Enter TIMON, from his cave. Tim. Aside. Excellent workman! thou canst not paint a man so bad as is 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 prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency. 39 Tim. Aside. 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 the day serves, before black-corner'dnight, Tim. Aside. 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! 50 Nor I. Tim. Look you, I love you well. I'll give you gold, Rid me these villains from your companies: 'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plough'st the Hang them or stab them, drown them in a foam, Having often of your open bounty tasted, Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence Tim. Let it go naked, men may see 't the better: Tim. 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. Ye're honest men. have gold; Ye've heard that I I am sure you have: speak truth; ye're honest men. Pain. So it is said, my noble lord; but therefore Came not my friend nor I. 82 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; 110 Each man apart, all single and alone, You have work'd for me, there's payment: hence! Beats them out and then retires to his cave. Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with Second Sen. At all times alike Men are not still the same: 'twas time and griefs That fram'd him thus: time, with his fairer hand, Offering the fortunes of his former days, The former man may make him. Bring us to him, And chance it as it may. Flav. Here is his cave. Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon! Look out, and speak to friends. The Athenians, By two of their most reverend senate, greet thee: Speak to them, noble Timon. Re-enter TIMON from his cave. 129 160 Tim. And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take Second Sen. And shakes his threat'ning sword Therefore, Timon, 170 While you have throats to answer: for myself, 210 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 affliction, let him take his haste, 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; Who 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. First Sen. His discontents are unremoveably Coupled to nature. Second Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us 20 It requires swift foot. Exeunt. SCENE II. Before the Walls of Athens. Enter two Senators and a Messenger, First Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd: are his files As full as thy report? Mess. I have spoke the least; Besides, his expedition promises The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you Present approach. Stay not; all's in vain. Flav. Be Alcibiades your plague, you his, We speak in vain. 190 Second Sen. We stand much hazard if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend, From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, 10 Enter the Senators from TIMON. First Sen. Here come our brothers. Third Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect. The enemy's drum is heard, and fearful scouring Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare: Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes the snare. Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Woods. TIMON's Cave, and a rude tomb seen. Enter a Soldier, seeking TIMON. Sold. 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; here does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb SCENE IV. Before the Walls of Athens. Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES with his Powers. Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach. A parley sounded. Enter Senators on the walls. Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush, 12 All have not offended; 40 For those that were, it is not square to take Second Sen. First Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope, Throw thy glove, Or any token of thine honour else, 50 Alcib. Then there's my glove; Descend, and open your uncharged ports: 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 render'd to your public laws At heaviest answer. Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken. Alcib. Descend, and keep your words. 60 The Senators descend, and open the gates. Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; Alcib. Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul beret: 70 Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked caitiff's left! Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate: Pass by and curse thy fill; but pass and stay not 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 80 From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Prescribe to other as each other's leech. Exeunt. SCENE.—During a great part of the Play, at Rome: afterwards at Sardis and near Philippi. ACT I. SCENE I.-Rome. A Street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and certain Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home: Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Of your profession? Speak, what trade art shoes, to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Cæsar and to rejoice in his triumph. Mar. Wherefore rejoice? brings he home? What conquest Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements, And do you now put on your best attire! Second Com. Truly, sir, all that I live by is And do you now cull out a holiday? 50 And do you now strew flowers in his way, That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone! 60 Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; Caes. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass. Sennet. Exeunt all but BRUTUS and CASSIUS. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? Bru. Not I. Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you. tears Into the channel, till the lowest stream Exeunt all the Commoners. You know it is the feast of Lupercal. 70 Flav. It is no matter; let no images Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, 80 Exeunt. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you. Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd if I have veil'd my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am 30 40 Of late with passions of some difference, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. 50 Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, And it is very much lamented, Brutus, Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to And since you know you cannot see yourself Flourish and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 80 Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. |