TIMON OF ATHENS

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Contents

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

TIMON of Athens. 
LUCIUS 

LUCULLUS 

SEMPRONIUS 

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| flattering lords.
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VENTIDIUS one of Timon's false friends. 
ALCIBIADES an Athenian captain. 
APEMANTUS a churlish philosopher. 
FLAVIUS steward to Timon. 
Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant. (Poet:)
(Painter:)
(Jeweller:)
(Merchant:) 
An old Athenian. (Old Athenian:) 
FLAMINIUS 

LUCILIUS 

SERVILIUS 

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| servants to Timon.
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CAPHIS 

PHILOTUS 

TITUS 

LUCIUS 

HORTENSIUS 

And others 

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| servants to Timon's creditors.
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A Page. (Page:) 
A Fool. (Fool:) 
Three Strangers.
(First Stranger:)
(Second Stranger:)
(Third Stranger:) 
PHRYNIA 

TIMANDRA 

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| mistresses to Alcibiades.
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Cupid and Amazons in the mask. (Cupid:) 
Other Lords, Senators, Officers, Soldiers,
Banditti, and Attendants.
(First Lord:)
(Second Lord:)
(Third Lord:)
(Fourth Lord:)
(Senator:)
(First Senator:)
(Second Senator:)
(Third Senator:)
(Soldier:)
(First Bandit:)
(Second Bandit:)
(Third Bandit:)
(Messenger:)
(Servant:)
(First Servant:)
(Second Servant:)
(Third Servant:)
(Varro's First Servant:)
(Varro's Second Servant:)
(Lucilius' Servant:) 

Scene

Athens, and the neighbouring woods. 

Act I

Scene I Athens. A hall in Timon's house.

[Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and
others, at several doors] 
Poet Good day, sir. 
Painter I am glad you're well. 
Poet I have not seen you long: how goes the world? 
Painter It wears, sir, as it grows. 
Poet Ay, that's well known:
But what particular rarity? what strange,
Which manifold record not matches? See,
Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power
Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant. 
Painter I know them both; th' other's a jeweller. 
Merchant O, 'tis a worthy lord. 
Jeweller Nay, that's most fix'd. 
Merchant A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
To an untirable and continuate goodness:
He passes. 
Jeweller: I have a jewel here-- 
Merchant O, pray, let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir? 
Jeweller: If he will touch the estimate: but, for that-- 
Poet [Reciting to himself] 'When we for recompense have
praised the vile,
It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.' 
Merchant 'Tis a good form. 
[Looking at the jewel] 
Jeweller And rich: here is a water, look ye. 
Painter You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
To the great lord. 
Poet A thing slipp'd idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes
From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
Provokes itself and like the current flies
Each bound it chafes. What have you there? 
Painter A picture, sir. When comes your book forth? 
Poet Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
Let's see your piece. 
Painter 'Tis a good piece. 
Poet So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent. 
Painter Indifferent. 
Poet Admirable: how this grace
Speaks his own standing! what a mental power
This eye shoots forth! how big imagination
Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture
One might interpret. 
Painter It is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch; is't good? 
Poet I will say of it,
It tutors nature: artificial strife
Lives in these touches, livelier than life. 
[Enter certain Senators, and pass over] 
Painter How this lord is follow'd! 
Poet The senators of Athens: happy man! 
Painter Look, more! 
Poet You see this confluence, this great flood
of visitors.
I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment: my free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold;
But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind. 
Painter How shall I understand you? 
Poet I will unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
As well of glib and slippery creatures as
Of grave and austere quality, tender down
Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself: even he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod. 
Painter I saw them speak together. 
Poet Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
Feign'd Fortune to be throned: the base o' the mount
Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states: amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;
Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
Translates his rivals. 
Painter 'Tis conceived to scope.
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the sleepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
In our condition. 
Poet Nay, sir, but hear me on.
All those which were his fellows but of late,
Some better than his value, on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
Drink the free air. 
Painter Ay, marry, what of these? 
Poet When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants
Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
Not one accompanying his declining foot. 
Painter 'Tis common:
A thousand moral paintings I can show
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
The foot above the head. 
[Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, addressing himself
courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from
VENTIDIUS talking with him; LUCILIUS and other
servants following] 
TIMON Imprison'd is he, say you? 
Messenger Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt,
His means most short, his creditors most strait:
Your honourable letter he desires
To those have shut him up; which failing,
Periods his comfort. 
TIMON Noble Ventidius! Well;
I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he must need me. I do know him
A gentleman that well deserves a help:
Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt,
and free him. 
Messenger Your lordship ever binds him. 
TIMON Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;
And being enfranchised, bid him come to me.
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to support him after. Fare you well. 
Messenger All happiness to your honour! 
[Exit] 
[Enter an old Athenian] 
Old Athenian Lord Timon, hear me speak. 
TIMON Freely, good father. 
Old Athenian Thou hast a servant named Lucilius. 
TIMON I have so: what of him? 
Old Athenian Most noble Timon, call the man before thee. 
TIMON Attends he here, or no? Lucilius! 
LUCILIUS Here, at your lordship's service. 
Old Athenian This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclined to thrift;
And my estate deserves an heir more raised
Than one which holds a trencher. 
TIMON Well; what further? 
Old Athenian One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got:
The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest cost
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I prithee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain. 
TIMON The man is honest. 
Old Athenian Therefore he will be, Timon:
His honesty rewards him in itself;
It must not bear my daughter. 
TIMON Does she love him? 
Old Athenian She is young and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth. 
TIMON [To LUCILIUS] Love you the maid? 
LUCILIUS Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it. 
Old Athenian If in her marriage my consent be missing,
I call the gods to witness, I will choose
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all. 
TIMON How shall she be endow'd,
if she be mated with an equal husband? 
Old Athenian Three talents on the present; in future, all. 
TIMON This gentleman of mine hath served me long:
To build his fortune I will strain a little,
For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,
And make him weigh with her. 
Old Athenian Most noble lord,
Pawn me to this your honour, she is his. 
TIMON My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise. 
LUCILIUS Humbly I thank your lordship: never may
The state or fortune fall into my keeping,
Which is not owed to you! 
[Exeunt LUCILIUS and Old Athenian] 
Poet Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship! 
TIMON I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
Go not away. What have you there, my friend? 
Painter A piece of painting, which I do beseech
Your lordship to accept. 
TIMON Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;
or since dishonour traffics with man's nature,
He is but outside: these pencill'd figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work;
And you shall find I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear further from me. 
Painter The gods preserve ye! 
TIMON Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
Hath suffer'd under praise. 
Jeweller What, my lord! dispraise? 
TIMON A more satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
It would unclew me quite. 
Jeweller My lord, 'tis rated
As those which sell would give: but you well know,
Things of like value differing in the owners
Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear lord,
You mend the jewel by the wearing it. 
TIMON Well mock'd. 
Merchant No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
Which all men speak with him. 
TIMON Look, who comes here: will you be chid? 
[Enter APEMANTUS] 
Jeweller We'll bear, with your lordship. 
Merchant He'll spare none. 
TIMON Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus! 
APEMANTUS Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;
When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest. 
TIMON Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not. 
APEMANTUS Are they not Athenians? 
TIMON Yes. 
APEMANTUS Then I repent not. 
Jeweller You know me, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS Thou know'st I do: I call'd thee by thy name. 
TIMON Thou art proud, Apemantus. 
APEMANTUS Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon. 
TIMON Whither art going? 
APEMANTUS To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. 
TIMON That's a deed thou'lt die for. 
APEMANTUS Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. 
TIMON How likest thou this picture, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS The best, for the innocence. 
TIMON Wrought he not well that painted it? 
APEMANTUS He wrought better that made the painter; and yet
he's but a filthy piece of work. 
Painter You're a dog. 
APEMANTUS Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog? 
TIMON Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS No; I eat not lords. 
TIMON An thou shouldst, thou 'ldst anger ladies. 
APEMANTUS O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies. 
TIMON That's a lascivious apprehension. 
APEMANTUS So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour. 
TIMON How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a
man a doit. 
TIMON What dost thou think 'tis worth? 
APEMANTUS Not worth my thinking. How now, poet! 
Poet How now, philosopher! 
APEMANTUS Thou liest. 
Poet Art not one? 
APEMANTUS Yes. 
Poet Then I lie not. 
APEMANTUS Art not a poet? 
Poet Yes. 
APEMANTUS Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou
hast feigned him a worthy fellow. 
Poet That's not feigned; he is so. 
APEMANTUS Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy
labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o'
the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! 
TIMON What wouldst do then, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart. 
TIMON What, thyself? 
APEMANTUS Ay. 
TIMON Wherefore? 
APEMANTUS That I had no angry wit to be a lord.
Art not thou a merchant? 
Merchant Ay, Apemantus. 
APEMANTUS Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not! 
Merchant If traffic do it, the gods do it. 
APEMANTUS Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee! 
[Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger] 
TIMON What trumpet's that? 
Messenger 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship. 
TIMON Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us. 
[Exeunt some Attendants] 
You must needs dine with me: go not you hence
Till I have thank'd you: when dinner's done,
Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights. 
[Enter ALCIBIADES, with the rest] 
Most welcome, sir! 
APEMANTUS So, so, there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
That there should be small love 'mongst these
sweet knaves,
And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out
Into baboon and monkey. 
ALCIBIADES Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly on your sight. 
TIMON Right welcome, sir!
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. 
[Exeunt all except APEMANTUS] 
[Enter two Lords] 
First Lord What time o' day is't, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS Time to be honest. 
First Lord That time serves still. 
APEMANTUS The more accursed thou, that still omitt'st it. 
Second Lord Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast? 
APEMANTUS Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools. 
Second Lord Fare thee well, fare thee well. 
APEMANTUS Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice. 
Second Lord Why, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to
give thee none. 
First Lord Hang thyself! 
APEMANTUS No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy
requests to thy friend. 
Second Lord Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence! 
APEMANTUS I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' the ass. 
[Exit] 
First Lord He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness. 
Second Lord He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
All use of quittance. 
First Lord The noblest mind he carries
That ever govern'd man. 
Second Lord Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 
First Lord I'll keep you company. 
[Exeunt] 

Scene II A banqueting-room in Timon's house.

[Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet
served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter
TIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, Senators, and VENTIDIUS.
Then comes, dropping, after all, APEMANTUS,
discontentedly, like himself] 
VENTIDIUS Most honour'd Timon,
It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age,
And call him to long peace.
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
To your free heart, I do return those talents,
Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
I derived liberty. 
TIMON O, by no means,
Honest Ventidius; you mistake my love:
I gave it freely ever; and there's none
Can truly say he gives, if he receives:
If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair. 
VENTIDIUS A noble spirit! 
TIMON Nay, my lords, 
[They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON] 
Ceremony was but devised at first
To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes
Than my fortunes to me. 
[They sit] 
First Lord My lord, we always have confess'd it. 
APEMANTUS Ho, ho, confess'd it! hang'd it, have you not? 
TIMON O, Apemantus, you are welcome. 
APEMANTUS No;
You shall not make me welcome:
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. 
TIMON Fie, thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there
Does not become a man: 'tis much to blame.
They say, my lords, 'ira furor brevis est;' but yond
man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by
himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is
he fit for't, indeed. 
APEMANTUS Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon: I come to
observe; I give thee warning on't. 
TIMON I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian,
therefore welcome: I myself would have no power;
prithee, let my meat make thee silent. 
APEMANTUS I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should
ne'er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of
men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me
to see so many dip their meat in one man's blood;
and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.
I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There's much example for't; the fellow that sits
next him now, parts bread with him, pledges the
breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest
man to kill him: 't has been proved. If I were a
huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their throats. 
TIMON My lord, in heart; and let the health go round. 
Second Lord Let it flow this way, my good lord. 
APEMANTUS Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keeps his tides
well. Those healths will make thee and thy state
look ill, Timon. Here's that which is too weak to
be a sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
This and my food are equals; there's no odds:
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods. 
Apemantus' grace. 
Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his oath or bond;
Or a harlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that seems a-sleeping:
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:
Rich men sin, and I eat root. 
[Eats and drinks] 
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus! 
TIMON Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. 
ALCIBIADES My heart is ever at your service, my lord. 
TIMON You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a
dinner of friends. 
ALCIBIADES So the were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat
like 'em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast. 
APEMANTUS Would all those fatterers were thine enemies then,
that then thou mightst kill 'em and bid me to 'em! 
First Lord Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you
would once use our hearts, whereby we might express
some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves
for ever perfect. 
TIMON O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods
themselves have provided that I shall have much help
from you: how had you been my friends else? why
have you that charitable title from thousands, did
not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told
more of you to myself than you can with modesty
speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm
you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any
friends, if we should ne'er have need of 'em? they
were the most needless creatures living, should we
ne'er have use for 'em, and would most resemble
sweet instruments hung up in cases that keep their
sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished
myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We
are born to do benefits: and what better or
properer can we can our own than the riches of our
friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have
so many, like brothers, commanding one another's
fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere 't can be born!
Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to
forget their faults, I drink to you. 
APEMANTUS Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon. 
Second Lord Joy had the like conception in our eyes
And at that instant like a babe sprung up. 
APEMANTUS Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard. 
Third Lord I promise you, my lord, you moved me much. 
APEMANTUS Much! 
[Tucket, within] 
TIMON What means that trump? 
[Enter a Servant] 
How now? 
Servant Please you, my lord, there are certain
ladies most desirous of admittance. 
TIMON Ladies! what are their wills? 
Servant There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which
bears that office, to signify their pleasures. 
TIMON I pray, let them be admitted. 
[Enter Cupid] 
Cupid Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th' ear,
Taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tale rise;
They only now come but to feast thine eyes. 
TIMON They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:
Music, make their welcome! 
[Exit Cupid] 
First Lord You see, my lord, how ample you're beloved. 
[Music. Re-enter Cupid with a mask of Ladies
as Amazons, with lutes in their hands,
dancing and playing] 
APEMANTUS Hoy-day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way!
They dance! they are mad women.
Like madness is the glory of this life.
As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men
Upon whose age we void it up again,
With poisonous spite and envy.
Who lives that's not depraved or depraves?
Who dies, that bears not one spurn to their graves
Of their friends' gift?
I should fear those that dance before me now
Would one day stamp upon me: 't has been done;
Men shut their doors against a setting sun. 
[The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of
TIMON; and to show their loves, each singles out an
Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty
strain or two to the hautboys, and cease] 
TIMON You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't and lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for 't. 
First Lady My lord, you take us even at the best. 
APEMANTUS 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold
taking, I doubt me. 
TIMON Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you:
Please you to dispose yourselves. 
All Ladies Most thankfully, my lord. 
[Exeunt Cupid and Ladies] 
TIMON Flavius. 
FLAVIUS My lord? 
TIMON The little casket bring me hither. 
FLAVIUS Yes, my lord. More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in 's humour; 
[Aside] 
Else I should tell him,--well, i' faith I should,
When all's spent, he 'ld be cross'd then, an he could.
'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. 
[Exit] 
First Lord Where be our men? 
Servant Here, my lord, in readiness. 
Second Lord Our horses! 
[Re-enter FLAVIUS, with the casket] 
TIMON O my friends,
I have one word to say to you: look you, my good lord,
I must entreat you, honour me so much
As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,
Kind my lord. 
First Lord I am so far already in your gifts,-- 
All So are we all. 
[Enter a Servant] 
Servant My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate
Newly alighted, and come to visit you. 
TIMON They are fairly welcome. 
FLAVIUS I beseech your honour,
Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near. 
TIMON Near! why then, another time I'll hear thee:
I prithee, let's be provided to show them
entertainment. 
FLAVIUS [Aside] I scarce know how. 
[Enter a Second Servant] 
Second Servant May it please your honour, Lord Lucius,
Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver. 
TIMON I shall accept them fairly; let the presents
Be worthily entertain'd. 
[Enter a third Servant] 
How now! what news? 
Third Servant Please you, my lord, that honourable
gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company
to-morrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honour
two brace of greyhounds. 
TIMON I'll hunt with him; and let them be received,
Not without fair reward. 
FLAVIUS [Aside] What will this come to?
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer:
Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this,
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good:
His promises fly so beyond his state
That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
For every word: he is so kind that he now
Pays interest for 't; his land's put to their books.
Well, would I were gently put out of office
Before I were forced out!
Happier is he that has no friend to feed
Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord. 
[Exit] 
TIMON You do yourselves
Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits:
Here, my lord, a trifle of our love. 
Second Lord With more than common thanks I will receive it. 
Third Lord O, he's the very soul of bounty! 
TIMON And now I remember, my lord, you gave
Good words the other day of a bay courser
I rode on: it is yours, because you liked it. 
Second Lord O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that. 
TIMON You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man
Can justly praise but what he does affect:
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
I'll tell you true. I'll call to you. 
All Lords O, none so welcome. 
TIMON I take all and your several visitations
So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give;
Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends,
And ne'er be weary. Alcibiades,
Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich;
It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living
Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
Lie in a pitch'd field. 
ALCIBIADES Ay, defiled land, my lord. 
First Lord We are so virtuously bound-- 
TIMON And so
Am I to you. 
Second Lord So infinitely endear'd-- 
TIMON All to you. Lights, more lights! 
First Lord The best of happiness,
Honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon! 
TIMON Ready for his friends. 
[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS and TIMON] 
APEMANTUS What a coil's here!
Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!
I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:
Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs,
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies. 
TIMON Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be
good to thee. 
APEMANTUS No, I'll nothing: for if I should be bribed too,
there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then
thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long,
Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in
paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps and
vain-glories? 
TIMON Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am
sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come
with better music. 
[Exit] 
APEMANTUS So:
Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then:
I'll lock thy heaven from thee.
O, that men's ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! 
[Exit] 

Act II

Scene I A Senator's house.

[Enter Senator, with papers in his hand] 
Senator And late, five thousand: to Varro and to Isidore
He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty. Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.
If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,
And able horses. No porter at his gate,
But rather one that smiles and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold: no reason
Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho!
Caphis, I say! 
[Enter CAPHIS] 
CAPHIS Here, sir; what is your pleasure? 
Senator Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon;
Importune him for my moneys; be not ceased
With slight denial, nor then silenced when--
'Commend me to your master'--and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus: but tell him,
My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past
And my reliances on his fracted dates
Have smit my credit: I love and honour him,
But must not break my back to heal his finger;
Immediate are my needs, and my relief
Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate aspect,
A visage of demand; for, I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone. 
CAPHIS I go, sir. 
Senator 'I go, sir!'--Take the bonds along with you,
And have the dates in contempt. 
CAPHIS I will, sir. 
Senator Go. 
[Exeunt] 

Scene II The same. A hall in Timon's house.

[Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand] 
FLAVIUS No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account
How things go from him, nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue: never mind
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.
What shall be done? he will not hear, till feel:
I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.
Fie, fie, fie, fie! 
[Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of Isidore and Varro] 
CAPHIS Good even, Varro: what,
You come for money? 
Varro's Servant Is't not your business too? 
CAPHIS It is: and yours too, Isidore? 
Isidore's Servant It is so. 
CAPHIS Would we were all discharged! 
Varro's Servant I fear it. 
CAPHIS Here comes the lord. 
[Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, &c] 
TIMON So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,
My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will? 
CAPHIS My lord, here is a note of certain dues. 
TIMON Dues! Whence are you? 
CAPHIS Of Athens here, my lord. 
TIMON Go to my steward. 
CAPHIS Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awaked by great occasion
To call upon his own, and humbly prays you
That with your other noble parts you'll suit
In giving him his right. 
TIMON Mine honest friend,
I prithee, but repair to me next morning. 
CAPHIS Nay, good my lord,-- 
TIMON Contain thyself, good friend. 
Varro's Servant One Varro's servant, my good lord,-- 
Isidore's Servant From Isidore;
He humbly prays your speedy payment. 
CAPHIS If you did know, my lord, my master's wants-- 
Varro's Servant 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks And past. 
Isidore's Servant Your steward puts me off, my lord;
And I am sent expressly to your lordship. 
TIMON Give me breath.
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;
I'll wait upon you instantly. 
[Exeunt ALCIBIADES and Lords] 
[To FLAVIUS] 
Come hither: pray you,
How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd
With clamourous demands of date-broke bonds,
And the detention of long-since-due debts,
Against my honour? 
FLAVIUS Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business:
Your importunacy cease till after dinner,
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid. 
TIMON Do so, my friends. See them well entertain'd. 
[Exit] 
FLAVIUS Pray, draw near. 
[Exit] 
[Enter APEMANTUS and Fool] 
CAPHIS Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus:
let's ha' some sport with 'em. 
Varro's Servant Hang him, he'll abuse us. 
Isidore's Servant A plague upon him, dog! 
Varro's Servant How dost, fool? 
APEMANTUS Dost dialogue with thy shadow? 
Varro's Servant I speak not to thee. 
APEMANTUS No,'tis to thyself. 
[To the Fool] 
Come away. 
Isidore's Servant There's the fool hangs on your back already. 
APEMANTUS No, thou stand'st single, thou'rt not on him yet. 
CAPHIS Where's the fool now? 
APEMANTUS He last asked the question. Poor rogues, and
usurers' men! bawds between gold and want! 
All Servants What are we, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS Asses. 
All Servants Why? 
APEMANTUS That you ask me what you are, and do not know
yourselves. Speak to 'em, fool. 
Fool How do you, gentlemen? 
All Servants Gramercies, good fool: how does your mistress? 
Fool She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens
as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth! 
APEMANTUS Good! gramercy. 
[Enter Page] 
Fool Look you, here comes my mistress' page. 
Page [To the Fool] Why, how now, captain! what do you
in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus? 
APEMANTUS Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer
thee profitably. 
Page Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of
these letters: I know not which is which. 
APEMANTUS Canst not read? 
Page No. 
APEMANTUS There will little learning die then, that day thou
art hanged. This is to Lord Timon; this to
Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou't
die a bawd. 
Page Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish a
dog's death. Answer not; I am gone. 
[Exit] 
APEMANTUS E'en so thou outrunnest grace. Fool, I will go with
you to Lord Timon's. 
Fool Will you leave me there? 
APEMANTUS If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers? 
All Servants Ay; would they served us! 
APEMANTUS So would I,--as good a trick as ever hangman served thief. 
Fool Are you three usurers' men? 
All Servants Ay, fool. 
Fool I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant: my
mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come
to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and
go away merry; but they enter my mistress' house
merrily, and go away sadly: the reason of this? 
Varro's Servant I could render one. 
APEMANTUS Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster
and a knave; which not-withstanding, thou shalt be
no less esteemed. 
Varro's Servant What is a whoremaster, fool? 
Fool A fool in good clothes, and something like thee.
'Tis a spirit: sometime't appears like a lord;
sometime like a lawyer; sometime like a philosopher,
with two stones moe than's artificial one: he is
very often like a knight; and, generally, in all
shapes that man goes up and down in from fourscore
to thirteen, this spirit walks in. 
Varro's Servant Thou art not altogether a fool. 
Fool Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as
I have, so much wit thou lackest. 
APEMANTUS That answer might have become Apemantus. 
All Servants Aside, aside; here comes Lord Timon. 
[Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS] 
APEMANTUS Come with me, fool, come. 
Fool I do not always follow lover, elder brother and
woman; sometime the philosopher. 
[Exeunt APEMANTUS and Fool] 
FLAVIUS Pray you, walk near: I'll speak with you anon. 
[Exeunt Servants] 
TIMON You make me marvel: wherefore ere this time
Had you not fully laid my state before me,
That I might so have rated my expense,
As I had leave of means? 
FLAVIUS You would not hear me,
At many leisures I proposed. 
TIMON Go to:
Perchance some single vantages you took.
When my indisposition put you back:
And that unaptness made your minister,
Thus to excuse yourself. 
FLAVIUS O my good lord,
At many times I brought in my accounts,
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
And say, you found them in mine honesty.
When, for some trifling present, you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head and wept;
Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you
To hold your hand more close: I did endure
Not seldom, nor no slight cheques, when I have
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
And your great flow of debts. My loved lord,
Though you hear now, too late--yet now's a time--
The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts. 
TIMON Let all my land be sold. 
FLAVIUS 'Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone;
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues: the future comes apace:
What shall defend the interim? and at length
How goes our reckoning? 
TIMON To Lacedaemon did my land extend. 
FLAVIUS O my good lord, the world is but a word:
Were it all yours to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone! 
TIMON You tell me true. 
FLAVIUS If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,
Call me before the exactest auditors
And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been oppress'd
With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine, when every room
Hath blazed with lights and bray'd with minstrelsy,
I have retired me to a wasteful cock,
And set mine eyes at flow. 
TIMON Prithee, no more. 
FLAVIUS Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!
How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants
This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?
What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is
Lord Timon's?
Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!
Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:
Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,
These flies are couch'd. 
TIMON Come, sermon me no further:
No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart;
Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack,
To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love,
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use
As I can bid thee speak. 
FLAVIUS Assurance bless your thoughts! 
TIMON And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd,
That I account them blessings; for by these
Shall I try friends: you shall perceive how you
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there! Flaminius! Servilius! 
[Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants] 
Servants My lord? my lord? 
TIMON I will dispatch you severally; you to Lord Lucius;
to Lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his honour
to-day: you, to Sempronius: commend me to their
loves, and, I am proud, say, that my occasions have
found time to use 'em toward a supply of money: let
the request be fifty talents. 
FLAMINIUS As you have said, my lord. 
FLAVIUS [Aside] Lord Lucius and Lucullus? hum! 
TIMON Go you, sir, to the senators--
Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have
Deserved this hearing--bid 'em send o' the instant
A thousand talents to me. 
FLAVIUS I have been bold--
For that I knew it the most general way--
To them to use your signet and your name;
But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return. 
TIMON Is't true? can't be? 
FLAVIUS They answer, in a joint and corporate voice,
That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot
Do what they would; are sorry--you are honourable,--
But yet they could have wish'd--they know not--
Something hath been amiss--a noble nature
May catch a wrench--would all were well--'tis pity;--
And so, intending other serious matters,
After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,
With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods
They froze me into silence. 
TIMON You gods, reward them!
Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:
Their blood is caked, 'tis cold, it seldom flows;
'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion'd for the journey, dull and heavy. 
[To a Servant] 
Go to Ventidius. 
[To FLAVIUS] 
Prithee, be not sad,
Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak.
No blame belongs to thee. 
[To Servant] 
Ventidius lately
Buried his father; by whose death he's stepp'd
Into a great estate: when he was poor,
Imprison'd and in scarcity of friends,
I clear'd him with five talents: greet him from me;
Bid him suppose some good necessity
Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd
With those five talents. 
[Exit Servant] 
[To FLAVIUS] 
That had, give't these fellows
To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think,
That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink. 
FLAVIUS I would I could not think it: that thought is
bounty's foe;
Being free itself, it thinks all others so. 
[Exeunt] 

Act III

Scene I A room in Lucullus' house.

[FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him] 
Servant I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you. 
FLAMINIUS I thank you, sir. 
[Enter LUCULLUS] 
Servant Here's my lord. 
LUCULLUS [Aside] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I
warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver
basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest
Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.
Fill me some wine. 
[Exit Servants] 
And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted
gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord
and master? 
FLAMINIUS His health is well sir. 
LUCULLUS I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and
what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius? 
FLAMINIUS 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my
lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to
supply; who, having great and instant occasion to
use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to
furnish him, nothing doubting your present
assistance therein. 
LUCULLUS La, la, la, la! 'nothing doubting,' says he? Alas,
good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not
keep so good a house. Many a time and often I ha'
dined with him, and told him on't, and come again to
supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less,
and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning
by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty
is his: I ha' told him on't, but I could ne'er get
him from't. 
[Re-enter Servant, with wine] 
Servant Please your lordship, here is the wine. 
LUCULLUS Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee. 
FLAMINIUS Your lordship speaks your pleasure. 
LUCULLUS I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt
spirit--give thee thy due--and one that knows what
belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if
the time use thee well: good parts in thee. 
[To Servant] 
Get you gone, sirrah. 
[Exit Servant] 
Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a
bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou
knowest well enough, although thou comest to me,
that this is no time to lend money, especially upon
bare friendship, without security. Here's three
solidares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say
thou sawest me not. Fare thee well. 
FLAMINIUS Is't possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee! 
[Throwing the money back] 
LUCULLUS Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master. 
[Exit] 
FLAMINIUS May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let moulten coin be thy damnation,
Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel master's passion! this slave,
Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:
Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poison?
O, may diseases only work upon't!
And, when he's sick to death, let not that part of nature
Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour! 
[Exit] 

Scene II A public place.

[Enter LUCILIUS, with three Strangers] 
LUCILIUS Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and
an honourable gentleman. 
First Stranger We know him for no less, though we are but strangers
to him. But I can