The Tragedy of Timon of Athens (Act 3) | The William Shakespeare Project

Servant
I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.

Lucullus
[Aside] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I
warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver
basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest
Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.
Fill me some wine.
[Exit Servants]
And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted
gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord
and master?

Flaminius
His health is well sir.

Lucullus
I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and
what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

Flaminius
'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my
lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to
supply; who, having great and instant occasion to
use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to
furnish him, nothing doubting your present
assistance therein.

Lucullus
La, la, la, la! 'nothing doubting,' says he? Alas,
good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not
keep so good a house. Many a time and often I ha'
dined with him, and told him on't, and come again to
supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less,
and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning
by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty
is his: I ha' told him on't, but I could ne'er get
him from't.

Servant
Please your lordship, here is the wine.

Lucullus
Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.

Flaminius
Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

Lucullus
I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt
spirit--give thee thy due--and one that knows what
belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if
the time use thee well: good parts in thee.
[To Servant]
Get you gone, sirrah.
[Exit Servant]
Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a
bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou
knowest well enough, although thou comest to me,
that this is no time to lend money, especially upon
bare friendship, without security. Here's three
solidares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say
thou sawest me not. Fare thee well.

Flaminius
Is't possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee!

Lucullus
Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.

Flaminius
May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let moulten coin be thy damnation,
Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel master's passion! this slave,
Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:
Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poison?
O, may diseases only work upon't!
And, when he's sick to death, let not that part of nature
Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!

Lucilius
Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and
an honourable gentleman.

First Stranger
We know him for no less, though we are but strangers
to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and
which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon's
happy hours are done and past, and his estate
shrinks from him.

Lucilius
Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.

Second Stranger
But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago,
one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow
so many talents, nay, urged extremely for't and
showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.

Lucilius
How!

Second Stranger
I tell you, denied, my lord.

Lucilius
What a strange case was that! now, before the gods,
I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man!
there was very little honour showed in't. For my own
part, I must needs confess, I have received some
small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels
and such-like trifles, nothing comparing to his;
yet, had he mistook him and sent to me, I should
ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.

Servilius
See, by good hap, yonder's my lord;
I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,--

Lucilius
Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:
commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very
exquisite friend.

Servilius
May it please your honour, my lord hath sent--

Lucilius
Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to
that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank
him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?

Servilius
Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;
requesting your lordship to supply his instant use
with so many talents.

Lucilius
I know his lordship is but merry with me;
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.

Servilius
But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Lucilius
Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Servilius
Upon my soul,'tis true, sir.

Lucilius
What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
against such a good time, when I might ha' shown
myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I
should purchase the day before for a little part,
and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,
before the gods, I am not able to do,--the more
beast, I say:--I was sending to use Lord Timon
myself, these gentlemen can witness! but I would
not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done't now.
Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I
hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me,
because I have no power to be kind: and tell him
this from me, I count it one of my greatest
afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an
honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?

Servilius
Yes, sir, I shall.

Lucilius
I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.
[Exit SERVILIUS]
True as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;
And he that's once denied will hardly speed.

First Stranger
Do you observe this, Hostilius?

Second Stranger
Ay, too well.

First Stranger
Why, this is the world's soul; and just of the
same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse,
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: he ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!--
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.

Third Stranger
Religion groans at it.

First Stranger
For mine own part,
I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue
And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return'd to him,
So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.

Sempronius
Must he needs trouble me in 't,--hum!--'bove
all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these
Owe their estates unto him.

Servant
My lord,
They have all been touch'd and found base metal, for
They have au denied him.

Sempronius
How! have they denied him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?
And does he send to me? Three? hum!
It shows but little love or judgment in him:
Must I be his last refuge! His friends, like
physicians,
Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me?
Has much disgraced me in't; I'm angry at him,
That might have known my place: I see no sense for't,
But his occasion might have woo'd me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e'er received gift from him:
And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite its last? No:
So it may prove an argument of laughter
To the rest, and 'mongst lords I be thought a fool.
I'ld rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;
I'd such a courage to do him good. But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.

Servant
Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The
devil knew not what he did when he made man
politic; he crossed himself by 't: and I cannot
think but, in the end, the villainies of man will
set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to
appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked,
like those that under hot ardent zeal would set
whole realms on fire: Of such a nature is his
politic love.
This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,
Save only the gods: now his friends are dead,
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year must be employ'd
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows;
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.

First Servant
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

Titus
The like to you kind Varro.

Hortensius
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
One business does command us all; for mine Is money.

Titus
So is theirs and ours.

Philotus
Good day at once.
What do you think the hour?

Philotus
Labouring for nine.

Philotus
Is not my lord seen yet?

Philotus
I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear 'tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;
That is one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.

Philotus
I am of your fear for that.

Titus
I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.

Hortensius
Most true, he does.

Titus
And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
For which I wait for money.

Hortensius
It is against my heart.
Timon in this should pay more than he owes:
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for 'em.

Hortensius
I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness:
I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.

First Servant
Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?

First Servant
'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
Your master's confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall'd.
Enter Flaminius.

Titus
One of Lord Timon's men.
come forth?

Flaminius
No, indeed, he is not.

Titus
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.

Flaminius
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.

Titus
Do you hear, sir?

Second Servant
By your leave, sir,--

Flavius
What do ye ask of me, my friend?

Titus
We wait for certain money here, sir.

Flavius
Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twere sure enough.
Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills,
When your false masters eat of my lord's meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts
And take down the interest into their
gluttonous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;
Let me pass quietly:
Believe 't, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

Flavius
If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.

First Servant
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?

Second Servant
No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge
enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no
house to put his head in? such may rail against
great buildings.

Titus
O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.

Servilius
If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some
other hour, I should derive much from't; for,
take't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to
discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook him;
he's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
And, if it be so far beyond his health,
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.

Servilius
Good gods!

Titus
We cannot take this for answer, sir.

Flaminius
[Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!

Timon
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

Titus
My lord, here is my bill.

Hortensius
And mine, my lord.

Philotus
All our bills.

Timon
Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.

Timon
Cut my heart in sums.

Titus
Mine, fifty talents.

Timon
Tell out my blood.

Timon
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours?--and yours?

First Servant
My lord,--

Second Servant
My lord,--

Timon
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!

Hortensius
'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps
at their money: these debts may well be called
desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.

Timon
They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? devils!

Flavius
My dear lord,--

Timon
What if it should be so?

Flavius
My lord,--

Timon
I'll have it so. My steward!

Flavius
Here, my lord.

Timon
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:
All, sirrah, all:
I'll once more feast the rascals.

Flavius
O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out
A moderate table.

Timon
Be't not in thy care; go,
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.

First Senator
My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's
Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die:
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

Second Senator
Most true; the law shall bruise him.

Alcibiades
Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!

First Senator
Now, captain?

Alcibiades
I am an humble suitor to your virtues;
For pity is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood,
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that, without heed, do plunge into 't.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,
Of comely virtues:
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice--
An honour in him which buys out his fault--
But with a noble fury and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe:
And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but proved an argument.

First Senator
You undergo too strict a paradox,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
Your words have took such pains as if they labour'd
To bring manslaughter into form and set quarrelling
Upon the head of valour; which indeed
Is valour misbegot and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born:
He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer
The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs
His outsides, to wear them like his raiment,
carelessly,
And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,
To bring it into danger.
If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill,
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill!

Alcibiades
My lord,--

First Senator
You cannot make gross sins look clear:
To revenge is no valour, but to bear.

Alcibiades
My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,
If I speak like a captain.
Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threats? sleep upon't,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? If there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad? why then, women are more valiant
That stay at home, if bearing carry it,
And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good:
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.
To be in anger is impiety;
But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

Second Senator
You breathe in vain.

Alcibiades
In vain! his service done
At Lacedaemon and Byzantium
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

First Senator
What's that?

Alcibiades
I say, my lords, he has done fair service,
And slain in fight many of your enemies:
How full of valour did he bear himself
In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!

Second Senator
He has made too much plenty with 'em;
He's a sworn rioter: he has a sin that often
Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner:
If there were no foes, that were enough
To overcome him: in that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages,
And cherish factions: 'tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul and his drink dangerous.

First Senator
He dies.

Alcibiades
Hard fate! he might have died in war.
My lords, if not for any parts in him--
Though his right arm might purchase his own time
And be in debt to none--yet, more to move you,
Take my deserts to his, and join 'em both:
And, for I know your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all
My honours to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receive 't in valiant gore
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

First Senator
We are for law: he dies; urge it no more,
On height of our displeasure: friend or brother,
He forfeits his own blood that spills another.

Alcibiades
Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,
I do beseech you, know me.

Second Senator
How!

Alcibiades
Call me to your remembrances.

Third Senator
What!

Alcibiades
I cannot think but your age has forgot me;
It could not else be, I should prove so base,
To sue, and be denied such common grace:
My wounds ache at you.

First Senator
Do you dare our anger?
'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;
We banish thee for ever.

Alcibiades
Banish me!
Banish your dotage; banish usury,
That makes the senate ugly.

First Senator
If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee,
Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell
our spirit,
He shall be executed presently.

Alcibiades
Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live
Only in bone, that none may look on you!
I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,
While they have told their money and let out
Their coin upon large interest, I myself
Rich only in large hurts. All those for this?
Is this the balsam that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment!
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.
'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds;
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

First Lord
The good time of day to you, sir.

Second Lord
I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord
did but try us this other day.

First Lord
Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we
encountered: I hope it is not so low with him as
he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

Second Lord
It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

First Lord
I should think so: he hath sent me an earnest
inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me
to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and
I must needs appear.

Second Lord
In like manner was I in debt to my importunate
business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am
sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my
provision was out.

First Lord
I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all
things go.

Second Lord
Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of
you?

First Lord
A thousand pieces.

Second Lord
A thousand pieces!

First Lord
What of you?

Second Lord
He sent to me, sir,--Here he comes.

Timon
With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how fare you?

First Lord
Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

Second Lord
The swallow follows not summer more willing than we
your lordship.

Timon
[Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such
summer-birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not
recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the
music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' the
trumpet's sound; we shall to 't presently.

First Lord
I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship
that I returned you an empty messenger.

Timon
O, sir, let it not trouble you.

Second Lord
My noble lord,--

Timon
Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

Second Lord
My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame,
that, when your lordship this other day sent to me,
I was so unfortunate a beggar.

Timon
Think not on 't, sir.

Second Lord
If you had sent but two hours before,--

Timon
Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
[The banquet brought in]
Come, bring in all together.

Second Lord
All covered dishes!

First Lord
Royal cheer, I warrant you.

Third Lord
Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield
it.

First Lord
How do you? What's the news?

Third Lord
Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?

First Lord
[with Second Lord] Alcibiades banished!

Third Lord
'Tis so, be sure of it.

First Lord
How! how!

Second Lord
I pray you, upon what?

Timon
My worthy friends, will you draw near?

Third Lord
I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.

Second Lord
This is the old man still.

Third Lord
Will 't hold? will 't hold?

Second Lord
It does: but time will--and so--

Third Lord
I do conceive.

Timon
Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to
the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all
places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let
the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place:
sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.
You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with
thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves
praised: but reserve still to give, lest your
deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that
one need not lend to another; for, were your
godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the
gods. Make the meat be beloved more than the man
that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without
a score of villains: if there sit twelve women at
the table, let a dozen of them be--as they are. The
rest of your fees, O gods--the senators of Athens,
together with the common lag of people--what is
amiss in them, you gods, make suitable for
destruction. For these my present friends, as they
are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to
nothing are they welcome.
Uncover, dogs, and lap.
[The dishes are uncovered and seen to be full of]
warm water]

Some Speak
What does his lordship mean?

Some Others
I know not.

Timon
May you a better feast never behold,
You knot of mouth-friends I smoke and lukewarm water
Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces
Your reeking villany.
[Throwing the water in their faces]
Live loathed and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,
Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!
Of man and beast the infinite malady
Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?
Soft! take thy physic first--thou too--and thou;--
Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.
[Throws the dishes at them, and drives them out]
What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,
Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be
Of Timon man and all humanity!

First Lord
How now, my lords!

Second Lord
Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?

Third Lord
Push! did you see my cap?

Fourth Lord
I have lost my gown.

First Lord
He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him.
He gave me a jewel th' other day, and now he has
beat it out of my hat: did you see my jewel?

Third Lord
Did you see my cap?

Second Lord
Here 'tis.

Fourth Lord
Here lies my gown.

First Lord
Let's make no stay.

Second Lord
Lord Timon's mad.

Third Lord
I feel 't upon my bones.

Fourth Lord
One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

The Tragedy of Timon of Athens (1606)

Act III, Scene 1

Act III, Scene 2

Act III, Scene 3

Act III, Scene 4

Act III, Scene 5

Act III, Scene 6

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