The Works of Shakespeare

PANDARUS.

Pan. But hear you, hear you!

In beastly sort, dragg'd through the shameful field.— As TROILUS is going out, enter, from the other side,
Frown on, you heavens, effect your rage with speed!
Sit, gods, upon your thrones, and smile at Troy!
I say, at once let your brief plagues be mercy,
And linger not our sure destructions on!

Ene. My lord, you do discomfort all the host.
Tro. You understand me not, that tell me so:
I do not speak of flight, of fear, of death;
But dare all imminence, that gods and men
Address their dangers in. Hector is gone!
Who shall tell Priam so, or Hecuba?

Let him, that will a screech-owl aye be call'd,
Go in to Troy, and say there-Hector's dead:
There is a word will Priam turn to stone;
Make wells and Niobes of the maids and wives,
Cold statues of the youth; and in a word,
Scare Troy out of itself. But, march, away:
Hector is dead; there is no more to say.
Stay yet;-You vile abominable tents,
Thus proudly pight upon our Phyrigan plains,
Let Titan rise as early as he dare, [siz'd coward!
I'll through and through you!-And thou, great-
No space of earth shall sunder our two hates;
I'll haunt thee like a wicked conscience still,
That mouldeth goblins swift as frenzy thoughts.-
Strike a free march to Troy!-with comfort go:
Hope of revenge shall hide our inward woe.
[Exeunt ENEAS and Trojans.

Tro. Hence, broker lackey! ignomy and shame Pursue thy life, and live aye with thy name.

[Exit TROILUS.

Pan. A goodly med'cine for my aching bones!— O world! world! world! thus is the poor agent despised! O traitors and bawds, how earnestly are you set 'a work, and how ill requited! Why should our endeavour be so loved, and the performance so loathed? what verse for it? what instance for it? -Let me see:

Full merrily the humble-bee doth sing, Till he hath lost his honey, and his sting: And being once subdued in armed tail, Sweet honey and sweet notes together fail.Good traders in the flesh, set this in your painted cloths.

As many as be here of pander's hall, Your eyes, half out, weep out at Pandar's fall : Or, if you cannot weep, yet give some groans, Though not for me, yet for your aching bones. Brethren, and sisters, of the hold-door trade, Some two months hence my will shall here be made: It should be now, but that my fear is this,Some galled goose of Winchester would hiss : Till then I'll sweat, and seek about for eases; And at that time bequeath you-my diseases. [Exit.

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l'oct. So 'tis this comes off well and excellent.
Pain. Indifferent.
Poet.
Admirable How this grace
Speaks his own standing! what a mental power
This eye shoots forth! how big imagination
Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture
One might interpret.

Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch: Is't good?

Poet.

I'll say of it,
It tutors nature: artificial strife
Lives in these touches, livelier than life.

Enter certain Senators, and pass over.

Pain. How this lord's follow'd!
Poet. The senators of Athens:-Happy men!
Pain. Look, more!

[visitors.
Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of
I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment: My free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold;
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.

Pain. How shall I understand you?
Poet.
I'll unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
(As well of glib and slippery creatures, as
Of grave and austere quality,) tender down
Their services to lord Timon: his large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-fac'd flatterer
To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself: even he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace,
Most rich in Timon's nod.

Pain.
I saw them speak together.
Poet. Sir, I have on a high and pleasant hill,
Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: The Lase o' the mount
Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states: amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
One do I personate of lord Timon's frame,
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;
Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
Translates his rivals.

Pain.
'Tis conceiv'd to scope.
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
In our condition.

Poet.

Nay, sir, but hear me on:
All those which were his fellows but of late,
(Some better than his value,) on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,

Make sacred even his stirrop, and through m
Drink the free air.
Pain.
Ay, marry, what of these?
Poet. When Fortune, in her shift and change of
mood,

Spurns down her late belov’d, all his dependants,
Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top,
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
Not one accompanying his declining foot.
Pain. "Tis common:

A thousand moral paintings I can show,
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortune
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well,
To show lord Timon, that mean eyes have seen
The foot above the head.

Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, attended; the Serv
ant of VENTIDIUS talking with him.
Imprison'd is he, say you?
Ven. Serv. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his

Tim.

debt;

Aad, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me :—
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to support him after.-Fare you well.
Ven. Serv. All happiness to your honour! [Erit
Enter an old Athenian.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.
Tim.
Freely, good father.
Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius.
Tim. I have so: What of him?

Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before
thee.

Tim. Attends he here, or no ?-Lucilius!

Enter LUCILIUS.

Luc. Here, at your lordship's service.
Old Ath. This fellow here, loid Timon, this thy

creature,

By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift;
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd,
Than one which holds a trencher.

Tim.
Well; what further!
Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got:
The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her, at my dearest cost,
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I pr'ythee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.

Tim.
The man is honest
Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:
His honesty rewards him in itself,
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim.

Does she love atm
Old Ath. She is young, and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.

Tim. To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid?
Luc. Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
Old Ath. If in her marriage my consent be missing,
I call the gods to witness, I will choose

Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.

Tim.

How shall she be endow'd, If she be mated with an equal husband?

[all
Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in future
Tim. This gentleman of mine hath served me long:
To build his fortune I will strain a little,
For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter.
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,

And make him weigh with her.
Old Ath.

Most noble lord,
Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.
Tim. My band to thee; mine honour on my pro-

mise.

Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: Never may That state or fortune fall into my keeping, Which is not ow'd to you!

[Exeunt LUCILIUS and old Athenian. Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!

Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon: Go not a way. What have you there, my friend? Pain. A piece of painting, which I do beseech Your lordship to accept.

Tim.
Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man ;
For since dishonour trafficks with man's nature,
He is but outside: These pencil'd figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work;
And you shall find, I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear further from me.
Pain.

The gods preserve you! Tim. Well fare you, gentlemen: Give me your hand:

We must needs dine together.-Sir, your jewel
Hath suffer'd under praise.

Jew.
What, my lord? dispraise?
Tim. A mere satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,

It would unclew me quite.

Jew.

My lord, 'tis rated

As those which sell would give: But you well know,
Things of like value, differing in the owners,

Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear lord,
You mend the jewel by wearing it.

Tim.

Well mock'd.

Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus? Apem. The best, for the innocence.

Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it? Apem. He wrought better, that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work. Pain. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation: What's she, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

Apem. No; I eat not lords.

Tim. An thou should'st, thou'dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension.

Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour.

Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.

Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking.-How now, poet? Poet. How now, philosopher?

Apem. Thou liest.

Poet. Art not one?
Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.
Apem. Art not a poct?
Poet. 'Yes.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feign'd; he is so.

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He, that loves to be flettered, is worthy o' the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What would'st do then, Apemantus? Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart.

Tim. What, thyself?

Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.Art not thou a merchant?

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound thee!

Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant.

Tim. What trumpet's that?
Serv.

"Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Tim. Pray entertain them; give them guide to [Exeunt some Attendants. You must needs dine with me :-Go not you hence, Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done, Show me this piece.—I'm joyful of your sights.

us.

Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.

Enter Tuo Lords.

1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? Apem. Time to be honest.

1 Lord. That time serves still.

Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it.
2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast?
Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine
heat fools.

2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well.
Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice.
2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
Tim. Fye, thou art a churl; you have got a hu-
mour there

Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame :~
They say, my lords, that ira furor brevis est,
But yond' man's ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Timon;

Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for II come to observe; I give thee warning on't. mean to give thee none.

1 Lord. Hang thyself.

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass.

[Exit.

1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall
we in,

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.

2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,
But breeds the giver a return exceeding

All use of quittance.

1 Lord.

The noblest mind he carries,

That ever govern'd man.

[in? Shall we [Exeunt.

2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! 1 Lord. I'll keep you company. SCENE II. The same. A Room of State in Timon's

House.

Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number
Of men eat Timon, and he sees them not!
It grieves me to see so many dip their meat
In one man's blood; and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks, they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There's much example for't; the fellow, that
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, and pledges
The breath of him in a divided draught,

Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been prov'd.
If I

Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their throats.
Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go

round.

2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way! Hautboys playing loud musick. A great banquet A brave fellow!-he keeps his tides well. Timon, served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS, Here's that, which is too weak to be a sinner, SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire: VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, drop-This, and my food, are equals; there's no odds. ping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly.

Tim.

O, by no means,

Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love;
I gave it freely ever; and there's none
Can truly say, he gives, if he receives:

If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them; Faults that are rich, are fair.
Ven. A noble spirit.

They all stand ceremoniously looking on
TIMON.

Tim.
Nay, my lords, ceremony
Was but devis'd, at first, to set a glocs
On faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Kecanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes,
Than my fortunes to me.

Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
APEMANTUS'S GRACE.
Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man, but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his oath or bond;
Or a harlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that seems a sleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So full to't:

Rich men sin, and I eat root.
[Eats and drinks.
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field

1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them: and would most resemble

sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits: and what better or properer can we call our own than the riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have so many like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks; to forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon. 2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard. [much.

3 Lord. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me Apem. Much! [Tucket sounded. Tim. What means that trump?-How now?

Enter a Servant.

The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of TIMON; and, to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease.

Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies;

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for it.

1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best. Apem. Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.

Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves. All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord.

[Exeunt Cupid, and Ladies.

Tim. Flavius,Flav. My lord. Tim. The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; Else I should tell him,-Well,-i' faith, I should, When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could. "Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind;

[Aside.

That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
[Exit, and returns with the casket.

1 Lord. Where be our men?
Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness.
2 Lord. Our horses.
Tim.

O my friends, I have one word
To say to you;-Look you, my good lord, I must
Entreat you, honour me so much, as to
Advance this jewel;

Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies Accept, and wear it, kind my lord. most desirous of admittance.

Tim. Ladies! What are their wills f

Serv. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures. Tim. I pray, let them be admitted.

[not

They dance! they are mad women.
Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Upon whose age we void it up again,
With poisonous spite, and envy. Who lives, that's
Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears
Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift?
I should fear, those that dance before me now
Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done:
Men shut their doors against a setting sun.

1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,All. So are we all.

Be worthily entertain'd.-How now, what news? 3 Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him; and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds.

Tim. I'll hunt with him; and let them be receiv'd, Not without fair reward. Flav. [Aside.] What will this come to? He commands us to provide, and give great gifts, And all out of an empty coffer.Nor will he know his puse, or yield me this, To show him what a beggar his heart is, Being of no power to make his wishes good

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