Timon of Athens

Timon of Athens

ACT III SCENE VI	The same. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.
	Music. Tables set out: Servants attending.Enter divers Lords, Senators and others, atseveral doors
First Lord	The good time of day to you, sir.
Second Lord	I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord
	did but try us this other day.
First Lord	Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we	5
	encountered: I hope it is not so low with him as
	he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.
Second Lord	It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.
First Lord	I should think so: he hath sent me an earnest
	inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me	10
	to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and
	I must needs appear.
Second Lord	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	15
	provision was out.
First Lord	I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all
	things go.
Second Lord	Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of
	you?	20
First Lord	A thousand pieces.
Second Lord	A thousand pieces!
First Lord	What of you?
Second Lord	He sent to me, sir,--Here he comes.
	Enter TIMON and Attendants
TIMON	With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how fare you?	25
First Lord	Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.
Second Lord	The swallow follows not summer more willing than we
	your lordship.
TIMON	Aside
	summer-birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not
	recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the	30
	music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' the
	trumpet's sound; we shall to 't presently.
First Lord	I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship
	that I returned you an empty messenger.
TIMON	O, sir, let it not trouble you.	35
Second Lord	My noble lord,--
TIMON	Ah, my good friend, what cheer?
Second Lord	My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame,
	that, when your lordship this other day sent to me,
	I was so unfortunate a beggar.	40
TIMON	Think not on 't, sir.
Second Lord	If you had sent but two hours before,--
TIMON	Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
	The banquet brought in
	Come, bring in all together.
Second Lord	All covered dishes!	45
First Lord	Royal cheer, I warrant you.
Third Lord	Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield
	it.
First Lord	How do you? What's the news?
Third Lord	Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?	50
First Lord	\|
	\| Alcibiades banished!
Second Lord	\|
Third Lord	'Tis so, be sure of it.
First Lord	How! how!	55
Second Lord	I pray you, upon what?
TIMON	My worthy friends, will you draw near?
Third Lord	I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.
Second Lord	This is the old man still.
Third Lord	Will 't hold? will 't hold?	60
Second Lord	It does: but time will--and so--
Third Lord	I do conceive.
TIMON	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	65
	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	70
	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 the meat be beloved more than the man
	that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without	75
	a score of villains: if there sit twelve women at
	the 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	80
	destruction. For these my present friends, as they
	are to me 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 ofwarm water
Some Speak	What does his lordship mean?	85
Some Others	I know not.
TIMON	May you a better feast never behold,
	You knot of mouth-friends I smoke and lukewarm water
	Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
	Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,	90
	Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces
	Your reeking villany.
	Throwing the water in their faces
	Live loathed and long,
	Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
	Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,	95
	You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,
	Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!
	Of man and beast the infinite malady
	Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?
	Soft! take thy physic first--thou too--and thou;--	100
	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,
	Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
	Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be
	Of Timon man and all humanity!	105
	Exit
	Re-enter the Lords, Senators, &c
First Lord	How now, my lords!
Second Lord	Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?
Third Lord	Push! did you see my cap?
Fourth Lord	I have lost my gown.
First Lord	He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him.	110
	He gave me a jewel th' other day, and now he has
	beat it out of my hat: did you see my jewel?
Third Lord	Did you see my cap?
Second Lord	Here 'tis.
Fourth Lord	Here lies my gown.	115
First Lord	Let's make no stay.
Second Lord	Lord Timon's mad.
Third Lord	I feel 't upon my bones.
Fourth Lord	One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.
	Exeunt