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  • Title: Timon of Athens (Folio 1, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Timon of Athens (Folio 1, 1623)

    Timon of Athens. 89

    Enter diuers Friends at seuerall doores.

    1 The good time of day to you, sir.
    13852 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 en-
    countred. I hope it is not so low with him as he made it
    seeme in the triall of his seuerall Friends.
    13902 It should not be, by the perswasion of his new Fea-
    sting.
    1 I should thinke so. He hath sent mee an earnest in-
    uiting, which many my neere occasions did vrge mee to
    put off: but he hath coniur'd mee beyond them, and I
    1395must needs appeare.
    2 In like manner was I in debt to my importunat bu-
    sinesse, but he would not heare my excuse. I am sorrie,
    when he sent to borrow of mee, that my Prouision was
    out.
    14001 I am sicke of that greefe too, as I vnderstand how all
    things go.
    2 Euery man heares so: what would hee haue borro-
    wed of you?
    1 A thousand Peeces.
    14052 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
    1410fare 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 Sum-
    1415mer Birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not re-
    compence this long stay: Feast your eares with the Mu-
    sicke 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 Lord-
    1420ship, 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.
    14252 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.
    1430Tim. 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
    14351 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?
    14402 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?
    14452 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
    1450coole, ere we can agree vpon the first place. Sit, sit.
    The Gods require our Thankes.
    You great Benefactors, sprinkle our Society with Thanke-
    fulnesse. For your owne guifts, make your selues prais'd: But
    reserue still to giue, least your Deities be despised. Lend to each
    1455man 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
    1460are. 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.
    1465Vncouer 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
    1470Is 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,
    1475Curteous 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?
    1480Soft, 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
    1485Of Timon Man, and all Humanity. Exit

    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?
    14904 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?
    14952 Did you see my Cap.
    3 Heere 'tis.
    4 Heere lyes my Gowne.
    1 Let's make no stay.
    2 Lord Timons mad.
    15003 I feel't vpon my bones.
    4 One day he giues vs Diamonds, next day stones.
    Exeunt the Senators.

    Enter Timon.

    Tim. Let me looke backe vpon thee. O thou Wall
    1505That girdles in those Wolues, diue in the earth,
    And fence not Athens. Matrons, turne incontinent,
    Obedience fayle in Children: Slaues and Fooles
    hh Plucke
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