Titus Andronicus & Timon of Athens Read online

  Had you not fully laid my state before me,

  That I might so have rated my expense130

  As I had leave of means?

  FLAVIUS You would not hear me:

  At many leisures I proposed.133

  TIMON Go to:134

  Perchance some single vantages135 you took

  When my indisposition put you back,136

  And that unaptness made your minister137

  Thus to excuse yourself.

  FLAVIUS O my good lord,

  At many times I brought in my accounts,

  Laid them before you: you would throw them off,

  And say, you found them in mine honesty.142

  When for some trifling present you have bid me

  Return so much, I have shook my head and wept:

  Yea, gainst th'authority of manners145 prayed you

  To hold your hand more close146. I did endure

  Not seldom, nor no slight checks147 when I have

  Prompted you in148 the ebb of your estate

  And your great flow of debts. My loved lord,

  Though you hear now too late, yet now's a time:150

  The greatest of your having lacks a half151

  To pay your present debts.

  TIMON Let all my land be sold.

  FLAVIUS 'Tis all engaged154, some forfeited and gone,

  And what remains will hardly stop155 the mouth

  Of present dues. The future comes apace:156

  What shall defend the interim, and at length157

  How goes our reck'ning?158

  TIMON To Lacedaemon159 did my land extend.

  FLAVIUS O, my good lord, the world is but a word:

  Were it all yours to give it in a breath,

  How quickly were it gone!

  TIMON You tell me true.

  FLAVIUS If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,164

  Call me before th'exactest auditors165

  And set me on the proof166. So the gods bless me,

  When all our offices have been oppressed167

  With riotous feeders, when our vaults168 have wept

  With drunken spilth169 of wine, when every room

  Hath blazed with lights and brayed with minstrelsy,170

  I have retired me to a wasteful cock,171

  And set mine eyes at flow.172

  TIMON Prithee, no more.

  FLAVIUS Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!

  How many prodigal bits have slaves175 and peasants

  This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?176

  What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is

  Lord Timon's?

  Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!

  Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,

  The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:

  Feast-won, fast-lost;182 one cloud of winter show'rs,

  These flies are couched.183

  TIMON Come, sermon184 me no further:

  No villainous185 bounty yet hath passed my heart;

  Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.

  Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience187 lack,

  To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart:

  If I would broach189 the vessels of my love

  And try the argument of hearts190 by borrowing,

  Men and men's fortunes could I frankly191 use

  As I can bid thee speak.

  FLAVIUS Assurance bless your thoughts!193

  TIMON And in some sort these wants of mine are crowned194

  That I account195 them blessings, for by these

  Shall I try friends: you shall perceive how you

  Mistake my fortunes. I am wealthy in my friends.--

  Calls

  Within there, Flaminius, Servilius!

  Enter three Servants

  SERVANTS My lord, my lord.

  To Servilius

  TIMON I will dispatch you severally200: you to Lord

  To Flaminius

  Lucius,-- to Lord Lucullus you -- I hunted with

  To Third Servant

  his honour today--you to Sempronius.

  Commend me to their loves, and I am proud, say, that my

  occasions have found time to use 'em toward204 a supply of

  money: let the request be fifty talents.

  FLAMINIUS As you have said, my lord.

  [Exeunt the Servants]

  Aside

  FLAVIUS Lord Lucius and Lucullus? Hum!207

  TIMON Go you, sir, to the senators --

  Of whom, even to the state's best health,209 I have

  Deserved this hearing -- bid 'em send o'th'instant

  A thousand talents to me.

  FLAVIUS I have been bold --

  For that I knew it the most general213 way --

  To them to use your signet214 and your name,

  But they do shake their heads, and I am here

  No richer in return.

  TIMON Is't true? Can't be?

  FLAVIUS They answer in a joint and corporate218 voice

  That now they are at fall, want219 treasure, cannot

  Do what they would, are sorry, you are honourable,

  But yet they could have wished -- they know not --

  Something hath been amiss, a noble nature

  May catch a wrench223 -- would all were well -- 'tis pity.

  And so, intending224 other serious matters,

  After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,225

  With certain half-caps and cold-moving226 nods

  They froze me into silence.

  TIMON You gods reward them!

  Prithee, man, look cheerly229. These old fellows

  Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:230

  Their blood is caked231, 'tis cold, it seldom flows:

  'Tis lack of kindly232 warmth they are not kind;

  And nature, as it grows again toward earth,233

  Is fashioned for the journey, dull234 and heavy.--

  To a Servant/To Flavius

  Go to Ventidius.-- Prithee be not sad:

  Thou art true and honest; ingeniously236 I speak.

  To Servant

  No blame belongs to thee.-- Ventidius lately

  Buried his father, by whose death he's stepped238

  Into a great estate: when he was poor,

  Imprisoned and in scarcity of friends,

  I cleared him with five talents. Greet him from me,

  Bid him suppose some good necessity242

  Touches his friend, which craves to be remembered

  With those five talents.--

  [Exit Servant]

  To Flavius

  That had, give't these fellows

  To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak or think

  That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink.

  FLAVIUS I would I could not think it: that thought is bounty's247

  foe;

  Being free249 itself, it thinks all others so.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 1]

  running scene 5

  [Enter] Flaminius waiting to speak with a Lord from his master, enters a Servant to him

  SERVANT I have told my lord of you: he is coming down to

  you.

  FLAMINIUS I thank you, sir.

  Enter Lucullus

  SERVANT Here's my lord.

  Aside

  LUCULLUS One of Lord Timon's men? A gift, I warrant.5

  Why, this hits right: I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer6

  tonight7.-- Flaminius, honest Flaminius, you are very

  To Servant

  respectively8 welcome, sir.-- Fill me some wine.--

  And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted9

  gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful

  [Exit Servant]

  good lord and master?

  FLAMINIUS His health is well sir.

  LUCULLUS I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what

  ha
st thou there under thy cloak, pretty14 Flaminius?

  FLAMINIUS Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir, which in15 my

  lord's behalf I come to entreat your honour to supply16, who,

  having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath

  sent to your lordship to furnish him, nothing18 doubting your

  present19 assistance therein.

  LUCULLUS La, la, la, la!20 'Nothing doubting' says he? Alas, good

  lord! A noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so good a21

  house. Many a time and often I ha' dined with him, and told

  him on't23, and come again to supper to him of purpose to

  have him spend less, and yet he would embrace24 no counsel,

  take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and

  honesty26 is his: I ha' told him on't, but I could ne'er get him

  from't.

  Enter Servant with wine

  SERVANT Please your lordship, here is the wine.

  Toasts

  LUCULLUS Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise.

  Here's to thee.

  FLAMINIUS Your lordship speaks your pleasure.31

  LUCULLUS I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt32

  spirit, give33 thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs

  to reason; and canst use the time well34, if the time use

  To Servant

  thee well. Good parts35 in thee.-- Get you gone,

  sirrah36.--

  [Exit Servant]

  Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful

  gentleman, but thou art wise, and thou know'st well enough

  -- although thou com'st to me -- that this is no time to lend

  Gives money

  money, especially upon bare40 friendship without

  security. Here's three solidares for thee. Good boy, wink41 at me

  and say thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well.

  FLAMINIUS Is't possible the world should so much differ,43

  And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,

  Throws back the money

  To him that worships thee.

  LUCULLUS Ha? Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.

  Exit

  FLAMINIUS May these add to the number that may scald47 thee!

  Let molten coin be thy damnation,48

  Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!49

  Has friendship such a faint and milky50 heart,

  It turns51 in less than two nights? O you gods,

  I feel my master's passion!52 This slave

  Unto his honour has my lord's meat in him:53

  Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment,54

  When he is turned 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.59

  Exit

  [Act 3 Scene 2]

  running scene 6

  Enter Lucius with three Strangers

  LUCIUS Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend,

  and an honourable gentleman.

  FIRST STRANGER We know him for3 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.

  LUCIUS 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't12, and yet was denied.

  LUCIUS How?13

  SECOND STRANGER I tell you, denied, my lord.

  LUCIUS 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 him20 and sent to me, I

  should ne'er have denied his occasion21 so many talents.

  Enter Servilius

  Aside

  SERVILIUS See, by good hap22, yonder's my lord:

  I have sweat23 to see his honour.-- My honoured lord.

  To Lucius

  LUCIUS Servilius! You are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:

  commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very

  exquisite26 friend.

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

  LUCIUS Ha? What has he sent? I am so much endeared28 to

  that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank him, think'st

  thou? And what has he sent now?

  SERVILIUS Has only sent his present occasion31 now, my lord,

  requesting your lordship to supply his instant use32 with so

  many talents.

  Presents a note

  LUCIUS I know his lordship is but merry34 with me:

  Reads the note

  He cannot want fifty-- five hundred talents!

  SERVILIUS But in the meantime he wants less, my lord.

  If his occasion were not virtuous,37

  I should not urge it half so faithfully.

  LUCIUS Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

  SERVILIUS Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.

  LUCIUS What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself41

  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 great44

  deal of honour. Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able

  to do -- the more beast, I say -- I was sending to use46 Lord

  Timon myself -- these gentlemen can witness -- but I would47

  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 fairest50 of me because I have no power to be

  kind51: and tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest

  afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure52 such an honourable

  gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far53, as to

  use mine own words to him?

  SERVILIUS Yes, sir, I shall.

  Exit Servilius

  Calls after him

  LUCIUS I'll look you out a good turn,56 Servilius.--

  True as you said, Timon is shrunk57 indeed:

  And he that's once denied will hardly speed.58

  Exit

  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 piece61

  Is every flatterer's sport. Who can call him his friend

  That dips in the same dish? For, in my knowing,63

  Timon has been this lord's father,64

  And kept his credit with his65 purse,

  Supported his estate: nay, Timon's money

  Has paid his men their wages. He ne'er drinks,

  But Timon's silver treads68 upon his lip,

  And yet -- O, see the monstrousness69 of man

  When he looks out70 in an ungrateful shape! --

  He does deny him, in respect of his,71

  What charitable men afford to beggars.

  THIRD STRANGER Religion groans at it.

  FIRST STRANGER For mine own part,

  I never tasted Timon75 in my life,

  Nor came any of his bounties over76 me

  To mark me for his friend: yet I protest,

&nb
sp; For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue

  And honourable carriage,79

  Had his necessity made use of me

  I would have put my wealth into donation,81

  And the best half should have returned to him,

  So much I love his heart. But I perceive

  Men must learn now with pity to dispense,84

  For policy85 sits above conscience.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 3]

  running scene 7

  Enter a third Servant with Sempronius, another of Timon's friends

  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 redeemed from prison: all these

  Owes their estates unto him.

  SERVANT My lord,

  They have all been touched7 and found base metal,

  For they have all 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 judgement in him.

  Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,

  Thrive, give him over14: must I take th'cure upon me?

  He's much disgraced me in't: I'm angry at him,

  That might have known my place. I see no sense for't,16

  But his occasions might have wooed me first,

  For, in my conscience,18 I was the first man

  That e'er received gift from him:

  And does he think so backwardly20 of me now

  That I'll requite21 it last? No:

  So it may prove an argument of22 laughter

  To th'rest, and 'mongst lords be thought a fool.

  I'd rather than the worth of thrice the sum,

  Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake:25

  I'd such a courage26 to do him good. But now return,

  And with their faint27 reply this answer join:

  Who bates28 mine honour shall not know my coin.

  Exit

  SERVANT Excellent. Your lordship's a goodly29 villain. The devil

  knew not what he did when he made man politic; he crossed30

  himself by't, and I cannot think but in the end the villainies

  of man will set him clear. How fairly32 this lord strives to

  appear foul! Takes virtuous copies to be wicked33, like those

  that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms on fire34: 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.37

  Doors that were ne'er acquainted with their wards38

  Many39 a bounteous year must be employed

  Now to guard sure40 their master.

  And this is all a liberal41 course allows:

  Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.42

  Exit

  [Act 3 Scene 4]

  running scene 8

  Enter Varro's man meeting others: all Timon's creditors to wait for his coming out. Then enter [a Servant of] Lucius, [Titus] and Hortensius