Timon of Athens

thee t’ attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat three: if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass: if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would torment thee, and still thou livedst but as a breakfast 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: wert 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 german to the lion and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life: all thy safety were remotion and thy defence 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 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: 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 see thee again. Timon When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar’s dog 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 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!
Choler does kill me that thou art alive;
I swound to see thee.

Apemantus Would thou wouldst burst! Timon

Away,
Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose
A stone by thee. Throws a stone at him.

Apemantus Beast! Timon Slave! Apemantus Toad! Timon

Rogue, rogue, rogue!
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon’t.
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;
Lie where the light foam the sea may beat
Thy grave-stone daily: make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others’ lives may laugh.
To the 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,
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
That lies on Dian’s lap! thou visible god,
That solder’st close impossibilities,
And makest them kiss! that speak’st 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!

Apemantus

Would ’twere so!
But not till I am dead. I’ll say thou’st gold:
Thou wilt be throng’d to shortly.

Timon Throng’d to! Apemantus Ay. Timon Thy back, I prithee. Apemantus Live, and love thy misery. Timon

Long live so, and so die. Exit Apemantus. I am quit.
Moe things like men! Eat, Timon, and abhor them.

Enter Banditti. First Bandit Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender sort 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 he 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? Banditti Where? Second Bandit ’Tis his description. Third Bandit He; I know him. Banditti Save thee, Timon. Timon Now, thieves? Banditti Soldiers, not thieves. Timon Both too; and women’s sons. Banditti 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;
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;
The oaks bear mast, the briers scarlet hips;
The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want! why want?

First Bandit

We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
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 profess’d, 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 o’ the grape,
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so ’scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
Moe than you rob: take wealth and lives together;
Do villany, do, since you protest to do’t,
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 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 stolen
From general excrement: each thing’s a thief:
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have uncheck’d theft. Love not yourselves: away,
Rob one another. There’s 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: steal no less for this
I give you; and gold confound you howsoe’er!
Amen.

Third Bandit Has almost charmed me from my profession, 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 give over my trade. First Bandit Let us first see peace in Athens: there is no time so miserable but