Enter Timon in the woods, ⌜with a spade.⌝TIMON O blessèd breeding sun, draw from the Earth Rotten humidity! Below thy sister’s orb Infect the air! ⌜Twinned⌝ brothers of one womb, Whose procreation, residence, and birth5 Scarce is dividant, 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 deny ’t that lord;10 The Senators shall bear contempt hereditary, The beggar native honor. It is the pasture lards the brother’s sides, The want that makes him ⌜lean.⌝ Who dares, who dares
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15 In purity of manhood stand upright And say “This man’s a flatterer”? If one be, So are they all, for every grise of fortune Is smoothed by that below. The learnèd pate Ducks to the golden fool. All’s obliquy.20 There’s nothing level in our cursèd natures But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred All feasts, societies, and throngs of men. His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains. Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!25 Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate With thy most operant poison! (⌜Digging, he finds
gold.⌝) What is here? Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods, I am no idle votarist.30 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,35 this Will lug your priests and servants from your sides, Pluck stout men’s pillows from below their heads. This yellow slave Will knit and break religions, bless th’ accursed,40 Make the hoar 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 spital house and ulcerous sores45 Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices To th’ April day again. Come, damnèd earth, Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds Among the rout of nations, I will make thee Do thy right nature. (March afar off.) Ha? A drum?50 Thou ’rt quick,
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But yet I’ll bury thee. Thou ’lt go, strong thief, When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand. Nay, stay thou out for earnest.⌜He buries the gold, keeping some out.⌝Enter Alcibiades, with Drum and Fife, in warlike
manner, and Phrynia and Timandra.ALCIBIADES What art thou there? Speak.TIMON 55 A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart For showing me again the eyes of man!ALCIBIADES What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee That art thyself a man?TIMON I am Misanthropos and hate mankind.60 For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, That I might love thee something.ALCIBIADES I know thee well. But in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.TIMON I know thee too, and more than that I know thee65 I not desire to know. Follow thy drum. With man’s blood paint the ground gules, gules! Religious canons, civil laws are cruel. Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,70 For all her cherubin look.PHRYNIA Thy lips rot off!TIMON I will not kiss thee. Then the rot returns To thine own lips again.ALCIBIADES How came the noble Timon to this change?TIMON 75 As the moon does, by wanting light to give.
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But then renew I could not, like the moon; There were no suns to borrow of.ALCIBIADES Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?TIMON None, but to maintain my opinion.ALCIBIADES 80What is it, Timon?TIMON Promise me friendship, but perform none. If thou wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man. If thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man.ALCIBIADES 85 I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.TIMON Thou saw’st them when I had prosperity.ALCIBIADES I see them now. Then was a blessèd time.TIMON As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.TIMANDRA Is this th’ Athenian minion whom the world90 Voiced so regardfully?TIMON Art thou Timandra?TIMANDRA Yes.TIMON Be a whore still. They love thee not that use thee. Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.95 Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves For tubs and baths. Bring down rose-cheeked youth To the tub-fast and the diet.TIMANDRA Hang thee, monster!ALCIBIADES Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits100 Are drowned and lost in his calamities.— I have but little gold of late, brave Timon, The want whereof doth daily make revolt
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In my penurious band. I have heard and grieved How cursèd Athens, mindless of thy worth,105 Forgetting thy great deeds when neighbor states, But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—TIMON I prithee, beat thy drum and get thee gone.ALCIBIADES I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon.TIMON How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?110 I had rather be alone.ALCIBIADES Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee.TIMON Keep it. I cannot eat it.ALCIBIADES When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—TIMON Warr’st thou ’gainst Athens?ALCIBIADES 115 Ay, Timon, and have cause.TIMON The gods confound them all in thy conquest, And thee after, when thou hast conquered!ALCIBIADES Why me, Timon?TIMON That by killing of villains120 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-viced city hang his poison In the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one.125 Pity not honored age for his white beard; He is an 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,130 That through the ⌜window-bars⌝ bore at men’s eyes,
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Are not within the leaf of pity writ, But set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe, Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their135 mercy; Think it a bastard whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounced the throat shall cut, And mince it sans remorse. Swear against objects; Put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes,140 Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, Shall pierce a jot. (⌜He offers gold.⌝) There’s gold to pay thy soldiers. Make large confusion and, thy fury spent,145 Confounded be thyself! Speak not. Begone.ALCIBIADES Hast thou gold yet? I’ll take the gold thou givest me, Not all thy counsel.TIMON Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven’s curse upon thee!BOTH ⌜WOMEN⌝ Give us some gold, good Timon. Hast thou more?TIMON 150 Enough to make a whore forswear her trade, And to make whores a bawd. Hold up, you sluts, Your aprons mountant. (⌜He begins throwing gold
into their aprons.⌝) You are not oathable, Although I know you’ll swear—terribly swear155 Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues Th’ immortal gods that hear you. Spare your oaths. I’ll trust to your conditions. Be whores still. And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you, Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up.160 Let your close fire predominate his smoke, And be no turncoats. Yet may your pains six months Be quite contrary. And thatch your poor thin roofs
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With burdens of the dead—some that were hanged, No matter; wear them, betray with them. Whore165 still. Paint till a horse may mire upon your face. A pox of wrinkles!BOTH ⌜WOMEN⌝ Well, more gold. What then? Believe ’t that we’ll do anything for gold.TIMON 170Consumptions sow In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins, And mar men’s spurring. Crack the lawyer’s voice, That he may never more false title plead Nor sound his quillets shrilly. Hoar the flamen,175 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 weal. Make curled-pate180 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’s more gold.185 Do you damn others, and let this damn you, And ditches grave you all!BOTH ⌜WOMEN⌝ More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.TIMON More whore, more mischief first! I have given you earnest.ALCIBIADES 190 Strike up the drum towards Athens.—Farewell, Timon. If I thrive well, I’ll visit thee again.TIMON If I hope well, I’ll never see thee more.ALCIBIADES I never did thee harm.
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TIMON 195 Yes, thou spok’st well of me.ALCIBIADES Call’st thou that harm?TIMON Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take Thy beagles with thee.ALCIBIADES, ⌜to the Women⌝ We but offend him.—200 Strike.⌜The drum sounds; all but Timon⌝ exit.TIMON That nature, being sick of man’s unkindness, Should yet be hungry! (⌜He digs.⌝) Common mother, thou Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast205 Teems and feeds all; whose selfsame mettle— Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed— Engenders the black toad and adder blue, The gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm, With all th’ abhorrèd births below crisp heaven210 Whereon Hyperion’s quick’ning fire doth shine: Yield him who all ⌜thy⌝ human sons do hate, From forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root! Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb; Let it no more bring out ingrateful man.215 Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves, and bears; Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face Hath to the marbled mansion all above Never presented. O, a root! Dear thanks! Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plow-torn leas,220 Whereof ingrateful man with liquorish drafts And morsels unctuous greases his pure mind, That from it all consideration slips—Enter Apemantus. More man? Plague, plague!APEMANTUS I was directed hither. Men report225 Thou dost affect my manners and dost use them.
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TIMON ’Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog, Whom I would imitate. Consumption catch thee!APEMANTUS This is in thee a nature but infected, A poor unmanly melancholy sprung230 From change of future. Why this spade? This place? This slavelike habit and these looks of care? Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft, Hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods235 By putting on the cunning of a carper. Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive By that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee, And let his very breath whom thou ’lt observe Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain,240 And call it excellent. Thou wast told thus. Thou gav’st thine ears, like tapsters that bade welcome, To knaves and all approachers. ’Tis most just That thou turn rascal. Had’st thou wealth again,245 Rascals should have ’t. Do not assume my likeness.TIMON Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself.APEMANTUS Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself— A madman so long, now a fool. What, think’st That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain,250 Will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moist trees, That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels And skip when thou point’st out? Will the cold brook, Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste To cure thy o’ernight’s surfeit? Call the creatures255 Whose naked natures live in all the spite Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhousèd trunks,
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To the conflicting elements exposed, Answer mere nature. Bid them flatter thee. O, thou shalt find—TIMON 260 A fool of thee. Depart.APEMANTUS I love thee better now than e’er I did.TIMON I hate thee worse.APEMANTUS Why?TIMON Thou flatter’st misery.APEMANTUS 265 I flatter not but say thou art a caitiff.TIMON Why dost thou seek me out?APEMANTUS To vex thee.TIMON Always a villain’s office or a fool’s. Dost please thyself in ’t?APEMANTUS 270 Ay.TIMON What, a knave too?APEMANTUS If thou didst put this sour cold habit on To castigate thy pride, ’twere well, but thou Dost it enforcedly. Thou ’dst courtier be again275 Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery Outlives incertain pomp, is crowned before; The one is filling still, never complete, The other at high wish. Best state, contentless, Hath a distracted and most wretched being,280 Worse than the worst, content. Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.TIMON Not by his breath that is more miserable. Thou art a slave whom Fortune’s tender arm With favor never clasped but bred a dog.285 Hadst thou, like us from our first swathe, proceeded The sweet degrees that this brief world affords
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To such as may the passive drugs of it Freely ⌜command,⌝ thou wouldst have plunged thyself290 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 confectionary,295 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, have with one winter’s brush300 Fell from their boughs and left me open, bare, 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 ’t. Why shouldst thou hate305 men? They never flattered 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-beggar and compounded thee310 Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, begone. If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.APEMANTUS Art thou proud yet?TIMON Ay, that I am not thee.APEMANTUS 315I, that I was no prodigal.TIMON I, that I am one now. Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee, I’d give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone. That the whole life of Athens were in this!320 Thus would I eat it.⌜He gnaws a root.⌝APEMANTUS, ⌜offering food⌝ Here, I will mend thy feast.
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TIMON First mend ⌜my⌝ company. Take away thyself.APEMANTUS So I shall mend mine own by th’ lack of thine.TIMON ’Tis not well mended so; it is but botched.325 If not, I would it were.APEMANTUS What wouldst thou have to Athens?TIMON Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, Tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have.APEMANTUS Here is no use for gold.TIMON 330 The best and truest, For here it sleeps and does no hired harm.APEMANTUS Where liest a-nights, Timon?TIMON Under that’s above me. Where feed’st thou a-days, Apemantus?APEMANTUS 335Where my stomach finds meat, or rather where I eat it.TIMON Would poison were obedient and knew my mind!APEMANTUS Where wouldst thou send it?TIMON 340To sauce thy dishes.APEMANTUS The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags345 thou know’st none, but art despised for the contrary. There’s a medlar for thee. Eat it.TIMON On what I hate I feed not.APEMANTUS Dost hate a medlar?TIMON Ay, though it look like thee.APEMANTUS 350An thou ’dst hated meddlers sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means?
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TIMON Who, without those means thou talk’st of, didst355 thou ever know beloved?APEMANTUS Myself.TIMON I understand thee. Thou hadst some means to keep a dog.APEMANTUS What things in the world canst thou nearest360 compare to thy flatterers?TIMON Women nearest, but men—men are the things themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?APEMANTUS Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.TIMON 365Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men and remain a beast with the beasts?APEMANTUS Ay, Timon.TIMON A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t’ attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would370 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’st but as a breakfast375 to the wolf. If thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury. Wert380 thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse. Wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard. Wert thou a leopard, thou wert germane to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life. All thy safety were remotion, and385 thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast art thou already that seest not thy loss in transformation!APEMANTUS If thou couldst please me with speaking to
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390 me, thou mightst have hit upon it here. The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.TIMON How, has the ass broke the wall that thou art out of the city?APEMANTUS Yonder comes a poet and a painter. The395 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 see thee again.TIMON When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar’s dog400 than Apemantus.APEMANTUS Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.TIMON Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!APEMANTUS A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse.TIMON All villains that do stand by thee are pure.APEMANTUS 405 There is no leprosy but what thou speak’st.TIMON If I name thee. I’ll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.APEMANTUS I would my tongue could rot them off!TIMON Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!410 Choler does kill me that thou art alive. I swoon to see thee.APEMANTUS Would thou wouldst burst!TIMON Away, thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee.⌜Timon throws a stone at Apemantus.⌝APEMANTUS 415Beast!TIMON Slave!APEMANTUS Toad!
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TIMON Rogue, rogue, rogue! I am sick of this false world, and will love nought420 But even the mere necessities upon ’t. Then, Timon, 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.425 (⌜To his gold.⌝) O thou sweet king-killer and dear divorce ’Twixt natural son and ⌜sire,⌝ thou bright defiler Of Hymen’s purest bed, thou valiant Mars, Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer,430 Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow That lies on Dian’s lap; thou visible god, That sold’rest close impossibilities And mak’st them kiss, that speak’st with every tongue435 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!APEMANTUS Would ’twere so!440 But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou ’st gold; Thou wilt be thronged to shortly.TIMON Thronged to?APEMANTUS Ay.TIMON Thy back, I prithee.APEMANTUS 445 Live and love thy misery.TIMON Long live so, and so die. I am quit.Enter the Banditti.APEMANTUS More things like men.—Eat, Timon, and abhor ⌜them.⌝Apemantus exits.FIRST BANDIT Where should he have this gold? It is
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450 some poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder. The mere want of gold and the falling-from of his friends drove him into this melancholy.SECOND BANDIT It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.THIRD BANDIT Let us make the assay upon him. If he455 care not for ’t, he will supply us easily. If he covetously reserve it, how shall ’s get it?SECOND BANDIT True, for he bears it not about him. ’Tis hid.FIRST BANDIT Is not this he?⌜OTHERS⌝ 460Where?SECOND BANDIT ’Tis his description.THIRD BANDIT He. I know him.ALL Save thee, Timon.TIMON Now, thieves?ALL 465 Soldiers, not thieves.TIMON Both, too, and women’s sons.ALL We are not thieves, but men that much do want.TIMON Your greatest want is, you want much of meat. Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots.470 Within this mile break forth a hundred springs. The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips. The bounteous huswife Nature on each bush Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want?FIRST BANDIT We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,475 As beasts and birds and fishes.TIMON Nor on the beasts themselves, the 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 theft480 In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
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Here’s gold. (⌜He gives them gold.⌝) Go, suck the subtle blood o’ th’ grape Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth, And so ’scape hanging. Trust not the physician;485 His antidotes are poison, and he slays More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together. Do, ⌜villainy,⌝ do, since you protest to do ’t, Like workmen. I’ll example you with thievery. The sun’s a thief and with his great attraction490 Robs the vast sea. The moon’s an arrant 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 composture stol’n495 From gen’ral excrement. Each thing’s a thief. The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power Has unchecked theft. Love not yourselves. Away! Rob one another. There’s more gold. (⌜He gives them
gold.⌝) Cut throats.500 All that you meet are thieves. To Athens go. Break open shops. Nothing can you steal But thieves do lose it. Steal less for this I give you, And gold confound you howsoe’er! Amen.THIRD BANDIT Has almost charmed me from my profession505 by persuading me to it.FIRST BANDIT ’Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us, not to have us thrive in our mystery.SECOND BANDIT I’ll believe him as an enemy and give510 over my trade.FIRST BANDIT Let us first see peace in Athens. There is no time so miserable but a man may be true.Thieves exit.Enter ⌜Flavius⌝ the Steward, to Timon.FLAVIUS O you gods!
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Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?515 Full of decay and flailing? O, monument And wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed! What an alteration of honor has desp’rate want made! What viler thing upon the Earth than friends,520 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 than those that do!525 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.TIMON Away! What art thou?FLAVIUS Have you forgot me, sir?TIMON 530 Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men. Then, if thou ⌜grant’st⌝ thou ’rt a man, I have forgot thee.FLAVIUS An honest poor servant of yours.TIMON Then I know thee not.535 I never had honest man about me, I. All I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains.FLAVIUS The gods are witness, Ne’er did poor steward wear a truer grief For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.⌜He weeps.⌝TIMON 540 What, dost thou weep? Come nearer, then. I love thee Because thou art a woman and disclaim’st Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give But thorough lust and laughter. Pity’s sleeping.
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545 Strange times that weep with laughing, not with weeping!FLAVIUS I beg of you to know me, good my lord, T’ accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts, To entertain me as your steward still.⌜He offers money.⌝TIMON 550Had 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.555 Forgive my general and exceptless 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,560 And thou redeem’st 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;565 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, A usuring kindness, and as rich men deal gifts,570 Expecting in return twenty for one?FLAVIUS No, 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.575 Suspect still comes where an estate is least. That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, Duty, and zeal to your unmatchèd mind,
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Care of your food and living. And believe it, My most honored lord,580 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.TIMON Look thee, ’tis so. Thou singly honest man,585 Here, take. (⌜Timon offers gold.⌝) The gods out of my misery Has sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy, But thus conditioned: thou shalt build from men; Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,590 But let the famished flesh slide from the bone Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow ’em, Debts wither ’em to nothing; be men like blasted woods,595 And may diseases lick up their false bloods! And so farewell and thrive.FLAVIUS O, let me stay And comfort you, my master.TIMON If thou hat’st curses,600 Stay not. Fly whilst thou art blest and free. Ne’er see thou man, and let me ne’er see thee.⌜They⌝ exit.
Timon of Athens: 
