Classic Audiobook Collection - Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare ~ Full Audiobook [tragedy]

Episode Date: May 5, 2025

Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare audiobook. Genre: tragedy In ancient Athens, the wealthy nobleman Timon is celebrated for his lavish generosity, openhanded feasts, and unwavering belief in friendship. Surrounded by flattering courtiers, poets, and self-interested lords, he gives freely to anyone who asks, convinced that his fortune and kindness will always be met with loyalty. But as debts tighten and his resources run thin, Timon discovers how quickly admiration can turn into indifference. When he reaches out for help from those he once enriched, he is met with excuses and cold refusals, and his pride curdles into fury. With his loyal steward Flavius caught between duty and heartbreak, Timon abandons the city that betrayed him and retreats into isolation, where bitterness sharpens his view of human nature. Meanwhile, Athens faces political strain and military threat, forcing its leaders to weigh survival against principle even as Timon's rage echoes beyond the wilderness. Darkly witty and relentlessly unsparing, Timon of Athens is a tragedy of wealth and dependence, gratitude and exploitation, and the perilous line between generosity and self-destruction. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 1 (00:03:18) Chapter 2 (00:35:15) Chapter 3 (00:50:23) Chapter 4 (01:22:16) Chapter 5 (02:01:47) Chapter 6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Act 1 of Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 1 Athens A hall in Tyman's house Enter poet, painter, jeweler, merchant and others at several doors. Good day, sir. I am glad you're well.

I have not seen you long. How goes the world? It worse, sir, as it grows. Aye, that's well known. But what particular rarity. What strange which manifold record not matches. See, magic of bounty! All these spirits thy power hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant. I know them both. Others a jeweler. O tis a worthy lord. Nay, that's most fixed. A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,

to an untirable and continuate goodness. He passes. I have a jewel here. O pray, let's see it. For the Lord Timmons, sir. If he will touch the estimate, but for that. Reciting to himself. When we for recompense have praised the vial,

it stains the glory in that happy verse which aptly sings the good. Tis a good form. Looking at the jewel. And rich. Here is a water, look ye. You are rough, sir, in some work, some dedication to the great lord. A thing slipped idly from me.

Our poetry is as a gum which oozes from whence tis nourished. The fire or the flint shows not till it be struck. Our gentle flame provokes itself, and like the current flies each bound it chafes. What have you there? A picture, sir. When comes your book forth? Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. Let's see your peace.

Tis a good peace. So tis. This comes off well and excellent. Indifferent. 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. This is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch. Is it good? I will say of it. It tutors nature. Artificial strife lives in these touches, livelier than life. Enter certain senators and pass over.

How this lord is followed. The Senators of Athens. Happy man. Look, more. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors, I have in this rough work shaped 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 leveled malice infects one comma in the course I hold, but flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on, leaving no tract behind. How shall I understand you? I will unbolt to you. You see how all conditions, how all minds as well of glib and slippery creatures as of grave and austere quality, tendered down their services to Lord Tyman? 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-faced flatterer to Appamantus, that few things loves better than to abhor himself. Even he drops down the knee before him, and returns in peace most rich in Tyman's nod.

I saw them speak together. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill feigned fortune to be throned. The base of the mount is ranked with all desserts, all kinds of natures that labor on the bosom of this sphere to propagate their states. Amongst them all, whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed, One do I personate of Lord Tyman's frame, Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her, Whose present grace to present slaves and servants

Translates his rivals. "'Tis conceived to scope, this throne, this fortune, "'and this hill methinks, "'with one man beckoned from the rest below, "'bowing his head against the sleeping mount to climb his happiness, "'would be well expressed in our condition.' "'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 stirrup and through him drink the free air i marry what of these when fortune in her shift and change of mood spurns down her late beloved all his dependents which laboured after him to the mountain's top, even on their knees and hands, let him slip down, not one accompanying his declining foot. Tis common. A thousand moral paintings I can show that shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortunes more pregnantly than words. Yet you do well to show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen the foot above the head. Trampets sound.

Enter Tyman. the tyman, addressing himself courteously to every suitor, a messenger from Vantilius talking with him, Lucilius, and other servants following. Imprisoned, is he say you? Ay, my good lord, five talents is his debt, his means most short, his creditors most straight, your honorable letter he desires to those have shut him up, which failing period is comfort. Noble Ventidius, while I am not of that feather to shake off my friend when he must need me, I do know him a gentleman that well deserves a help, which he shall have. I'll pay the

debt and free him. Your lordship ever bind him. Commend me to him. I will send his ransom, and being enfranchised bid him come to me. Tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after. Fair you well. All happiness to your honour. Exit. Enter an old Athenian. Lord Tyman, hear me speak. Freely, good father. Thou hast a servant named Lucilius. I have so. What of him? Most noble, Tyman, call the man before thee.

Atense he here or no, Lucilius! Here at your lordship's service. This fellow here, Lord Tyman, this, they created here, by now I frequents my house. I am a man that from my fast have been inclined to thrift, and my state deserves an air more raisered

than one which holds a treasure. Well, what further? One only daughter have I, no kin else, on whom I may confer what I have got. The maid is fair,

or 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 prithee noble lord join with me to forbid him her resort myself have spoke in vain the man is honest therefore he will be a time his honesty rewards him in itself it must not bear my daughter does she love him she is young and apt our own preceded passions do instruct us what levities in youth to lucilius love you the maid i my good lord and she accepts of it if in her baddie she may consent to be missing i call the gallows to witness I will choose mine heir from forth the beggars of the world and dispossess her all. How shall she be endowed if she be mated with an equal husband? Three talents on the present, in future all. This gentleman of mine has served me long.

To build his fortune I will strain a little, for tis a bond in man. Give him thy daughter, what you bestow. In him I'll counterpoise, and make him way with her. with her. Most noble Lord, pour me to this, your honor. She is his. My hand to thee, mine honor on my promise. Humbly I thank your lordship. Never may the state or fortune fall into my keeping, which is not owed to you.

Exxon, Lucilius, and old Athenian. Vouch safe, my labor, and long live your lordship. I thank you. You shall hear from me anon. Go not away. what have you there my friend a piece of painting which i do beseech your lordship to accept painting is welcome the painting is almost a natural man for since dishonour traffics with man's nature he is but outside these pencilled 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 the gods preserve ye well fare you gentlemen give me your hand we must needs dine together sir sir Your jewel has suffered under praise.

What, my lord, dispraise? A mere satiety of commendations. If I should pay you fart as tis extolled, it would unclude me quite. My lord, tis rated as those which sell would give. But you will know things of like value differing in their owners are prized by their masters. Belief, dear lord, you mend the jewel by the wearing it. Well mocked. No, my good lord, he speaks the common tongue,

which all men speak with him. Look, who comes here? Will you be chid? Enter Apimantus. He'll spare none. Good morrow to thee, gentle Appamantus. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow, when thou art Tyman's dog, and these knaves, honest. Why dost I call them knaves?

Thou know'st them not. Are they not Athenians? Yes. Then I repent not. You know me, Epimandus? Thou know'st I do. I called thee by the name. Thou art proud, Appamentus. Of nothing so much as that I am not like Tyman.

Whither art going? To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. That's a deed thou'd die for. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. How likes thou this picture, Appamentus? Poo, the best for the end. Innocence. Wraught he not well that painted it?

He wrought better that made the painter, and yet he's but a filthy piece of work. You're a dog. I'm mothers of my generation. What's she if I be a dog? Wilt dine with me, Appamantis. C, no, I eat not lords. And thou shouldst thou'ad'st anger ladies. Oh, they eat lords, so they come by grievous.

They come by great bellies. That's a lesschievous apprehension. So thou apprehendest it. Take it for thy labour. How dost thou like this jewel, Appomatus? Not so well as plain dealing, which will not cost a man adroit. What dost thou think tis worth? Not worth my thinking.

How now, poet? How now, philosopher? Thou liest. Art not one? Yes. Then I lie not. Art not a poet? Yes.

Then thou liest. Look in thee last work, Where thou wast feigned him a worthy fellow. That's not feigned, he is so. Yes, he is worthy of thee, And to pay thee for the labour. He that loves to be flattered is worthy of the flatterer. Ah, heavens that I were a lord!

What wouldst do then, Epimantus? In as Appimantus does now, hate a lord with me art. What thy self? Aye. Wherefore? That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not thou a merchant? Ay, Appremantus.

Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not. If traffic do it, the gods do it. Traffics thy god, and thy god confound thee. Trumpet sound. Enter a messenger. What trumpets that? Tis alcibiades and some tiny horse. All of companionship. Pray entertain them. Give them guide to us.

Exaunt some attendance. You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence till I have thanked you. When dinner's done, show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights. Enter Alcibiades, with the rest. Most welcome, sir. So, so, there are. Oaks contract and starve your supple joints. That there should be small love amongst these sweet nerves and all this courtesy.

The strain of man's bred out into baboon and monkey. Sir, you have saved my longing and I feed most hungrily on your sight. Right, welcome, sir. ere we depart, we'll share a bountiest time in different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. Exhaunt all except Apimantus. Enter two lords. What time o' day'st Eppamontus?

Time to be honest. That time serves still. The more accursed thou that still omits it. Thou art going to Lord Timmons' feast? Aye, to see meat fill knaves and wine, eight fools. Fair thee well, fare thee well. Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

Why, Appamentus? Shouldst have kept one to thee self, for I mean to give thee none. Hang thyself. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding, make thy request to thy friend. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. I will fly like a dog the heels of the ass. Exit. He's opposite to humanity.

Come, shall we in, and taste Lord Temon's bounty. He outgoes the very heart of kindness. He pours it out. Plutus, the god of gold, is but his steward. No mead, but he repays sevenfold above itself. No gift to him, but breeds the giver a return exceeding all use of quills. the noblest mindy carries that ever governed man long may he live in fortunes shall we in i'll keep you company exaunt act one scene two a banqueting room in timon's house hort boys playing loud music a great banquet-quette served in flavius and others attending then enter

tymon alcibiades lords senators and ventidius then comes dropping after all a pymontus discontentedly like himself most honored tymon it hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age and call him to long peace he has gone happy and has left me rich then as in grateful virtue i am bound to your free heart i do return those talents double with thanks and service, from whose help I derived liberty. Oh, by no means, honest, ventidious, 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. False that are rich are fair. A noble spirit. They all stand ceremoniously, looking at a timean. Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devised at first, to set a glass on faint deeds, hollow

No welcomes, recanting 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. They sit. My lord, we always have confessed it. Oh, confessed it, and it have you not? Oh, Appomatus, you are welcome. No, you shall not make me welcome. I come to have they thrust me out of doors. Fie thou'r to churl, you've got a humour there does not become a man, tis much to blame.

They say, my lords, e'er a fool or brevis est, but yon'd man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is he fit for it indeed. Let me stay at thine apparel, Tyman. I come to observe, I give thee warning aunt. I take no heed of thee. Thou art the Athenian, therefore welcome. I myself would have no power, prithee, let thee. my meat make thee silent. I scorn the meat. To chalk me, for I should ne'er flatter thee.

Oh, you gods, what a number of men eat, Tyman, and he sees him not. It grieves me to see so many dip them mate in one man's blood. And all the madnesses, he cheers him up, too. Now, wouldn't a man 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, thought. The fellow that sits next him now, parts bred with him, pledges the breath of him in a divided draught. Is the readiest man to kill him? T'has been proved it. 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 arnice on their throats. My lord, in heart, and let the health go round. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Flew this way. A brave fella, he keeps his tides well. Those else will make thee and thee state look ill, Tyman. Here's that which is too weak to be a sin.

Honest Watter, which ne'er left man'i the mire. This and me food are equals. There's no odds. Faced are too proud to give thanks to the gods. Appimantus is 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 a weeping, or a dog that seems asleepin, Or a keeper with my freedom, oh my friends, if I should need them. Amen, so fall to it. Rich men sin, and I eat root. eats and drinks Much good ditch the good art Appy Mantis Captain Alcibiades

Your heart's in the field now My heart is ever at your service my lord You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies Than a dinner of friends So they were bleeding new my lord There's no meat like them I wish my best friend at such a feast Would all these flatter

us within enemies then then thou mightst kill em and bid me to em might we but have that happiness my lord that you would once use our hearts whereby we might express some part of our seals we should think ourselves for ever perfect oh 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 not you 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. Oh, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends if we should ne'er have need of them? They were the most needless creatures living should we ne'er have youth 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 proper

can we call our own than the riches of our friends? Oh, what a precious comfort is to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes. Oh joy, e'en made away ere it can be born. My eyes cannot hold out water, methinks. To forget their faults, I drink to you. O, thou weepest to make them drink, Tyman. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, and at that instant like a babe sprung up. I laugh to think that babe a bastard. I promise you, my lord, you moved me much. Much.

Tuck it within. What means that trump? Enter a servant. How now? Please you, my lord. are certain ladies most desirous of admittance. Ladies, what are their wills? There comes with them a fore-one, my lord,

which bears that office to signify their pleasures. I pray, let them be admitted. Enter Cupid. Hail to thee worthy Tyman, and to all that of his bounty's taste. The five best senses acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely to gratulate thy plenteous book. The ear, taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tail rise. They only now come, but to feast thine eyes.

They are welcome all, let them have kind admittance. Music, make their welcome. Exid, Cupid. You see, my lord, how ample you're beloved. Music, re-enter Cupid with a mask of ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing. O-te, what a sweep of vanity comes this way. They dance.

They are madwomen. 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 not 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 with one day stamp upon me. It has been done.

Men shut their doors against a satin sun. The lords arise from the table, with much adoring of thymen, And to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, And all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two, To the haught boys, and seize. You have done our pleasures much grace for our ladies, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, Which was not half so beautiful and kind.

You have added worth unto it and lustre, and entertained me with my own device. I am to thank you for it. My lord, you take us even at the best. Feth, for the worst is filthy, and would not old Tekin, I doubt me. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you, please to dispose yourselves.

Most thankfully, my lord. Exxon, Cupid, and Ladies. Flavius. My lord? The little casket bring me hither. Yes, my lord. Aside. More jewels yet.

There is no crossing him ince humour. Else I should tell him, well, if faith I should, when all spent, he'll be crossed then, and he could, tis pity bounty had not eyes behind, that man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. Exit. Where be our men? Here, my lord, in readiness. Our horses. Re-enter Flavius, with the casket.

All 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 accept it and wear it kind my lord i am so far already in your gifts so are we all enter a servant my lord there are certain nobles of the senate newly alighted and come to visit you they are fairly welcome i beseech your honour vouchsafed me a word it does concern you near near why then another time i'll hear thee i pray thee let's be provided to show them entertainment aside i scarce know how enter a second servant may it please your honour lord lucius out of his free love hath presented to you four milk-white horses trapped in silver i shall accept them fairly let the presents be worthily entertained and a third servant how now what news please you my lord that honourable gentleman lord lucullus entreat your company to-morrow to unt wi him and assent your honour two brace of greyhounds i'll hunt with him and let them be received not without fair reward. 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 purse, or yield me this to show him what a beggar his heart is.

Being of no power and make his wishes good, his promises fly so beyond his state that what he speaks is all in debt. He owes for every word. He is so kind that he now pays interest for it. His lands put to their books well would i were gently put out of office before i were forced out happier is he that has no friend to feed that such do an enemies exceed i bleed inwardly for my lord exit you do yourselves much wrong you bade too much of your own merits here my lord a trifle of our love with more than common thanks i will receive it oh he's the very soul of bounty and now i remember my lord you gave good words the other day of a bay courser I rode on. It is yours because you liked it. Oh, I beseech you. Pardon me, my lord, in that. You may take my word, my lord. I know no man can justly praise but what he does affect. I weigh my friend's affection with mine own. I'll tell you true. I'll call to you.

O none so welcome. I take all and your several visitations, so kind to heart, tis not enough to give. Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends and ne'er be weary. Alcibiades, thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich, it comes in charity to thee, for all thy living is amongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast lie in a pitched field. I, defiled land, my lord. We are so virtuously bound. And so am I to you. So infinitely endeared. All to you.

Lights! More lights! The best of happiness, honour and fortunes keep with you, Lord Timon. Ready for his friends. It's aren't all but a pymontus and timon. Oh, what a coil's ear! Serving of becks and jutting out of bums. I doubt whether the legs be worth the sums that are given for them.

Friendships full of dregs. Methinks false arts should never have sound legs. Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsy. Now, Appamentus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be good to thee. No, thou nothing. But if I should be bribed too, there would be none left to rail upon thee. And then thou would sin the faster. Thou givest so long time, and I fear me thou wilt give away thee self in paper shortly.

What need these feasts, poms, and vain glories? Nay, and you begin to rail on society once I'm sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell, and come with better music. Exit. So, thou wilt not hear me now. Thou shalt not then. I'll lock thy heaven from thee. Ah, that men's ears should be to counsel deaf, but not to flattery.

Exit. End of Act 1 Act 2 Of Timen of Athens by William Shakespeare This is a Librovox recording All Librevox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Librevox.org

Act 2 Scene 1 A Senator's House Enter Senator with papers in his hand and late five thousand to varro and to isador he owes nine thousand besides my former sum which makes it five and twenty still in motion of raging waste it cannot hold it will not if i want gold steal but a beggar's dog and give it tyman why the dog coins gold if i would sell my horse and buy twenty more better than he why give my horse to timean ask nothing give it him it foals me straight and able horses. No porter at his gate, but rather one that smiles and still invites all that pass by, it cannot hold. No reason confound his state in safety. Kaphis, ho, Kaphis, I say.

Enter Kifus. Here, sir, what's your pleasure? Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Tyman, importune him for my monies, be not ceased with slight denial, nor then silenced when, commend me to your master and the cap plays in the right hand thus, but tell him my uses cry to me, I must serve my turn out of mine own. His days and times are past, and my reliances on his fracted dates have smit my credit. I love and honor him, but must not break my back to heal his finger. Immediate are my needs, and my relief must not be tossed and turned to me in words, but find supply immediate. Get you gone. Put on a most important aspect, a visage of demand. For I do fear, when every feather sticks in its own wing, Lord Tyman will be left a naked gull,

which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone. I go, sir. I go, sir. Take the bonds along with you and have the dates in contempt. I will, sir. Go. Exaunt. Act two. Scene 2. The same. A hall in Tyman's House. Enter Flavius, with many bills in his hand. No care, no stop. So senseless of expense, that he will neither know how to maintain it, nor cease his flow of riot.

Takes no account how things go from him, nor resumes no care of what is to continue. Never mind, was it to be so unwise, to be so kind, what shall be done? he will not hear till feel i must be round with him now he comes from hunting fie f f f f f f f f f f f f f f i enter caithus and the servants of isador and varro good even varro what you come for money is not your business too it is it is so would we were all discharged i fear it here comes the lord enter thiamen alcibiades and lord and company. So soon as dinner's done we'll forth again, my Alcibiades. With me, what is your will?

My lord, here is a note of certain dues. Dues, whence are you? Of Athens, here, my lord. Go to my steward. Please it your lordship. He have put me off to the succession of new days this month. My master is awaked by great occasion to call upon his own, and humbly praise you that with your other noble part

Your suit in giving him his right. My honest friend, I prithee, but repair to me next morning. Nay, good my lord. Contain thyself, good friend. One Varro's servant, my good lord. From Isidore, he humbly praised your speedy payment. If you did know, my lord, my master's wants, and I am sent expressly to your lordship. T'was due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks and past.

Your steward puts me off, my lord, and I am sent expressly. And I am sent expressly to your lordship. Give me breath. I do beseech you, good, my lords. Keep on. I'll wait upon you instantly. Exaunt alcibiades and lords. Two Flavius.

Come hither, pray you, How goes the world that I am thus encountered with clamorous demands of date-broke bonds and the detention of long-since-due debts against my honour? Please, you, gentlemen, the time is unagrable to this business. Your importunacy cease till after dinner. Then I may make his lordship understand

Wherefore you are not paid Do so, my friends See them well entertained Exit Pray draw near Exit Enter Apimantus and fool Stay, stay

Here comes the fool With Apamantis Let's have some sport with him Hang him He'll abuse us A plague upon him Dug How dost fool

Dost dialogue with thy shadow I speak not to thee. No, tis to the self. To the fool. Come away. There's the fool hangs on your back already. No, thou stand'st single. Thou not on him yet.

Where's the fool now? He last asked the question. Poor rogues and usurer's men. Bards between gold and want. What are we, Appalantus? Assis. Why? That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves.

Speak to him, fool. How do you gentlemen? Grimerties could know. How'd your mistress? She's e'en setting on water to scold such chickens as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth? God, Gram mercy! Enter Page.

Look you, here comes my mistress. page. To the fool. Why how now, Captain? What do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apementus? Would I add a rod in me mouth that I might answer thee profitably? Privy, Ape Mantis. Read me the superscription of these letters.

I know not which is which. Canst not read? No. There were little learning die then. That day thou art hanged. This is to Lord Tymon, this to Alcibiades. Go, thou wast born a bastard and thou'd die aboard. Thou wast wilt wilt a dog, and thou shalt famish a dog's death.

Answer not, I am gone. Exit. Ain't so thou outrunnest grace. For I will go with you to Lord Timons. Will you leave me there? If Tyman stay at home, you three serve three usurers. Aye, would they have served us? So would I, as good a trick as everangman served thief.

Are you three usurers men? Are you my fool? I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant. My mistress is one and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly and go away Mary. but they enter my mistress house merrily and go away sadly the reason of this i could render one to it then that we may account the ahur-master and a knave which notwithstanding thou should be no less esteemed what is a whoremaster fool a fool in good clothes and something like thee tis a spirit sometimes appears like a lord sometimes like a lawyer, sometime like a philosopher, with two stones mould and sart official one. He is very often like a knight, and generally in all shapes that man goes up and down in from four score to thirteen. This spirit walks in.

Thou art not altogether a fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man, as much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest. There might have become Appy Mantis. Aside, aside, here comes Lord Tyman. Re-enter Tyman and Flavius. Come with me, fool. Come. I do not always follow lover, elder brother and woman. Sometime the philosopher.

Exxon Appymentus and fool. Pray you, walk near. I'll speak with you anon. Exxon's servant. You make me marvel Wherefore'er this time Had you not fully laid my state before me That I might so have rated my expense As I had leave of means

You would not hear me As many leasures I proposed Go too Perchance some single vantages you took When my indisposition put you back And that unaptness made your minister Thus to excuse yourself Oh 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. When, for some trifling present, you have bid me return so much, I have shook my head and wept, yea, against the authority of manners, prayed you to hold your hand more close. I did endure, not seldom, nor no slight checks, when I have prompted you in 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, the greatest of your having lacks the half to pay your present debts.

Let all my land be sold. Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone, and what remains will hardly stop the mouth of present dues. The future comes apace. What shall defend the interim, and at length how goes our reckoning? Tell us a demon did my land extend. Oh my good lord, the world is but a word, were it all yours to give it in a breath, how quickly were it gone. You tell me true. If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood, call me before the exactest auditors and set me on the proof. So the gods bless me when all our offices have been oppressed with riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept with drunken spilth of wine, when every room has

blazed with lights and brayed with minstrelsy. I have retired me to a wasteful cock and set mine eyes at flow. Prythy no more. Heavens, have I said the bounty of this Lord. How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants this nighting glutted? Who is not Tyman's? What heart, head, sword, force means, but is Lord Timans? Great Tyman, noble, worthy royal Tyman. Ah, when the means are gone that by this praise, the breath is gone whereof this praise is made. Feast one, fast lost, one cloud of winter showers, these flies are couched. Come, sermon me no further. No villain bounty hath yet past my heart, unwisely, not ignobly have I given. Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack to think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart. If I would broach the vessels

of my love and try the argument of hearts by borrowing, men and men's fortunes could I frankly use as I can bid thee speak. Assurance bless your thoughts. And in some sort these wants of mine are crowned, that I account them blessings. For by these shall I try friends. friends. You shall perceive how you mistake my fortunes. I am wealthy in my friends. Within there, Flaminius, Servilius. Enter Flaminus, Servilius and other servants. My lord, my lord, my lord. I will dispatch you severally. You to Lord Lucius, to Lord Lucullus, you I hunted with his honour today. You to Sempronius. Commend me to their loves, and I am proud, say, that my occasions have found time to use them toward a supply of money.

Let the request be 50 talents. As you have said, my lord. Aside. Lord Lucius and Lucillus? Hmm. To a servant. Go you, sir, to the senators, of whom, even to the state's best health,

I have deserved this hearing. Bid them send at the instant a thousand talents to me. I have been bold, for that I knew it the most general way. To them to use your signet and your name, but they do shake their heads, and I am here no richer in return. Is true? Can be?

They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, that now they are at fall, want 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 wrench. Would all were well, tis pity,

and so, intending other serious matters after distasteful looks in these hard fractions, With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods they froze me into silence. You gods reward them. Prithy man look cheerily. These old fellows have their ingratitude in them hereditary. Their blood is caked. Tis cold, it seldom flows.

Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind. And nature, as it grows again toward earth, is fashioned for the journey, dull and heavy. To a servant. Go to Ventidius. To Flavius. Prithy, be not sad. Thou are true and honest, ingenuously I speak, no blame belongs to thee. To servant.

Fentiddeus lately buried his father, by whose death he stepped 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 necessity touches his friend, which craves to be remembered with those five talents. Exit servant, to Flavius. That had, give these five things. fellows to whom tis instant due. Near speak or think that Tyman's fortunes among his friends can sink.

I would I could not think it. That thought is bound his foe. Being free itself, it thinks all others so. Exaunt. End of Act 2. Act 3 of Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare. This is a Librevox recording.

All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. Act 3, Scene 1 A room in Lucullus House Flaminius waiting. Enter a servant to him. I have told my lord of you. He is coming down to you.

I thank you, sir. Enter Luculus. Here's my lord. Aside, one of lord dimmons men a gift i warrant well this hits right i dreamt of a silver basin and you were to-night phleminius honest flemineus 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 his health is well sir i am right glad that his health is well sir and what hast thou there under thy cloak pretty flaminious 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

la la la la la ha ha 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 had dined with him and told him on it 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 had told him on him but i could ne'er get him from it re-enter servant with wine flaminius i have noted thee always wise here's to thee your lordship speaks your pleasure i have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit give thee thy due and one that knows what belongs to read and canst use the time well if the time use thee well good parts in thee to servant get to gone sirrah exit servant draw nearer honest flaminius thy lords are bountiful gentlemen but thou art wise and thou knowest well enough although thou comes to me that this is no time to lend money especially upon bare friendship without security here's three solidaris for thee good boy wink at me and say thou sawst me not fare thee well is it possible the world should serve much differ and we alive that lived fly damned baseness to him that worships thee throwing the money back now i see they ought a fool and fit for thy master exit may these add to the number that may scold thee let molten coin be thy damnation though disease of a friend and not himself has friendship such a faint and

milky heart, it turns in less than two nights? Oh, 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 turned to poison? Oh, may diseases only work upon it, 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 exit act three scene two a public place enter lucilius with three strangers who the lord tymon he is my very good friend and an honorable gentleman we can know him for no less the way a the rangers to him, but I can tell you one thing, my lord, on which I hear from common rumours, now Lord Treyman's happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him. Fye, no, do not believe it, he cannot want for money.

But believe you this, my lord, that not long ago one of his men was with Lord Lucillus to borrow so many talents, nay urged extremely fought, and showed what necessity belonged to and yet was denied. How? I tell you, denied, my lord. What a strange case was that. Now, before the gods, I am ashamed on't. Denied that honorable man.

There was very little honor showed in. For my own part, I must needs confess I have received some small kindnesses from him, as money played 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. Enter Servilius.

See, by good hap, yonder's my lord, I have sweat to see his honour, my honoured lord. Sir Vileus, you are kindly met, sir, fare thee well. Commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend. May please your honour, my lord hath sent. 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? Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord, requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents. I know his lordship is but merry with me. He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. But in the meantime he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous, I should not urge it hath so faithfully. Does thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Upon my soul, tis true, sir. What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honorable! How unluckily it happened that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honored! Sirvilius now, before the gods I am not able to do. The more beast I say, I was sending to use. Lord Tymon myself, these gentlemen can witness. But I would not for the wealth of Athens,

I had dunt now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship, and I hope his honor 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 honorable gentleman. Good Sir Vileas, will you befriend me so far as to use my own words to him? Yes, sir, I shall. I'll look you out a good turn, Sir Vilius. Exit, Sir Vilius. True as you said, Tymon is shrunk indeed, and he that's once denied will hardly speed.

Exit. Do you observe this, Hustilius? Aye, too well! Why, this is the world's soul, And just to the same peace Is every flattery's spirit. Who can call him his friend That dips in the same dish?

For, in my canoeing, Taman has been this lord's father And kept his credit with his purse, Supported his estate. Nay, Taman's money Has paid his men a wages, he ne'er drinks but the timon silver treads upon his lip and yet o see the monstrousness of man when he looks out in an ungrateful sheep he does deny him in respect of his what charitable men afford to beggars religion groans at it for my own part i never teasted time and in my life

nor keep 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 returned to him. So much I love his heart. But I perceive men must learn now with pity to dispense, for a policy sits above conscience. Exxon Act 3, Scene 3 A Room in Sepronius House Enter Sopruneus, and a servant of Tymonds.

Must he needs trouble me, yint? Hmm, above all others? He might have tried Lord Lucius or Luselus, and now Vintidius is wealthy too, whom he redeemed from prison. All these owe their estates unto him. My lord, they have all been touched and found base met all, for they have all denied him.

How have they denied him? Has Ventidius and Lucillus 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, int? I'm angry at him. That might have known my place. I see no sense for it, but his occasion might have wooed me first. for in my conscience i was the first man that ere 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 amongst lords i 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 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. Exit. Excellent. Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did when he made man politic. He cost himself bide. 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 rounds 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 employed now to guard shore their master and this is all a liberal course alive who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house exit act three scene four a hall in timon's house

enter two servants of varro and the servant of lucius meeting titus hortensius and other servants to timon's creditors waiting his coming out well met good morrow titus and hortensius the like to you kind varro lucius what do we meet together ay and i think one business does command us all for mine is money so is theirs and ours enter philotus and and sophiletus too good day at once welcome good brother and what do you think the hour laboring for nine so much is not Is not my lord seen yet? Not yet. I wonder, aunt, he was wont to shine at seven. Aye, but the days are waxed shorter with him. You must consider that a prodigal course.

It's like the sun's, but not like his, recoverable. I fear it this deepest winter in Lord Tymon's purse. That is, one may reach deep enough and yet fine little. I am of your fear for that. I'll show you how to observe a stranger. event, your lord sends now for money. Most true, he does. And he wears jewels now of Tyman's gift, for which I wait for money.

It is against my heart. Mark, how strange he chose, Tyman and this should pay more than he owes, and even as if your Lord should wear rich jewels and send money for him, I'm weary of this charge. The gods can witness, I know my lord hath spent of Tymon's wealth, and now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth. yes mine's three thousand crowns what's yours five thousand mine tis much deep and it should seem by the sum your master's confidence was above mine else surely had his equals enter flaminus one of lord timon's men flaminus sir a word pray is my lord ready to come forth no indeed he is not we attend his lordship pray signify so much.

I need not tell him that. He knows you are too diligent. Exit Flaminus. Enter Flavius, in a cloak, muffled. Ha! Is not that his steward muffled so? He goes away in a cloud. Call him!

Call him! Do you hear, sir? By your leave, sir. What do ye ask of me, my friend? We wait for certain money here, sir. Aye, if money were as certain as you're waiting, twere sure enough. why then preferred 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 moors you do yourselves but wrong to stir me up let me pass quietly believed my lord and i have made an end i have no more to reckon he to spend ay but this answer will not serve

if twill not serve tis not so base as you for you serve knaves exit oh what does his cashiered worship mutter no matter what he's poor and that's revenge enough who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his house to put his house to put his head in, such may rail against great buildings. Enter Servileus. Oh, he is Sevilleus. Now we shall know some answer. If I might beseech you gentlemen to repair some other hour, I should derive much from it. For a tick of my soul, my lord lays wondrously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him. He's much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

Many do keep their chambers are not sick, and, if it be so fobion his health, methinks he should the sooner pay his debts and make a clear way to the gods. Good gods. We cannot take this for answer, sir. Within. Sivilius, help. My lord, my lord. Enter Tyman, in a rage.

Flaminius following. What are my doors opposed against my passage? Have I been ever free, and must my house be my retentive enemy, my jail? The place which I have feasted, does it now, like all mankind, show me an iron heart? Put in now, Titus. My lord, here is my bill. Here's mine, and mine, my lord. And ours, my lord.

All our bills! Knock me down with him, cleave me to the girdle. Alas, my lord. Cut my heart in sums. Mine fifty talents. Tell out my blood. Five thousand crowns, my lord. Five thousand drops pays that.

What's yours? And yours? My lord. My lord. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you. Exit. Faith, I perceive, our masters may throw their caps at their money. These debts may well be called desperate ones, for madmenosum.

Exaunt. Re-enter Tyman and Flavius. They've even put my breast. for me the slaves. Creditors, devils. My dear Lord. What if it should be so? My lord. I'll have it so. My steward! Here, my lord. So, fitly, go bid all my friends again. Lucius, Lucullus and Simpronius. All, Sarah, all. I'll once more feast, the rascals.

Oh, my lord, you only speak from your distracted soul. There is not so much left to furnish out a moderate table. Be it not in thy care. Go, I charge thee. Invite them all. Let in the hide of knaves once more. My cook and I'll provide. Exaunt. Act 3. Scene 5. The same. The Senate House. The Senate sitting. My lord, you have my voice to it. The false, bloody, tis necessary he should die. Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy. Most true. The law shall bruise him.

Enter Alcibiades with attendance. Honor, health, and compassion to the Senate. Now, Captain? I am a 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 stepped into the law,

which is past depth to those that without heed do plunge into it. He is a man setting his fate aside of calmly virtues, Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice, an honor in him which buys out his fault, but with a noble fury and fair spirit, seeing his reputation touched 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. You undergo too strict a paradox, striving to make an ugly deed look fair. Your words have took such pains as if they labored to bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling upon the head of valor, which indeed is valor 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? My lord. You cannot make gross sins look clear. To revenge is no valor, but to bear.

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 it. And let the foes quietly cut their throats without repugnancy. If there be such valor 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 loaded with irons wiser than the judge. If wisdom be in suffering, oh my lords, as you are great, be pitifully good.

Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? To kill, I grant, is sin's extremist gust. But, in defense by mercy tis most just. To be in anger is impiety. But who is man that is not angry? Way but the crime with this. You breathe in vain. In vain. His service done at Lacedaemon and Byzantium were a sufficient bribe for his life.

What's that? I say, my lords, he has done fair service and slain in fight many of your enemies. How full of valor did he bear himself in the last conflict and made plenteous wounds? He has made too much plenty with them. 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 inferred to us, his days are foul, and his drink dangerous. He dies. 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 desserts to his, and join them both.

And for I know your Reverend Ages love security, upon my victories, all my honors to you upon his good returns, if by this crime he owes the law his life, why let the war received in valiant gore, for law is strict, and war is nothing more. 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. Must it be so? It must not be.

My lords, I do beseech you. Know me. How? Call me to your remembrances. What? I cannot think but your age has forgot me. It could not else be I should prove so big. To sue and be denied such common grace, my wounds ache at you.

Do you dare our anger? Tis in few words but spacious in effect. We banish thee forever. Banish me. Banish your dotage. Banish usury that makes the Senate ugly. If after two days shine Athens contain thee, attend our weightier judgment.

And, not to swell our spirit, he shall be executed presently. Exaunt Senators 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 usering Senate pours into captain's wounds? Badishment! It comes not ill. I hate not to be banished. 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 honor with most lands to be at odds. Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods. Exit. Act 3. Seen The same. A banqueting room in Tyman's House. Music. Tables set out. Servants attending. Enter Divers' Lords, Senators, and others at several doors.

The good time of day to you, sir. I also wish it to you. I think this Honorable Lord did but try us this other day. 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 it should not be by the persuasion of his new feasting i should think so he hath sent me an earnest inviting which many minor occasions did urge me to put off but he hath conjured me beyond them and i must needs appear 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.

I am sick of that grief, too, as I understand how all things go. Every man hears so. What would he have borrowed of you? A thousand pieces. A thousand pieces? What of you? He sent to me, sir. Oh, here he come. Enter Tymon in attendance.

With all my heart, gentlemen both, and how fare you? Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. The swallow follows not, summer, more willing, than we, your lordship. 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 a while, if they will fare so harshly the trumpet sound. We shall to it presently.

I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that I returned you an empty messenger. O sir, let it not trouble you. My noble lord. Ah, my good friend, what cheer? My most honourable lord, I am in sick of shame, that when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. Think not on, sir. If you had sent but two hours before.

Let it not cumber your better remembrance. The banquet brought in. Come, bring in all together. All covered dishes. Royal cheer, I warrant you. Doubt not that, if money on the season can yield it. How do you do? What's the news? Alcibiades is banished.

Hear you of it. Al-Qibia is banished? Tis so, be sure of it. How? How. I pray you, upon what? my worthy friends will you draw near i'll tell you more anon here's a noble feast toward this is the old man still wilt hold wilt hold it does but time will and so i do conceive 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 them meet 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 a 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 mean 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. What does his lordship mean? I know not.

May you a better feast never behold, you knot of mouth, friends. Smoke and lukewarm water is your perfection. This is Tymon's last. Who stuck and spangled with your flattery washes it off and sprinkles in your faces you're reeking villainy. Throwing the water in their faces. live loather and long most smiling smooth detested parasites courteous destroyers affable wolves meek bears you fools of fortune trench your friends times flies cap and knee slaves vapours and minute-jacks of man and beast the infinite malady crust you quite oar 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 where at a villain's not a welcome guest burn house sink athens henceforth hate it be of time and man and all humanity exit re-enter the lords senators and company how now my lords know you the quality of lord timon's fury push did you see my cap i have lost my gown He's but a mad lord And not but humor Sways him He gave me a jewel the other day And now he has beat it out of my hat Did you see my jewel?

Did you see my cap? Here Tiss Here lies my gown Let's make no stay Lord Tiven's mad I felt upon my bones One day he gives us diamonds Next day's stones

exaunt End of Act 3 Act 4 of Timen of Athens by William Shakespeare This is a Librevox recording All Librevox recordings are in the public domain

For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org Act 4 Scene 1 Without the walls of Athens Enter Timon Oh, let me look back upon thee, O thou wall, that girdled in those wolves, dive in the earth, and fenced not Athens, matrons, turn incontinent, obedience, fail in children, slaves and fools, plough

the grave wrinkled senate from the bench and minister in their steads to general filts convert on the instant green virginity do it in your parents' eyes bankrupts hold fast

rather than render back out with your knives and cut your truster's throats Bound servant steal Large-handed robbers Your grave masters are And pill by law Made

To thy master's bid Thy mistresses of the brothel Son of sixteen Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire with it beat out his brains Ah, piety and fear Religion to the gods Peace

Justice, truth Domestic awe Night rest and neighbourhood Instruction, manners Mysteries and trades Degrees, observances Customs and laws decline to your confounding contraries and let confusion live.

Plagues incident to men. Your potent and infectious fevers heap on Athens ripe for stroke. Thou cold, theatrical, cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt as lamely as their manners. lust and liberty creep in the minds and marrows of our youth that against the stream of virtue they may strive and round themselves in riot

itches blains sow all the Athenian bosoms and their crop be general leprosy breath infect breath that their society as their friendship Maybe merely poison. Nothing I'll bear from thee but nakedness. Thou detestable town.

Take thou that too, with multiplying bands. Time and will to the woods, Where he shall find the unkindest beast more kinder than mankind. The gods confound. Hear me. You good gods' own. all, the Athenians, both within and out that wall, and grant, as time ungrows, his hate may grow to the whole race of mankind, high and low. Amen.

Exit. Act 4, Scene 2. Athens, a room in Tyman's house. Enter Flavius, with two or three servants. Hear you, Master Stuart. Where's our master? Are we undone? Cast off? Nothing remaining?

Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you? Let me be recorded by the righteous gods. I am as poor as you. such a house-stroke, so noble a master fallen, all gone, and not one friend to take his fortune by the arm, and go along with him. As we do turn our backs from our companion thrown into his grave, so his familiars to his buried fortunes sink all the way, leave their false vows with him like empty purses picked, and his poor self, a dedicated beggar to the air, with his disease of all shunned poverty walks like contempt alone, more of our fellows.

Enter other servants. All broken implements of a ruined house. Ed, do our hearts with homage livery. That see I be our faces. We are fellows still, serving a lot in sorrow. Leaked is our bark, and we poor mates stared on the dying deck, hearing the surge's threat. We must all part into the sea of air. Good fellows all, the latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you. Wherever we shall meet, for time and sake, let's yet be fellows, let's shake our heads and say,

as twere and nel unto our master's fortunes. 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. Servants embrace, and part several ways. O the fierce wretchedness that glory 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 compounds, but only painted like his varnished friends?

Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart, undone by goodness. Strange, unusual blood, 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 the still marmen? My dearest Lord, blessed to be most accursed, rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind Lord, he's flung in rage from this ingratful seat of monstrous friends, nor has he with him to supply his life or that which can command it. I'll follow and inquire him out. i'll ever serve his mind with my best will whilst i have gold i'll be his steward still exit act four scene three woods and cave near the sea-shore enter tyman from the cave

o blessed breeding sun draw from the earth rotten humidity below thy sister's orb infect the air twin brothers of one womb whose procreation residents and birth, scarce is dividedent, touch them with several fortunes the greater scorns the lesser. Not nature, to whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune, but by contempt of nature. Raise me this beggar, and denied that lord, the senator shall bear contempt hereditary, the beggar, native honour. It is the pasture lards the Rother's sides, the want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares, impurity of manhood stand upright and say, this man's a flatterer. If one be so are they all, For every grease of fortune is smooth by that below, The learned pate ducks to the golden fool.

All is oblique, There's nothing level in our cursed natures, but direct villainy. Therefore, be abhorred all feasts, societies, and throngs of men. His somblabble ye himself time and disdains, Destruction fang mankind. Earth, yield me roots! Digging! Who seeks for better of thee sauce his palate with thy most operant, poison. What is here?

Gold! Yellow glittering, precious gold! No gods, I am no idle votarist. Roots, you clear heavens! Thus much of this 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 lug your priests and servants from your sides!

Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads! from below their heads. This yellow slave will knit and break religions. Bless the accursed, make the whore leprosy adored, place thieves and give them title, knee and approbation, with senators on the bench. This is it that makes the wappened widow wed again. She whom the spittlehouse and ulcerous sores would cast a gorge at this in bams and spices to the April day again. Come, damn'neth earth, thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds among the root of nations, I will make thee do thy right nature. March afar off.

Ah, a drum! Thou art quick, but yet I'll bury thee. Thoult gold-strong thief when gouty keepers of thee cannot stand. Nay, stay thou out for earnest. Keeping some gold. Enter Alcibiades, with drum and fife, in warlike manner. Prinia and timandra. What art thou there? Speak.

A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart for showing me again the eyes of men. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee that art thyself a man? I am misanthropus, and hate mankind. For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog that I might love thee something. I know thee well, but in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange. I know thee too, and more than that I know thee,

thee I not desire to know, follow thy drum, with man's blood paint the ground, gulls, gulls! Religious cannons, civil laws are cruel, then what should war be? This fell whore of thine hath in her more destruction than thy sword, for all her cherubin look. Thy lips rot off. I will not kiss thee. Then the rot returns to thine own lips again.

How came the noble time into this change? As the moon does, by wanting light to give. But then renew I could not like the moon. There were no sons to borrow of. Noble, Tyman, what friendship may I do thee? None, but to maintain my opinion. What is it, Tyman? 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. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries. Thou sawest them, when I had prosperity. I see them now, then was a blessed time. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots. Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world voiced so regardfully? Art thou Timandra?

Yes. Be a whore still. They love thee not that use thee. Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust. Make use of thy salt ours, season the slaves for tubs and bats. Bring down rose-cheeked youth to the tub fast and the diet. Hang the monster. Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits are drowned and lost in his calamities. I have but little gold of late, brave timing, the want thereof thought daily make revolt in my penurious band.

I have heard and grieved how cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth, forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states, but for thy sword and fortune trod upon them. I prithee beat thy drum and get thee gone. I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Tyman. How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble? I'd rather be alone. Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee.

Keep it. I cannot eat it. When I have laid proud Athens on a heap. Warr'st thou, against Athens. I, Tyman, and have cause. The gods confound them all in thy conquest, and thee after, when thou hast conquered. Why me, Tyman? That by killing of villains thou wast born to conquer my country. Put up thy gold.

Go on. Here's gold. Go on. Be as a planetary plague, when Jove will o'er some high-vised city hang his poison in the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one. Pity not, honored age, for his white beast. beard, he is a usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron. It is her habit only that is honest, herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek make soft thy trenchant sword, for those milk-paps

that through the window-bars bore at men's eyes are not within the leaf of pity writ, but set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe, whose dimple smiles from fools exhaust their mercy. Think at a bastard whom the oracle hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut, and mince it, remorse. Swear against objects, put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes, whose proof, nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay soldiers, make large confusion, and thy fury spent, confounded be thyself. Speak not, be gone. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me, not all thy counsel.

Dost thou or dost thou not? Heaven's curse upon thee. Give us some gold, good timon. Hast thou more? Enough to make a whore for swear her trade And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts, your aprons mountained. You are not oathable.

Although I know you'll swear, terribly swear, Into strong shutters and to heavenly egos The immortal gods that hear you. Spare your odes. I'll trust to your conditions. Be whores still. he whose pious breath seeks to convert you, be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up, let your close fire predominate his smoke, and be no turn-coats.

Yet, may your pain six months be quite contrary, and thatch your poor thin roofs with burdens of the dead, some that were hanged. No matter. Wear them. Betray with them. Hoare still, paint, till a horse may mire upon your face, a pox of wrinkles. What then? Consumption so in hollow bones of man. Strike their sharp shins and marmins. Spurring, crack the lawyer's voice, That he may never more false title plead,

Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen, that scolds against the quality of flesh And not believes himself. Down with the nose, down with it flat, Take the bridge quite away of him that his particular to foresee Smells from the General Wheel. Make curled Pate Ruffians bald, and let the unscarred braggarts of the war derive some pain from you.

Plague all, that your activity may defeat and quell the source of all. Erection. There is more gold. Do you damn others and let this damn you. And ditches grave you all. More counsel with more money, bounteous time, and. More whore, more mischief first. I have given you earnest.

Strike up the drum towards Athens. Farewell, time in. If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again. If I hope well, I'll never see thee more. I never did thee harm. Yes, thou spokeest well of me. Caulest thou that harm? Men daily find it.

Get thee away, and take thy beagles with thee. We but offend him. Strike! Drum beats. Exxon't alcibiades. Prynia and Timandra. O, that nature being sick of man's unkindness should yet be hungry. Digging.

Common mother. Thou whose womb, unmeasurable and infinite breast, teems and feeds all, Whose self-same metal whereof thy proud child, arrogant man is puffed, Engenders the black-toed and adder blue, The gilded newt and eyeless-venomed worm. With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven, Whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine, Yield him, who all thy human sons do hate

From forth thy plenteous bosom one poor root, In seer, thy fertile and conceptious womb, Let it no more bring out in grateful men. Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves and bears team with new monsters whom thy upward face hath to the marbled mansion all above never presented oh a root dear thanks dry up thy marrows vines and plough-torn lees whereof ingratful man with licorice draughts and morsels unctuous greases his poor mind, did it from all consideration slips. Enter Apimentus.

More men. Plague! Plague! I was direct it either. Men report thou dost affect my manners and dost use them. Tis then, because thou dost not keep a dog whom I would imitate, Consumption catch thee. This is in thee a nature but infected, a poor unmanly melancholy, sprung from change of fortune. Why this spade, this place, this slave-like habit, and these looks of care.

By flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft, hug their diseased perfumes, and I have forgot that ever time and was. Shame not these woods by putting on the cunning of a carper. Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive by that which has undone thee. Hinge the knee, and let his very breath, whom thou'd observe blow off the cap. raise his most vicious strain, and call it excellent. Thou wast told thus, thou gavest the nears like tapsters that bid welcome to knaves and all approaches.

Tis most just that thou turn rascal, hadst thou wealth again, rascal should have. Do not assume my likeness. I like thee, I throw away myself. Thou hast cast away thyself being like thyself. A madman so long, now a fool. What, thinks that the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, will put the shirt on worm? Will these moss trees that have outlived the eagle page thy heels, And skip where thou points out,

Will the cold brook, Candid with ice, Caudle thy morning taste, To cure thy o'er night's servant, Call the creatures whose naked natures live in all the spite of weakful heaven, Whose bare unhoused trunks, To the conflicting elements expose it, Answer mere nature,

bid them flatter thee. Ah, thou shalt find. A fool of thee, depart. I love thee better now than ere I did. I hate thee worse. Why? Thou flatter'st misery. I flatter not, but say thou art a captive.

Why dost thou seek me out? To vex thee. Hmm. Always a villain's office. Or a fool. Dost please thyself int? Aye. What?

A knave, too. If thou didst put this sour cold habit on to castigate that pride, to a well, but thou dost it enforceedly, thou't, Cautier be again, wert thou not beggar. Will in misery outlives uncertain pomp, is crowned before, The one is filling still, never complete, the other at high wish. Best state, contentless, as the distracted and most wretched being. Worse than the worst, content. Thou should desire to die being miserable.

Not by his breath it is more miserable. Thou art a slave. M. Fortune's tender arm with favour never clasped, but bred a dog. Hads thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded the sweet degrees that this brief world affords to such as made the passive drugs of it freely command. Thou wouldst have plunged thyself in general riot, melted down thy youth in different beds of lust, and never learned the icy precepts of respect, but followed the sugared game before thee. But myself, who had the world as my confectionery, the mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men at duty, more than I could frame employment, that numberless upon me stuck as leaves do on the oak.

I would one winter's brush fell from their boughs and left me open, bear for every storm that blows. I, to bear this that never knew but better is some burden. Thy nature did commence in sufferance. Time hath made thee hard in it. Why shouldst thou hate men? They never flatter thee. What hast thou given? If thou wilt curse,

Thy father that poor rag must be thy subject, Who in spite put stuff to some she-begger And compounded thee, poor rogue hereditary. Hence be gone. If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, thou hadst been a knave and flatterer. Art thou proud yet? Aye, that I am not thee.

Aye, that I was no prodigal. Aye, that I am one now. Where all the wealth I have shut up in thee, I give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone. That the whole life of Athens were in this, Thus would I eat it. Eating a root.

Here, I will mend thee feast. Offering him a root. First mend my company, take away thyself. So I shall mend me known by the lack of thine. Tis not well mended, so it is but botched. If not I would it were. What wouldst thou have to Athens? Thie thither in a whirlwind.

If thou wilt tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have. Here is no use for gold. The best and truest, for here it's soon. sleeps and does no higher it harm. Where liest a night, Tyman? Under that's above me. Where feeds thou a day, Eppermentus. Where my stomach finds mate, or rather, where I ate it.

Wood poison were obedient, and knew my mind. Where wouldst thou send it? To sauce thy dishes. The middle of humanity thou never knew it. but the extremity of both ends. When thou wast in thy guilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. In the rags thou knowest none,

but out despise it for the contrary. There's a meddler for thee. Eater hate. On what I hate I feed not. Oh, dost eat a meddler. Aye, though it look like thee. And thou hast hated medlars sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift that twas beloved after his means?

Who, without those means thou talkst of, didst thou ever know beloved? Myself. I understand thee. Thou had some means to keep a dog. What things in the world can thou nearest compare to thy flatterers? Women nearest. But men? Men are the things themselves.

What wouldst thou do with the world, Appomatus, if it lay in thy power? Give it to the beasts to be rid of the men. Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts? Aye, Tyman. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to. If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee. If thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee. If thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee,

when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass. If thou wert the ass, thy dullness would torment thee, and still thou lived but as a breakfast to the wolf. If thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and off thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wirt thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. Wirt thou a bear thou wouldst be killed by the horse,

Were thou a horse that was seized by the leopard? Wart thou were German to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life. All thy safety were in motion and thy defence absence. What beast couldst thou be that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast art thou already, that cease not thy loss in transformation. If thou couldst please me with speaking to me,

thou mightst have it upon it here. The commonwealth of Athens has become a, forest of beasts. How, as the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city? Oh, yonder comes a poet and a painter. The plague of company light upon thee. I will fear to catch it and give way.

When I know not what else to do, I'll sit there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than a pimentous. Ah, thou art the cap of all the fools alive. Would thou were clean enough to spit upon? A plague on thee. Thou art too bad to curse.

All villains that do stand by thee are pure. There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st. If I name thee, I'll beat thee but I should infect my hands. I would my tongue could rot them off. Away, thou issue of a mangy dog. Collar does kill me that thou art alive. I swoon to see thee. What's thou wotst bust?

Away, thou tedious, rogue. I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee. Throws a stone at him. Best! Slave. Heart taught. Rogue, rogue, rogue. I am sick of.

this false world, and will love naught but even the mere necessities upon't. Then, Tyman, presently prepare thy grave. Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph, that death in me at others' lives may laugh. To the gold. O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce To its natural son and sire

Thou bright defiler Of Hyman's purest bed Thou valiant mars Thou ever young fresh Loved and delicate war Whose blush doth thaw The consecrated snow that lies on Dian's lap

Thou visible God That soldier'st close impossibilities And makes them kiss That speaks with every tongue To every purpose O thou touch of hearts Think thy slave man rebels And by thy virtue

Set them into confounding odds That beasts may have the world in empire Would twere so, but not till I am dead I'll say thou'st gold Thou wilt be thronged to shortly Throng to Aye thy back i prithee live and love the misery long live so and so die exit api montus i am quit more things like men eat thiamon and abhor them enter banditti

where should he have this gold it is some poor fragment some slender sword of his remainder the mere want of gold and the falling from of his friends drove him in to this melancholy. It is noised he hath a mass of treasure. Let us make the assay upon him. If he care not for it, he will supply us easily. If he covetously reserve it, how shall get it?

True, for he bears it not about him. Tis hid. Is not this he? Where? Where. Tis his description. He, I know him. Save thee, Tymon.

Now thieves. Soldiers, not thieves. Both two, and women's sons. We are not thieves, but men that much do want. Your greatest want is you want much of meat. Why should you want? Behold, the earth had roots. Within this mile, break forth a hundred springs.

The oaks bear mast. the briars scarlet hips The bounteous housewife nature On each bush lays her full mess before you Want Why want We cannot live on grass On berries water

As beasts and birds and fishes Nor on the beasts themselves Birds and fishes You must eat men Yet thanks I must you con That you are thieves professed That you work not in holier shapes for there is boundless theft in limited professions.

Rascal thieves, here's gold. Go suck the subtle blood of the grape till the high fever seeth your blood to froth. And so scape hanging. Trust not the physician. His antidotes are poison, and he slays more than you rob. Take wealth and lives together. Do villainy.

Do, since you protest to do it, like workmen. I'll example you with thievery. The sun's a thief And with his great attraction Robs the vast sea The moon's an iron thief And her pale fire she snatches from the sun The sea's a thief

Whose liquid surge resolves the moon Into salt tears The earth's a thief That feeds and breeds by a composter Stolen from general excrement Each thing's a thief The laws your curb and whip In their rough power have unchecked theft

Love not yourselves away rob one another There is more gold Cut throats All that you meet are thieves To Athens go Break open shops Nothing can you steal

But thieves do lose it Steen no less for this I give you And gold can found you howso air Amen Has almost charmed me from my profession By persuading me to it Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us not to have us thrive in our mystery.

I believe him as an enemy and give over my trade. Let us first see peace in Athens. There is no time so miserable, but a man may be true. Exhaunt, banditti. Enter Flavius. O you gods, is yon despised and ruinous man, my lord? Full of decay and failing, O monument, and wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed,

what an alteration of honour has desperate want made? What vile a thing upon the earth than friends who can bring noblest minds to basest ends? How rarely does it meet with this time's guise when man was wished to love his enemies? Grant I may ever love, and rather woo those that would mischief me and those that do. He has caught me in his eye.

I will present my honest grief unto him, and, as my lord, still serve him with my life, my dearest master. Away! What art thou? Have you forgot me, sir? Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men. Then, if thou grants thou art a man, I have forgot thee. An honest poor servant of yours. Then I know thee not. I never had an honest man about me, I.

All I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains. The gods are witness, ne'er did poor Stuart wear a true agree. for his undone lord than mine eyes for you. What, dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I love thee, because thou art a woman and disclaims flinty mankind, whose eyes do ne'er give but through lust and laughter.

Pity's sleeping, strange times that weep with laughing, not with weeping. I beg of you to know me, good, my lord, to accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts to entertain me as your steward still. it still. Had I a steward, so true, so just, and now so comfortable? It almost turns my dangerous nature mild. Let me behold thy face. Surely this man was born of woman. Forgive my general and acceptless rashness, you perpetual sober gods. I do proclaim one honest man. Mistake me not, but one. No more, I pray, and he's a steward.

How fain would I have hated all mankind? And thou redeems thyself. But all save thee I fell with curses. Methinks thou art more honest now than wise. For by oppressing and betraying me thou mightst have sooner got another service, for many so arrive at second masters, upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true, for i must ever doubt though ne'er so sure is not thy kindness subtle covetous if not a usurer in kindness and as rich men deal gifts expecting in return twenty for one

know my most worthy master in whose breast doubt and suspect alas are placed too late you should have feared false times when you did feast suspect still comes when an estate is least that which i show heaven knows is merely life duty and zeal to your unmatched mind care of your food and living and believe it my most honored lord for any benefit that points to me either in hope or present i'd exchange for this one wish that you had power and wealth to requite me by making rich yourself Look thee, tis so, thou singly honest man, here, take, The gods out of my misery have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy, But thus conditioned, thou shalt build from men, Hate all, curse all, show charity to none, But let the famished flesh slide from the bone ere thou relieve the beggar.

Give to dogs what thou denies to men. Let prisons swallow them. Deits witherum to nothing. Be men like blasted woods, And may diseases lick up their false bloods. And so farewell and thrive. Oh, let me stay and comfort you, my master. If thou haste curses, stay not.

Fly while thou art blessed and free. Neer see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee. Exit, Flavius. Timon retires to his cave. End of Act 4 Act 5 of Timin of Athens by William Shakespeare

This is a Librevox recording All Librovox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Librovox.org Act 5 Scene 1 The Woods Before Timon's Cave

Enter Poet and painter, Time in watching them from his cave. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides. What's to be thought of him? Does the rumor hold for true that he's so full of gold? Certain. Alcabides reports it. Frinia and Timandra had gold of him.

He likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum. this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends. Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore, tis not amiss we tender our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly in us, and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just true report that goes of his having.

What have you now to present unto him? Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I will promise him an excellent peace. I must serve him so too. Tell him of an intent that's coming toward him. Good as the best. Promising is the very air of the time. It opens the eyes of expectation.

Performance is ever the duller for his act. And, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will attest, a testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it. Timon comes from his cave, behind. Aside.

Excellent workman. Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself. I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself, a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency. aside must thou need stand for a villain in thine own work wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men do so i have gold for thee nay let's seek him then do we sin against our own estate when we may profit meet and come too late true when the day serves before the black corner night find what thou want'st by free and offered light come aside i'll meet you at the turn what a god's gold that he is worshipped in a baser temple than where swine feed tis thou that wricks the bark and plough'st the foam settlest admired reverence in a slave

to thee be worship and thy saints for i be crowned with plagues that thee alone obey fit i meet them coming forward Hail worthy Tyman. Our late noble master! Have I once lived to see two honest men? Sir, having often of your open bounty tasted, hearing you were retired, your friends fallen off, whose thankless natures, oh, abhorred spirits, not all the whips of heaven are large enough.

What? To you, whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence to their whole being, I am wrapped and cannot cover the monstrous bulk of this ingratitude with any size of words. Let it go naked, men may see it the better. You that are honest, by being what you are, make them best seen and known. He and myself have travailed in the great show of your gifts, and sweetly felt it. Aye, you are honest men. We are hither come to offer you our service. Most honest men. Why, how shall I requite you?

can you eat roots and drink cold water no what we can do we'll do to do you service you're honest men you've heard that i have gold i am sure you have speak truth you're honest men so it is said my noble lord but therefore come not my friend nor i good honest man thou draw'st a counterfeit best in all athens thou art indeed the best thou counterfeits most lively so so my lord e'en so sir as i say and for thy fiction why thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth that thou art even natural in thine art but for all this my honest-natured friends i must need say you have a little fault mary tis not monstrous in you neither wish i you take much pains to mend beseech your honour to make it known to us you'll take it ill Most thankfully, my lord. Will you indeed? Doubt it's not worthy, Lord. There's never a one of you but trusts a knave that mightily deceives you.

Do we, my lord? Aye, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble, know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, keep him in your bosom, yet remain assured that he's a made-up villain. I know none such, my lord. Nor I. Look you. I love you well. I'll give you gold.

Read me these villains from your companies. Hang them or stab them. Drown them in a draft. Confound them by some course and come to me. I'll give you gold enough. Name them, my lord. Let's know them. You that way and you this.

But two in company, each man apart, all single and alone. Yet an arch villain keeps him company. if where thou art two villains shall not be come not near him if thou wouldst not reside but where one villain is then him abandon hence pack there's gold you came for gold ye slaves to painter you have worked for me there's payment for you hence to poet you are an alchemist make gold of that out rascal dogs beats them out and then retires to his cave enter flavius and two senators It is in vain that you would speak with Tymon, for he is set so only to himself that nothing but himself which looks like man is friendly with him. Bring us to his cave. It is our part and promise to the Athenians to speak with Tyman. At all times alike men are not still the same. T'was time and griefs that framed him thus.

Time, with his fairer hand, offering the fortunes of his former days the former man may make him. him. Bring us to him and chance it as it may. Here is his cave. Peace and content be here. Lord Tyman. Timon, look out and speak to friends, the Athenians by two of their most reverend senate. Greet thee. Speak to them, noble Tyman. Tyman comes from his cave. Thou son that comforts. Born. Speak and be hanged. For each true word a blister. And each faults, be as a cauterising to the root of the tongue, consuming it with speaking. Worthy, Tyman. Of none but such as you and you of Tyman.

The senators of Athens greet thee, Tyman. I thanked them, and would send them back the plague. Could I but catch it for them? Oh, forget what we are sorry for ourselves in thee. The senators with one consent of love entreat thee back to Athens. who have fought on special dignities which vacant lie for thy best use and wearing. They confess toward the forgetfulness to general, gross, which now the public body, which doth seldom play the recanter, feeling in itself a lack of Tyman's aid,

hath sense with all of its own fail, restraining aid to Tyman, and send forth us to make their sorrowed, render, together with a recompense more fruitful than their offence can weigh down by the dram. Aye, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth as shelled to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs, and write in thee the figures of their love, ever to read them thine. You witch me in it, surprise me to the very brink of tears. Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes, and I'd be weep these, comforts, worthy senators.

Therefore, so please thee to return with us, and of our Athens, thine and ours, to take the captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks, allowed with absolute authority, and thy good name live with authority. So soon we shall drive back of Alcibiades the approaches wild,

who, like a bore too savage, doth root up his country's peace, and shakes his threatening sword against the walls of Athens. Therefore, Tyman. Well, sir, I will. Therefore I will, sir, thus. If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, let Alcibiades know this of Tyman.

The Tyman cares not. But if he sack fair Athens, and take our goodly aged men by the beards, giving our holy virgins to the stain of content, eulius beastly mad-brained war. Then let him know and tell him Tyman speaks it. In pity of our age it and our youth, I cannot choose but tell him that I care not, and let him take it at worst, for their knives care not while you have throats to answer. For myself, there's not a witland unruly camp, but I do prize it at my love before the reverendest throat in Athens. So I leave you to the protection

of the prosperous gods as thieves to keepers. Stay not, all's in vain. Why, I was writing of my epitaph. It will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness of health and living now begins to mend. And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still. Be, Alcibiades, your plague, you his,

and last so long enough. We speak in vain. But yet I love my country, and I am not one that rejoices in the common wreck, as common breed doth put it. That's well-spoke. Commend me to my loving countrymen. These words become your lips as they pass through them. And enter in our ears like great triumphs in their applauding gates. Commend me to them, and tell them that to ease them of their griefs, their fears of hostile strokes, their aches,

losses their pangs of love with other incident throes that nature's fragile vessel doth sustain in life's certain voyage i will some kindness do them i'll teach them to prevent wild alcibiades wrath i like this well he will return again i have a tree which grows here in my close that my own youth invites me to cut down and shortly i must fell it tell my friends tell athens tell athens in the sequence of degree from high to low throughout, that who's so pleased to stop affliction, let him take his haste, come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe, and hang himself. I pray you do my greeting. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall find him.

Come not to me again, but say to Athens, Tyman hath made his everlasting mansion, upon the beeched verge of the salt flood, Who once a day, with his embossed froth, The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come, And let my gravestone be your oracle.

Lips, let sour words go by, And language end. What is amiss, plague and infection mend? Graves only be men's works, and death their gain. Son, hide thy beams. Tyman hath done his reign. Retires to his cave. His discontents are unremovably coupled to nature.

O hope in him is dead. Let us return and strain what other means is left unto us. in our dear peril. It requires swift foot. Exaunt Act 5, Scene 2 Before the walls of Athens Enter two Senators

and a messenger Thou hast painfully discovered Are his files as full as thy report? I have spoke the least, Besides, his expedition promises present approach. We stand much hazard if they bring not time I met a courier, one mine ancient friend, whom though in general part we were opposed, yet our old love made our particular force and made us speak like friends.

This man was writing from Alcibiades to Tyman's cave with letters of entreaty, which imported his fellowship, is the cause against your city, in part for his sake moved. Here come our brothers. Enter the senators from Tyman. no talk of timon nothing of him expect the enemy's drum is heard and fearful scouring doth choke the air with dust in and prepare ours is the fall i fear our foes the snare exaunt act five scene three the woods tyman's cave in a rude tomb scene enter a soldier seeking timean by all description this should be the place who's here speak ho no answer what is this is this tymon is dead who hath outstretched his span some beast reared this there does not live a man dead sure and this is grave

what's on this tomb i cannot read the character i'll take with wax our captain have in every figure skill an aged interpreter though young in days Before proud Athens, he's set down by this, whose fall the mark of his ambition is. Exit Act 5, Scene 4. Before the walls of Athens. Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his powers. Sound to this coward and lascivious town our terrible approach.

A parley sounded. Enter Senators on the walls. Till now you have gone on and filled the time with all essential measure, making your wills the scope of justice. Till now, myself, and such as slept within the shadow of your power, have wandered with our traversed arms and breathed our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush, when crouching marrow in the bearer strong cries of itself, no more. Now breathless wrong shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease, and Percy insolence

shall break his wind with fear and horrid flight. Noble and young, when thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear, we sent to thee to give thy rages bomb, to wipe out our ingratitude with loves above their quantity. so did we woo transform at thyme into our city's love by humble message and by promised means we were not all unkind nor all deserve the common stroke of war these walls of ours were not erected by their hands from whom you have received your griefs nor are they such that these great towers trophies and schools should fall for private faults in them nor are they living who were the motives that you first went out shame that they wanted cunning in excess hath broke their hearts march noble lord into our city with thy banners spread by decimation and attaithed death if thy revenge is hunger for that food which nature loathes take thou the destined tenth and by the hazard of the spotted die let die the spotted All have not offended. For those that were it is not square to take on those that are revenges.

Crimes like lands are not inherited. Then, dear countrymen, bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage. Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall with those that have offended. Like a shepherd, approach the fold, and call the infected forth, but kill not all together. What thou wilt? Thou rather shall enforce it with thy smile than hugh to it with thy sword. Set but thy foot against our rampired gates, and they shall hope, so thou wilt send thy gentle heart before to say thou wilt enter friendly. Through thy glove or any token of thine honour else, thou wilt use the wars as thy redress, and not as our confusion, or thy powers shall make their harbour in our town,

till we have sealed thy full desire. Then there's my glove. Descend and open your uncharged ports, those enemies of Tymins and mine own whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof, fall and no more. And to atone your fears with my more noble meaning, not a man shall pass his quarter or offend the stream of regular justice in your city's bounds, but shall be rendered to your public laws at heaviest answer.

Tears has no been spoken. Descend and keep your words. The Senators descend and open the gates. Enter soldier. My noble general, Tymon is dead, entombed upon the very head. entombed upon the very hem of the sea, and on his gravestone this in sculpture, which with wax I brought away,

whose soft impression interprets for my poor ignorance. Read the epitaph. Here lies a wretched corpse of wretched soul bereft. Seek not my name, A plague consume you wicked Cate of Sleft. Here lie I, Tyman, who alive all living men did hate. Pass by, and curse thy fill, But pass and stay not here thy gate.

These well express in thee thy latter spirits, Though thou abhorst in us our human griefs, Scornst our brains flow, And those our droplets which from niggered nature fall, Yet rich conceit taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for eye On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead is noble time, of whose memory hereafter more, bring me into your city, and I will use the olive with my sword.

Make war breed peace. Make peace, stint war. Make each prescribe to each other as each other's leech. Let our drums strike. Exaunt. End of Act 5. And end of time. And end of time. Simon of Athens by William Shakespeare