TIMON OF ATHENS.
[Act V.
261
Fain. So it is said, ray noble lord: but thereforeCame not my friend, nor I.
Tim. Good honest men:—Thou draw’st acounterfeit
Best in all Athens: thou art, indeed, the best;Thou counterfeit’st most lively.
Pain. So, so, my lord.
Tim. Even so, sir, as I say:—And for thyfiction, [To the Poet .
Why, thy verses swell with stuff so fine andsmooth,
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 aknave,
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 lie’s a made-up villain.
Pain. I know none such, my lord.
Poet. Nor I.
Tim. Look you, I love you well; I’ll giveyou gold,
Kid me these villains from your companies:Hang them, or stab them, drown them in adraught,
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 twoin 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
But where one villain is, then him abandon.—Hence! pack! there’s gold, ye came for gold,ye slaves:
You have done work for me, there’s payment :Hence!
Y ou are an alchymist, make gold of that:—Out, rascal dogs!
\^Exit, beating and driving them out.
SCENE II.— The same.
Enter Flavius, and two Senators.
Flax. It is in vain that you would speak withTimon;
For he is set so only to himself,
That nothing but himself, which looks like man,Is friendly with him.
1 Sen. Bring us to his cave:
It is our part, and promise to the Athenians ,
To speak with Timon.
2 Sen. At all times alike
Men are not still the same: ’Twas time andgriefs,That fram’d him thus: time, withhisfairer hand,Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him: Bring us tohim,
And chance it as it may.
E/av. Here is his cave.—
Teaceand content be here! Lord 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, burn !—•Speak, and be bang’d :
F or each true word, a blister ! and each falseBe as a caut’rizing to the root o’the tongue,Consuming it with speaking !
1 Sen. Worthy Timon,—
Tim. Of none but such as you, and you ofTimon.
2 Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee,
Timon.
Tim. I thank them; and would send themback 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 thoughtOn special dignities, which vacant lieFor thy best use and wearing.
2 Sen. They confess
Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross:Which now the public body,—which doth seldomPlay the recanter,—feeling in itself,
A lack of Timon’s aid, hath sense withalOf its own fall, restraining aid to Timon;
And send forth us, to make their sorrowed render,Together with a recompense more fruitfulThan 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,And I’ll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to returnwith us,
And of our Athens (thine, and ours,) to takeThe captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,Allow’d with absolute power, and thy good nameLivewith authority:—so soon we shall drive backOf Alcibiades the approaches wild ;