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I, that I am one now;
Were all the wealth I have, shut up in thee,
I'd give thee leave to hang it.

and thy defence, absence. What beast could'st thou be, that were not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation?

Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?

Apem. If thou could'st please me with speakGet thee gone.-ing to me, thou might'st have hit upon it here: That the whole life of Athens were in this! The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest Thus would I eat it. [Eating a root. of beasts. Apem. Here; I will mend thy feast. [Offering him something. Tim. First mend my company, take away thyself. [of thine. Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd: If not, I would it were.

Apem. What would'st thou have to Athens?
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 ly'st o'nights, Timon?

Tim.

Under that's above me.
Where feed'st thou o' days, Apemantus?
Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or,
rather, where I eat it.
[my mind!
Tim. 'Would poison were obedient, and knew
Apem. Where would'st thou send it?
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 thy
rags thou knowest none, but art despised for
the contrary. There's a medlar for thee, eat it.
Tim. On what I hate, I feed not.
Apem. Dost hate a medlar?

Tim. Ay, though it look like thee.

Apem. An thou hadst hated medlers sooner, thon should'st have loved thyself better now. What man did'st thou ever know unthrift, that was beloved after his means?

Tim. Who without those means thou talk'st of, didst thou ever know beloved?

Apem. Myself.

Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst some means to keep a dog.

Apem. What things in the world can'st thou nearest compare to thy flatterers?

| Apem. Yonder comes a poet, and a painter: The plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way: When I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again.

Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.

Apem. Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.
Tim. 'Would thou wert clean enough to spit
upon.
[curse.

Apem. A plague on thee, thou art too bad to
Tim. All villains, that do stand by thee, are
pure.
[speak'st.
Apem. There is no leprosy but what thou
Tim. If I name thee,--

I'll beat thee-but I should infect my hands.
Apem. I would, my tongue could rot them off!
Tim. Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
Choler does kill me, that thou art alive;
I swoon to see thee.

Apem.
Tim.

'Would thou wouldst burst!
Away,
Thou tedious rogue, I am sorry, I shall lose
A stone by thee. [Throws a stone at him.
Apem.
Tim.
Apem.
Tim.

Beast!

Slave!

Toad!

Rogue, rogue, rogue! [APEMANTUS retreats backward, as going. I am sick of this false world; and will love nought

But even the mere necessities upon it.
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy grave-stone daily make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others' lives may laugh.
O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce

[Looking on the gold. 'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars! Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd and delicate

wooer,

Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
That lies on Dian's lap! thon visible god,
That solder'st close impossibilities, [tongue,
And mak'st them kiss! that speak'st with every
To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts!
Think, thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!
Apem.
'Would 'twere so;--
But not till I am dead-I'll say, thou had'st gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.

Tim. Women nearest; but men, men are the things themselves. What would'st thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power? Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. Tim. Would'st thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the Apem. Ay, Timon. [beasts? Tim. Abeastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee: if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee: if thou 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 as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou should'st hazard thy 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 kill'd by the horse: wert thou a horse, thou would'st be seized by the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german 1 Thief. Where should he have this gold? It to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were is some poor fragment, some slender ort of his jurors on thy life: all thy safety were remotion, remainder: The mere want of gold, and the

Tim.
Apem.

Throng'd to?
Ay.
Live, and love thy misery!
Tim. Long live so, and so die !-I am quit.-
[Exit APEMANTUS.

Tim. Thy back, I pr'ythee.
Apem.

More things like men ?-Eat Timon, and abhor them.

Enter Thieves.

falling-from of his friends, drove him into this melancholy.

2 Thief. It is noised, he hath a mass of treasure. 3 Thief. Let us make the assay upon him; if he care not for't, he will supply us easily; If he covetously reserve it, how shall's get it? 2 Thief. True; for he bears it not about him, 1 Thief. Is not this he? ['tis hid. Thieves. Where ?

2 Thief. 'Tis his description. 3 Thief. He; I know him.

Thieves. Save thee, Timon.

Tim. Now, thieves?

Thieves. Soldiers, not thieves.

Tim, Both too; and women's sons.

Thieves. We are not thieves, but men that. much do want. [of men. Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much Why should you want? Behold the earth hath

roots;

Within this mile break forth a hundred springs: The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips: The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush Lays her full mess before you. Want? why want? 1 Thief. We cannot live on grass, on berries, As beasts, and birds, and fishes. [water, Tim. Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and fishes

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,
Here's gold: Go, suck the subtle blood of the
grape

Till the high fever seeth your blood to froth,
And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays [gether;
More than you rob: take wealth and lives to-
Do villany, do, since you profess to do't,
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery:
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea; the moon's an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun;
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,
That feeds, and breeds by a composture stol'n
From general excrement: each thing's a thief;
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough
power
[away;
Have uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves:
Rob one another. There's more gold: Cut
throats;

All that you meet are thieves: To Athens, go,
Break open shops; for nothing can you steal,
But thieves do lose it: Steal not less, for this
I give you; and gold confound you howsoever!
Amen.
[TIMON retires to his Cave.
3 Thief. He has almost charmed me from my
profession, by persuading me to it.

1 Thief. 'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.

2 Thief. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade.

1 Thief. Let us first see peace in Athens: There is no time so miserable, but a man may be true. [Exeunt Thieves.

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What viler thing upon the earth, than friends,
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:
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would mischief me,than those that do!
He has caught me in his eye: I will present
My honest grief unto him: and, as my lord,
Still serve him with my life.-My dearest master!
TIMON comes forward from his Cave.
Tim. Away! what art thou?

Flav.
Have you forgot me, sir?
Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men
Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have fo
got thee.

Flav. An honest poor servant of yours.
Tim.

Then

I know thee not: I ne'er had honest men
About me, I; all that I kept were knaves,
To serve in meat to villains.
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,

Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st Flinty mankind; whose eyes do never give, But thorough lust, and laughter. Plty's sleeping, Strange times that weep with laughing, not with weeping!

Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord, To accept my grief, and, while this poor wealth To entertain me as your steward still. [lasts,

Tim. Had I a steward so true, so just, and now So comfortable? It almost turns My dangerous nature wild. Let me behold Thy face.-Surely this man was born of wo

man.

Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual-sober gods? I do proclaim
One honest man,-mistake me not,--but one;
No more, I pray,-and he is a steward.--
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;
For, by oppressing and betraying me,
Thou might'st 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),
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
If not a usuring kindness; and as rich men
deal gifts,

Expecting in return twenty for one? [breast
Flav. No, my most worthy master, in whose
Doubt and suspect, alas, are plac'd too late:
You should have fear'd false times, when you
did feast:

Suspect still comes when an estate is least.
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely
Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind, [love,
Care of your food and living: and, believe it,
My most honour'd lord,

For any benefit that points to me,
Either in hope, or present, I'd exchange
For this one wish, That you had power and
wealth

To requite me, by making rich yourself. [man,
Tim. Look thee, 'tis so!-Thou singly honest
Here, take-the gods out of my misery
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich, and
happy:
[men;

But thus condition'd; Thou shalt build from Hate all, curse all: show charity to none;

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SCENE I. The same. Before Timon's Cave. Enter Poet and Painter; TIMON behind, unseen. Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.

Poet. What's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true, that he is so full of gold?

Pain. Certain: Alcibiades reports it: Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity:"Tis said, he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.

Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.

Pain. Nothing else; you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore, 'tis not amiss, we tender our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his: it will show honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having. Poet. What have you now to present unto him? Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I will promise him an excellent piece.

Poet. I must serve him so too; tell him of an intent that's coming toward him.

Pain. Good as the best. Promising is the very air o'the time: it opens the eyes of expectation; performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind of will or testament, which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it.

Tim. Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as thyself.

Poet. I am thinking, what I shall say I have provided for him: It must be a personating of himself: a satire against the softness of pros-. perity; with a discovery of the inúinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.

Tim. Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have gold for thee. Poet. Nay, let's seek him:

Then do we sin against our own estate,
When we may profit meet, and come too late.
Fuin. True;

When the day serves before black-corner'd night,
Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light.
Come.
[gold,
Tim. I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's
That he is worship'd in a baser temple,
Than where swine feed!
"Tis thou that rigg'st the bark, and plough'st
Settlest admired reverence in a slave:

the foam;

To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye
Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey!
Fit I do meet them.
[Advancing.

Poet. Hail, worthy Timon!
Pain.

Our late noble master.

Tim. Have I once liv'd to see two honest men? Port. Sir,

Having often of your open bounty tasted, Hearing you were retird'd, your friends fall'n off, Whose thankless natures-O abhorred spirits! Not all the whips of heaven are large enoughWhat! to you!

Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence To their whole being! I am rapt, and cannot The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude [cover With any size of words.

Tim. Let it go naked, men may sec't the better: You, that are honest, by being what you are, Make them best seen, and known,

Pain.

He, and myself, Have travell'd in the great shower of your gifts, And sweetly felt it.

Tem. Ay, you are honest men. Puin, We are hither come to offer you our service. [requite you?

Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no. Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you

service.

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Yet an arch villain keeps him company. If, where thou art, two villains shall not be, [To th: Painter. Come not near him.-If thou wouldst not reside [To the Poet, But where one villain is, then him abandon. Hence! pack! there's gold, ye came for gold, ye slaves: [Hence! You have done work for me, there's payment: You are an alchymist, make gold of thee:Out, rascal dogs!

Exit, beating and driving them out. SCENE 11. The same. Enter FLAVIUS and two Senators. Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with For he is set so only to himself, [Timon; That nothing but himself, which looks like man, Is friendly with him.

1 Sen. Bring us to his cave: It is our part, and promise to the Athenians, To speak with Timon.

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Men are not still the same: 'Twas time, and griefs,

That fran'd him thus: time, with his fairer hand,
Offering the fortune of his former days,
The former man may make him: Bring ns to
And chance it as it may.
[him,
Flav.
Here is his cave.-
Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Ti-
mon!

Look out, and speak to friends: The Athenians,
By two of their most reverend senate, greet thee:
Speak to them, noble Timon.

Enter TIMON.

Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn!-Speak, and be hang'd:

For each true word, a blister! and each false Be as a caut'rizing to the root o' the tongue, Consuming it with speaking.

1 Sen. Worthy TimonTim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon. [mon.

2 Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee, TiTim. I thank them; and would send them back the plague,

Could I but catch it for them.

1 Sen. O, forget What we are sorry for ourselves in thee. The senators, with one consent of love, Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought On special dignities, which vacant lie For thy best use and wearing.

They confess,

2 Sen. Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross: Which now the publick body,-which doth Play the recanter,-feeling in itself [seldom A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal Of its own fall, restraining aid to Timon; And send forth us, to make their sorrowed render,

Together with a recompense more fruitful
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram:
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and
wealth,

As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.
Tim.
You witch me in it;
Surprise me to the very brink of tears:
Lend nie a fool's heart, and a woman's eyes,
And I'll be weep these comforts, worthy senators.
1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with

US,

name

And of our Athens (thine, and ours) to take
The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,
Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good
[back
Live with authority:-so soon we shall drive
Of Alcibiades the approaches wild;
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace.

2 Sen. And shakes his threatening sword
Against the walls of Athens.
1 Sen.
Therefore, Timon.--
Tim. Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir;
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
[Thus,-
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon, Athens,
That-Timon cares not. But if he sack fair
And take our goodly aged men by the beards,
Giving our holy virgius to the stain
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war;
Then, let him know,-and tell him Timon
In pity of our aged, and our youth, [speaks it.
I cannot choose but tell him, that-I care not,
And let him tak't at worst; for their knives
care not,

While you have throats to answer; for myself,
There's not a whittle in the unruly camp,
But I do prize it at my love, before
The reverend'st throat in Athens, So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods,
As thieves to keepers.
Flav.

Stay not, all's in vain.
Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph,
It will be seen to-morrow; my long sickness
Of health, and living, now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough!

1 Sen. We speak in vain. Tim. But yet I love my country; and am not One that rejoices in the common wreck, As common bruit doth put in. 1 Sen. That's well spoke. Tim. Commend me to my loving country

men

1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass through them.

2 Sen. And enter in our ears, like great triIn their applauding gates. [umphers Tim. Commend me to them; And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, Their fears of hostile strekes, their aches, losses, Their pangs of love, with other incident throes That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:

I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath. 2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again. Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my

close,

That mine own use invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it; Tell my friends,
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree,
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
To stop afiliction, let him take his haste,
Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself:-I pray yon, do my greeting.
Flav. Trouble him no further, thus you still
shall find him.

Tim. Come not to me again; but say to Athens,
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Which once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover; thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.-
Lips, let sour words go by, and language end:
What is amiss, plague and infection mend!

Graves only be men's works; and death their We sent to thee; to give thy rages balm, gain! [reign. To wipe out our ingratitude with loves Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his Above their quantity.

[Exit TIMON. 1 Sen. His discontents are unremovably Coupled to nature.

2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead; let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear peril. 1 Sen.

It requires swift foot.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Walls of Athens.
Enter two Senators and a Messenger.
1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are
As full as they report?
[his files
Mess.
I have spoken the least:
Besides, his expedition promises

Present approach.

2 Sen.
So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love,
By humble message, and by promis'd means;
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

1 Sen.
These walls of ours
Were not erected by their hands, from whom
You have receiv'd your griefs: nor are they such,
That these great towers, trophies, and schools
For private faults in them. [should fall
2 Sen.

Nor are they living,
Who were the motives that you first went out;
Shame that they wanted cunning, in excess
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
By decimation, and a tithed death
(If thy revenges hunger for that food, [tenth;
[friend: Which nature loathes), take thou the destin'd
And by the hazard of the spotted die,
Let die the spotted.

2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring

not Timon.

Mess. I met a courier, one, mine ancient
Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd,
Yet our old love made a particular force,
And made us speak like friends:-this man was
From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, [riding
With letters of entreaty, which imported
His fellowship i' the cause against your city,
lu part for his sake remov'd.

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SCENE IV.
The Woods. Timon's Cave and a Tombstone seen.
Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon.
Sol. By all description this should be the place.
Who's here? speak, ho!-No answer? What is
this?

Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span:
Some beast rear'd this; there does not live a man.
Dead, sure; and this his grave.-

What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character
I'll take with wax.

Our captain hath in every figure skill;

An ag'd interpreter, though young in days:
Before proud Athens, he's set down by this,
Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. [Exit.

SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens.
Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES and Forces.
Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious
town

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Enter Senators on the Walls.
Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills
The scope of justice; till now, myself, and such
As slept within the shadow of your power,
Have wander'd with our travers'd arms, and,
breath'd

Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush,
When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong,
Cries of itself, No more: now breathless wrong
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease;
And pursy insolence shall break his wind,
With fear and horrid flight,
1 Sen.

Noble and young,
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear,

1 Sen.

All have not offended:
For those that were, it is not square, to take,
On those that are, revenges; crimes like lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin,
Which in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd,
Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth,
But kill not all together.
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile
What thou wilt,
Than hew to 't with thy sword.

2 Sen.

1 Sen.
Set but thy foot
Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say, thou'lt enter friendly.

2 Sen.

Throw thy glove;
Or any token of thine honour else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.

Alcib.
Then there's my glove;
Descend, and open your uncharged ports;
Those enemies of Timon's and mine own,
Whom you yourself shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more: and, to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning,--not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be remedied to your public laws
At heaviest answer.

Both.

'Tis most nobly spoken.
Alcib. Descend, and keep your words.
The Senators descend and open the Gates.
Enter a Soldier.

Sol. My noble general, Timon is dead:
Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea:
And on his gravestone, this insculpture; which
With wax I brought away, whose soft impression
Interprets for my poor ignorance.

Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft: [caitiff's left! Serk not my name: A plague consume you wicked Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did [here thy gait.

hate.

Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not
These well express in thee thy latter spirits:
Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs,
Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our drop-

lets which

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