to me next morning.

CAPHIS


Nay, good my lord—

TIMON

Contain thyself, good friend.

VARRO’S MAN , offering a paper

35One Varro’s servant,
660my good lord—

ISIDORE’S MAN , offering a paper


From Isidore. He humbly prays your speedy
payment.

CAPHIS


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

VARRO’S MAN


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

ISIDORE’S MAN


665Your steward puts me off, my lord, and I
Am sent expressly to your Lordship.

TIMON

Give me breath.—
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on.
45I’ll wait upon you instantly.
Alcibiades and Timon’s train exit.
To Flavius.670Come hither. Pray you,
How goes the world that I am thus encountered
With clamorous demands of debt, broken bonds,
And the detention of long-since-due debts
50Against my honor?

FLAVIUS , to the creditors’ Men

675Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business.
Your importunacy cease till after dinner,
That I may make his Lordship understand
55Wherefore you are not paid.

TIMON

680Do so, my friends.—
See them well entertained.

FLAVIUS

Pray, draw near.

Timon and Flavius exit.Enter Apemantus and Fool.

CAPHIS

Stay, stay, here comes the Fool with Apemantus.
60Let’s ha’ some sport with ’em.

VARRO’S MAN

685Hang him! He’ll abuse us.

ISIDORE’S MAN

A plague upon him, dog!

VARRO’S MAN

How dost, Fool?

APEMANTUS

Dost dialogue with thy shadow?

VARRO’S MAN

65I speak not to thee.

APEMANTUS

690No, ’tis to thyself. (To the Fool.) Come
away.

ISIDORE’S MAN , to Varro’s Man

There’s the fool hangs
on your back already.

APEMANTUS

70No, thou stand’st single; thou ’rt not on
695him yet.

CAPHIS , to Isidore’s Man

Where’s the fool now?

APEMANTUS

He last asked the question. Poor rogues
and usurers’ men, bawds between gold and want.

ALL THE MEN

75What are we, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

700Asses.

ALL THE MEN

Why?

APEMANTUS

That you ask me what you are, and do not
know yourselves.—Speak to ’em, Fool.

FOOL

80How do you, gentlemen?

ALL THE MEN

705Gramercies, good Fool. How does your
mistress?

FOOL

She’s e’en setting on water to scald such chickens
as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!

APEMANTUS

85Good. Gramercy.

Enter Page.

FOOL

710Look you, here comes my master’s page.

PAGE , to Fool

Why, how now, captain? What do you in
this wise company?—How dost thou, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

Would I had a rod in my mouth that I
90might answer thee profitably.

PAGE

715Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription
of these letters. I know not which is which.

He shows some papers.

APEMANTUS

Canst not read?

PAGE

No.

APEMANTUS

95There will little learning die, then, that
720day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Timon, this to
Alcibiades. Go. Thou wast born a bastard, and
thou ’lt die a bawd.

PAGE

Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish
100a dog’s death. Answer not. I am gone.

He exits.

APEMANTUS

725E’en so thou outrunn’st grace.—Fool, I
will go with you to Lord Timon’s.

FOOL

Will you leave me there?

APEMANTUS

If Timon stay at home.—You three serve
105three usurers?

ALL THE MEN

730Ay. Would they served us!

APEMANTUS

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

FOOL

Are you three usurers’ men?

ALL THE MEN

110Ay, fool.

FOOL

735I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant.
My mistress is one, and I am her Fool. When men
come to borrow of your masters, they approach
sadly and go away merry, but they enter my master’s
115house merrily and go away sadly. The reason
740of this?

VARRO’S MAN

I could render one.

APEMANTUS

Do it then, that we may account thee a
whoremaster and a knave, which notwithstanding,
120thou shalt be no less esteemed.

VARRO’S MAN

745What is a whoremaster, fool?

FOOL

A fool in good clothes, and something like thee.
’Tis a spirit; sometime ’t appears like a lord, sometime
like a lawyer, sometime like a philosopher,
125with two stones more than ’s artificial one. He is
750very often like a knight, and generally in all shapes
that man goes up and down in from fourscore to
thirteen, this spirit walks in.

VARRO’S MAN

Thou art not altogether a Fool.

FOOL

130Nor thou altogether a wise man. As much foolery
755as I have, so much wit thou lack’st.

APEMANTUS

That answer might have become Apemantus.

ALL THE MEN

Aside, aside! Here comes Lord Timon.

Enter Timon and Steward Flavius.

APEMANTUS

Come with me, fool, come.

FOOL

135I do not always follow lover, elder brother, and
760woman; sometime the philosopher.

Apemantus and the Fool exit.

FLAVIUS , to the creditors’ Men


Pray you, walk near. I’ll speak with you anon.

The Men exit.

TIMON


You make me marvel wherefore ere this time
Had you not fully laid my state before me,
140That I might so have rated my expense
765As I had leave of means.

FLAVIUS

You would not hear me.
At many leisures I proposed—

TIMON

Go to.
145Perchance some single vantages you took
770When my indisposition put you back,
And that unaptness made your minister
Thus to excuse yourself.

FLAVIUS

O, my good lord,
150At many times I brought in my accounts,
775Laid them before you. You would throw them off
And say you found them in mine honesty.
When for some trifling present you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head and wept—
155Yea, ’gainst th’ authority of manners prayed you
780To hold your hand more close. I did endure
Not seldom nor no slight checks when I have
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
And your great flow of debts. My lovèd lord,
160Though you hear now too late, yet now’s a time.
785The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts.

TIMON

Let all my land be sold.

FLAVIUS


’Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone,
165And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
790Of present dues. The future comes apace.
What shall defend the interim? And at length
How goes our reck’ning?

TIMON


To Lacedaemon did my land extend.

FLAVIUS


170O my good lord, the world is but a word.
795Were it all yours to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone!

TIMON

You tell me true.

FLAVIUS


If you suspect my husbandry of falsehood,
175Call me before th’ exactest auditors,
800And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been oppressed
With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine, when every room
180Hath blazed with lights and brayed with minstrelsy,
805I have retired me to a wasteful cock
And set mine eyes at flow.

TIMON

Prithee, no more.

FLAVIUS


Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!
185How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants
810This night englutted. Who is not Timon’s?
What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord
Timon’s?
Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!
190Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,
815The breath is gone whereof this praise is made.
Feast-won, fast-lost. One cloud of winter showers,
These flies are couched.

TIMON

Come, sermon me no further.
195No villainous bounty yet hath passed my heart;
820Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack
To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart.
If I would broach the vessels of my love
200And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
825Men and men’s fortunes could I frankly use
As I can bid thee speak.

FLAVIUS

Assurance bless your thoughts!

TIMON


And in some sort these wants of mine are crowned,
205That I account them blessings. For by these
830Shall I try friends. You shall perceive how you
Mistake my fortunes. I am wealthy in my friends.—
Within there! Flaminius!—Servilius!

Enter three Servants, Flaminius, Servilius, and another.

SERVANTS

My lord, my lord.

TIMON

210I will dispatch you severally. (To Servilius)
835You to Lord Lucius, (to Flaminius) to Lord
Lucullus you—I hunted with his Honor today; (to
the third Servant) you to Sempronius. Commend
me to their loves, and I am proud, say, that my
215occasions have found time to use ’em toward a
840supply of money. Let the request be fifty talents.

FLAMINIUS

As you have said, my lord.

Servants exit.

FLAVIUS , aside

Lord Lucius and Lucullus? Humh!

TIMON

Go you, sir, to the Senators,
220Of whom, even to the state’s best health, I have
845Deserved this hearing. Bid ’em send o’ th’ instant
A thousand talents to me.

FLAVIUS

I have been bold—
For that I knew it the most general way—
225To them to use your signet and your name,
850But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return.

TIMON

Is ’t true? Can ’t be?

FLAVIUS


They answer in a joint and corporate voice
230That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot
855Do what they would, are sorry. You are honorable,
But yet they could have wished—they know not—
Something hath been amiss—a noble nature
May catch a wrench—would all were well—’tis pity.
235And so, intending other serious matters,
860After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,
With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods
They froze me into silence.

TIMON

You gods, reward them!
240Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows
865Have their ingratitude in them hereditary.
Their blood is caked, ’tis cold, it seldom flows;
’Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
245Is fashioned for the journey, dull and heavy.
870Go to Ventidius. Prithee, be not sad.
Thou art true and honest—ingeniously I speak—
No blame belongs to thee. Ventidius lately
Buried his father, by whose death he’s stepped
250Into a great estate. When he was poor,
875Imprisoned, and in scarcity of friends,
I cleared him with five talents. Greet him from me.
Bid him suppose some good necessity
Touches his friend, which craves to be remembered
255With those five talents. That had, give ’t these fellows
880To whom ’tis instant due. Ne’er speak or think
That Timon’s fortunes ’mong his friends can sink.

He exits.

FLAVIUS

I would I could not think it.
That thought is bounty’s foe;
260Being free itself, it thinks all others so.

He exits.

ACT 3

Scene 1

Enter Flaminius waiting to speak with Lucullus,
from his master.Enter a Servant to him.

SERVANT

885I have told my lord of you. He is coming
down to you.

FLAMINIUS

I thank you, sir.

Enter Lucullus.

SERVANT

Here’s my lord.

LUCULLUS , aside

5One of Lord Timon’s men? A gift, I
890warrant. Why, this hits right. I dreamt of a silver
basin and ewer tonight.—Flaminius, honest
Flaminius, you are very respectively welcome, sir.
(To Servant.) Fill me some wine.(Servant exits.)
10And how does that honorable, complete, free-hearted
895gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful
good lord and master?

FLAMINIUS

His health is well, sir.

LUCULLUS

I am right glad that his health is well, sir.
15And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty
900Flaminius?

FLAMINIUS

Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir, which
in my lord’s behalf I come to entreat your Honor
to supply; who, having great and instant occasion
20to use fifty talents, hath sent to your Lordship to
905furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance
therein.

LUCULLUS

La, la, la, la. “Nothing doubting” says he?
Alas, good lord! A noble gentleman ’tis, if he would
25not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I
910ha’ dined with him and told him on ’t, and come
again to supper to him of purpose to have him
spend less, and yet he would embrace no counsel,
take no warning by my coming. Every man has his
30fault, and honesty is his. I ha’ told him on ’t, but I
915could ne’er get him from ’t.

Enter Servant with wine.

SERVANT

Please your Lordship, here is the wine.

LUCULLUS

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

He drinks.

FLAMINIUS

35Your Lordship speaks your pleasure.

LUCULLUS

920I have observed thee always for a towardly
prompt spirit—give thee thy due—and one that
knows what belongs to reason and canst use the
time well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in
40thee.—Get you gone, sirrah.Servant exits.
925Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord’s a bountiful
gentleman, but thou art wise and thou
know’st well enough, although thou com’st to me,
that this is no time to lend money, especially upon
45bare friendship, without security. Here’s three solidares
930for thee. (Gives him money.) Good boy,
wink at me, and say thou saw’st me not. Fare thee
well.

FLAMINIUS


Is ’t possible the world should so much differ,
50And we alive that lived? Fly, damnèd baseness,
935To him that worships thee!

He throws the money back at Lucullus.

LUCULLUS

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

Lucullus exits.

FLAMINIUS


May these add to the number that may scald thee!
55Let molten coin be thy damnation,
940Thou disease of a friend and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel my master’s passion. This slave
60Unto his honor has my lord’s meat in him.
945Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment
When he is turned to poison?
O, may diseases only work upon ’t,
And when he’s sick to death, let not that part of
65nature
950Which my lord paid for be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour.

He exits.

Scene 2

Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.

LUCIUS

Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good
friend and an honorable gentleman.

FIRST STRANGER

We know him for no less, though we
955are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one
5thing, my lord, and which I hear from common
rumors: now Lord Timon’s happy hours are done
and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

LUCIUS

Fie, no, do not believe it. He cannot want for
960money.

SECOND STRANGER

10But believe you this, my lord, that
not long ago one of his men was with the Lord
Lucullus to borrow fifty talents, nay, urged
extremely for ’t, and showed what necessity
965belonged to ’t, and yet was denied.

LUCIUS

15How?

SECOND STRANGER

I tell you, denied, my lord.

LUCIUS

What a strange case was that! Now, before the
gods, I am ashamed on ’t. Denied that honorable
970man? There was very little honor showed in ’t. For
20my own part, I must needs confess I have received
some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate,
jewels, and suchlike trifles, nothing comparing to
his; yet had he mistook him and sent to me, I
975should ne’er have denied his occasion fifty talents.

Enter Servilius.

SERVILIUS , aside

25See, by good hap, yonder’s my lord.
I have sweat to see his Honor. To Lucius. My
honored lord.

LUCIUS

Servilius. You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee
980well. Commend me to thy honorable virtuous lord,
30my very exquisite friend.

He turns to exit.

SERVILIUS

May it please your Honor, my lord hath
sent—

LUCIUS

Ha! What has he sent? I am so much endeared
985to that lord; he’s ever sending. How shall I thank
35him, think’st thou? And what has he sent now?

SERVILIUS

Has only sent his present occasion now, my
lord, requesting your Lordship to supply his
instant use with fifty talents.

LUCIUS


990I know his Lordship is but merry with me.
40He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.

SERVILIUS


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

LUCIUS


995Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

SERVILIUS

45Upon my soul, ’tis true, sir.

LUCIUS

What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish
myself against such a good time, when I might ha’
shown myself honorable! How unluckily it happened
1000that I should purchase the day before for a
50little part, and undo a great deal of honor! Servilius,
now before the gods, I am not able to do—the
more beast, I say!—I was sending to use Lord
Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I
1005would not for the wealth of Athens I had done ’t
55now. Commend me bountifully to his good Lordship,
and I hope his Honor will conceive the fairest
of me, because I have no power to be kind. And tell
him this from me: I count it one of my greatest
1010afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honorable
60gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
befriend me so far as to use mine own words to
him?

SERVILIUS

Yes, sir, I shall.

LUCIUS

1015I’ll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
Servilius exits.
65True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed,
And he that’s once denied will hardly speed.

He exits.

FIRST STRANGER

Do you observe this, Hostilius?

SECOND STRANGER

Ay, too well.

FIRST STRANGER


1020Why, this is the world’s soul, and just of the same
70piece
Is every flatterer’s sport. Who can call him his friend
That dips in the same dish? For, in my knowing,
Timon has been this lord’s father
1025And kept his credit with his purse,
75Supported his estate, nay, Timon’s money
Has paid his men their wages. He ne’er drinks
But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip.
And yet—O, see the monstrousness of man
1030When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!—
80He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.

THIRD STRANGER


Religion groans at it.

FIRST STRANGER

For mine own part,
1035I never tasted Timon in my life,
85Nor came any of his bounties over me
To mark me for his friend. Yet I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honorable carriage,
1040Had his necessity made use of me,
90I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have returned to him,
So much I love his heart. But I perceive
Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
1045For policy sits above conscience.

They exit.

Scene 3

Enter a Third Servant of Timon’s with Sempronius,
another of Timon’s friends.

SEMPRONIUS


Must he needs trouble me in ’t? Hum! ’Bove all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeemed from prison. All these
51050Owes their estates unto him.

SERVANT

My lord,
They have all been touched and found base metal,
For they have all denied him.

SEMPRONIUS

How? Have they denied him?
101055Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him,
And does he send to me? Three? Humh!
It shows but little love or judgment in him.
Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,
Thrive, give him over. Must I take th’ cure upon me?
151060Has much disgraced me in ’t. I’m angry at him
That might have known my place. I see no sense for ’t
But his occasions might have wooed me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e’er received gift from him.
201065And does he think so backwardly of me now
That I’ll requite it last? No.
So it may prove an argument of laughter
To th’ rest, and I ’mongst lords be thought a fool.
I’d rather than the worth of thrice the sum
251070Had sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake;
I’d such a courage to do him good. But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join:
Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin.

He exits.

SERVANT

Excellent! Your Lordship’s a goodly villain.
301075The devil knew not what he did when he made
man politic. He crossed himself by ’t, and I cannot
think but, in the end, the villainies of man will set
him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear
foul! Takes virtuous copies to be wicked, like those
351080that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms
on fire.
Of such a nature is his politic love.
This was my lord’s best hope. Now all are fled,
Save only the gods. Now his friends are dead,
401085Doors that were ne’er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year must be employed
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows:
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.

He exits.

Scene 4

Enter Varro’s two Men, meeting Titus and others, all
being Men of Timon’s creditors to wait for his coming
out. Then enter Lucius’ Man and Hortensius.

VARRO’S FIRST MAN


1090Well met. Good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

TITUS


The like to you, kind Varro.

HORTENSIUS

Lucius!
What, do we meet together?

LUCIUS’ MAN

5Ay, and I think
1095One business does command us all,
For mine is money.

TITUS

So is theirs and ours.

Enter Philotus.

LUCIUS’ MAN


And, sir, Philotus’ too.

PHILOTUS

10Good day at once.

LUCIUS’ MAN

1100Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?

PHILOTUS

Laboring for nine.

LUCIUS’ MAN


So much?

PHILOTUS

15Is not my lord seen yet?

LUCIUS’ MAN

1105Not yet.

PHILOTUS


I wonder on ’t. He was wont to shine at seven.

LUCIUS’ MAN


Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him.
You must consider that a prodigal course
20Is like the sun’s,
1110But not, like his, recoverable. I fear
’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse:
That is, one may reach deep enough and yet
Find little.

PHILOTUS

25I am of your fear for that.

TITUS


1115I’ll show you how t’ observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money?

HORTENSIUS

Most true, he does.

TITUS


And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
30For which I wait for money.

HORTENSIUS

1120It is against my heart.

LUCIUS’ MAN

Mark how strange it shows:
Timon in this should pay more than he owes,
And e’en as if your lord should wear rich jewels
35And send for money for ’em.

HORTENSIUS


1125I’m weary of this charge, the gods can witness.
I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.

VARRO’S FIRST MAN


Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?

LUCIUS’ MAN

40Five thousand mine.

VARRO’S FIRST MAN


1130’Tis much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
Else surely his had equaled.

Enter Flaminius.

TITUS

One of Lord Timon’s men.

LUCIUS’ MAN

45Flaminius? Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord
1135ready to come forth?

FLAMINIUS

No, indeed he is not.

TITUS

We attend his Lordship. Pray, signify so much.

FLAMINIUS

I need not tell him that. He knows you are
50too diligent.

He exits.Enter Flavius, the Steward in a cloak, muffled.

LUCIUS’ MAN


1140Ha! Is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.

TITUS

Do you hear, sir?

VARRO’S SECOND MAN

By your leave, sir.

FLAVIUS

55What do you ask of me, my friend?

TITUS


1145We wait for certain money here, sir.

FLAVIUS

Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
’Twere sure enough.
60Why then preferred you not your sums and bills
1150When your false masters eat of my lord’s meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts
And take down th’ int’rest into their glutt’nous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up.
65Let me pass quietly.
1155Believe ’t, my lord and I have made an end.
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

LUCIUS’ MAN

Ay, but this answer will not serve.

FLAVIUS


If ’twill not serve, ’tis not so base as you,
70For you serve knaves.

He exits.

VARRO’S FIRST MAN

1160How? What does his cashiered
Worship mutter?

VARRO’S SECOND MAN

No matter what. He’s poor, and
that’s revenge enough. Who can speak broader
75than he that has no house to put his head in? Such
1165may rail against great buildings.

Enter Servilius.

TITUS

O, here’s Servilius. Now we shall know some
answer.

SERVILIUS

If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair
80some other hour, I should derive much from ’t. For
1170take ’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent.
His comfortable temper has forsook him.
He’s much out of health and keeps his chamber.

LUCIUS’ MAN


Many do keep their chambers are not sick;
85And if it be so far beyond his health,
1175Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts
And make a clear way to the gods.

SERVILIUS

Good gods!

TITUS

We cannot take this for answer, sir.

FLAMINIUS , within

90Servilius, help! My lord, my lord!

Enter Timon in a rage.

TIMON


1180What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
95Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

LUCIUS’ MAN

1185Put in now, Titus.

TITUS

My lord, here is my bill.

LUCIUS’ MAN

Here’s mine.

HORTENSIUS

And mine, my lord.

VARRO’S SECOND MAN

100And ours, my lord.

PHILOTUS

1190All our bills.

TIMON


Knock me down with ’em! Cleave me to the girdle.

LUCIUS’ MAN

Alas, my lord—

TIMON

Cut my heart in sums!

TITUS

105Mine, fifty talents.

TIMON

1195Tell out my blood.

LUCIUS’ MAN

Five thousand crowns, my lord.

TIMON


Five thousand drops pays that.—What yours?—And
yours?

VARRO’S FIRST MAN

110My lord—

VARRO’S SECOND MAN

1200My lord—

TIMON


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

Timon exits.

HORTENSIUS

Faith, I perceive our masters may throw
their caps at their money. These debts may well be
115called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.

They exit.Enter Timon and Flavius.

TIMON


1205They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves!
Creditors? Devils!

FLAVIUS

My dear lord—

TIMON

What if it should be so?

FLAVIUS

120My lord—

TIMON


1210I’ll have it so.—My steward!

FLAVIUS

Here, my lord.

TIMON


So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius, all.
125I’ll once more feast the rascals.

FLAVIUS

1215O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul.
There’s not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.

TIMON

130Be it not in thy care. Go,
1220I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide
Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.

They exit.

Scene 5

Enter three Senators at one door, Alcibiades meeting
them, with Attendants.

FIRST SENATOR , to the Second Senator


My lord, you have my voice to ’t. The fault’s
Bloody. ’Tis necessary he should die.
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

SECOND SENATOR

1225Most true. The law shall bruise ’em.

ALCIBIADES


5Honor, health, and compassion to the Senate!

FIRST SENATOR

Now, captain?

ALCIBIADES


I am an humble suitor to your virtues,
For pity is the virtue of the law,
1230And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
10It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood
Hath stepped into the law, which is past depth
To those that without heed do plunge into ’t.
1235He is a man—setting his fate aside—
15Of comely virtues.
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice—
An honor in him which buys out his fault—
But with a noble fury and fair spirit,
1240Seeing his reputation touched to death,
20He did oppose his foe;
And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behave his anger, ere ’twas spent,
As if he had but proved an argument.

FIRST SENATOR


1245You undergo too strict a paradox,
25Striving to make an ugly deed look fair.
Your words have took such pains as if they labored
To bring manslaughter into form and set quarreling
Upon the head of valor—which indeed
1250Is valor misbegot, and came into the world
30When sects and factions were newly born.
He’s truly valiant that can wisely suffer
The worst that man can breathe
And make his wrongs his outsides,
1255To wear them like his raiment, carelessly,
35And ne’er prefer his injuries to his heart
To bring it into danger.
If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill,
What folly ’tis to hazard life for ill!

ALCIBIADES


1260My lord—

FIRST SENATOR

40You cannot make gross sins look clear.
To revenge is no valor, but to bear.

ALCIBIADES


My lords, then, under favor, pardon me
If I speak like a captain.
1265Why do fond men expose themselves to battle
45And not endure all threats? Sleep upon ’t,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats
Without repugnancy? If there be
Such valor in the bearing, what make we
1270Abroad? Why, then, women are more valiant
50That stay at home, if bearing carry it,
And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
1275As you are great, be pitifully good.
55Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin’s extremest gust,
But in defense, by mercy, ’tis most just.
To be in anger is impiety,
1280But who is man that is not angry?
60Weigh but the crime with this.

SECOND SENATOR

You breathe in vain.

ALCIBIADES

In vain? His service done
At Lacedaemon and Byzantium
1285Were a sufficient briber for his life.

FIRST SENATOR

65What’s that?

ALCIBIADES


Why, I say, my lords, has done fair service
And slain in fight many of your enemies.
How full of valor did he bear himself
1290In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!

SECOND SENATOR


70He has made too much plenty with ’em.
He’s a sworn rioter. He has a sin
That often drowns him and takes his valor prisoner.
If there were no foes, that were enough
1295To overcome him. In that beastly fury,
75He has been known to commit outrages
And cherish factions. ’Tis inferred to us
His days are foul and his drink dangerous.

FIRST SENATOR


He dies.

ALCIBIADES

1300Hard fate! He might have died in war.
80My lords, if not for any parts in him—
Though his right arm might purchase his own time
And be in debt to none—yet, more to move you,
Take my deserts to his and join ’em both.
1305And, for I know your reverend ages love
85Security, I’ll pawn my victories, all
My honor, to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receive ’t in valiant gore,
1310For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

FIRST SENATOR


90We are for law. He dies. Urge it no more,
On height of our displeasure. Friend or brother,
He forfeits his own blood that spills another.

ALCIBIADES

Must it be so? It must not be.
1315My lords, I do beseech you, know me.

SECOND SENATOR

95How?

ALCIBIADES

Call me to your remembrances.

THIRD SENATOR

What?

ALCIBIADES


I cannot think but your age has forgot me.
1320It could not else be I should prove so base
100To sue and be denied such common grace.
My wounds ache at you.

FIRST SENATOR

Do you dare our anger?
’Tis in few words, but spacious in effect:
1325We banish thee forever.

ALCIBIADES

105Banish me?
Banish your dotage, banish usury,
That makes the Senate ugly!

FIRST SENATOR


If after two days’ shine Athens contain thee,
1330Attend our weightier judgment.
110And, not to swell our spirit,
He shall be executed presently.

Senators exit.

ALCIBIADES


Now the gods keep you old enough that you may live
Only in bone, that none may look on you!—
1335I’m worse than mad. I have kept back their foes
115While they have told their money and let out
Their coin upon large interest, I myself
Rich only in large hurts. All those for this?
Is this the balsam that the usuring Senate
1340Pours into captains’ wounds? Banishment.
120It comes not ill. I hate not to be banished.
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I’ll cheer up
My discontented troops and lay for hearts.
1345’Tis honor with most lands to be at odds.
125Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

He exits.

Scene 6

Music. Enter divers Friends at several doors.

FIRST FRIEND

The good time of day to you, sir.

SECOND FRIEND

I also wish it to you. I think this honorable
lord did but try us this other day.

FIRST FRIEND

1350Upon that were my thoughts tiring when
5we encountered. I hope it is not so low with him as
he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

SECOND FRIEND

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

FIRST FRIEND

1355I should think so. He hath sent me an
10earnest inviting, which many my near occasions
did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me
beyond them, and I must needs appear.

SECOND FRIEND

In like manner was I in debt to my
1360importunate business, but he would not hear my
15excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me,
that my provision was out.

FIRST FRIEND

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

SECOND FRIEND

1365Every man here’s so. What would he
20have borrowed of you?

FIRST FRIEND

A thousand pieces.

SECOND FRIEND

A thousand pieces!

FIRST FRIEND

What of you?

SECOND FRIEND

1370He sent to me, sir—

Enter Timon and Attendants.

25Here he comes.

TIMON

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

FIRST FRIEND

Ever at the best, hearing well of your
1375Lordship.

SECOND FRIEND

30The swallow follows not summer
more willing than we your Lordship.

TIMON , aside

Nor more willingly leaves winter, such
summer birds are men.—Gentlemen, our dinner
1380will not recompense this long stay. Feast your ears
35with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly
o’ th’ trumpets’ sound. We shall to ’t presently.

FIRST FRIEND

I hope it remains not unkindly with your
Lordship that I returned you an empty messenger.

TIMON

1385O, sir, let it not trouble you.

SECOND FRIEND

40My noble lord—

TIMON

Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

SECOND FRIEND

My most honorable lord, I am e’en
sick of shame that when your Lordship this other
1390day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.

TIMON

45Think not on ’t, sir.

SECOND FRIEND

If you had sent but two hours before—

TIMON

Let it not cumber your better remembrance.

The banquet brought in.

Come, bring in all together.

SECOND FRIEND

1395All covered dishes!

FIRST FRIEND

50Royal cheer, I warrant you.

THIRD FRIEND

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

FIRST FRIEND

How do you? What’s the news?

THIRD FRIEND

1400Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it?

FIRST AND SECOND FRIENDS

55Alcibiades banished?

THIRD FRIEND

’Tis so. Be sure of it.

FIRST FRIEND

How? How?

SECOND FRIEND

I pray you, upon what?

TIMON

1405My worthy friends, will you draw near?

THIRD FRIEND

60I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble
feast toward.

SECOND FRIEND

This is the old man still.

THIRD FRIEND

Will ’t hold? Will ’t hold?

SECOND FRIEND

1410It does, but time will—and so—

THIRD FRIEND

65I do conceive.

TIMON

Each man to his stool, with that spur as he
would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet shall
be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let
1415the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place.
70Sit, sit. (They sit.) The gods require our thanks:

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with
thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves
praised, but reserve still to give, lest your deities be
1420despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need
75not lend to another; for, were your godheads to
borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make
the meat be beloved more than the man that gives
it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of
1425villains. If there sit twelve women at the table, let a
80dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your fees,
O gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the
common tag of people, what is amiss in them,
you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these
1430my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so
85in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they
welcome.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

The dishes are uncovered. They contain
only water and stones.

SOME SPEAK

What does his Lordship mean?

SOME OTHER

1435I know not.

TIMON


90May you a better feast never behold,
You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm
water
Is your perfection. This is Timon’s last,
1440Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,
95Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces
Your reeking villainy. (He throws water in their
faces.) Live loathed and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
1445Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
100You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies,
Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks.
Of man and beast the infinite malady
Crust you quite o’er! (They stand.) What, dost thou
1450go?
105Soft! Take thy physic first—thou too—and thou.—
Stay. I will lend thee money, borrow none.
He attacks them and forces them out.
What? All in motion? Henceforth be no feast
Whereat a villain’s not a welcome guest.
1455Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be
110Of Timon man and all humanity!

He exits.Enter Timon’s Friends, the Senators, with other Lords.

FIRST FRIEND

How now, my lords?

SECOND FRIEND

Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s
fury?

THIRD FRIEND

1460Push! Did you see my cap?

FOURTH FRIEND

115I have lost my gown.

FIRST FRIEND

He’s but a mad lord, and naught but
humors sways him. He gave me a jewel th’ other
day, and now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you
1465see my jewel?

SECOND FRIEND

120Did you see my cap?

THIRD FRIEND

Here ’tis.

FOURTH FRIEND

Here lies my gown.

FIRST FRIEND

Let’s make no stay.

SECOND FRIEND


1470Lord Timon’s mad.

THIRD FRIEND

125I feel ’t upon my bones.

FOURTH FRIEND


One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

The Senators and the others exit.

ACT 4

Scene 1

Enter Timon.

TIMON


Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall
That girdles in those wolves, dive in the earth
1475And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,
5Pluck the grave wrinkled Senate from the bench
And minister in their steads! To general filths
Convert o’ th’ instant, green virginity!
1480Do ’t in your parents’ eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast!
Rather than render back, out with your knives
10And cut your trusters’ throats! Bound servants, steal!
Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,
And pill by law. Maid, to thy master’s bed!
1485Thy mistress is o’ th’ brothel. Son of sixteen,
Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire;
15With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night rest, and neighborhood,
1490Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs, and laws,
20Decline to your confounding contraries,
And yet confusion live! Plagues incident to men,
Your potent and infectious fevers heap
1495On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
25As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty,
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
That ’gainst the stream of virtue they may strive
1500And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,
Sow all th’ Athenian bosoms, and their crop
30Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath,
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I’ll bear from thee
1505But nakedness, thou detestable town!
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!
35Timon will to the woods, where he shall find
Th’ unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
The gods confound—hear me, you good gods all!—
1510Th’ Athenians both within and out that wall,
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
40To the whole race of mankind, high and low!
Amen.

He exits.

Scene 2

Enter Steward Flavius with two or three Servants.

FIRST SERVANT


Hear you, Master Steward, where’s our master?
1515Are we undone, cast off, nothing remaining?

FLAVIUS


Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
5I am as poor as you.

FIRST SERVANT

Such a house broke?
1520So noble a master fall’n, all gone, and not
One friend to take his fortune by the arm
And go along with him?

SECOND SERVANT

10As we do turn our backs
From our companion thrown into his grave,
1525So his familiars to his buried fortunes
Slink all away, leave their false vows with him,
Like empty purses picked; and his poor self,
15A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all-shunned poverty,
1530Walks, like contempt, alone.

Enter other Servants.

More of our fellows.

FLAVIUS


All broken implements of a ruined house.

THIRD SERVANT


20Yet do our hearts wear Timon’s livery.
That see I by our faces. We are fellows still,
1535Serving alike in sorrow. Leaked is our bark,
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,
Hearing the surges threat. We must all part
25Into this sea of air.

FLAVIUS

Good fellows all,
1540The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon’s sake
Let’s yet be fellows. Let’s shake our heads and say,
30As ’twere a knell unto our master’s fortunes,
“We have seen better days.” (He offers them
money.) 1545Let each take some.
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more.
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
The Servants embrace and part several ways.
35O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!
Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
1550Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live
But in a dream of friendship,
40To have his pomp and all what state compounds
But only painted, like his varnished friends?
1555Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,
Undone by goodness! Strange unusual blood
When man’s worst sin is he does too much good!
45Who then dares to be half so kind again?
For bounty, that makes gods, do still mar men.
1560My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed,
Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!
50He’s flung in rage from this ingrateful seat
Of monstrous friends,
1565Nor has he with him to supply his life,
Or that which can command it.
I’ll follow and inquire him out.
55I’ll ever serve his mind with my best will.
Whilst I have gold, I’ll be his steward still.

He exits.

Scene 3

Enter Timon in the woods, with a spade.

TIMON


1570O blessèd breeding sun, draw from the Earth
Rotten humidity! Below thy sister’s orb
Infect the air! Twinned brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence, and birth
5Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes,
1575The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature,
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune
But by contempt of nature.
Raise me this beggar, and deny ’t that lord;
10The Senators shall bear contempt hereditary,
1580The beggar native honor.
It is the pasture lards the brother’s sides,
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who
dares
15In purity of manhood stand upright
1585And say “This man’s a flatterer”? If one be,
So are they all, for every grise of fortune
Is smoothed by that below. The learnèd pate
Ducks to the golden fool. All’s obliquy.
20There’s nothing level in our cursèd natures
1590But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred
All feasts, societies, and throngs of men.
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains.
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!
25Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
1595With thy most operant poison! (Digging, he finds
gold.) What is here?
Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold?
No, gods, I am no idle votarist.
30Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this will
1600make
Black white, foul fair, wrong right,
Base noble, old young, coward valiant.
Ha, you gods! Why this? What this, you gods? Why,
35this
1605Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
Pluck stout men’s pillows from below their heads.
This yellow slave
Will knit and break religions, bless th’ accursed,
40Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves
1610And give them title, knee, and approbation
With senators on the bench. This is it
That makes the wappened widow wed again;
She whom the spital house and ulcerous sores
45Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices
1615To th’ April day again. Come, damnèd earth,
Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. (March afar off.) Ha? A drum?
50Thou ’rt quick,
1620But yet I’ll bury thee. Thou ’lt go, strong thief,
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand.
Nay, stay thou out for earnest.

He buries the gold, keeping some out.Enter Alcibiades, with Drum and Fife, in warlike
manner, and Phrynia and Timandra.

ALCIBIADES

What art thou there? Speak.

TIMON


55A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart
1625For showing me again the eyes of man!

ALCIBIADES


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

TIMON


I am Misanthropos and hate mankind.
60For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
1630That I might love thee something.

ALCIBIADES

I know thee well.
But in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.

TIMON


I know thee too, and more than that I know thee
65I not desire to know. Follow thy drum.
1635With man’s blood paint the ground gules, gules!
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel.
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
70For all her cherubin look.

PHRYNIA

1640Thy lips rot off!

TIMON


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

ALCIBIADES


How came the noble Timon to this change?

TIMON


75As the moon does, by wanting light to give.
1645But then renew I could not, like the moon;
There were no suns to borrow of.

ALCIBIADES


Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?

TIMON


None, but to maintain my opinion.

ALCIBIADES

80What is it, Timon?

TIMON

1650Promise me friendship, but perform none. If
thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for
thou art a man. If thou dost perform, confound
thee, for thou art a man.

ALCIBIADES


85I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.

TIMON


1655Thou saw’st them when I had prosperity.

ALCIBIADES


I see them now. Then was a blessèd time.

TIMON


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

TIMANDRA


Is this th’ Athenian minion whom the world
90Voiced so regardfully?

TIMON

1660Art thou Timandra?

TIMANDRA

Yes.

TIMON


Be a whore still. They love thee not that use thee.
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
95Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves
1665For tubs and baths. Bring down rose-cheeked youth
To the tub-fast and the diet.

TIMANDRA

Hang thee, monster!

ALCIBIADES


Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
100Are drowned and lost in his calamities.—
1670I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
The want whereof doth daily make revolt
In my penurious band. I have heard and grieved
How cursèd Athens, mindless of thy worth,
105Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states,
1675But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—

TIMON


I prithee, beat thy drum and get thee gone.

ALCIBIADES


I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon.

TIMON


How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
110I had rather be alone.

ALCIBIADES


1680Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee.

TIMON

Keep it. I cannot eat it.

ALCIBIADES


When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—

TIMON


Warr’st thou ’gainst Athens?

ALCIBIADES

115Ay, Timon, and have cause.

TIMON


1685The gods confound them all in thy conquest,
And thee after, when thou hast conquered!

ALCIBIADES


Why me, Timon?

TIMON

That by killing of villains
120Thou wast born to conquer my country.
1690Put up thy gold. Go on. Here’s gold. Go on.
Be as a planetary plague when Jove
Will o’er some high-viced city hang his poison
In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one.
125Pity not honored age for his white beard;
1695He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron;
It is her habit only that is honest,
Herself’s a bawd. Let not the virgin’s cheek
Make soft thy trenchant sword, for those milk paps,
130That through the window-bars bore at men’s eyes,
1700Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the
babe,
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their
135mercy;
1705Think it a bastard whom the oracle
Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut,
And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects;
Put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes,
140Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,
1710Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,
Shall pierce a jot. (He offers gold.) There’s gold to
pay thy soldiers.
Make large confusion and, thy fury spent,
145Confounded be thyself! Speak not. Begone.

ALCIBIADES


1715Hast thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou givest me,
Not all thy counsel.

TIMON


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

BOTH WOMEN


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

TIMON


150Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,
1720And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,
Your aprons mountant. (He begins throwing gold
into their aprons.) You are not oathable,
Although I know you’ll swear—terribly swear
155Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues
1725Th’ immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths.
I’ll trust to your conditions. Be whores still.
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up.
160Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
1730And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months
Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs
With burdens of the dead—some that were hanged,
No matter; wear them, betray with them. Whore
165still.
1735Paint till a horse may mire upon your face.
A pox of wrinkles!

BOTH WOMEN

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

TIMON

170Consumptions sow
1740In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,
And mar men’s spurring. Crack the lawyer’s voice,
That he may never more false title plead
Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen,
175That scolds against the quality of flesh
1745And not believes himself. Down with the nose—
Down with it flat, take the bridge quite away—
Of him that, his particular to foresee,
Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate
180ruffians bald,
1750And let the unscarred braggarts of the war
Derive some pain from you. Plague all,
That your activity may defeat and quell
The source of all erection. There’s more gold.
185Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
1755And ditches grave you all!

BOTH WOMEN


More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.

TIMON


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

ALCIBIADES


190Strike up the drum towards Athens.—Farewell,
1760Timon.
If I thrive well, I’ll visit thee again.

TIMON


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

ALCIBIADES

I never did thee harm.

TIMON


195Yes, thou spok’st well of me.

ALCIBIADES

1765Call’st thou that harm?

TIMON


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

ALCIBIADES , to the Women

We but offend him.—
200Strike.

The drum sounds; all but Timon exit.

TIMON


1770That nature, being sick of man’s unkindness,
Should yet be hungry! (He digs.) Common mother,
thou
Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast
205Teems and feeds all; whose selfsame mettle—
1775Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed—
Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm,
With all th’ abhorrèd births below crisp heaven
210Whereon Hyperion’s quick’ning fire doth shine:
1780Yield him who all thy human sons do hate,
From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb;
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man.
215Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears;
1785Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Hath to the marbled mansion all above
Never presented. O, a root! Dear thanks!
Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plow-torn leas,
220Whereof ingrateful man with liquorish drafts
1790And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind,
That from it all consideration slips—

Enter Apemantus.

More man? Plague, plague!

APEMANTUS


I was directed hither. Men report
225Thou dost affect my manners and dost use them.

TIMON


1795’Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog,
Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee!

APEMANTUS


This is in thee a nature but infected,
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung
230From change of future. Why this spade? This place?
1800This slavelike habit and these looks of care?
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods
235By putting on the cunning of a carper.
1805Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
By that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee,
And let his very breath whom thou ’lt observe
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,
240And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus.
1810Thou gav’st thine ears, like tapsters that bade
welcome,
To knaves and all approachers. ’Tis most just
That thou turn rascal. Had’st thou wealth again,
245Rascals should have ’t. Do not assume my likeness.

TIMON


1815Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself.

APEMANTUS


Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself—
A madman so long, now a fool. What, think’st
That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,
250Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moist trees,
1820That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels
And skip when thou point’st out? Will the cold brook,
Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste
To cure thy o’ernight’s surfeit? Call the creatures
255Whose naked natures live in all the spite
1825Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhousèd trunks,
To the conflicting elements exposed,
Answer mere nature. Bid them flatter thee.
O, thou shalt find—

TIMON

260A fool of thee. Depart.

APEMANTUS


1830I love thee better now than e’er I did.

TIMON


I hate thee worse.

APEMANTUS

Why?

TIMON

Thou flatter’st misery.

APEMANTUS


265I flatter not but say thou art a caitiff.

TIMON

1835Why dost thou seek me out?

APEMANTUS

To vex thee.

TIMON


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

APEMANTUS

270Ay.

TIMON

1840What, a knave too?

APEMANTUS


If thou didst put this sour cold habit on
To castigate thy pride, ’twere well, but thou
Dost it enforcedly. Thou ’dst courtier be again
275Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery
1845Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before;
The one is filling still, never complete,
The other at high wish. Best state, contentless,
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
280Worse than the worst, content.
1850Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.

TIMON


Not by his breath that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave whom Fortune’s tender arm
With favor never clasped but bred a dog.
285Hadst thou, like us from our first swathe, proceeded
1855The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged
thyself
290In general riot, melted down thy youth
1860In different beds of lust, and never learned
The icy precepts of respect, but followed
The sugared game before thee. But myself—
Who had the world as my confectionary,
295The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of
1865men
At duty, more than I could frame employment,
That numberless upon me stuck as leaves
Do on the oak, have with one winter’s brush
300Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare,
1870For every storm that blows—I to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burden.
Thy nature did commence in sufferance. Time
Hath made thee hard in ’t. Why shouldst thou hate
305men?
1875They never flattered thee. What hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,
Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff
To some she-beggar and compounded thee
310Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, begone.
1880If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.

APEMANTUS


Art thou proud yet?

TIMON

Ay, that I am not thee.

APEMANTUS

315I, that I was no prodigal.

TIMON

1885I, that I am one now.
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I’d give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
That the whole life of Athens were in this!
320Thus would I eat it.

He gnaws a root.

APEMANTUS , offering food

1890Here, I will mend thy feast.

TIMON


First mend my company. Take away thyself.

APEMANTUS


So I shall mend mine own by th’ lack of thine.

TIMON


’Tis not well mended so; it is but botched.
325If not, I would it were.

APEMANTUS

1895What wouldst thou have to Athens?

TIMON


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

APEMANTUS


Here is no use for gold.

TIMON

330The best and truest,
1900For here it sleeps and does no hired harm.

APEMANTUS

Where liest a-nights, Timon?

TIMON

Under that’s above me. Where feed’st thou
a-days, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS

335Where my stomach finds meat, or rather
1905where I eat it.

TIMON

Would poison were obedient and knew my
mind!

APEMANTUS

Where wouldst thou send it?

TIMON

340To sauce thy dishes.

APEMANTUS

1910The middle of humanity thou never
knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When
thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they
mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags
345thou know’st none, but art despised for the contrary.
1915There’s a medlar for thee. Eat it.

TIMON

On what I hate I feed not.

APEMANTUS

Dost hate a medlar?

TIMON

Ay, though it look like thee.

APEMANTUS

350An thou ’dst hated meddlers sooner, thou
1920shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man
didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved
after his means?

TIMON

Who, without those means thou talk’st of, didst
355thou ever know beloved?

APEMANTUS

1925Myself.

TIMON

I understand thee. Thou hadst some means to
keep a dog.

APEMANTUS

What things in the world canst thou nearest
360compare to thy flatterers?

TIMON

1930Women nearest, but men—men are the things
themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world,
Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

APEMANTUS

Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.

TIMON

365Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion
1935of men and remain a beast with the beasts?

APEMANTUS

Ay, Timon.

TIMON

A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee
t’ attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would
370beguile thee. If thou wert the lamb, the fox would
1940eat thee. If thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect
thee when peradventure thou wert accused by
the ass. If thou wert the ass, thy dullness would
torment thee, and still thou lived’st but as a breakfast
375to the wolf. If thou wert the wolf, thy greediness
1945would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard
thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn,
pride and wrath would confound thee and
make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. Wert
380thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse.
1950Wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the
leopard. Wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane
to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were
jurors on thy life. All thy safety were remotion, and
385thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be
1955that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast
art thou already that seest not thy loss in
transformation!

APEMANTUS

If thou couldst please me with speaking to
390me, thou mightst have hit upon it here. The commonwealth
1960of Athens is become a forest of beasts.

TIMON

How, has the ass broke the wall that thou art
out of the city?

APEMANTUS

Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The
395plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to
1965catch it and give way. When I know not what else
to do, I’ll see thee again.

TIMON

When there is nothing living but thee, thou
shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar’s dog
400than Apemantus.

APEMANTUS


1970Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.

TIMON


Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!

APEMANTUS


A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse.

TIMON


All villains that do stand by thee are pure.

APEMANTUS


405There is no leprosy but what thou speak’st.

TIMON

1975If I name thee.
I’ll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.

APEMANTUS

I would my tongue could rot them off!

TIMON


Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
410Choler does kill me that thou art alive.
1980I swoon to see thee.

APEMANTUS


Would thou wouldst burst!

TIMON

Away, thou tedious rogue!
I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee.

Timon throws a stone at Apemantus.

APEMANTUS

415Beast!

TIMON

1985Slave!

APEMANTUS

Toad!

TIMON

Rogue, rogue, rogue!
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
420But even the mere necessities upon ’t.
1990Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave.
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others’ lives may laugh.
425(To his gold.) O thou sweet king-killer and dear
1995divorce
’Twixt natural son and sire, thou bright defiler
Of Hymen’s purest bed, thou valiant Mars,
Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer,
430Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
2000That lies on Dian’s lap; thou visible god,
That sold’rest close impossibilities
And mak’st them kiss, that speak’st with every
tongue
435To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts,
2005Think thy slave, man, rebels, and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!

APEMANTUS

Would ’twere so!
440But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou ’st gold;
2010Thou wilt be thronged to shortly.

TIMON

Thronged to?

APEMANTUS

Ay.

TIMON


Thy back, I prithee.

APEMANTUS

445Live and love thy misery.

TIMON

2015Long live so, and so die. I am quit.

Enter the Banditti.

APEMANTUS


More things like men.—Eat, Timon, and abhor
them.

Apemantus exits.

FIRST BANDIT

Where should he have this gold? It is
450some poor fragment, some slender ort of his
2020remainder. The mere want of gold and the falling-from
of his friends drove him into this melancholy.

SECOND BANDIT

It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.

THIRD BANDIT

Let us make the assay upon him. If he
455care not for ’t, he will supply us easily. If he covetously
2025reserve it, how shall ’s get it?

SECOND BANDIT

True, for he bears it not about him. ’Tis
hid.

FIRST BANDIT

Is not this he?

OTHERS

460Where?

SECOND BANDIT

2030’Tis his description.

THIRD BANDIT

He. I know him.

ALL

Save thee, Timon.

TIMON

Now, thieves?

ALL


465Soldiers, not thieves.

TIMON

2035Both, too, and women’s sons.

ALL


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

TIMON


Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots.
470Within this mile break forth a hundred springs.
2040The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips.
The bounteous huswife Nature on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want?

FIRST BANDIT


We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
475As beasts and birds and fishes.

TIMON


2045Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes;
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves professed, that you work not
In holier shapes, for there is boundless theft
480In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
2050Here’s gold. (He gives them gold.) Go, suck the
subtle blood o’ th’ grape
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so ’scape hanging. Trust not the physician;
485His antidotes are poison, and he slays
2055More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together.
Do, villainy, do, since you protest to do ’t,
Like workmen. I’ll example you with thievery.
The sun’s a thief and with his great attraction
490Robs the vast sea. The moon’s an arrant thief,
2060And her pale fire she snatches from the sun.
The sea’s a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The moon into salt tears. The earth’s a thief,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stol’n
495From gen’ral excrement. Each thing’s a thief.
2065The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves. Away!
Rob one another. There’s more gold. (He gives them
gold.) Cut throats.
500All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go.
2070Break open shops. Nothing can you steal
But thieves do lose it. Steal less for this I give you,
And gold confound you howsoe’er! Amen.

THIRD BANDIT

Has almost charmed me from my profession
505by persuading me to it.

FIRST BANDIT

2075’Tis in the malice of mankind that he
thus advises us, not to have us thrive in our
mystery.

SECOND BANDIT

I’ll believe him as an enemy and give
510over my trade.

FIRST BANDIT

2080Let us first see peace in Athens. There is
no time so miserable but a man may be true.

Thieves exit.Enter Flavius the Steward, to Timon.

FLAVIUS

O you gods!
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
515Full of decay and flailing? O, monument
2085And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed!
What an alteration of honor has desp’rate want
made!
What viler thing upon the Earth than friends,
520Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
2090How rarely does it meet with this time’s guise,
When man was wished to love his enemies!
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would mischief me than those that do!
525Has caught me in his eye. I will present
2095My honest grief unto him and as my lord
Still serve him with my life.—My dearest master.

TIMON


Away! What art thou?

FLAVIUS

Have you forgot me, sir?

TIMON


530Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men.
2100Then, if thou grant’st thou ’rt a man, I have forgot
thee.

FLAVIUS

An honest poor servant of yours.

TIMON

Then I know thee not.
535I never had honest man about me, I. All
2105I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains.

FLAVIUS

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

He weeps.

TIMON


540What, dost thou weep? Come nearer, then. I love
2110thee
Because thou art a woman and disclaim’st
Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity’s sleeping.
545Strange times that weep with laughing, not with
2115weeping!

FLAVIUS


I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
T’ accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts,
To entertain me as your steward still.

He offers money.

TIMON

550Had I a steward
2120So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.
Let me behold thy face. Surely this man
Was born of woman.
555Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
2125You perpetual-sober gods. I do proclaim
One honest man—mistake me not, but one;
No more, I pray!—and he’s a steward.
How fain would I have hated all mankind,
560And thou redeem’st thyself. But all, save thee,
2130I fell with curses.
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise,
For by oppressing and betraying me
Thou mightst have sooner got another service;
565For many so arrive at second masters
2135Upon their first lord’s neck. But tell me true—
For I must ever doubt, though ne’er so sure—
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
A usuring kindness, and as rich men deal gifts,
570Expecting in return twenty for one?

FLAVIUS


2140No, my most worthy master, in whose breast
Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late.
You should have feared false times when you did
feast.
575Suspect still comes where an estate is least.
2145That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
Duty, and zeal to your unmatchèd mind,
Care of your food and living. And believe it,
My most honored lord,
580For any benefit that points to me,
2150Either in hope or present, I’d exchange
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
To requite me by making rich yourself.

TIMON


Look thee, ’tis so. Thou singly honest man,
585Here, take. (Timon offers gold.) The gods out of my
2155misery
Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy,
But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men;
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
590But let the famished flesh slide from the bone
2160Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs
What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow ’em,
Debts wither ’em to nothing; be men like blasted
woods,
595And may diseases lick up their false bloods!
2165And so farewell and thrive.

FLAVIUS

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

TIMON

If thou hat’st curses,
600Stay not. Fly whilst thou art blest and free.
2170Ne’er see thou man, and let me ne’er see thee.

They exit.

ACT 5

Scene 1

Enter Poet and Painter.

PAINTER

As I took note of the place, it cannot be far
where he abides.

POET

What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumor
hold for true that he’s so full of gold?

PAINTER

52175Certain. Alcibiades reports it. Phrynia and
Timandra had gold of him. He likewise enriched
poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. ’Tis
said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.

POET

Then this breaking of his has been but a try for
102180his friends?

PAINTER

Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in
Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore
’tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in
this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly
152185in us and is very likely to load our purposes with
what they travail for, if it be a just and true report
that goes of his having.

Enter Timon, behind them, from his cave.

POET

What have you now to present unto him?

PAINTER

Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I
202190will promise him an excellent piece.

POET

I must serve him so too—tell him of an intent
that’s coming toward him.

PAINTER

Good as the best. Promising is the very air o’
th’ time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance
252195is ever the duller for his act, and but in the
plainer and simpler kind of people the deed of saying
is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly
and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or
testament which argues a great sickness in his
302200judgment that makes it.

TIMON , aside

Excellent workman! Thou canst not
paint a man so bad as is thyself.

POET

I am thinking what I shall say I have provided
for him. It must be a personating of himself, a
352205satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery
of the infinite flatteries that follow youth
and opulency.

TIMON , aside

Must thou needs stand for a villain in
thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults
402210in other men? Do so. I have gold for thee.

POET

Nay, let’s seek him.
Then do we sin against our own estate
When we may profit meet and come too late.

PAINTER

True.
452215When the day serves, before black-cornered night,
Find what thou want’st by free and offered light.
Come.

TIMON , aside


I’ll meet you at the turn. What a god’s gold
That he is worshiped in a baser temple
502220Than where swine feed!
’Tis thou that rigg’st the bark and plow’st the foam,
Settlest admirèd reverence in a slave.
To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye
Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey!
552225Fit I meet them.

He comes forward.

POET


Hail, worthy Timon.

PAINTER

Our late noble master.

TIMON


Have I once lived to see two honest men?

POET

Sir,
602230Having often of your open bounty tasted,
Hearing you were retired, your friends fall’n off,
Whose thankless natures—O, abhorrèd spirits!
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough—
What, to you,
652235Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence
To their whole being? I am rapt and cannot cover
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude
With any size of words.

TIMON


Let it go naked. Men may see ’t the better.
702240You that are honest, by being what you are
Make them best seen and known.

PAINTER

He and myself
Have travailed in the great shower of your gifts
And sweetly felt it.

TIMON

752245Ay, you are honest men.

PAINTER


We are hither come to offer you our service.

TIMON


Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you?
Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No?

BOTH


What we can do we’ll do to do you service.

TIMON


802250You’re honest men. You’ve heard that I have gold.
I am sure you have. Speak truth. You’re honest men.

PAINTER


So it is said, my noble lord, but therefor
Came not my friend nor I.

TIMON


Good honest men. (To the Painter.) Thou draw’st a
852255counterfeit
Best in all Athens. Thou ’rt indeed the best.
Thou counterfeit’st most lively.

PAINTER

So-so, my lord.

TIMON


E’en so, sir, as I say. (To the Poet.) And for thy
902260fiction,
Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth
That thou art even natural in thine art.
But for all this, my honest-natured friends,
I must needs say you have a little fault.
952265Marry, ’tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I
You take much pains to mend.

BOTH

Beseech your Honor
To make it known to us.

TIMON

You’ll take it ill.

BOTH

1002270Most thankfully, my lord.

TIMON

Will you indeed?

BOTH

Doubt it not, worthy lord.

TIMON


There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave
That mightily deceives you.

BOTH

1052275Do we, my lord?

TIMON


Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,
Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,
Keep in your bosom. Yet remain assured
That he’s a made-up villain.

PAINTER

1102280I know none such, my lord.

POET

Nor I.

TIMON


Look you, I love you well. I’ll give you gold.
Rid me these villains from your companies,
Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draft,
1152285Confound them by some course, and come to me,
I’ll give you gold enough.

BOTH

Name them, my lord, let ’s know them.

TIMON


You that way and you this, but two in company.
Each man apart, all single and alone,
1202290Yet an archvillain keeps him company.
(To one.) If where thou art, two villains shall not be,
Come not near him. (To the other.) If thou wouldst
not reside
But where one villain is, then him abandon.—
1252295Hence, pack. There’s gold. You came for gold, you
slaves.
(To one.) You have work for me. There’s payment.
Hence.
(To the other.) You are an alchemist; make gold of
1302300that.
Out, rascal dogs!

Timon drives them out and then exits.Enter Steward Flavius, and two Senators.

FLAVIUS


It is vain that you would speak with Timon,
For he is set so only to himself
That nothing but himself which looks like man
1352305Is friendly with him.

FIRST SENATOR

Bring us to his cave.
It is our part and promise to th’ Athenians
To speak with Timon.

SECOND SENATOR

At all times alike
1402310Men are not still the same. ’Twas time and griefs
That framed him thus. Time, with his fairer hand
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him. Bring us to him,
And chance it as it may.

FLAVIUS

1452315Here is his cave.—
Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon!
Look out, and speak to friends. Th’ Athenians
By two of their most reverend Senate greet thee.
Speak to them, noble Timon.

Enter Timon out of his cave.

TIMON


1502320Thou sun that comforts, burn!—Speak and be
hanged!
For each true word a blister, and each false
Be as a cauterizing to the root o’ th’ tongue,
Consuming it with speaking.

FIRST SENATOR

1552325Worthy Timon—

TIMON


Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.

FIRST SENATOR


The Senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.

TIMON


I thank them and would send them back the plague,
Could I but catch it for them.

FIRST SENATOR

1602330O, forget
What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
The Senators with one consent of love
Entreat thee back to Athens, who have thought
On special dignities which vacant lie
1652335For thy best use and wearing.

SECOND SENATOR

They confess
Toward thee forgetfulness too general gross;
Which now the public body, which doth seldom
Play the recanter, feeling in itself
1702340A lack of Timon’s aid, hath sense withal
Of it own fall, restraining aid to Timon,
And send forth us to make their sorrowed render,
Together with a recompense more fruitful
Than their offense can weigh down by the dram—
1752345Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.

TIMON

You witch me in it,
1802350Surprise me to the very brink of tears.
Lend me a fool’s heart and a woman’s eyes,
And I’ll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.

FIRST SENATOR


Therefore, so please thee to return with us
And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take
1852355The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks;
Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
Live with authority. So soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades th’ approaches wild,
Who like a boar too savage doth root up
1902360His country’s peace.

SECOND SENATOR

And shakes his threat’ning sword
Against the walls of Athens.

FIRST SENATOR

Therefore, Timon—

TIMON


Well sir, I will. Therefore I will, sir, thus:
1952365If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon—
That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens
And take our goodly agèd men by th’ beards,
Giving our holy virgins to the stain
2002370Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war,
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it
In pity of our agèd and our youth,
I cannot choose but tell him that I care not,
And let him take ’t at worst—for their knives care not,
2052375While you have throats to answer. For myself,
There’s not a whittle in th’ unruly camp
But I do prize it at my love before
The reverend’st throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods
2102380As thieves to keepers.

FLAVIUS , to Senators

Stay not. All’s in vain.

TIMON


Why, I was writing of my epitaph.
It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend,
2152385And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still.
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough!

FIRST SENATOR

We speak in vain.

TIMON


But yet I love my country and am not
2202390One that rejoices in the common wrack,
As common bruit doth put it.

FIRST SENATOR

That’s well spoke.

TIMON


Commend me to my loving countrymen.

FIRST SENATOR


These words become your lips as they pass through
2252395them.

SECOND SENATOR


And enter in our ears like great triumphers
In their applauding gates.

TIMON

Commend me to them
And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,
2302400Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
That nature’s fragile vessel doth sustain
In life’s uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do
them.
2352405I’ll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades’ wrath.

FIRST SENATOR , to Second Senator


I like this well. He will return again.

TIMON


I have a tree, which grows here in my close,
That mine own use invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends,
2402410Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
To stop affliction, let him take his haste,
Come hither ere my tree hath felt the ax,
And hang himself. I pray you, do my greeting.

FLAVIUS , to Senators


2452415Trouble him no further. Thus you still shall find him.

TIMON


Come not to me again, but say to Athens,
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beachèd verge of the salt flood,
Who once a day with his embossèd froth
2502420The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come
And let my gravestone be your oracle.
Lips, let four words go by and language end.
What is amiss, plague and infection mend.
Graves only be men’s works, and death their gain.
2552425Sun, hide thy beams. Timon hath done his reign.

Timon exits.

FIRST SENATOR


His discontents are unremovably
Coupled to nature.

SECOND SENATOR


Our hope in him is dead. Let us return
And strain what other means is left unto us
2602430In our dear peril.

FIRST SENATOR

It requires swift foot.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter two other Senators, with a Messenger.

THIRD SENATOR


Thou hast painfully discovered. Are his files
As full as thy report?

MESSENGER

I have spoke the least.
2435Besides, his expedition promises
5Present approach.

FOURTH SENATOR


We stand much hazard if they bring not Timon.

MESSENGER


I met a courier, one mine ancient friend,
Whom, though in general part we were opposed,
2440Yet our old love made a particular force
10And made us speak like friends. This man was riding
From Alcibiades to Timon’s cave
With letters of entreaty which imported
His fellowship i’ th’ cause against your city,
2445In part for his sake moved.

Enter the other Senators.

THIRD SENATOR

15Here come our brothers.

FIRST SENATOR


No talk of Timon; nothing of him expect.
The enemy’s drum is heard, and fearful scouring
Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare.
2450Ours is the fall, I fear, our foe’s the snare.

They exit.

Scene 3

Enter a Soldier in the woods, seeking Timon.

SOLDIER


By all description this should be the place.
Who’s here? Speak, ho! No answer? What is this?
He reads an epitaph.
Timon is dead, who hath out-stretched his span.
Some beast read this; there does not live a man.
52455Dead, sure, and this his grave. What’s on this tomb
I cannot read. The character I’ll take with wax.
Our captain hath in every figure skill,
An aged interpreter, though young in days.
Before proud Athens he’s set down by this,
102460Whose fall the mark of his ambition is.

He exits.

Scene 4

Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his Powers
before Athens.

ALCIBIADES


Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach.Sounds a parley.

The Senators appear upon the walls.

Till now you have gone on and filled the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills
52465The scope of justice. Till now myself and such
As slept within the shadow of your power
Have wandered with our traversed arms and breathed
Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush,
When crouching marrow in the bearer strong
102470Cries of itself “No more!” Now breathless wrong
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
And pursy insolence shall break his wind
With fear and horrid flight.

FIRST SENATOR

Noble and young,
152475When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,
We sent to thee to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above their quantity.

SECOND SENATOR

202480So did we woo
Transformèd Timon to our city’s love
By humble message and by promised means.
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

FIRST SENATOR

252485These walls of ours
Were not erected by their hands from whom
You have received your grief, nor are they such
That these great towers, trophies, and schools
should fall
302490For private faults in them.

SECOND SENATOR

Nor are they living
Who were the motives that you first went out.
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
352495Into our city with thy banners spread.
By decimation and a tithèd death,
If thy revenges hunger for that food
Which nature loathes, take thou the destined tenth
And, by the hazard of the spotted die,
402500Let die the spotted.

FIRST SENATOR

All have not offended.
For those that were, it is not square to take,
On those that are, revenge. Crimes, like lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
452505Bring in thy ranks but leave without thy rage.
Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin
Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall
With those that have offended. Like a shepherd
Approach the fold and cull th’ infected forth,
502510But kill not all together.

SECOND SENATOR

What thou wilt,
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile
Than hew to ’t with thy sword.

FIRST SENATOR

Set but thy foot
552515Against our rampired gates and they shall ope,
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before
To say thou ’lt enter friendly.

SECOND SENATOR

Throw thy glove,
Or any token of thine honor else,
602520That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbor in our town till we
Have sealed thy full desire.

ALCIBIADES

Then there’s my glove.
652525Descend and open your unchargèd ports.
Those enemies of Timon’s and mine own
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof
Fall, and no more. And to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning, not a man
702530Shall pass his quarter or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city’s bounds
But shall be remedied to your public laws
At heaviest answer.

BOTH

’Tis most nobly spoken.

ALCIBIADES

752535Descend and keep your words.

The Senators descend.Enter a Soldier, with the wax tablet.

SOLDIER


My noble general, Timon is dead,
Entombed upon the very hem o’ th’ sea,
And on his gravestone this insculpture, which
With wax I brought away, whose soft impression
802540Interprets for my poor ignorance.

ALCIBIADES reads the epitaph.


Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft.
Seek not my name. A plague consume you, wicked
caitiffs left!
Here lie I, Timon, who, alive, all living men did hate.
852545Pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay not here
thy gait.
These well express in thee thy latter spirits.
Though thou abhorred’st in us our human griefs,
Scorned’st our brains’ flow and those our droplets
902550which
From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye
On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead
Is noble Timon, of whose memory
952555Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,
And I will use the olive with my sword,
Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make
each
Prescribe to other as each other’s leech.
1002560Let our drums strike.

Drums. They exit.