William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (431 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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Exit
SERVANT Excellent. Your lordship’s a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did when he made man politic—he crossed himself by’t, 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 realms 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 sure their master;
And this is all a liberal course allows:
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
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 sure their master;
And this is all a liberal course allows:
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
Exit
3.4Enter Varro’s two Servants, meeting others, all Servants of Timon’s creditors, to wait for his coming out. Then enter
⌈
Servants of
⌉
Lucius, Titus, and Hortensius
VARRO’S ⌈FIRST⌉ SERVANT
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS’ SERVANT The like to you, kind Varro.
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT
Lucius, what, do we meet together?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ay, and I think one business does command us all,
For mine is money.
For mine is money.
TITUS’ SERVANT So is theirs and ours.
Enter
⌈
a Servant of
⌉
Philotus
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
And Sir Philotus too!
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Good day at once.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour?
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Labouring for nine.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT So much?
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Is not my lord seen yet?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Not yet.
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT
I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him.
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun‘s,
But not, like his, recoverable. I fear
’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is,
One may reach deep enough, and yet find little.
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun‘s,
But not, like his, recoverable. I fear
’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is,
One may reach deep enough, and yet find little.
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT I am of your fear for that.
TITUS’ SERVANT
I’ll show you how t’observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money?
Your lord sends now for money?
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT Most true, he does.
TITUS’ SERVANT
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
For which I wait for money.
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT It is against my heart.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Mark how strange it shows.
Timon in this should pay more than he owes,
And e‘en as if your lord should wear rich jewels
And send for money for ’em.
And e‘en as if your lord should wear rich jewels
And send for money for ’em.
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT
I’m weary of this charge, the gods can witness.
I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.
I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT
Yes; mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?
Yes; mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Five thousand, mine.
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT
’is much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
Else surely his had equalled.
Enter Flaminius
Your master’s confidence was above mine,
Else surely his had equalled.
Enter Flaminius
TITUS’ SERVANT One of Lord Timon’s men.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Flaminius! Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord 36
Ready to come forth?
Ready to come forth?
FLAMINIUS No, indeed he is not.
TITUS’ SERVANT We attend his lordship.
Pray signify so much.
FLAMINIUS I need not tell
Him that; he knows you are too diligent.
Enter Flavius, muffled in a cloak
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ha, is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.
He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.
TITUS’ SERVANT (
to Flavius
) Do you hear, sir?
to Flavius
) Do you hear, sir?
VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT (
to Flavius
) By your leave, sir.
to Flavius
) By your leave, sir.
FLAVIUS What do ye ask of me, my friend?
TITUS’ SERVANT
We wait for certain money here, sir.
FLAVIUS Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
‘Twere sure enough.
Why then preferred you not your sums and bills
When your false masters ate of my lord’s meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down th’int’est into their glutt’nous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up.
Let me pass quietly.
Believe’, my lord and I have made an end.
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
‘Twere sure enough.
Why then preferred you not your sums and bills
When your false masters ate of my lord’s meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down th’int’est into their glutt’nous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up.
Let me pass quietly.
Believe’, my lord and I have made an end.
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
FLAVIUS
If ‘twill not serve ’tis not so base as you,
For you serve knaves.
For you serve knaves.
Exit
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT How? What does his cashiered worship mutter?
VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT No matter what; he’s poor, and that’s revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? Such may rail against great buildings.
Enter Servilius
TITUS’ SERVANT O, here’s Servilius. Now we shall know some answer.
SERVILIUS If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from’t; for, take’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him. He’s much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Many do keep their chambers are not sick,
And if it be so far beyond his health
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts
And make a clear way to the gods.
And if it be so far beyond his health
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts
And make a clear way to the gods.
SERVILIUS Good gods!
TITUS’ SERVANT
We cannot take this for an answer, sir.
FLAMINIUS (
Within
)
Within
)
Servilius, helpl My lord, my lord!
Enter Timon in a rage
TIMON
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?
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?
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Put in now, Titus.
TITUS’ SERVANT My lord, here is my bill.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT
Here’s mine.
⌈HORTENSUS’ SERVANT⌉ And mine, my lord.
VARRO’S ⌈FIRST
and
⌉ SECOND SERVANTS And ours, my lord.
and
⌉ SECOND SERVANTS And ours, my lord.
PHILOTUS’ SERVANT All our bills.
TIMON
Knock me down with ’em, cleave me to the girdle.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Alas, my lord.
TIMON Cut my heart in sums. 90
TITUS’ SERVANT Mine fifty talents.
TIMON
Tell out my blood.
LUCIUS’ SERVANT Five thousand crowns, my lord.
TIMON
Five thousand drops pays that. What yours? And yours?
VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT My lord—
VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT My lord—
TIMON
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you.
Exit
HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money. These debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.
Exeunt
3.5Enter Timon and Flavius
TIMON
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? Devils!
Creditors? Devils!
FLAVIUS My dear lord—
TIMON What if it should be so?
FLAVIUS My lord—
TIMON
I’ll have it so. My steward!
FLAVIUS Here, my lord.
TIMON
So fitly? Go bid all my friends again:
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius—all luxors, all.
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius—all luxors, all.
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
FLAVIUS O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul.
There is not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.
There is not so much left to furnish out
A moderate table.
TIMON Be it not in thy care.
Go, I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide
Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.
Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.
Exeunt
⌈
severally
⌉
3.6⌈
severally
⌉
Enter three Senators at one door
FIRST SENATOR
My lords, you have my voice to’t. The fault’s bloody.
’Tis necessary he should die.
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
’Tis necessary he should die.
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
SECOND SENATOR Most true; the law shall bruise ’im.
⌈
Enter Alcibiades at another door, with attendants
⌉
ALCIBIADES
Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!
FIRST SENATOR Now, captain.
ALCIBIADES
I am an 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’t.
He is a man, setting his feat aside,
Of comely virtues;
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice—
An honour 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.
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’t.
He is a man, setting his feat aside,
Of comely virtues;
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice—
An honour 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.
FIRST SENATOR
You undergo too strict a paradox,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair.
Your words have took such pains as if they laboured
To bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling
Upon the head of valour—which indeed
Is valour 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!
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair.
Your words have took such pains as if they laboured
To bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling
Upon the head of valour—which indeed
Is valour 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!
ALCIBIADES
My lord—
FIRST SENATOR You cannot make gross sins look clear.
To revenge is no valour, but to bear.
ALCIBIADES
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‘t,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats
Without repugnancy? If there be
Such valour 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
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good.
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin’s extremest gust,
But in defence, by mercy, ’tis most just.
To be in anger is impiety,
But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.
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‘t,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats
Without repugnancy? If there be
Such valour 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
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good.
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin’s extremest gust,
But in defence, by mercy, ’tis most just.
To be in anger is impiety,
But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.
SECOND SENATOR You breathe in vain.
ALCIBIADES In vain?
His service done at Lacedaemon and Byzantium
Were a sufficient briber for his life.
Were a sufficient briber for his life.
FIRST SENATOR
What’s that?
ALCIBIADES Why, I say, my lords, he’s done fair service,
And slain in fight many of your enemies.
How full of valour did he bear himself
In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!
How full of valour did he bear himself
In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!
SECOND SENATOR
He has made too much plenty with ‘em.
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’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.
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