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.