SCENE VII.
Enter Thieves.
1 Thief.
Where should he have this gold? It is some
poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder.
The meer want of gold, and the falling off of friends,
drove him into this melancholy.
2 Thief.
It is nois'd, he hath a mass of treasure.
3 Thief.
Let us make the assay upon him; if he
care not for't, he will supply us easily; if he covetously
reserve it, how shall's get it?
2 Thief.
True; for he bears it not about him; 'tis hid.
1 Thief.
Is not this he?
All.
Where?
2 Thief.
'Tis his description.
3 Thief.
He; I know him.
All.
Save thee, Timon.
Tim.
Now, thieves.
All.
Soldiers; not thieves.
Tim.
Both too, and womens' sons.
All.
We are not thieves, but men that much do want.
Tim.
Your greatest want is, 5 note
you want much of meat.
-- 255 --
Why should you want? behold, 6 note
the earth hath roots;
Within this mile break forth an hundred springs;
The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips:
The bounteous huswife nature on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want? why want?
1 Thief.
We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts, and birds, and fishes.
Tim.
Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes;
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con,
That you are thieves profest, that you work not
In holier shapes; for there is boundless theft
7 noteIn limited professions. Rascals, thieves,
Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o'th' grape,
'Till the high fever seeth your blood to froth,
And so 'scape hanging. Trust not the physician,
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
More than you rob, 8 note
takes wealth and life together.
-- 256 --
Do villany, do, since you profess to do't,
Like workmen; I'll example you with thievery.
The Sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast Sea. The Moon's an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the Sun.
9 note
The Sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The Moon into salt tears. The earth's a thief,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stoln
From gen'ral excrements. Each thing's a thief.
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves, away,
Rob one another. There's more gold; cut throats;
All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go,
Break open shops, for nothing can you steal
But thieves do lose it. Steal not less, for this
I give you, and gold consound you howsoever! Amen.
[Exit.
3 Thief.
H'as almost charm'd me from my profession,
by persuading me to it.
1 Thief.
1 note
'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he
thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.
-- 257 --
2 Thief.
I'll believe him as an enemy; and give
over my trade.
1 Thief.
2 noteLet us first see peace in Athens.
2 Thief.
There is no time so miserable, but a man
may be true.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
