Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood*, For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men. I'll serve his mind with my best will; Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. [Exit. SCENE III. The woods. Enter Timon. Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,- Scarce is dividant,-touch them with several for tunes; The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature, To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune, Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord; The beggar native honour. It is the pasture lards the brother's sides, * Propensity, disposition. ti. e. The moon's, this sublunary world. 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, [Digging. 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 yellow slave Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd; That makes the wappen'd ‡ widow wed again; * Seize, gripe. No insincere or inconstant supplicant. Gold will not serve me instead of roots. + Sorrowful. i. e. Gold restores her to all the sweetness and freshness of youth.. Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds But yet I'll bury thee: Thou'lt go, strong thief, [Keeping some gold. Enter Alcibiades, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; Phrynia and Timandra. Alcib. What art thou there? Speak. Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker knaw thy heart, For showing me again the eyes of man! Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, That art thyself a man? Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind. 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. know thee, I not desire to know. Follow thy drum; With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules: 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. Phr. Thy lips rot off! 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 sups to borrow of. 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. For tubs, and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth Timan. Hang thee, monster! 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, * Alluding to the cure of the lues venerea, then in practice. Alcib. I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Ti mon. Tim. How dost thou pity him, whom thou dost Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a heap, Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens? Alcib. Ay, Timou, and have cause. Tim. The gods confound them all i'thy conquest; and Thee after, when thou hast conquer'd! Alcib. Tim. That, Why me, Timon? By killing villains, thou wast born to conquer Put up thy gold; Go on,-here's gold,—go on; Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison In the sick air: Let not thy sword skip one: Herself's a bawd: Let not the virgin's cheek 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; Think it a bastard f, whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronoune'd thy throat shall cut, * Cutting. + An allusion to the tale of dipus. |