2 Lord. I pray you, upon what? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward. 2 Lord. This is the old man still. 3 Lord. Will't hold? will't hold ? 2 Lord. It does: but time will-and so 3 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 ut 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 they are welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap. [The dishes uncovered are full of warm water. Some speak. What does his lordship mean? Some other. I know not. Tim. May you a better feast never behold, You knot of mouth-friends! smoke, and lukewarm water Is your perfection. This is Timon's last; • The lowest. Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries, [Throwing 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-jackst! Of man, and beast, the infinite malady Crust you quite o'er !-What, dost thou go? Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.- Burn, house; sink, Athens! henceforth hated be [Exit. Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. 1 Lord. How now, my lords? 2 Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury? 3.Lord. Pish! did you see my cap ? 4 Lord. I have lost my gown. 3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but hu mour 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? 4 Lord. Did you see my cap? 2 Lord. Here 'tis. 4 Lord. Here lies my gown. 1 Lord. Let's make no stay. 2 Lord. Lord Timon's mad. * Flies of a season.. Jacks of the clock; like those at St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet-street. 3 Lord. I feel't upon my bones. 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day Tim. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall, Do't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, hold fast; Large handed robbers your grave masters are, Common sewers. ti. e. Contrarieties, whose nature it is to waste or destroy each other. On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica, Take thou that too, with multiplying bannst! [Exit. SCENE II. Athens. A room in Timon's house. Enter Flavius, with two or three Servants. 1 Serv. Hear you, master steward, where's our master? Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining? Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you? Let me be recorded by the righteous gods, I am as poor as you. 1 Serv. Such a house broke! So noble a master fallen! All gone! and not * For libertinism. ↑ Accumulated curses. One friend, to take his fortune by the arm, 2 Serv. As we do turn our backs Slink all away; leave their false vows with him, With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty, Enter other Servants. Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house. 3 Serv. Yet 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 part Into this sea of air, Flav. Good fellows all, The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you. Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say, We have seen better days. Let each take some; Nay, put out all your hands. [Giving them money. Not one word more: parting poor. [Exeunt Servants. O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! To have his pomp, and all what state compounds, * Hasty, precipitate. |