The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No: So it may prove
An 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. But
now return,
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 crossed 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 fled, Save the gods only: Now his friends are dead, Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their

wards

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,

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

not

and fawn

Luc. Serv. Many do keep their chambers, are not sick:

And, if it be so far beyond his health, Methinks, he should the sooner pay his debts, And make a clear way to the gods,

* Commission, employment.

Ser. Good gods!

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

nter 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 iron heart ?
Luc. Serv. Put in now, Titus.

Tit. My lord, here is my bill.

Luc. Serv. Here's mine.

Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord.

Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.

Phi. All our bills.

He is a man, setting his fate aside,
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,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe:

And with such sober and unnoted passiont
He did behavet his anger, ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

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

labour'd

To bring manslaughter into form, set quarel-
Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,
Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born;

Tim. Knock me down with 'em:* cleave me He's truly valiant, that can wisely suffer

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. Serv. 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.

Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.

[Exeunt.

his wrongs

The worst that man can breathe; and make
[lessly;
His outsides; wear them like his raiment, care-
And 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?

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
If I speak like a captain.-
[me,
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,
[lon,
And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the fe-
Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good:

Tim. 'They have e'en put my breath from me, That stay at home, if bearing carry it;

the slaves:

Creditors!-devils.

Flav. My dear lord,

Tim. What if it should be so?

Flav. My lord,

Tim. I'll have it so:-My steward!

Flav. Here, my lord.

Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all:
I'll once more feast the rascals.

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 fair

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?

1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die: [fault's Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy. 2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him. Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to To overcome him: in that beastly fury

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!

1 Sen. Now, captain?

He has been known to commit outrages,
And cherish factions: 'Tis inferr'd to us,

Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; His days are foul, and his drink dangerous.

**"Homicide in our own defence, by a merciful inter pretation of the law is considered justifiable."

1 Sen. He dies.

Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My lords, if not for any parts in him, (Though his right arm might purchase his own

time, [you, And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move Take my deserts to his, and join them both: 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.

more,

1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no [ther, On height of our displeasure: Friend, or broHe forfeits his own blood, that spills another. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My I do beseech you, know me. [lords,

2 Sen. How?

SCENE VI.-A magnificent Room in TIMON'S House.

Music Tab.es set out: SERVANTS attending. Enter divers LORDS, at several doors.

1 Lord. The good time of day to you, Sir. 2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day.

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

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

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

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 bor. row of me, that my provision was out.

1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I un

derstand 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. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship.

Tim. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men. -Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently.

1 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 remembrance.*-Come, bring in all together. 2 Lord. All cover'd dishes!

1 Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you.

3 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 Lerd. I pray you, upon what?

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a

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 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 the meat cool ere we can require our thanks. agree upon the first place: Sit, sit. The gods

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselv's praised : but reserve still to give, lest your

I. e. Your good memory

deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, | 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! [fast;
Do't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, hold
Rather than render back, out with your knives,
And cut your trusters' throats! bound servants,
steal!

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 villians: 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, what is amiss in them, you gods | Large handed robbers your grave masters are,

make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so in rothing bless them, and to nothing they are wel

mon's fury?

3 Lord. Pish! did you see my cap?

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?

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.

ACT IV.

[Exeunt.

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,t
And yet confusion live!-Plagues, incident to
Your potent and infectious fevers heap [men,
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,
But nakedness, thou detestable town!
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

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.

3 Serv. Yet do our hearts wear Timon's | All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!

livery,
That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,
Serving alike in sorrow: Leak'd is our bark;
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,
Hearing the surges threat: we must all part
Into this sea of air.

Flav. Good fellows all, The 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, As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes, We have seen better days. Let each take some; [Giving them money. Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting pool, [Exeunt SERVANTS. O, the fierce* wretchedness that glory brings us! [empt, Who would not wish to be from wealth exSince riches point to misery and contempt? Who'd be so mock'd with glory? or to live But in a dream of friendship? [pounds, To have his pomp, and all what state comBut only painted, like his varnish'd friends? Poor 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!

Who then dares to be half so kind again?
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar

His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains! Destruction fang* mankind!-Earth, yield me roots! [Digging. Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate With thy most operant poison! What is here. Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No gods, [vens!. I am no idle votarist.t Roots, you clear hea. Thus much of this, will make black white; foul, fair; Wrong, right; base, noble; old, young; cowHa, you gods! why this? What this, you gods? Why this [sides; Will lug your priests and servants from your Pluck stout men's pillows from below their This yellow slave [heads: Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd;

ard, valiant.

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
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature.-[March afar off.]-Ha!

odds

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 warlike 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 hateful

to thee, That art thyself a man ?

Tim. I an misanthropos, and hate mankind. 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 I know thee,

I not desire to know. Follow thy drum; With man's blood paint the ground, gules,

gules:

Religious canous, civil laws are cruel;

Then what should war be? This fell whore

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