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 The place, which I have feasted; does it now, Tit. My lord, here is my bill. Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord. Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord. Phi. All our bills. Tim. Knock me down with 'em'; cleave me to the girdle. Luc. Serv. Alas! iny 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. Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves: Creditors!-devils. 7 Timon quibbles. They present their written bills; he catches at the word, and alludes to bills or battle-axes. Flav. My dear lord, Tim. What if it should be so? Flav. My lord, Tim. I'll have it so: Flav. Here, my lord. My steward! Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again, Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all: I'll once more feast the rascals. Flav. 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 Senate-House. The Senate sitting. Enter ALCIBIADES, attended. 1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die : 2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him. 1 Sen. Now, captain? Alcib. I am an humble suitor to For pity is the virtue of the law, your And none but tyrants use it cruelly. virtues ; It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth He is a man, setting his fate aside, Of comely virtues : Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; 8 And with such sober and unnoted passion 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 labour'd The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, care lessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger. If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, 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, 8 Manage, govern. That stay at home, if bearing carry it; And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords, Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust'; But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. In vain? his service done At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, 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? Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner: Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, My honour to you, upon his good returns. 9 For aggravation. If by this crime he owes the law his life, 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more, On height of our displeasure: Friend, or brother, He forfeits his own blood, that spills another. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How? Alcib. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. What? Alcib. I cannot think, but your age has forgot me; It could not else be, I should prove so base To sue, and be denied such common grace: My wounds ache at you. , 1 Sen. Do you dare our anger? 'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect; We banish thee for ever. Alcib. Banish me? Banish your dotage; banish usury, That makes the senate ugly. 1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee, Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit, He shall be executed presently. [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, I For dishonoured. |