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Timon of Athens - Act 3, scene 6
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Timon of Athens - Act 3, scene 6Act 3, scene 6
⌜Scene 6⌝
Synopsis:
Timon’s friends come to dinner again, but this time he serves them only water and stones and drives them away.
⌜Music.⌝ Enter divers Friends at several doors.FIRST FRIEND 1347 The good time of day to you, sir.
SECOND FRIEND 1348 I also wish it to you. I think this honorable
1349 lord did but try us this other day.
FIRST FRIEND 1350 Upon that were my thoughts tiring when
1351 5 we encountered. I hope it is not so low with him as
1352 he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.
SECOND FRIEND 1353 It should not be, by the persuasion of
1354 his new feasting.
FIRST FRIEND 1355 I should think so. He hath sent me an
1356 10 earnest inviting, which many my near occasions
1357 did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me
1358 beyond them, and I must needs appear.
SECOND FRIEND 1359 In like manner was I in debt to my
1360 importunate business, but he would not hear my
1361 15 excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me,
1362 that my provision was out.
FIRST FRIEND 1363 I am sick of that grief too, as I understand
1364 how all things go.
SECOND FRIEND 1365 Every man here’s so. What would he
1366 20 have borrowed of you?
FIRST FRIEND 1367 A thousand pieces.
SECOND FRIEND 1368 A thousand pieces!
FIRST FRIEND 1369 What of you?
SECOND FRIEND 1370 He sent to me, sir—
Enter Timon and Attendants.
1371 25 Here he comes.
TIMON 1372 With all my heart, gentlemen both! And how
1373 fare you?
FIRST FRIEND 1374 Ever at the best, hearing well of your
1375 Lordship.
SECOND FRIEND 1376 30The swallow follows not summer
1377 more willing than we your Lordship.
p.
107
TIMON, ⌜aside⌝
1378
Nor more willingly leaves winter, such1379 summer birds are men.—Gentlemen, our dinner
1380 will not recompense this long stay. Feast your ears
1381 35 with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly
1382 o’ th’ trumpets’ sound. We shall to ’t presently.
FIRST FRIEND 1383 I hope it remains not unkindly with your
1384 Lordship that I returned you an empty messenger.
TIMON 1385 O, sir, let it not trouble you.
SECOND FRIEND 1386 40My noble lord—
TIMON 1387 Ah, my good friend, what cheer?
SECOND FRIEND 1388 My most honorable lord, I am e’en
1389 sick of shame that when your Lordship this other
1390 day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.
TIMON 1391 45Think not on ’t, sir.
SECOND FRIEND 1392 If you had sent but two hours before—
TIMON 1393 Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
The banquet brought in.
1394 Come, bring in all together.
SECOND FRIEND 1395 All covered dishes!
FIRST FRIEND 1396 50Royal cheer, I warrant you.
THIRD FRIEND 1397 Doubt not that, if money and the season
1398 can yield it.
FIRST FRIEND 1399 How do you? What’s the news?
THIRD FRIEND 1400 Alcibiades is banished. Hear you of it?
FIRST AND SECOND FRIENDS 1401 55Alcibiades banished?
THIRD FRIEND 1402 ’Tis so. Be sure of it.
FIRST FRIEND 1403 How? How?
SECOND FRIEND 1404 I pray you, upon what?
TIMON 1405 My worthy friends, will you draw near?
THIRD FRIEND 1406 60I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble
1407 feast toward.
SECOND FRIEND 1408 This is the old man still.
THIRD FRIEND 1409 Will ’t hold? Will ’t hold?
SECOND FRIEND 1410 It does, but time will—and so—
THIRD FRIEND 1411 65I do conceive.
p.
109
TIMON
1412
Each man to his stool, with that spur as he1413 would to the lip of his mistress. Your diet shall
1414 be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let
1415 the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place.
1416 70 Sit, sit. (⌜They sit.⌝) The gods require our thanks:
1417 You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with
1418 thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves
1419 praised, but reserve still to give, lest your deities be
1420 despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need
1421 75 not lend to another; for, were your godheads to
1422 borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make
1423 the meat be beloved more than the man that gives
1424 it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of
1425 villains. If there sit twelve women at the table, let a
1426 80 dozen of them be as they are. The rest of your fees,
1427 O gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the
1428 common ⌜tag⌝ of people, what is amiss in them,
1429 you gods, make suitable for destruction. For these
1430 my present friends, as they are to me nothing, so
1431 85 in nothing bless them, and to nothing are they
1432 welcome.
1433 Uncover, dogs, and lap.
⌜The dishes are uncovered. They contain
only water and stones.⌝
SOME SPEAK 1434 What does his Lordship mean?
SOME OTHER 1435 I know not.
TIMON
1436 90 May you a better feast never behold,
1437 You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm
1438 water
1439 Is your perfection. This is Timon’s last,
1440 Who, stuck and spangled ⌜with your⌝ flatteries,
1441 95 Washes it off and sprinkles in your faces
1442 Your reeking villainy. (⌜He throws water in their
faces.⌝) 1443 Live loathed and long,
p.
111
1444
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,1445 Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
1446 100 You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies,
1447 Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks.
1448 Of man and beast the infinite malady
1449 Crust you quite o’er! (⌜They stand.⌝) What, dost thou
1450 go?
1451 105 Soft! Take thy physic first—thou too—and thou.—
1452 Stay. I will lend thee money, borrow none.
⌜He attacks them and forces them out.⌝
1453 What? All in motion? Henceforth be no feast
1454 Whereat a villain’s not a welcome guest.
1455 Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be
1456 110 Of Timon man and all humanity!⌜He exits.⌝
Enter ⌜Timon’s Friends,⌝ the Senators, with other Lords.
FIRST FRIEND 1457 How now, my lords?
SECOND FRIEND 1458 Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s
1459 fury?
THIRD FRIEND 1460 Push! Did you see my cap?
FOURTH FRIEND 1461 115I have lost my gown.
FIRST FRIEND 1462 He’s but a mad lord, and naught but
1463 humors sways him. He gave me a jewel th’ other
1464 day, and now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you
1465 see my jewel?
SECOND FRIEND 1466 120Did you see my cap?
THIRD FRIEND 1467 Here ’tis.
FOURTH FRIEND 1468 Here lies my gown.
FIRST FRIEND 1469 Let’s make no stay.
SECOND FRIEND
1470 Lord Timon’s mad.
THIRD FRIEND 1471 125 I feel ’t upon my bones.
FOURTH FRIEND
1472 One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.
The Senators ⌜and the others⌝ exit.