1504Tim. Let me looke backe vpon thee. O thou Wall

1505That girdles in those Wolues, diue in the earth,

1506And fence not Athens. Matrons, turne incontinent,

1507Obedience fayle in Children: Slaues and Fooles

hh Plucke

90Timon of Athens.

1508Plucke the graue wrinkled Senate from the Bench,

1509And minister in their steeds, to generall Filthes.

1510Conuert o'th'Instant greene Virginity,

1511Doo't in your Parents eyes. Bankrupts, hold fast

1512Rather then render backe; out with your Kniues,

1513And cut your Trusters throates. Bound Seruants, steale,

1514Large-handed Robbers your graue Masters are,

1515And pill by Law. Maide, to thy Masters bed,

1516Thy Mistris is o'th'Brothell. Some of sixteen,

1517Plucke the lyn'd Crutch from thy old limping Sire,

1518With it, beate out his Braines, Piety, and Feare,

1519Religion to the Gods, Peace, Iustice, Truth,

1520Domesticke awe, Night-rest, and Neighbour-hood,

1521Instruction, Manners, Mysteries, and Trades,

1522Degrees, Obseruances, Customes, and Lawes,

1523Decline to your confounding contraries.

1524And yet Confusion liue: Plagues incident to men,

1525Your potent and infectious Feauors, heape

1526On Athens ripe for stroke. Thou cold Sciatica,

1527Cripple our Senators, that their limbes may halt

1528As lamely as their Manners. Lust, and Libertie

1529Creepe in the Mindes and Marrowes of our youth,

1530That 'gainst the streame of Vertue they may striue,

1531And drowne themselues in Riot. Itches, Blaines,

1532Sowe all th'Athenian bosomes, and their crop

1533Be generall Leprosie: Breath, infect breath,

1534That their Society (as their Friendship) may

1535Be meerely poyson. Nothing Ile beare from thee

1536But nakednesse, thou detestable Towne,

1537Take thou that too, with multiplying Bannes:

1538Timon will to the Woods, where he shall finde

1539Th'vnkindest Beast, more kinder then Mankinde.

1540The Gods confound (heare me you good Gods all)

1541Th'Athenians both within and out that Wall:

1542And graunt as Timon growes, his hate may grow

1543To the whole race of Mankinde, high and low.

1544Amen. Exit.