Be as a planetary plague, when Jove Herself's a bawd: Let not the virgin's cheek Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milkpaps, That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes, Are not within the leaf of pity writ, Set them down horrible traitors: Spare not the babe, Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy; Think it a bastard,2 whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut, And mince it sans remorse:3 Swear against objects;4 Put armour on thine ears, and on thine eyes; Not all thy counsel. The source of all erection.-There's more gold :Do you damn others, and let this damn you, And ditches grave you all! Phr. & Timan. More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon. Tim. More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest. Alcib: Strike up the drum towards Athens. Farewell, Timon: If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again. Tim. If I hope well, I'll never see thee more, Alcib. I never did thee harm. Tim. Yes, thou spok'st well of me. Alcib. Call'st thou that harm? Tim. Men daily find it such. Get thee away, And take thy beagles with thee. Alcib. Strike. We but offend him. [Drum beats. Exeunt Alcibiades, Phrynia, and Timandra. Tim. That nature, being sick of man's unkind- Should yet be hungry!--Common mother, thou, Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast, Tim. Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse Engenders the black toad, and adder blue, upon thee! Phr. & Timan. Give us some gold, good Timon:|| Hast thou more? Tim. Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts, I'll trust to your conditions:5 Be whores still; Be quite contrary: And thatch your poor thin roofs Paint till a horse may mire upon your face: Phr. & Timan. Well, more gold;-What then?Believ't, that we'll do any thing for gold. Tim. Consumptions sow In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins, And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war The gilded newt, and eyeless venom'd worm,9 More man? Plague! plague! Apem. I was directed hither: Men report, This slave-like habit? and these looks of care? come, To knaves, and all approachers: 'Tis most just, That thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again, (8) Boundless surface. (9) The serpent called the blind-worm. (10) Bent. (11) i. e. Their diseased perfumed mistresses. (12) i. e. Shame not these woods by finding fault, Rascals should have't. Do not assume my likeness. A madman so long, now a fool: What, think'st That have outliv'd the eagle, page thy heels, Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste, Of wreakful heaven; whose bare unhoused trunks, Answer mere nature,-bid them flatter thee; Tim. A fool of thee: Depart. Apem. I love thee better now than e'er I did. Tim. I hate thee worse. Apem. Why? Tim. To vex thee. Apem. Tim. Ay. What! a knave too? Thou should'st desire to die, being miserable. If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, Tim. Ay, that I am not thee. Apem. I, that I was I, that I am one now; Tim. [Eating a root. Here; I will mend thy feast. [Offering him something. Tim. First mend my company, take away thyself. Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine. Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd; Apem. What would'st thou have to Athens? The best, and truest : Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat it. Tim. 'Would poison were obedient, and knew my mind! Apem. Where would'st thou send it? Tim. To sauce thy dishes. Apem. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends: When thou wast in thy gilt, and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity;5 in thy rags thou knowest none, but art despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee, eat it. Tim. On what I hate, I feed not. Tim. Ay, though it look like thee. Apem. An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, pro-thou should'st have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift, that was beloved after his means? The sweet degrees that this brief world affords self In general riot; melted down thy youth men At duty, more than I could frame employment; They never flatter'd thee: What hast thou given? (1) i. e. Arrives sooner at the completion of its wishes. (2) By his voice, sentence. (3) From infancy. Tim. Who, without those means thou talkest of, didst thou ever know beloved? Apem. Myself. Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst some means to keep a dog. Apem. What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers? Tim. Women nearest; but men, men are the things themselves. What would'st thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power? Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. Tim. Would'st thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts? Apem. Ay, Timon. : Tim. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee: if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, when, peradventure, thou wert accused by the ass: if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would torment thee: and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, (4) The cold admonitions of cautious prudence. (5) For too much finical delicacy. Apem. Live, and love thy misery! them. and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou would'st be killed by the horse; wert thou a horse, thou would'st be seized by the leopard; wert thou a leopard, thou wert More things like men?—Eat, Timon, and abhor german to the hon, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life: all thy safety were remotion; and thy defence, absence. What beast could'st thou be, that were not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation? Apem. If thou could'st please me with speaking to me, thou might'st have hit upon it here: The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts. Enter Thieves. 1 Thief. Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder: The mere want of gold, and the fallingfrom of his friends, drove him into this melancholy. 2 Thief. It is noised, he hath a mass of treasure. 3 Thief. Let us make the assay upon him; if he care not for't, he will supply us easily; If he covet Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that thouously reserve it, how shall's get it? art out of the city? Apem. Yonder comes a poet and a painter: The plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way: When I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again. Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog, than Apemantus. Apem. Thou art the cap2 of all the fools alive. Apem. Tim. Beast! Slave! Toad! [Looking on the gold. tongue, To every purpose! O thou touch3 of heart! 'Would 'twere so;But not till I am dead!-I'll say, thou hast gold: Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly. Tim. Apem. Tim. Thy back, I pr'ythee. Throng'd to? Ay. 2 Thief. True; for he bears it not about him, 'tis hid. 1 Thief. Is not this he? 2 Thief. 'Tis his description. Thieves. Soldiers, not thieves. Thieves. We are not thieves, but men that much do want. Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat. Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots; Within this mile break forth a hundred springs: water, As beasts, and birds, and fishes. Tim. Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con, 1 Thief. 'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery. 2 Thief. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give | Suspect still comes where an estate is least. over my trade. 1 Thief. Let us first see peace in Athens: There is no time so miserable, but a man may be true. [Exeunt Thieves. Enter Flavius. Flav. O you gods! Is yon despis'd and ruinous man my lord? What viler thing upon the earth, than friends, Have you forgot me, sir? I know thee not: I ne'er had honest man Flav. Then The gods are witness, Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord, To accept my grief, and whilst this poor wealth lasts, To entertain me as your steward still. Tim. Had I a steward so true, so just, and now So comfortable? It almost turns My dangerous nature wild. Let me behold That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, For any benefit that points to me, Either in hope, or present, I'd exchange For this one wish, That you had power and wealth To requite me, by making rich yourself. Tim. Look thee, 'tis so!-Thou singly honest man, Here take-the gods out of my misery Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich, and happy: But thus condition'd; Thou shalt build from men ;4 Hate all, curse all: show charity to none; But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone, Ere thou relieve the beggar: give to dogs What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow them, Debts wither them: Be men like blasted woods, And may diseases lick up their false bloods! And so, farewell, and thrive. Flav. O, let me stay, And comfort you, my master. ACT V. SCENE I-The same. Before Timon's cave. Enter Poet and Painter; Timon behind, unseen. Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides. Poet. What's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true, that he is so full of gold? Pain. Certain Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity: 'Tis said, he gave unto his steward a mighty sum. Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends. Pain. Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore, 'tis not amiss, we tender our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his: it will show honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with Thy face. Surely, this man was born of woman.-what they travel for, if it be a just and true report Forgive my general and exceptless rashness, One honest man,-mistake me not,-but one; Methinks, thou art more honest now, than wise; If not a usuring kindness; and as rich men deal gifts, Flav. No, my most worthy master, in whose breast Doubt and suspect, alas, are plac'd too late : You should have fear'd false times, when you did feast: (1) An alteration of honour is an alteration of an honourable state to a state of disgrace. (2) How happily. (3) Recommended. that goes of his having. Poet. What have you now to present unto him? Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I will promise him an excellent piece. Poet. I must serve him so too; tell him of an intent that's coming toward him. Pain. Good as the best. Promising is the very air o'the time: it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of sayings is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind of will and testament, which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it. Tim. Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself. Poet. I am thinking, what I shall say I have provided for him: It must be a personating of himself: a satire against the softness of prosperity; with a discovery of the infinite flatteries, that follow youth and opulency. (4) Away from human habitation. (5) The doing of that we said we would do. Tim. 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 draught,3 'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark, and plough'st the Confound them by some course, and come to me, foam; Settlest admired reverence in a slave: To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey! 'Fit I do meet them. [Advancing. Our late noble master. Tim. Have I once liv'd to see two honest men? Poet. Sir, Poet. Hail, worthy Timon! Having often of your open bounty tasted, Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence Tim. Let it go naked, men may see't the better: He, and myself, Have travell'd in the great shower of your gifts, And sweetly felt it. Tim. Ay, you are honest men. Pain. We are hither come to offer you our service. Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I re quite you? Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no. Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you service. Tim. You are honest men: You have heard that I have gold; I'll give you gold enough. Both. Name them, my lord, let's know them. Each man apart, all single and alone, [To the Painter. Come not near him.-If thou would'st not reside [To the Poet. But where one villain is, then him abandon. Hence! pack! there's gold, ye came for gold, ye slaves: You have done work for me, there's payment: You are an alchymist, make gold of that :--- [Exit, beating and driving them out. SCENE II.-The same. Enter Flavius, and two Senators. Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with Timon; For he is set so only to himself, That nothing but himself, which looks like man, 1 Sen. 2 Sen. I am sure you have: speak truth: you are honestThe former man may make him: Bring us to him, Best in all Athens: thou art, indeed, the best! Pain. To make it known to us. Tim. Beseech your honour, You'll take it ill. Both. Most thankfully, my lord. Tim. And chance it as it may. Flav. Here is his cave.Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon! Look out, and speak to friends: The Athenians, By two of their most reverend senate, greet thee: Speak to them, noble Timon. Will you, indeed? What we are sorry for ourselves in thee. Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord. (1) A portrait was so called. (2) A complete, a finished villain. (3) In a jakes. With one united voice of affection. |