Titus Andronicus & Timon of Athens Read online

  You knot of mouth-friends. Smoke82 and lukewarm water

  Is your perfection83. This is Timon's last,

  Who, stuck and spangled84 with your flatteries,

  Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

  Throws water at them

  Your reeking86 villainy. Live loathed and long,

  Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,

  Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,

  You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,89

  Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!90

  Of man and beast the infinite91 malady

  A Lord gets up to leave

  Crust you quite o'er!--

  What, dost thou go?

  Throws the stones at them

  Soft, take thy physic93 first.-- Thou too, and thou.

  Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.

  What, all in motion? Henceforth be95 no feast,

  [Exeunt the Lords]

  Leaving their caps and gowns

  Whereat96 a villain's not a welcome guest.

  Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be

  Of98 Timon, man and all humanity!

  Exit

  Enter the Senators with other Lords

  FIRST LORD How now, my lords?

  SECOND LORD Know you the quality100 of Lord Timon's fury?

  THIRD LORD Push!101 Did you see my cap?

  FOURTH LORD I have lost my gown.

  FIRST LORD He's but a mad lord, and nought but humours103

  sways104 him. He gave me a jewel th'other day, and now he has

  beat it out of my hat. Did you see my jewel?

  They search

  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.111

  FOURTH LORD One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.

  Exeunt the Senators [and Lords]

  [Act 4 Scene 1]

  running scene 11

  Enter Timon

  TIMON Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall

  That girdles in2 those wolves, dive in the earth,

  And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent,3

  Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,

  Pluck the grave5 wrinkled senate from the bench,

  And minister in their steads! To general filths6

  Convert o'th'instant, green7 virginity:

  Do't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast8

  Rather than render back; out with your knives,

  And cut your trusters' throats! Bound10 servants, steal!

  Large-handed11 robbers your grave masters are,

  And pill12 by law. Maid, to thy master's bed,

  Thy mistress is o'th'brothel!13 Son of sixteen,

  Pluck the lined14 crutch from thy old limping sire,

  With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,

  Religion16 to the gods, peace, justice, truth,

  Domestic awe, night-rest, and neighbourhood,17

  Instruction, manners, mysteries18 and trades,

  Degrees, observances19, customs and laws,

  Decline to your confounding contraries,20

  And yet confusion live! Plagues incident21 to men,

  Your potent and infectious fevers heap

  On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold23 sciatica,

  Cripple our senators that their limbs may halt24

  As lamely as their manners. Lust and liberty25

  Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,

  That gainst the stream of virtue they may strive27

  And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,28

  Sow all th'Athenian bosoms29, and their crop

  Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath,

  That their society, as their friendship, may

  Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear32 from thee

  But nakedness, thou detestable town.

  Tears off his clothes

  Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!34

  Timon will to the woods, where he shall find

  Th'unkindest beast more kinder36 than mankind.

  The gods confound37 -- hear me, you good gods all --

  Th'Athenians both within and out that wall,

  And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow

  To the whole race of mankind, high and low! Amen.

  Exit

  [Act 4 Scene 2]

  running scene 12

  Enter Steward [Flavius] with two or three Servants

  FIRST SERVANT Hear you, master steward, where's our master?

  Are we undone2, cast off, nothing remaining?

  FLAVIUS Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?

  Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,4

  I am as poor as you.

  FIRST SERVANT Such a house broke?6

  So noble a master fall'n? All gone, and not

  One friend to take his fortune by the arm,8

  And go along with him?

  SECOND SERVANT As we do turn our backs

  From our companion thrown into his grave,

  So his familiars to his buried fortunes12

  Slink all away, leave their false vows with him

  Like empty purses picked14; and his poor self,

  A dedicated beggar to the air,15

  With his disease of all-shunned16 poverty,

  Walks like contempt alone. More of our fellows.17

  Enter other Servants

  FLAVIUS All broken implements18 of a ruined house.

  THIRD SERVANT Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery:19

  That see I by our faces. We are fellows still,

  Serving alike in sorrow. Leaked is our bark,21

  And we, poor mates, stand on the dying22 deck

  Hearing the surges23 threat: we must all part

  Into this sea of air.

  FLAVIUS Good fellows all,

  The latest26 of my wealth I'll share amongst you.

  Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake,

  Let's yet be fellows: let's shake our heads and say,

  As 'twere a knell29 unto our master's fortunes,

  Offers money

  'We have seen better days.' Let each take some:

  Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more.

  Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.

  Embrace, and [the Servants] part several ways

  O, the fierce wretchedness that glory33 brings us!

  Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,

  Since riches point to misery and contempt?

  Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live

  But in a dream of friendship?

  To have his pomp and all what state compounds38

  But only painted39, like his varnished friends?

  Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,

  Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,41

  When man's worst sin is he does too much good!

  Who then dares to be half so kind again?

  For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar44 men.

  My dearest lord, blessed to be most accursed,

  Rich only to be wretched46, thy great fortunes

  Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!

  He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat48

  Of monstrous49 friends:

  Nor has he with him to supply his life,50

  Or that which can command51 it.

  I'll follow and inquire52 him out:

  I'll ever serve his mind with my best will.

  Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still.

  Exit

  [Act 4 Scene 3]

  running scene 13

  Enter Timon in the woods

  With a spade

  TIMON O blessed breeding sun
, draw from the earth1

  Rotten humidity: below thy sister's orb2

  Infect the air. Twinned brothers of one womb,

  Whose procreation, residence4, and birth,

  Scarce is dividant, touch them with several5 fortunes,

  The greater scorns the lesser. Not nature,6

  To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune

  But by contempt of nature.

  Raise me9 this beggar, and deny't that lord,

  The senators shall bear contempt hereditary,10

  The beggar native honour.11

  It is the pasture lards12 the beggar's sides,

  The want13 that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares

  In purity of manhood14 stand upright

  And say 'This man's a flatterer'? If one be,

  So are they all, for every grece16 of fortune

  Is smoothed by that below. The learned pate17

  Ducks to the golden fool. All's oblique:18

  There's nothing level19 in our cursed natures

  But direct20 villainy. Therefore be abhorred

  All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!

  His semblable22, yea, himself, Timon disdains.

  Digs

  Destruction fang23 mankind. Earth, yield me roots.

  Who seeks for better of thee, sauce24 his palate

  With thy most operant25 poison! What is here?

  Discovers gold

  Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold?

  No, gods, I am no idle votarist:27

  Roots, you clear heavens. Thus much of this28 will make

  Black white, foul fair, wrong right,

  Base noble, old young, coward valiant.

  Ha, you gods! Why this? What this, you gods? Why, this

  Will lug32 your priests and servants from your sides,

  Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:

  This yellow slave

  Will knit35 and break religions, bless th'accursed,

  Make the hoar leprosy adored, place36 thieves

  And give them title, knee37 and approbation

  With senators on the bench. This is it

  That makes the wappened39 widow wed again;

  She whom the spittle house40 and ulcerous sores

  Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices41

  To th'April day42 again. Come, damned earth,

  Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds43

  Among the rout44 of nations, I will make thee

  Do thy right nature.45

  March afar off

  Ha? A drum? Thou'rt quick,45

  Buries the gold

  But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,46

  When gouty keepers47 of thee cannot stand.

  Keeps some of the gold

  Nay, stay thou out for earnest.48

  Enter Alcibiades with Drum and Fife in warlike manner, and Phrynia and Timandra

  ALCIBIADES What art thou there? Speak.

  TIMON A beast, as thou art. The canker50 gnaw thy heart

  For showing me again the eyes of man!

  ALCIBIADES What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee

  That art thyself a man?

  TIMON I am Misanthropos54, and hate mankind.

  For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,

  That I might love thee something.56

  ALCIBIADES I know thee well,

  But in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.58

  TIMON I know thee too, and more than that I know thee

  I not desire to know. Follow thy drum,

  With man's blood paint the ground gules61, gules.

  Religious canons62, civil laws are cruel:

  Then what should war be? This fell63 whore of thine

  Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,

  For all her cherubin look.65

  PHRYNIA Thy lips rot off!66

  TIMON I will not kiss thee, then the rot returns

  To thine own lips again.

  ALCIBIADES How came the noble Timon to this change?

  TIMON As the moon does, by wanting70 light to give.

  But then renew71 I could not like the moon:

  There were no suns to borrow of.

  ALCIBIADES Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?

  TIMON None, but to maintain my opinion.

  ALCIBIADES What is it, Timon?

  TIMON 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 art a man.

  ALCIBIADES I have heard in some sort79 of thy miseries.

  TIMON Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity.

  ALCIBIADES I see them now: then was a blessed time.

  TIMON As thine is now, held with a brace82 of harlots.

  TIMANDRA Is this th'Athenian minion83 whom the world

  Voiced so regardfully?84

  TIMON Art thou Timandra?

  TIMANDRA Yes.

  TIMON Be a whore still. They love thee not that use87 thee:

  Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.

  Make use of thy salt hours: season89 the slaves

  For tubs and baths90, bring down rose-cheeked youth

  To the tub-fast91 and the diet.

  TIMANDRA Hang thee, monster!

  ALCIBIADES Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits

  Are drowned and lost in his calamities.

  I have but little gold of late95, brave Timon,

  The want whereof96 doth daily make revolt

  In my penurious band97. I have heard and grieved

  How cursed Athens, mindless98 of thy worth,

  Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,

  But for thy sword and fortune trod100 upon them--

  TIMON I prithee beat thy drum and get thee gone.

  ALCIBIADES I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.

  TIMON How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?

  I had rather be alone.

  ALCIBIADES Why, fare thee well:

  Here is some gold for thee.

  TIMON Keep it, I cannot eat it.

  ALCIBIADES When I have laid proud Athens on a heap108--

  TIMON Warr'st thou gainst Athens?

  ALCIBIADES Ay, Timon, and have cause.

  TIMON The gods confound them all in thy conquest,

  And thee after, when thou hast conquered!

  ALCIBIADES Why me, Timon?

  TIMON That by killing of villains

  Thou wast born to conquer my country.

  Put up116 thy gold. Go on, here's gold, go on.

  Be as a planetary plague when Jove117

  Will o'er some high-viced118 city hang his poison

  In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip119 one.

  Pity not honoured age for his white beard:

  He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron:121

  It is her habit122 only that is honest,

  Herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek

  Make soft thy trenchant sword, for those milk-paps124

  That through the window-bars125 bore at men's eyes,

  Are not within the leaf of pity126 writ,

  But set127 them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe

  Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust128 their mercy;

  Think it a bastard whom the oracle

  Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut,130

  And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects,131

  Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes

  Whose proof133 nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,

  Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,

  Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers:

  Offers gold

  Make large confusion136, and, thy fury spent,

  Confounded be thyself. Speak not, be gone.

  ALCIBIADES Hast thou gold yet? I'll ta
ke the gold thou givest me,

  Takes gold

  Not all thy counsel.139

  TIMON Dost thou or dost thou not140, heaven's curse upon thee!

  PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA Give us some gold, good Timon. Hast thou more?

  TIMON Enough to make a whore forswear142 her trade,

  And to make whores, a bawd143. Hold up, you sluts,

  Throws gold into their aprons

  Your aprons mountant.144

  You are not oathable,144

  Although I know you'll swear, terribly swear

  Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues146

  Th'immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths:

  I'll trust to your conditions148. Be whores still,

  And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,

  Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up:150

  Let your close fire predominate his smoke,151

  And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months152

  Be quite contrary, and thatch your poor thin roofs153

  With burdens of154 the dead -- some that were hanged,

  No matter. Wear them, betray with them, whore still,

  Paint till a horse may mire upon156 your face.

  A pox157 of wrinkles!

  PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA Well, more gold: what then?

  Believe't that we'll do159 anything for gold.

  TIMON Consumptions160 sow

  In hollow bones of man, strike their sharp161 shins,

  And mar men's spurring162. Crack the lawyer's voice,

  That he may never more false title163 plead,

  Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen164

  That scolds against the quality of flesh,165

  And not believes himself. Down with the nose,166

  Down with it flat: take the bridge quite away

  Of him that, his particular to foresee,168

  Smells from the general weal. Make curled-pate169 ruffians bald,

  And let the unscarred braggarts170 of the war

  Derive some pain from you. Plague all,

  That your activity172 may defeat and quell

  The source of all erection173. There's more gold.

  Do you damn others, and let this damn you,

  And ditches grave175 you all!

  PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.

  TIMON More whore, more mischief first: I have given you earnest.177

  ALCIBIADES Strike up the drum towards Athens!-- Farewell, Timon:

  If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.

  TIMON If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.

  ALCIBIADES I never did thee harm.

  TIMON Yes, thou spok'st well of me.

  ALCIBIADES Call'st thou that harm?

  TIMON Men daily find it184. Get thee away, and take

  Thy beagles185 with thee.

  ALCIBIADES We but offend him. Strike!186

  Exeunt [all but Timon]

  Drums beat

  Digs

  TIMON That nature, being sick of187 man's unkindness,

  Should yet be hungry! Common mother188, thou

  Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast

  Teems and feeds all, whose selfsame mettle,190

  Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed,191