Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
Worse than the worst, content.

Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable,
Tim. Not by his breaths that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm
With favor never clasp'd; but bred a dog.
Hads thou, like us, from our first swath proceeded,
The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
To such as may the passive drugs of it
Freely command,thou wouldst have plunged thyself
In gen'ral riot; melted down thy youth
In different beds of lusts; and never learn'd
The icy precepts of respect, but follow'd
The sugar'd game before thee. But myself
Who had the world as my confectionary;
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men
At duty, more than I could frame employment;
That numberless upon me stuck, as leaves
Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush
Fell from their boughs, and left me open, bare
For every storm that blows;--I to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burden:
Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time
Hath made thee hard in't. Why should'st thou hate
men!

They never flatter'd thee. What hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse,-thy father, that poor rag,
Must be thy subject; who, in spite, put stuff
To some she-beggar, and compounded thee,
Poor rogue hereditary. Hence! be gone!--
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave, and flatterer.
Apem.
Art thou proud yet?
Tim. Ay, that I am not thee.
Арет.

No prodigal.

Tim.

I, that I was

I, that I am one now;

Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee, I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.That the whole life of Athens were in this! Thus would I eat it. [Eating a root. Apem. Here; I will mend thy feast. [Offering him something. Tim. First mend my company, take away thyself.

Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.

Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd; If not, I would it were.

Apem. What wouldst 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.

Tim. The best and truest; For here it sleeps and does no hired harm. Apem. Where ly'st o'nights, Timon? Under that's above me. Where feed'st thou o'days, Apemantus? Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat it.

Tim. 'Would poison were obedient, and knew my mind!

Apem. Where wouldst 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 meddlers sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift, that was beloved after his means?

Tim. Who, without those means thou talkest 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 canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers?

Tim. Women nearest: but men, men are the things themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

By his voice, sentence.
For too much finical delicacy

Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. Tim. Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the con fusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts: Apem. Ay, Timon.

Tim. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the bon, 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 wolt, thy greedness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make the own self the conquest of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse: wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life: all thy safety were remotion; and thy detence absence. What beast couldst thou be, that wert not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation?

Apem. If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou mightst have hit upon it here: The com monwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts. Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that the u art out of the city?

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 cise to do, I'll see thee again.

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

Apem. Thou art the caps of all the fools alive. Tim. 'Would thou wert clean enough to spit

upon.

Apem. A plague on thee, thou art too bad to

curse.

Tim. All villains, that do stand by thee, are pure.
Apem. There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.
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 would'st burst!
Away,
[Throws a Stone at him.

Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry, I shall lose
A stone by thee.

Apem. Tim. Apem.

Tim.

Beast!

Slave!

Toad!

Rogue, rogue, rogue! [APEMANTUS retreats backward, as getta 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 Guid 'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright desier Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars! Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd, and delicate whoef, Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow That lies on Dian's lap; thou visible god, That solder'st close impossibilities. And mak'st them kiss! that speak'st with ever

tongue,

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!

Арет.

'Would 'twere so ;But not till I am dead!-I'll say, thou hast gold. Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly

Tim. Apem.

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

Tim. Thy back, I pr'ythee.

Apem.

• From infancy.

⚫ Remoteness; the being placed at a distance from that lion. The top, the principal. • Touchetu

them.

Enter Thieves.

Trif. Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender o.t of his remander: The mere want of gold, and the fallingtom 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 fort, he will supply us easily; if he covetusy reserve it, how shall's get it?

Thu. True; for he bears it not about him,'tis hid. Thef. Is not this he?

Theres. Where?

2 Thief. 'Tis his description.

5 Thief. He; I know him.

Thieves. Save thee, Timon.
Tum. Now, thieves?

Theres. Soldiers, not thieves.

Tum. Both too: and women's sons.

Taieres. We are not thieves, but men that much do want.

Tun. Your greatest want is, you want much of

meat.

Why should you want? Behold the earth hath roots;
Win this inile break forth a hundred springs:
The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips;
The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush
Lays her fall mess before you. Want? why want?
Thief. We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts, and birds, and fishes.

Tu. 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 la holier shapes: for there is boundless theft lanted professions. Rascal thieves,

Here's gold: Go, suck the subtle blood of the grape, Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth, And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician; His antidotes are poison, and he slays More than you rob: take wealth and lives together; 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 stolen From general excrement: each thing's a thief; The laws, your curb and whip.in their rough power Hive 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 give you; and gold confound you howsoever! [TIMON retires to his Cave. 3 Thief. He has almost charmed me from my profession, by persuading me to it. 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 ny trade.

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

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.
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. Pity'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 whilst this poor wealth lasts To entertain me as your steward still.

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 woman.
Forgive my generous and exceptless rashness,
Perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim
One honest man,-mistake me not,-but one;
No more, I pray.-and he is a steward.-
How far 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 gifs,
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.

Tim. Look thee, 'tis so!-Thou singly honest man
Here, take :-the gods out of my misery
Have sent me 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
What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow
them,

Debts wither them: Be men like blasted woods, And may diseases lick up their false bloods! And so farewell, and thrive.

Flav.

And comfort you, my master. Tim.

O, let me stay,

If thou hat'st

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

free:

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

Away from human habitation.

SCENE I-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 rumor hold for true, that he is so full of gold?

Pain. Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enched 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! paint a man so bad as is thyself.

Thou canst not

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 prosperity; with a discovery of the infinite 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.
Pain. True;

When the day serves, before black-corner'd night,
Find what thou want'st, by free and offer'd light.
Come.

Tim. I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold,

That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple,
Than where swine feed!

'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark, and plough'st the foam;

Settlest admired reverence in a slave:
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!
Puin.
Our late noble master.
Tim. Have I once liv'd to see two honest men!
Poet. Sir,

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

Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence To their whole being! I'm rapt, and cannot cover The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude

With any size of words.

Tim. Let it go naked, men may see'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. Tim.

Ay, you are honest men.

Pain. We are hither come to offer you our

service.

The loing of what we said we would do.

Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you?

Can you eat roots, and drink cold water! no. Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you service. Tim. You are honest men: you have heard that I have gold:

I am sure you have: speak truth: you are honest

men.

Came not my friend, nor I.
Pain. So it is said, my noble lord: but therefte

Tim. Good honest men:-Thou draw'st a counterfeit

Thou counterfeit'st most lively.
Best in all Athens; thou art, indeed, the best

Pain.

So, so, my lord Tim. Even so, sir, as I say :-And for thy fiction, Why,thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth, [To the Poet That thou art even natural in thine art.I must needs say, you have a little fault: But, for all this, my honest-natur'd friends, Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I, You take much pains to mend. Both.

Beseech your honor, To make it known to us. Tim. You'll take it ill. Both. Most thankfully, my lord. Tim.

Will you indeed!

Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord. Tim. There's ne'er a one of you but trusts a That mightily deceives you. knave,

Both. Do we, my lord! Tim. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dis Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, semble, Keep in your bosom: yet remain assur'd, That he's a made-up villain.2

Nor I.

Pain. I know none such, my lord.
Poet.
Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give you
gold,

Rid me these villains from your companies:
Hang them, or stab them, drown them in a draught,
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
I'll give you gold enough.

Both. Name them, my lord, let's know them. Tim. You that way, and you this, but two in company:

Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.
Each man apart, all single and alone,
If, where thou art, two villains shall not be,

[To the Painter. Come not near him.-If thou wouldst not res de To the Port

But where one villain is, then him abandon.Hence! pack! there's gold, ye came for gold ye slaves,

You have done work for me, there's payment
Hence!

Out, rascal dogs!
You are an alchemist, make gold of that:

Exit, beating and driving them wit.

SCENE II.-The same.

Enter FLAVIUS, and two Senators.
Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with
Timon;

For he is set so only to himself,
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.

2 Sen.
At all times alike
Men are not still the same: 'Twas time, and gries
That framed him thus: time, with his fairer hud,
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him: Bring us to him,
And chance it as it may.

A portrait was so called

A complete, a finished villain.

O, forget

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

2 Sen. They confess, Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross: Which now the public body,-which doth seldom Play the recanter,-teeling in itself

A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal of its own fail, restraining aid to Timon:

And send forth us, to make their sorrow'd render,3
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.

Tun. You witch me in it; Surprise me to the very brink of tears: Lend me a loo's heart, and a woman's eyes, And I beweep these comiorts, worthy senators. 1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with us, And of our Athens, (thne, and ours,) to take 1Le captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks, Anow' with absolute power, and thy good name Live with authority:--so soon we shall drive back 3 Alcibiades the approaches wild;

Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
is country's peace.
2. Sen.

And shakes his threat'ning sword Against the walls of Athens.

1 Sen.

Therefore, Timon,

Tun. Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; Thus,

Alcibiades kill my countrymen,

Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
Tat-Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,
And take our goodly aged men by the beards,
Giving our holy virgins to the stain

Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war;
Then, let him know,-and tell him, Timon speaks it,
la pity of our aged, and our youth,

I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not,
And let him take'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.
Flur.
Stay not, all's in vain.

Tun. 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!

We speak in vain.

1 Sen. Tim. But yet I love my country; and am not One that rejoices in the common wreck, As common bruit? doth put it. 1 Sen.

That's well spoke. Tum. Commend me to my loving countrymen,1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass through them.

2 Sen. And enter in our ears like great triúmphers In their applauding gates.

Commend me to them,

Tim. And tell them, that to ease them of their griefs, Their tears of hostile strokes, 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 de 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 ckɛe, That mine own use invites ine to cut down, And shortly must I fell it: Tell my friends, Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree, To stop affliction, let him take his haste, From high to low throughout, that whoso please Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe, And hang himselt:-I pray you, 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 gain! Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign! [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 discovered; are his files As full as thy report!

Mess.
I have spoke the least:
Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach.

2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not

Timon.

SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens. Trumpets sounded. Enter ALCIBIADES and Forces. Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach. [A Purley sounded. Enter Senators on the Walls.

Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time

• Dreadful.

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,

Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say, thou'lt enter friendly.
Throw thy glove

2 Sen.

Or any token of thine honor else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbor in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.
Alcib.
Then there's my glove;
Descend, and open your uncharged ports ;3
Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own,
Whom you yourselves 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:

Seek not my name: A plague consume you wicked cailiffs left!

Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate:

Let die the spotted.

All have not offended;

1 Sen.
For those that were, it is not square2 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.

2 Sen.
What thou wilt,
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile,
Than hew to't with thy sword.

1 Sen.

Arms across. • Mature.

Set but thy foot

Not regular, not equitable.

here thy gait.

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 droplets

which