94
Timon of Athens.
To euerie purpose: O thou touch of hearts,
Thinke thy slaue-man rebels, and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding oddes, that Beasts
May haue the world in Empire.
Thinke thy slaue-man rebels, and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding oddes, that Beasts
May haue the world in Empire.
Ape.
Would 'twere so,
But not till I am dead. Ile say th'hast Gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd too shortly.
Would 'twere so,
But not till I am dead. Ile say th'hast Gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd too shortly.
Tim.
Throng'd too?
Throng'd too?
Ape.
I.
I.
Tim.
Thy backe I prythee.
Thy backe I prythee.
Ape.
Liue, and loue thy misery.
Liue, and loue thy misery.
Tim.
Long liue so, and so dye. I am quit.
Long liue so, and so dye. I am quit.
Ape.
Mo things like men,
Exit Apeman.Eate Timon, and abhorre then.
Mo things like men,
Exit Apeman.Eate Timon, and abhorre then.
Enter the Bandetti.
1
Where should he haue this Gold? It is some poore
Fragment, some slender Ort of his remainder: the meere
want of Gold, and the falling from of his Friendes, droue
him into this Melancholly.
Where should he haue this Gold? It is some poore
Fragment, some slender Ort of his remainder: the meere
want of Gold, and the falling from of his Friendes, droue
him into this Melancholly.
2
It is nois'd
He hath a masse of Treasure.
It is nois'd
He hath a masse of Treasure.
3
Let vs make the assay vpon him, if he care not for't,
he will supply vs easily: if he couetously reserue it, how
shall's get it?
Let vs make the assay vpon him, if he care not for't,
he will supply vs easily: if he couetously reserue it, how
shall's get it?
2
True: for he beares it not about him:
'Tis hid.
True: for he beares it not about him:
'Tis hid.
1
Is not this hee?
Is not this hee?
All.
Where?
Where?
2
'Tis his description.
'Tis his description.
3
He? I know him.
He? I know him.
All.
Saue thee Timon.
Saue thee Timon.
Tim.
Now Theeues.
Now Theeues.
All.
Soldiers, not Theeues.
Soldiers, not Theeues.
Tim.
Both too, and womens Sonnes.
Both too, and womens Sonnes.
All.
We are not Theeues, but men
That much do want.
We are not Theeues, but men
That much do want.
Tim.
Your greatest want is, you want much of meat:
Why should you want? Behold, the Earth hath Rootes:
Within this Mile breake forth a hundred Springs:
The Oakes beare Mast, the Briars Scarlet Heps,
The bounteous Huswife Nature, on each bush,
Layes her full Messe before you. Want? why Want?
Your greatest want is, you want much of meat:
Why should you want? Behold, the Earth hath Rootes:
Within this Mile breake forth a hundred Springs:
The Oakes beare Mast, the Briars Scarlet Heps,
The bounteous Huswife Nature, on each bush,
Layes her full Messe before you. Want? why Want?
1
We cannot liue on Grasse, on Berries, Water,
As Beasts, and Birds, and Fishes.
We cannot liue on Grasse, on Berries, Water,
As Beasts, and Birds, and Fishes.
Ti.
Nor on the Beasts themselues, the Birds & Fishes,
You must eate men. Yet thankes I must you con,
That you are Theeues profest: that you worke not
In holier shapes: For there is boundlesse Theft
In limited Professions. Rascall Theeues
Heere's Gold. Go, sucke the subtle blood o'th'Grape,
Till the high Feauor seeth your blood to froth,
And so scape hanging. Trust not the Physitian,
His Ant [...]dotes are poyson, and he slayes
Moe then you Rob: Take wealth, and liues together,
Do Villaine do, since you protest to doo't.
Like Workemen, Ile example you with Theeuery:
The Sunnes a Theefe, and with his great attraction
Robbes the vaste Sea. The Moones an arrant Theefe,
And her pale fire, she snatches from the Sunne.
The Seas a Theefe, whose liquid Surge, resolues
The Moone into Salt teares. The Earth's a Theefe,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stolne
From gen'rall excrement: each thing's a Theefe.
The Lawes, your curbe and whip, in their rough power
Ha's vncheck'd Theft. Loue not your selues, away,
Rob one another, there's more Gold, cut throates,
All that you meete are Theeues: to Athens go,
Breake open shoppes, nothing can you steale
But Theeues do loose it: steale lesse, for this I giue you,
And Gold confound you howsoere: Amen.
Nor on the Beasts themselues, the Birds & Fishes,
You must eate men. Yet thankes I must you con,
That you are Theeues profest: that you worke not
In holier shapes: For there is boundlesse Theft
In limited Professions. Rascall Theeues
Heere's Gold. Go, sucke the subtle blood o'th'Grape,
Till the high Feauor seeth your blood to froth,
And so scape hanging. Trust not the Physitian,
His Ant [...]dotes are poyson, and he slayes
Moe then you Rob: Take wealth, and liues together,
Do Villaine do, since you protest to doo't.
Like Workemen, Ile example you with Theeuery:
The Sunnes a Theefe, and with his great attraction
Robbes the vaste Sea. The Moones an arrant Theefe,
And her pale fire, she snatches from the Sunne.
The Seas a Theefe, whose liquid Surge, resolues
The Moone into Salt teares. The Earth's a Theefe,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stolne
From gen'rall excrement: each thing's a Theefe.
The Lawes, your curbe and whip, in their rough power
Ha's vncheck'd Theft. Loue not your selues, away,
Rob one another, there's more Gold, cut throates,
All that you meete are Theeues: to Athens go,
Breake open shoppes, nothing can you steale
But Theeues do loose it: steale lesse, for this I giue you,
And Gold confound you howsoere: Amen.
3
Has almost charm'd me from my Profession, by perswading
me to it.
Has almost charm'd me from my Profession, by perswading
me to it.
1
'Tis in the malice of mankinde, that he thus aduises
vs not to haue vs thriue in our mystery.
'Tis in the malice of mankinde, that he thus aduises
vs not to haue vs thriue in our mystery.
2
Ile beleeue him as an Enemy,
And giue ouer my Trade.
Ile beleeue him as an Enemy,
And giue ouer my Trade.
1
Let vs first see peace in Athens, there is no time so
Exit Theeues.miserable, but a man may be true.
Let vs first see peace in Athens, there is no time so
Exit Theeues.miserable, but a man may be true.
Enter the Steward to Timon.
Stew.
Oh you Gods!
Is yon'd despise'd and ruinous man my Lord?
Full of decay and fayling? Oh Monument
And wonder of good deeds, euilly bestow'd!
What an alteration of Honor has desp'rate want made?
What vilder thing vpon the earth, then Friends,
Who can bring Noblest mindes, to basest ends.
How rarely does it meete with this times guise,
When man was wisht to loue his Enemies:
Grant I may euer loue, and rather woo
Those that would mischeefe me, then those that doo.
Has caught me in his eye, I will present my honest griefe
vnto him; and as my Lord, still serue him with my life.
My deerest Master.
Oh you Gods!
Is yon'd despise'd and ruinous man my Lord?
Full of decay and fayling? Oh Monument
And wonder of good deeds, euilly bestow'd!
What an alteration of Honor has desp'rate want made?
What vilder thing vpon the earth, then Friends,
Who can bring Noblest mindes, to basest ends.
How rarely does it meete with this times guise,
When man was wisht to loue his Enemies:
Grant I may euer loue, and rather woo
Those that would mischeefe me, then those that doo.
Has caught me in his eye, I will present my honest griefe
vnto him; and as my Lord, still serue him with my life.
My deerest Master.
Tim.
Away: what art thou?
Away: what art thou?
Stew.
Haue you forgot me, Sir?
Haue you forgot me, Sir?
Tim.
Why dost aske that? I haue forgot all men.
Then, if thou grunt'st, th'art a man.
I haue forgot thee.
Why dost aske that? I haue forgot all men.
Then, if thou grunt'st, th'art a man.
I haue forgot thee.
Stew.
An honest poore seruant of yours.
An honest poore seruant of yours.
Tim.
Then I know thee not:
I neuer had honest man about me, I all
I kept were Knaues, to serue in meate to Villaines.
Then I know thee not:
I neuer had honest man about me, I all
I kept were Knaues, to serue in meate to Villaines.
Stew.
The Gods are witnesse,
Neu'r did poore Steward weare a truer greefe
For his vndone Lord, then mine eyes for you.
The Gods are witnesse,
Neu'r did poore Steward weare a truer greefe
For his vndone Lord, then mine eyes for you.
Tim.
What, dost thou weepe?
Come neerer, then I loue thee
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankinde: whose eyes do neuer giue,
But thorow Lust and Laughter: pittie's sleeping:
Strange times yt weepe with laughing, not with weeping.
What, dost thou weepe?
Come neerer, then I loue thee
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankinde: whose eyes do neuer giue,
But thorow Lust and Laughter: pittie's sleeping:
Strange times yt weepe with laughing, not with weeping.
Stew.
I begge of you to know me, good my Lord,
T'accept my greefe, and whil'st this poore wealth lasts,
To entertaine me as your Steward still.
I begge of you to know me, good my Lord,
T'accept my greefe, and whil'st this poore wealth lasts,
To entertaine me as your Steward still.
Tim.
Had I a Steward
So true, so iust, and now so comfortable?
It almost turnes my dangerous Nature wilde.
Let me behold thy face: Surely, this man
Was borne of woman.
Forgiue my generall, and exceptlesse rashnesse
You perpetuall sober Gods. I do proclaime
One honest man: Mistake me not, but one:
No more I pray, and hee's a Steward.
How faine would I haue hated all mankinde,
And thou redeem'st thy selfe. But all saue thee,
I fell with Curses.
Me thinkes thou art more honest now, then wise:
For, by oppressing and betraying mee,
Had I a Steward
So true, so iust, and now so comfortable?
It almost turnes my dangerous Nature wilde.
Let me behold thy face: Surely, this man
Was borne of woman.
Forgiue my generall, and exceptlesse rashnesse
You perpetuall sober Gods. I do proclaime
One honest man: Mistake me not, but one:
No more I pray, and hee's a Steward.
How faine would I haue hated all mankinde,
And thou redeem'st thy selfe. But all saue thee,
I fell with Curses.
Me thinkes thou art more honest now, then wise:
For, by oppressing and betraying mee,
Thou
