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

Only in bone, that none may look on you!

I at worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,
While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin apon 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.
Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds,
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

[Exit.

SCENE VL-A magnificent Room in Timon's House.

this

Music Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, at several doors. Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. ? Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, bonourable 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. Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of

his new feasting.

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

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

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

2 Lord. Every man here's so.

have borrowed of you?

1 Lord. A thousand pieces.

2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you?

What would he

2 Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes. Enter TIMON, and Attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :-And wow fare you?

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

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

Tim. (Aside.) Nor more willingly leaves winter; Boch summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinser will not recompense this long stay: feast your Pars with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't pre

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

1 Lord. How? how?

2 Lord. 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 so-3 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 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 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, what is amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends,as they are to me 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 luke-warm

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,
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,
Cap-and-knee slaves, vapours, and minute-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.
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
[Exit.
Of Timon, man, and all humanity.

Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators.

1 Lord. How now, my lords?

[fury?

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

4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day

stones.

That girdlest in those wolves! Dive in the earth,
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
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! bank rupts 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,

And yet confusion live!-Plagues, incident to men,
Your potent and infections fevers heap

On Athens, ripe for stroke! thon 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 détestable town!
Take thou that too, with multiplying banns!
Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
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.
SCENE II.-Athens. A Room in Timon's House.
Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three Servants.
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.

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-shunu'd poverty, Walks, like contempt, alone.-More of our fellows.

O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us
Who would not wish to be from wealth e
exempt,
Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Who'd be so mock'd with glory? or to live
But in a dream of friendship?

To have his pomp, and all what state compounds,
But 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 men.
My dearest lord,-bless'd, to be most accurs'd,
Rich, only to be wretched-thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!
He's flung in rage from this ungrateful seat
Of monstrous friends; nor has he with him to
Supply his life, or that which can command it.
I'll follow, and inquire him out:

I'll serve his mind with my best will;

Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. (Exi SCENE III.-The Woods.

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 te
The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature,
To whom all sores
es lay siege, can bear great fortune
But by contempt of nature.

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

(dares

It is the pasture lards the brother's sides,
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, wh
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 smooth'd 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 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
I am no idle votarist. Roots, you clear heavens!
Thus much of this, will make black, white; fod
fair;
valent
Wrong, right; base, noble; old, young; coward
Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you goos!
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 accurs'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 carta,
Thou common whore of mankind, that put st odds
Among the rout of nations. I will make thee
Do thy right nature.--(March ajar off-Ha! a
drim?-Thou'rt quick,

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

(Keeping some geht'

Noble Timon,

None, but to What is it, Timon?

Maintain my opinion.
Alcib.
Ti. Promise 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'rt a man!

Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.
Tim. Thou saw'st them, when I had prosperity.
Alcib. I see them now; then was a blessed time.
Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
Ta. Is this the Athenian minion, whom the
world

Fer'd so regard fully?

Tim.

Timan. Yes.

Art thou Timandra?

Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.(have bat little gold of late, brave Timon, The want whereof doth daily make revolt la my penurious band: I have heard, and griev'd, How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth, Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states, Bar for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them,Tim. I pr'ythee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone. Alcib. I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Ti[trouble?

Put up thy gold; Go on,- here's gold,―go on;
Be as a planetary plague, when Jove
Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison
In the sick air: Let not thy sword skip one:
Pity not honour'd age for his white beard;
He's an asurer: 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,
That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes,
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
[babe,
Set them down horrible traitors: Spare not the
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their
mercy;

Think it a bastard, whom the oracle

Hath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut,
And mince it sans remorse: Swear against objects;
Put armour on thine ears, and on thine eyes;
Whose proofs, nor yells of mothers, maids, nor
babes,

Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,
Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers:
Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,
Confounded he thyself! Speak not, be gone.
Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou
giv'st me,
Not all thy counsel.
[upon thee!
Tim. Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse
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, Your aprons mountant: You are not oathable,Although, I know, you'll swear, terribly swear, Into strong shudders, and to heavenly agues, The 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; Let your close fire predominate his smoke," And 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 hang'd, No matter:-wear them, betray with them: whore still;

| Paint, till a horse may mire upon your face: A pox of wrinkles!

Phr.& Timan. Well, more gold;-What then?-Believ't, that we'll do any thing for gold.

Tim. Consumption sow

In 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,
That scolds against the quality of flesh,
And 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 curl'd-pate
ruffians bald;

And let the unscarr'd 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 :-
Do
you damp 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,