Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Life of Tymon of Athens/Act 3 Scene 6

by William Shakespeare

Enter diuers Friends at seuerall doores.

1
The good time of day to you, sir.

2
I also wish it to you: I thinke this Honorable Lord
did but try vs this other day.

1
Vpon that were my thoughts tyring when wee encountred.
I hope it is not so low with him as he made it
seeme in the triall of his seuerall Friends.

2
It should not be, by the perswasion of his new Feasting.

1
I should thinke so. He hath sent mee an earnest inuiting,
which many my neere occasions did vrge mee to
put off: but he hath coniur'd mee beyond them, and I
must needs appeare.

2
In like manner was I in debt to my importunat businesse,
but he would not heare my excuse. I am sorrie,
when he sent to borrow of mee, that my Prouision was
out.

1
I am sicke of that greefe too, as I vnderstand how all
things go.

2
Euery man heares so: what would hee haue borrowed
of you?

1
A thousand Peeces.

2
A thousand Peeces?

1
What of you?

2
He sent to me sir———Heere he comes.

Enter Timon and Attendants.

Tim.
With all my heart Gentlemen both; and how fare you?

1
Euer at the best, hearing well of your Lordship.

2
The Swallow followes not Summer more willing,
then we your Lordship.

Tim.
Nor more willingly leaues Winter, such Summer
Birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompence
this long stay: Feast your eares with the Musicke
awhile: If they will fare so harshly o'th'Trumpets
sound: we shall too't presently.

1
I hope it remaines not vnkindely with your Lordship,
that I return'd you an empty Messenger.

Tim.
O sir, let it not trouble you.

2
My Noble Lord.

Tim.
Ah my good Friend, what cheere?
The Banket brought in. 

2
My most Honorable Lord, I am e'ne sick of shame,
that when your Lordship this other day sent to me, I was
so vnfortunate a Beggar.

Tim.
Thinke not on't, sir.

2
If you had sent but two houres before.

Tim.
Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
Come bring in all together.

2
All couer'd Dishes.

1
Royall Cheare, I warrant you.

3
Doubt not that, if money and the season can yeild it

1
How do you? What's the newes?

3
Alcibiades is banish'd: heare you of it?

Both.
Alcibiades banish'd?

3
'Tis so, be sure of it.

1
How? How?

2
I pray you vpon what?

Tim.
My worthy Friends, will you draw neere?

3
Ile tell you more anon. Here's a Noble feast toward

2
This is the old man still.

3
Wilt hold? Wilt hold?

2
It do's: but time will, and so.

3
I do conceyue.

Tim.
Each man to his stoole, with that spurre as hee
would to the lip of his Mistris: your dyet shall bee in all
places alike. Make not a Citie Feast of it, to let the meat
coole, ere we can agree vpon the first place. Sit, sit.
The Gods require our Thankes.
 You great Benefactors, sprinkle our Society with Thankefulnesse.
For your owne guifts, make your selues prais'd: But
reserue still to giue, least your Deities be despised. Lend to each
man enough, that one neede not lend to another. For were your
Godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the Gods. Make
the Meate be beloued, more then the Man that giues it. Let
no Assembly of Twenty, be without a score of Villaines. If there
sit twelue Women at the Table, let a dozen of them bee as they
are. The rest of your Fees, O Gods, the Senators of Athens,
together with the common legge of People, what is amisse in
them, you Gods, make suteable for destruction. For these my
present Friends, as they are to mee nothing, so in nothing blesse
them, and to nothing are they welcome.
Vncouer Dogges, and lap.

Some speake.
What do's his Lordship meane?

Some other.
I know not.

Timon.
May you a better Feast neuer behold
You knot of Mouth-Friends: Smoke, & lukewarm water
Is your perfection. This is Timons last,
Who stucke and spangled you with Flatteries,
Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces
Your reeking villany. Liue loath'd, and long
Most smiling, smooth, detested Parasites,
Curteous Destroyers, affable Wolues, meeke Beares:
You Fooles of Fortune, Trencher-friends, Times Flyes,
Cap and knee-Slaues, vapours, and Minute Iackes.
Of Man and Beast, the infinite Maladie
Crust you quite o're. What do'st thou go?
Soft, take thy Physicke first; thou too, and thou:
Stay I will lend thee money, borrow none.
What? All in Motion? Henceforth be no Feast,
Whereat a Villaine's not a welcome Guest.
Burne house, sinke Athens, henceforth hated be
Exit.Of Timon Man, and all Humanity.

Enter the Senators, with other Lords.
1
How now, my Lords?

2
Know you the quality of Lord Timons fury?

3
Push, did you see my Cap?

4
I haue lost my Gowne.

1
He's but a mad Lord, & nought but humors swaies
him. He gaue me a Iewell th'other day, and now hee has
beate it out of my hat.
Did you see my Iewell?

2
Did you see my Cap.

3
Heere 'tis.

4
Heere lyes my Gowne.

1
Let's make no stay.

2
Lord Timons mad.

3
I feel't vpon my bones.

4
One day he giues vs Diamonds, next day stones
Exeunt the Senators.