Timon of Athens
Act III, Scene 6
Athens. A banqueting-room in Timon’s house.
Byam Shaw, 1901
- Music. Tables set out: Servants attending.
- Enter divers friends of Timon, Senators and other Lords, at
- several doors.
First Lord
1- The good time of day to you, sir.
Second Lord
2 - 3- I also wish it to you. I think this honorable lord did but
- try us this other day.
First Lord
4 - 6- Upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encount’red. I
- hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the
- trial of his several friends.
Second Lord
7- It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.
First Lord
8 - 10- I should think so. He hath sent me an earnest inviting,
- which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he
- hath conjur’d me beyond them, and I must needs appear.
Second Lord
11 - 13- 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 provision was out.
First Lord
14 - 15- I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things
- go.
Second Lord
16- Every man here’s so. What would he have borrow’d of you?
First Lord
17- A thousand pieces.
Second Lord
18- A thousand pieces?
First Lord
19- What of you?
Second Lord
20- He sent to me, sir—Here he comes.
- Enter Timon and Attendants.
Timon
21- With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how fare you?
First Lord
22- Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.
Second Lord
23 - 24- The swallow follows not summer more willing than we your
- lordship.
Timon
25 - 29- Aside.
- Nor more willingly leaves winter, such summer birds are
- men.—Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long
- stay; feast your ears with the music awhile, if they will
- fare so harshly o’ th’ trumpet’s sound; we shall to’t
- presently.
First Lord
30 - 31- I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that I
- return’d you an empty messenger.
Timon
32- O, sir, let it not trouble you.
Second Lord
33- My noble lord—
Timon
34- Ah, my good friend, what cheer?
- The banquet brought in.
Second Lord
35 - 37- My most honorable lord, I am e’en sick of shame that, when
- your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so
- unfortunate a beggar.
Timon
38- Think not on’t, sir.
Second Lord
39- If you had sent but two hours before—
Timon
40 - 41- Let it not cumber your better remembrance.—Come, bring in
- all together!
Second Lord
42- All cover’d dishes!
First Lord
43- Royal cheer, I warrant you.
Third Lord
44- Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it.
First Lord
45- How do you? What’s the news?
Third Lord
46- Alcibiades is banish’d: hear you of it?
Both First and Second Lords
47- Alcibiades banish’d?
Third Lord
48- ’Tis so, be sure of it.
First Lord
49- How? How?
Second Lord
50- I pray you, upon what?
Timon
51- My worthy friends, will you draw near?
Third Lord
52- I’ll tell you more anon. Here’s a noble feast toward.
Second Lord
53- This is the old man still.
Third Lord
54- Will’t hold? Will’t hold?
Second Lord
55- It does; but time will—and so—
Third Lord
56- I do conceive.
Timon
57 - 76- 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 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 prais’d;
- but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despis’d.
- 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 belov’d more than the man that
- gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without 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
- 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 of warm water.
Both First and Second Lords
77- What does his lordship mean?
Both Third and Fourth Lords
78- I know not.
Timon
79 - 97- May you a better feast never behold,
- You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm water
- Is your perfection. This is Timon’s last,
- Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,
- Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces
- Your reeking villainy.
- Throwing the water in their faces.
- Live loath’d, and long,
- Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
- Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
- You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies,
- Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, 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;
- 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!
- Exit.
- Enter the Senators with other Lords again.
First Lord
98- How now, my lords?
Second Lord
99- Know you the quality of Lord Timon’s fury?
Third Lord
100- Push, did you see my cap?
Fourth Lord
101- I have lost my gown.
First Lord
102 - 104- He’s but a mad lord, and nought but humors sways him. 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
105- Did you see my cap?
Second Lord
106- Here ’tis,
Fourth Lord
107- Here lies my gown.
First Lord
108- Let’s make no stay.
Second Lord
109- Lord Timon’s mad.
Third Lord
110- I feel’t upon my bones.
Fourth Lord
111- One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.
- Exeunt the Senators and other Lords.
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies, cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks!
Norman M. Price, 1915