give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not 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 villains: if there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your fees, O gods! the senators of Athens, together with the common lag of people, I what is amiss in them, you gods make suitable for destruction. For these, my present friends, they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome." Uncover, dogs, and lap. as [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 luke-warm water [Throwing Water in their Faces. Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long, 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. 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 Of Timon, man, and all humanity! [Exit. Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury? 4 Lord. I have 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? 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. ACT IV. SCENE I. [Exeunt. Without the Walls of Athens. Enter TIMON. Tim. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall, Do 't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, hold fast; With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear, Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth, And yet confusion live! Plagues, incident to men, On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica, Take thou that too, with multiplying bans! SCENE II. Athens. A Room in TIMON's House. Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three Servants. [Exit. 1 Serv. 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. 2 Serv. Such a house broke! So noble a master fallen! All gone, and not And go along with him! 2 Serv. Slink all away; leave their false vows with him, With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty, Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows. Enter other Servants. Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house. The latest of my wealth I 'll share amongst you. Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say, "We have seen better days." Nay, put out all your hands. Let each take some; [Giving them Money. Not one word more : parting poor. [They embrace, and part several ways. To have his pomp, and all what state compounds, Poor honest lord! brought low by his own heart; For bounty, that makes gods, Are made thy chief afflictions. does still mar men. to be most accurs'd, thy great fortunes Alas, kind lord! He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat Of monstrous friends; Nor has he with him to supply his life, I'll follow, and inquire him out: I 'll ever serve his mind with my best will ; Whilst I have gold I'll be his steward still. SCENE III. The Woods. Enter TIMON. Tim. O, blessed breeding sun! draw from the earth Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb Infect the air. Twinn'd brothers of one womb, Whose procreation, residence, and birth, Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes, The greater scorns the lesser: not nature, (To whom all sores lay siege) can bear great fortune, But by contempt of nature. Raise me this beggar, and deny 't that lord; The beggar native honour. It is the pasture lards the rother's sides, The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares, In purity of manhood stand upright, And say, "This man's a flatterer?" if one be, So are they all; for every grise of fortune Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate [Exit. |