Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe, And hang himself:-I pray you, do my greeting. 1 Sen. His discontents are unremovably Coupled to nature. 2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear peril. 1 Sen. It requires swift foot. SCENE III. The Walls of Athens. Enter two Senators and a Messenger. [Exeunt. 1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discovered: are his files As full as thy report? Mess. I have spoke the least: Besides, his expedition promises Present approach. 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend: Whom, though in general part we were opposed, Yet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends;—this man was riding With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i' the cause against your city, In part for his sake moved. 1 Sen. Enter Senators fram TIMON. Here come our brothers. 3 Sen. No talk of Timon; nothing of him expect.The enemies' 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 IV. The Woods. Timon's Cave, and a Tombstone seen. Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon. Sol. By all description this should be the place. What's on this tomb I cannot read; the character Our captain hath in every figure skill; An aged interpreter, though young in days: SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens. [Exit. Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES, and Forces. Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach. [A parley sounded. Enter Senators on the walls. Till now you have gone on, and filled the time Have wandered with our traversed arms, and breathed Noble and young, 1 Sen. To wipe out our ingratitude with loves Above their quantity. 2 Sen. So did we woo Transformed Timon to our city's love, By humbled message, and by promised means; We were not all unkind, nor all deserve The common stroke of war. 1 Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands, from whom You have received your griefs; nor are they such, That these great towers, trophies, and schools should fall 2 Sen. (If thy revenges hunger for that food, Which nature loathes,) take thou the destined tenth Let. die the spotted. 1 Sen. All have not offended; For those that were, it is not square, to take, 2 Sen. Than hew to 't with thy sword. 1 Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampired gates, and they shall ope; So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before, To say thou'lt enter friendly. 2 Sen. Throw thy glove That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, Alcib. Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream Both. The Senators descend, and open the gates. Sol. My noble general, Timon is dead; Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft; Seek not my name. left! Here lie I, Timon; A plague consume you wicked caitiffs 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 brains' flow, and those our droplets which From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye Is noble Timon; of whose memory Hereafter more.-Bring me into your city, Make war breed peace; make peace stint war; make each [Exeunt. |