Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I at worse than mad: I have kept back their foes, [Exit. SCENE VL-A magnificent Room in Timon's House. this Music Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, at several doors. Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. ? Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, bonourable 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. Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting. I Lord. I should think so: He hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did arge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear. ? Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excane. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was ont. 1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand 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? What would he 2 Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes. Enter TIMON, and Attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :-And wow fare you? 1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship. Tim. (Aside.) Nor more willingly leaves winter; Boch summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinser will not recompense this long stay: feast your Pars with the music awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't pre I Lord. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty mes 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 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 lag 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 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 luke-warm water Is your perfection. This is Timon's last; (Throwing water in their faces.) Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. 1 Lord. How now, my lords? [fury? 2 Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's 3 Lord. Pish! did you see my cap? 4 Lord. I have lost my gown. 3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat:-Did you see my jewel? 4 Lord. Did you see my cap? 2 Lord. Here 'tis. 4 Lord. Here lies my gown. 1 Lord. Let's make no stay. 2 Lord. Lord Timon's mad. 3 Lord. I feel't upon my bones. [Exeunt. 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. That girdlest in those wolves! Dive in the earth, Do't in your parents' eyes! bank rupts hold fast; Large-handed robbers your grave masters are, And yet confusion live!-Plagues, incident to men, On Athens, ripe for stroke! thon cold sciatica, 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, Serv. Such a house broke! So noble a master fallen! All gone! and not One friend, to take his fortune by the arm, And go along with him! 2 Serv. As we do turn our backs From our companion, thrown into his grave; So his familiars to his buried fortunes Slink all away; leave their false vows with him, Like empty purses pick'd: and his poor self, A dedicated beggar to the air, With his disease of all-shunu'd poverty, Walks, like contempt, alone.-More of our fellows. O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us To have his pomp, and all what state compounds, I'll serve his mind with my best will; Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. (Exi SCENE III.-The Woods. Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord; (dares It is the pasture lards the brother's sides, Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate Will lug your priests and servants from your sides; Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd; But yet I'll bury thee: Thou it go, strong thief, (Keeping some geht' Enter ALCIBIADES, with drum and fife, in warlike | My country. manner: PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA. Noble Timon, None, but to What is it, Timon? Maintain my opinion. Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. Fer'd so regard fully? Tim. Timan. Yes. Art thou Timandra? Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.(have bat little gold of late, brave Timon, The want whereof doth daily make revolt la my penurious band: I have heard, and griev'd, How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth, Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states, Bar for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them,Tim. I pr'ythee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone. Alcib. I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Ti[trouble? Put up thy gold; Go on,- here's gold,―go on; Think it a bastard, whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut, Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, 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 turncoats: 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! Phr.& Timan. Well, more gold;-What then?-Believ't, that we'll do any thing for gold. Tim. Consumption sow In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins, And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war Phr. & Timan. More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon. Tim. More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest. Alcib. Strike up the drum towards Athens. Farewell, Timon; If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again. Tim. If I hope well, I'll never see thee more. Tim. Yes, thou spok`st well of me. Alcib. Call'st thou that harm? Tim. Men daily find it such. Get thee away, |