From general excrement: each thing's a thief. But thieves do lose it. Steal [not] less, for this 1 Band. 'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery. 2 Band. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade. 1 Band. Let us first see peace in Athens: there is no time so miserable, but a man may be true. [Exeunt Banditti. Enter FLAVIUS. Flav. O you gods! Is yond' despis'd and ruinous man my lord? Has desp'rate want made! What viler thing upon the earth, than friends Those that would mischief me, than those that do! My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord, Still serve him with my life. My dearest master! TIMON comes forward from his cave. Tim. Away! what art thou? Flav. Have you forgot me, sir? Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men; Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee. Flav. An honest poor servant of yours. Then I know thee not: I never had honest man about me, I; All I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains. Flav. The gods are witness, Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief For his undone lord than mine eyes for you. then I love thee, Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping; Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping! Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord, T'accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts, To entertain me as your steward still. Tim. Had I a steward So true, so just, and now so comfortable? Forgive my general and exceptless rashness, Mistake me not, but one no more, I pray, And he's a steward. How fain would I have hated all mankind, And thou redeem'st thyself: but all, save thee, Methinks, thou art more honest now than wise; Thou might'st have sooner got another service, Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true, If not a usuring kindness; and as rich men deal gifts, Expecting in return twenty for one? Flav. No, my most worthy master; in whose breast Doubt and suspect, alas! are plac'd too late. You should have fear'd false times, when you did feast: Suspect still comes where an estate is least. That which I shew, Heaven knows, is merely love, Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind, Care of your food and living: and, believe it, My most honour'd lord, For any benefit that points to me, Either in hope, or present, I'd exchange For this one wish, that you had power and wealth To requite me by making rich yourself. Tim. Look thee, 'tis so. Thou singly honest man, Here, take: — the gods out of my misery Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich, and happy; But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone, What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow 'em, Debts wither 'em to nothing. Be men like blasted woods, And may diseases lick up their false bloods! And so, farewell, and thrive. Flav. And comfort you, my master. O, let me stay, If thou hat'st curses, Stay not: fly, whilst thou art bless'd and free. Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee. [Exit FLAVIUS. TIMON retires to his cave. ACT V. SCENE I. The Woods. Before TIMON's Cave. TIMON sitting within the mouth of his cave. Enter Poet and Painter. PAINTER. S 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? Pain. Certain : Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enrich'd 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 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 suppos'd distress of his: it will shew honestly in us, and is very likely to load our purposes with what they 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 is the very air o' th' 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 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. Tim. [In his cave.] 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 himself: a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency. Tim. 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. 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 the day serves, before black-corner'd night, Tim. I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold, |