And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, Alcib. My lord,— 1st Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear; Το revenge is no valour, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, If I speak like a captain. Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? But who is man that is not angry? 2nd Sen. You breathe in vain. 1st Sen. What's that? Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, he has done fair service, And slain in fight many of your enemies : In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds! 2nd Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em: He is a sworn rioter: he has a sin That often drowns him, and takes his valour pri soner: If there were no foes, that were enough Alcib. Hard 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 them both: And, for I know your reverend ages love security, I'll pawn my victories, all my honour to you, Upon his good returns. If by this crime he owes the law his life, Only in bone, that none may look on you! My discontented troops, and lay for hearts. [Exit. SCENE VI-A magnificent Room in TIMON'S House. Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, at several doors. 1st Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. 2nd Lord. I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord did but try us this other day. 1st Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encountered. I hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends. 2nd Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting. 1st 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. 2nd 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. 1st Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2nd Lord. Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you? 1st Lord. A thousand pieces. 2nd Lord. A thousand pieces! 1st Lord. What of you? 2nd Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes. Enter TIMON, and Attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :And how fare you? 1st Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. 2nd Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship. Tim. [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 on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently. 1st Lord. I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger. Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you. 2nd Lord. My noble lord,— Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer? [The banquet brought in. 2nd 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. Tim. Think not on 't, sir. 2nd Lord. If you had sent but two hours before, Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.-Come, bring in all together. 2nd Lord. All covered dishes! 1st Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you. 3rd Lord. Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it. 1st Lord. How do you? what's the news? 3rd Lord. Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it? 1st Lord. 2nd Lord. } Alcibiades banished! 3rd Lord. I do conceive. Tim. 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 godheads 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 fees, 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. Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.- Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. 1st Lord. How now, my lords? 2nd Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury? 3rd Lord. Pish! did you see my cap? 4th Lord. I have lost my gown. 3rd Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you see my jewel? 4th Lord. Did you see my cap? 2nd Lord. Here 'tis. 4th Lord. Here lies my gown. 4th Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next [Exeunt. day stones. ACTIV SCENE I.-Without the Walls of Athens. Enter TIMON. Tim. Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall, That girdlest 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 filths Convert 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, men, Your potent and infectious fevers heap O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! To have his pomp, and all what state compounds, Nor has he with him to supply his life, I'll follow, and inquire him out: I'll ever serve his mind with my best will; SCENE III.-The Woods. Enter TIMON. [Exit. Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb tunes; The greater scorns the lesser :-not nature, Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord; The beggar native honour. It is the pasture lards the brother's sides; In purity of manhood stand upright, No, gods, I am no idle votarist. Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this, will make Black, white; foul, fair; wrong, right; Will lug your priests and servants from your sides; Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed; Make the hoar leprosy adored; place thieves, And give them title, knee, and approbation, With senators on the bench: this is it That makes the wappened widow wed again: She whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices To the April day again. Come, damnéd earth, Thou common whore of mankind, that putt'st odds Among the rout of nations, I will make thee Do 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. Alcib. Speak, what art thou there? Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw For shewing me again the eyes of man! Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind. |