SCENE VI.

A Banquet-hall in TIMON'S House.

Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, at several Doors.

1 Lord. The good time of day to you, Sir.

2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day.

1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we encountered. I hope, it is not so low with him, as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

ing.

2 Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feast

1 Lord. I should think so. He hath sent me an earnest invíting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear.

2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out.

1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

2 Lord. Every man here 's so. What would he have borrowed of you?

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both:

And how fare

you?

1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. 2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, we your lordship.

than

Tim. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summerbirds are men. [To them.] Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile, if

they will fare so harshly o' the trumpet's sound; we shall to 't presently.

1 Lord. I hope, it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger.

Tim. O, Sir! let it not trouble you.

2 Lord. My noble lord,

Tim. Ah! my good friend, what cheer?

[The Banquet brought in.

2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame, that when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.

Tim. Think not on 't, Sir.

2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before,

Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. - Come,

3 Lord.

Doubt not that, if money, and the season can yield it.

1 Lord.

How do you? What's the news?

3 Lord. Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?

1 & 2 Lord. Alcibiades banished!

3 Lord. 'T is so; be sure of it.

2 Lord. I pray you, upon what?

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near?

3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.

2 Lord.

3 Lord.

This is the old man still.

Will 't hold? will 't hold?

2 Lord. It does; but time will — and so

3 Lord. I do conceive.

Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.

"You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves praised, but reserve still to

give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another: for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meat be be loved, more than the man that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains: if there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be

fees, O gods!

as they are. The rest of your

the senators of Athens, together with the comwhat is amiss in them, you gods make

mon lag of people,

suitable for destruction. For these, my present friends,

they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they welcome."

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

[The Dishes uncovered are full of warm Water.

Some speak. What does his lordship mean?

Some other. I know not.

Tim. May you a better feast never behold,

You knot of mouth-friends! smoke, and luke-warm water
Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

[Throwing Water in their Faces.

Your reeking villainy. Live loath'd, and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears;
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,
Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!
Of man, and beast, the infinite malady

Crust you quite o'er! - What! dost thou go?

Soft, take thy physic first

thou too,

- and thou:

[Throws the Dishes at them, and drives them out.

Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.

What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,

Whereat a villain 's not a welcome guest.

Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be
Of Timon, man, and all humanity!

[Exit:

Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators.

Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury?
Push! did you see my cap?

4 Lord.

I have lost my gown.

3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways

him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat: did you see my jewel?

4 Lord. Did you see my cap?

4 Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Without the Walls of Athens.

Enter TIMON.

Tim. Let me look back upon thee, O thou wall,
That girdlest in those wolves! Dive in the earth,
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent;
Obedience fail in children! slaves, and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench,
And minister in their steads? to general filths
Convert o' the instant green virginity!

Do 't in your parents' eyes! bankrupts, hold fast;
Rather than render back, out with your knives,
And cut your trusters' throats! bound servants, steal!
Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,
And pill by law: maid, to thy master's bed;
Thy mistress is o' the brothel! son of sixteen,
Pluck the lin'd crutch from thy old limping sire,
With it beat out his brains! piety, and fear,

[Exeunt.

Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighbourhood,
Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs, and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries,
And yet confusion live!

Plagues, incident to men,

Your potent and infectious fevers heap

On Athens, ripe for stroke! thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners! lust and liberty
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive,
And drown themselves in riot! itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms, and their crop
Be general leprosy! breath infect breath,
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee,
But nakedness, thou detestable town!
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!
Timon will to the woods; where he shall find
Th' unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.
The gods confound (hear me, you good gods all)
The Athenians both within and out that wall!
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high, and low!
Amen.

SCENE II.

Athens. A Room in TIMON'S House.

Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three Servants.

[Exit.

1 Serv. Hear you, master steward! where's our master? Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?

Flav. Alack! my fellows, what should I say to you?

Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,

I am as poor as you.