For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure528 --
Is not thy kindness subtle529, covetous,
If not a usuring530 kindness, and, as rich men deal gifts,
Expecting in return twenty for one?
FLAVIUS No, my most worthy master, in whose breast
Doubt and suspect533, alas, are placed too late.
You should have feared false times when you did feast:
Suspect still comes where an estate is least.
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely536 love,
Duty and zeal to your unmatched537 mind,
Care of your food and living, and, believe it,
My most honoured lord,
For540 any benefit that points to me,
Either in hope541 or present, I'd exchange
For this one wish: that you had power and wealth
To requite543 me by making rich yourself.
TIMON Look thee, 'tis so! Thou singly544 honest man,
Gives gold
Here, take: the gods out of my misery
Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy,
But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from547 men,
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
But let the famished flesh slide from the bone
Ere thou relieve the beggar. Give to dogs
What thou deniest to men: let prisons swallow 'em,
Debts wither 'em to nothing, be men like blasted552 woods,
And may diseases lick up their false bloods.
And so farewell and thrive.
FLAVIUS O, let me stay,
And comfort you, my master.
TIMON If thou hat'st curses,
Stay not: fly, whilst thou art blessed and free.
Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.
Timon retires into his cave
Exit [Flavius]
[Act 5 Scene 1]
running scene 13 continues
Enter Poet and Painter
PAINTER As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he
abides.
POET What's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold
for true that he's so full of gold?
PAINTER Certain. Alcibiades reports it: Phrynia and Timandra
had gold of6 him. He likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers
with great quantity. 'Tis said he gave unto his steward a
mighty sum.
POET Then this breaking of his has been but a try9 for his
friends?
PAINTER Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens11
again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore 'tis not amiss
we tender13 our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his:
it will show honestly in us, and is very likely to load14 our
purposes with what they travail15 for, if it be a just and true
report that goes of his having.16
POET What have you now to present unto him?
PAINTER Nothing at this time but my visitation18: only I will
promise him an excellent piece.
POET I must serve him so too, tell him of an intent20 that's
coming toward him.
PAINTER Good as the best. Promising is the very air22 o'th'time:
it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance is ever the
duller for his act, and but24 in the plainer and simpler kind of
people the deed of saying is quite out of use25. To promise is
most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind of will26
or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgement
that makes it.
Enter Timon from his cave
Unobserved by the others
Aside
TIMON Excellent workman, thou canst not paint a
man so bad as is thyself.
POET I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for
him: it must be a personating of himself32, a satire against the
softness of prosperity, with a discovery33 of the infinite
flatteries that follow youth and opulency.34
Aside
TIMON Must thou needs stand for35 a villain in thine
own work? Wilt thou whip36 thine own faults in other men?
Do so, I have gold for thee.
POET Nay, let's seek him:
Then do we sin against our own estate,39
When we may profit meet and come too late.
PAINTER True:
When the day serves42, before black-cornered night,
Find what thou want'st by free and offered light. Come.
Aside
TIMON I'll meet you at the turn44. What a god's gold,
That he is worshipped in a baser temple
Than where swine feed!
'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark47 and plough'st the foam,
Settlest48 admired reverence in a slave:
To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye49
Be crowned with plagues that thee alone obey.
Comes forward
Fit51 I meet them.
POET Hail, worthy Timon!
PAINTER Our late53 noble master!
TIMON Have I once54 lived to see two honest men?
POET Sir,
Having often of your open56 bounty tasted,
Hearing you were retired57, your friends fall'n off,
Whose thankless natures -- O abhorred spirits! --
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough:
What, to you,
Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence61
To their whole being? I am rapt62 and cannot cover
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude
With any size64 of words.
TIMON Let it go naked, men may see't the better:
You that are honest, by being what you are,
Make them67 best seen and known.
PAINTER He and myself
Have travelled in the great shower69 of your gifts,
And sweetly felt it.
TIMON Ay, you are honest men.
PAINTER We are hither come to offer you our service.
TIMON Most honest men. Why, how shall I requite you?
Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No.
BOTH What we can do we'll do to do you service.
TIMON You're honest men. You've heard that I have gold,
I am sure you have. Speak truth: you're honest men.
PAINTER So it is said, my noble lord, but therefore78
Came not my friend nor I.
TIMON Good honest men.-- Thou draw'st a counterfeit80
To Painter
Best in all Athens. Thou'rt, indeed, the best:
Thou counterfeit'st most lively.82
PAINTER So, so83, my lord.
To Poet
TIMON E'en so, sir, as I say.-- And for thy fiction,84
Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth85
That thou art even natural in thine art.86
But, for all this, my honest-natured friends,
I must needs say you have a little fault:
Marry, 'tis not monstrous89 in you, neither wish I
You take much pains to mend.
BOTH Beseech your honour
To make it known to us.
TIMON You'll take it ill.93
BOTH Most thankfully, my lord.
TIMON Will you indeed?
BOTH Doubt it not, worthy lord.
TIMON There's never a one of you but97 trusts a knave
That mightily deceives you.
BOTH Do we, my lord?
TIMON Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,100
Know his gross patchery,101 love him, feed him,
Keep in your bosom:102 yet remain assured
That he's a made-up103 villain.
PAINTER I know none such, my lord.
POET Nor I.
TIMON Loo
k you, I love you well. I'll give you gold,
Rid me these villains from your companies:
Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught,108
Confound them by some course109, and come to me,
I'll give you gold enough.
BOTH Name them, my lord, let's know them.
TIMON You that way--and you this--but two in company:112
Each man apart, all single and alone,
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.
If where thou art two villains shall not be,115
Come not near him116. If thou wouldst not reside
But where one villain is, then him abandon.
Throws stones at them
Hence, pack!118 There's gold: you came for gold, ye slaves.
To Painter
You have work for me; there's payment. Hence!
To Poet
You are an alchemist120, make gold of that.
Out, rascal dogs!
Exeunt [Poet and Painter]
Timon retires to his cave
Enter Steward and two Senators
FLAVIUS It is in vain that you would speak with Timon,
For he is set so only to himself123
That nothing but himself which looks like man
Is friendly with him.
FIRST SENATOR Bring us to his cave:
It is our part127 and promise to th'Athenians
To speak with Timon.
SECOND SENATOR At all times alike
Men are not still130 the same: 'twas time and griefs
That framed him thus: time with his fairer131 hand,
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him. Bring us to him,133
And chance it as it may.134
FLAVIUS Here is his cave.--
Peace and content be here! Lord Timon, Timon,
Look out and speak to friends: th'Athenians
By two of their most reverend senate greet thee.
Speak to them, noble Timon.
Enter Timon out of his cave
TIMON Thou sun that comforts burn! Speak and be hanged,
For each true word a blister, and each false
Be as a cantherizing142 to the root o'th'tongue,
Consuming it with speaking!
FIRST SENATOR Worthy Timon--
TIMON Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.145
FIRST SENATOR The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.
TIMON I thank them, and would send them back the plague
Could I but catch it for them.
FIRST SENATOR O, forget
What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.150
The senators with one consent151 of love
Entreat thee back to Athens, who have thought
On special dignities153 which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing.154
SECOND SENATOR They confess
Toward thee forgetfulness too general gross;156
Which now the public body, which doth seldom
Play the recanter158, feeling in itself
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal159
Of it own fall, restraining160 aid to Timon,
And send forth us to make their sorrowed render,161
Together with a recompense more fruitful
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram:163
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs
And write in thee166 the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.
TIMON You witch168 me in it,
Surprise169 me to the very brink of tears;
Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes,
And I'll beweep171 these comforts, worthy senators.
FIRST SENATOR Therefore so please thee to return with us
And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take
The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,
Allowed175 with absolute power and thy good name
Live with authority: so soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades th'approaches wild,177
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace.
SECOND SENATOR And shakes his threat'ning sword
Against the walls of Athens.
FIRST SENATOR Therefore, Timon--
TIMON 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 sack186 fair Athens,
And take our goodly aged men by th'beards,
Giving our holy virgins to the stain188
Of contumelious189, beastly, mad-brained war,
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it,
In pity of our aged and our youth,
I cannot choose but tell him that I care not.
And let him take't at worst193, for their knives care not
While you have throats to answer194. For myself,
There's not a whittle195 in th'unruly camp
But I do prize it at my love before196
The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods,
As thieves to keepers.199
FLAVIUS Stay not, all's in vain.
TIMON Why, I was writing of my epitaph:
It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend,
And nothing204 brings me all things. Go, live still,
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough.206
FIRST SENATOR We speak in vain.
TIMON But yet I love my country, and am not
One that rejoices in the common wreck
As common bruit210 doth put it.
FIRST SENATOR That's well spoke.
TIMON Commend me to my loving countrymen--
FIRST SENATOR These words become213 your lips as they pass
through them.
SECOND SENATOR And enter in our ears like great triumphers215
In their applauding gates.
TIMON Commend me to them,
And tell them that to ease them of their griefs,
Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes220
That nature's fragile vessel221 doth sustain
In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:
I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.
Aside?
TIMON I have a tree, which grows here in my close225
That mine own use226 invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends,
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree228
From high to low throughout, that whoso please229
To stop affliction, let him take his haste,230
Come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself. I pray you do my greeting.
FLAVIUS Trouble him no further: thus you still233 shall find him.
TIMON Come not to me again, but say to Athens,
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion235
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood,236
Who once a day with his embossed237 froth
The turbulent surge shall cover: thither come,
And let my gravestone be your oracle.239
Lips, let four words go by and language end.
What is amiss, plague and infection mend.
Graves only be men's works, and death their gain.
Sun, hide thy beams. Timon hath done his reign.
Exit Timon
Into his cave
FIRST SENATOR His discontents are unremovably
Coupled to nature.245
SECOND SENATOR Our hope in him is dead: let us return,
And strain247 what other means is left unto us
In our dear248 peril.
FIRST SENATOR It requires swift foot.
Exeunt
[Act 5 Scene 2]
running scene 14
Enter two other Senators with a Messenger
THIRD SENATOR Thou hast painfully discovered. Are his files1
As full as thy report?
MESSENGER I have spoke the least.3
Besides, his expedition promises4
Present approach.
FOURTH SENATOR We stand much hazard6 if they bring not Timon.
MESSENGER I met a courier, one mine ancient7 friend,
Whom, though in general part we were opposed,8
Yet our old love made a particular9 force
And made us speak like friends. This man was riding
From Alcibiades to Timon's cave
With letters of entreaty which imported12
His fellowship13 i'th'cause against your city,
In part for his sake moved.14
Enter the other Senators
THIRD SENATOR Here come our brothers.15
FIRST SENATOR No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.
The enemy's drum is heard, and fearful scouring17
Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare:
Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare.19
Exeunt
[Act 5 Scene 3]
running scene 15
Enter a Soldier in the woods, seeking Timon
SOLDIER By all description this should be the place.
Discovers tomb
Who's here? Speak, ho! No answer? What is this?
Reads?
'Timon is dead, who hath outstretched his span.3
Some beast read this; there does not live a man4.'
Dead, sure, and this his grave. What's on this tomb
I cannot read: the character I'll take with wax.6
Our captain hath in every figure7 skill,
An aged8 interpreter, though young in days.
Before proud Athens he's set down by this,9
Whose fall the mark10 of his ambition is.
Exit
[Act 5 Scene 4]
running scene 16
Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his powers before Athens
ALCIBIADES Sound1 to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible2 approach.
Sounds a parley
The Senators appear upon the walls [above]
Till now you have gone on and filled the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills4
The scope5 of justice. Till now myself and such
As slept6 within the shadow of your power
Have wandered with our traversed arms, and breathed7
Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush8
When crouching marrow9 in the bearer strong
Cries of itself 'No more.' Now breathless wrong10
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
And pursy insolence shall break his wind12
With fear and horrid flight.
FIRST SENATOR Noble and young,
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,15
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,