ACT

V.

SCENE I. The same. Before Timon's Cave.
Enter Poet nd Painter; TIMON behind

unseen.

Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.

Poet. What's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true, that he is so full of gold? Pain. Certain : Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him; he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity: 'Tis said, he gave unto his steward a mighty sun.

Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.

Pain. Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore, 'tis not ainiss we tender our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his: it will show honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.

Poct. What have you now to present unto

him?

Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I will promise him an excellent piece.

Poet. I must serve him so too; tell him of an intent that's coming toward him.

Pain. Good as the best. Promising is the very air o'the time: it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it.

Tim. Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.

Pet. I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him: It must be a personating of himself: a satire against the softness of prosperity; with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.

Tm. Must thon needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have gold

for thee.

Puet. Nay, let's seek him:
Then do we sin against our own estate,
When we may profit meet, and come too late.
Pain. True;

When the day serves, before black-corner'd
night,

Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd
Conie.
[light.
Tun. I'll meet you at the turn. What a
god's gold,

That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple
Than where swine feed!
[the foam;
'Tis thon that rigg'st the bark, and plough'st
Seitlest admired reverence in a slave:
To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye
Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey!
'Fit I do meet them.
[Advancing.

Poet. Hail, worthy Timon!
Pain.
Our late noble master.
Tim Have I once lived to see two honest
Poet. Sir,

[men?
Having often of your open bounty tasted, [off,
Hearing you were retired, your friends fall'n
Whose thankless natures-( abhorred spirits!
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough-
What! to you,
[finence
Whose star-like nobleness gave life and in-.
To their whole being! I'm rapt, and cannot
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude [cover
With any size of words.
[better:

Tim. Let it go naked, men may see't the
Yon, that are honest, by being what you are,
Make them best seen and known.

Pain.

He, and myself, Have travell'd in the great shower of your And sweetly felt it. [gifts, Tim. Ay, you are honest men. Pain. We are hither come to offer you our service. [I requite you? -Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no. Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you [that I have gold; Tim. You are honest men: Yon have heard I am sure you have: speak truth: you are {therefore

service.

honest men.

Pain. So it is said, my noble lord: but

Came not my friend, nor I. [counterfeitt

Tim. Good honest men:-Thon draw'st a Best in all Athens: thon art, indeed, the best; Thon counterfeit'st most lively.

Pain,
So, so, my lord.
Tim. Even so, sir, as I say :-And, for thy
fiction,
[To the Poet.
Why thy verse swells with stuff so fine and
mooth,

That thou at even natural in thine art.-
But, for all this, my honest-natured friends,

• The doing of that we said we would do.

+ A portrait was so called.

dissemble,

Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,
Keep in your hosom: yet remain assured
That he's a made-up villain".

Pain. I know none such, my lord.
Poet.

Nor I. Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give yon gold,

Rid me these villains from your companies:
Hang them, or stab them, drown them in a
draught 1,
[me.
Confound them by some course, and come to
I'll give you gold enongh.

Both. Name them, my lord, let's know

them.

Enter TIMON.

Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn!--
Speak, and be hang❜d:

For each true word, a blister! and each false
Be as a cant'rizing to the root o'the tongue,
Consuming it with speaking!
1 Sen.

Worthy Timon
Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of
Timon.
[limon.
2 Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee,
Tom. I thank them; and would send them
back the plague,
Could I but catch it for them.
Sen.

0, forget

What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
The senators, with one consent of love,
Entreat thee back to Athens; who have
On special dignities, which vacant lie (thought
For thy best use and wearing_
2 Sen
They confess
Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross:
Which now the public hody,-which doth sel-
Play the recanter,-feeling in itself [dom
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal
Of its own fall, restraining aid to Timon;
And send forth us, to make their sorrowed
render §,

fin company-Together with a recompense more fruitful
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram;
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and
wealth,
(theirs,
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.

Tim. You that way, and you this, but two
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 re-
side
[To the Poet.
But where one villain is, then him abandon.
Hence! pack! there's gold, ye came for gold,
ye slaves:
[Hence!
You have done work for me, there's payment:
You are an alchymist, make gold of that:-
Out, rascal dogs!

[Exit, beating and driving them out.
SCENE II. The Sume.
Enter FLAVIUs, and two Senators.
Flav. It is in vain that you would speak
For he is set so only to himself, [with Timon;
That nothing but himself, which looks like
Is friendly with him.
[Inan,
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, and
griefs,
[hand,
That framed him thus: time, with his fairer
Offering the fortunes of his former days, [him,
The former man may make him: Bring us to
And chance it as it may.
Flav

Live with anthority-so soon we shall drive
Of Alcibiades the approaches wild;
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace-

2 Sen. And shakes his threat'ning sword
Aginst the walls of Athens.
1 Sen.

Therefore, Timon,— Tm. Well, sir, I will; therefore I will, sir; If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, [Thus,Let Alcibiades know this of Timon, Athens, That-limon cares not. But if he sack fair And take our goodly aged men by the beards Giving our holy virgins to the stain Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war; Then let him know, and tell him Timon Here is his cave.- In pity of our aged and our youth, speaks it, Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! I cannot choose but tell him, that-I care not, Timon! Look out, and speak to friends: The Athe[nians, And let him take't at worst; for their knives

care not,

By two of their most reverend senate, greet While you have throats to answer: for myself, Speak to them, noble Timon. [thee: There's not a whittle in the only camp,

A complete, a finished villain. § Confession.

+ In 2 jakes. Licensed, uncontrolled.

With one united voice of affection

¶ A clasp knife.

Lyon
But I do prize it a my love, before
The reverend'st threat in Athens. So I leave
To the protection of the prosperous gods",
As theves to keepers.
Fav.
Stay not, all's in vain.
Tem. Why, I was writing of my epitaph,
It will be seen to morrow; My long sickness
Of health, and living, now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go, live
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his, [still;
And last so long enough!

1 Sen.

We speak in vain.
Tum. But yet I love my country; and am not
One that rejoices in the common wreck,
As common bruit doth put it.

Mess.
I have spoke the least:
Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach.

friend;

[not Timon 2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient [posed, Whom, though in general part we were op Yet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends--this man was [viding From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i'the cause against your city, In part for his sake moved.

Enter Senators from TIMON. 1 Sen. Here come our brothers. 3 Sen. No talk of limon, nothing of him (ing expect.The enemies' drum is beard, and fearful scour Doth choke the ai with dust: in and prepare; Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes, the snare.

[Exeunt.

and e tomb-stone seen. Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon.

1 Sen. That's well spoke. Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen,[pass through them. 1 Sen. These words become your lips as they 2 Sen. And enter in our ears like great tri [umphers In their applauding gates. Tem Commend ne to them: SCENE IV. The Woods. Timon's Cave, And tell them, that to ease them of their griefs, Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, Their pangs of love, with other incident throes That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness [wrath. I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' 2.Sen. I like this well, he will return again. Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close,

do them:

Tim.- Come not to me again: but say to
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Which once a day with his embossed froth ||
The turbulent surge shall cover; thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.-
Lips, let sour words go by, and language end:
What is amiss, plague and infection mend!
Graves only be men's works; and death their

gain!

Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his
reign.
[Eait TIMON.
Sen. His discontents are unremovably
Compled to nature.
2 Sen. Our us pe in him is dead: let us re-

[iurn,

And strain what other means are left unto us
In our dear peril.
2 Sen.

It requires swift foot. [Exeunt.
SCENE III. The Walls of Athens.
Enter Two Senators, and a Messenger.

1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are As full as thy report? [his files

Sol. By all description, this should be the place

(is this?
Who's here? speak, ho!-No answer?-What
Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span:
Some beast rear'd this; there does not live a
[inan.
Dead, sure; and this his grave --
What's on this tomb I cannot read; the cha-
[racter
I'll take with wax.

Our captain hath in every figure skill;
An aged interpreter, though young in days:
Before proud Athens he's set down by this,
Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. [Exit.
SCENE V. Before the Walls of Athens,
Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES, and

Forces.

Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious
town

Our terrible approach. [A parley sounded,
Enter Senators on the Walls.
Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time
With all licentions measure, making your will

The scope of justice; till now, my self, and such
As slept within the shadow of your power,
Have wander'd with our traversed arms**, and
Our sufferance vainly: Now the time is flush ++,
When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong,
now breathless
Cries, of itself, No more:

breath'd

wrong

Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease;
And pursy insolence shall break his wind,
With fear and horrid flight.
Noble and young,
1 Sen.
When thy first griefs were bat a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear,
We sent to thee; to give thy rages balin,

To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above their quantity.

i. c., The gods, who are the anthors of the prosperity of mankind.

disease of life begins to promise me a period.

highest to lowest.

Swollen froth.

He means-the

Report, rumour. 6 Methodically, from ** Arms across. + Mature ¶ Dreadful.

2 Sen.
Who were the motives that you first went out;
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
By decimation, and a tithed death,

(If thy revenges hunger for that food, [tenth:
Which nature loaths,) take thou the destined
And by the hazard of the spotted dic,
Let die the spotted.

All have not offended;

1 Sen.
For those that were, it is not squaret to take
On those that are revenges: crimes, like lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin,
Which, in the blister of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd,
Approach the fold, and cuil the infected forth,
But kill not altogether.

2 Sen.
What thon wilt,
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile,
Than hew to't with thy sword.

1 Sen.

Set but thy foot
Against our rampired gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say, thou'lt enter friendly.
2 Sen.
Throw thy glove;
Or any token of thy honour else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion: all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we

Have seal'd thy fall desire.
Alcib.

Then there's my glove;

Descend, and open your uncharged ports;
Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own,
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more: and,-to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning,--not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justi e in your city's bounds,
But shall be remedied, to your public laws
At heaviest answer.
Both.
Tis most nobly spoken.
Aleib. Descend, and keep your words.
[The Senators des end, and open the Gates.
Enter a Soldier.

Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead;
Entomb'd upon the very hem o'the sea:
And on his grave-stone this insculpture; which
With wax I brought away, whose soft impres
Interprets for my poor ignorance. [sion

Alcib. [Reads.] Here lies a wretched
corse, of wretched soul bereft:
Seek not my name: A plague consume you
wicked caitiff's left!

Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate:

Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and

stay not here thy gait.

These well express in thee thy latter spirits:
Thongh thou abhorr'dst in as our human griefs,
Scorn'dst our brains flow, and those our
droplets which

From niggard nature fall, yet rich conerit
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for
aye

On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead
Is noble Timon; of whose memory
Hereafter more-Bring me into your city,
And I will use the olive with my sword:
Make war breed peace; make peace stint¶
war; make each
Prescribe to other, as each other's leech **.
Let our drums strike.

[Exeunt.

↑ Not regular, not equitable. Stop. • Physician.

i. e., By promising him a competent subsistence. Unattacked gates. § Reconcile. i.e., Our tears.

The play of TIMON is a domestic tragedy, and therefore strongly fastens on the attention of the reader. In the plan there is not much art, but the incidents are natural, and the characters varions and exact. The catastrophe affords a very powerful warning against that ostentations liberality, which scatters bounty, but confers no benefits, and buys flattery, but not friendship.

In this tragedy, are many passages perplexed, obscure, and probably corrupt, which I have enneavoured to rectify, or explain with due diligence; but having only one copy, cannot pro mise myself that my endeavours shall be much applauded.-JOHNSON

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, 1 Cit. First you know, Caius Marcius is yon account a vice in him: You must in no

Cit. Against him first; he's a very dog to

2 Cit. Consider you what services he has one for his country?