William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (436 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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POET
and
PAINTER
and
PAINTER
Beseech your honour
To make it known to us.
TIMON You’ll take it ill.
POET
and
PAINTER Most thankfully, my lord.
and
PAINTER Most thankfully, my lord.
TIMON Will you indeed?
POET
and
PAINTER Doubt it not, worthy lord.
and
PAINTER Doubt it not, worthy lord.
TIMON
There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave
That mightily deceives you.
That mightily deceives you.
POET
and
PAINTER Do we, my lord?
and
PAINTER Do we, my lord?
TIMON
Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,
Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,
Keep in your bosom; yet remain assured
That he’s a made-up villain.
Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,
Keep in your bosom; yet remain assured
That he’s a made-up villain.
PAINTER I know none such, my lord.
POET Nor I.
TIMON
Look you, I love you well. I’ll give you gold,
Rid me these villains from your companies.
Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught,
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
I’ll give you gold enough.
Rid me these villains from your companies.
Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught,
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
I’ll give you gold enough.
POET
and
PAINTER
and
PAINTER
Name them, my lord, let’s know them.
TIMON
You that way and you this—but two in company-
Each man apart, all single and alone,
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.
⌈
To Painter
⌉ If where thou art two villains shall not be,
Come not near him. ⌈
To Poet
⌉ If thou wouldst not
reside
But where one villain is, then him abandon.
Hence; pack! ⌈
Striking him
⌉ There’s gold. You came
for gold, ye slaves.
⌈
Striking Painter
⌉ You have work for me; there’s
payment. Hence!
⌈
Striking Poet
⌉ You are an alchemist; make gold of that.
Out, rascal dogs! Exeunt ⌈
Poet and
Painter one way,
Timon into his
cave
⌉
5.2Each man apart, all single and alone,
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.
⌈
To Painter
⌉ If where thou art two villains shall not be,
Come not near him. ⌈
To Poet
⌉ If thou wouldst not
reside
But where one villain is, then him abandon.
Hence; pack! ⌈
Striking him
⌉ There’s gold. You came
for gold, ye slaves.
⌈
Striking Painter
⌉ You have work for me; there’s
payment. Hence!
⌈
Striking Poet
⌉ You are an alchemist; make gold of that.
Out, rascal dogs! Exeunt ⌈
Poet and
Painter one way,
Timon into his
cave
⌉
Enter Flavius and two Senators
FLAVIUS
It is in vain that you would speak with Timon,
For he is set so only to himself
That nothing but himself which looks like man
Is friendly with him.
For he is set so only to himself
That nothing but himself which looks like man
Is friendly with him.
FIRST SENATOR
Bring us to his cave.
It is our part and promise to th’ Athenians
To speak with Timon.
To speak with Timon.
SECOND SENATOR
At all times alike
Men are not still the same. ’Twas time and griefs
That framed him thus. Time with his fairer hand
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him. Bring us to him,
And chance it as it may.
That framed him thus. Time with his fairer hand
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him. Bring us to him,
And chance it as it may.
FLAVIUS
Here is his cave.
(Calling)
Peace and content be here! Lord Timon,
Timon,
Look out and speak to friends. Th’Athenians
By two of their most reverend senate greet thee.
Speak to them, noble Timon.
Enter Timon out of his cave
Peace and content be here! Lord Timon,
Timon,
Look out and speak to friends. Th’Athenians
By two of their most reverend senate greet thee.
Speak to them, noble Timon.
Enter Timon out of his cave
TIMON
Thou sun that comforts, burn! Speak and be hanged.
For each true word a blister, and each false
Be as a cantherizing to the root o’th’ tongue,
Consuming it with speaking.
For each true word a blister, and each false
Be as a cantherizing to the root o’th’ tongue,
Consuming it with speaking.
FIRST SENATOR
Worthy Timon—
TIMON
Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.
FIRST SENATOR
The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.
TIMON
I thank them, and would send them back the plague
Could I but catch it for them.
Could I but catch it for them.
FIRST SENATOR
O, forget
What we are sorry for, ourselves in thee.
The senators with one consent of love
Entreat thee back to Athens, who have thought
On special dignities which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing.
The senators with one consent of love
Entreat thee back to Athens, who have thought
On special dignities which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing.
SECOND SENATOR
They confess
Toward thee forgetfulness too general-gross,
Which now the public body, which doth seldom
Play the recanter, feeling in itself
A lack of Timon’s aid, hath sense withal
Of it own fail, restraining aid to Timon;
And send forth us to make their sorrowed render,
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
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.
Which now the public body, which doth seldom
Play the recanter, feeling in itself
A lack of Timon’s aid, hath sense withal
Of it own fail, restraining aid to Timon;
And send forth us to make their sorrowed render,
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
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.
TIMON
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.
Lend me a fool’s heart and a woman’s eyes,
And I’ll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.
FIRST SENATOR
Therefore so please thee to return with us,
And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take
The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,
Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
Live with authority. So soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades th’approaches wild,
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country’s peace.
And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take
The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,
Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
Live with authority. So soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades th’approaches wild,
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country’s peace.
SECOND SENATOR And shakes his threat’ning sword Against the walls of Athens.
FIRST SENATOR
Therefore, Timon—
TIMON
Well, sir, I will; therefore I will, sir, thus.
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon:
That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,
And take our goodly aged men by th’ beards,
Giving our holy virgins to the stain
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war,
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it
In pity of our aged and our youth,
I cannot choose but tell him that I care not;
And-let him take’t at worst—for their knives care
not
While you have throats to answer. For myself,
There’s not a whittle in th’ unruly camp
But I do prize it at my love before
The reverend’st throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods,
As thieves to keepers.
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon:
That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,
And take our goodly aged men by th’ beards,
Giving our holy virgins to the stain
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war,
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it
In pity of our aged and our youth,
I cannot choose but tell him that I care not;
And-let him take’t at worst—for their knives care
not
While you have throats to answer. For myself,
There’s not a whittle in th’ unruly camp
But I do prize it at my love before
The reverend’st throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods,
As thieves to keepers.
FLAVIUS (to Senators) Stay not; all’s in vain.
TIMON
Why, I was writing of my epitaph.
It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go; live still.
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough.
It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go; live still.
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough.
FIRST SENATOR
We speak in vain.
TIMON
But yet I love my country, and am not
One that rejoices in the common wrack
As common bruit doth put it.
One that rejoices in the common wrack
As common bruit doth put it.
FIRST SENATOR
That’s well spoke.
TIMON
Commend me to my loving countrymen—
FIRST SENATOR
These words become your lips as they pass through
them.
them.
SECOND SENATOR
And enter in our ears like great triumphers
In their applauding gates.
In their applauding gates.
TIMON
Commend me to them,
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 do them.
I’ll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades’ wrath.
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 do them.
I’ll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades’ wrath.
FIRST SENATOR
(aside)
(aside)
I like this well; he will return again.
TIMON
I have a tree which grows here in my close
That mine own use invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends,
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
To stop affliction, let him take his haste,
Come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself. I pray you do my greeting.
FLAVIUS (to Senators)
Trouble him no further. Thus you still shall find him.
That mine own use invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends,
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
To stop affliction, let him take his haste,
Come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself. I pray you do my greeting.
FLAVIUS (to Senators)
Trouble him no further. Thus you still shall find him.
TIMON
Come not to me again, but say to Athens,
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood,
Who once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come,
And let my gravestone be your oracle.
lips, let four 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.
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood,
Who once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come,
And let my gravestone be your oracle.
lips, let four 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.
Exit
⌈
into his
cave
⌉
⌈
into his
cave
⌉
FIRST SENATOR
His discontents are unremovably
Coupled to nature.
Coupled to nature.
SECOND SENATOR
Our hope in him is dead. Let us return,
And strain what other means is left unto us
In our dear peril.
And strain what other means is left unto us
In our dear peril.
FIRST SENATOR
It requires swift foot.
Exeunt
5.3Enter two other Senators, with
a
Messenger
⌈THIRD⌉ SENATOR
Thou hast painfully discovered. Are his files
As full as thy report?
As full as thy report?
MESSENGER
I have spoke the least.
Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach.
Present approach.
⌈FOURTH⌉ SENATOR
We stand much hazard if they bring not Timon.
MESSENGER
I met a courier, one mine ancient friend,
Whom, though in general part we were opposed,
Yet our old love made a particular force
And made us speak like friends. This man was riding
From Alcibiades to Timon’s cave
With letters of entreaty which imported
His fellowship i’th’ cause against your city,
In part for his sake moved.
Enter the other Senators
Whom, though in general part we were opposed,
Yet our old love made a particular force
And made us speak like friends. This man was riding
From Alcibiades to Timon’s cave
With letters of entreaty which imported
His fellowship i’th’ cause against your city,
In part for his sake moved.
Enter the other Senators
⌈THIRD⌉ SENATOR
Here come our brothers.
⌈FIRST⌉ SENATOR
No talk of Timon; nothing of him expect.
The enemy’s drum is heard, and fearful scouring
Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare.
Ours is the fall, I fear, our foe’s the snare. Exeunt
5.4The enemy’s drum is heard, and fearful scouring
Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare.
Ours is the fall, I fear, our foe’s the snare. Exeunt
Enter a Soldier, in the woods, seeking Timon
SOLDIER
By all description, this should be the place.
Who’s here? Speak, ho! No answer?
⌈
He
discovers
a gravestone
⌉
What is this?
Dead, sure, and this his grave. What’s on this tomb
I cannot read. The character 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
5.5Who’s here? Speak, ho! No answer?
⌈
He
discovers
a gravestone
⌉
What is this?
Dead, sure, and this his grave. What’s on this tomb
I cannot read. The character 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
Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his powers, before Athens
ALCIBIADES
Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach.
A parley sounds. The Senators appear upon the walls
Till now you have gone on and filled the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills
The scope of justice. Till now myself and such
As slept within the shadow of your power
Have wandered with our traversed arms, and breathed
Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush
When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong,
Cries of itself ‘No more’; now breathless wrong
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
And pursy insolence shall break his wind
With fear and horrid flight.
Our terrible approach.
A parley sounds. The Senators appear upon the walls
Till now you have gone on and filled the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills
The scope of justice. Till now myself and such
As slept within the shadow of your power
Have wandered with our traversed arms, and breathed
Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush
When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong,
Cries of itself ‘No more’; now breathless wrong
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
And pursy insolence shall break his wind
With fear and horrid flight.
FIRST SENATOR
Noble and young,
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,
We sent to thee to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above their quantity.
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,
We sent to thee to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above their quantity.
SECOND SENATOR
So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city’s love
By humble message and by promised means.
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.
By humble message and by promised means.
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.
FIRST SENATOR
These walls of ours
Were not erected by their hands from whom
You have received your grief; nor are they such
That these great tow’rs, trophies, and schools should fall
For private faults in them.
You have received your grief; nor are they such
That these great tow’rs, trophies, and schools should fall
For private faults in them.
SECOND SENATOR
Nor are they living
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
Which nature loathes, take thou the destined tenth,
And by the hazard of the spotted die
Let die the spotted.
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
Which nature loathes, take thou the destined tenth,
And by the hazard of the spotted die
Let die the spotted.
FIRST SENATOR
All have not offended.
For those that were, it is not square 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 bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended. Like a shepherd
Approach the fold and cull th’infected forth,
But kill not all together.
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 bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended. Like a shepherd
Approach the fold and cull th’infected forth,
But kill not all together.
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