Pain. True; When the day serves, before black-corner'd night, Tim. I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold, 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! Poet. Hail, worthy Timon! Tim. Have I once lived to see two honest men? Having often of your open bounty tasted, Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence 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. [Advancing. 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. Pain. So it is said, my noble lord: but therefore Came not my friend, nor I. Tim. Good honest men!-Thou draw'st a counterfeit* Pain. So, so, my lord. Tim. Even so, Šir, as I say :-And, for thy fiction, [To the POET. Why thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth, * Portrait. Both. Beseech your honour, 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 knave, That mightily deceives you. Both. Do we, my lord? Tim. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble, That he's a made-up + villain. Pain. I know none such, my lord. Poet. Nor I. Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give you gold, Hang them, or stab them, drown them in a draught,‡ 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 : Each man apart, all single and alone, Yet an arch-villain keeps him company. If, where thou art, two villains shall not be. [To the 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: Out, rascal dogs! [Exit, beating and driving them out. 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 griefs, The former man may make him: Bring us to him, Flav. Here is his cave. Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon! * Roguery. VOL. IV. † Finished. * Jakes. By two of their most reverend senate, greet thee: 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 Timon Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon. 2 Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon. Tim. 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. 2 Sen. They confess, Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross: A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal Than their offence can weigh down by the dram; Tim. You witch me in it; Surprise me to the very brink of tears: Lend me a fool's heart, and a woman's eyes, 1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with us, Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up 2 Sen. And shakes his threat'ning sword Against the walls of Athens. 1 Sen. Therefore, Timon, Tim. Well, Sir, I will; therefore, I will, Sir; Thus,— If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, Let Alcibiades know this of Timon, That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens, And take our goodly aged men by the beards, One united voice. + Confession. + Licensed. Giving our holy virgins to the stain Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war; Then, let him know,-and tell him, Timon speaks it, I cannot choose but tell him, that-I care not, And let him tak't at worst; for their knives care not, But I do prize it at my love, before The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you Flav. Stay not, all's in vain. Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph, And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still; 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 it. 1 Sen. That's well spoke. Tim. 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 triumphers In their applauding gates. Tim. Commend me to them; And tell them, that, to ease them of their griefs, In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them: 2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again. Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close, Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe, And hang himself:-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; * Knife. † I. e. the gods, who are the authors of the prosperity of mankind. t I.e. my long disease, life, is everything to me. about to end, and nothingness will be From highest to lowest. Which once a day with his embossed* froth 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 unremoveably 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 deart peril. 1 Sen. It requires swift foot. SCENE III.-The Walls of Athens. Enter two SENATORS, and a MESSENGER. 1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are his files As full as thy report? Mess. I have spoke the least: Besides, his expedition promises Present approach. [Exeunt. 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;Whom, though in general part we were opposed, Yet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends:-this man was riding With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i' the cause against your city, Enter SENATORS from TIMON 1 Sen. Here come our brothers. 2 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.- SCENE IV-The Woods. [Exeunt. TIMON'S Cave, and a Tomb-stone 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? 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 Our captain hath in every figure skill; [Exit. I. e. his army as large. |