The Life of Timon of Athens

TITUSO, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.SERVILIUS. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from't; for, take't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him; he's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.LUCIUS' SERVANTMany do keep their chambers are not sick:And, if it be so far beyond his health,Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,And make a clear way to the gods.SERVILIUSGood gods!TITUSWe cannot take this for answer, sir.FLAMINIUS[Within.] Servilius, help! my lord! my lord!

[Enter TIMON, in a rage; FLAMINIUS following.]

TIMONWhat! are my doors oppos'd against my passage?Have I been ever free, and must my houseBe my retentive enemy, my gaol?The place which I have feasted, does it now,Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?LUCIUS' SERVANTPut in now, Titus.TITUSMy lord, here is my bill.LUCIUS' SERVANTHere's mine.HORTENSIUSAnd mine, my lord.BOTH VARRO'S SERVANTSAnd ours, my lord.PHILOTUSAll our bills.TIMONKnock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.LUCIUS' SERVANTAlas, my lord —TIMONCut my heart in sums.TITUSMine, fifty talents.TIMONTell out my blood.LUCIUS' SERVANTFive thousand crowns, my lord.TIMONFive thousand drops pays that. What yours? and yours?FIRST VARRO'S SERVANTMy lord —SECOND VARRO'S SERVANTMy lord —TIMONTear me, take me; and the gods fall upon you!

[Exit.]

HORTENSIUS. Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money: these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.

[Exeunt.]

[Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS.]

TIMONThey have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.Creditors? devils!FLAVIUSMy dear lord —TIMONWhat if it should be so?FLAMINIUSMy lord —TIMONI'll have it so. My steward!FLAVIUSHere, my lord.TIMONSo fitly! Go, bid all my friends again:Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all:I'll once more feast the rascals.FLAVIUSO my lord!You only speak from your distracted soul;There is not so much left to furnish outA moderate table.TIMONBe it not in thy care: go.I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tideOf knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.

[Exeunt.]

Scene V. The Same. The Senate House. The Senate Sitting

FIRST SENATORMy lord, you have my voice to it: the fault'sBloody. 'tis necessary he should die;Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.SECOND SENATORMost true; the law shall bruise him.

[Enter ALCIBIADES, attended.]

ALCIBIADESHonour, health, and compassion to the senate!FIRST SENATORNow, captain.ALCIBIADESI am a humble suitor to your virtues;For pity is the virtue of the law,And none but tyrants use it cruelly.It pleases time and fortune to lie heavyUpon a friend of mine, who, in hot bloodHath stepp'd into the law, which is past depthTo those that without heed do plunge into't.He is a man, setting his fate aside,Of comely virtues;Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice, —An honour in him which buys out his fault, —But, with a noble fury and fair spirit,Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,He did oppose his foe;And with such sober and unnoted passionHe did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent,As if he had but prov'd an argument.FIRST SENATORYou undergo too strict a paradox,Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:Your words have took such pains as if they labour'dTo bring manslaughter into form, and setQuarrelling upon the head of valour; which indeedIs valour misbegot, and came into the worldWhen sects and factions were newly born.He's truly valiant that can wisely sufferThe worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongshis outsides, to wear them like his raiment, carelessly,And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,To bring it into danger.If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill!ALCIBIADESMy lord, —FIRST SENATORYou cannot make gross sins look clear;To revenge is no valour, but to bear.ALCIBIADESMy lords, then, under favour, pardon me,If I speak like a captain.Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,And not endure all threats? sleep upon't,And let the foes quietly cut their throatsWithout repugnancy? If there beSuch valour in the bearing, what make weAbroad? why, then, women are more valiantThat stay at home, if bearing carry it,And the ass more captain than the lion, the felonLoaden with irons wiser than the judge,If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords!As you are great, be pitifully good:Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.To be in anger is impiety;But who is man that is not angry?Weigh but the crime with this.SECOND SENATORYou breathe in vain.ALCIBIADESIn vain! his service doneAt Lacedaemon and ByzantiumWere a sufficient briber for his life.FIRST SENATORWhat's that?ALCIBIADESI say, my lords, has done fair service,And slain in fight many of your enemies.How full of valour did he bear himselfIn the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!SECOND SENATORHe has made too much plenty with 'em;He's a sworn rioter; he has a sin that oftenDrowns him and takes his valour prisoner;If there were no foes, that were enoughTo overcome him; in that beastly furyHe has been known to commit outragesAnd cherish factions; 'tis inferr'd to us,His days are foul and his drink dangerous.FIRST SENATORHe dies.ALCIBIADESHard fate! he might have died in war.My lords, if not for any parts in him, —Though his right arm might purchase his own time,And be in debt to none, – yet, more to move you,Take my deserts to his, and join 'em both;And, for I know your reverend ages loveSecurity, I'll pawn my victories, allMy honour to you, upon his good returns.If by this crime he owes the law his life,Why, let the war receive't in valiant gore;For law is strict, and war is nothing more.FIRST SENATORWe are for law; he dies: urge it no more,On height of our displeasure. Friend or brother,He forfeits his own blood that spills another.ALCIBIADESMust it be so? it must not be. My lords,I do beseech you, know me.SECOND SENATORHow!ALCIBIADESCall me to your remembrances.THIRD SENATORWhat!ALCIBIADESI cannot think but your age has forgot me;It could not else be I should prove so base,To sue, and be denied such common grace.My wounds ache at you.FIRST SENATORDo you dare our anger?'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;We banish thee for ever.ALCIBIADESBanish me!Banish your dotage; banish usury,That makes the Senate ugly.FIRST SENATORIf, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee,Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit,He shall be executed presently.

[Exeunt SENATORS.]

ALCIBIADESNow the gods keep you old enough; that you may liveOnly in bone, that none may look on you!I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,While they have told their money and let outTheir coin upon large interest; I myselfRich only in large hurts: all those for this?Is this the balsam that the usuring senatePours into captains' wounds? Banishment!It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer upMy discontented troops, and lay for hearts.'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds;Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

[Exit.]

Scene VI. A room of State in TIMON'S House

[Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers LORDS,

SENATORS, and Others, at several doors.]FIRST LORDThe good time of day to you, sir.SECOND LORD. I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord did but try us this other day.FIRST LORDUpon that were my thoughts tiring when we encountered:I hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trialof his several friends.SECOND LORDIt should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.FIRST LORD. I should think so: he hath sent me an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear.SECOND LORD. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out.FIRST LORDI am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.SECOND LORDEvery man here's so. What would he have borrowed you?FIRST LORDA thousand pieces.SECOND LORDA thousand pieces!FIRST LORDWhat of you?SECOND LORDHe sent to me, sir – here he comes.

[Enter TIMON and Attendants.]

TIMONWith all my heart, gentlemen both; And how fare you?FIRST LORDEver at the best, hearing well of your lordship.SECOND LORD. The swallow follows not summer more willing than we your lordship.

TIMON. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' the trumpet's sound; we shall to't presently.

FIRST LORDI hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship thatI return'd you an empty messenger.TIMONO! sir, let it not trouble you.SECOND LORDMy noble lord, —TIMONAh! my good friend, what cheer?SECOND LORD. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame, that when your lordship this other day sent to me I was so unfortunate a beggar.TIMONThink not on't, sir.SECOND LORDIf you had sent but two hours before, —TIMONLet it not cumber your better remembrance.

[The banquet brought in.]

Come, bring in all together.SECOND LORDAll covered dishes!FIRST LORDRoyal cheer, I warrant you.THIRD LORDDoubt not that, if money and the season can yield it.FIRST LORDHow do you? What's the news?THIRD LORDAlcibiades is banished: hear you of it?FIRST AND SECOND LORDSAlcibiades banished!THIRD LORD'Tis so, be sure of it.FIRST LORDHow? how?SECOND LORDI pray you, upon what?TIMONMy worthy friends, will you draw near?THIRD LORDI'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.SECOND LORDThis is the old man still.THIRD LORDWill't hold? will't hold?SECOND LORDIt does; but time will – and so —THIRD LORDI do conceive.TIMON. Each man to his stool with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress; your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: sit, sit. The gods require our thanks. – You great benefactors sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves praised: but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another; for, were your god – heads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meat be beloved more than the man that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains: if there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your foes, O gods! the senators of Athens, together with the common lag of people, what is amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap.

[The dishes uncovered are full of warm water.]

SOME SPEAKWhat does his lordship mean?SOME OTHERI know not.TIMONMay you a better feast never behold,You knot of mouth-friends! smoke and lukewarm waterIs your perfection. This is Timon's last;Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[Throwing the water in their faces.]

Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long,Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!Of man and beast the infinite maladyCrust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?Soft! take thy physic first, – thou too, – and thou; —Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.

[Throws the dishes at them.]

What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.Burn, house! sink Athens! henceforth hated beOf Timon man and all humanity!

[Exit.]

[Re-enter the LORDS, SENATORS, and &c.]

FIRST LORDHow now, my lords!SECOND LORDKnow you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?THIRD LORDPush! did you see my cap?FOURTH LORDI have lost my gown.FIRST LORDHe's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him.He gave me a jewel th' other day, and now he has beat it out ofmy hat: did you see my jewel?THIRD LORDDid you see my cap?SECOND LORDHere 'tis.FOURTH LORDHere lies my gown.FIRST LORDLet's make no stay.SECOND LORDLord Timon's mad.THIRD LORDI feel't upon my bones.FOURTH LORDOne day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

[Exeunt.]

Act IV

Scene I. Without the walls of Athens

[Enter TIMON.]

TIMONLet me look back upon thee. O thou wall,That girdles in those wolves, dive in the earth,And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!Obedience fail in children! slaves and fools,Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench,And minister in their steads! To general filthsConvert, o' the instant, green virginity.Do't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast;Rather than render back, out with your knives,And cut your trusters' throats. Bound servants, steal, —Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed;Thy mistress is o' the brothel! Son of sixteen,Pluck the lin'd crutch from thy old limping sire,With it beat out his brains! Piety, and fear,Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,Domestic awe, night-rest and neighbourhood,Instruction, manners, mysteries and trades,Degrees, observances, customs and laws,Decline to your confounding contraries,And let confusion live! Plagues incident to men,Your potent and infectious fevers heapOn Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,Cripple our senators, that their limbs may haltAs lamely as their manners! Lust and libertyCreep in the minds and marrows of our youth,That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive,And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,Sow all the Athenian bosoms, and their cropBe general leprosy! Breath infect breath,That their society, as their friendship, mayBe merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from theeBut nakedness, thou detestable town!Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!Timon will to the woods; where he shall findTh' unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.The gods confound – hear me, you good gods all —The Athenians both within and out that wall!And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may growTo the whole race of mankind, high and low!Amen.

[Exit.]

Scene II. Athens. A Room in TIMON's House

[Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three SERVANTS.]

FIRST SERVANTHear you, Master Steward! where's our master?Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?FLAVIUSAlack! my fellows, what should I say to you?Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,I am as poor as you.FIRST SERVANTSuch a house broke!So noble a master fall'n! All gone! and notOne friend to take his fortune by the armAnd go along with him!SECOND SERVANTAs we do turn our backsFrom our companion, thrown into his grave,So his familiars to his buried fortunesSlink all away, leave their false vows with him,Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,A dedicated beggar to the air,With his disease of all – shunn'd poverty,Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.

[Enter other SERVANTS.]

FLAVIUSAll broken implements of a ruin'd house.THIRD SERVANTYet do our hearts wear Timon's livery,That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,Serving alike in sorrow. Leak'd is our bark,And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,Hearing the surges threat: we must all partInto this sea of air.FLAVIUSGood fellows all,The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sakeLet's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortune,'We have seen better days.' Let each take some;

[Giving them money.]

Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.

[They embrace, and part several ways.]

O! the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us.Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,Since riches point to misery and contempt?Who would be so mock'd with glory? or so live,But in a dream of friendship?To have his pomp, and all what state compoundsBut only painted, like his varnish'd friends?Poor honest lord! brought low by his own heart,Undone by goodness. Strange, unusual blood,When man's worst sin is he does too much good!Who then dares to be half so kind agen?For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.My dearest lord, bless'd, to be most accurs'd,Rich, only to be wretched, thy great fortunesAre made thy chief afflictions. Alas! kind lord,He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seatOf monstrous friends;Nor has he with him to supply his life,Or that which can command it.I'll follow and enquire him out:I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still.

[Exit.]

SCENE III. Woods and Caves near the Sea-shore

[Enter TIMON from the Cave.]

TIMONO blessed breeding sun! draw from the earthRotten humidity; below thy sister's orbInfect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,Whose procreation, residence and birth,Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes;The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune,But by contempt of nature.Raise me this beggar, and deny't that lord;The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,The beggar native honour.It is the pasture lards the rother's sides,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,So are they all; for every grize of fortuneIs smooth'd by that below: the learned pateDucks to the golden fool: all is oblique;There's nothing level in our cursed naturesBut direct villainy. Therefore, be abhorr'dAll feasts, societies, and throngs of men!His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!

[Digging.]

Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palateWith thy most operant poison! What is here?Gold! yellow, glittering, precious gold! No, gods,I am no idle votarist. Roots, you clear heavens!Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair,Wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant.Ha! you gods, why this? What this, you gods? Why, thisWill lug your priests and servants from your sides,Pluck stout men's pillows from below their head:This yellow slaveWill knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd,Make the hoar leprosy ador'd; place thieves,And give them title, knee, and approbation,With senators on the bench; this is itThat makes the wappen'd widow wed again;She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous soresWould cast the gorge at, this embalms and spicesTo the April day again. Come, damned earth,Thou common whore of mankind, that putt'st oddsAmong the rout of nations, I will make theeDo thy right nature. – [March afar off.]Ha! a drum? thou'rt quick,But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand:Nay, stay thou out for earnest.

[Keeping some gold.]

[Enter ALCIBIADES, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA.]

ALCIBIADESWhat art thou there? speak.TIMONA beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart,For showing me again the eyes of man!ALCIBIADESWhat is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee,That art thyself a man?TIMONI am Misanthropos, and hate mankind.For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,That I might love thee something.ALCIBIADESI know thee well,But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange.TIMONI know thee too; and more than that I know theeI 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 thineHath in her more destruction than thy swordFor all her cherubin look.PHRYNIAThy lips rot off!TIMONI will not kiss thee; then the rot returnsTo thine own lips again.ALCIBIADESHow came the noble Timon to this change?TIMONAs the moon does, by wanting light to give:But then renew I could not like the moon;There were no suns to borrow of.ALCIBIADESNoble Timon,What friendship may I do thee?TIMONNone, but to maintain my opinion.ALCIBIADESWhat is it, Timon?TIMON. Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art man! If thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man!ALCIBIADESI have heard in some sort of thy miseries.TIMONThou saw'st them when I had prosperity.ALCIBIADESI see them now; then was a blessed time.TIMONAs thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.TIMANDRAIs this the Athenian minion whom the worldVoic'd so regardfully?TIMONArt thou Timandra?TIMANDRAYes.TIMONBe a whore still; they love thee not that use thee;Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.Make use of thy salt hours; season the slavesFor tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youthTo the tub – fast and the diet.TIMANDRAHang thee, monster!ALCIBIADESPardon him, sweet Timandra, for his witsAre drown'd and lost in his calamities.I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,The want whereof doth daily make revoltIn my penurious band: I have heard, and griev'dHow cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them, —TIMONI prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone.ALCIBIADESI am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.TIMONHow dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?I had rather be alone.ALCIBIADESWhy, fare thee well:Here is some gold for thee.TIMONKeep it, I cannot eat it.ALCIBIADESWhen I have laid proud Athens on a heap, —TIMONWarr'st thou 'gainst Athens?ALCIBIADESAy, Timon, and have cause.TIMONThe gods confound them all in thy conquest;And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd!ALCIBIADESWhy me, Timon?TIMONThat, by killing of villains,Thou wast born to conquer my country.Put up thy gold: go on, – here's gold, – go on;Be as a planetary plague, when JoveWill o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poisonIn the sick air: let not thy sword skip one.Pity not honour'd age for his white beard;He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron;It is her habit only that is honest,Herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheekMake soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk papsThat through the window-bars bore at men's eyes,Are not within the leaf of pity writ,But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe,Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;Think it a bastard, whom the oracleHath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut,And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects;Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes,Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers:Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.ALCIBIADESHast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou giv'st me,Not all thy counsel.TIMONDost thou, or dost thou not, heaven's curse upon thee!PHRYNIA AND TIMANDRAGive us some gold, good Timon:Hast thou more?TIMONEnough to make a whore forswear her trade,And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable,Although, I know, you'll swear, terribly swearInto strong shudders and to heavenly agues,The immortal gods that hear you, spare your oaths,I'll trust to your conditions: be whores still;And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up;Let your close fire predominate his smoke,And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofsWith burdens of the dead; some that were hang'd,No matter; wear them, betray with them: whore still;Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:A pox of wrinkles!PHRYNIA AND TIMANDRAWell, more gold. What then?Believe't that we'll do anything for gold.TIMONConsumptions sowIn hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice,That he may never more false title plead,Nor sound his quillets shrilly; hoar the flamen,That scolds against the quality of flesh,And not believes himself: down with the nose,Down with it flat; take the bridge quite awayOf him that, his particular to foresee,Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate ruffians bald,And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the warDerive some pain from you: plague all,That your activity may defeat and quellThe source of all erection. There's more gold;Do you damn others, and let this damn you,And ditches grave you all!PHRYNIA AND TIMANDRAMore counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.TIMONMore whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest.ALCIBIADESStrike up the drum towards Athens! Farewell, Timon:If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.TIMONIf I hope well, I'll never see thee more.ALCIBIADESI never did thee harm.TIMONYes, thou spok'st well of me.ALCIBIADESCall'st thou that harm?TIMONMen daily find it. Get thee away, and takeThy beagles with thee.ALCIBIADESWe but offend him. Strike!

[Drum beats. Exeunt all but TIMON.]