The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power Have uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves; away; Rob one another. There's more gold: cut throats; All that you meet are thieves: to Athens, go, Break open shops; 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.1 [Exeunt Thieves.

Enter FLAVIUS.

Flav. O you gods!

Is yon despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd!
What an alteration of honor has

Desperate want made !

What viler thing upon the earth, than friends,
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends?

1 Honest.

1

How rarely 1 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.

Timon. Away! what art thou?

Flav.

Have you forgot me, sir?

Timon. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all

men:

Then, if thou grant'st thou 'rt a man, I have forgot

thee.

Flav. An honest poor servant of yours.
Timon.

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

Flav.

Then

The gods are witness,

Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief

For his undone lord, than mine eyes for you. Timon. 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. Pity's sleeping:

1 How happily.

2 Recommended.

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, whilst this poor wealth lasts,

To entertain me as your steward still.

Timon. 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 woman.
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 mightst 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?

Flav. No, my most worthy master, in whose breast

Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late:

You should have fear'd false times, when you did

feast:

Suspect still comes where an estate is least.

That which I show, Heaven knows, is merely love,

Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,

Care of your food and living: and, believe it,

My most honor'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.

Timon. Look thee, 'tis so!-thou singly honest

man,

Here, take the gods out of my misery

Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich, and happy;
But thus condition'd:-thou shalt build from men ;
Hate all, curse all; show charity to none;
But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone,
Ere thou relieve the beggar: give to dogs

1

What thou deniest to men: let prisons swallow

them,

Debts wither them to nothing. Be men like blasted

woods,

And may diseases lick up their false bloods!

And so, farewell, and thrive.

Curses, stay not; fly, whilst thou 'rt bless'd and

free.

Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.

А С Т V.

[Exeunt, severally.

The same.

SCENE I.

Before Timon's cave.

Enter POET and PAINTER; TIMON behind, unseen.

Paint. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.

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

Paint. 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.

Paint. Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and florish 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?