The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Sem. How! have they denied him? Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? And does he send to me? Three? humph !— It shows but little love or judgment in him. Must be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,

Thrive, give him over; Must I take the cure
upon me?
[him,
He has much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at
That might have known my place: I see no
sense for't,

But his occasions might have woo'd me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e'er receiv'd gift from him :

And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No: So it may prove
Au argument of laughter to the rest,
And I amongst the lords be thought a fool.
I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
He had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;
I had such a courage to do him good.
now return,

But

And with their faint reply this answer join; Who bates mine honour, shall not know my coin. [Exit. Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politic; he cross'd himself by't : and I cannot think, but, in the end, the villanies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked like those that, under hot ardent zeal, would set whole realms on fire.

Of such a nature is his politic love.

This was my lord's best hope; now all are fied, Save the gods only: Now his friends are dead, Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their

wards

Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard sure their master.

And this is all a liberal course allows :

Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house. [Exit. SCENE IV.--The same.-A Hall in TIMON'S House.

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

Var. Serv. Well met; good-morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor. Lucius?

What, do we meet together?

Luc. Serv. Ay, and I think

One business does command us all; for mine Is money.

Tit. So is theirs and ours.

Enter PHILOTUS.

Luc. Serv. And Sir

Philotus too!

Phi. Good day at once.

Luc. Serv. Welcome, good brother.

What do you think the hour?

Phi. Labouring for nine.

Luc. Serv. So much?

Phi. Is not my lord seen yet?
Luc. Serv. Not yet.

Phi. I wonder on't: he was wont to shine at seven,

Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him:

You must consider, that a prodigal course
Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear,

Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse;

That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.

Phi. I am of your fear for that.

Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange

event.

Your lord sends now for money.

Hor. Most true, he does.

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

Hor. It is against my heart.

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

Hor. I am 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. 1 Var. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: What's yours?

Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine. 1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep seem by the sum,

and it should

Your master's confidence was above mine; Else, surely, his had equall'd.

Enter FLAMINIUS.

Tit. One of lord Timon's men. Luc. Serv. Flaminius! Sir, a word: 'Pray, is my lord ready to come forth? Flam. No, indeed, he is not,

Tit. We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.

Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent. [Exit FLAMINIUS,

Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled. Luc. Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffled so ?

He goes away in a cloud call him, call him.
Tit. Do you hear, Sir?

1 Var. Serv. By your leave, Sir,--
Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend ↑
Tit. We wait for certain money here, Sir.
Flav. Ay,

not

If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twere sure enough. Why then preferr'd yon
[eal
Your sums and bills, when your false masters
Of my lord's meat? Then they could smile,
and fawn

Upon nis debts, and take down the interest
Into their gluttonous maws. You do yourselves

but wrong,

• Commission.

Ser. Good gods!
Tit. We cannot take this for an answer, Sir.
Flam. [Within.] Servilius, help!-my lord!
my lord!-

Enter TIMON, in a rage; FLAMINIUS following.
Tim. What, are my doors oppos'd 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,
Like all mankind, show me an irou heart?
Luc. Serv. Put it now, Titus.

Tit. My lord, here is my bill.
Luc. Serv. Here's miue.

Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord.

Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.

Phi. All our bills.

Seeing his reputation touch'e to death,
He did oppose his foe:

And with such sober and unnoted passion⚫
He did behave + bis anger, ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox, I
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
Your words have took such pains, as if they
labour'd

To bring manslaughter into form, set quarelling
Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,
Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born:
He's truly valiant, that can wisely suffer
The worst that man can breathe; and make his
wrongs
[lessly;

His outsides; wear them like his raiment, care-
And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,

Tim. Knock me down with 'em cleave me To bring it into danger.

to the girdle.

Luc. Serv. Alas! my lord,——

Tim. Cut my heart in sums.

Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Tim. Five thousand drops pays that

What yours?-and yours?

1 Var. Ser. My lord,

2 Var. Serv. My lord,

Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you! [Exit. Hor. 'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money; these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em. [Exeunt.

Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.

If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,
What folly 'tis, to hazard life for ill?

Alcib. My lord.

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

Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon

me.

If I speak like a captain.

Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threat'nings? sleep upon it,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? but if there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad? why then, women are more valiant,
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;
And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon,
Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, As you are great, be pitifully good:

the slaves:

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

Tim. Be't not in thy care; go.

I charge thee; invite them all let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-The same.-The Senate-House.

Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;||
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just. ¶
To be in anger, is impiety;

But who is man, that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

2 Sen. You breathe in vain.
Alcib. In vain? his service done
At Lacedæmon and Byzantium,
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

1 Sen. What's that?

Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fail

service,

And slain in fight many of your enemies:
How full of valour did he bear himself

In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds?
2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with
'em, he

Is a sworn rioter: h'as a sin that often Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner : If there were no foes, that were enough alone The Senate sitting. Enter ALCIBIADES, at-To overcome him: in that beastly fury

tended.

1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the
fault's

Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die :
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

2 Sen. Most true: the law shall bruise him.
Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the

senate !

1 Sen. Now, captain?

And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move you,

Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; Take my deserts to his, and join them both :

For pity is the virtue of the law,

And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood,
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that, without heed, do plunge into it.
He is a man, setting his fate aside, t

Of comely virtues :

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice;
(An honour in him which buys out his fault,)
But, with a noble fury, and fair spirit,

And, for I know, your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all
My honour to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receiv't in valiant gore;
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.
1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no
more,
[ther,
On height of our displeasure: Friend, or bro-
He forfeits his own blood, that spills another.

Passion ro moderated that no one could note its operation. + Manage. You undertake a Why do we take the field? Rashness. I call mercy to witness, that defensive viclence is just.

A bill was also a battle-axe---Timon, therefore, paradox too hard. plays upon the word. With the exception of this one act.

must not be. My our dinner will not recompense this long stay: [lords, feast your ears with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently.

Alcib. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. What?

Alcib. I cannot think, but your age has forgot

[Exeunt SENATORS. Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough ; that you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!

I am worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,

While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large interest; I myself,
Rich only in large hurts;-All those, for this?
Is this the balsam, that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? ha! banishment?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts, t
"Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.
Exit.

SCENE VI.-A magnificent Room in TIMON's

House.

pear.

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

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

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

1 Lord. A thousand pieces.

2 Lord. A thousand pieces!

1 Lord. What of you?

3 Lord. He sent to me, Sir.-Here he comes.

Enter TIMON, and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :And how fare you?

1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

2 Lord. I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger.

Tim. O Sir, let it not trouble you.

2 Lord. My noble lord,

Tim. Ah! my good friend! what cheer?

[The banquet brought in. 2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame, that when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.

Tim. Think not on't, Sir.

2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours be fore,

Tim. Let it not cumber your better remem brance. Come, bring in all together.

2 Lord. All cover'd dishes!

1 Lord, Royal cheer, I warrant you.

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

1 Lord. How do you? what's the news? 3 Lord. Alcibiades is banished: Hear you of it ?

1&2 Lord. Alcibiades banished!

3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it. 1 Lord. How? how?

2 Lord. I pray you, upon what?

Here's a

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near ↑ 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. noble feast toward. +

2 Lord. This is the old man still.

3 Lord, Will't hold? will't hold ?

2 Lord. It does: but time will-and so3 Lord. I do conceive.

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

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to the other: 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 villains: If there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them beas they are.-The rest of your fees, O gods,the senators of Athens, together with the common lagt of people,-what is amiss in them, you gods make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends,-as they are to be nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing they are welcome.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

[The dishes uncovered are full of warm water.

Some speak. What does his lordship mean? Some other. I know not.

Tim. May you a better feast never behold, You knot of mouth-friends! smoke, and lukewarm water

Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[Throwing water in their faces. Your reeking villany. Live loath'd, and long, Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites, Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears, fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies, §

2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship. Tim. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves win-You ter; such summer-birds are meu.-Gentlemen,

So dishonoured. vage. of the people.

Your good memory. readiness.

Not to put ourselves in a
Lay out for hearts, or, for the affections
Were idly employed.
the lag

I. e. in a state of The fag-end of a piece of cloth, ia Flies of a season.

Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute- | But nakedness, thou detestable town!

jacks !*

of man, and beast, the infinite malady + Crust you quite o'er !-What, dost thou go? Soft, take thy physic first-thou too,-and thou;

[Throws the dishes at them, and drives them out.

Take thou that too, with multiplying banns!
Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
The unkindest beast more kinder than man
kind.

The gods confound (hear me, ye good gods all,)
The Athenians both within and out that wall!
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high and low!
Amen.
[Exit

Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.—
What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,
Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
Burn, house; sink, Athens! henceforth hated be SCENE II.-Athens.-A Room in TIMON'S
of Tinon, man, and all humanity ? [Exit.

Re-enter the LORDS, with other LORDS and SENATORS.

1 Lord. How now, my lords?

2 Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury?

3 Lord. Pish! did you see my cap? 4 Lord. I bave lost my gown.

3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat :-Did you see my jewel

4 Lord. Did you see my cap?

3 Lord. Here 'tis.

4 Lord. Here lies my gown.

1 Lord. Let's make no stay.

2 Lord. Lord Timon's mad.

3 Lord. I feel't upon my bones.

4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I-Without the walls of Athens.
Enter TiMON.

Tim. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall,

| That girdlest in those wolves ! Dive in the earth, And fence not Athens ! Matrons, turn incon

tinent!

Obedience fail in children! slaves and fools Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench,

And minister in their steads! to general filths
Convert o'the instant, green virginity !
Do't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, hold fast:
Rather than render back, out with your knives,
And cut your trusters throats ! bound servants,
steal!

Large handed robbers your grave masters are,
And pill by law! maid, to thy master's bed;
Thy mistress is o'the brothel! son of sixteen,
Pluck the lin'd crutch from the old limping
sire,

With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear, Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth, Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighbourhood, Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades, Degrees, observances, customs, and laws, Decline to your confounding contraries, $

House.

Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three SERVANTS. 1 Ser. Hear you, master steward, where's our

master?

Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?
Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I say
to you?
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
I am as poor as you.

1 Serv. Such a house broke!

So noble a master fallen! All gone! and not
One friend, to take his fortune by the arm,
And go along with him!

2 Serv. As we do turn our backs
From our companion, thrown into his grave;
So his familiars to his buried fortunes
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him
Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,
A dedicated beggar to the air,

With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty, Walks, like contempt, alone.-More of our fel lows.

To have his pomp, and all what state comBut only painted like his varnish'd friends?

And yet confusion live !-Plagues, incident to Poor honest lord, brought low by his own

men,

Your potent and infectious fevers heap
On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners ! lust and liberty ||
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth;
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may
strive,

And drown themselves in riot! itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop
Be general leprosy ! breath infect breath ;
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee,

Jacks of the clock; like those at St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet-street.

1 Common sewers. er destroy each other.

Every kind of disease. Contrarieties, which waste Libertinism

heart;

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Enter TIMON.

For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
That I might love thee something.

Alcib. I know thee well;

But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange. Tim. I know thee too; and more, than that! know thee,

I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;

Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the With man's blood paint the ground, gules,

earth

Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb
Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,-
Whose procreation, residence, and birth,
Scarce is dividant,-touch them with several
fortunes;

The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature,
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great for-
But by contempt of nature.
[tune,

Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord;
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,
The beggar native honour.

It is the pasture lards the brother's sides,

The want that makes him lean. Who dares,
who dares,

In purity of manhood stand upright,
And say, This man's a flatterer? if one be,
So are they all; for every grize of fortune
Is smoothed by that below the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: All is oblique ;
There's nothing level in our cursed natures,
But direct villany. Therefore, be abhorr'd
All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains!
Destruction fang mankind!-Earth, yield me
Digging.
Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
With thy most operant poison! What is here?
No,
Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold?
[vens!

roots!

gods,

I am no idle votarist. Roots, you clear heaThus much of this, will make black white; foul, fair;

Wng, right; base, noble; old, young; coward,
valiant.

Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you gods ?
Why this

Will lug your priests and servants from your

sides;

Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:
This yellow slave

Will knit and break religions; bless the

curs'd;

Make the hoar leprosy ador'd; place thieves,
And give them title, knee, and approbation,
With senators on the bench: this is it,

That makes the wappen'd ¶ widow wed again;
She, whom the spital-house, and ulcerous sores
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and
spices

To the April day again. ** Come, damned earth,
Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st
odds

Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature.-[March afar off.]-Ha!
a drum ?-Thou'rt quick,

But yet I'll bury thee: Thou'lt go, strong thief,
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand :-
Nay, stay thou out for earnest.

[Keeping some gold.

Enter ALCIBIADES, with drum and fife, in war-I
like manner; PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA.
Alcib. What art thou there?

Speak.

Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker knaw
thy heart,

For showing me again the eyes of man!
Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so bateful
to thee,

That art thyself a man?

Timan. Yes.

Tim. Be a whore still! they love thee not, that
use thee:

Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves
For tubs, and baths; bring down rose-cheeked
[youth
To the tub-fast, and the diet.

Timan. Hang thee, monster!
Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his
wits

Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.-
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon
The want whereof doth daily make revolt
I have heard and
In my penurious band:

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

Tim. How dost thou pity him, whom thou
dost trouble?

had rather be alone.

Alcib. Why, fare thee well:
Here's some gold for thee.

Tim. Keep't, I cannot eat it.

Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a
heap,-

Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens ?
Alcib. Ay, Timon, and have cause.
Tim. The gods confound them all i'thy con-
quest; and

Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind. Thee after, when thou hast conquer'd I

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, Nide 9