Текст книги "William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition"

Автор книги: William Shakespeare

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 177 (всего у книги 250 страниц)

3.4 Enter Varro’s two Servants, meeting others, all Servants of Timon’s creditors, to wait for his coming out. Then enter ⌈Servants of ⌉Lucius, Titus, and Hortensius

VARRO’S ⌈FIRST⌉ SERVANT

Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.

TITUS’ SERVANT The like to you, kind Varro.

HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT

Lucius, what, do we meet together?

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Ay, and I think one business does command us all,

For mine is money.

TITUS’ SERVANT So is theirs and ours.

Enter ⌈a Servant of ⌉ Philotus

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

And Sir Philotus too!

PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Good day at once.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour?

PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Labouring for nine.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT So much?

PHILOTUS’ SERVANT Is not my lord seen yet?

LUCIUS’ SERVANT Not yet.

PHILOTUS’ SERVANT

I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him.

You must consider that a prodigal course

Is like the sun‘s,

But not, like his, recoverable. I fear

’Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is,

One may reach deep enough, and yet find little.

PHILOTUS’ SERVANT I am of your fear for that.

TITUS’ SERVANT

I’ll show you how t’observe a strange event.

Your lord sends now for money?

HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT Most true, he does.

TITUS’ SERVANT

And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,

For which I wait for money.

HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT It is against my heart.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT Mark how strange it shows.

Timon in this should pay more than he owes,

And e‘en as if your lord should wear rich jewels

And send for money for ’em.

HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT

I’m weary of this charge, the gods can witness.

I know my lord hath spent of Timon’s wealth,

And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.

VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT

Yes; mine’s three thousand crowns. What’s yours?

LUCIUS’ SERVANT Five thousand, mine.

VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT

’is much deep, and it should seem by th’ sum

Your master’s confidence was above mine,

Else surely his had equalled.

Enter Flaminius

TITUS’ SERVANT One of Lord Timon’s men.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Flaminius! Sir, a word. Pray, is my lord 36

Ready to come forth?

FLAMINIUS No, indeed he is not.

TITUS’ SERVANT We attend his lordship.

Pray signify so much.

FLAMINIUS I need not tell

Him that; he knows you are too diligent.

Enter Flavius, muffled in a cloak

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Ha, is not that his steward muffled so?

He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him.

TITUS’ SERVANT (to Flavius) Do you hear, sir?

VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT (to Flavius) By your leave, sir.

FLAVIUS What do ye ask of me, my friend?

TITUS’ SERVANT

We wait for certain money here, sir.

FLAVIUS Ay,

If money were as certain as your waiting,

‘Twere sure enough.

Why then preferred you not your sums and bills

When your false masters ate of my lord’s meat?

Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts,

And take down th’int’est into their glutt’nous maws.

You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up.

Let me pass quietly.

Believe’, my lord and I have made an end.

I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Ay, but this answer will not serve.

FLAVIUS

If ‘twill not serve ’tis not so base as you,

For you serve knaves.

Exit

VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT How? What does his cashiered worship mutter?

VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT No matter what; he’s poor, and that’s revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? Such may rail against great buildings.

Enter Servilius

TITUS’ SERVANT O, here’s Servilius. Now we shall know some answer.

SERVILIUS If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from’t; for, take’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him. He’s much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Many do keep their chambers are not sick,

And if it be so far beyond his health

Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts

And make a clear way to the gods.

SERVILIUS Good gods!

TITUS’ SERVANT

We cannot take this for an answer, sir.

FLAMINIUS (Within)

Servilius, helpl My lord, my lord!

Enter Timon in a rage

TIMON

What, are my doors opposed against my passage?

Have I been ever free, and must my house

Be my retentive enemy, my jail?

The place which I have feasted, does it now,

Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Put in now, Titus.

TITUS’ SERVANT My lord, here is my bill.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT

Here’s mine.

⌈HORTENSUS’ SERVANT⌉ And mine, my lord.

VARRO’S ⌈FIRST and⌉ SECOND SERVANTS And ours, my lord.

PHILOTUS’ SERVANT All our bills.

TIMON

Knock me down with ’em, cleave me to the girdle.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT Alas, my lord.

TIMON Cut my heart in sums. 90

TITUS’ SERVANT Mine fifty talents.

TIMON

Tell out my blood.

LUCIUS’ SERVANT Five thousand crowns, my lord.

TIMON

Five thousand drops pays that. What yours? And yours?

VARRO’S FIRST SERVANT My lord—

VARRO’S SECOND SERVANT My lord—

TIMON

Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you.

Exit

HORTENSIUS’ SERVANT Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money. These debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.

Exeunt

3.5 Enter Timon and Flavius

TIMON

They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.

Creditors? Devils!

FLAVIUS My dear lord—

TIMON What if it should be so?

FLAVIUS My lord—

TIMON

I’ll have it so. My steward!

FLAVIUS Here, my lord.

TIMON

So fitly? Go bid all my friends again:

Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius—all luxors, all.

I’ll once more feast the rascals.

FLAVIUS O my lord,

You only speak from your distracted soul.

There is not so much left to furnish out

A moderate table.

TIMON Be it not in thy care.

Go, I charge thee, invite them all. Let in the tide

Of knaves once more. My cook and I’ll provide.

Exeunt ⌈severally⌉

3.6 Enter three Senators at one door

FIRST SENATOR

My lords, you have my voice to’t. The fault’s bloody.

’Tis necessary he should die.

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

SECOND SENATOR Most true; the law shall bruise ’im.

⌈Enter Alcibiades at another door, with attendants⌉

ALCIBIADES

Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!

FIRST SENATOR Now, captain.

ALCIBIADES

I am an humble suitor to your virtues;

For pity is the virtue of the law,

And none but tyrants use it cruelly.

It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy

Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood

Hath stepped into the law, which is past depth

To those that without heed do plunge into’t.

He is a man, setting his feat aside,

Of comely virtues;

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice—

An honour in him which buys out his fault—

But with a noble fury and fair spirit,

Seeing his reputation touched to death,

He did oppose his foe;

And with such sober and unnoted passion

He did behave his anger, ere ’twas spent,

As if he had but proved an argument.

FIRST SENATOR

You undergo too strict a paradox,

Striving to make an ugly deed look fair.

Your words have took such pains as if they laboured

To bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling

Upon the head of valour—which indeed

Is valour misbegot, and came into the world

When sects and factions were newly born.

He’s truly valiant that can wisely suffer

The worst that man can breathe, and make his

wrongs his outsides

To wear them like his raiment carelessly,

And ne‘er prefer his injuries to his heart

To bring it into danger.

If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill,

What folly ’tis to hazard life for ill!

ALCIBIADES

My lord—

FIRST SENATOR You cannot make gross sins look clear.

To revenge is no valour, but to bear.

ALCIBIADES

My lords, then, under favour, pardon me

If I speak like a captain.

Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,

And not endure all threats, sleep upon‘t,

And let the foes quietly cut their throats

Without repugnancy? If there be

Such valour in the bearing, what make we

Abroad? Why then, women are more valiant

That stay at home if bearing carry it,

And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon

Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,

If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,

As you are great, be pitifully good.

Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?

To kill, I grant, is sin’s extremest gust,

But in defence, by mercy, ’tis most just.

To be in anger is impiety,

But who is man that is not angry?

Weigh but the crime with this.

SECOND SENATOR You breathe in vain.

ALCIBIADES In vain?

His service done at Lacedaemon and Byzantium

Were a sufficient briber for his life.

FIRST SENATOR

What’s that?

ALCIBIADES Why, I say, my lords, he’s done fair service,

And slain in fight many of your enemies.

How full of valour did he bear himself

In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!

SECOND SENATOR

He has made too much plenty with ‘em.

He’s a sworn rioter; he has a sin

That often drowns him and takes his valour prisoner.

If there were no foes, that were enough

To overcome him. In that beastly fury

He has been known to commit outrages

And cherish factions. ’Tis inferred to us

His days are foul and his drink dangerous.

FIRST SENATOR

He dies.

ALCIBIADES Hard fate! He might have died in war.

My lords, if not for any parts in him—

Though his right arm might purchase his own time

And be in debt to none—yet more to move you,

Take my deserts to his and join ’em both.

And for I know

Your reverend ages love security,

I’ll pawn my victories, all my honour to you

Upon his good returns.

If by this crime he owes the law his life,

Why, let the war receive’t in valiant gore,

For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

FIRST SENATOR

We are for law; he dies. Urge it no more,

On height of our displeasure. Friend or brother,

He forfeits his own blood that spills another.

ALCIBIADES

Must it be so? It must not be.

My lords, I do beseech you know me.

SECOND SENATOR How?

ALCIBIADES

Call me to your remembrances.

THIRD SENATOR What?

ALCIBIADES

I cannot think but your age has forgot me.

It could not else be I should prove so base

To sue and be denied such common grace.

My wounds ache at you.

FIRST SENATOR

Do you dare our anger?

’Tis in few words, but spacious in effect:

We banish thee for ever.

ALCIBIADES

Banish me?

Banish your dotage, banish usury

That makes the senate ugly.

FIRST SENATOR

If after two days’ shine

Athens contain thee, attend our weightier judgement;

And, not to swell your spirit, he shall be

Executed presently.

Exeunt Senators ⌈and attendants⌉

ALCIBIADES

Now the gods keep you old enough that you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!

I’m worse than mad. I have kept back their foes

While they have told their money and let out

Their coin upon large interest—I myself,

Rich only in large hurts. All those for this?

Is this the balsam that the usuring senate

Pours into captains’ wounds? Banishment!

It comes not ill; I hate not to be banished.

It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,

That I may strike at Athens. I’ll cheer up

My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.

’Tis honour with most lands to be at odds.

Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

Exit

3.7 Enter divers of Timon’s friends, ⌈amongst⌉ them Lucullus, Lucius, Sempronius, and other Lords and Senators,⌉ at several 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 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 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 provision was out.

FIRST LORD I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

SECOND LORD Every man hears so. What would he have borrowed of you?

FIRST LORD A thousand pieces.

SECOND LORD A thousand pieces?

FIRST LORD What of you?

SECOND LORD He sent to me, sir—

⌈Loud music.⌉ Enter Timon and attendants

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 your lordship.

TIMON (aside) Nor more willingly leaves winter, such summer birds are men.—Genttemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay. Feast your ears with the music a while, if they will fare so harshly o’th’ trumpets’ 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.

SECOND LORD My noble lord—

TIMON Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

⌈A table and stools are⌉ brought in

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.

TIMON Think not on’t, sir.

SECOND LORD If you had sent but two hours before—

TIMON Let it not cumber your better remembrance.—Come, bring in all together.

⌈Enter Servants with covered dishes⌉

SECOND LORD All covered dishes.

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?

FIRST and SECOND LORDS 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. 64

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 the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place. Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.

They sit

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts make yourselves praised; but reserve still to give, lest your 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 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 foes, O gods—the senators of Athens, together with the common tag 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 steaming water ⌈and stones⌉

SOME LORDS What does his lordship mean?

OTHER LORDS I know not.

TIMON

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 flattery,

Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces

Your reeking villainy.

⌈He throws water in their faces⌉

Live loathed 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, vapours, and minute-jacks!

Of man and beast the infinite malady

Crust you quite o’er.

⌈A Lord is going⌉

What, dost thou go?

Soft, take thy physic first. Thou too, and thou.

⌈He beats them⌉

Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.

Exeunt Lords, leaving caps and gowns

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 and other Lords

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 naught but humours 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 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.

Exeunt

4.1 Enter Timon

TIMON

Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall

That girdles in those wolves, dive in the earth,

And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!

Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,

Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench

And minister in their steads! To general filths

Convert o‘th’ instant, green virginity!

Do’t in your parents’ eyes. Bankrupts, hold fast!

Rather than render back, out with your knives,

And cut your trusters’ throats. Bound servants, steal!

Large-handed robbers your grave masters are,

And pill by law. Maid, to thy master’s bed!

Thy mistress is o’th’ brothel. Son of sixteen,

Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire;

With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,

Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,

Domestic awe, night rest, and neighbourhood,

Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades,

Degrees, observances, customs, and laws,

Decline to your confounding contraries,

And let confusion live! Plagues incident to men,

Your potent and infectious fevers heap

On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,

Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt

As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty,

Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,

That ‘gainst the stream of virtue they may strive

And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,

Sow all th’Athenian bosoms, and their crop

Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath,

That their society, as their friendship, may

Be merely poison!

⌈He tears off his clothes⌉

Nothing I’ll bear from thee

But nakedness, thou detestable town;

Take thou that too, with multiplying bans.

Timon will to the woods, where he shall find

Th‘unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.

The gods confound—hear me you good gods all—

Th’Athenians, both within and out that wall;

And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow

To the whole race of mankind, high and low.

Amen.

Exit

4.2 Enter Flavius, with two or three Servants

FIRST SERVANT

Hear you, master steward, where’s our master?

Are we undone, cast off, nothing remaining?

FLAVIUS

Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?

Let me be recorded: by the righteous gods,

I am as poor as you.

FIRST SERVANT Such a house broke,

So noble a master fall’n? All gone, and not

One friend to take his fortune by the arm

And go along with him?

SECOND SERVANT As we do turn our backs

From our companion thrown into his grave,

So his familiars to his buried fortunes

Slink all away, leave their false vows with him

Like empty purses picked; and his poor self,

A dedicated beggar to the air,

With his disease of all-shunned poverty,

Walks like contempt alone.

Enter other Servants

More of our fellows.

FLAVIUS

All broken implements of a ruined house.

THIRD SERVANT

Yet do our hearts wear Timon’s livery.

That see I by our faces. We are fellows still,

Serving alike in sorrow. Leaked is our barque,

And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck

Hearing the surges’ threat. We must all part

Into this sea of air.

FLAVIUS

Good fellows all,

The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you.

Wherever we shall meet, for Timon’s sake

Let’s yet be fellows. Let’s shake our heads and say,

As ‘twere a knell unto our master’s fortunes,

’We have seen better days.’

He gives them money

Let each take some.

Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more.

Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.

They embrace, and the Servants part several ways

O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!

Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,

Since riches point to misery and contempt?

Who would be so mocked with glory, or to live

But in a dream of friendship,

To have his pomp and all what state compounds

But only painted like his varnished friends?

Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,

Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood

When man’s worst sin is he does too much good!

Who then dares to be half so kind again?

For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.

My dearest lord, blessed to be most accursed,

Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes

Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!

He’s flung in rage from this ingrateful seat

Of monstrous friends;

Nor has he with him to supply his life,

Or that which can command it.

I’ll follow and enquire him out.

I’ll ever serve his mind with my best will.

Whilst I have gold I’ll be his steward still.

Exit