The Life of Timon of Athens

FIRST SENATORHis discontents are unremovablyCoupled to nature.SECOND SENATOROur hope in him is dead. Let us returnAnd strain what other means is left unto usIn our dear peril.FIRST SENATORIt requires swift foot.

[Exeunt.]

Scene II. Before the walls of Athens

[Enter two other SENATORS with a MESSENGER.]

FIRST SENATORThou hast painfully discover'd; are his filesAs full as thy report?MESSENGERI have spoke the least.Besides, his expedition promisesPresent approach.SECOND SENATORWe stand much hazard if they bring not Timon.MESSENGERI met a courier, one mine ancient friend,Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd,Yet our old love had a particular force,And made us speak like friends. This man was ridingFrom Alcibiades to Timon's caveWith letters of entreaty, which importedHis fellowship i' the cause against your city,In part for his sake mov'd.

[Enter the other SENATORS, from TIMON.]

FIRST SENATORHere come our brothers.THIRD SENATORNo talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouringDoth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare.Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes the snare.

[Exeunt.]

Scene III. The Woods. TIMON's cave, and a rude tomb seen

[Enter a SOLDIER in the woods, seeking TIMON.]

SOLDIERBy all description this should be the place.Who's here? Speak, ho! No answer! What is this?Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span.Some beast rear'd this; here does not live a man.Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tombI cannot read; the character I'll take with wax.Our captain hath in every figure skill,An ag'd interpreter, though young in days;Before proud Athens he's set down by this,Whose fall the mark of his ambition is.

[Exit.]

Scene IV. Before the walls of Athens

[Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES with his powers.]

ALCIBIADESSound to this coward and lascivious townOur terrible approach.

[A parley sounded. The SENATORS appear upon the walls.]

Till now you have gone on and fill'd the timeWith all licentious measure, making your willsThe scope of justice; till now, myself, and suchAs slept within the shadow of your power,Have wander'd with our travers'd arms, and breath'dOur sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush,When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong,Cries of itself, 'No more!' Now breathless wrongShall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,And pursy insolence shall break his windWith fear and horrid flight.FIRST SENATORNoble 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 balm,To wipe out our ingratitude with lovesAbove their quantity.SECOND SENATORSo did we wooTransformed Timon to our city's loveBy humble message and by promis'd means.We were not all unkind, nor all deserveThe common stroke of war.FIRST SENATORThese walls of oursWere not erected by their hands from whomYou have receiv'd your griefs; nor are they suchThat these great towers, trophies, and schools, should fallFor private faults in them.SECOND SENATORNor are they livingWho were the motives that you first went out;Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excessHath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,Into our city with thy banners spread.By decimation and a tithed death, —If thy revenges hunger for that foodWhich nature loathes, – take thou the destin'd tenth,And by the hazard of the spotted dieLet die the spotted.FIRST SENATORAll have not offended;For those that were, it is not square to take,On those that are, revenge: crimes, like lands,Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage;Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kinWhich, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fallWith those that have offended. Like a shepherdApproach the fold and cull th' infected forth,But kill not all together.SECOND SENATORWhat thou wilt,Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smileThan hew to 't with thy sword.FIRST SENATORSet but thy footAgainst our rampir'd gates and they shall ope,So thou wilt send thy gentle heart beforeTo say thou'lt enter friendly.SECOND SENATORThrow thy glove,Or any token of thine honour else,That thou wilt use the wars as thy redressAnd not as our confusion, all thy powersShall make their harbour in our town till weHave seal'd thy full desire.ALCIBIADESThen there's my glove;Descend, and open your uncharged ports.Those enemies of Timon's and mine own,Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof,Fall, and no more. And, to atone your fearsWith my more noble meaning, not a manShall pass his quarter or offend the streamOf regular justice in your city's bounds,But shall be render'd to your public lawsAt heaviest answer.BOTH'Tis most nobly spoken.ALCIBIADESDescend, and keep your words.

[The SENATORS descend and open the gates.]

[Enter a SOLDIER.]

SOLDIERMy noble General, Timon is dead;Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea;And on his gravestone this insculpture, whichWith wax I brought away, whose soft impressionInterprets for my poor ignorance.

[ALCIBIADES reads the Epitaph.]

'Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft;Seek not my name. A plague consume you wicked caitiffs left!Here lie I, Timon, who alive all living men did hate.Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not here thygait.'These well express in thee thy latter spirits.Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs,Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our droplets whichFrom niggard nature fall, yet rich conceitTaught thee to make vast Neptune weep for ayeOn thy low grave, on faults forgiven. DeadIs noble Timon, of whose memoryHereafter more. Bring me into your city,And I will use the olive with my sword;Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make eachPrescribe to other,as each other's leech.Let our drums strike.

[Exeunt.]