But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just. But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. 1 Sen. What's that? Alcib. Why I say, my lords, h'as done fair service, In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds? Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. he (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 : 1 Sen. We 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. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How? Alcib. Call me to your remembrances. 3 Sen. What? Alcib. I cannot think, but your age has forgot me ; [6] I call mercy herself to witness, that defensive violence is just. JOH. [7] A sworn rioter, is a man who practises riot, as if he had by an oath made it his duty. JOHNS. [8] He charges them obliquely with being usurers. JOHNS. It could not else be, I should prove so base,9 1 Sen. Do you dare our anger? 'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect; We banish thee forever. Alcib. Banish me? Banish your dotage; banish usury, 1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee, Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit, He shall be executed presently. [Exeunt Senators. Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I am worse than mad: I .ave kept back their foes, SCENE VI. A magnificent Room in TIMON's House. Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords at several doors. 1 Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. 2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day. 1 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. 2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting. Not to swell our spirit, I believe, means, not to put ourselves into any tumour of rage, take our definitive resolution. STEEV. [2] A hawk, 1 think, is said to tire when she amuses herself with pecking a pheasant's wing or any thing that puts her in mind of prey. To tire upon a thing, therefore, is to be idly employed upon it. JOHNS, 1 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. 2 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. 1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Lord. Every man here's so. borrowed of you? 1 Lord. A thousand pieces. 2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you? What would he have 3 Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes. Enter TIMON, and Attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :—And how fare you? 1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. 2 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. 1 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. 2 Lord. My noble lord, Tim. Ah, my good friend! what cheer? [The Banquet brought in. 2 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. 2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before,— Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.Come, bring in all together. 2 Lord. All covered dishes! 1 Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you. 3 Lord. Doubt not that, if money, and the season can yield it. 1 Lord. How do you? What's the news? 3 Lord. Alcibiades is banished : Hear you of it? 1&2 Lord. Alcibiades banished! 3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it. 1 Lord. How? how? 2 Lord. I pray you, upon what ? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. toward. 2 Lord. This is the old man still. 3 Lord. Will't hold? will't hold ? Here's a noble feast 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 at the table, let a dozen of them be-as they are. -The rest of your fees, 8 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 luke-warm water [Throwing water in their faces. [3] We should read-foes. WARB. 14] Your perfection, is, the highest of your excellence. JOHNS. 5 Time's flies-flies of a season. JOHNS. Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks !6 Burn, house; sink, Athens! henceforth hated be [Exit. Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. 1 Lord. How now, my lords ?8 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 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? 4 Lord. Did you see my cap? 2 Lord. Here 'tis. 4 Lord. Here lies my gown. 4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE L.-Without the Walls of Athens. Enter TIMON. Do't in your parent's eyes! bankrupts, hold fast; [6] A minute-jack is what was formerly a Jack of the clockhouse; an image whose office was the same as one of those at St. Dunstan's church. See note K. Richard III. Vol. V. p. 72. n. 6. [7] Every kind of disease incident to man and beast. JOHNS. [3] This and the next speech are spoken by the newly arrived lords. MAL. |