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,
While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon 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 VI-A magnificent room in Timon's
house. Music. Tables set out: Servants at-
tending. 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.

2

Tim. Think not on't, sir.

2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before,Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrarce.3-Come, bring in all together.

2 Lord. All covered 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 'LI 1 & 2 Lord. Alcibiades banished!

3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it.

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 1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring, in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to when we encountered: I hope, it is not so low with let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first him, as he made it seem in the trial of his several place: Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks. friends.

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

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

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society For your own gifts, make your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest that one need not lend to another: for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake 2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my the man that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty the gods. Make the meat be beloved, more than importunate business, but he would not hear my be without a score of villains: If there sit twelve excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of women at the table, let a dozen of them be—as they me, that my provision was out.

Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I under-are.-The rest of your fees, O gods, the sena

stand 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?

tors of Athens, together with the common lag of What would he people-what is amiss in them, you gods, make

S Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes.

Enter Timon, and attendants.

-And

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :-/ 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 mes

senger.

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.

(1) We should now say-to lay out for hearts; i. e. the affections of the people.

(2) To tire on a thing meant, to be idly employed on it

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 lukewarm
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
Of Timon, man, and all humanity!
[Exit.

(3) i. e. Your good memory. (4) The lowest. (5) Flies of a season. (6) Jacks of the clock; like those at St. Dun stan's church, in Fleet-street.

Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. | SCENE II.-Athens. A room in Timon's house. 1 Lord. How now, my lords?

189

TIMON OF ATHENS.

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 denude that lord;
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,

The beggar native honour.

It is the pasture lards the brother'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 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 fang2 mankind!-Earth, yield me roots!
[Digging.

Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
With thy most operant posion! 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; foul, fair;
Wrong, right; base, noble; old, young; coward,
valiant.

Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you gods?
Why this

Will lug your priests and servants from your sides;
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:
This vellow 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 earth,
Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature.-[March afar off.]-Ha!
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.

a

[Keeping some gold. Enter Alcibiades, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; Phrynia and Timandra.

Alcib.

What art thou there?

Speak.

thy heart,

Religious canons, civil laws are cruel;
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
For all her cherubin look.

Thy lips rot off!

Phr.
Tim. I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns
To thine own lips again.

Alcib. How came the noble Timon to this change?
Tim. As the moon does, by wanting light to

give:

But then renew I could not, like the moon,
There were no suns to borrow of.

Alcib.

What friendship may I do thee?
Tim.

Maintain my opinion.

Noble Timon,

None, but to

What is it, Timon?

Alcib.
Tim. 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.
Timan. Is this the Athenian minion, whom the
world
Voic'd so regardfully?

Tim.
Timan.

Art thou Timandra?

Yes.

Tim. Be a whore still! they love thee not, that
use thee;

Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.
Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves
For tubs, and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth
To the tub-fast, and the diet.

Hang thee, monster!
Timan.
Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits
Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.-

I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,
The want whereof doth daily make revolt

In my penurious band: I have heard, and griev'd,
How cursed Athens, mindiess of thy worth,
Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them,-
Tim. I pr'ythee, beat thy drum, and get thee

Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw I had rather be alone.

For showing me again the eyes of man!

Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to

By killing villains, thou wast born to conquer
My country.

Put up thy gold; Go on,-here's gold,-go on;

(5) i. . Gold restores her to all the sweetness Gold and freshness of youth.

(6) Alluding to the cure of the lues "eren, ther in practice.

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 usurer: 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,

Set them down horrible traitors: Spare not the babe,
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their

mercy;

2

Think it a bastard, whom the oracle

Hath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut,
And mince it sans rimorse: Swear against ob-
jects ;*

Put armour on thine ears, and on thine eyes;
Whose proof, 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 be thyself! Speak not, be gone.

Should yet be hungry!—Common mother, thou,
Digging.

Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast,

thou giv'st me,

Not all thy counsel.

Tim. Dost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse
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,
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 turn-coats: 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!

Teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle,
Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puff'd,
Engenders the black toad, and adder blue,
The gilded newt, and eyeless venom'd worm,
With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven
Whereon Hyperin's quickening fire doth shine;
Yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate,
From forth thy plenteous bosom one poor root!
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man!
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears;
Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Hath to the marbled mansion all above
Never presented!-0, a root,-Dear thanks!
Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough-torn leas;
Whereof ingrateful man, with liquorish draughts,
And morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind,
That from it all consideration slips!

Enter Apemantus.

More man? Plague! plague!

Apem. I was directed hither: Men report,
Thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them.
Tim. 'Tis then, because thou dost not keep a dog
Whom I would imitate: Consumption catch thee
Apem. This is in thee a nature but affected;

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

Tim. Consumptions 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

From change of fortune. Why this spade? this
place?

This slave-like habit? and these looks of care?
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft;
Hug their diseas'd perfumes," and have forgot
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods,
By putting on the cunning of a carper. 12
Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive
By that which has undone thee: hinge thy knee,
And let his very breath, whom thou'lt observe,
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,
And call it excellent: Thou wast told thus ;
Thou gav'st thine ears, like tapsters, that did wel

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

Were all the wealth I have, shut up in thee, That have outliv'd the eagle, page thy heels, I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.And skip when thou point'st out? Will the cold That the whole life of Athens were in this!

a medlar for thee, eat it.

Tim. On what I hate, I feed not.
Apem. Dost hate a medlar.

Tim. Ay, though it look like thee.

Apem. An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, thou should'st have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift, that was beloved after his means?

Tim. Who, without those means thou talkest of thy-didst thou ever know beloved. Apem. Myself.