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ACT IV.
Scene I. Without the walls of Athens.[2324]
Enter Timon.
Tim. Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall,[2325]
That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth,[2325][2326]
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, 5
And minister in their steads! To general filths[2327]
Convert o' the instant, green virginity![2328]
Do't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast;[2329]
Rather than render back, out with your knives,[2329]
And cut your trusters' throats! Bound servants, steal! 10
Large-handed robbers your grave masters are
And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed!
Thy mistress is o' the brothel. Son of sixteen,[2330]
Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire,[2331]
With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,[2332] 15
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest and neighbourhood,
Instruction, manners, mysteries and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries, 20
And let confusion live! Plagues incident to men,[2333]
Your potent and infectious fevers heap
On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty 25
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive,
And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms, and their crop
Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath, 30
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee
But nakedness, thou detestable town![2334]
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans![2335]
Timon will to the woods, where he shall find 35
The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.[2336]
The gods confound—hear me, you good gods all!—[2337]
The Athenians both within and out that wall!
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high and low! 40
Amen.[2338] [Exit.
That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth,[2325][2326]
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, 5
And minister in their steads! To general filths[2327]
Convert o' the instant, green virginity![2328]
Do't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast;[2329]
Rather than render back, out with your knives,[2329]
And cut your trusters' throats! Bound servants, steal! 10
Large-handed robbers your grave masters are
And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed!
Thy mistress is o' the brothel. Son of sixteen,[2330]
Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire,[2331]
With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,[2332] 15
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest and neighbourhood,
Instruction, manners, mysteries and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries, 20
And let confusion live! Plagues incident to men,[2333]
Your potent and infectious fevers heap
On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty 25
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive,
And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms, and their crop
Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath, 30
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee
But nakedness, thou detestable town![2334]
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans![2335]
Timon will to the woods, where he shall find 35
The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.[2336]
The gods confound—hear me, you good gods all!—[2337]
The Athenians both within and out that wall!
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high and low! 40
Amen.[2338] [Exit.
Scene II. Athens. Timon's house.[2339]
Enter Flavius, with two or three Servants.
First Serv. Hear you, master steward, where's our master?[2340]
Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?
Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?
Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
I am as poor as you.[2341]
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
I am as poor as you.[2341]
First Serv. Such a house broke![2342] 5
So noble a master fall'n! All gone! and not[2342]
One friend to take his fortune by the arm,[2342]
And go along with him![2342]
So noble a master fall'n! All gone! and not[2342]
One friend to take his fortune by the arm,[2342]
And go along with him![2342]
Sec. Serv. As we do turn our backs[2343]
From our companion thrown into his grave,[2344]
So his familiars to his buried fortunes[2344][2345] 10
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him,[2346]
Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,
A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty,[2347]
Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.[2348] 15
From our companion thrown into his grave,[2344]
So his familiars to his buried fortunes[2344][2345] 10
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him,[2346]
Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,
A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty,[2347]
Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.[2348] 15
Enter other Servants.
Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house.
Third Serv. Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery;
That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,[2349]
Serving alike in sorrow: leak'd is our bark,
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,[2350] 20
Hearing the surges threat: we must all part
Into this sea of air.[2351]
That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,[2349]
Serving alike in sorrow: leak'd is our bark,
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,[2350] 20
Hearing the surges threat: we must all part
Into this sea of air.[2351]
Flav. Good fellows all,
The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake
Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,[2352] 25
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
'We have seen better days.' Let each take some.
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.[2353]
The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake
Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,[2352] 25
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
'We have seen better days.' Let each take some.
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.[2353]
[Servants embrace, and part several ways.
O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us![2354] 30
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 live[2355]
But in a dream of friendship?[2356]
To have his pomp and all what state compounds[2356][2357] 35
But only painted, like his varnish'd friends?[2358]
Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,
Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,[2359]
When man's worst sin is, he does too much good!
Who then dares to be half so kind again? 40
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.[2360]
My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed,
Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord![2361]
He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat[2362] 45
Of monstrous friends; nor has he with him to[2363][2364]
Supply his life, or that which can command it.[2363]
I'll follow, and inquire him out:[2365]
I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;
Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. [Exit.50
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 live[2355]
But in a dream of friendship?[2356]
To have his pomp and all what state compounds[2356][2357] 35
But only painted, like his varnish'd friends?[2358]
Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,
Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,[2359]
When man's worst sin is, he does too much good!
Who then dares to be half so kind again? 40
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.[2360]
My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed,
Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord![2361]
He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat[2362] 45
Of monstrous friends; nor has he with him to[2363][2364]
Supply his life, or that which can command it.[2363]
I'll follow, and inquire him out:[2365]
I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;
Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. [Exit.50
Scene III. Woods and cave, near the sea-shore.[2366]
Enter Timon, from the cave.[2367]
Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth[2368]
Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb
Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence and birth
Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes,[2369] 5
The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,[2370][2371]
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune[2371]
But by contempt of nature.[2371][2372]
Raise me this beggar and deny 't that lord,[2373]
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,[2374] 10
The beggar native honour.
It is the pasture lards the rother's sides,[2375]
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares,[2376]
In purity of manhood stand upright,
And say 'This man's a flatterer'? if one be,[2377] 15
So are they all; for every grise of fortune[2378]
Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: all is oblique;[2379]
There's nothing level in our cursed natures
But direct villany. Therefore be abhorr'd[2380] 20
All feasts, societies and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots![2381] [Digging.
Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
With thy most operant poison! What is here? 25
Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods,[2382]
I am no idle votarist: roots, you clear heavens![2382][2383]
Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair,[2382]
Wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant.[2382][2384]
Ha, you gods! why this? what this, you gods? Why, this[2385] 30
Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:[2386]
This yellow slave
Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed;
Make the hoar leprosy adored; place thieves,[2387] 35
And give them title, knee and approbation
With senators on the bench: this is it[2388]
That makes the wappen'd widow wed again;[2389]
She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores[2390][2391]
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices[2391][2392] 40
To the April day again. Come, damned earth,[2393]
Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds[2394]
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. [March afar off.] Ha! a drum?
Thou'rt quick,[2395]
But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,[2396] 45
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand:
Nay, stay thou out for earnest. [Keeping some gold.[2397]
Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb
Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence and birth
Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes,[2369] 5
The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,[2370][2371]
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune[2371]
But by contempt of nature.[2371][2372]
Raise me this beggar and deny 't that lord,[2373]
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,[2374] 10
The beggar native honour.
It is the pasture lards the rother's sides,[2375]
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares,[2376]
In purity of manhood stand upright,
And say 'This man's a flatterer'? if one be,[2377] 15
So are they all; for every grise of fortune[2378]
Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: all is oblique;[2379]
There's nothing level in our cursed natures
But direct villany. Therefore be abhorr'd[2380] 20
All feasts, societies and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots![2381] [Digging.
Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
With thy most operant poison! What is here? 25
Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods,[2382]
I am no idle votarist: roots, you clear heavens![2382][2383]
Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair,[2382]
Wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant.[2382][2384]
Ha, you gods! why this? what this, you gods? Why, this[2385] 30
Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:[2386]
This yellow slave
Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed;
Make the hoar leprosy adored; place thieves,[2387] 35
And give them title, knee and approbation
With senators on the bench: this is it[2388]
That makes the wappen'd widow wed again;[2389]
She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores[2390][2391]
Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices[2391][2392] 40
To the April day again. Come, damned earth,[2393]
Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds[2394]
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. [March afar off.] Ha! a drum?
Thou'rt quick,[2395]
But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,[2396] 45
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand:
Nay, stay thou out for earnest. [Keeping some gold.[2397]
Enter Alcibiades, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; Phrynia and Timandra.[A]
Alcib. What art thou there? speak.[2398]
Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart,[2399]
For showing me again the eyes of man!
For showing me again the eyes of man!
Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, 50
That art thyself a man?
That art thyself a man?
Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind.[2400]
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
That I might love thee something.
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
That I might love thee something.
Alcib. I know thee well;
But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange. 55
But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange. 55
Tim. I know thee too; and more than that I know thee[2401]
I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;
With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules:[2402]
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel;
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine 60
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
For all her cherubin look.
I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;
With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules:[2402]
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel;
Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine 60
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
For all her cherubin look.
Phry. Thy lips rot off!
Tim. I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns[2403]
To thine own lips again.
To thine own lips again.
Alcib. How came the noble Timon to this change? 65
Tim. As the moon does, by wanting light to give:
But then renew I could not, like the moon;
There were no suns to borrow of.[2404]
But then renew I could not, like the moon;
There were no suns to borrow of.[2404]
Alcib. Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?[2405]
Alcib. What is it, Timon?[2405]
Tim. Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou[2405]
wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man:[2405][2407]
if thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man![2405][2408]
wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man:[2405][2407]
if thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man![2405][2408]
Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.[2409] 75
Tim. Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity.
Alcib. I see them now; then was a blessed time.[2410]
Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
Timan. Is this the Athenian minion whom the world
Voiced so regardfully?
Voiced so regardfully?
Tim. Art thou Timandra?[2411] 80
Timan. Yes.[2411]
Tim. Be a whore still: they love thee not that use thee;[2411][2412]
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.[2411][2412][2413]
Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves[2412]
For tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth[2412][2414][2415]85
To the tub-fast and the diet.[2412][2415][2416]
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.[2411][2412][2413]
Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves[2412]
For tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth[2412][2414][2415]85
To the tub-fast and the diet.[2412][2415][2416]
Timan. Hang thee, monster!
Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.[2417]
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,[2418]
The want whereof doth daily make revolt 90
In my penurious band: I have heard, and grieved,[2419]
How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,[2420]
Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—[2421]
Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.[2417]
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,[2418]
The want whereof doth daily make revolt 90
In my penurious band: I have heard, and grieved,[2419]
How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,[2420]
Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—[2421]
Tim. I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone. 95
Alcib. I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon.
Tim. How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
I had rather be alone.
I had rather be alone.
Alcib. Why, fare thee well:
Here is some gold for thee.[2422]
Here is some gold for thee.[2422]
Tim. Keep it, I cannot eat it.[2423]
Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—[2424] 100
Alcib. Ay, Timon, and have cause.[2426]
Tim. The gods confound them all in thy conquest,[2426][2427]
And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd![2426][2428]
And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd![2426][2428]
Tim. That by killing of villains[2426]
Thou wast born to conquer my country.[2426][2430] 105
Put up thy gold: go on,—here's gold,—go on;
Be as a planetary plague, when Jove[2431]
Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison
In the sick air: let not thy sword skip one:
Pity not honour'd age for his white beard; 110
He is an usurer: strike me the counterfeit matron;[2432]
It is her habit only that is honest,
Herself's a bawd: let not the virgin's cheek
Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps[2433]
That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes[2434] 115
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors: spare not the babe[2435]
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;[2436]
Think it a bastard whom the oracle[2437]
Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut,[2438] 120
And mince it sans remorse: swear against objects;[2439]
Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes,
Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,
Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,[2440]
Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers: 125
Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,
Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.
Thou wast born to conquer my country.[2426][2430] 105
Put up thy gold: go on,—here's gold,—go on;
Be as a planetary plague, when Jove[2431]
Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison
In the sick air: let not thy sword skip one:
Pity not honour'd age for his white beard; 110
He is an usurer: strike me the counterfeit matron;[2432]
It is her habit only that is honest,
Herself's a bawd: let not the virgin's cheek
Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps[2433]
That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes[2434] 115
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors: spare not the babe[2435]
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;[2436]
Think it a bastard whom the oracle[2437]
Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut,[2438] 120
And mince it sans remorse: swear against objects;[2439]
Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes,
Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,
Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,[2440]
Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers: 125
Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,
Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.
Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me,[2441]
Not all thy counsel.[2441][2442]
Not all thy counsel.[2441][2442]
Phr. and Timan. Give us some gold, good Timon: hast thou more?[2443]
Tim. Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,
And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,[2444]
Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable;[2445]
Although, I know, you'll swear, terribly swear, 135
Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues,
The immortal gods that hear you; spare your oaths,
I'll trust to your conditions: be whores still;
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up; 140
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,[2446][2447]
Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofs[2446][2448]
With burdens of the dead;—some that were hang'd,[2446]
No matter:—wear them, betray with them: whore still;[2446][2449] 145
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:
A pox of wrinkles![2443]
And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,[2444]
Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable;[2445]
Although, I know, you'll swear, terribly swear, 135
Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues,
The immortal gods that hear you; spare your oaths,
I'll trust to your conditions: be whores still;
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up; 140
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,[2446][2447]
Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofs[2446][2448]
With burdens of the dead;—some that were hang'd,[2446]
No matter:—wear them, betray with them: whore still;[2446][2449] 145
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:
A pox of wrinkles![2443]
Phr. and Timan. Well, more gold: what then?
Believe't that we'll do any thing for gold.[2450]
Believe't that we'll do any thing for gold.[2450]
Tim. Consumptions sow
In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,[2451] 150
And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice,[2451][2452]
That he may never more false title plead,
Nor sound his quillets shrilly: hoar the flamen,[2453]
That scolds against the quality of flesh[2454]
And not believes himself: down with the nose, 155
Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away
Of him that, his particular to foresee,[2455][2456]
Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate ruffians bald;[2455][2457]
And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war
Derive some pain from you: plague all;[2458] 160
That your activity may defeat and quell
The source of all erection. There's more gold:
Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
And ditches grave you all!
In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,[2451] 150
And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice,[2451][2452]
That he may never more false title plead,
Nor sound his quillets shrilly: hoar the flamen,[2453]
That scolds against the quality of flesh[2454]
And not believes himself: down with the nose, 155
Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away
Of him that, his particular to foresee,[2455][2456]
Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate ruffians bald;[2455][2457]
And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war
Derive some pain from you: plague all;[2458] 160
That your activity may defeat and quell
The source of all erection. There's more gold:
Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
And ditches grave you all!
Alcib. Strike up the drum towards Athens! Farewell, Timon:[2459]
If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.[2459]
If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.[2459]
Tim. If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.
Alcib. I never did thee harm.[2461] 170
Tim. Yes, thou spokest well of me.
Alcib. Call'st thou that harm?
Alcib. We but offend him. Strike![2464]
[Drum beats. Exeunt Alcibiades, Phrynia, and Timandra.[2465]