Pai.

As I took note of the place, it cannot be far

where he abides.

Poe.

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

Pai.

Certain:14Q1171 Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Tymandra ^note had gold of him: he likewise enrich'd poor stragling soldiers with great quantity: 'Tis said, he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.

Poe.

Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his ^note friends.

Pai.

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 suppos'd distress of his: it will shew honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.

Poe.

What have you now to present unto him?

Pai.

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

Poe.

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

Pai.

Good as the best. Promising 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 is quite out ^note of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind of will, or testament; which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it.

&clquo;Tim.

&clquo;Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.&crquo;

Poe.

I am thinking, what I shall say I have provided

for him: It must be a personating of himself: a satyr against the softness of prosperity; with a discovery of the infinite flatteries, that follow youth and opulency.

&clquo;Tim.

&clquo;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.&crquo;

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

Poe.
True ^note;
When the day serves, before black-corner'd ^note night,
Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light. [going towards the Cave.

&clquo;Tim.
&clquo;I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold,&crquo;
&clquo;That he is worship'd in a baser temple,&crquo;
&clquo;Than where swine feed!&crquo;
&clquo;'Tis thou that rig'st the bark, and plow'st the foam;&crquo;
&clquo;Setl'st admired reverence in a slave:&crquo;
&clquo;To thee be worship ^note! and thy saints for aye&crquo;
&clquo;Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey!&crquo;
&clquo;'Fit I do meet them.&crquo; [puts himself in their Way.

Poe.
Hail, worthy Timon:

Pai.
Our late noble master.

Tim.
Have I once liv'd to see two honest men?

Poe.
Sir,
Having often of your open bounty tasted, ^note
Hearing you were retir'd, your friends fall'n off,
Whose thankless natures—O abhorred spirits!
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough—
What! to you!
Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence

To their whole being! I am rapt, and cannot cover
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude
With any size of words.

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

Pai.
He, and myself,
Have travel'd in the great shower of your gifts,
And sweetly felt it.

Tim.
Ay, you are honest men.

Pai.
We are hither come to offer you our service.

Tim.
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.

Tim.
You're honest men: You've heard that I have gold;
I am sure, you have; speak truth: you're honest men.

Pai.
So it is said, my noble lord: but therefore
Came not my friend, and I.

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

Pai.
So, so, my lord.

Tim.
Ev'n 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-natur'd friends,
I must needs say, you have a little fault:
Marry, 'tis 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 ne'er 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,
Know his gross patchery; yet love him, feed him,
Keep in your bosom: yet remain assur'd,
That he's a made-up villain.

Pai.
I know none such, my lord.

Poe.
Nor I.

Tim.
Look 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 ^note draught,
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, ^note—not two in company;
Each man apart, all single and alone,
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.—
If, where thou art, two villains shall not be,
Come not near † him:—If thou would'st not reside
But where one villain is, then him † abandon.—
Hence! pack! there's † gold, you came ^note for gold, ye slaves;
You have work for me, there is † payment: Hence! ^note—
You are an alchymist, make gold of † that:—
Out, rascal dogs! [Exit, beating them out. SCENE II. The same. Enter Steward, and two Senators.

Ste.
It is in 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.

1. S.
Bring us to his cave:
It is our part, and promise to the Athenians,
To speak with Timon.

2. S.
At all times alike
Men are not still the same: 'Twas time, and griefs,
That fram'd 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.

Ste.
Here † is his cave.—
Peace and content be here! 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. Enter Timon.

Tim.
Thou sun, that comfort'st ^{note note}, burn!14Q1172—Speak, and be hang'd:
For each true word, a blister! and each false
Be cancerizing ^{note note} to the root o' the tongue,
Consuming it with speaking!

1. S.
Worthy Timon,—

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

1. S.
The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon:

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

1. S.
O, forget
What we are sorry for ourselves in thee:
The senators, with one consent of love,
Intreat thee back to Athens; who have thought
On special dignities, which vacant lye

For thy best use and wearing.

2. S.
They confess,
Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross:
But now ^note the publick body,—which doth seldom
Play the recanter,—feeling in itself
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense ^note withal
Of it's own ^note fail ^note, restraining aid to Timon;
And sends ^note forth us, to make their sorrows' tender ^note, ^note
Together with a recompence more fruitful
Then ^note their offence can weigh down by the dram;
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth,
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.

Tim.
You witch me in it;
Surprize 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.

1. S.
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 soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades the approaches ^note wild;
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace:

2. S.
And shakes his threat'ning sword
Against the walls of Athens.

1. S.
Therefore, Timon,—

Tim.
Well, sir, I will;14Q1173 therefore I will, sir; Thus,—
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,

That Timon cares not. But 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,—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 in the unruly camp,
But I do prize it at my ^note love, before
The reverend'st ^note throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods,
As thieves to keepers.

Ste.
Stay not, all's in vain.

Tim.
Why, I was writing of my epitaph,
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!

1. S.
We speak in vain.

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

1. S.
That's well spoke.

Tim.
Commend me to my loving countrymen,—

1. S.
These words become your lips as they pass through them.

2. S.
And enter in our ears, like great triúmphers
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,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
That nature's fragil vessel doth sustain
In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them,
I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.

1. S.
I like this well, he will return again.

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 haste,
Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself: I pray you, do my greeting.

Ste.
Trouble him 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,
Which once ^note a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover; thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.—
Lips, let sour 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.

1. S.
His discontents are unremoveably
Coupl'd to his nature.

2. S.
Our hope in him is dead: let us return,
And strain what other means is left unto us
In our dear peril.

1. S.
It requires swift foot. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. Athens. A Council-Chamber. Enter two Senators, and a Messenger.

1. S.
Thou hast painfully discover'd; Are his files
As full as thy report?

Mes.
I have spoke the least:
Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach.

2. S.
We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon.

Mes.
I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;—
And, though ^note in general part we were oppos'd,
Yet our old love had a ^note particular force,
And made 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 mov'd.

1. S.
Here come our brothers. Enter Senators, from Timon.

1. S.
No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect;
The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring
Doth choak the air with dust: In, and prepare;
Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. 14Q1174 The Woods. A rude Tomb seen. Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon.

Sol.
By all description, this should be the place.
Who's here? speak, ho! No answer?—What is this? [spying the Tomb.
Timon is dead, he hath ^note out-stretch'd his span.
Some beast rear'd this; here ^note does not live a ^note man.
Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb?

I cannot read; the character I'll take
With wax: [applying a waxen Table.
Our captain hath in every figure skill;
An ag'd interpreter, though young in days:
Before proud Athens he's set down by this,
Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. [Exit. SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens. Trumpets. Enter Alcibiades, and Forces.

Alc.
Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach. [Parley sounded. Enter Senators, &c. 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 traverst arms, and breath'd
Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush,
When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong,
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.

1. S.
Noble, and young,
When thy first griefs were but a meer conceit,
Ere thou had'st power, or we had cause of fear ^note,
We sent to thee; to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitudes ^note with loves
Above their quantity.

2. S.
So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love,
By humble message, and by promis'd 'mends ^note:

We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

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

2. S.
Nor are they living,
Who were the motives that you first went out;
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble ^note lord,
Into our city with thy banners spred:
By decimation, and a tythed death,
(If thy revenges hunger for that food,
Which nature loaths) take thou the destin'd tenth;
And by the hazard of the spotted dye,
Let dye the spotted.

1. S.
All have not offended;
For those that were, it is not square, to take,
On those that are, revenge: crimes, like to 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.

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

1. S.
Set but thy foot
Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope;

So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say, thou'lt enter friendly.

2. S.
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.

Alc.
Then, there's my † glove;
Descend, and ^note open your uncharged ports:
Those enemies of Timon's, 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 remedy'd by your ^note publick laws
At heaviest answer.

Sen.
'Tis most nobly spoken.

Alc.
Descend, and keep your words. Senators come from the Walls, and deliver their Keys to Alcibiades. Enter Soldier.

Sol.
My noble general, Timon is dead;
Intomb'd upon the very hem o'the sea:
And, on his grave-stone, this &dagger2; insculpture; which
With wax I brought away, whose soft impression
Interpreteth ^note for my poor ignorance.

Alc. [reads.]

Here lies a wretched corse,14Q1175 of wretched soul bereft:
Seek not my name: A plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! ^note

Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate:
Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not here thy gate. ^note
These well express in thee thy latter spirits:
Though thou abhor'dst in us our human griefs,
Scorn'dst our brine's ^note flow, and those our droplets which
From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye
14Q1176On thy low grave.—On: faults forgiven. Dead
Is noble Timon; of whose memory
Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,
And I will use the olive with my sword:
Make war breed peace; make peace stint war; make each
Prescribe to other, as each other's leach.—
Let our drums strike. [Exeunt.

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