SCENE V.ATHENS.

The Senate House.

The Senate sitting.

1 Sen. My lords, you have my voice to it; the fault's Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die :

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him.

Enter ALCIBIADES, attended.

Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the senate! 1 Sen. Now, captain?

Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; For pity is the virtue of the law,

And none but tyrants use it cruelly.

It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy

Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood,

Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that without heed do plunge into't.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,

Of comely virtues :

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice,

An honour in him which buys out his fault,-
But with a noble fury and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe:

And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behove his anger ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

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
To bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling
Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,

Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born:

He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer

The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides, to wear them like his raiment, carelessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,

To bring it into danger.

If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,

What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill?

Alcib. My lord,—

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,
And not endure all threats? sleep upon't,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? but if there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad? why, then, women are more valiant,
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;

And th' ass more captain than the lion; the fellow
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,

If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,

As you are great, be pitifully good:

Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?

To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;

But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.

To be in anger is impiety;

But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

2 Sen. You breathe in vain.
Alcib.

In vain! his service done

At Lacedæmon and Byzantium
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

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!
2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em, he
Is a sworn rioter: he has a sin that often
Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner:
If there were no foes, that were enough
To overcome him: in that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages
And cherish factions: 'tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul and his drink dangerous.
1 Sen. He dies.

Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war.
My lords, if not for any parts in him,-

Though his right arm might purchase his own time,

And be in debt to none,-yet, more to move you,
Take my deserts to his, and join them both:
And, for I know your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all
My honours to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,

Why, let the war receiv't in valiant gore;
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

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.

Banish your dotage; banish usury,

That makes the senate ugly.

1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee, Attend our weightier judgment.

spirit,

He shall be executed presently.

And, not to swell our

[Exeunt Senators.

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

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.

SCENE VI.-ATHENS. A magnificent Room in

TIMON'S House.

[live

[Exit.

Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. 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.

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.

2 Lord. It should not be by the persuasion of 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.

2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out. 1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

2 Lord. Every man here 's so. What would he have borrowed of you?

1 Lord. A thousand pieces.

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

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

Enter TIMON and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both.-And 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. Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summerbirds are men. [Aside.]-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' 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 messenger. Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you.

2 Lord. My noble lord,

Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer?

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.

Tim. Think not on't, sir.

2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before,

Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.-Come, bring in all together. [The banquet brought in.

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 it

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 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. toward.

2 Lord. This is the old man still. 3 Lord. Will't hold? will't hold?

draw near?

Here's a noble feast

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 tag 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 are they welcome.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

[The dishes, when uncovered, are seen to be 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 with your flatteries,

Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[Throwing the water in their faces.

Your reeking villany. Live loath'd and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,