ACT IV.
Scene I. Without the walls of Athens.[2324]
Enter Timon.
Tim. Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall,[2325]
That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth,[2325][2326]
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, 5
And minister in their steads! To general filths[2327]
Convert o' the instant, green virginity![2328]
Do't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast;[2329]
Rather than render back, out with your knives,[2329]
And cut your trusters' throats! Bound servants, steal! 10
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,[2330]
Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire,[2331]
With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,[2332] 15
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, 20
And let confusion live! Plagues incident to men,[2333]
Your potent and infectious fevers heap
On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty 25
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, 30
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee
But nakedness, thou detestable town![2334]
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans![2335]
Timon will to the woods, where he shall find 35
The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.[2336]
The gods confound—hear me, you good gods all!—[2337]
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! 40
Amen.[2338] [Exit.
Scene II. Athens. Timon's house.[2339]
Enter Flavius, with two or three Servants.
First Serv. Hear you, master steward, where's our master?[2340]
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.[2341]
First Serv. Such a house broke![2342] 5
So noble a master fall'n! All gone! and not[2342]
One friend to take his fortune by the arm,[2342]
And go along with him![2342]
Sec. Serv. As we do turn our backs[2343]
From our companion thrown into his grave,[2344]
So his familiars to his buried fortunes[2344][2345] 10
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him,[2346]
Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,
A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty,[2347]
Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.[2348] 15
Enter other Servants.
Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house.
Third Serv. Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery;
That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,[2349]
Serving alike in sorrow: leak'd is our bark,
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,[2350] 20
Hearing the surges threat: we must all part
Into this sea of air.[2351]
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,[2352] 25
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
'We have seen better days.' Let each take some.
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.[2353]
[Servants embrace, and part several ways.
O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us![2354] 30
Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Who would be so mock'd with glory? or to live[2355]
But in a dream of friendship?[2356]
To have his pomp and all what state compounds[2356][2357] 35
But only painted, like his varnish'd friends?[2358]
Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,
Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,[2359]
When man's worst sin is, he does too much good!
Who then dares to be half so kind again? 40
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.[2360]
My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed,
Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord![2361]
He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat[2362] 45
Of monstrous friends; nor has he with him to[2363][2364]
Supply his life, or that which can command it.[2363]
I'll follow, and inquire him out:[2365]
I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;
Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. [Exit.50
Scene III. Woods and cave, near the sea-shore.[2366]
Enter Timon, from the cave.[2367]
Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth[2368]
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 fortunes,[2369] 5
The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,[2370][2371]
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune[2371]
But by contempt of nature.[2371][2372]
Raise me this beggar and deny 't that lord,[2373]
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,[2374] 10
The beggar native honour.
It is the pasture lards the rother's sides,[2375]
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares,[2376]
In purity of manhood stand upright,
And say 'This man's a flatterer'? if one be,[2377] 15
So are they all; for every grise of fortune[2378]
Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: all is oblique;[2379]
There's nothing level in our cursed natures
But direct villany. Therefore be abhorr'd[2380] 20
All feasts, societies and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots![2381] [Digging.
Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
With thy most operant poison! What is here? 25
Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods,[2382]
I am no idle votarist: roots, you clear heavens![2382][2383]
Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair,[2382]
Wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant.[2382][2384]
Ha, you gods! why this? what this, you gods? Why, this[2385] 30
Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:[2386]
This yellow slave
Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed;
Make the hoar leprosy adored; place thieves,[2387] 35
And give them title, knee and approbation
With senators on the bench: this is it[2388]
That makes the wappen'd widow wed again;[2389]
She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores[2390][2391]
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices[2391][2392] 40
To the April day again. Come, damned earth,[2393]
Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds[2394]
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. [March afar off.] Ha! a drum?
Thou'rt quick,[2395]
But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,[2396] 45
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand:
Nay, stay thou out for earnest. [Keeping some gold.[2397]
Enter Alcibiades, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; Phrynia and Timandra.[A]
Alcib. What art thou there? speak.[2398]
Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart,[2399]
For showing me again the eyes of man!
Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, 50
That art thyself a man?
Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind.[2400]
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. 55
Tim. I know thee too; and more than that I know thee[2401]
I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;
With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules:[2402]
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel;
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine 60
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
For all her cherubin look.
Phry. Thy lips rot off!
Tim. I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns[2403]
To thine own lips again.
Alcib. How came the noble Timon to this change? 65
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.[2404]
Alcib. Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?[2405]
Tim. None, but to maintain my opinion.[2405][2406] 70
Alcib. What is it, Timon?[2405]
Tim. Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou[2405]
wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man:[2405][2407]
if thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man![2405][2408]
Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.[2409] 75
Tim. Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity.
Alcib. I see them now; then was a blessed time.[2410]
Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
Timan. Is this the Athenian minion whom the world
Voiced so regardfully?
Tim. Art thou Timandra?[2411] 80
Timan. Yes.[2411]
Tim. Be a whore still: they love thee not that use thee;[2411][2412]
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.[2411][2412][2413]
Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves[2412]
For tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth[2412][2414][2415]85
To the tub-fast and the diet.[2412][2415][2416]
Timan. Hang thee, monster!
Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.[2417]
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,[2418]
The want whereof doth daily make revolt 90
In my penurious band: I have heard, and grieved,[2419]
How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,[2420]
Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—[2421]
Tim. I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone. 95
Alcib. I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon.
Tim. How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
I had rather be alone.
Alcib. Why, fare thee well:
Here is some gold for thee.[2422]
Tim. Keep it, I cannot eat it.[2423]
Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—[2424] 100
Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens?[2425][2426]
Alcib. Ay, Timon, and have cause.[2426]
Tim. The gods confound them all in thy conquest,[2426][2427]
And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd![2426][2428]
Alcib. Why me, Timon?[2426][2429]
Tim. That by killing of villains[2426]
Thou wast born to conquer my country.[2426][2430] 105
Put up thy gold: go on,—here's gold,—go on;
Be as a planetary plague, when Jove[2431]
Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison
In the sick air: let not thy sword skip one:
Pity not honour'd age for his white beard; 110
He is an usurer: strike me the counterfeit matron;[2432]
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[2433]
That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes[2434] 115
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors: spare not the babe[2435]
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;[2436]
Think it a bastard whom the oracle[2437]
Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut,[2438] 120
And mince it sans remorse: swear against objects;[2439]
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,[2440]
Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers: 125
Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,
Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.
Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me,[2441]
Not all thy counsel.[2441][2442]
Tim. Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven's curse upon thee! 130
Phr. and Timan. Give us some gold, good Timon: hast thou more?[2443]
Tim. Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,
And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,[2444]
Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable;[2445]
Although, I know, you'll swear, terribly swear, 135
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; 140
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,[2446][2447]
Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofs[2446][2448]
With burdens of the dead;—some that were hang'd,[2446]
No matter:—wear them, betray with them: whore still;[2446][2449] 145
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:
A pox of wrinkles![2443]
Phr. and Timan. Well, more gold: what then?
Believe't that we'll do any thing for gold.[2450]
Tim. Consumptions sow
In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,[2451] 150
And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice,[2451][2452]
That he may never more false title plead,
Nor sound his quillets shrilly: hoar the flamen,[2453]
That scolds against the quality of flesh[2454]
And not believes himself: down with the nose, 155
Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away
Of him that, his particular to foresee,[2455][2456]
Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate ruffians bald;[2455][2457]
And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war
Derive some pain from you: plague all;[2458] 160
That your activity may defeat and quell
The source of all erection. There's more gold:
Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
And ditches grave you all!
Phr. and Timan. More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.[2443][2459]165
Tim. More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest.[2459][2460]
Alcib. Strike up the drum towards Athens! Farewell, Timon:[2459]
If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.[2459]
Tim. If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.
Alcib. I never did thee harm.[2461] 170
Tim. Yes, thou spokest well of me.
Alcib. Call'st thou that harm?
Tim. Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take[2462][2463]
Thy beagles with thee.[2462]
Alcib. We but offend him. Strike![2464]
[Drum beats. Exeunt Alcibiades, Phrynia, and Timandra.[2465]
Tim. That nature, being sick of man's unkindness,[2466]
Should yet be hungry! Common mother, thou, [Digging.[2467]175
Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast
Teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle,[2468]
Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puff'd,
Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
The gilded newt and eyeless venom'd worm, 180
With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven[2469]
Whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine;
Yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate,[2470]
From forth thy plenteous bosom one poor root![2471]
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,[2472] 185
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man![2473]
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves and bears;
Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Hath to the marbled mansion all above[2474]
Never presented!—O, a root! dear thanks!— 190
Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough-torn leas;[2475]
Whereof ingrateful man, with liquorish draughts
And morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind,[2476]
That from it all consideration slips![2477]
Enter Apemantus.
More man? plague, plague![2478] 195
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 infected;[2479] 200
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung
From change of fortune. Why this spade? this place?[2480]
This slave-like habit? and these looks of care?
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
Hug their diseased perfumes and have forgot[2481] 205
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods[2482]
By putting on the cunning of a carper.
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 210
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain[2483]
And call it excellent: thou wast told thus;
Thou gavest thine ears like tapsters that bade welcome[2484]
To knaves and all approachers: 'tis most just
That thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again, 215
Rascals should have't. Do not assume my likeness.
Tim. Were I like thee, I'ld throw away myself.[2485]
Apem. Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself,[2486]
A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st[2487]
That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, 220
Will put thy shirt on warm? will these moss'd trees,[2488]
That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels,
And skip when thou point'st out? will the cold brook,[2489]
Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste,
To cure thy o'er-night's surfeit? Call the creatures 225
Whose naked natures live in all the spite
Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks,
To the conflicting elements exposed,
Answer mere nature; bid them flatter thee;
O, thou shalt find—
Tim. A fool of thee: depart.[2490] 230
Apem. I love thee better now than e'er I did.[2491]
Tim. I hate thee worse.
Apem. Why?[2492]
Tim. Thou flatter'st misery.
Apem. I flatter not, but say thou art a caitiff.
Tim. Why dost thou seek me out?
Apem. To vex thee.[2493]
Tim. Always a villain's office or a fool's. 235
Dost please thyself in't?[2494]
Apem. Ay.
Tim. What! a knave too?
Apem. If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on[2495]
To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou
Dost it enforcedly; thou'ldst courtier be again,[2496]
Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery 240
Outlives incertain pomp, is crown'd before:[2497]
The one is filling still, never complete,
The other at high wish: best state, contentless,[2498]
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,[2498]
Worse than the worst, content. 245
Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.
Tim. Not by his breath that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm
With favour never clasp'd, but bred a dog.[2499]
Hadst thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded 250
The sweet degrees that this brief world affords[2500]
To such as may the passive drugs of it[2501]
Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself[2502]
In general riot, melted down thy youth
In different beds of lust, and never learn'd 255
The icy precepts of respect, but follow'd[2503]
The sugar'd game before thee. But myself,
Who had the world as my confectionary,
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men[2504]
At duty, more than I could frame employment;[2505] 260
That numberless upon me stuck, as leaves[2506]
Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush[2507]
Fell from their boughs, and left me open, bare[2507][2508]
For every storm that blows: I, to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burthen:[2509] 265
Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time
Hath made thee hard in 't. Why shouldst thou hate men?[2491]
They never flatter'd thee: what hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,[2510]
Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff 270
To some she beggar and compounded thee
Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, be gone![2511]
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.[2512]
Apem. Art thou proud yet?
Tim. Ay, that I am not thee.
Apem. I, that I was[2513] 275
No prodigal.[2513]
Tim. I, that I am one now:
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I'ld give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
That the whole life of Athens were in this![2491]
Thus would I eat it.[2514] [Eating a root.
Apem. Here; I will mend thy feast.[2515][2516] 280
[Offering him a root.
Tim. First mend my company; take away thyself.[2515][2517]
Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.[2515][2518]
Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd;[2515]
If not, I would it were.[2515]
Apem. What wouldst thou have to Athens? 285
Tim. Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,
Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have.
Apem. Here is no use for gold.
Tim. The best and truest;
For here it sleeps, and does no hired harm.
Apem. Where liest o' nights, Timon?[2519] 290
Tim. Under that's above me. Where feed'st thou o'[2520]
days, Apemantus?[2520]
Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where[2521]
I eat it.
Tim. Would poison were obedient and knew my mind![2522] 295
Apem. Where wouldst thou send it?[2523]
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; in[2524] 300
thy rags thou know'st none, but art despised for the contrary.
There's a medlar for thee; eat it.[2525]
Tim. On what I hate I feed not.[2525]
Apem. Dost hate a medlar?[2525]
Tim. Ay, though it look like thee.[2525][2526] 305
Apem. An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, thou[2525][2527]
shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst[2525]
thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means?[2525]
Tim. Who, without those means thou talk'st of, didst[2525]
thou ever know beloved?[2525] 310
Apem. Myself.[2525]
Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst some means to[2525]
keep a dog.[2525]
Apem. What things in the world canst thou nearest
compare to thy flatterers? 315
Tim. Women nearest; but men, men are the things
themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus,
if it lay in thy power?
Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.
Tim. Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of 320
men, and remain a beast with the beasts?[2528]
Apem. Ay, Timon.
Tim. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t'
attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee:[2529]
if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee: if thou 325
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[2530]
as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness
would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy 330
life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath
would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest
of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by
the horse: wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by
the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the 335
lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life:
all thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence.[2531]
What beast couldst thou be that were not subject to a
beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not[2532]
thy loss in transformation! 340
Apem. If thou couldst please me with speaking to me,[2533]
thou mightst have hit upon it here: the commonwealth of[2533]
Athens is become a forest of beasts.[2533]
Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out
of the city?[2534] 345
Apem. Yonder comes a poet and a painter: the plague[2535][2536]
of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and[2535]
give way: when I know not what else to do, I'll see thee[2535]
again.[2535]
Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt[2535]350
be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.[2535]
Apem. Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.[2537]
Tim. Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon![2537]
Apem. A plague on thee! thou art too bad to curse.[2537][2538]355
Tim. All villains that do stand by thee are pure.[2537]
Apem. There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.[2537]
Tim. If I name thee.[2539][2540]
I'll beat thee; but I should infect my hands.[2539][2541]
Apem. I would my tongue could rot them off![2542] 360
Tim. Away, thou issue of a mangy dog![2543]
Choler does kill me that thou art alive;
I swoon to see thee.[2543][2544]
Apem. Would thou wouldst burst![2545][2546]
Tim. Away, thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall[2546] 365
lose a stone by thee.[2546] [Throws a stone at him.[2547]
Apem. Beast![2546]
Tim. Slave![2546]
Apem. Toad![2546]
Tim. Rogue, rogue, rogue![2546][2548] 370
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon't.[2549]
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy grave-stone daily: make thine epitaph, 375
That death in me at others' lives may laugh.[2550]
[To the gold] O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce[2551]
'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler[2552]
Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars!
Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer,[2553] 380
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
That lies on Dian's lap! thou visible god,[2554]
That solder'st close impossibilities,
And makest them kiss! that speak'st with every tongue,
To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts! 385
Think thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue[2555]
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!
Apem. Would 'twere so![2556]
But not till I am dead. I'll say thou hast gold:[2557]
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.
Tim. Throng'd to![2558]
Apem. Ay. 390
Tim. Thy back, I prithee.
Apem. Live, and love thy misery![2559]
Tim. Long live so, and so die! [Exit Apemantus.] I am quit.[2560]
Moe things like men? Eat, Timon, and abhor them.[2561]
Enter Banditti.
First Ban. Where should he have this gold? It is some[2562]
poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder: the mere 395
want of gold, and the falling-from of his friends, drove him[2563]
into this melancholy.
Sec. Ban. It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.[2564]
Third Ban. Let us make the assay upon him: if he
care not for't, he will supply us easily; if he covetously 400
reserve it, how shall's get it?
Sec. Ban. True; for he bears it not about him; 'tis hid.[2565]
First Ban. Is not this he?
Banditti. Where?[2566]
Sec. Ban. 'Tis his description. 405
Third Ban. He; I know him.[2567]
Banditti. Save thee, Timon.[2566]
Tim. Now, thieves?[2568]
Banditti. Soldiers, not thieves.[2566]
Tim. Both too; and women's sons.[2569] 410
Banditti. We are not thieves, but men that much do want.[2566][2570]
Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.[2571][2572][2573]
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots;[2572]
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;[2574]
The oaks bear mast, the briers scarlet hips;[2575] 415
The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want! why want?
First Ban. We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts and birds and fishes.
Tim. Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes; 420
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves profess'd, that you work not
In holier shapes: for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,[2576]
Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape, 425
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,[2577]
And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
Moe than you rob: take wealth and lives together;[2578]
Do villany, do, since you protest to do't,[2579][2580] 430
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery:[2580]
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea: the moon's an arrant thief,[2581]
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun:
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves 435
The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,[2582]
That feeds and breeds by a composture stol'n[2583]
From general excrement: each thing's a thief:[2584]
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves; away,[2585] 440
Rob one another. There's more gold. Cut throats:[2586]
All that you meet are thieves: to Athens go,
Break open shops; nothing can you steal,[2587]
But thieves do lose it: steal not less for this[2588][2589][2590]
I give you; and gold confound you howsoe'er![2588][2590][2591] 445
Amen.[2588][2592]
Third Ban. Has almost charmed me from my profession[2593]
by persuading me to it.
First Ban. 'Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus[2594]
advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.[2595] 450
Sec. Ban. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over[2596]
my trade.[2596]
First Ban. Let us first see peace in Athens: there is no[2597]
time so miserable but a man may be true.[2597][2598] [Exeunt Banditti.
Enter Flavius.
Flav. O you gods![2599] 455
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument[2600]
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd![2600]
What an alteration of honour[2601][2602]
Has desperate want made![2601] 460
What viler thing upon the earth than friends[2603]
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
When man was wish'd to love his enemies![2604]
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo[2605] 465
Those that would mischief me than those that do![2605][2606]
Has caught me in his eye: I will present[2607][2608]
My honest grief unto him, and, as my lord,[2608][2609]
Still serve him with my life. My dearest master![2608]
Tim. Away! what art thou?[2610]
Flav. Have you forgot me, sir?[2611] 470
Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men;[2612]
Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee.[2613]
Flav. An honest poor servant of yours.[2614]
Tim. Then I know thee not:[2615]
I never had honest man about me, I; all[2616] 475
I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains.[2617]
Flav. The gods are witness,
Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.
Tim. What, dost thou weep? come nearer; then I love thee,[2618][2619]480
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping:[2620][2621]
Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping![2621]
Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord, 485
To accept my grief, and whilst this poor wealth lasts
To entertain me as your steward still.
Tim. Had I a steward[2622][2623]
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?[2622]
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.[2622][2624] 490
Let me behold thy face. Surely this man[2622]
Was born of woman.[2622]
Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim[2625]
One honest man—mistake me not—but one;[2626] 495
No more, I pray,—and he's a steward.[2626][2627]
How fain would I have hated all mankind!
And thou redeem'st thyself: but all, save thee,
I fell with curses.
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise; 500
For, by oppressing and betraying me,
Thou mightst have sooner got another service:
For many so arrive at second masters,
Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true—
For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure— 505
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,[2628]
If not a usuring kindness and as rich men deal gifts,[2629]
Expecting in return twenty for one?
Flav. No, my most worthy master; in whose breast
Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late: 510
You should have fear'd false times when you did feast:
Suspect still comes where an estate is least.[2630]
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,[2631]
Care of your food and living; and, believe it,[2632] 515
My most honour'd lord,[2633][2634]
For any benefit that points to me,[2634]
Either in hope or present, I'ld exchange[2634][2635]
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth[2634]
To requite me by making rich yourself.[2634] 520
Tim. Look thee, 'tis so! Thou singly honest man,[2636]
Here, take: the gods, out of my misery,
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy;[2637]
But thus condition'd: thou shalt build from men,
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none, 525
But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone
Ere thou relieve the beggar: give to dogs
What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow 'em,[2638]
Debts wither 'em to nothing: be men like blasted woods,[2639]
And may diseases lick up their false bloods! 530
And so farewell, and thrive.
Flav. O, let me stay[2640]
And comfort you, my master.[2640]
Tim. If thou hatest curses[2641]
Stay not: fly, whilst thou art blest and free:[2641][2642]
Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.
[Exeunt severally.[2643]