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And give them title, knee, and approbation,

With senators on the bench. This is it

That makes the wappen'd widow wed again-

She whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores

Would cast the gorge at this embalms and spices

To th 'April day again. Come, damn'd earth,

Thou common whore of mankind, that puts odds

Among the rout of nations, I will make thee

Do thy right nature. [March afar off]

Ha! a drum? Th'art quick,

But yet I'll bury thee. Thou't go, strong thief,

When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand.

Nay, stay thou out for earnest. [Keeping some gold]

Enter ALCIBIADES, with drum and fife, in warlike

manner; and PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA

ALCIBIADES.

What art thou there? Speak.

TIMON.

A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart

For showing me again the eyes of man!

ALCIBIADES.

What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee

That art thyself a man?

TIMON.

I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind.

For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,

That I might love thee something.

ALCIBIADES.

I know thee well;

But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange.

TIMON.

I know thee too; and more than that I know thee

I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;

With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules.

Religious canons, civil laws, are cruel;

Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine

Hath in her more destruction than thy sword

For all her cherubin look.

PHRYNIA.

Thy lips rot off!

TIMON.

I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns

To thine own lips again.

ALCIBIADES.

How came the noble Timon to this change?

TIMON.

As the moon does, by wanting light to give.

But then renew I could not, like the moon;

There were no suns to borrow of.

ALCIBIADES.

Noble Timon,

What friendship may I do thee?

TIMON.

None, but to

Maintain my opinion.

ALCIBIADES.

What is it, Timon?

TIMON.

Promise me friendship, but perform none. If thou wilt not

promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art man! If thou dost

perform, confound thee, for thou art a man!

ALCIBIADES.

I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.

TIMON.

Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity.

ALCIBIADES.

I see them now; then was a blessed time.

TIMON.

As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.

TIMANDRA.

Is this th' Athenian minion whom the world

Voic'd so regardfully?

TIMON.

Art thou Timandra?

TIMANDRA.

Yes.

TIMON.

Be a whore still; they love thee not that use thee.

Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.

Make use of thy salt hours. Season the slaves

For tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheek'd youth

To the tub-fast and the diet.

TIMANDRA.

Hang thee, monster!

ALCIBIADES.

Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits

Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.

I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,

The want whereof doth daily make revolt

In my penurious band. I have heard, and griev'd,

How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,

Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,

But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them-

TIMON.

I prithee beat thy drum and get thee gone.

ALCIBIADES.

I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.

TIMON.

How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?

I had rather be alone.

ALCIBIADES.

Why, fare thee well;

Here is some gold for thee.

TIMON.

Keep it: I cannot eat it.

ALCIBIADES.

When I have laid proud Athens on a heap-

TIMON.

War'st thou 'gainst Athens?

ALCIBIADES.

Ay, Timon, and have cause.

TIMON.

The gods confound them all in thy conquest;

And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd!

ALCIBIADES.

Why me, Timon?

TIMON.

That by killing of villains

Thou wast born to conquer my country.

Put up thy gold. Go on. Here's gold. Go on.

Be as a planetary plague, when Jove

Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison

In the sick air; let not thy sword skip one.

Pity not honour'd age for his white beard:

He is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron:

It is her habit only that is honest,

Herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek

Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk paps