Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 6
The same. A banqueting-room in Timon’s house.
First Lord : The good time of day to you, sir.
Second Lord : I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord
[p]did but try us
this other day.
First Lord : Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we
[p]encountered: I hope it
is not so low with him as
[p]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
[p]inviting, which many
my near occasions did urge me
[p]to put off; but he hath conjured me
beyond them, and
[p]I must needs appear.
Second Lord : In like manner was I in debt to my importunate
[p]business, but he
would not hear my excuse. I am
[p]sorry, when he sent to borrow of me,
that my
[p]provision was out.
First Lord : I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all
[p]things go.
Second Lord : Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of
[p]you?
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.
Timon : With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how fare you?
First Lord : Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.
Second Lord : The swallow follows not summer more willing than we
[p]your lordship.
Timon : [Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such
[p]summer-birds are
men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not
[p]recompense this long stay:
feast your ears with the
[p]music awhile, if they will fare so harshly
o' the
[p]trumpet's sound; we shall to 't presently.
First Lord : I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship
[p]that I returned
you an empty messenger.
Timon : O, sir, let it not trouble you.
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,
[p]that, when your
lordship this other day sent to me,
[p]I was so unfortunate a beggar.
Timon : Think not on 't, sir.
Second Lord : If you had sent but two hours before,--
Timon : Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
[p][The banquet brought
in]
[p]Come, bring in all together.
Second Lord : All covered dishes!
First Lord : Royal cheer, I warrant you.
Third Lord : Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield
[p]it.
First Lord : How do you? What's the news?
Third Lord : Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?
First Lord : [with Second Lord] Alcibiades banished!
Third Lord : 'Tis so, be sure of it.
First Lord : How! how!
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?
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
[p]the lip of his
mistress: your diet shall be in all
[p]places alike. Make not a city
feast of it, to let
[p]the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first
place:
[p]sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.
[p]You great
benefactors, sprinkle our society with
[p]thankfulness. For your own
gifts, make yourselves
[p]praised: but reserve still to give, lest
your
[p]deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that
[p]one need
not lend to another; for, were your
[p]godheads to borrow of men, men
would forsake the
[p]gods. Make the meat be beloved more than the
man
[p]that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without
[p]a score
of villains: if there sit twelve women at
[p]the table, let a dozen of
them be--as they are. The
[p]rest of your fees, O gods--the senators
of Athens,
[p]together with the common lag of people--what is
[p]amiss
in them, you gods, make suitable for
[p]destruction. For these my
present friends, as they
[p]are to me nothing, so in nothing bless
them, and to
[p]nothing are they welcome.
[p]Uncover, dogs, and
lap.
[p][The dishes are uncovered and seen to be full of]
[p]warm
water]
Some Speak : What does his lordship mean?
Some Others : I know not.
Timon : May you a better feast never behold,
[p]You knot of mouth-friends I
smoke and lukewarm water
[p]Is your perfection. This is Timon's
last;
[p]Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,
[p]Washes it
off, and sprinkles in your faces
[p]Your reeking villany.
[p][Throwing
the water in their faces]
[p]Live loathed and long,
[p]Most smiling,
smooth, detested parasites,
[p]Courteous destroyers, affable wolves,
meek bears,
[p]You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's
flies,
[p]Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!
[p]Of man
and beast the infinite malady
[p]Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou
go?
[p]Soft! take thy physic first--thou too--and thou;--
[p]Stay, I
will lend thee money, borrow none.
[p][Throws the dishes at them, and
drives them out]
[p]What, all in motion? Henceforth be no
feast,
[p]Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
[p]Burn, house!
sink, Athens! henceforth hated be
[p]Of Timon man and all humanity!
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.
[p]He gave me a
jewel th' other day, and now he has
[p]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.
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.
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Next: Act 4 - Scene 1
