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The Life of Timon of Athens


 
 Enter Poet, Painter, Ieweller, Merchant, and Mercer, at seuerall
 doores.
 
   Poet. Good day Sir
 
    Pain. I am glad y'are well
 
    Poet. I haue not seene you long, how goes
 the World?
   Pain. It weares sir, as it growes
 
    Poet. I that's well knowne:
 But what particular Rarity? What strange,
 Which manifold record not matches: see
 Magicke of Bounty, all these spirits thy power
 Hath coniur'd to attend.
 I know the Merchant
 
    Pain. I know them both: th' others a Ieweller
 
    Mer. O 'tis a worthy Lord
 
    Iew. Nay that's most fixt
 
    Mer. A most incomparable man, breath'd as it were,
 To an vntyreable and continuate goodnesse:
 He passes
 
    Iew. I haue a Iewell heere
 
    Mer. O pray let's see't. For the Lord Timon, sir?
   Iewel. If he will touch the estimate. But for that-
   Poet. When we for recompence haue prais'd the vild,
 It staines the glory in that happy Verse,
 Which aptly sings the good
 
    Mer. 'Tis a good forme
 
    Iewel. And rich: heere is a Water looke ye
 
    Pain. You are rapt sir, in some worke, some Dedication
 to the great Lord
 
    Poet. A thing slipt idlely from me.
 Our Poesie is as a Gowne, which vses
 From whence 'tis nourisht: the fire i'th' Flint
 Shewes not, till it be strooke: our gentle flame
 Prouokes it selfe, and like the currant flyes
 Each bound it chases. What haue you there?
   Pain. A Picture sir: when comes your Booke forth?
   Poet. Vpon the heeles of my presentment sir.
 Let's see your peece
 
    Pain. 'Tis a good Peece
 
    Poet. So 'tis, this comes off well, and excellent
 
    Pain. Indifferent
 
    Poet. Admirable: How this grace
 Speakes his owne standing: what a mentall power
 This eye shootes forth? How bigge imagination
 Moues in this Lip, to th' dumbnesse of the gesture,
 One might interpret
 
    Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life:
 Heere is a touch: Is't good?
   Poet. I will say of it,
 It Tutors Nature, Artificiall strife
 Liues in these toutches, liuelier then life.
 Enter certaine Senators.
 
   Pain. How this Lord is followed
 
    Poet. The Senators of Athens, happy men
 
    Pain. Looke moe
 
    Po. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors,
 I haue in this rough worke, shap'd out a man
 Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hugge
 With amplest entertainment: My free drift
 Halts not particularly, but moues it selfe
 In a wide Sea of wax, no leuell'd malice
 Infects one comma in the course I hold,
 But flies an Eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
 Leauing no Tract behinde
 
    Pain. How shall I vnderstand you?
   Poet. I will vnboult to you.
 You see how all Conditions, how all Mindes,
 As well of glib and slipp'ry Creatures, as
 Of Graue and austere qualitie, tender downe
 Their seruices to Lord Timon: his large Fortune,
 Vpon his good and gracious Nature hanging,
 Subdues and properties to his loue and tendance
 All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glasse-fac'd Flatterer
 To Apemantus, that few things loues better
 Then to abhorre himselfe; euen hee drops downe
 The knee before him, and returnes in peace
 Most rich in Timons nod
 
    Pain. I saw them speake together
 
    Poet. Sir, I haue vpon a high and pleasant hill
 Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd.
 The Base o'th' Mount
 Is rank'd with all deserts, all kinde of Natures
 That labour on the bosome of this Sphere,
 To propagate their states; among'st them all,
 Whose eyes are on this Soueraigne Lady fixt,
 One do I personate of Lord Timons frame,
 Whom Fortune with her Iuory hand wafts to her,
 Whose present grace, to present slaues and seruants
 Translates his Riuals
 
    Pain. 'Tis conceyu'd, to scope
 This Throne, this Fortune, and this Hill me thinkes
 With one man becken'd from the rest below,
 Bowing his head against the sleepy Mount
 To climbe his happinesse, would be well exprest
 In our Condition
 
    Poet. Nay Sir, but heare me on:
 All those which were his Fellowes but of late,
 Some better then his valew; on the moment
 Follow his strides, his Lobbies fill with tendance,
 Raine Sacrificiall whisperings in his eare,
 Make Sacred euen his styrrop, and through him
 Drinke the free Ayre
 
    Pain. I marry, what of these?
   Poet. When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
 Spurnes downe her late beloued; all his Dependants
 Which labour'd after him to the Mountaines top,
 Euen on their knees and hand, let him sit downe,
 Not one accompanying his declining foot
 
    Pain. Tis common:
 A thousand morall Paintings I can shew,
 That shall demonstrate these quicke blowes of Fortunes,
 More pregnantly then words. Yet you do well,
 To shew Lord Timon, that meane eyes haue seene
 The foot aboue the head.
 Trumpets sound.
 
 Enter Lord Timon, addressing himselfe curteously to euery Sutor.
 
   Tim. Imprison'd is he, say you?
   Mes. I my good Lord, fiue Talents is his debt,
 His meanes most short, his Creditors most straite:
 Your Honourable Letter he desires
 To those haue shut him vp, which failing,
 Periods his comfort
 
    Tim. Noble Ventidius, well:
 I am not of that Feather, to shake off
 My Friend when he must neede me. I do know him
 A Gentleman, that well deserues a helpe,
 Which he shall haue. Ile pay the debt, and free him
 
    Mes. Your Lordship euer bindes him
 
    Tim. Commend me to him, I will send his ransome,
 And being enfranchized bid him come to me;
 'Tis not enough to helpe the Feeble vp,
 But to support him after. Fare you well
 
    Mes. All happinesse to your Honor.
 Enter.
 
 Enter an old Athenian.
 
   Oldm. Lord Timon, heare me speake
 
    Tim. Freely good Father
 
    Oldm. Thou hast a Seruant nam'd Lucilius
 
    Tim. I haue so: What of him?
   Oldm. Most Noble Timon, call the man before thee
 
    Tim. Attends he heere, or no? Lucillius
 
    Luc. Heere at your Lordships seruice
 
    Oldm. This Fellow heere, L[ord]. Timon, this thy Creature,
 By night frequents my house. I am a man
 That from my first haue beene inclin'd to thrift,
 And my estate deserues an Heyre more rais'd,
 Then one which holds a Trencher
 
    Tim. Well: what further?
   Old. One onely Daughter haue I, no Kin else,
 On whom I may conferre what I haue got:
 The Maid is faire, a'th' youngest for a Bride,
 And I haue bred her at my deerest cost
 In Qualities of the best. This man of thine
 Attempts her loue: I prythee (Noble Lord)
 Ioyne with me to forbid him her resort,
 My selfe haue spoke in vaine
 
    Tim. The man is honest
 
    Oldm. Therefore he will be Timon,
 His honesty rewards him in it selfe,
 It must not beare my Daughter
 
    Tim. Does she loue him?
   Oldm. She is yong and apt:
 Our owne precedent passions do instruct vs
 What leuities in youth
 
    Tim. Loue you the Maid?
   Luc. I my good Lord, and she accepts of it
 
    Oldm. If in her Marriage my consent be missing,
 I call the Gods to witnesse, I will choose
 Mine heyre from forth the Beggers of the world,
 And dispossesse her all
 
    Tim. How shall she be endowed,
 If she be mated with an equall Husband?
   Oldm. Three Talents on the present; in future, all
 
    Tim. This Gentleman of mine
 Hath seru'd me long:
 To build his Fortune, I will straine a little,
 For 'tis a Bond in men. Giue him thy Daughter,
 What you bestow, in him Ile counterpoize,
 And make him weigh with her
 
    Oldm. Most Noble Lord,
 Pawne me to this your Honour, she is his
 
    Tim. My hand to thee,
 Mine Honour on my promise
 
    Luc. Humbly I thanke your Lordship, neuer may
 That state or Fortune fall into my keeping,
 Which is not owed to you.
 
 Exit
 
   Poet. Vouchsafe my Labour,
 And long liue your Lordship
 
    Tim. I thanke you, you shall heare from me anon:
 Go not away. What haue you there, my Friend?
   Pain. A peece of Painting, which I do beseech
 Your Lordship to accept
 
    Tim. Painting is welcome.
 The Painting is almost the Naturall man:
 For since Dishonor Traffickes with mans Nature,
 He is but out-side: These Pensil'd Figures are
 Euen such as they giue out. I like your worke,
 And you shall finde I like it; Waite attendance
 Till you heare further from me
 
    Pain. The Gods preserue ye
 
    Tim. Well fare you Gentleman: giue me your hand.
 We must needs dine together: sir your Iewell
 Hath suffered vnder praise
 
    Iewel. What my Lord, dispraise?
   Tim. A meere saciety of Commendations,
 If I should pay you for't as 'tis extold,
 It would vnclew me quite
 
    Iewel. My Lord, 'tis rated
 As those which sell would giue: but you well know,
 Things of like valew differing in the Owners,
 Are prized by their Masters. Beleeu't deere Lord,
 You mend the Iewell by the wearing it
 
    Tim. Well mock'd.
 Enter Apermantus.
 
   Mer. No my good Lord, he speakes y common toong
 Which all men speake with him
 
    Tim. Looke who comes heere, will you be chid?
   Iewel. Wee'l beare with your Lordship
 
    Mer. Hee'l spare none
 
    Tim. Good morrow to thee,
 Gentle Apermantus
 
    Ape. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow.
 When thou art Timons dogge, and these Knaues honest
 
    Tim. Why dost thou call them Knaues, thou know'st
 them not?
   Ape. Are they not Athenians?
   Tim. Yes
 
    Ape. Then I repent not
 
    Iew. You know me, Apemantus?
   Ape. Thou know'st I do, I call'd thee by thy name
 
    Tim. Thou art proud Apemantus?
   Ape. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Timon
   Tim. Whether art going?
   Ape. To knocke out an honest Athenians braines
 
    Tim. That's a deed thou't dye for
 
    Ape. Right, if doing nothing be death by th' Law
 
    Tim. How lik'st thou this picture Apemantus?
   Ape. The best, for the innocence
 
    Tim. Wrought he not well that painted it
 
    Ape. He wrought better that made the Painter, and
 yet he's but a filthy peece of worke
 
    Pain. Y'are a Dogge
 
    Ape. Thy Mothers of my generation: what's she, if I
 be a Dogge?
   Tim. Wilt dine with me Apemantus?
   Ape. No: I eate not Lords
 
    Tim. And thou should'st, thoud'st anger Ladies
 
    Ape. O they eate Lords;
 So they come by great bellies
 
    Tim. That's a lasciuious apprehension
 
    Ape. So, thou apprehend'st it,
 Take it for thy labour
 
    Tim. How dost thou like this Iewell, Apemantus?
   Ape. Not so well as plain-dealing, which wil not cast
 a man a Doit
 
    Tim. What dost thou thinke 'tis worth?
   Ape. Not worth my thinking.
 How now Poet?
   Poet. How now Philosopher?
   Ape. Thou lyest
 
    Poet. Art not one?
   Ape. Yes
 
    Poet. Then I lye not
 
    Ape. Art not a Poet?
   Poet. Yes
 
    Ape. Then thou lyest:
 Looke in thy last worke, where thou hast feign'd him a
 worthy Fellow
 
    Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so
 
    Ape. Yes he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy
 labour. He that loues to be flattered, is worthy o'th flatterer.
 Heauens, that I were a Lord
 
    Tim. What wouldst do then Apemantus?
   Ape. E'ne as Apemantus does now, hate a Lord with
 my heart
 
    Tim. What thy selfe?
   Ape. I
 
    Tim. Wherefore?
   Ape. That I had no angry wit to be a Lord.
 Art not thou a Merchant?
   Mer. I Apemantus
 
    Ape. Traffick confound thee, if the Gods will not
 
    Mer. If Trafficke do it, the Gods do it
 
    Ape. Traffickes thy God, & thy God confound thee.
 
 Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.
 
   Tim. What Trumpets that?
   Mes. 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty Horse
 All of Companionship
 
    Tim. Pray entertaine them, giue them guide to vs.
 You must needs dine with me: go not you hence
 Till I haue thankt you: when dinners done
 Shew me this peece, I am ioyfull of your sights.
 Enter Alcibiades with the rest.
 
 Most welcome Sir
 
    Ape. So, so; their Aches contract, and sterue your
 supple ioynts: that there should bee small loue amongest
 these sweet Knaues, and all this Curtesie. The straine of
 mans bred out into Baboon and Monkey
 
    Alc. Sir, you haue sau'd my longing, and I feed
 Most hungerly on your sight
 
    Tim. Right welcome Sir:
 Ere we depart, wee'l share a bounteous time
 In different pleasures.
 Pray you let vs in.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter two Lords.
 
   1.Lord What time a day is't Apemantus?
   Ape. Time to be honest
 
    1 That time serues still
 
    Ape. The most accursed thou that still omitst it
 
    2 Thou art going to Lord Timons Feast
 
    Ape. I, to see meate fill Knaues, and Wine heat fooles
 
    2 Farthee well, farthee well
 
    Ape. Thou art a Foole to bid me farewell twice
 
    2 Why Apemantus?
   Ape. Should'st haue kept one to thy selfe, for I meane
 to giue thee none
 
    1 Hang thy selfe
 
    Ape. No I will do nothing at thy bidding:
 Make thy requests to thy Friend
 
    2 Away vnpeaceable Dogge,
 Or Ile spurne thee hence
 
    Ape. I will flye like a dogge, the heeles a'th' Asse
 
    1 Hee's opposite to humanity.
 Come shall we in,
 And taste Lord Timons bountie: he out-goes
 The verie heart of kindnesse
 
    2 He powres it out: Plutus the God of Gold
 Is but his Steward: no meede but he repayes
 Seuen-fold aboue it selfe: No guift to him,
 But breeds the giuer a returne: exceeding
 All vse of quittance
 
    1 The Noblest minde he carries,
 That euer gouern'd man
 
    2 Long may he liue in Fortunes. Shall we in?
 Ile keepe you Company.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Hoboyes Playing lowd Musicke. A great Banquet seru'd in: and
 then, Enter
 Lord Timon, the States, the Athenian Lords, Ventigius which
 Timon redeem'd
 from prison. Then comes dropping after all Apemantus
 discontentedly like
 himselfe.
 
   Ventig. Most honoured Timon,
 It hath pleas'd the Gods to remember my Fathers age,
 And call him to long peace:
 He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
 Then, as in gratefull Vertue I am bound
 To your free heart, I do returne those Talents
 Doubled with thankes and seruice, from whose helpe
 I deriu'd libertie
 
    Tim. O by no meanes,
 Honest Ventigius: You mistake my loue,
 I gaue it freely euer, and ther's none
 Can truely say he giues, if he receiues:
 If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
 To imitate them: faults that are rich are faire
 
    Vint. A Noble spirit
 
    Tim. Nay my Lords, Ceremony was but deuis'd at first
 To set a glosse on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
 Recanting goodnesse, sorry ere 'tis showne:
 But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
 Pray sit, more welcome are ye to my Fortunes,
 Then my Fortunes to me
 
    1.Lord. My Lord, we alwaies haue confest it
 
    Aper. Ho ho, confest it? Handg'd it? Haue you not?
   Timo. O Apermantus, you are welcome
 
    Aper. No: You shall not make me welcome:
 I come to haue thee thrust me out of doores
 
    Tim. Fie, th'art a churle, ye'haue got a humour there
 Does not become a man, 'tis much too blame:
 They say my Lords, Ira furor breuis est,
 But yond man is verie angrie.
 Go, let him haue a Table by himselfe:
 For he does neither affect companie,
 Nor is he fit for't indeed
 
    Aper. Let me stay at thine apperill Timon,
 I come to obserue, I giue thee warning on't
 
    Tim. I take no heede of thee: Th'art an Athenian,
 therefore welcome: I my selfe would haue no power,
 prythee let my meate make thee silent
 
    Aper. I scorne thy meate, 'twould choake me: for I
 should nere flatter thee. Oh you Gods! What a number
 of men eats Timon, and he sees 'em not? It greeues me
 to see so many dip there meate in one mans blood, and
 all the madnesse is, he cheeres them vp too.
 I wonder men dare trust themselues with men.
 Me thinks they should enuite them without kniues,
 Good for there meate, and safer for their liues.
 There's much example for't, the fellow that sits next him,
 now parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in
 a diuided draught: is the readiest man to kill him. 'Tas
 beene proued, if I were a huge man I should feare to
 drinke at meales, least they should spie my wind-pipes
 dangerous noates, great men should drinke with harnesse
 on their throates
 
    Tim. My Lord in heart: and let the health go round
 
    2.Lord. Let it flow this way my good Lord
 
    Aper. Flow this way? A braue fellow. He keepes his
 tides well, those healths will make thee and thy state
 looke ill, Timon.
 Heere's that which is too weake to be a sinner,
 Honest water, which nere left man i'th' mire:
 This and my food are equals, there's no ods,
 Feasts are to proud to giue thanks to the Gods.
 
 Apermantus Grace.
 
 Immortall Gods, I craue no pelfe,
 I pray for no man but my selfe,
 Graunt I may neuer proue so fond,
 To trust man on his Oath or Bond.
 Or a Harlot for her weeping,
 Or a Dogge that seemes asleeping,
 Or a keeper with my freedome,
 Or my friends if I should need 'em.
 Amen. So fall too't:
 Richmen sin, and I eat root.
 Much good dich thy good heart, Apermantus
   Tim. Captaine,
 Alcibiades, your hearts in the field now
 
    Alci. My heart is euer at your seruice, my Lord
 
    Tim. You had rather be at a breakefast of Enemies,
 then a dinner of Friends
 
    Alc. So they were bleeding new my Lord, there's no
 meat like 'em, I could wish my best friend at such a Feast
 
    Aper. Would all those Flatterers were thine Enemies
 then, that then thou might'st kill 'em: & bid me to 'em
 
    1.Lord. Might we but haue that happinesse my Lord,
 that you would once vse our hearts, whereby we might
 expresse some part of our zeales, we should thinke our
 selues for euer perfect
 
    Timon. Oh no doubt my good Friends, but the Gods
 themselues haue prouided that I shall haue much helpe
 from you: how had you beene my Friends else. Why
 haue you that charitable title from thousands? Did not
 you chiefely belong to my heart? I haue told more of
 you to my selfe, then you can with modestie speake in
 your owne behalfe. And thus farre I confirme you. Oh
 you Gods (thinke I,) what need we haue any Friends; if
 we should nere haue need of 'em? They were the most
 needlesse Creatures liuing; should we nere haue vse for
 'em? And would most resemble sweete Instruments
 hung vp in Cases, that keepes there sounds to themselues.
 Why I haue often wisht my selfe poorer, that
 I might come neerer to you: we are borne to do benefits.
 And what better or properer can we call our owne,
 then the riches of our Friends? Oh what a pretious comfort
 'tis, to haue so many like Brothers commanding
 one anothers Fortunes. Oh ioyes, e'ne made away er't
 can be borne: mine eies cannot hold out water me thinks
 to forget their Faults. I drinke to you
 
    Aper. Thou weep'st to make them drinke, Timon
 
    2.Lord. Ioy had the like conception in our eies,
 And at that instant, like a babe sprung vp
 
    Aper. Ho, ho: I laugh to thinke that babe a bastard
 
    3.Lord. I promise you my Lord you mou'd me much
 
    Aper. Much.
 
 Sound Tucket. Enter the Maskers of Amazons, with Lutes in their
 hands,
 dauncing and playing.
 
   Tim. What meanes that Trumpe? How now?
 Enter Seruant.
 
   Ser. Please you my Lord, there are certaine Ladies
 Most desirous of admittance
 
    Tim. Ladies? what are their wils?
   Ser. There comes with them a fore-runner my Lord,
 which beares that office, to signifie their pleasures
 
    Tim. I pray let them be admitted.
 Enter Cupid with the Maske of Ladies.
 
   Cup. Haile to thee worthy Timon and to all that of
 his Bounties taste: the fiue best Sences acknowledge thee
 their Patron, and come freely to gratulate thy plentious
 bosome.
 There tast, touch all, pleas'd from thy Table rise:
 They onely now come but to Feast thine eies
 
    Timo. They'r welcome all, let 'em haue kind admittance.
 Musicke make their welcome
 
    Luc. You see my Lord, how ample y'are belou'd
 
    Aper. Hoyday,
 What a sweepe of vanitie comes this way.
 They daunce? They are madwomen,
 Like Madnesse is the glory of this life,
 As this pompe shewes to a little oyle and roote.
 We make our selues Fooles, to disport our selues,
 And spend our Flatteries, to drinke those men,
 Vpon whose Age we voyde it vp agen
 With poysonous Spight and Enuy.
 Who liues, that's not depraued, or depraues;
 Who dyes, that beares not one spurne to their graues
 Of their Friends guift:
 I should feare, those that dance before me now,
 Would one day stampe vpon me: 'Tas bene done,
 Men shut their doores against a setting Sunne.
 
 The Lords rise from Table, with much adoring of Timon, and to
 shew their
 loues, each single out an Amazon, and all Dance, men with
 women, a loftie
 straine or two to the Hoboyes, and cease.
 
   Tim. You haue done our pleasures
 Much grace (faire Ladies)
 Set a faire fashion on our entertainment,
 Which was not halfe so beautifull, and kinde:
 You haue added worth vntoo't, and luster,
 And entertain'd me with mine owne deuice.
 I am to thanke you for't
 
    1 Lord. My Lord you take vs euen at the best
 
    Aper. Faith for the worst is filthy, and would not hold
 taking, I doubt me
 
    Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you,
 Please you to dispose your selues
 
    All La. Most thankfully, my Lord.
 
 Exeunt.
 
   Tim. Flauius
 
    Fla. My Lord
 
    Tim. The little Casket bring me hither
 
    Fla. Yes, my Lord. More Iewels yet?
 There is no crossing him in's humor,
 Else I should tell him well, yfaith I should;
 When all's spent, hee'ld be crost then, and he could:
 'Tis pitty Bounty had not eyes behinde,
 That man might ne're be wretched for his minde.
 Enter.
 
   1 Lord. Where be our men?
   Ser. Heere my Lord, in readinesse
 
    2 Lord. Our Horses
 
    Tim. O my Friends:
 I haue one word to say to you: Looke you, my good L[ord].
 I must intreat you honour me so much,
 As to aduance this Iewell, accept it, and weare it,
 Kinde my Lord
 
    1 Lord. I am so farre already in your guifts
 
    All. So are we all.
 Enter a Seruant.
 
   Ser. My Lord, there are certaine Nobles of the Senate
 newly alighted, and come to visit you
 
    Tim. They are fairely welcome.
 Enter Flauius.
 
   Fla. I beseech your Honor, vouchsafe me a word, it
 does concerne you neere
 
    Tim. Neere? why then another time Ile heare thee.
 I prythee let's be prouided to shew them entertainment
 
    Fla. I scarse know how.
 Enter another Seruant.
 
   Ser. May it please your Honor, Lord Lucius
 (Out of his free loue) hath presented to you
 Foure Milke-white Horses, trapt in Siluer
 
    Tim. I shall accept them fairely: let the Presents
 Be worthily entertain'd.
 Enter a third Seruant.
 
 How now? What newes?
   3.Ser. Please you my Lord, that honourable Gentleman
 Lord Lucullus, entreats your companie to morrow,
 to hunt with him, and ha's sent your Honour two brace
 of Grey-hounds
 
    Tim. Ile hunt with him,
 And let them be receiu'd, not without faire Reward
 
    Fla. What will this come to?
 He commands vs to prouide, and giue great guifts, and
 all out of an empty Coffer:
 Nor will he know his Purse, or yeeld me this,
 To shew him what a Begger his heart is,
 Being of no power to make his wishes good.
 His promises flye so beyond his state,
 That what he speaks is all in debt, he ows for eu'ry word:
 He is so kinde, that he now payes interest for't;
 His Land's put to their Bookes. Well, would I were
 Gently put out of Office, before I were forc'd out:
 Happier is he that has no friend to feede,
 Then such that do e'ne Enemies exceede.
 I bleed inwardly for my Lord.
 
 Exit
 
   Tim. You do your selues much wrong,
 You bate too much of your owne merits.
 Heere my Lord, a trifle of our Loue
 
    2.Lord. With more then common thankes
 I will receyue it
 
    3.Lord. O he's the very soule of Bounty
 
    Tim. And now I remember my Lord, you gaue good
 words the other day of a Bay Courser I rod on. Tis yours
 because you lik'd it
 
    1.L. Oh, I beseech you pardon mee, my Lord, in that
 
    Tim. You may take my word my Lord: I know no
 man can iustly praise, but what he does affect. I weighe
 my Friends affection with mine owne: Ile tell you true,
 Ile call to you
 
    All Lor. O none so welcome
 
    Tim. I take all, and your seuerall visitations
 So kinde to heart, 'tis not enough to giue:
 Me thinkes, I could deale Kingdomes to my Friends,
 And nere be wearie. Alcibiades,
 Thou art a Soldiour, therefore sildome rich,
 It comes in Charitie to thee: for all thy liuing
 Is mong'st the dead: and all the Lands thou hast
 Lye in a pitcht field
 
    Alc. I, defil'd Land, my Lord
 
    1.Lord. We are so vertuously bound
 
    Tim. And so am I to you
 
    2.Lord. So infinitely endeer'd
 
    Tim. All to you. Lights, more Lights
 
    1.Lord. The best of Happines, Honor, and Fortunes
 Keepe with you Lord Timon
 
    Tim. Ready for his Friends.
 
 Exeunt. Lords
 
   Aper. What a coiles heere, seruing of beckes, and iutting
 out of bummes. I doubt whether their Legges be
 worth the summes that are giuen for 'em.
 Friendships full of dregges,
 Me thinkes false hearts, should neuer haue sound legges.
 Thus honest Fooles lay out their wealth on Curtsies
 
    Tim. Now Apermantus (if thou wert not sullen)
 I would be good to thee
 
    Aper. No, Ile nothing; for if I should be brib'd too,
 there would be none left to raile vpon thee, and then thou
 wouldst sinne the faster. Thou giu'st so long Timon (I
 feare me) thou wilt giue away thy selfe in paper shortly.
 What needs these Feasts, pompes, and Vaine-glories?
   Tim. Nay, and you begin to raile on Societie once, I
 am sworne not to giue regard to you. Farewell, & come
 with better Musicke.
 
 Exit
 
   Aper. So: Thou wilt not heare mee now, thou shalt
 not then. Ile locke thy heauen from thee:
 Oh that mens eares should be
 To Counsell deafe, but not to Flatterie.
 
 Exit
 
 Enter a Senator.
 
   Sen. And late fiue thousand: to Varro and to Isidore
 He owes nine thousand, besides my former summe,
 Which makes it fiue and twenty. Still in motion
 Of raging waste? It cannot hold, it will not.
 If I want Gold, steale but a beggers Dogge,
 And giue it Timon, why the Dogge coines Gold.
 If I would sell my Horse, and buy twenty moe
 Better then he; why giue my Horse to Timon.
 Aske nothing, giue it him, it Foles me straight
 And able Horses: No Porter at his gate,
 But rather one that smiles, and still inuites
 All that passe by. It cannot hold, no reason
 Can sound his state in safety. Caphis hoa,
 Caphis I say.
 Enter Caphis.
 
   Ca. Heere sir, what is your pleasure
 
    Sen. Get on your cloake, & hast you to Lord Timon,
 Importune him for my Moneyes, be not ceast
 With slight deniall; nor then silenc'd, when
 Commend me to your Master, and the Cap
 Playes in the right hand, thus: but tell him,
 My Vses cry to me; I must serue my turne
 Out of mine owne, his dayes and times are past,
 And my reliances on his fracted dates
 Haue smit my credit. I loue, and honour him,
 But must not breake my backe, to heale his finger.
 Immediate are my needs, and my releefe
 Must not be tost and turn'd to me in words,
 But finde supply immediate. Get you gone,
 Put on a most importunate aspect,
 A visage of demand: for I do feare
 When euery Feather stickes in his owne wing,
 Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
 Which flashes now a Phoenix, get you gone
 
    Ca. I go sir
 
    Sen. I go sir?
 Take the Bonds along with you,
 And haue the dates in. Come
 
    Ca. I will Sir
 
    Sen. Go.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Steward, with many billes in his hand.
 
   Stew. No care, no stop, so senselesse of expence,
 That he will neither know how to maintaine it,
 Nor cease his flow of Riot. Takes no accompt
 How things go from him, nor resume no care
 Of what is to continue: neuer minde,
 Was to be so vnwise, to be so kinde.
 What shall be done, he will not heare, till feele:
 I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.
 Fye, fie, fie, fie.
 Enter Caphis, Isidore, and Varro.
 
   Cap. Good euen Varro: what, you come for money?
   Var. Is't not your businesse too?
   Cap. It is, and yours too, Isidore?
   Isid. It is so
 
    Cap. Would we were all discharg'd
 
    Var. I feare it,
   Cap. Heere comes the Lord.
 Enter Timon, and his Traine
 
    Tim. So soone as dinners done, wee'l forth againe
 My Alcibiades. With me, what is your will?
   Cap. My Lord, heere is a note of certaine dues
 
    Tim. Dues? whence are you?
   Cap. Of Athens heere, my Lord
 
    Tim. Go to my Steward
 
    Cap. Please it your Lordship, he hath put me off
 To the succession of new dayes this moneth:
 My Master is awak'd by great Occasion,
 To call vpon his owne, and humbly prayes you,
 That with your other Noble parts, you'l suite,
 In giuing him his right
 
    Tim. Mine honest Friend,
 I prythee but repaire to me next morning
 
    Cap. Nay, good my Lord
 
    Tim. Containe thy selfe, good Friend
 
    Var. One Varroes seruant, my good Lord
 
    Isid. From Isidore, he humbly prayes your speedy payment
 
    Cap. If you did know my Lord, my Masters wants
 
    Var. 'Twas due on forfeyture my Lord, sixe weekes,
 and past
 
    Isi. Your Steward puts me off my Lord, and I
 Am sent expressely to your Lordship
 
    Tim. Giue me breath:
 I do beseech you good my Lords keepe on,
 Ile waite vpon you instantly. Come hither: pray you
 How goes the world, that I am thus encountred
 With clamorous demands of debt, broken Bonds,
 And the detention of long since due debts
 Against my Honor?
   Stew. Please you Gentlemen,
 The time is vnagreeable to this businesse:
 Your importunacie cease, till after dinner,
 That I may make his Lordship vnderstand
 Wherefore you are not paid
 
    Tim. Do so my Friends, see them well entertain'd
 
    Stew. Pray draw neere.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Apemantus and Foole.
 
   Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the Foole with Apemantus,
 let's ha some sport with 'em
 
    Var. Hang him, hee'l abuse vs
 
    Isid. A plague vpon him dogge
 
    Var. How dost Foole?
   Ape. Dost Dialogue with thy shadow?
   Var. I speake not to thee
 
    Ape. No 'tis to thy selfe. Come away
 
    Isi. There's the Foole hangs on your backe already
 
    Ape. No thou stand'st single, th'art not on him yet
 
    Cap. Where's the Foole now?
   Ape. He last ask'd the question. Poore Rogues, and
 Vsurers men, Bauds betweene Gold and want
 
    Al. What are we Apemantus?
   Ape. Asses
 
    All. Why?
   Ape. That you ask me what you are, & do not know
 your selues. Speake to 'em Foole
 
    Foole. How do you Gentlemen?
   All. Gramercies good Foole:
 How does your Mistris?
   Foole. She's e'ne setting on water to scal'd such Chickens
 as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth
 
    Ape. Good, Gramercy.
 Enter Page.
 
   Foole. Looke you, heere comes my Masters Page
 
    Page. Why how now Captaine? what do you in this
 wise Company.
 How dost thou Apermantus?
   Ape. Would I had a Rod in my mouth, that I might
 answer thee profitably
 
    Boy. Prythee Apemantus reade me the superscription
 of these Letters, I know not which is which
 
    Ape. Canst not read?
   Page. No
 
    Ape. There will litle Learning dye then that day thou
 art hang'd. This is to Lord Timon, this to Alcibiades. Go
 thou was't borne a Bastard, and thou't dye a Bawd
 
    Page. Thou was't whelpt a Dogge, and thou shalt
 famish a Dogges death.
 Answer not, I am gone.
 
 Exit
 
   Ape. E'ne so thou out-runst Grace,
 Foole I will go with you to Lord Timons
 
    Foole. Will you leaue me there?
   Ape. If Timon stay at home.
 You three serue three Vsurers?
   All. I would they seru'd vs
 
    Ape. So would I:
 As good a tricke as euer Hangman seru'd Theefe
 
    Foole. Are you three Vsurers men?
   All. I Foole
 
    Foole. I thinke no Vsurer, but ha's a Foole to his Seruant.
 My Mistris is one, and I am her Foole: when men
 come to borrow of your Masters, they approach sadly,
 and go away merry: but they enter my Masters house
 merrily, and go away sadly. The reason of this?
   Var. I could render one
 
    Ap. Do it then, that we may account thee a Whoremaster,
 and a Knaue, which notwithstanding thou shalt
 be no lesse esteemed
 
    Varro. What is a Whoremaster Foole?
   Foole. A Foole in good cloathes, and something like
 thee. 'Tis a spirit, sometime t' appeares like a Lord, somtime
 like a Lawyer, sometime like a Philosopher, with
 two stones moe then's artificiall one. Hee is verie often
 like a Knight; and generally, in all shapes that man goes
 vp and downe in, from fourescore to thirteen, this spirit
 walkes in
 
    Var. Thou art not altogether a Foole
 
    Foole. Nor thou altogether a Wise man,
 As much foolerie as I haue, so much wit thou lack'st
 
    Ape. That answer might haue become Apemantus
 
    All. Aside, aside, heere comes Lord Timon.
 Enter Timon and Steward.
 
   Ape. Come with me (Foole) come
 
    Foole. I do not alwayes follow Louer, elder Brother,
 and Woman, sometime the Philosopher
 
    Stew. Pray you walke neere,
 Ile speake with you anon.
 
 Exeunt.
 
   Tim. You make me meruell wherefore ere this time
 Had you not fully laide my state before me,
 That I might so haue rated my expence
 As I had leaue of meanes
 
    Stew. You would not heare me:
 At many leysures I propose
 
    Tim. Go too:
 Perchance some single vantages you tooke,
 When my indisposition put you backe,
 And that vnaptnesse made your minister
 Thus to excuse your selfe
 
    Stew. O my good Lord,
 At many times I brought in my accompts,
 Laid them before you, you would throw them off,
 And say you sound them in mine honestie,
 When for some trifling present you haue bid me
 Returne so much, I haue shooke my head, and wept:
 Yea 'gainst th' Authoritie of manners, pray'd you
 To hold your hand more close: I did indure
 Not sildome, nor no slight checkes, when I haue
 Prompted you in the ebbe of your estate,
 And your great flow of debts; my lou'd Lord,
 Though you heare now (too late) yet nowes a time,
 The greatest of your hauing, lackes a halfe,
 To pay your present debts
 
    Tim. Let all my Land be sold
 
    Stew. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeyted and gone,
 And what remaines will hardly stop the mouth
 Of present dues; the future comes apace:
 What shall defend the interim, and at length
 How goes our reck'ning?
   Tim. To Lacedemon did my Land extend
 
    Stew. O my good Lord, the world is but a word,
 Were it all yours, to giue it in a breath,
 How quickely were it gone
 
    Tim. You tell me true
 
    Stew. If you suspect my Husbandry or Falshood,
 Call me before th' exactest Auditors,
 And set me on the proofe. So the Gods blesse me,
 When all our Offices haue beene opprest
 With riotous Feeders, when our Vaults haue wept
 With drunken spilth of Wine; when euery roome
 Hath blaz'd with Lights, and braid with Minstrelsie,
 I haue retyr'd me to a wastefull cocke,
 And set mine eyes at flow
 
    Tim. Prythee no more
 
    Stew. Heauens, haue I said, the bounty of this Lord:
 How many prodigall bits haue Slaues and Pezants
 This night englutted: who is not Timons,
 What heart, head, sword, force, meanes, but is L[ord]. Timons:
 Great Timon, Noble, Worthy, Royall Timon:
 Ah, when the meanes are gone, that buy this praise,
 The breath is gone, whereof this praise is made:
 Feast won, fast lost; one cloud of Winter showres,
 These flyes are coucht
 
    Tim. Come sermon me no further.
 No villanous bounty yet hath past my heart;
 Vnwisely, not ignobly haue I giuen.
 Why dost thou weepe, canst thou the conscience lacke,
 To thinke I shall lacke friends: secure thy heart,
 If I would broach the vessels of my loue,
 And try the argument of hearts, by borrowing,
 Men, and mens fortunes could I frankely vse
 As I can bid thee speake
 
    Ste. Assurance blesse your thoughts
 
    Tim. And in some sort these wants of mine are crown'd,
 That I account them blessings. For by these
 Shall I trie Friends. You shall perceiue
 How you mistake my Fortunes:
 I am wealthie in my Friends.
 Within there, Flauius, Seruilius?
 Enter three Seruants.
 
   Ser. My Lord, my Lord
 
    Tim. I will dispatch you seuerally.
 You to Lord Lucius, to Lord Lucullus you, I hunted
 with his Honor to day; you to Sempronius; commend me
 to their loues; and I am proud say, that my occasions
 haue found time to vse 'em toward a supply of mony: let
 the request be fifty Talents
 
    Flam. As you haue said, my Lord
 
    Stew. Lord Lucius and Lucullus? Humh
 
    Tim. Go you sir to the Senators;
 Of whom, euen to the States best health; I haue
 Deseru'd this Hearing: bid 'em send o'th' instant
 A thousand Talents to me
 
    Ste. I haue beene bold
 (For that I knew it the most generall way)
 To them, to vse your Signet, and your Name,
 But they do shake their heads, and I am heere
 No richer in returne
 
    Tim. Is't true? Can't be?
   Stew. They answer in a ioynt and corporate voice,
 That now they are at fall, want Treasure cannot
 Do what they would, are sorrie: you are Honourable,
 But yet they could haue wisht, they know not,
 Something hath beene amisse; a Noble Nature
 May catch a wrench; would all were well; tis pitty,
 And so intending other serious matters,
 After distastefull lookes; and these hard Fractions
 With certaine halfe-caps, and cold mouing nods,
 They froze me into Silence
 
    Tim. You Gods reward them:
 Prythee man looke cheerely. These old Fellowes
 Haue their ingratitude in them Hereditary:
 Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it sildome flowes,
 'Tis lacke of kindely warmth, they are not kinde;
 And Nature, as it growes againe toward earth,
 Is fashion'd for the iourney, dull and heauy.
 Go to Ventiddius (prythee be not sad,
 Thou art true, and honest; Ingeniously I speake,
 No blame belongs to thee:) Ventiddius lately
 Buried his Father, by whose death hee's stepp'd
 Into a great estate: When he was poore,
 Imprison'd, and in scarsitie of Friends,
 I cleer'd him with fiue Talents: Greet him from me,
 Bid him suppose, some good necessity
 Touches his Friend, which craues to be remembred
 With those fiue Talents; that had, giue't these Fellowes
 To whom 'tis instant due. Neu'r speake, or thinke,
 That Timons fortunes 'mong his Friends can sinke
 
    Stew. I would I could not thinke it:
 That thought is Bounties Foe;
 Being free it selfe, it thinkes all others so.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Flaminius waiting to speake with a Lord from his Master, enters a
 seruant
 to him.
 
   Ser. I haue told my Lord of you, he is comming down
 to you
 
    Flam. I thanke you Sir.
 Enter Lucullus.
 
   Ser. Heere's my Lord
 
    Luc. One of Lord Timons men? A Guift I warrant.
 Why this hits right: I dreampt of a Siluer Bason & Ewre
 to night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are verie respectiuely
 welcome sir. Fill me some Wine. And how
 does that Honourable, Compleate, Free-hearted Gentleman
 of Athens, thy very bountifull good Lord and Mayster?
   Flam. His health is well sir
 
    Luc. I am right glad that his health is well sir: and
 what hast thou there vnder thy Cloake, pretty Flaminius?
   Flam. Faith, nothing but an empty box Sir, which in
 my Lords behalfe, I come to intreat your Honor to supply:
 who hauing great and instant occasion to vse fiftie
 Talents, hath sent to your Lordship to furnish him: nothing
 doubting your present assistance therein
 
    Luc. La, la, la, la: Nothing doubting sayes hee? Alas
 good Lord, a Noble Gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep
 so good a house. Many a time and often I ha din'd with
 him, and told him on't, and come againe to supper to him
 of purpose, to haue him spend lesse, and yet he wold embrace
 no counsell, take no warning by my comming, euery
 man has his fault, and honesty is his. I ha told him on't,
 but I could nere get him from't.
 Enter Seruant with Wine.
 
   Ser. Please your Lordship, heere is the Wine
 
    Luc. Flaminius, I haue noted thee alwayes wise.
 Heere's to thee
 
    Flam. Your Lordship speakes your pleasure
 
    Luc. I haue obserued thee alwayes for a towardlie
 prompt spirit, giue thee thy due, and one that knowes
 what belongs to reason; and canst vse the time wel, if the
 time vse thee well. Good parts in thee; get you gone sirrah.
 Draw neerer honest Flaminius. Thy Lords a bountifull
 Gentleman, but thou art wise, and thou know'st
 well enough (although thou com'st to me) that this is no
 time to lend money, especially vpon bare friendshippe
 without securitie. Here's three Solidares for thee, good
 Boy winke at me, and say thou saw'st mee not. Fare thee
 well
 
    Flam. Is't possible the world should so much differ,
 And we aliue that liued? Fly damned basenesse
 To him that worships thee
 
    Luc. Ha? Now I see thou art a Foole, and fit for thy
 Master.
 
 Exit L[ucullus].
 
   Flam. May these adde to the number y may scald thee:
 Let moulten Coine be thy damnation,
 Thou disease of a friend, and not himselfe:
 Has friendship such a faint and milkie heart,
 It turnes in lesse then two nights? O you Gods!
 I feele my Masters passion. This Slaue vnto his Honor,
 Has my Lords meate in him:
 Why should it thriue, and turne to Nutriment,
 When he is turn'd to poyson?
 O may Diseases onely worke vpon't:
 And when he's sicke to death, let not that part of Nature
 Which my Lord payd for, be of any power
 To expell sicknesse, but prolong his hower.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Lucius, with three strangers.
 
   Luc. Who the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend
 and an Honourable Gentleman
 
    1 We know him for no lesse, thogh we are but strangers
 to him. But I can tell you one thing my Lord, and
 which I heare from common rumours, now Lord Timons
 happie howres are done and past, and his estate shrinkes
 from him
 
    Lucius. Fye no, doe not beleeue it: hee cannot want
 for money
 
    2 But beleeue you this my Lord, that not long agoe,
 one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus, to borrow so
 many Talents, nay vrg'd extreamly for't, and shewed
 what necessity belong'd too't, and yet was deny'de
 
    Luci. How?
   2 I tell you, deny'de my Lord
 
    Luci. What a strange case was that? Now before the
 Gods I am asham'd on't. Denied that honourable man?
 There was verie little Honour shew'd in't. For my owne
 part, I must needes confesse, I haue receyued some small
 kindnesses from him, as Money, Plate, Iewels, and such
 like Trifles; nothing comparing to his: yet had hee mistooke
 him, and sent to me, I should ne're haue denied his
 Occasion so many Talents.
 Enter Seruilius.
 
   Seruil. See, by good hap yonders my Lord, I haue
 swet to see his Honor. My Honor'd Lord
 
    Lucil. Seruilius? You are kindely met sir. Farthewell,
 commend me to thy Honourable vertuous Lord, my very
 exquisite Friend
 
    Seruil. May it please your Honour, my Lord hath
 sent-
   Luci. Ha? what ha's he sent? I am so much endeered
 to that Lord; hee's euer sending: how shall I thank him
 think'st thou? And what has he sent now?
   Seruil. Has onely sent his present Occasion now my
 Lord: requesting your Lordship to supply his instant vse
 with so many Talents
 
    Lucil. I know his Lordship is but merry with me,
 He cannot want fifty fiue hundred Talents
 
    Seruil. But in the mean time he wants lesse my Lord.
 If his occasion were not vertuous,
 I should not vrge it halfe so faithfully
 
    Luc. Dost thou speake seriously Seruilius?
   Seruil. Vpon my soule 'tis true Sir
 
    Luci. What a wicked Beast was I to disfurnish my
 self against such a good time, when I might ha shewn my
 selfe Honourable? How vnluckily it hapned, that I shold
 Purchase the day before for a little part, and vndo a great
 deale of Honour? Seruilius, now before the Gods I am
 not able to do (the more beast I say) I was sending to vse
 Lord Timon my selfe, these Gentlemen can witnesse; but
 I would not for the wealth of Athens I had done't now.
 Commend me bountifully to his good Lordship, and I
 hope his Honor will conceiue the fairest of mee, because
 I haue no power to be kinde. And tell him this from me,
 I count it one of my greatest afflictions say, that I cannot
 pleasure such an Honourable Gentleman. Good Seruilius,
 will you befriend mee so farre, as to vse mine owne
 words to him?
   Ser. Yes sir, I shall.
 
 Exit Seruil[ius].
 
   Lucil. Ile looke you out a good turne Seruilius.
 True as you said, Timon is shrunke indeede,
 And he that's once deny'de, will hardly speede.
 Enter.
 
   1 Do you obserue this Hostilius?
   2 I, to well
 
    1 Why this is the worlds soule,
 And iust of the same peece
 Is euery Flatterers sport: who can call him his Friend
 That dips in the same dish? For in my knowing
 Timon has bin this Lords Father,
 And kept his credit with his purse:
 Supported his estate, nay Timons money
 Has paid his men their wages. He ne're drinkes,
 But Timons Siluer treads vpon his Lip,
 And yet, oh see the monstrousnesse of man,
 When he lookes out in an vngratefull shape;
 He does deny him (in respect of his)
 What charitable men affoord to Beggers
 
    3 Religion grones at it
 
    1 For mine owne part, I neuer tasted Timon in my life
 Nor came any of his bounties ouer me,
 To marke me for his Friend. Yet I protest,
 For his right Noble minde, illustrious Vertue,
 And Honourable Carriage,
 Had his necessity made vse of me,
 I would haue put my wealth into Donation,
 And the best halfe should haue return'd to him,
 So much I loue his heart: But I perceiue,
 Men must learne now with pitty to dispence,
 For Policy sits aboue Conscience.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter a third seruant with Sempronius, another of Timons Friends.
 
   Semp. Must he needs trouble me in't? Hum.
 'Boue all others?
 He might haue tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus,
 And now Ventidgius is wealthy too,
 Whom he redeem'd from prison. All these
 Owes their estates vnto him
 
    Ser. My Lord,
 They haue all bin touch'd, and found Base-Mettle,
 For they haue all denied him
 
    Semp. How? Haue they deny'de him?
 Has Ventidgius and Lucullus deny'de him,
 And does he send to me? Three? Humh?
 It shewes but little loue, or iudgement in him.
 Must I be his last Refuge? His Friends (like Physitians)
 Thriue, giue him ouer: Must I take th' Cure vpon me?
 Has much disgrac'd me in't, I'me angry at him,
 That might haue knowne my place. I see no sense for't,
 But his Occasions might haue wooed me first:
 For in my conscience, I was the first man
 That ere receiued guift from him.
 And does he thinke so backwardly of me now,
 That Ile requite it last? No:
 So it may proue an Argument of Laughter
 To th' rest, and 'mong'st Lords be thought a Foole:
 I'de rather then the worth of thrice the summe,
 Had sent to me first, but for my mindes sake:
 I'de such a courage to do him good. But now returne,
 And with their faint reply, this answer ioyne;
 Who bates mine Honor, shall not know my Coyne.
 
 Exit
 
   Ser. Excellent: Your Lordships a goodly Villain: the
 diuell knew not what he did, when hee made man Politicke;
 he crossed himselfe by't: and I cannot thinke, but
 in the end, the Villanies of man will set him cleere. How
 fairely this Lord striues to appeare foule? Takes Vertuous
 Copies to be wicked: like those, that vnder hotte ardent
 zeale, would set whole Realmes on fire, of such a nature
 is his politike loue.
 This was my Lords best hope, now all are fled
 Saue onely the Gods. Now his Friends are dead,
 Doores that were ne're acquainted with their Wards
 Many a bounteous yeere, must be imploy'd
 Now to guard sure their Master:
 And this is all a liberall course allowes,
 Who cannot keepe his wealth, must keep his house.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Varro's man, meeting others. All Timons Creditors to wait
 for his
 comming out. Then enter Lucius and Hortensius.
 
   Var.man. Well met, goodmorrow Titus & Hortensius
   Tit. The like to you kinde Varro
 
    Hort. Lucius, what do we meet together?
   Luci. I, and I think one businesse do's command vs all.
 For mine is money
 
    Tit. So is theirs, and ours.
 Enter Philotus.
 
   Luci. And sir Philotus too
 
    Phil. Good day at once
 
    Luci. Welcome good Brother.
 What do you thinke the houre?
   Phil. Labouring for Nine
 
    Luci. So much?
   Phil. Is not my Lord seene yet?
   Luci. Not yet
 
    Phil. I wonder on't, he was wont to shine at seauen
 
    Luci. I, but the dayes are waxt shorter with him:
 You must consider, that a Prodigall course
 Is like the Sunnes, but not like his recouerable, I feare:
 'Tis deepest Winter in Lord Timons purse, that is: One
 may reach deepe enough, and yet finde little
 
    Phil. I am of your feare, for that
 
    Tit. Ile shew you how t' obserue a strange euent:
 Your Lord sends now for Money?
   Hort. Most true, he doe's
 
    Tit. And he weares Iewels now of Timons guift,
 For which I waite for money
 
    Hort. It is against my heart
 
    Luci. Marke how strange it showes,
 Timon in this, should pay more then he owes:
 And e'ne as if your Lord should weare rich Iewels,
 And send for money for 'em
 
    Hort. I'me weary of this Charge,
 The Gods can witnesse:
 I know my Lord hath spent of Timons wealth,
 And now Ingratitude, makes it worse then stealth
 
    Varro. Yes, mine's three thousand Crownes:
 What's yours?
   Luci. Fiue thousand mine
 
    Varro. 'Tis much deepe, and it should seem by th' sum
 Your Masters confidence was aboue mine,
 Else surely his had equall'd.
 Enter Flaminius.
 
   Tit. One of Lord Timons men
 
    Luc. Flaminius? Sir, a word: Pray is my Lord readie
 to come forth?
   Flam. No, indeed he is not
 
    Tit. We attend his Lordship: pray signifie so much
 
    Flam. I need not tell him that, he knowes you are too diligent.
 Enter Steward in a Cloake, muffled.
 
   Luci. Ha: is not that his Steward muffled so?
 He goes away in a Clowd: Call him, call him
 
    Tit. Do you heare, sir?
   2.Varro. By your leaue, sir
 
    Stew. What do ye aske of me, my Friend
 
    Tit. We waite for certaine Money heere, sir
 
    Stew. I, if Money were as certaine as your waiting,
 'Twere sure enough.
 Why then preferr'd you not your summes and Billes
 When your false Masters eate of my Lords meat?
 Then they could smile, and fawne vpon his debts.
 And take downe th' Intrest into their glutt'nous Mawes.
 You do your selues but wrong, to stirre me vp,
 Let me passe quietly:
 Beleeue't, my Lord and I haue made an end,
 I haue no more to reckon, he to spend
 
    Luci. I, but this answer will not serue
 
    Stew. If't 'twill not serue, 'tis not so base as you,
 For you serue Knaues
 
    1.Varro. How? What does his casheer'd Worship
 mutter?
   2.Varro. No matter what, hee's poore, and that's reuenge
 enough. Who can speake broader, then hee that
 has no house to put his head in? Such may rayle against
 great buildings.
 Enter Seruilius.
 
   Tit. Oh heere's Seruilius: now wee shall know some
 answere
 
    Seru. If I might beseech you Gentlemen, to repayre
 some other houre, I should deriue much from't. For tak't
 of my soule, my Lord leanes wondrously to discontent:
 His comfortable temper has forsooke him, he's much out
 of health, and keepes his Chamber
 
    Luci. Many do keepe their Chambers, are not sicke:
 And if it be so farre beyond his health,
 Me thinkes he should the sooner pay his debts,
 And make a cleere way to the Gods
 
    Seruil. Good Gods
 
    Titus. We cannot take this for answer, sir
 
    Flaminius within. Seruilius helpe, my Lord, my Lord.
 Enter Timon in a rage.
 
   Tim. What, are my dores oppos'd against my passage?
 Haue I bin euer free, and must my house
 Be my retentiue Enemy? My Gaole?
 The place which I haue Feasted, does it now
 (Like all Mankinde) shew me an Iron heart?
   Luci. Put in now Titus
 
    Tit. My Lord, heere is my Bill
 
    Luci. Here's mine
 
    1.Var. And mine, my Lord
 
    2.Var. And ours, my Lord
 
    Philo. All our Billes
 
    Tim. Knocke me downe with 'em, cleaue mee to the
 Girdle
 
    Luc. Alas, my Lord
 
    Tim. Cut my heart in summes
 
    Tit. Mine, fifty Talents
 
    Tim. Tell out my blood
 
    Luc. Fiue thousand Crownes, my Lord
 
    Tim. Fiue thousand drops payes that.
 What yours? and yours?
   1.Var. My Lord
 
    2.Var. My Lord
 
    Tim. Teare me, take me, and the Gods fall vpon you.
 
 Exit Timon.
 
   Hort. Faith I perceiue our Masters may throwe their
 caps at their money, these debts may well be call'd desperate
 ones, for a madman owes 'em.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Timon.
 
   Timon. They haue e'ene put my breath from mee the
 slaues. Creditors? Diuels
 
    Stew. My deere Lord
 
    Tim. What if it should be so?
   Stew. My Lord
 
    Tim. Ile haue it so. My Steward?
   Stew. Heere my Lord
 
    Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my Friends againe,
 Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius Vllorxa: All,
 Ile once more feast the Rascals
 
    Stew. O my Lord, you onely speake from your distracted
 soule; there's not so much left to furnish out a moderate
 Table
 
    Tim. Be it not in thy care:
 Go I charge thee, inuite them all, let in the tide
 Of Knaues once more: my Cooke and Ile prouide.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter three Senators at one doore, Alcibiades meeting them, with
 Attendants
 
    1.Sen. My Lord, you haue my voyce, too't,
 The faults Bloody:
 'Tis necessary he should dye:
 Nothing imboldens sinne so much, as Mercy
 
    2 Most true; the Law shall bruise 'em
 
    Alc. Honor, health, and compassion to the Senate
 
    1 Now Captaine
 
    Alc. I am an humble Sutor to your Vertues;
 For pitty is the vertue of the Law,
 And none but Tyrants vse it cruelly.
 It pleases time and Fortune to lye heauie
 Vpon a Friend of mine, who in hot blood
 Hath stept into the Law: which is past depth
 To those that (without heede) do plundge intoo't.
 He is a Man (setting his Fate aside) of comely Vertues,
 Nor did he soyle the fact with Cowardice.
 (And Honour in him, which buyes out his fault)
 But with a Noble Fury, and faire spirit,
 Seeing his Reputation touch'd to death,
 He did oppose his Foe:
 And with such sober and vnnoted passion
 He did behooue his anger ere 'twas spent,
 As if he had but prou'd an Argument
 
    1.Sen. You vndergo too strict a Paradox,
 Striuing to make an vgly deed looke faire:
 Your words haue tooke such paines, as if they labour'd
 To bring Man-slaughter into forme, and set Quarrelling
 Vpon the head of Valour; which indeede
 Is Valour mis-begot, and came into the world,
 When Sects, and Factions were newly borne.
 Hee's truly Valiant, that can wisely suffer
 The worst that man can breath,
 And make his Wrongs, his Out-sides,
 To weare them like his Rayment, carelessely,
 And ne're preferre his iniuries to his heart,
 To bring it into danger.
 If Wrongs be euilles, and inforce vs kill,
 What Folly 'tis, to hazard life for Ill
 
    Alci. My Lord
 
    1.Sen. You cannot make grosse sinnes looke cleare,
 To reuenge is no Valour, but to beare
 
    Alci. My Lords, then vnder fauour, pardon me,
 If I speake like a Captaine.
 Why do fond men expose themselues to Battell,
 And not endure all threats? Sleepe vpon't,
 And let the Foes quietly cut their Throats
 Without repugnancy? If there be
 Such Valour in the bearing, what make wee
 Abroad? Why then, Women are more valiant
 That stay at home, if Bearing carry it:
 And the Asse, more Captaine then the Lyon?
 The fellow loaden with Irons, wiser then the Iudge?
 If Wisedome be in suffering. Oh my Lords,
 As you are great, be pittifully Good,
 Who cannot condemne rashnesse in cold blood?
 To kill, I grant, is sinnes extreamest Gust,
 But in defence, by Mercy, 'tis most iust.
 To be in Anger, is impietie:
 But who is Man, that is not Angrie.
 Weigh but the Crime with this
 
    2.Sen. You breath in vaine
 
    Alci. In vaine?
 His seruice done at Lacedemon, and Bizantium,
 Were a sufficient briber for his life
 
    1 What's that?
   Alc. Why say my Lords ha's done faire seruice,
 And slaine in fight many of your enemies:
 How full of valour did he beare himselfe
 In the last Conflict, and made plenteous wounds?
   2 He has made too much plenty with him:
 He's a sworne Riotor, he has a sinne
 That often drownes him, and takes his valour prisoner.
 If there were no Foes, that were enough
 To ouercome him. In that Beastly furie,
 He has bin knowne to commit outrages,
 And cherrish Factions. 'Tis inferr'd to vs,
 His dayes are foule, and his drinke dangerous
 
    1 He dyes
 
    Alci. Hard fate: he might haue dyed in warre.
 My Lords, if not for any parts in him,
 Though his right arme might purchase his owne time,
 And be in debt to none: yet more to moue you,
 Take my deserts to his, and ioyne 'em both.
 And for I know, your reuerend Ages loue Security,
 Ile pawne my Victories, all my Honour to you
 Vpon his good returnes.
 If by this Crime, he owes the Law his life,
 Why let the Warre receiue't in valiant gore,
 For Law is strict, and Warre is nothing more
 
    1 We are for Law, he dyes, vrge it no more
 On height of our displeasure: Friend, or Brother,
 He forfeits his owne blood, that spilles another
 
    Alc. Must it be so? It must not bee:
 My Lords, I do beseech you know mee
 
    2 How?
   Alc. Call me to your remembrances
 
    3 What
 
    Alc. I cannot thinke but your Age has forgot me,
 It could not else be, I should proue so bace,
 To sue and be deny'de such common Grace.
 My wounds ake at you
 
    1 Do you dare our anger?
 'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect:
 We banish thee for euer
 
    Alc. Banish me?
 Banish your dotage, banish vsurie,
 That makes the Senate vgly
 
    1 If after two dayes shine, Athens containe thee,
 Attend our waightier Iudgement.
 And not to swell our Spirit,
 He shall be executed presently.
 
 Exeunt.
 
   Alc. Now the Gods keepe you old enough,
 That you may liue
 Onely in bone, that none may looke on you.
 I'm worse then mad: I haue kept backe their Foes
 While they haue told their Money, and let out
 Their Coine vpon large interest. I my selfe,
 Rich onely in large hurts. All those, for this?
 Is this the Balsome, that the vsuring Senat
 Powres into Captaines wounds? Banishment.
 It comes not ill: I hate not to be banisht,
 It is a cause worthy my Spleene and Furie,
 That I may strike at Athens. Ile cheere vp
 My discontented Troopes, and lay for hearts;
 'Tis Honour with most Lands to be at ods,
 Souldiers should brooke as little wrongs as Gods.
 Enter.
 
 Enter diuers Friends at seuerall doores.
 
   1 The good time of day to you, sir
 
    2 I also wish it to you: I thinke this Honorable Lord
 did but try vs this other day
 
    1 Vpon that were my thoughts tyring when wee encountred.
 I hope it is not so low with him as he made it
 seeme in the triall of his seuerall Friends
 
    2 It should not be, by the perswasion of his new Feasting
 
    1 I should thinke so. He hath sent mee an earnest inuiting,
 which many my neere occasions did vrge mee to
 put off: but he hath coniur'd mee beyond them, and I
 must needs appeare
 
    2 In like manner was I in debt to my importunat businesse,
 but he would not heare my excuse. I am sorrie,
 when he sent to borrow of mee, that my Prouision was
 out
 
    1 I am sicke of that greefe too, as I vnderstand how all
 things go
 
    2 Euery man heares so: what would hee haue borrowed
 of you?
   1 A thousand Peeces
 
    2 A thousand Peeces?
   1 What of you?
   2 He sent to me sir- Heere he comes.
 Enter Timon and Attendants.
 
   Tim. With all my heart Gentlemen both; and how
 fare you?
   1 Euer at the best, hearing well of your Lordship
 
    2 The Swallow followes not Summer more willing,
 then we your Lordship
 
    Tim. Nor more willingly leaues Winter, such Summer
 Birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompence
 this long stay: Feast your eares with the Musicke
 awhile: If they will fare so harshly o'th' Trumpets
 sound: we shall too't presently
 
    1 I hope it remaines not vnkindely with your Lordship,
 that I return'd you an empty Messenger
 
    Tim. O sir, let it not trouble you
 
    2 My Noble Lord
 
    Tim. Ah my good Friend, what cheere?
 
 The Banket brought in.
 
   2 My most Honorable Lord, I am e'ne sick of shame,
 that when your Lordship this other day sent to me, I was
 so vnfortunate a Beggar
 
    Tim. Thinke not on't, sir
 
    2 If you had sent but two houres before
 
    Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
 Come bring in all together
 
    2 All couer'd Dishes
 
    1 Royall Cheare, I warrant you
 
    3 Doubt not that, if money and the season can yeild it
   1 How do you? What's the newes?
   3 Alcibiades is banish'd: heare you of it?
   Both. Alcibiades banish'd?
   3 'Tis so, be sure of it
 
    1 How? How?
   2 I pray you vpon what?
   Tim. My worthy Friends, will you draw neere?
   3 Ile tell you more anon. Here's a Noble feast toward
   2 This is the old man still
 
    3 Wilt hold? Wilt hold?
   2 It do's: but time will, and so
 
    3 I do conceyue
 
    Tim. Each man to his stoole, with that spurre as hee
 would to the lip of his Mistris: your dyet shall bee in all
 places alike. Make not a Citie Feast of it, to let the meat
 coole, ere we can agree vpon the first place. Sit, sit.
 The Gods require our Thankes.
 You great Benefactors, sprinkle our Society with Thankefulnesse.
 For your owne guifts, make your selues prais'd: But
 reserue still to giue, least your Deities be despised. Lend to each
 man enough, that one neede not lend to another. For were your
 Godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the Gods. Make
 the Meate be beloued, more then the Man that giues it. Let
 no Assembly of Twenty, be without a score of Villaines. If there
 sit twelue Women at the Table, let a dozen of them bee as they
 are. The rest of your Fees, O Gods, the Senators of Athens,
 together with the common legge of People, what is amisse in
 them, you Gods, make suteable for destruction. For these my
 present Friends, as they are to mee nothing, so in nothing blesse
 them, and to nothing are they welcome.
 Vncouer Dogges, and lap
 
    Some speake. What do's his Lordship meane?
   Some other. I know not
 
    Timon. May you a better Feast neuer behold
 You knot of Mouth-Friends: Smoke, & lukewarm water
 Is your perfection. This is Timons last,
 Who stucke and spangled you with Flatteries,
 Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces
 Your reeking villany. Liue loath'd, and long
 Most smiling, smooth, detested Parasites,
 Curteous Destroyers, affable Wolues, meeke Beares:
 You Fooles of Fortune, Trencher-friends, Times Flyes,
 Cap and knee-Slaues, vapours, and Minute Iackes.
 Of Man and Beast, the infinite Maladie
 Crust you quite o're. What do'st thou go?
 Soft, take thy Physicke first; thou too, and thou:
 Stay I will lend thee money, borrow none.
 What? All in Motion? Henceforth be no Feast,
 Whereat a Villaine's not a welcome Guest.
 Burne house, sinke Athens, henceforth hated be
 Of Timon Man, and all Humanity.
 
 Exit
 
 Enter the Senators, with other Lords.
 
   1 How now, my Lords?
   2 Know you the quality of Lord Timons fury?
   3 Push, did you see my Cap?
   4 I haue lost my Gowne
 
    1 He's but a mad Lord, & nought but humors swaies
 him. He gaue me a Iewell th' other day, and now hee has
 beate it out of my hat.
 Did you see my Iewell?
   2 Did you see my Cap
 
    3 Heere 'tis
 
    4 Heere lyes my Gowne
 
    1 Let's make no stay
 
    2 Lord Timons mad
 
    3 I feel't vpon my bones
 
    4 One day he giues vs Diamonds, next day stones.
 
 Exeunt. the Senators.
 
 Enter Timon.
 
   Tim. Let me looke backe vpon thee. O thou Wall
 That girdles in those Wolues, diue in the earth,
 And fence not Athens. Matrons, turne incontinent,
 Obedience fayle in Children: Slaues and Fooles
 Plucke the graue wrinkled Senate from the Bench,
 And minister in their steeds, to generall Filthes.
 Conuert o'th' Instant greene Virginity,
 Doo't in your Parents eyes. Bankrupts, hold fast
 Rather then render backe; out with your Kniues,
 And cut your Trusters throates. Bound Seruants, steale,
 Large-handed Robbers your graue Masters are,
 And pill by Law. Maide, to thy Masters bed,
 Thy Mistris is o'th' Brothell. Some of sixteen,
 Plucke the lyn'd Crutch from thy old limping Sire,
 With it, beate out his Braines. Piety, and Feare,
 Religion to the Gods, Peace, Iustice, Truth,
 Domesticke awe, Night-rest, and Neighbourhood,
 Instruction, Manners, Mysteries, and Trades,
 Degrees, Obseruances, Customes, and Lawes,
 Decline to your confounding contraries.
 And yet Confusion liue: Plagues incident to men,
 Your potent and infectious Feauors, heape
 On Athens ripe for stroke. Thou cold Sciatica,
 Cripple our Senators, that their limbes may halt
 As lamely as their Manners. Lust, and Libertie
 Creepe in the Mindes and Marrowes of our youth,
 That 'gainst the streame of Vertue they may striue,
 And drowne themselues in Riot. Itches, Blaines,
 So we all th' Athenian bosomes, and their crop
 Be generall Leprosie: Breath, infect breath,
 That their Society (as their Friendship) may
 Be meerely poyson. Nothing Ile beare from thee
 But nakednesse, thou detestable Towne,
 Take thou that too, with multiplying Bannes:
 Timon will to the Woods, where he shall finde
 Th' vnkindest Beast, more kinder then Mankinde.
 The Gods confound (heare me you good Gods all)
 Th' Athenians both within and out that Wall:
 And graunt as Timon growes, his hate may grow
 To the whole race of Mankinde, high and low.
 Amen.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Steward with two or three Seruants.
 
   1 Heare you M[aster]. Steward, where's our Master?
 Are we vndone, cast off, nothing remaining?
   Stew. Alack my Fellowes, what should I say to you?
 Let me be recorded by the righteous Gods,
 I am as poore as you
 
    1 Such a House broke?
 So Noble a Master falne, all gone, and not
 One Friend to take his Fortune by the arme,
 And go along with him
 
    2 As we do turne our backes
 From our Companion, throwne into his graue,
 So his Familiars to his buried Fortunes
 Slinke all away, leaue their false vowes with him
 Like empty purses pickt; and his poore selfe
 A dedicated Beggar to the Ayre,
 With his disease, of all shunn'd pouerty,
 Walkes like contempt alone. More of our Fellowes.
 Enter other Seruants.
 
   Stew. All broken Implements of a ruin'd house
 
    3 Yet do our hearts weare Timons Liuery,
 That see I by our Faces: we are Fellowes still,
 Seruing alike in sorrow: Leak'd is our Barke,
 And we poore Mates, stand on the dying Decke,
 Hearing the Surges threat: we must all part
 Into this Sea of Ayre
 
    Stew. Good Fellowes all,
 The latest of my wealth Ile share among'st you.
 Where euer we shall meete, for Timons sake,
 Let's yet be Fellowes. Let's shake our heads, and say
 As 'twere a Knell vnto our Masters Fortunes,
 We haue seene better dayes. Let each take some:
 Nay put out all your hands: Not one word more,
 Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poore.
 
 Embrace and part seuerall wayes.
 
 Oh the fierce wretchednesse that Glory brings vs!
 Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
 Since Riches point to Misery and Contempt?
 Who would be so mock'd with Glory, or to liue
 But in a Dreame of Friendship,
 To haue his pompe, and all what state compounds,
 But onely painted like his varnisht Friends:
 Poore honest Lord, brought lowe by his owne heart,
 Vndone by Goodnesse: Strange vnvsuall blood,
 When mans worst sinne is, He do's too much Good.
 Who then dares to be halfe so kinde agen?
 For Bounty that makes Gods, do still marre Men.
 My deerest Lord, blest to be most accurst,
 Rich onely to be wretched; thy great Fortunes
 Are made thy cheefe Afflictions. Alas (kinde Lord)
 Hee's flung in Rage from this ingratefull Seate
 Of monstrous Friends:
 Nor ha's he with him to supply his life,
 Or that which can command it:
 Ile follow and enquire him out.
 Ile euer serue his minde, with my best will,
 Whilst I haue Gold, Ile be his Steward still.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Timon in the woods.
 
   Tim. O blessed breeding Sun, draw from the earth
 Rotten humidity: below thy Sisters Orbe
 Infect the ayre. Twin'd Brothers of one wombe,
 Whose procreation, residence, and birth,
 Scarse is diuidant; touch them with seuerall fortunes,
 The greater scornes the lesser. Not Nature
 (To whom all sores lay siege) can beare great Fortune
 But by contempt of Nature.
 Raise me this Begger, and deny't that Lord,
 The Senators shall beare contempt Hereditary,
 The Begger Natiue Honor.
 It is the Pastour Lards, the Brothers sides,
 The want that makes him leaue: who dares? who dares
 In puritie of Manhood stand vpright
 And say, this mans a Flatterer. If one be,
 So are they all: for euerie grize of Fortune
 Is smooth'd by that below. The Learned pate
 Duckes to the Golden Foole. All's obliquie:
 There's nothing leuell in our cursed Natures
 But direct villanie. Therefore be abhorr'd,
 All Feasts, Societies, and Throngs of men.
 His semblable, yea himselfe Timon disdaines,
 Destruction phang mankinde; Earth yeeld me Rootes,
 Who seekes for better of thee, sawce his pallate
 With thy most operant Poyson. What is heere?
 Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious Gold?
 No Gods, I am no idle Votarist,
 Roots you cleere Heauens. Thus much of this will make
 Blacke, white; fowle, faire; wrong, right;
 Base, Noble; Old, young; Coward, valiant.
 Ha you Gods! why this? what this, you Gods? why this
 Will lugge your Priests and Seruants from your sides:
 Plucke stout mens pillowes from below their heads.
 This yellow Slaue,
 Will knit and breake Religions, blesse th' accurst,
 Make the hoare Leprosie ador'd, place Theeues,
 And giue them Title, knee, and approbation
 With Senators on the Bench: This is it
 That makes the wappen'd Widdow wed againe;
 Shee, whom the Spittle-house, and vlcerous sores,
 Would cast the gorge at. This Embalmes and Spices
 To'th' Aprill day againe. Come damn'd Earth,
 Thou common whore of Mankinde, that puttes oddes
 Among the rout of Nations, I will make thee
 Do thy right Nature.
 
 March afarre off.
 
 Ha? A Drumme? Th'art quicke,
 But yet Ile bury thee: Thou't go (strong Theefe)
 When Gowty keepers of thee cannot stand:
 Nay stay thou out for earnest.
 Enter Alcibiades with Drumme and Fife in warlike manner, and
 Phrynia and
 Timandra.
 
   Alc. What art thou there? speake
 
    Tim. A Beast as thou art. The Canker gnaw thy hart
 For shewing me againe the eyes of Man
 
    Alc. What is thy name? Is man so hatefull to thee,
 That art thy selfe a Man?
   Tim. I am Misantropos, and hate Mankinde.
 For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dogge,
 That I might loue thee something
 
    Alc. I know thee well:
 But in thy Fortunes am vnlearn'd, and strange
 
    Tim. I know thee too, and more then that I know thee
 I not desire to know. Follow thy Drumme,
 With mans blood paint the ground Gules, Gules:
 Religious Cannons, ciuill Lawes are cruell,
 Then what should warre be? This fell whore of thine,
 Hath in her more destruction then thy Sword,
 For all her Cherubin looke
 
    Phrin. Thy lips rot off
 
    Tim. I will not kisse thee, then the rot returnes
 To thine owne lippes againe
 
    Alc. How came the Noble Timon to this change?
   Tim. As the Moone do's, by wanting light to giue:
 But then renew I could not like the Moone,
 There were no Sunnes to borrow of
 
    Alc. Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?
   Tim. None, but to maintaine my opinion
 
    Alc. What is it Timon?
   Tim. Promise me Friendship, but performe none.
 If thou wilt not promise, the Gods plague thee, for thou
 art a man: if thou do'st performe, confound thee, for
 thou art a man
 
    Alc. I haue heard in some sort of thy Miseries
 
    Tim. Thou saw'st them when I had prosperitie
 
    Alc. I see them now, then was a blessed time
 
    Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of Harlots
 
    Timan. Is this th' Athenian Minion, whom the world
 Voic'd so regardfully?
   Tim. Art thou Timandra?
   Timan. Yes
 
    Tim. Be a whore still, they loue thee not that vse thee,
 giue them diseases, leauing with thee their Lust. Make
 vse of thy salt houres, season the slaues for Tubbes and
 Bathes, bring downe Rose-cheekt youth to the Fubfast,
 and the Diet
 
    Timan. Hang thee Monster
 
    Alc. Pardon him sweet Timandra, for his wits
 Are drown'd and lost in his Calamities.
 I haue but little Gold of late, braue Timon,
 The want whereof, doth dayly make reuolt
 In my penurious Band. I haue heard and greeu'd
 How cursed Athens, mindelesse of thy worth,
 Forgetting thy great deeds, when Neighbour states
 But for thy Sword and Fortune trod vpon them
 
    Tim. I prythee beate thy Drum, and get thee gone
 
    Alc. I am thy Friend, and pitty thee deere Timon
 
    Tim. How doest thou pitty him whom y dost troble,
 I had rather be alone
 
    Alc. Why fare thee well:
 Heere is some Gold for thee
 
    Tim. Keepe it, I cannot eate it
 
    Alc. When I haue laid proud Athens on a heape
 
    Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens
 
    Alc. I Timon, and haue cause
 
    Tim. The Gods confound them all in thy Conquest,
 And thee after, when thou hast Conquer'd
 
    Alc. Why me, Timon?
   Tim. That by killing of Villaines
 Thou was't borne to conquer my Country.
 Put vp thy Gold. Go on, heeres Gold, go on;
 Be as a Plannetary plague, when Ioue
 Will o're some high-Vic'd City, hang his poyson
 In the sicke ayre: let not thy sword skip one:
 Pitty not honour'd Age for his white Beard,
 He is an Vsurer. Strike me the counterfet Matron,
 It is her habite onely, that is honest,
 Her selfe's a Bawd. Let not the Virgins cheeke
 Make soft thy trenchant Sword: for those Milke pappes
 That through the window Barne bore at mens eyes,
 Are not within the Leafe of pitty writ,
 But set them down horrible Traitors. Spare not the Babe
 Whose dimpled smiles from Fooles exhaust their mercy;
 Thinke it a Bastard, whom the Oracle
 Hath doubtfully pronounced, the throat shall cut,
 And mince it sans remorse. Sweare against Obiects,
 Put Armour on thine eares, and on thine eyes,
 Whose proofe, nor yels of Mothers, Maides, nor Babes,
 Nor sight of Priests in holy Vestments bleeding,
 Shall pierce a iot. There's Gold to pay thy Souldiers,
 Make large confusion: and thy fury spent,
 Confounded be thy selfe. Speake not, be gone
 
    Alc. Hast thou Gold yet, Ile take the Gold thou giuest
 me, not all thy Counsell
 
    Tim. Dost thou or dost thou not, Heauens curse vpon
 thee
 
    Both. Giue vs some Gold good Timon, hast y more?
   Tim. Enough to make a Whore forsweare her Trade,
 And to make Whores, a Bawd. Hold vp you Sluts
 Your Aprons mountant; you are not Othable,
 Although I know you'l sweare, terribly sweare
 Into strong shudders, and to heauenly Agues
 Th' immortall Gods that heare you. Spare your Oathes:
 Ile trust to your Conditions, be whores still.
 And he whose pious breath seekes to conuert you,
 Be strong in Whore, allure him, burne him vp,
 Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
 And be no turne-coats: yet may your paines six months
 Be quite contrary, And Thatch
 Your poore thin Roofes with burthens of the dead,
 (Some that were hang'd) no matter:
 Weare them, betray with them; Whore still,
 Paint till a horse may myre vpon your face:
 A pox of wrinkles
 
    Both. Well, more Gold, what then?
 Beleeue't that wee'l do any thing for Gold
 
    Tim. Consumptions sowe
 In hollow bones of man, strike their sharpe shinnes,
 And marre mens spurring. Cracke the Lawyers voyce,
 That he may neuer more false Title pleade,
 Nor sound his Quillets shrilly: Hoare the Flamen,
 That scold'st against the quality of flesh,
 And not beleeues himselfe. Downe with the Nose,
 Downe with it flat, take the Bridge quite away
 Of him, that his particular to foresee
 Smels from the generall weale. Make curl'd pate Ruffians bald
 And let the vnscarr'd Braggerts of the Warre
 Deriue some paine from you. Plague all,
 That your Actiuity may defeate and quell
 The sourse of all Erection. There's more Gold.
 Do you damne others, and let this damne you,
 And ditches graue you all
 
    Both. More counsell with more Money, bounteous
 Timon
 
    Tim. More whore, more Mischeefe first, I haue giuen
 you earnest
 
    Alc. Strike vp the Drum towardes Athens, farewell
 Timon: if I thriue well, Ile visit thee againe
 
    Tim. If I hope well, Ile neuer see thee more
 
    Alc. I neuer did thee harme
 
    Tim. Yes, thou spok'st well of me
 
    Alc. Call'st thou that harme?
   Tim. Men dayly finde it. Get thee away,
 And take thy Beagles with thee
 
    Alc. We but offend him, strike.
 
 Exeunt.
 
   Tim. That Nature being sicke of mans vnkindnesse
 Should yet be hungry: Common Mother, thou
 Whose wombe vnmeasureable, and infinite brest
 Teemes and feeds all: whose selfesame Mettle
 Whereof thy proud Childe (arrogant man) is puft,
 Engenders the blacke Toad, and Adder blew,
 The gilded Newt, and eyelesse venom'd Worme,
 With all th' abhorred Births below Crispe Heauen,
 Whereon Hyperions quickning fire doth shine:
 Yeeld him, who all the humane Sonnes do hate,
 From foorth thy plenteous bosome, one poore roote:
 Enseare thy Fertile and Conceptious wombe,
 Let it no more bring out ingratefull man.
 Goe great with Tygers, Dragons, Wolues, and Beares,
 Teeme with new Monsters, whom thy vpward face
 Hath to the Marbled Mansion all aboue
 Neuer presented. O, a Root, deare thankes:
 Dry vp thy Marrowes, Vines, and Plough-torne Leas,
 Whereof ingratefull man with Licourish draughts
 And Morsels Vnctious, greases his pure minde,
 That from it all Consideration slippes-
 Enter Apemantus.
 
 More man? Plague, plague
 
    Ape. I was directed hither. Men report,
 Thou dost affect my Manners, and dost vse them
 
    Tim. 'Tis then, because thou dost not keepe a dogge
 Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee
 
    Ape. This is in thee a Nature but infected,
 A poore vnmanly Melancholly sprung
 From change of future. Why this Spade? this place?
 This Slaue-like Habit, and these lookes of Care?
 Thy Flatterers yet weare Silke, drinke Wine, lye soft,
 Hugge their diseas'd Perfumes, and haue forgot
 That euer Timon was. Shame not these Woods,
 By putting on the cunning of a Carper.
 Be thou a Flatterer now, and seeke to thriue
 By that which ha's vndone thee; hindge thy knee,
 And let his very breath whom thou'lt obserue
 Blow off thy Cap: praise his most vicious straine,
 And call it excellent: thou wast told thus:
 Thou gau'st thine eares (like Tapsters, that bad welcom)
 To Knaues, and all approachers: 'Tis most iust
 That thou turne Rascall, had'st thou wealth againe,
 Rascals should haue't. Do not assume my likenesse
 
    Tim. Were I like thee, I'de throw away my selfe
 
    Ape. Thou hast cast away thy selfe, being like thy self
 A Madman so long, now a Foole: what think'st
 That the bleake ayre, thy boysterous Chamberlaine
 Will put thy shirt on warme? Will these moyst Trees,
 That haue out-liu'd the Eagle, page thy heeles
 And skip when thou point'st out? Will the cold brooke
 Candied with Ice, Cawdle thy Morning taste
 To cure thy o're-nights surfet? Call the Creatures,
 Whose naked Natures liue in all the spight
 Of wrekefull Heauen, whose bare vnhoused Trunkes,
 To the conflicting Elements expos'd
 Answer meere Nature: bid them flatter thee.
 O thou shalt finde
 
    Tim. A Foole of thee: depart
 
    Ape. I loue thee better now, then ere I did
 
    Tim. I hate thee worse
 
    Ape. Why?
   Tim. Thou flatter'st misery
 
    Ape. I flatter not, but say thou art a Caytiffe
 
    Tim. Why do'st thou seeke me out?
   Ape. To vex thee
 
    Tim. Alwayes a Villaines Office, or a Fooles.
 Dost please thy selfe in't?
   Ape. I
 
    Tim. What, a Knaue too?
   Ape. If thou did'st put this sowre cold habit on
 To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou
 Dost it enforcedly: Thou'dst Courtier be againe
 Wert thou not Beggar: willing misery
 Out-liues: incertaine pompe, is crown'd before:
 The one is filling still, neuer compleat:
 The other, at high wish: best state Contentlesse,
 Hath a distracted and most wretched being,
 Worse then the worst, Content.
 Thou should'st desire to dye, being miserable
 
    Tim. Not by his breath, that is more miserable.
 Thou art a Slaue, whom Fortunes tender arme
 With fauour neuer claspt: but bred a Dogge.
 Had'st thou like vs from our first swath proceeded,
 The sweet degrees that this breefe world affords,
 To such as may the passiue drugges of it
 Freely command'st: thou would'st haue plung'd thy self
 In generall Riot, melted downe thy youth
 In different beds of Lust, and neuer learn'd
 The Icie precepts of respect, but followed
 The Sugred game before thee. But my selfe,
 Who had the world as my Confectionarie,
 The mouthes, the tongues, the eyes, and hearts of men,
 At duty more then I could frame employment;
 That numberlesse vpon me stucke, as leaues
 Do on the Oake, haue with one Winters brush
 Fell from their boughes, and left me open, bare,
 For euery storme that blowes. I to beare this,
 That neuer knew but better, is some burthen:
 Thy Nature, did commence in sufferance, Time
 Hath made thee hard in't. Why should'st y hate Men?
 They neuer flatter'd thee. What hast thou giuen?
 If thou wilt curse; thy Father (that poore ragge)
 Must be thy subiect; who in spight put stuffe
 To some shee-Begger, and compounded thee
 Poore Rogue, hereditary. Hence, be gone,
 If thou hadst not bene borne the worst of men,
 Thou hadst bene a Knaue and Flatterer
 
    Ape. Art thou proud yet?
   Tim. I, that I am not thee
 
    Ape. I, that I was no Prodigall
 
    Tim. I, that I am one now.
 Were all the wealth I haue shut vp in thee,
 I'ld giue thee leaue to hang it. Get thee gone:
 That the whole life of Athens were in this,
 Thus would I eate it
 
    Ape. Heere, I will mend thy Feast
 
    Tim. First mend thy company, take away thy selfe
 
    Ape. So I shall mend mine owne, by'th' lacke of thine
   Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botcht;
 If not, I would it were
 
    Ape. What would'st thou haue to Athens?
   Tim. Thee thither in a whirlewind: if thou wilt,
 Tell them there I haue Gold, looke, so I haue
 
    Ape. Heere is no vse for Gold
 
    Tim. The best, and truest:
 For heere it sleepes, and do's no hyred harme
 
    Ape. Where lyest a nights Timon?
   Tim. Vnder that's aboue me.
 Where feed'st thou a-dayes Apemantus?
   Ape. Where my stomacke findes meate, or rather
 where I eate it
 
    Tim. Would poyson were obedient, & knew my mind
   Ape. Where would'st thou send it?
   Tim. To sawce thy dishes
 
    Ape. The middle of Humanity thou neuer knewest,
 but the extremitie of both ends. When thou wast in thy
 Gilt, and thy Perfume, they mockt thee for too much
 Curiositie: in thy Ragges thou know'st none, but art despis'd
 for the contrary. There's a medler for thee, eate it
 
    Tim. On what I hate, I feed not
 
    Ape. Do'st hate a Medler?
   Tim. I, though it looke like thee
 
    Ape. And th'hadst hated Medlers sooner, y should'st
 haue loued thy selfe better now. What man didd'st thou
 euer know vnthrift, that was beloued after his meanes!
   Tim. Who without those meanes thou talk'st of, didst
 thou euer know belou'd?
   Ape. My selfe
 
    Tim. I vnderstand thee: thou had'st some meanes to
 keepe a Dogge
 
    Apem. What things in the world canst thou neerest
 compare to thy Flatterers?
   Tim. Women neerest, but men: men are the things
 themselues. What would'st thou do with the world Apemantus,
 if it lay in thy power?
   Ape. Giue it the Beasts, to be rid of the men
 
    Tim. Would'st thou haue thy selfe fall in the confusion
 of men, and remaine a Beast with the Beasts
 
    Ape. I Timon
 
    Tim. A beastly Ambition, which the Goddes graunt
 thee t' attaine to. If thou wert the Lyon, the Fox would
 beguile thee. if thou wert the Lambe, the Foxe would
 eate thee: if thou wert the Fox, the Lion would suspect
 thee, when peraduenture thou wert accus'd by the Asse:
 If thou wert the Asse, thy dulnesse would torment thee;
 and still thou liu'dst but as a Breakefast to the Wolfe. If
 thou wert the Wolfe, thy greedinesse would afflict thee,
 & oft thou should'st hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert
 thou the Vnicorne, pride and wrath would confound
 thee, and make thine owne selfe the conquest of thy fury.
 Wert thou a Beare, thou would'st be kill'd by the Horse:
 wert thou a Horse, thou would'st be seaz'd by the Leopard:
 wert thou a Leopard, thou wert Germane to the
 Lion, and the spottes of thy Kindred, were Iurors on thy
 life. All thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence.
 What Beast could'st thou bee, that were not subiect
 to a Beast: and what a Beast art thou already, that
 seest not thy losse in transformation
 
    Ape. If thou could'st please me
 With speaking to me, thou might'st
 Haue hit vpon it heere.
 The Commonwealth of Athens, is become
 A Forrest of Beasts
 
    Tim. How ha's the Asse broke the wall, that thou art
 out of the Citie
 
    Ape. Yonder comes a Poet and a Painter:
 The plague of Company light vpon thee:
 I will feare to catch it, and giue way.
 When I know not what else to do,
 Ile see thee againe
 
    Tim. When there is nothing liuing but thee,
 Thou shalt be welcome.
 I had rather be a Beggers Dogge,
 Then Apemantus
 
    Ape. Thou art the Cap
 Of all the Fooles aliue
 
    Tim. Would thou wert cleane enough
 To spit vpon
 
    Ape. A plague on thee,
 Thou art too bad to curse
 
    Tim. All Villaines
 That do stand by thee, are pure
 
    Ape. There is no Leprosie,
 But what thou speak'st
 
    Tim. If I name thee, Ile beate thee;
 But I should infect my hands
 
    Ape. I would my tongue
 Could rot them off
 
    Tim. Away thou issue of a mangie dogge,
 Choller does kill me,
 That thou art aliue, I swoond to see thee
 
    Ape. Would thou would'st burst
 
    Tim. Away thou tedious Rogue, I am sorry I shall
 lose a stone by thee
 
    Ape. Beast
 
    Tim. Slaue
 
    Ape. Toad
 
    Tim. Rogue, Rogue, Rogue.
 I am sicke of this false world, and will loue nought
 But euen the meere necessities vpon't:
 Then Timon presently prepare thy graue:
 Lye where the light Fome of the Sea may beate
 Thy graue stone dayly, make thine Epitaph,
 That death in me, at others liues may laugh.
 O thou sweete King-killer, and deare diuorce
 Twixt naturall Sunne and fire: thou bright defiler
 Of Himens purest bed, thou valiant Mars,
 Thou euer, yong, fresh, loued, and delicate wooer,
 Whose blush doth thawe the consecrated Snow
 That lyes on Dians lap.
 Thou visible God,
 That souldrest close Impossibilities,
 And mak'st them kisse; that speak'st with euerie Tongue
 To euerie purpose: O thou touch of hearts,
 Thinke thy slaue-man rebels, and by thy vertue
 Set them into confounding oddes, that Beasts
 May haue the world in Empire
 
    Ape. Would 'twere so,
 But not till I am dead. Ile say th'hast Gold:
 Thou wilt be throng'd too shortly
 
    Tim. Throng'd too?
   Ape. I
 
    Tim. Thy backe I prythee
 
    Ape. Liue, and loue thy misery
 
    Tim. Long liue so, and so dye. I am quit
 
    Ape. Mo things like men,
 Eate Timon, and abhorre then.
 
 Exit Apeman[tus].
 
 Enter the Bandetti.
 
   1 Where should he haue this Gold? It is some poore
 Fragment, some slender Ort of his remainder: the meere
 want of Gold, and the falling from of his Friendes, droue
 him into this Melancholly
 
    2 It is nois'd
 He hath a masse of Treasure
 
    3 Let vs make the assay vpon him, if he care not for't,
 he will supply vs easily: if he couetously reserue it, how
 shall's get it?
   2 True: for he beares it not about him:
 'Tis hid
 
    1 Is not this hee?
   All. Where?
   2 'Tis his description
 
    3 He? I know him
 
    All. Saue thee Timon
 
    Tim. Now Theeues
 
    All. Soldiers, not Theeues
 
    Tim. Both too, and womens Sonnes
 
    All. We are not Theeues, but men
 That much do want
 
    Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat:
 Why should you want? Behold, the Earth hath Rootes:
 Within this Mile breake forth a hundred Springs:
 The Oakes beare Mast, the Briars Scarlet Heps,
 The bounteous Huswife Nature, on each bush,
 Layes her full Messe before you. Want? why Want?
   1 We cannot liue on Grasse, on Berries, Water,
 As Beasts, and Birds, and Fishes
 
    Ti. Nor on the Beasts themselues, the Birds & Fishes,
 You must eate men. Yet thankes I must you con,
 That you are Theeues profest: that you worke not
 In holier shapes: For there is boundlesse Theft
 In limited Professions. Rascall Theeues
 Heere's Gold. Go, sucke the subtle blood o'th' Grape,
 Till the high Feauor seeth your blood to froth,
 And so scape hanging. Trust not the Physitian,
 His Antidotes are poyson, and he slayes
 Moe then you Rob: Take wealth, and liues together,
 Do Villaine do, since you protest to doo't.
 Like Workemen, Ile example you with Theeuery:
 The Sunnes a Theefe, and with his great attraction
 Robbes the vaste Sea. The Moones an arrant Theefe,
 And her pale fire, she snatches from the Sunne.
 The Seas a Theefe, whose liquid Surge, resolues
 The Moone into Salt teares. The Earth's a Theefe,
 That feeds and breeds by a composture stolne
 From gen'rall excrement: each thing's a Theefe.
 The Lawes, your curbe and whip, in their rough power
 Ha's vncheck'd Theft. Loue not your selues, away,
 Rob one another, there's more Gold, cut throates,
 All that you meete are Theeues: to Athens go,
 Breake open shoppes, nothing can you steale
 But Theeues do loose it: steale lesse, for this I giue you,
 And Gold confound you howsoere: Amen
 
    3 Has almost charm'd me from my Profession, by perswading
 me to it
 
    1 'Tis in the malice of mankinde, that he thus aduises
 vs not to haue vs thriue in our mystery
 
    2 Ile beleeue him as an Enemy,
 And giue ouer my Trade
 
    1 Let vs first see peace in Athens, there is no time so
 miserable, but a man may be true.
 
 Exit Theeues.
 
 Enter the Steward to Timon.
 
   Stew. Oh you Gods!
 Is yon'd despis'd and ruinous man my Lord?
 Full of decay and fayling? Oh Monument
 And wonder of good deeds, euilly bestow'd!
 What an alteration of Honor has desp'rate want made?
 What vilder thing vpon the earth, then Friends,
 Who can bring Noblest mindes, to basest ends.
 How rarely does it meete with this times guise,
 When man was wisht to loue his Enemies:
 Grant I may euer loue, and rather woo
 Those that would mischeefe me, then those that doo.
 Has caught me in his eye, I will present my honest griefe
 vnto him; and as my Lord, still serue him with my life.
 My deerest Master
 
    Tim. Away: what art thou?
   Stew. Haue you forgot me, Sir?
   Tim. Why dost aske that? I haue forgot all men.
 Then, if thou grunt'st, th'art a man.
 I haue forgot thee
 
    Stew. An honest poore seruant of yours
 
    Tim. Then I know thee not:
 I neuer had honest man about me, I all
 I kept were Knaues, to serue in meate to Villaines
 
    Stew. The Gods are witnesse,
 Neu'r did poore Steward weare a truer greefe
 For his vndone Lord, then mine eyes for you
 
    Tim. What, dost thou weepe?
 Come neerer, then I loue thee
 Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
 Flinty mankinde: whose eyes do neuer giue,
 But thorow Lust and Laughter: pittie's sleeping:
 Strange times y weepe with laughing, not with weeping
 
    Stew. I begge of you to know me, good my Lord,
 T' accept my greefe, and whil'st this poore wealth lasts,
 To entertaine me as your Steward still
 
    Tim. Had I a Steward
 So true, so iust, and now so comfortable?
 It almost turnes my dangerous Nature wilde.
 Let me behold thy face: Surely, this man
 Was borne of woman.
 Forgiue my generall, and exceptlesse rashnesse
 You perpetuall sober Gods. I do proclaime
 One honest man: Mistake me not, but one:
 No more I pray, and hee's a Steward.
 How faine would I haue hated all mankinde,
 And thou redeem'st thy selfe. But all saue thee,
 I fell with Curses.
 Me thinkes thou art more honest now, then wise:
 For, by oppressing and betraying mee,
 Thou might'st haue sooner got another Seruice:
 For many so arriue at second Masters,
 Vpon their first Lords necke. But tell me true,
 (For I must euer doubt, though ne're so sure)
 Is not thy kindnesse subtle, couetous,
 If not a Vsuring kindnesse, and as rich men deale Guifts,
 Expecting in returne twenty for one?
   Stew. No my most worthy Master, in whose brest
 Doubt, and suspect (alas) are plac'd too late:
 You should haue fear'd false times, when you did Feast.
 Suspect still comes, where an estate is least.
 That which I shew, Heauen knowes, is meerely Loue,
 Dutie, and Zeale, to your vnmatched minde;
 Care of your Food and Liuing, and beleeue it,
 My most Honour'd Lord,
 For any benefit that points to mee,
 Either in hope, or present, I'de exchange
 For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
 To requite me, by making rich your selfe
 
    Tim. Looke thee, 'tis so: thou singly honest man,
 Heere take: the Gods out of my miserie
 Ha's sent thee Treasure. Go, liue rich and happy,
 But thus condition'd: Thou shalt build from men:
 Hate all, curse all, shew Charity to none,
 But let the famisht flesh slide from the Bone,
 Ere thou releeue the Begger. Giue to dogges
 What thou denyest to men. Let Prisons swallow 'em,
 Debts wither 'em to nothing, be men like blasted woods
 And may Diseases licke vp their false bloods,
 And so farewell, and thriue
 
    Stew. O let me stay, and comfort you, my Master
 
    Tim. If thou hat'st Curses
 Stay not: flye, whil'st thou art blest and free:
 Ne're see thou man, and let me ne're see thee.
 
 Exit
 
 Enter Poet, and Painter.
 
   Pain. As I tooke note of the place, it cannot be farre
 where he abides
 
    Poet. What's to be thought of him?
 Does the Rumor hold for true,
 That hee's so full of Gold?
   Painter. Certaine.
 Alcibiades reports it: Phrinica and Timandylo
 Had Gold of him. He likewise enrich'd
 Poore stragling Souldiers, with great quantity.
 'Tis saide, he gaue vnto his Steward
 A mighty summe
 
    Poet. Then this breaking of his,
 Ha's beene but a Try for his Friends?
   Painter. Nothing else:
 You shall see him a Palme in Athens againe,
 And flourish with the highest:
 Therefore, 'tis not amisse, we tender our loues
 To him, in this suppos'd distresse of his:
 It will shew honestly in vs,
 And is very likely, to loade our purposes
 With what they trauaile for,
 If it be a iust and true report, that goes
 Of his hauing
 
    Poet. What haue you now
 To present vnto him?
   Painter. Nothing at this time
 But my Visitation: onely I will promise him
 An excellent Peece
 
    Poet. I must serue him so too;
 Tell him of an intent that's comming toward him
 
    Painter. Good as the best.
 Promising, is the verie Ayre o'th' Time;
 It opens the eyes of Expectation.
 Performance, is euer the duller for his acte,
 And but in the plainer and simpler kinde of people,
 The deede of Saying is quite out of vse.
 To Promise, is most Courtly and fashionable;
 Performance, is a kinde of Will or Testament
 Which argues a great sicknesse in his iudgement
 That makes it.
 Enter Timon from his Caue.
 
   Timon. Excellent Workeman,
 Thou canst not paint a man so badde
 As is thy selfe
 
    Poet. I am thinking
 What I shall say I haue prouided for him:
 It must be a personating of himselfe:
 A Satyre against the softnesse of Prosperity,
 With a Discouerie of the infinite Flatteries
 That follow youth and opulencie
 
    Timon. Must thou needes
 Stand for a Villaine in thine owne Worke?
 Wilt thou whip thine owne faults in other men?
 Do so, I haue Gold for thee
 
    Poet. Nay let's seeke him.
 Then do we sinne against our owne estate,
 When we may profit meete, and come too late
 
    Painter. True:
 When the day serues before blacke-corner'd night;
 Finde what thou want'st, by free and offer'd light.
 Come
 
    Tim. Ile meete you at the turne:
 What a Gods Gold, that he is worshipt
 In a baser Temple, then where Swine feede?
 'Tis thou that rigg'st the Barke, and plow'st the Fome,
 Setlest admired reuerence in a Slaue,
 To thee be worshipt, and thy Saints for aye:
 Be crown'd with Plagues, that thee alone obay.
 Fit I meet them
 
    Poet. Haile worthy Timon
 
    Pain. Our late Noble Master
 
    Timon. Haue I once liu'd
 To see two honest men?
   Poet. Sir:
 Hauing often of your open Bounty tasted,
 Hearing you were retyr'd, your Friends falne off,
 Whose thankelesse Natures (O abhorred Spirits)
 Not all the Whippes of Heauen, are large enough.
 What, to you,
 Whose Starre-like Noblenesse gaue life and influence
 To their whole being? I am rapt, and cannot couet
 The monstrous bulke of this Ingratitude
 With any size of words
 
    Timon. Let it go,
 Naked men may see't the better:
 You that are honest, by being what you are,
 Make them best seene, and knowne
 
    Pain. He, and my selfe
 Haue trauail'd in the great showre of your guifts,
 And sweetly felt it
 
    Timon. I, you are honest man
 
    Painter. We are hither come
 To offer you our seruice
 
    Timon. Most honest men:
 Why how shall I requite you?
 Can you eate Roots, and drinke cold water, no?
   Both. What we can do,
 Wee'l do to do you seruice
 
    Tim. Y'are honest men,
 Y'haue heard that I haue Gold,
 I am sure you haue, speake truth, y'are honest men
 
    Pain. So it is said my Noble Lord, but therefore
 Came not my Friend, nor I
 
    Timon. Good honest men: Thou draw'st a counterfet
 Best in all Athens, th'art indeed the best,
 Thou counterfet'st most liuely
 
    Pain. So, so, my Lord
 
    Tim. E'ne so sir as I say. And for thy fiction,
 Why thy Verse swels with stuffe so fine and smooth,
 That thou art euen Naturall in thine Art.
 But for all this (my honest Natur'd friends)
 I must needs say you haue a little fault,
 Marry 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I
 You take much paines to mend
 
    Both. Beseech your Honour
 To make it knowne to vs
 
    Tim. You'l take it ill
 
    Both. Most thankefully, my Lord
 
    Timon. Will you indeed?
   Both. Doubt it not worthy Lord
 
    Tim. There's neuer a one of you but trusts a Knaue,
 That mightily deceiues you
 
    Both. Do we, my Lord?
   Tim. I, and you heare him cogge,
 See him dissemble,
 Know his grosse patchery, loue him, feede him,
 Keepe in your bosome, yet remaine assur'd
 That he's a made-vp-Villaine
 
    Pain. I know none such, my Lord
 
    Poet. Nor I
 
    Timon. Looke you,
 I loue you well, Ile giue you Gold
 Rid me these Villaines from your companies;
 Hang them, or stab them, drowne them in a draught,
 Confound them by some course, and come to me,
 Ile giue you Gold enough
 
    Both. Name them my Lord, let's know them
 
    Tim. You that way, and you this:
 But two in Company:
 Each man a part, all single, and alone,
 Yet an arch Villaine keepes him company:
 If where thou art, two Villaines shall not be,
 Come not neere him. If thou would'st not recide
 But where one Villaine is, then him abandon.
 Hence, packe, there's Gold, you came for Gold ye slaues:
 You haue worke for me; there's payment, hence,
 You are an Alcumist, make Gold of that:
 Out Rascall dogges.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Steward, and two Senators.
 
   Stew. It is vaine that you would speake with Timon:
 For he is set so onely to himselfe,
 That nothing but himselfe, which lookes like man,
 Is friendly with him
 
    1.Sen. Bring vs to his Caue.
 It is our part and promise to th' Athenians
 To speake with Timon
 
    2.Sen. At all times alike
 Men are not still the same: 'twas Time and Greefes
 That fram'd him thus. Time with his fairer hand,
 Offering the Fortunes of his former dayes,
 The former man may make him: bring vs to him
 And chanc'd it as it may
 
    Stew. Heere is his Caue:
 Peace and content be heere. Lord Timon, Timon,
 Looke out, and speake to Friends: Th' Athenians
 By two of their most reuerend Senate greet thee:
 Speake to them Noble Timon.
 Enter Timon out of his Caue.
 
   Tim. Thou Sunne that comforts burne,
 Speake and be hang'd:
 For each true word, a blister, and each false
 Be as a Cantherizing to the root o'th' Tongue,
 Consuming it with speaking
 
    1 Worthy Timon
 
    Tim. Of none but such as you,
 And you of Timon
 
    1 The Senators of Athens, greet thee Timon
 
    Tim. I thanke them,
 And would send them backe the plague,
 Could I but catch it for them
 
    1 O forget
 What we are sorry for our selues in thee:
 The Senators, with one consent of loue,
 Intreate thee backe to Athens, who haue thought
 On speciall Dignities, which vacant lye
 For thy best vse and wearing
 
    2 They confesse
 Toward thee, forgetfulnesse too generall grosse;
 Which now the publike Body, which doth sildome
 Play the recanter, feeling in it selfe
 A lacke of Timons ayde, hath since withall
 Of it owne fall, restraining ayde to Timon,
 And send forth vs, to make their sorrowed render,
 Together, with a recompence more fruitfull
 Then their offence can weigh downe by the Dramme,
 I euen such heapes and summes of Loue and Wealth,
 As shall to thee blot out, what wrongs were theirs,
 And write in thee the figures of their loue,
 Euer to read them thine
 
    Tim. You witch me in it;
 Surprize me to the very brinke of teares;
 Lend me a Fooles heart, and a womans eyes,
 And Ile beweepe these comforts, worthy Senators
 
    1 Therefore so please thee to returne with vs,
 And of our Athens, thine and ours to take
 The Captainship, thou shalt be met with thankes,
 Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
 Liue with Authoritie: so soone we shall driue backe
 Of Alcibiades th' approaches wild,
 Who like a Bore too sauage, doth root vp
 His Countries peace
 
    2 And shakes his threatning Sword
 Against the walles of Athens
 
    1 Therefore Timon
 
    Tim. Well sir, I will: therefore I will sir thus:
 If Alcibiades kill my Countrymen,
 Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
 That Timon cares not. But if he sacke faire Athens,
 And take our goodly aged men by'th' Beards,
 Giuing our holy Virgins to the staine
 Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd warre:
 Then let him know, and tell him Timon speakes it,
 In pitty of our aged, and our youth,
 I cannot choose but tell him that I care not,
 And let him tak't at worst: For their Kniues care not,
 While you haue throats to answer. For my selfe,
 There's not a whittle, in th' vnruly Campe,
 But I do prize it at my loue, before
 The reuerends Throat in Athens. So I leaue you
 To the protection of the prosperous Gods,
 As Theeues to Keepers
 
    Stew. Stay not, all's in vaine
 
    Tim. Why I was writing of my Epitaph,
 It will be seene to morrow. My long sicknesse
 Of Health, and Liuing, now begins to mend,
 And nothing brings me all things. Go, liue still,
 Be Alcibiades your plague; you his,
 And last so long enough
 
    1 We speake in vaine
 
    Tim. But yet I loue my Country, and am not
 One that reioyces in the common wracke,
 As common bruite doth put it
 
    1 That's well spoke
 
    Tim. Commend me to my louing Countreymen
 
    1 These words become your lippes as they passe thorow
 them
 
    2 And enter in our eares, like great Triumphers
 In their applauding gates
 
    Tim. Commend me to them,
 And tell them, that to ease them of their greefes,
 Their feares of Hostile strokes, their Aches losses,
 Their pangs of Loue, with other incident throwes
 That Natures fragile Vessell doth sustaine
 In lifes vncertaine voyage, I will some kindnes do them,
 Ile teach them to preuent wilde Alcibiades wrath
 
    1 I like this well, he will returne againe
 
    Tim. I haue a Tree which growes heere in my Close,
 That mine owne vse inuites me to cut downe,
 And shortly must I fell it. Tell my Friends,
 Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree,
 From high to low throughout, that who so please
 To stop Affliction, let him take his haste;
 Come hither ere my Tree hath felt the Axe,
 And hang himselfe. I pray you do my greeting
 
    Stew. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall
 Finde him
 
    Tim. Come not to me againe, but say to Athens,
 Timon hath made his euerlasting Mansion
 Vpon the Beached Verge of the salt Flood,
 Who once a day with his embossed Froth
 The turbulent Surge shall couer; thither come,
 And let my graue-stone be your Oracle:
 Lippes, let foure words go by, and Language end:
 What is amisse, Plague and Infection mend.
 Graues onely be mens workes, and Death their gaine;
 Sunne, hide thy Beames, Timon hath done his Raigne.
 
 Exit Timon.
 
   1 His discontents are vnremoueably coupled to Nature
 
    2 Our hope in him is dead: let vs returne,
 And straine what other meanes is left vnto vs
 In our deere perill
 
    1 It requires swift foot.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter two other Senators, with a Messenger.
 
   1 Thou hast painfully discouer'd: are his Files
 As full as thy report?
   Mes. I haue spoke the least.
 Besides his expedition promises present approach
 
    2 We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon
 
    Mes. I met a Currier, one mine ancient Friend,
 Whom though in generall part we were oppos'd,
 Yet our old loue made a particular force,
 And made vs speake like Friends. This man was riding
 From Alcibiades to Timons Caue,
 With Letters of intreaty, which imported
 His Fellowship i'th' cause against your City,
 In part for his sake mou'd.
 Enter the other Senators.
 
   1 Heere come our Brothers
 
    3 No talke of Timon, nothing of him expect,
 The Enemies Drumme is heard, and fearefull scouring
 Doth choake the ayre with dust: In, and prepare,
 Ours is the fall I feare, our Foes the Snare.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter a Souldier in the Woods, seeking Timon.
 
   Sol. By all description this should be the place.
 Whose heere? Speake hoa. No answer? What is this?
 Tymon is dead, who hath out-stretcht his span,
 Some Beast reade this; There do's not liue a Man.
 Dead sure, and this his Graue, what's on this Tomb,
 I cannot read: the Charracter Ile take with wax,
 Our Captaine hath in euery Figure skill;
 An ag'd Interpreter, though yong in dayes:
 Before proud Athens hee's set downe by this,
 Whose fall the marke of his Ambition is.
 Enter.
 
 Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his Powers before Athens.
 
   Alc. Sound to this Coward, and lasciuious Towne,
 Our terrible approach.
 
 Sounds a Parly.
 
 The Senators appeare vpon the wals.
 
 Till now you haue gone on, and fill'd the time
 With all Licentious measure, making your willes
 The scope of Iustice. Till now, my selfe and such
 As slept within the shadow of your power
 Haue wander'd with our trauerst Armes, and breath'd
 Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush,
 When crouching Marrow in the bearer strong
 Cries (of it selfe) no more: Now breathlesse wrong,
 Shall sit and pant in your great Chaires of ease,
 And pursie Insolence shall breake his winde
 With feare and horrid flight
 
    1.Sen. Noble, and young;
 When thy first greefes were but a meere conceit,
 Ere thou had'st power, or we had cause of feare,
 We sent to thee, to giue thy rages Balme,
 To wipe out our Ingratitude, with Loues
 Aboue their quantitie
 
    2 So did we wooe
 Transformed Timon, to our Citties loue
 By humble Message, and by promist meanes:
 We were not all vnkinde, nor all deserue
 The common stroke of warre
 
    1 These walles of ours,
 Were not erected by their hands, from whom
 You haue receyu'd your greefe: Nor are they such,
 That these great Towres, Trophees, & Schools shold fall
 For priuate faults in them
 
    2 Nor are they liuing
 Who were the motiues that you first went out,
 (Shame that they wanted, cunning in excesse)
 Hath broke their hearts. March, Noble Lord,
 Into our City with thy Banners spred,
 By decimation and a tythed death;
 If thy Reuenges hunger for that Food
 Which Nature loathes, take thou the destin'd tenth,
 And by the hazard of the spotted dye,
 Let dye the spotted
 
    1 All haue not offended:
 For those that were, it is not square to take
 On those that are, Reuenge: Crimes, like Lands
 Are not inherited, then deere Countryman,
 Bring in thy rankes, but leaue without thy rage,
 Spare thy Athenian Cradle, and those Kin
 Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall
 With those that haue offended, like a Shepheard,
 Approach the Fold, and cull th' infected forth,
 But kill not altogether
 
    2 What thou wilt,
 Thou rather shalt inforce it with thy smile,
 Then hew too't, with thy Sword
 
    1 Set but thy foot
 Against our rampyr'd gates, and they shall ope:
 So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
 To say thou't enter Friendly
 
    2 Throw thy Gloue,
 Or any Token of thine Honour else,
 That thou wilt vse the warres as thy redresse,
 And not as our Confusion: All thy Powers
 Shall make their harbour in our Towne, till wee
 Haue seal'd thy full desire
 
    Alc. Then there's my Gloue,
 Defend and open your vncharged Ports,
 Those Enemies of Timons, and mine owne
 Whom you your selues shall set out for reproofe,
 Fall and no more; and to attone your feares
 With my more Noble meaning, not a man
 Shall passe his quarter, or offend the streame
 Of Regular Iustice in your Citties bounds,
 But shall be remedied to your publique Lawes
 At heauiest answer
 
    Both. 'Tis most Nobly spoken
 
    Alc. Descend, and keepe your words.
 Enter a Messenger.
 
   Mes. My Noble Generall, Timon is dead,
 Entomb'd vpon the very hemme o'th' Sea,
 And on his Grauestone, this Insculpture which
 With wax I brought away: whose soft Impression
 Interprets for my poore ignorance.
 
 Alcibiades reades the Epitaph.
 
 Heere lies a wretched Coarse, of wretched Soule bereft,
 Seek not my name: A Plague consume you, wicked Caitifs left:
 Heere lye I Timon, who aliue, all liuing men did hate,
 Passe by, and curse thy fill, but passe and stay not here thy gate.
 These well expresse in thee thy latter spirits:
 Though thou abhorrd'st in vs our humane griefes,
 Scornd'st our Braines flow, and those our droplets, which
 From niggard Nature fall; yet Rich Conceit
 Taught thee to make vast Neptune weepe for aye
 On thy low Graue, on faults forgiuen. Dead
 Is Noble Timon, of whose Memorie
 Heereafter more. Bring me into your Citie,
 And I will vse the Oliue, with my Sword:
 Make war breed peace; make peace stint war, make each
 Prescribe to other, as each others Leach.
 Let our Drummes strike.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 
 FINIS.
 
 THE ACTORS NAMES.
 
 TYMON of Athens.
 Lucius, And Lucullus, two Flattering Lords.
 Appemantus, a Churlish Philosopher.
 Sempronius another flattering Lord.
 Alcibiades, an Athenian Captaine.
 Poet.
 Painter.
 Ieweller.
 Merchant.
 Certaine Theeues.
 Flaminius, one of Tymons Seruants.
 Seruilius, another.
 Caphis.
 Varro.
 Philo.
 Titus.
 Lucius.
 Hortensis Seuerall Seruants to Vsurers.
 Ventigius. one of Tymons false Friends.
 Cupid.
 Sempronius. With diuers other Seruants, And Attendants.
 
 THE LIFE OF TYMON OF ATHENS.
 
 

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