That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple 'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark, and plough'st tho foam ; Settlest admired reverence in a slave: To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey! Poet. Hail, worthy Timon! [Advancing. Our late noble master. Tim. Have I once liv'd to see two honest men? Having often of your open bounty tasted, Whose star-like 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. Pain. He, and myself, Have travell'd in the great shower of your gifts, And sweetly felt it. Tim. Ay, you are honest men. Pain. We are hither come to offer you our ser vice. Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I re quite 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 have heard that I have gold; I am sure you have: speak truth; you're honest men. Pain. So it is said, my noble lord; but therefore Came not my friend, nor I. Tim. Good honest men! terfeit Thou draw'st a coun Best in all Athens: thou art, indeed, the best; Thou counterfeit'st most lively. Pain. Tim. Even so, sir, as I say. So, so, my lord. And, for thy fiction, Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth, Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I, Both. To make it known to us. Tim. 'Beseech your honour You'll take it ill. Will you, indeed? Both. Most thankfully, my lord. Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord. Tim. There's never 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 dis semble, Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, Keep in your bosom; yet remain assur'd, That he's a made-up villain. Pain. I know none such, my lord. 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 draught, Both. Name them, my lord; let's know them. company: Each man apart, all single and alone, Yet an arch-villain keeps him company, If, where thou art, two villains shall not be, [To the Painter. Come not near him. - If thou would'st not reside [To the Poet. But where one villain is, then him abandon. slaves : You have [done] work for me, there's payment: hence! You are an alchymist, make gold of that. Out, rascal dogs! [Beats them out, and then retires to his cave. [SCENE II.- Malone.] Enter FLAVIUS and two Senators. Flav. 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, 1 Sen. Bring us to his cave: It is our part and promise to the Athenians, 2 Sen. At all times alike, Men are not still the same. 'Twas time, and griefs, That fram'd him thus: time, with his fairer hand Flav. Here is his cave. Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon! TIMON approaches from his cave. Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn! Speak, and be hang'd: For each true word, a blister; and each false 1 Sen. Worthy Timon, Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon. 2 Sen. 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 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. 2 Sen. They confess Toward thee forgetfulness, too general, gross; A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal Of it own fail, restraining aid to Timon; And send forth us, to make their sorrowed render, Together with a recompense, more fruitful Than 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; Surprise me to the very brink of tears: Lend me a fool's heart, and a woman's eyes, 1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with us, Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up Tim. Well, sir, I will; 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 th' 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, I cannot choose but tell him, - that I care not, |