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Then let him know- and tell him Timon speaks it

In pity of our aged and our youth-

I cannot choose but tell him that I care not,

And let him take't at worst; for their knives care not,

While you have throats to answer. For myself,

There's not a whittle in th' unruly camp

But I do prize it at my love before

The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you

To the protection of the prosperous gods,

As thieves to keepers.

FLAVIUS.

Stay not, all's in vain.

TIMON.

Why, I was writing of my epitaph;

It will be seen to-morrow. My long sickness

Of health and living now begins to mend,

And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;

Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,

And last so long enough!

FIRST SENATOR.

We speak in vain.

TIMON.

But yet I love my country, and am not

One that rejoices in the common wreck,

As common bruit doth put it.

FIRST SENATOR.

That's well spoke.

TIMON.

Commend me to my loving countrymen-

FIRST SENATOR.

These words become your lips as they pass through them.

SECOND SENATOR.

And enter in our ears like great triumphers

In their applauding gates.

TIMON.

Commend me to them,

And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,

Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,

Their pangs of love, with other incident throes

That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain

In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them-

I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.

FIRST SENATOR.

I like this well; he will return again.

TIMON.

I have a tree, which grows here in my close,

That mine own use invites me to cut down,

And shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends,

Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree

From high to low throughout, that whoso please

To stop affliction, let him take his haste,

Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe,

And hang himself. I pray you do my greeting.

FLAVIUS.

Trouble him no further; thus you still shall find him.

TIMON.

Come not to me again; but say to Athens

Timon hath made his everlasting mansion

Upon the beached verge of the salt flood,

Who once a day with his embossed froth

The turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come,

And let my gravestone be your oracle.

Lips, let sour words go by and language end:

What is amiss, plague and infection mend!

Graves only be men's works and death their gain!

Sun, hide thy beams. Timon hath done his reign.

Exit TIMON into his cave

FIRST SENATOR.

His discontents are unremovably

Coupled to nature.

SECOND SENATOR.

Our hope in him is dead. Let us return

And strain what other means is left unto us

In our dear peril.

FIRST SENATOR.

It requires swift foot. Exeunt

SCENE II. Before the walls of Athens

Enter two other SENATORS with a MESSENGER

FIRST SENATOR.

Thou hast painfully discover'd; are his files

As full as thy report?

MESSENGER.

I have spoke the least.

Besides, his expedition promises

Present approach.

SECOND SENATOR.

We stand much hazard if they bring not Timon.

MESSENGER.

I met a courier, one mine ancient friend,

Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd,

Yet our old love had a particular force,

And made us speak like friends. This man was riding

From Alcibiades to Timon's cave

With letters of entreaty, which imported

His fellowship i' th' cause against your city,

In part for his sake mov'd.

Enter the other SENATORS, from TIMON

FIRST SENATOR.

Here come our brothers.

THIRD SENATOR.

No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.

The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring

Doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare.

Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes the snare. Exeunt

SCENE III. The TIMON's cave, and a rude tomb seen

Enter a SOLDIER in the woods, seeking TIMON

SOLDIER.

By all description this should be the place.

Who's here? Speak, ho! No answer? What is this?

Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span.

Some beast rear'd this; here does not live a man.

Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb

I cannot read; the character I'll take with wax.

Our captain