Pain.

As I took note of the place, it cannot ^note be far where he abides. ^note

Poet.

What's to be thought of him? does the rumour hold for true, that he's so full of gold?

Pain.

Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia ^note and Timandra ^note had gold of 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 try for ^note his friends.

Pain.

Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore 'tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his: it will show honestly in us, and is very likely to load our purposes with what they ^note travail for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.

Poet.

What have you now to present unto him?

Pain.

Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I will promise him an excellent piece.

Poet.

I must serve him so too, tell him of an intent that's coming toward him.

Pain.

Good as the best. Promising ^note is the very air o'the

time: it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying ^note is quite ^note out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgement that makes it.

Tim. [Aside]

Excellent workman! thou canst not paint a man so bad as is ^note thyself.

Poet.

I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him: it must be a personating of himself; a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.

Tim. [Aside]

Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have gold for thee. ^note

Poet.
Nay, let's seek him:
Then do we sin against our own estate,
When we may profit meet, and come too late.

Pain.
True;
When ^note the day serves, before black-corner'd ^note night,
Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light. ^note
Come ^note. ^note

Tim. [Aside]
I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold,

That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple ^note
Than where swine feed ^note! ^note
'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plough'st the foam ^note,
Settlest admired reverence in a slave:
To thee be worship ^note! and thy saints for aye
Be ^note crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey!
Fit I ^note meet them. [Coming forward. ^note

Poet.
Hail, worthy Timon!

Pain.
Our late noble master!

Tim.
Have I once lived to see two honest men? ^note

Poet.
Sir,
Having often of your open ^note bounty tasted ^note,
Hearing you were retired, your friends fall'n off,
Whose thankless natures—O abhorred spirits!— ^note
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough— ^note
What! to you ^note,
Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence
To their whole ^note being! I am ^note rapt, and cannot cover
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude ^note
With any size of words.

Tim.
Let it go naked, men ^note may see't the better ^note:
You that are honest, by being what you are,
Make them ^note best seen and known.

Pain.
He and myself
Have travail'd ^note in the great ^note shower of your gifts,
And sweetly felt it.

Tim.
Ay, you are ^note honest men ^note.

Pain.
We are ^note hither come to offer you our service ^note.

Tim.
Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you ^note?
Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no.

Both.
What we can do, we'll do, to do you service.

Tim.
Ye 're ^note honest men: ye 've ^note heard that I have gold ^note;
I am ^note sure you have: speak truth; ye 're ^note honest men.

Pain.
So it is said, my noble lord: but therefore
Came not my friend nor ^note I.

Tim.
Good honest men ^note! Thou draw'st a counterfeit
Best in all Athens: thou'rt ^note indeed the best;
Thou counterfeit'st most lively.

Pain.
So, so, my lord. ^note

Tim.
E'en so, sir, as I say. And, for thy fiction,
Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth
That thou art even natural in thine art.
But, for all this, my honest-natured ^note friends,
I must needs say you have a little fault:
Marry, 'tis ^note not monstrous in you; neither wish I
You take much pains to mend.

Both.
Beseech your honour
To make it known to us.

Tim.
You'll take it ill.

Both.
Most thankfully, my lord.

Tim.
Will you, indeed?

Both.
Doubt it not, worthy lord.

Tim.
There's never ^note a one of you but trusts a knave
That mightily deceives you.

Both.
Do we, my lord?

Tim.
Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble, ^note
Know his gross patchery, love ^note him, feed him ^note,
Keep ^note in your bosom: yet remain assured
That he's a made-up villain.

Pain.
I know none such, my lord.

Poet.
Nor I ^note.

Tim.
Look you, I love you well; I'll give you gold, ^note
Rid me these villains from your companies:
Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught ^note,
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
I'll give you gold enough.

Both.
Name them, my lord, let's know them.

Tim.
You that way, and you this, but ^note two in ^note company: ^note
Each man apart ^note, all single and alone,
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company. ^note
If, where thou art, two villains ^note shall not be, ^note
Come not near him. If thou wouldst not reside ^note
But where one villain is, then him abandon.
Hence, pack! there's gold; you ^note came for gold, ye slaves:
[To Painter ^note] You have work ^note for me, there's ^note payment ^note: hence ^note!

[To Poet ^note]
You are an alchemist, make gold of that:
Out, rascal dogs! [Beats ^note them out, and then retires into his cave. ^noteEnter Flavius and two Senators.

Flav.
It is in ^note vain that you would speak with Timon;
For he is set so only to himself
That nothing but himself which looks like man
Is friendly with him.

First Sen.
Bring us to his cave:
It is our part ^note and promise to the Athenians
To speak with Timon.

Sec. Sen.
At all times alike
Men are not still the same: 'twas time and griefs
That framed him thus: time, with his fairer hand,
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him. Bring us to him,
And chance ^note it as it may.

Flav.
Here is his cave.
Peace and content be here! ^note Lord ^note Timon! Timon!
Look out, and speak to friends: the Athenians
By two of their most reverend senate greet thee:
Speak to them, noble Timon. Timon ^note comes from his cave.

Tim.
Thou sun, that comfort'st ^note, burn! Speak, and be hang'd ^note:

For each true word, a blister! and each false
Be as a cauterizing ^note to the ^note root o' the tongue,
Consuming it with speaking!

First Sen.
Worthy Timon,—

Tim.
Of none but such as you, and you of Timon. ^note

First Sen.
The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.

Tim.
I thank them, and would send them back the plague, ^note
Could I but catch it for them.

First Sen.
O, forget
What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
The senators with one consent of love
Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought
On special dignities, which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing.

Sec. Sen.
They confess
Toward thee forgetfulness too general, gross ^note:
Which now ^note the public body, which doth seldom
Play the recanter, feeling in itself
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense ^note withal
Of its ^note own fail ^note, restraining ^note aid to Timon;
And send ^note forth us, to make their sorrowed render ^note,
Together with ^note a recompense more fruitful
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram; ^note

Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth,
As ^note shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee ^note the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.

Tim.
You witch me in it,
Surprise me to the very brink of tears:
Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes,
And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.

First Sen.
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,
Allow'd ^note with absolute power, and thy good name
Live with authority: so ^note soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades the approaches ^note wild;
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace.

Sec. Sen.
And shakes his threatening sword
Against the walls of Athens.

First Sen.
Therefore, Timon,— ^note

Tim.
Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; thus: ^note
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
That Timon cares not. But ^note if he sack fair Athens,
And take our goodly aged men by the beards,
Giving our holy virgins to the stain
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd 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, ^note that I care not,
And let him take't at worst; for their knives care not,
While you have throats to answer: for myself,
There's not a whittle ^note in the unruly camp,
But I do prize it at ^note my love before

The reverend'st ^note throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous ^note gods,
As thieves to keepers.

Flav.
Stay not; all's in vain.

Tim.
Why, I was writing of my epitaph; ^note
It will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough!

First Sen.
We speak in vain.

Tim.
But yet I love my country, and am not
One that rejoices in the common wreck ^note,
As common bruit ^note doth put it.

First Sen.
That's well spoke.

Tim.
Commend me to my loving countrymen,— ^note

First Sen.
These words become your lips as they pass thorough ^note them ^note. ^note

Sec. Sen.
And enter in our ears like great triumphers
In their applauding gates.

Tim.
Commend me to them;
And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,
Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses ^note,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes ^note
That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain
In life's uncertain voyage ^note, I will ^note some kindness do them ^note:
I'll teach ^note them to ^note prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.

First Sen.
I like this well; he will return again. ^note

Tim.
I have a tree, which grows here in my close,
That mine own use invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it: tell my friends,
Tell Athens, in the sequence ^note of degree
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
To stop affliction, let him take his ^note haste ^note,
Come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself: I pray you, do my greeting.

Flav.
Trouble ^note him ^note no further; thus you still shall find him.

Tim.
Come not to me again: but say to Athens,
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Who ^note once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover: thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.
Lips, let sour ^note 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. [Retires ^note to his cave.

First Sen.
His discontents are unremoveably ^note
Coupled to nature ^note. ^note

Sec. Sen.
Our hope in him is dead: let us return,
And strain what other means is left unto us
In our dear ^note peril.

First Sen.
It requires swift foot. [Exeunt.

^note Scene II. [Footnote: Before ^note the walls of Athens. Enter two Senators and ^note a Messenger.

First Sen.
Thou hast painfully discover'd: are his files
As full as thy ^note report?

Mess.
I have ^note spoke the least:
Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach. ^note

Sec. Sen.
We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon.

Mess.
I met a courier ^note, one ^note mine ancient friend;
Whom ^note, though in general ^note part we were opposed,
Yet our old love made a particular ^note force ^note,
And made ^note us speak like friends: this man was riding
From Alcibiades to Timon's cave,
With letters of entreaty, which imported
His fellowship i' the cause against your city,
In part for his sake moved.

First Sen.
Here come our brothers. Enter ^note Senators from Timon.

Third Sen. ^note
No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.
The enemies' ^note drum is heard, and fearful scouring
Doth choke the air with dust: in, and prepare:
Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes ^note the snare. [Exeunt.

^note Scene III. [Footnote: The woods. Timon's cave, and a rude tomb seen. Enter ^note a Soldier, seeking Timon.

Sold.
By all description this should be the place. ^note
Who's ^note here? speak, ho! No answer! What is this? ^note
Timon is dead, who ^note hath outstretch'd his span:
Some beast read ^note this; there does ^note not live ^note a man.
Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb
I cannot read; the character I'll take with wax ^note:
Our captain hath in every figure skill,
An aged interpreter, though young in days:
Before proud Athens he's set down by this,
Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. [Exit. ^note Scene IV. [Footnote: Before ^note the walls of Athens. Trumpets sound. Enter ^note Alcibiades with his powers.

Alcib.
Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach. [A parley ^note sounded.

Enter Senators ^note upon the walls.
Till now you have gone on and fill'd the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills
The scope of justice; till now myself and such
As slept within the shadow of your power
Have wander'd with our traversed arms and breathed
Our sufferance vainly: now the time is flush,
When crouching marrow in the bearer strong ^note
Cries of itself ‘No more:’ now breathless wrong
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
And pursy insolence shall break his wind
With fear and horrid flight.

First Sen.
Noble and young,
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of ^note fear,
We sent to thee, to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitude ^note with loves
Above their ^note quantity.

Sec. Sen.
So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love
By humble message and by promised means ^note:
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

First Sen.
These walls of ours
Were not erected by their hands from whom
You have received your griefs ^note: nor are they such
That these great towers, trophies and schools should fall
For private faults in them.

Sec. Sen.
Nor are they living
Who were the motives that you first went out;
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess ^note

Hath broke their hearts. March, ^note noble lord,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
By decimation and a tithed death—
If thy revenges hunger for that food
Which nature loathes—take thou the destined tenth,
And by the hazard of the spotted die
Let die the spotted. ^note

First Sen.
All ^note have not offended;
For those that were, it is not square to take, ^note
On those that are, revenges: crimes, like ^note lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin
Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd
Approach the fold and cull the infected forth,
But kill not all together ^note.

Sec. Sen.
What thou wilt,
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile
Than hew to 't with thy sword.

First Sen.
Set but thy foot
Against our rampired gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say thou 'lt ^note enter friendly.

Sec. Sen.
Throw thy glove,
Or any token of thine honour else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.

Alcib.
Then there's my glove;

Descend ^note, and open your uncharged ports:
Those enemies of Timon's ^note, and mine own,
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more: and, to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning, not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be render'd to your ^note public laws
At heaviest answer.

Both.
'Tis most nobly spoken.

Alcib.
Descend, and keep your words. [The Senators ^note descend, and open the gates. Enter Soldier. ^note

Sold.
My noble general, Timon is dead;
Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea;
And on his ^note grave-stone this insculpture, which
With wax I brought away, whose soft impression
Interprets ^note for my poor ^note ignorance.

Alcib. [Reads] ^note
‘Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft:
Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked ^note caitiffs left!
Here lie I, Timon; who, alive ^note, all living men did hate:
Pass by and curse thy fill; but pass and ^note stay not here thy gait ^note.’
These well express in thee thy latter spirits:

Though thou abhorr'dst ^note in us our human ^note griefs,
Scorn'dst our brain's ^note flow and those our droplets which
From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye
On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead ^note
Is noble Timon: of whose memory
Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,
And I will use ^note the olive with my sword,
Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make each
Prescribe to other as each other's leech.
Let our drums strike. [Exeunt.

NOTES. ^note