To have his pomp, and all what state compounds, I'll serve his mind with my best will; Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. [Exit. SCENE III.-The woods. Enter Timon. Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb2 Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,Whose procreation, residence, and birth, Scarce is dividant,-touch them with several fortunes; The greater scorns the lesser: Not nature, To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune, Raise me this beggar, and denude that lord; It is the pasture lards the brother's sides, The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares, In purity of manhood stand upright, And say, This man's a flatterer? if one be, (1) Propensity, disposition. (2) i. e. The moon's, this sublunary world. Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate Ha, you gods! why this? What this, you gods? Will lug your priests and servants from your sides; Will knit and break religions; bless the accurs'd; But yet I'll bury thee: Thou'lt go, strong thief, (1) Seize, gripe. (2) No insincere or inconstant supplicant. Gold will not serve me instead of roots. (3) Sorrowful. (4) i. e. Gold restores her to all the sweetness and freshness of youth. When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand :- [Keeping some gold. Enter Alcibiades, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; Phrynia and Timandra. For showing me again the eyes of man! Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, That art thyself a man? Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind. For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, That I might love thee something, Alcib. I know thee well; But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange. Tim. I know thee too; and more, than that I know thee, not desire to know. Follow thy drum; With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules: Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine Phr. Thy lips rot off! Tim. I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns To thine own lips again. Alcib. How came the noble Timon to this change? Tim. As the moon does, by wanting light to give: But then renew I could not, like the moon; There were no suns to borrow of. Noble Timon; None, but to What is it, Timon? Tim. Promise me friendship, but perform none: If Thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for Thou art a man! if thou dost perform, confound thee, For thou'rt a man! Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots. Voic'd so regardfully? Tim. Timan. Art thou Timandra? Yes. Tim. Be a whore still! they love thee not, that use thee; Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust. Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves For tubs, and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth To the tub-fast, and the diet.1 Timan. Hang thee, monster! Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits Are drown'd and lost in his calamities. I have but little gold of late, brave Timon, gone.. Alcib. am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon. Tim. How dost thou pity him, whom thou dost trouble? I had rather be alone. (1) Alluding to the cure of the lues venerea, then in practice. Alcib. Why, fare thee well: Keep't, I cannot eat it. Here's some gold for thee. Tim. Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a heap, Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens? Alcib. Ay, Timon, and have cause. Tim. The gods confound them all i'thy conquest; and Thee after, when thou hast conquer'd! Alcib. Tim. That, Why me, Timon? By killing villains, thou wast born to conquer Put up thy gold; Go on,-here's gold,-go on; Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison Herself's a bawd: Let not the virgin's cheek Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milkpaps, That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes, Are not within the leaf of pity writ, Set them down horrible traitors: Spare not the babe, Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy; Think it a bastard,2 whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut, And mince it sans remorse:3 Swear against objects;4 Put armour on thine ears, and on thine eyes; (1) Cutting. (2) An allusion to the tale of Edipus. (3) Without pity. (4) i. e. Against objects of charity and compas sion. |