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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    96Timon of Athens.
    Why how shall I requite you?
    Can you eate Roots, and drinke cold water, no?
    Both. What we can do,
    2290Wee'l do to do you seruice.
    Tim. Y'are honest men,
    Y'haue heard that I haue Gold,
    I am sure you haue, speake truth, y'are honest men.
    Pain. So it is said my Noble Lord, but therefore
    2295Came not my Friend, nor I.
    Timon. Good honest men: Thou draw'st a counterfet
    Best in all Athens, th'art indeed the best,
    Thou counterfet'st most liuely.
    Pain. So, so, my Lord.
    2300Tim. E'ne so sir as I say. And for thy fiction,
    Why thy Verse swels with stuffe so fine and smooth,
    That thou art euen Naturall in thine Art.
    But for all this (my honest Natur'd friends)
    I must needs say you haue a little fault,
    2305Marry 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I
    You take much paines to mend.
    Both. Beseech your Honour
    To make it knowne to vs.
    Tim. You'l take it ill.
    2310Both. Most thankefully, my Lord.
    Timon. Will you indeed?
    Both. Doubt it not worthy Lord.
    Tim. There's neuer a one of you but trusts a Knaue,
    That mightily deceiues you.
    2315Both. Do we, my Lord?
    Tim. I, and you heare him cogge,
    See him dissemble,
    Know his grosse patchery, loue him, feede him,
    Keepe in your bosome, yet remaine assur'd
    2320That he's a made-vp-Villaine.
    Pain. I know none such, my Lord.
    Poet. Nor I.
    Timon. Looke you,
    I loue you well, Ile giue you Gold
    2325Rid me these Villaines from your companies;
    Hang them, or stab them, drowne them in a draught,
    Confound them by some course, and come to me,
    Ile giue you Gold enough.
    Both. Name them my Lord, let's know them.
    2330Tim. You that way, and you this:
    But two in Company:
    Each man a part, all single, and alone,
    Yet an arch Villaine keepes him company:
    If where thou art, two Villaines shall not be,
    2335Come not neere him. If thou would'st not recide
    But where one Villaine is, then him abandon.
    Hence, packe, there's Gold, you came for Gold ye slaues:
    You haue worke for me; there's payment, hence,
    You are an Alcumist, make Gold of that:
    2340Out Rascall dogges. Exeunt

    Enter Steward, and two Senators.

    Stew. It is vaine that you would speake with Timon:
    For he is set so onely to himselfe,
    That nothing but himselfe, which lookes like man,
    2345Is friendly with him.
    1.Sen. Bring vs to his Caue.
    It is our part and promise to th'Athenians
    To speake with Timon.
    2.Sen. At all times alike
    2350Men are not still the same: 'twas Time and Greefes
    That fram'd him thus. Time with his fairer hand,
    Offering the Fortunes of his former dayes,
    The former man may make him: bring vs to him
    And chanc'd it as it may.
    2355Stew. Heere is his Caue:
    Peace and content be heere. Lord Timon, Timon,
    Looke out, and speake to Friends: Th'Athenians
    By two of their most reuerend Senate greet thee:
    Speake to them Noble Timon.

    2360 Enter Timon out of his Caue.

    Tim. Thou Sunne that comforts burne,
    Speake and be hang'd:
    For each true word, a blister, and each false
    Be as a Cantherizing to the root o'th'Tongue,
    2365Consuming it with speaking.
    1 Worthy Timon.
    Tim. Of none but such as you,
    And you of Timon.
    1 The Senators of Athens, greet thee Timon.
    2370Tim. I thanke them,
    And would send them backe the plague,
    Could I but catch it for them.
    1 O forget
    What we are sorry for our selues in thee:
    2375The Senators, with one consent of loue,
    Intreate thee backe to Athens, who haue thought
    On speciall Dignities, which vacant lye
    For thy best vse and wearing.
    2 They confesse
    2380Toward thee, forgetfulnesse too generall grosse;
    Which now the publike Body, which doth sildome
    Play the re-canter, feeling in it selfe
    A lacke of Timons ayde, hath since withall
    Of it owne fall, restraining ayde to Timon,
    2385And send forth vs, to make their sorrowed render,
    Together, with a recompence more fruitfull
    Then their offence can weigh downe by the Dramme,
    I euen such heapes and summes of Loue and Wealth,
    As shall to thee blot out, what wrongs were theirs,
    2390And write in thee the figures of their loue,
    Euer to read them thine.
    Tim. You witch me in it;
    Surprize me to the very brinke of teares;
    Lend me a Fooles heart, and a womans eyes,
    2395And Ile beweepe these comforts, worthy Senators.
    1 Therefore so please thee to returne with vs,
    And of our Athens, thine and ours to take
    The Captainship, thou shalt be met with thankes,
    Allowed with absolute power, and thy good name
    2400Liue with Authoritie: so soone we shall driue backe
    Of Alcibiades th'approaches wild,
    Who like a Bore too sauage, doth root vp
    His Countries peace.
    2 And shakes his threatning Sword
    2405Against the walles of Athens.
    1 Therefore Timon.
    Tim. Well sir, I will: therefore I will sir thus:
    If Alcibiades kill my Countrymen,
    Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
    2410That Timon cares not. But if he sacke faire Athens,
    And take our goodly aged men by'th'Beards,
    Giuing our holy Virgins to the staine
    Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd warre:
    Then let him know, and tell him Timon speakes it,
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