1603Tim. O blessed breeding Sun, draw from the earth

1604Rotten humidity: below thy Sisters Orbe

1605Infect the ayre. Twin'd Brothers of one wombe,

1606Whose procreation, residence, and birth,

1607Scarse is diuidant; touch them with seuerall fortunes,

1608The greater scornes the lesser. Not Nature

1609(To whom all sores lay siege) can beare great Fortune

1610But by contempt of Nature.

1611Raise me this Begger, and deny't that Lord,

1612The Senators shall beare contempt Hereditary,

1613The Begger Natiue Honor.

1614It is the Pastour Lards, the Brothers sides,

1615The want that makes him leaue: who dares? who dares

1616In puritie of Manhood stand vpright

1617And fay, this mans a Flatterer. If one be,

1618So are they all: for euerie grize of Fortune

1619Is smooth'd by that below. The Learned pate

1620Duckes to the Golden Foole. All's obliquie:

1621There's nothing leuell in our cursed Natures

1622But direct villanie. Therefore be abhorr'd,

1623All Feasts, Societies, and Throngs of men.

1624His semblable, yea himselfe Timon disdaines,

1625Destruction phang mankinde; Earth yeeld me Rootes,

1626Who seekes for better of thee, sawce his pallate

1627With thy most operant Poyson. What is heere?

1628Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious Gold?

1629No Gods, I am no idle Votarist,

1630Roots you cleere Heauens. Thus much of this will make

1631Blacke, white; fowle, faire; wrong, right;

1632Base, Noble; Old, young; Coward, valiant.

1633Ha you Gods! why this? what this, you Gods? why this

1634Will lugge your Priests and Seruants from your sides:

1635Plucke stout mens pillowes from below their heads.

Timon of Athens. 91

1636This yellow Slaue,

1637Will knit and breake Religions, blesse th'accurst,

1638Make the hoare Leprosie ador'd, place Theeues,

1639And giue them Title, knee, and approbation

1640With Senators on the Bench: This is it

1641That makes the wappen'd Widdow wed againe;

1642Shee, whom the Spittle-house, and vlcerous sores,

1643Would cast the gorge at. This Embalmes and Spices

1644To'th'Aprill day againe. Come damn'd Earth,

1645Thou common whore of Mankinde, that puttes oddes

1646Among the rout of Nations, I will make thee

1647Do thy right Nature. March afarre off.

1648Ha? A Drumme? Th'art quicke,

1649But yet Ile bury thee: Thou't go (strong Theefe)

1650When Gowty keepers of thee cannot stand:

1651Nay stay thou out for earnest.

1654Alc. What art thou there? speake.

1655Tim. A Beast as thou art. The Canker gnaw thy hart

1656For shewing me againe the eyes of Man.

1657Alc. What is thy name? Is man so hatefull to thee,

1658That art thy selfe a Man?

1659Tim. I am Misantropos, and hate Mankinde.

1660For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dogge,

1661That I might loue thee something.

1662Alc. I know thee well:

1663But in thy Fortunes am vnlearn'd, and strange.

1664Tim. I know thee too, and more then that I know thee

1665I not desire to know. Follow thy Drumme,

1666With mans blood paint the ground Gules, Gules:

1667Religious Cannons, ciuill Lawes are cruell,

1668Then what should warre be? This fell whore of thine,

1669Hath in her more destruction then thy Sword,

1670For all her Cherubin looke.

1671Phrin. Thy lips rot off.

1672Tim. I will not kisse thee, then the rot returnes

1673To thine owne lippes againe.

1674Alc. How came the Noble Timon to this change?

1675Tim. As the Moone do's, by wanting light to giue:

1676But then renew I could not like the Moone,

1677There were no Sunnes to borrow of.

1678Alc. Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?

1679Tim. None, but to maintaine my opinion.

1680Alc. What is it Timon?

1681Tim. Promise me Friendship, but performe none.

1682If thou wilt not promise, the Gods plague thee, for thou

1683art a man: if thou do'st performe, confound thee, for

1684thou art a man.

1685Alc. I haue heard in some sort of thy Miseries.

1686Tim. Thou saw'st them when I had prosperitie.

1687Alc. I see them now, then was a blessed time.

1688Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of Harlots.

1689Timan. Is this th'Athenian Minion, whom the world

1690Voic'd so regardfully?

1691Tim. Art thou Timandra? Timan. Yes.

1692Tim. Be a whore still, they loue thee not that vse thee,

1693giue them diseases, leauing with thee their Lust. Make

1694vse of thy salt houres, season the slaues for Tubbes and

1695Bathes, bring downe Rose-cheekt youth to the Fubfast,

1696and the Diet.

1697Timan. Hang thee Monster.

1698Alc. Pardon him sweet Timandra, for his wits

1699Are drown'd and lost in his Calamities.

1700I haue but little Gold of late, braue Timon,

1701The want whereof, doth dayly make reuolt

1702In my penurious Band. I haue heard and greeu'd

1703How cursed Athens, mindelesse of thy worth,

1704Forgetting thy great deeds, when Neighbour states

1705But for thy Sword and Fortune trod vpon them.

1706Tim. I prythee beate thy Drum, and get thee gone.

1707Alc. I am thy Friend, and pitty thee deere Timon.

1708Tim. How doest thou pitty him whom y^u dost troble,

1709I had rather be alone.

1710Alc. Why fare thee well:

1711Heere is some Gold for thee.

1712Tim. Keepe it, I cannot eate it.

1713Alc. When I haue laid proud Athens on a heape.

1714Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens.

1715Alc. I Timon, and haue cause.

1716Tim. The Gods confound them all in thy Conquest,

1717And thee after, when thou hast Conquer'd.

1718Alc. Why me, Timon?

1719Tim. That by killing of Villaines

1720Thou was't borne to conquer my Country.

1721Put vp thy Gold. Go on, heeres Gold, go on;

1722Be as a Plannetary plague, when Ioue

1723Will o're some high-Vic'd City, hang his poyson

1724In the sicke ayre: let not thy sword skip one:

1725Pitty not honour'd Age for his white Beard,

1726He is an Vsurer. Strike me the counterfet Matron,

1727It is her habite onely, that is honest,

1728Her selfe's a Bawd. Let not the Virgins cheeke

1729Make soft thy trenchant Sword: for those Milke pappes

1730That through the window Barne bore at mens eyes,

1731Are not within the Leafe of pitty writ,

1732But set them down horrible Traitors. Spare not the Babe

1733Whose dimpled smiles from Fooles exhaust their mercy;

1734Thinke it a Bastard, whom the Oracle

1735Hath doubtfully pronounced, the throat shall cut,

1736And mince it sans remorse. Sweare against Obiects,

1737Put Armour on thine eares, and on thine eyes,

1738Whose proofe, nor yels of Mothers, Maides, nor Babes,

1739Nor sight of Priests in holy Vestments bleeding,

1740Shall pierce a iot. There's Gold to pay thy Souldiers,

1741Make large confusion: and thy fury spent,

1742Confounded be thy selfe. Speake not, be gone.

1743Alc. Hast thou Gold yet, Ile take the Gold thou gi-

1744uest me, not all thy Counsell.

1745Tim. Dost thou or dost thou not, Heauens curse vpon

1746thee.

1747Both. Giue vs some Gold good Timon, hast y^u more?

1748Tim. Enough to make a Whore forsweare her Trade,

1749And to make Whores, a Bawd. Hold vp you Sluts

1750Your Aprons mountant; you are not Othable,

1751Although I know you'l sweare, terribly sweare

1752Into strong shudders, and to heauenly Agues

1753Th'immortall Gods that heare you. Spare your Oathes:

1754Ile trust to your Conditions, be whores still.

1755And he whose pious breath seekes to conuert you,

1756Be strong in Whore, allure him, burne him vp,

1757Let your close fire predominate his smoke,

1758And be no turne-coats: yet may your paines six months

1759Be quite contrary, And Thatch

1760Your poore thin Roofes with burthens of the dead,

1761(Some that were hang'd) no matter:

1762Weare them, betray with them; Whore still,

1763Paint till a horse may myre vpon your face:

1764A pox of wrinkles.

1765Both. Well, more Gold, what then?

hh2 Beleeue't

92Timon of Athens.

1766Beleeue't that wee'l do any thing for Gold.

1767Tim. Consumptions sowe

1768In hollow bones of man, strike their sharpe shinnes,

1769And marre mens spurring. Cracke the Lawyers voyce,

1770That he may neuer more false Title pleade,

1771Nor sound his Quillets shrilly: Hoare the Flamen,

1772That scold'st against the quality of flesh,

1773And not beleeues himselfe. Downe with the Nose,

1774Downe with it flat, take the Bridge quite away

1775Of him, that his particular to foresee

1776Smels from the generall weale. Make curld' pate Ruffians (bald

1777And let the vnscarr'd Braggerts of the Warre

1778Deriue some paine from you. Plague all,

1779That your Actiuity may defeate and quell

1780The sourse of all Erection. There's more Gold.

1781Do you damne others, and let this damne you,

1782And ditches graue you all.

1783Both. More counsell with more Money, bounteous

1784Timon.

1785Tim. More whore, more Mischeefe first, I haue gi-

1786uen you earnest.

1787Alc. Strike vp the Drum towardes Athens, farewell

1788Timon: if I thriue well, Ile visit thee againe.

1789Tim. If I hope well, Ile neuer see thee more.

1790Alc. I neuer did thee harme.

1791Tim. Yes, thou spok'st well of me.

1792Alc. Call'st thou that harme?

1793Tim. Men dayly finde it. Get thee away,

1794And take thy Beagles with thee.

1795Alc. We but offend him, strike. Exeunt.

1796Tim. That Nature being sicke of mans vnkindnesse

1797Should yet be hungry: Common Mother, thou

1798Whose wombe vnmeasureable, and infinite brest

1799Teemes and feeds all: whose selfesame Mettle

1800Whereof thy proud Childe (arrogant man) is puft,

1801Engenders the blacke Toad, and Adder blew,

1802The gilded Newt, and eyelesse venom'd Worme,

1803With all th'abhorred Births below Crispe Heauen,

1804Whereon Hyperions quickning fire doth shine:

1805Yeeld him, who all the humane Sonnes do hate,

1806From foorth thy plenteous bosome, one poore roote:

1807Enseare thy Fertile and Conceptious wombe,

1808Let it no more bring out ingratefull man.

1809Goe great with Tygers, Dragons, Wolues, and Beares,

1810Teeme with new Monsters, whom thy vpward face

1811Hath to the Marbled Mansion all aboue

1812Neuer presented. O, a Root, deare thankes:

1813Dry vp thy Marrowes, Vines, and Plough-torne Leas,

1814Whereof ingratefull man with Licourish draughts

1815And Morsels Vnctious, greases his pure minde,

1816That from it all Consideration slippes---

1818More man? Plague, plague.

1819Ape. I was directed hither. Men report,

1820Thou dost affect my Manners, and dost vse them.

1821Tim. 'Tis then, because thou dost not keepe a dogge

1822Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee.

1823Ape. This is in thee a Nature but infected,

1824A poore vnmanly Melancholly sprung

1825From change of future. Why this Spade? this place?

1826This Slaue-like Habit, and these lookes of Care?

1827Thy Flatterers yet weare Silke, drinke Wine, lye soft,

1828Hugge their diseas'd Perfumes, and haue forgot

1829That euer Timon was. Shame not these Woods,

1830By putting on the cunning of a Carper.

1831Be thou a Flatterer now, and seeke to thriue

1832By that which ha's vndone thee; hindge thy knee,

1833And let his very breath whom thou'lt obserue

1834Blow off thy Cap: praise his most vicious straine,

1835And call it excellent: thou wast told thus:

1836Thou gau'st thine eares (like Tapsters, that bad welcom)

1837To Knaues, and all approachers: 'Tis most iust

1838That thou turne Rascall, had'st thou wealth againe,

1839Rascals should haue't. Do not assume my likenesse.

1840Tim. Were I like thee, I'de throw away my selfe.

1841Ape. Thou hast cast away thy selfe, being like thy self

1842A Madman so long, now a Foole: what think'st

1843That the bleake ayre, thy boysterous Chamberlaine

1844Will put thy shirt on warme? Will these moyst Trees,

1845That haue out-liu'd the Eagle, page thy heeles

1846And skip when thou point'st out? Will the cold brooke

1847Candied with Ice, Cawdle thy Morning taste

1848To cure thy o're-nights surfet? Call the Creatures,

1849Whose naked Natures liue in all the spight

1850Of wrekefull Heauen, whose bare vnhoused Trunkes,

1851To the conflicting Elements expos'd

1852Answer meere Nature: bid them flatter thee.

1853O thou shalt finde.

1854Tim. A Foole of thee: depart.

1855Ape. I loue thee better now, then ere I did.

1856Tim. I hate thee worse.

1857Ape. Why?

1858Tim. Thou flatter'st misery.

1859Ape. I flatter not, but say thou art a Caytiffe.

1860Tim. Why do'st thou seeke me out?

1861Ape. To vex thee.

1862Tim. Alwayes a Villaines Office, or a Fooles.

1863Dost please thy selfe in't?

1864Ape. I.

1865Tim. What, a Knaue too?

1866Ape. If thou did'st put this sowre cold habit on

1867To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou

1868Dost it enforcedly: Thou'dst Courtier be againe

1869Wert thou not Beggar: willing misery

1870Out-liues: incertaine pompe, is crown'd before:

1871The one is filling still, neuer compleat:

1872The other, at high wish: best state Contentlesse,

1873Hath a distracted and most wretched being,

1874Worse then the worst, Content.

1875Thou should'st desire to dye, being miserable.

1876Tim. Not by his breath, that is more miserable.

1877Thou art a Slaue, whom Fortunes tender arme

1878With fauour neuer claspt: but bred a Dogge.

1879Had'st thou like vs from our first swath proceeded,

1880The sweet degrees that this breefe world affords,

1881To such as may the passiue drugges of it

1882Freely command'st: thou would'st haue plung'd thy self

1883In generall Riot, melted downe thy youth

1884In different beds of Lust, and neuer learn'd

1885The Icie precepts of respect, but followed

1886The Sugred game before thee. But my selfe,

1887Who had the world as my Confectionarie,

1888The mouthes, the tongues, the eyes, and hearts of men,

1889At duty more then I could frame employment;

1890That numberlesse vpon me stucke, as leaues

1891Do on the Oake, haue with one Winters brush

1892Fell from their boughes, and left me open, bare,

1893For euery storme that blowes. I to beare this,

1894That neuer knew but better, is some burthen:

1895Thy Nature, did commence in sufferance, Time

1896Hath made thee hard in't. Why should'st y^u hate Men?

1897They neuer flatter'd thee. What hast thou giuen?

Timon of Athens. 93

1898If thou wilt curse; thy Father (that poore ragge)

1899Must be thy subiect; who in spight put stuffe

1900To some shee-Begger, and compounded thee

1901Poore Rogue, hereditary. Hence, be gone,

1902If thou hadst not bene borne the worst of men,

1903Thou hadst bene a Knaue and Flatterer.

1904Ape. Art thou proud yet?

1905Tim. I, that I am not thee.

1906Ape. I, that I was no Prodigall.

1907Tim. I, that I am one now.

1908Were all the wealth I haue shut vp in thee,

1909I'ld giue thee leaue to hang it. Get thee gone:

1910That the whole life of Athens were in this,

1911Thus would I eate it .

1912Ape. Heere, I will mend thy Feast.

1913Tim. First mend thy company, take away thy selfe.

1914Ape. So I shall mend mine owne, by'th'lacke of thine

1915Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botcht;

1916If not, I would it were.

1917Ape. What would'st thou haue to Athens?

1918Tim. Thee thither in a whirlewind: if thou wilt,

1919Tell them there I haue Gold, looke, so I haue.

1920Ape. Heere is no vse for Gold.

1921Tim. The best, and truest:

1922For heere it sleepes, and do's no hyred harme.

1923Ape. Where lyest a nights Timon?

1924Tim. Vnder that's aboue me.

1925Where feed'st thou a-dayes Apemantus?

1926Ape. Where my stomacke findes meate, or rather

1927where I eate it.

1928Tim. Would poyson were obedient, & knew my mind

1929Ape. Where would'st thou send it?

1930Tim. To sawce thy dishes.

1931Ape. The middle of Humanity thou neuer knewest,

1932but the extremitie of both ends. When thou wast in thy

1933Gilt, and thy Perfume, they mockt thee for too much

1934Curiositie: in thy Ragges thou know'st none, but art de-

1935spis'd for the contrary. There's a medler for thee, eate it.

1936Tim. On what I hate, I feed not.

1937Ape. Do'st hate a Medler?

1938Tim. I, though it looke like thee.

1939Ape. And th'hadst hated Medlers sooner, y^u should'st

1940haue loued thy selfe better now. What man didd'st thou

1941euer know vnthrift, that was beloued after his meanes?

1942Tim. Who without those meanes thou talk'st of, didst

1943thou euer know belou'd?

1944Ape. My selfe.

1945Tim. I vnderstand thee: thou had'st some meanes to

1946keepe a Dogge.

1947Apem. What things in the world canst thou neerest

1948compare to thy Flatterers?

1949Tim. Women neerest, but men: men are the things

1950themselues. What would'st thou do with the world A-

1951pemantus, if it lay in thy power?

1952Ape. Giue it the Beasts, to be rid of the men.

1953Tim. Would'st thou haue thy selfe fall in the confu-

1954sion of men, and remaine a Beast with the Beasts.

1955Ape. I Timon.

1956Tim. A beastly Ambition, which the Goddes graunt

1957thee t'attaine to. If thou wert the Lyon, the Fox would

1958beguile thee. if thou wert the Lambe, the Foxe would

1959eate thee: if thou wert the Fox, the Lion would suspect

1960thee, when peraduenture thou wert accus'd by the Asse:

1961If thou wert the Asse, thy dulnesse would torment thee;

1962and still thou liu'dst but as a Breakefast to the Wolfe. If

1963thou wert the Wolfe, thy greedinesse would afflict thee,

1964& oft thou should'st hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert

1965thou the Vnicorne, pride and wrath would confound

1966thee, and make thine owne selfe the conquest of thy fury.

1967Wert thou a Beare, thou would'st be kill'd by the Horse:

1968wert thou a Horse, thou would'st be seaz'd by the Leo-

1969pard: wert thou a Leopard, thou wert Germane to the

1970Lion, and the spottes of thy Kindred, were Iurors on thy

1971life. All thy safety were remotion, and thy defence ab-

1972sence. What Beast could'st thou bee, that were not sub-

1973iect to a Beast: and what a Beast art thou already, that

1974seest not thy losse in transformation.

1975Ape. If thou could'st please me

1976With speaking to me, thou might'st

1977Haue hit vpon it heere.

1978The Commonwealth of Athens, is become

1979A Forrest of Beasts.

1980Tim. How ha's the Asse broke the wall, that thou art

1981out of the Citie.

1982Ape. Yonder comes a Poet and a Painter:

1983The plague of Company light vpon thee:

1984I will feare to catch it, and giue way.

1985When I know not what else to do,

1986Ile see thee againe.

1987Tim. When there is nothing liuing but thee,

1988Thou shalt be welcome.

1989I had rather be a Beggers Dogge,

1990Then Apemantus.

1991Ape. Thou art the Cap

1992Of all the Fooles aliue.

1993Tim. Would thou wert cleane enough

1994To spit vpon.

1995Ape. A plague on thee,

1996Thou art too bad to curse.

1997Tim. All Villaines

1998That do stand by thee, are pure.

1999Ape. There is no Leprosie,

2000But what thou speak'st.

2001Tim. If I name thee, Ile beate thee;

2002But I should infect my hands.

2003Ape. I would my tongue

2004Could rot them off.

2005Tim. Away thou issue of a mangie dogge,

2006Choller does kill me,

2007That thou art aliue, I swoond to see thee.

2008Ape. Would thou would'st burst.

2009Tim. Away thou tedious Rogue, I am sorry I shall

2010lose a stone by thee.

2011Ape. Beast.

2012Tim. Slaue.

2013Ape. Toad.

2014Tim. Rogue, Rogue, Rogue.

2015I am sicke of this false world, and will loue nought

2016But euen the meere necessities vpon't:

2017Then Timon presently prepare thy graue:

2018Lye where the light Fome of the Sea may beate

2019Thy graue stone dayly, make thine Epitaph,

2020That death in me, at others liues may laugh.

2021O thou sweete King-killer, and deare diuorce

2022Twixt naturall Sunne and fire: thou bright defiler

2023of Himens purest bed, thou valiant Mars,

2024Thou euer, yong, fresh, loued, and delicate wooer,

2025Whose blush doth thawe the consecrated Snow

2026That lyes on Dians lap.

2027Thou visible God,

2028That souldrest close Impossibilities,

2029And mak'st them kisse; that speak'st with euerie Tongue

hh3 To

94Timon of Athens.

2030To euerie purpose: O thou touch of hearts,

2031Thinke thy slaue-man rebels, and by thy vertue

2032Set them into confounding oddes, that Beasts

2033May haue the world in Empire.

2034Ape. Would 'twere so,

2035But not till I am dead. Ile say th'hast Gold:

2036Thou wilt be throng'd too shortly.

2037Tim. Throng'd too?

2038Ape. I.

2039Tim. Thy backe I prythee.

2040Ape. Liue, and loue thy misery.

2041Tim. Long liue so, and so dye. I am quit.

2042Ape. Mo things like men,

2043Eate Timon, and abhorre then. Exit Apeman.

20451 Where should he haue this Gold? It is some poore

2046Fragment, some slender Ort of his remainder: the meere

2047want of Gold, and the falling from of his Friendes, droue

2048him into this Melancholly.

20492 It is nois'd

2050He hath a masse of Treasure.

20513 Let vs make the assay vpon him, if he care not for't,

2052he will supply vs easily: if he couetously reserue it, how

2053shall's get it?

20542 True: for he beares it not about him:

2055'Tis hid.

20561 Is not this hee?

2057All. Where?

20582 'Tis his description.

20593 He? I know him.

2060All. Saue thee Timon.

2061Tim. Now Theeues.

2062All. Soldiers, not Theeues.

2063Tim. Both too, and womens Sonnes.

2064All. We are not Theeues, but men

2065That much do want.

2066Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat:

2067Why should you want? Behold, the Earth hath Rootes:

2068Within this Mile breake forth a hundred Springs:

2069The Oakes beare Mast, the Briars Scarlet Heps,

2070The bounteous Huswife Nature, on each bush,

2071Layes her full Messe before you. Want? why Want?

20721 We cannot liue on Grasse, on Berries, Water,

2073As Beasts, and Birds, and Fishes.

2074Ti. Nor on the Beasts themselues, the Birds & Fishes,

2075You must eate men. Yet thankes I must you con,

2076That you are Theeues profest: that you worke not

2077In holier shapes: For there is boundlesse Theft

2078In limited Professions. Rascall Theeues

2079Heere's Gold. Go, sucke the subtle blood o'th'Grape,

2080Till the high Feauor seeth your blood to froth,

2081And so scape hanging. Trust not the Physitian,

2082His Antidotes are poyson, and he slayes

2083Moe then you Rob: Take wealth, and liues together,

2084Do Villaine do, since you protest to doo't.

2085Like Workemen, Ile example you with Theeuery:

2086The Sunnes a Theefe, and with his great attraction

2087Robbes the vaste Sea. The Moones an arrant Theefe,

2088And her pale fire, she snatches from the Sunne.

2089The Seas a Theefe, whose liquid Surge, resolues

2090The Moone into Salt teares. The Earth's a Theefe,

2091That feeds and breeds by a composture stolne

2092From gen'rall excrement: each thing's a Theefe.

2093The Lawes, your curbe and whip, in their rough power

2094Ha's vncheck'd Theft. Loue not your selues, away,

2095Rob one another, there's more Gold, cut throates,

2096All that you meete are Theeues: to Athens go,

2097Breake open shoppes, nothing can you steale

2098But Theeues do loose it: steale lesse, for this I giue you,

2099And Gold confound you howsoere: Amen.

21003 Has almost charm'd me from my Profession, by per-

2101swading me to it.

21021 'Tis in the malice of mankinde, that he thus aduises

2103vs not to haue vs thriue in our mystery.

21042 Ile beleeue him as an Enemy,

2105And giue ouer my Trade.

21061 Let vs first see peace in Athens, there is no time so

2107miserable, but a man may be true. Exit Theeues.

2109Stew. Oh you Gods!

2110Is yon'd despis'd and ruinous man my Lord?

2111Full of decay and fayling? Oh Monument

2112And wonder of good deeds, euilly bestow'd!

2113What an alteration of Honor has desp'rate want made?

2114What vilder thing vpon the earth, then Friends,

2115Who can bring Noblest mindes, to basest ends.

2116How rarely does it meete with this times guise,

2117When man was wisht to loue his Enemies:

2118Grant I may euer loue, and rather woo

2119Those that would mischeefe me, then those that doo.

2120Has caught me in his eye, I will present my honest griefe

2121vnto him; and as my Lord, still serue him with my life.

2122My deerest Master.

2123Tim. Away: what art thou?

2124Stew. Haue you forgot me, Sir?

2125Tim. Why dost aske that? I haue forgot all men.

2126Then, if thou grunt'st, th'art a man.

2127I haue forgot thee.

2128Stew. An honest poore seruant of yours.

2129Tim. Then I know thee not:

2130I neuer had honest man about me, I all

2131I kept were Knaues, to serue in meate to Villaines.

2132Stew. The Gods are witnesse,

2133Neu'r did poore Steward weare a truer greefe

2134For his vndone Lord, then mine eyes for you.

2135Tim. What, dost thou weepe?

2136Come neerer, then I loue thee

2137Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st

2138Flinty mankinde: whose eyes do neuer giue,

2139But thorow Lust and Laughter: pittie's sleeping:

2140Strange times y^t weepe with laughing, not with weeping.

2141Stew. I begge of you to know me, good my Lord,

2142T'accept my greefe, and whil'st this poore wealth lasts,

2143To entertaine me as your Steward still.

2144Tim. Had I a Steward

2145So true, so iust, and now so comfortable?

2146It almost turnes my dangerous Nature wilde.

2147Let me behold thy face: Surely, this man

2148Was borne of woman.

2149Forgiue my generall, and exceptlesse rashnesse

2150You perpetuall sober Gods. I do proclaime

2151One honest man: Mistake me not, but one:

2152No more I pray, and hee's a Steward.

2153How faine would I haue hated all mankinde,

2154And thou redeem'st thy selfe. But all saue thee,

2155I fell with Curses.

2156Me thinkes thou art more honest now, then wise:

2157For, by oppressing and betraying mee,

Timon of Athens. 95

2158Thou might'st haue sooner got another Seruice:

2159For many so arriue at second Masters,

2160Vpon their first Lords necke. But tell me true,

2161(For I must euer doubt, though ne're so sure)

2162Is not thy kindnesse subtle, couetous,

2163If not a Vsuring kindnesse, and as rich men deale Guifts,

2164Expecting in returne twenty for one?

2165Stew. No my most worthy Master, in whose brest

2166Doubt, and suspect (alas) are plac'd too late:

2167You should haue fear'd false times, when you did Feast.

2168Suspect still comes, where an estate is least.

2169That which I shew, Heauen knowes, is meerely Loue,

2170Dutie, and Zeale, to your vnmatched minde;

2171Care of your Food and Liuing, and beleeue it,

2172My most Honour'd Lord,

2173For any benefit that points to mee,

2174Either in hope, or present, I'de exchange

2175For this one wish, that you had power and wealth

2176To requite me, by making rich your selfe.

2177Tim. Looke thee, 'tis so: thou singly honest man,

2178Heere take: the Gods out of my miserie

2179Ha's sent thee Treasure. Go, liue rich and happy,

2180But thus condition'd: Thou shalt build from men:

2181Hate all, curse all, shew Charity to none,

2182But let the famisht flesh slide from the Bone,

2183Ere thou releeue the Begger. Giue to dogges

2184What thou denyest to men. Let Prisons swallow 'em,

2185Debts wither 'em to nothing, be men like blasted woods

2186And may Diseases licke vp their false bloods,

2187And so farewell, and thriue.

2188Stew. O let me stay, and comfort you, my Master.

2189Tim. If thou hat'st Curses

2190Stay not: flye, whil'st thou art blest and free:

2191Ne're see thou man, and let me ne're see thee. Exit