Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; tell me.


Once in a month recount what thou hast been,


Which thou forgetst. This damnd witch Sycorax,


For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible


Thou knowst, was banishd: for one thing she did


They would not take her life. Is not this true?


This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child


And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave,


As thou reportst thyself, wast then her servant;


And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate


Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee,


A dozen years; within which space she died


And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans


As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island--


Save for the son that she did litter here,


A freckled whelp hag-born--not honourd with


Whom now I keep in service. Thou best knowst


What torment I did find thee in; thy groans


Did make wolves howl and penetrate the breasts


When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape


If thou more murmurst, I will rend an oak


And peg thee in his knotty entrails till


What shall I do? say what; what shall I do?


Go make thyself like a nymph o the sea: be subject


To no sight but thine and mine, invisible


To every eyeball else. Go take this shape


And hither come int: go, hence with diligence!


Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well; Awake!


We cannot miss him: he does make our fire,


That profit us. What, ho! slave! Caliban!


Come forth, I say! theres other business for thee:


Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself


With ravens feather from unwholesome fen


Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye


For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps,


Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins


Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,


All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinchd


As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging


This islands mine, by Sycorax my mother,


Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first,


Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give me


Water with berries int, and teach me how


To name the bigger light, and how the less,


That burn by day and night: and then I loved thee


And showd thee all the qualities o the isle,


The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile:


Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you!


For I am all the subjects that you have,


Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me


In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me


Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee,


Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee


In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate


Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else


Which any print of goodness wilt not take,


Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,


Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour


One thing or other: when thou didst not, savage,


Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like


A thing most brutish, I endowd thy purposes


With words that made them known. But thy vile race,


Though thou didst learn, had that int which


Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou


You taught me language; and my profit ont


Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you


Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thourt best,


To answer other business. Shrugst thou, malice?


What I command, Ill rack thee with old cramps,


Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar


Re-enter ARIEL, invisible, playing and singing; FERDINAND following


Where should this music be? i the air or the earth?


It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon


Some god o the island. Sitting on a bank,


Weeping again the king my fathers wreck,


With its sweet air: thence I have followd it,


Or it hath drawn me rather. But tis gone.


Hark! now I hear them,--Ding-dong, bell.


The ditty does remember my drownd father.


This is no mortal business, nor no sound


That the earth owes. I hear it now above me.


The fringed curtains of thine eye advance


Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir,


It carries a brave form. But tis a spirit.


No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses


As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest


Was in the wreck; and, but hes something staind


With grief thats beautys canker, thou mightst call him


A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows


As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit! Ill free thee


On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe my prayer


May know if you remain upon this island;


And that you will some good instruction give


How I may bear me here: my prime request,


Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder!


I am the best of them that speak this speech,


What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?


A single thing, as I am now, that wonders


To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;


And that he does I weep: myself am Naples,


Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld


Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan


And his more braver daughter could control thee,


If now twere fit to dot. At the first sight


I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.


Is the third man that eer I saw, the first


That eer I sighd for: pity move my father


And your affection not gone forth, Ill make you


They are both in eithers powers; but this swift business


I must uneasy make, lest too light winning


That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp


The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself


Theres nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:


Speak not you for him; hes a traitor. Come;


Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be


The fresh-brook muscles, witherd roots and husks


My foot my tutor? Put thy sword up, traitor;


Who makest a show but darest not strike, thy conscience


Is so possessd with guilt: come from thy ward,


For I can here disarm thee with this stick


Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What!


Thou thinkst there is no more such shapes as he,


Having seen but him and Caliban: foolish wench!


Are then most humble; I have no ambition


My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.


My fathers loss, the weakness which I feel,


The wreck of all my friends, nor this mans threats,


To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,


Might I but through my prison once a day


Behold this maid: all corners else o the earth


Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted


Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others


Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause,


Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe


The masters of some merchant and the merchant


Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle,


I mean our preservation, few in millions


Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh


Look hes winding up the watch of his wit;


When every grief is entertaind thats offerd,


You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.


Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue!


Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible,--


It must needs be of subtle, tender and delicate


Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly delivered.


The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.


Here is everything advantageous to life.


How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green!


No; he doth but mistake the truth totally.


But the rarity of it is,--which is indeed almost


That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in


the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and


glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with


If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not


Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report


Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we


put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of


the kings fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.


Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.


Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to


Widow! a pox o that! How came that widow in?


What if he had said widower AEneas too? Good Lord,


Widow Dido said you? you make me study of that:


His word is more than the miraculous harp; he hath


What impossible matter will he make easy next?


I think he will carry this island home in his pocket


And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring


Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now


as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage


Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I


When I wore it at your daughters marriage?


You cram these words into mine ears against


The stomach of my sense. Would I had never


Married my daughter there! for, coming thence,


My son is lost and, in my rate, she too,


I neer again shall see her. O thou mine heir


Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish


And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,


Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted


The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head


Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oard


Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke


To the shore, that oer his wave-worn basis bowd,


Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,


That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,


Where she at least is banishd from your eye,


You were kneeld to and importuned otherwise


Weighd between loathness and obedience, at


Which end o the beam should bow. We have lost your


More widows in them of this business making


The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness


And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,


Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,--


I the commonwealth I would by contraries


Execute all things; for no kind of traffic


Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,


And use of service, none; contract, succession,


Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;


The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the


All things in common nature should produce


Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,


Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,


Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,


Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,


I would with such perfection govern, sir,


Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.


did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen,


who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that


Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing


to you: so you may continue and laugh at


You are gentlemen of brave metal; you would lift


the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue


Enter ARIEL, invisible, playing solemn music


All sleep except ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO


What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes


Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find


Will guard your person while you take your rest,


What a strange drowsiness possesses them!


Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not


They droppd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,


Worthy Sebastian? O, what might?--No more:--


What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and


It is a sleepy language and thou speakst


Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?


With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,


Thou letst thy fortune sleep--die, rather; winkst


If you but knew how you the purpose cherish


Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,


The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim


Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,


When he is earthd, hath here almost persuade,--


Professes to persuade,--the king his sons alive,


What great hope have you! no hope that way is


But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me


She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells


Ten leagues beyond mans life; she that from Naples


Can have no note, unless the sun were post--


The man i the moons too slow--till new-born chins


Be rough and razorable; she that--from whom?


We all were sea-swallowd, though some cast again,


Whereof whats past is prologue, what to come


Tis true, my brothers daughters queen of Tunis;


So is she heir of Naples; twixt which regions


Seems to cry out, How shall that Claribel


Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,


And let Sebastian wake. Say, this were death


That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse


Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples


As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate


A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore


The mind that I do! what a sleep were this


For your advancement! Do you understand me?


And look how well my garments sit upon me;


Much feater than before: my brothers servants


Were then my fellows; now they are my men.


Ay, sir; where lies that? if twere a kibe,


Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not


This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,


That stand twixt me and Milan, candied be they


And melt ere they molest! Here lies your brother,


If he were that which now hes like, thats dead;


Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,


Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus,


This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who


Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,


Theyll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;


Theyll tell the clock to any business that


Shall be my precedent; as thou gotst Milan,


Ill come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke


Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;


And when I rear my hand, do you the like,


My master through his art foresees the danger


That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth--


For else his project dies--to keep them living.


Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are you drawn?


Whiles we stood here securing your repose,


Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing


Like bulls, or rather lions: didt not wake you?


To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar


Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,


And that a strange one too, which did awake me:


I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes opend,


I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,


Thats verily. Tis best we stand upon our guard,


Or that we quit this place; lets draw our weapons.


Lead off this ground; and lets make further search


Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:


Enter CALIBAN with a burden of wood. A noise of thunder heard


All the infections that the sun sucks up


From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him


By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me


And yet I needs must curse. But theyll nor pinch,


Fright me with urchin--shows, pitch me i the mire,


Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark


Sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me


And after bite me, then like hedgehogs which


Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount


Their pricks at my footfall; sometime am I


All wound with adders who with cloven tongues


Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me


For bringing wood in slowly. Ill fall flat;


Heres neither bush nor shrub, to bear off


any weather at all, and another storm brewing;


I hear it sing i the wind: yond same black


bombard that would shed his liquor. If it


should thunder as it did before, I know not


where to hide my head: yond same cloud cannot


choose but fall by pailfuls. What have we


here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish:


he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish-


like smell; a kind of not of the newest Poor-


John. A strange fish! Were I in England now,


as once I was, and had but this fish painted,


not a holiday fool there but would give a piece


of silver: there would this monster make a


man; any strange beast there makes a man:


when they will not give a doit to relieve a lame


beggar, they will lazy out ten to see a dead


Indian. Legged like a man and his fins like


arms! Warm o my troth! I do now let loose


my opinion; hold it no longer: this is no fish,


but an islander, that hath lately suffered by a


Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to


creep under his gaberdine; there is no other


shelter hereabouts: misery acquaints a man with


strange bed-fellows. I will here shroud till the


Enter STEPHANO, singing: a bottle in his hand


This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a mans


The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I,


She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch,


Yet a tailor might scratch her whereer she did itch:


This is a scurvy tune too: but heres my comfort.


Whats the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put


tricks upons with savages and men of Ind, ha? I


have not scaped drowning to be afeard now of your


four legs; for it hath been said, As proper a man as


ever went on four legs cannot make him give ground;


and it shall be said so again while Stephano


This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who


hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil


should he learn our language? I will give him some


relief, if it be but for that. if I can recover him


and keep him tame and get to Naples with him, hes a


present for any emperor that ever trod on neats leather.


Do not torment me, prithee; Ill bring my wood home faster.


Hes in his fit now and does not talk after the


wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have


never drunk wine afore will go near to remove his


fit. If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will


not take too much for him; he shall pay for him that


Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon, I


know it by thy trembling: now Prosper works upon thee.


Come on your ways; open your mouth; here is that


which will give language to you, cat: open your


mouth; this will shake your shaking, I can tell you,


and that soundly: you cannot tell whos your friend:


I should know that voice: it should be--but he is


drowned; and these are devils: O defend me!


Four legs and two voices: a most delicate monster!


His forward voice now is to speak well of his


friend; his backward voice is to utter foul speeches


and to detract. If all the wine in my bottle will


recover him, I will help his ague. Come. Amen! I


Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy! This is


a devil, and no monster: I will leave him; I have no


Stephano! If thou beest Stephano, touch me and


speak to me: for I am Trinculo--be not afeard--thy


If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: Ill pull thee


by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculos legs,


these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How


camest thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? can


I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke. But


art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now thou art


not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me


under the dead moon-calfs gaberdine for fear of


the storm. And art thou living, Stephano? O


Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant.


[Aside]  These be fine things, an if they be


Thats a brave god and bears celestial liquor.


How didst thou scape? How camest thou hither?


swear by this bottle how thou camest hither. I


escaped upon a butt of sack which the sailors


heaved oerboard, by this bottle; which I made of


the bark of a tree with mine own hands since I was


Ill swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject;


Swum ashore. man, like a duck: I can swim like a


Here, kiss the book. Though thou canst swim like a


The whole butt, man: my cellar is in a rock by the


sea-side where my wine is hid. How now, moon-calf!


Out o the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i


I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee:


My mistress showd me thee and thy dog and thy bush.


Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish


By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!


I afeard of him! A very weak monster! The man i


the moon! A most poor credulous monster! Well


Ill show thee every fertile inch o th island;


And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.


By this light, a most perfidious and drunken


monster! when s gods asleep, hell rob his bottle.


Ill kiss thy foot; Ill swear myself thy subject.


I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed


monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my


But that the poor monsters in drink: an abominable monster!


Ill show thee the best springs; Ill pluck thee berries;


Ill fish for thee and get thee wood enough.


Ill bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,


A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a


I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;


And I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts;


Show thee a jays nest and instruct thee how


To snare the nimble marmoset; Ill bring thee


To clustering filberts and sometimes Ill get thee


Young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?


I prithee now, lead the way without any more


talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company


else being drowned, we will inherit here: here;


bear my bottle: fellow Trinculo, well fill him by


Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! freedom,


There be some sports are painful, and their labour


Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness


Are nobly undergone and most poor matters


The mistress which I serve quickens whats dead


And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is


Ten times more gentle than her fathers crabbed,


And hes composed of harshness. I must remove


Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,


Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress


Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness


But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,


Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen


Work not so hard: I would the lightning had


Burnt up those logs that you are enjoind to pile!


Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,


Twill weep for having wearied you. My father


Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;


The sun will set before I shall discharge


Ill bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;


I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,


As well as it does you: and I should do it


With much more ease; for my good will is to it,


No, noble mistress;tis fresh morning with me


When you are by at night. I do beseech you--


Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers--


Whats dearest to the world! Full many a lady


I have eyed with best regard and many a time


The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage


Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues


With so fun soul, but some defect in her


Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed


Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen


More that I may call men than you, good friend,


And my dear father: how features are abroad,


Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle


Something too wildly and my fathers precepts


I would, not so!--and would no more endure


The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:


My heart fly to your service; there resides,


To make me slave to it; and for your sake


O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound


And crown what I profess with kind event


Beyond all limit of what else i the world


Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace


At mine unworthiness that dare not offer


What I desire to give, and much less take


What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;


And all the more it seeks to hide itself,


The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!


And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!


If not, Ill die your maid: to be your fellow


You may deny me; but Ill be your servant,


As bondage eer of freedom: heres my hand.


And mine, with my heart int; and now farewell


Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing


Tell not me; when the butt is out, we will drink


water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and


Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They


say theres but five upon this isle: we are three


of them; if th other two be brained like us, the


Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes


Where should they be set else? he were a brave


monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.


My man-monster hath drownd his tongue in sack:


for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I


could recover the shore, five and thirty leagues off


and on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant,


Your lieutenant, if you list; hes no standard.


Nor go neither; but youll lie like dogs and yet say


Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a


How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe.


Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to


justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish thou,


was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much


sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie,


being but half a fish and half a monster?


Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?


Lord quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!


Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.


Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you


prove a mutineer,--the next tree! The poor monsters


my subject and he shall not suffer indignity.


I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to


hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?


Marry, will Ikneel and repeat it; I will stand,


As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a


sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.


Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my


valiant master would destroy thee! I do not lie.


Trinculo, if you trouble him any more ins tale, by


this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.


From me he got it. if thy greatness will


Revenge it on him,--for I know thou darest,


Thou shalt be lord of it and Ill serve thee.


Yea, yea, my lord: Ill yield him thee asleep,


Where thou mayst knock a nail into his bead.


What a pied ninnys this! Thou scurvy patch!


I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows


And take his bottle from him: when thats gone


He shall drink nought but brine; for Ill not show him


interrupt the monster one word further, and,


by this hand, Ill turn my mercy out o doors


Why, what did I? I did nothing. Ill go farther


As you like this, give me the lie another time.


wits and bearing too? A pox o your bottle!


this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on


your monster, and the devil take your fingers!


Now, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther


Why, as I told thee, tis a custom with him,


I th afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him,


Having first seized his books, or with a log


Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,


Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember


First to possess his books; for without them


One spirit to command: they all do hate him


He has brave utensils,--for so he calls them--


Which when he has a house, hell deck withal


Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw a woman,


Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant.


Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I


will be king and queen--save our graces!--and


Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou


Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but,


while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.


Within this half hour will he be asleep:


Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure:


Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch


At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any


Ariel plays the tune on a tabour and pipe


This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture


If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness:


if thou beest a devil, taket as thou list.


He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us!


Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,


Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.


Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments


Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices


That, if I then had waked after long sleep,


Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,


The clouds methought would open and show riches


Ready to drop upon me that, when I waked,


This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall


That shall be by and by: I remember the story.


The sound is going away; lets follow it, and


Lead, monster; well follow. I would I could see


Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others


My old bones ache: heres a maze trod indeed


Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience,


To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest.


Even here I will put off my hope and keep it


No longer for my flatterer: he is drownd


Whom thus we stray to find, and the sea mocks


Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go.


[Aside to SEBASTIAN]  I am right glad that hes so


Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose


[Aside to SEBASTIAN]  Let it be to-night;


For, now they are oppressd with travel, they


Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance


[Aside to ANTONIO]  I say, to-night: no more.


What harmony is this? My good friends, hark!


Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several  strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet;  they dance about it with gentle actions of  salutation; and, inviting the King,  and c. to eat, they depart


Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these?


There is one tree, the phoenix throne, one phoenix


And what does else want credit, come to me,


And Ill be sworn tis true: travellers neer did


I should report this now, would they believe me?


For, certes, these are people of the island--


Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note,


Their manners are more gentle-kind than of


Thou hast said well; for some of you there present


Such shapes, such gesture and such sound, expressing,


Although they want the use of tongue, a kind


They have left their viands behind; for we have stomachs.


Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,


Who would believe that there were mountaineers


Dew-lappd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at em


Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men


Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find


Each putter-out of five for one will bring us


Although my last: no matter, since I feel


The best is past. Brother, my lord the duke,


Thunder and lightning. Enter ARIEL, like a  harpy; claps his wings upon the table; and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes


That hath to instrument this lower world


And what is int, the never-surfeited sea


Hath caused to belch up you; and on this island


Where man doth not inhabit; you mongst men


Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad;


And even with such-like valour men hang and drown


ALONSO, SEBASTIAN  and c. draw their swords


Of whom your swords are temperd, may as well


Wound the loud winds, or with bemockd-at stabs


Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish


One dowle thats in my plume: my fellow-ministers


Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt,


Your swords are now too massy for your strengths


And will not be uplifted. But remember--


For thats my business to you--that you three


Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it,


Him and his innocent child: for which foul deed


The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have


Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures,


Against your peace. Thee of thy son, Alonso,


They have bereft; and do pronounce by me:


Lingering perdition, worse than any death


Can be at once, shall step by step attend


You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from--


Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls


Upon your heads--is nothing but heart-sorrow


He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music  enter the Shapes again, and dance, with mocks and mows, and carrying out the table


Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou


Performd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring:


Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated


In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life


And observation strange, my meaner ministers


Their several kinds have done. My high charms work


In their distractions; they now are in my power;


And in these fits I leave them, while I visit


Young Ferdinand, whom they suppose is drownd,


I the name of something holy, sir, why stand you


Methought the billows spoke and told me of it;


The winds did sing it to me, and the thunder,


That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounced


The name of Prosper: it did bass my trespass.


Therefore my son i the ooze is bedded, and


Ill seek him deeper than eer plummet sounded


All three of them are desperate: their great guilt,


Like poison given to work a great time after,


Now gins to bite the spirits. I do beseech you


That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly


Have given you here a third of mine own life,


Or that for which I live; who once again


Hast strangely stood the test here, afore Heaven,


I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,


Do not smile at me that I boast her off,


For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise


Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition


Worthily purchased take my daughter: but


If thou dost break her virgin-knot before


No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall


To make this contract grow: but barren hate,


Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew


The union of your bed with weeds so loathly


That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed,


For quiet days, fair issue and long life,


With such love as tis now, the murkiest den,


The most opportune place, the strongst suggestion.


When I shall think: or Phoebus steeds are founderd,


Sit then and talk with her; she is thine own.


What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!


Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service


Did worthily perform; and I must use you


In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,


Oer whom I give thee power, here to this place:


Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple


Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise,


Dearly my delicate Ariel. Do not approach


Look thou be true; do not give dalliance


Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw


To the fire i the blood: be more abstemious,


The white cold virgin snow upon my heart


Rather than want a spirit: appear and pertly!


Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas


Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and pease;


Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,


And flat meads thatchd with stover, them to keep;


Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,


To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom -groves,


Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,


Being lass-lorn: thy pole-clipt vineyard;


And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,


Where thou thyself dost air;--the queen o the sky,


Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,


Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,


To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain:


Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers


Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers,


And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown


Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen


Summond me hither, to this short-grassd green?


Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot


The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,


Cutting the clouds towards Paphos and her son


Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done


Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,


Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid


Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,


Swears he will shoot no more but play with sparrows


Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.


How does my bounteous sister? Go with me


To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be


I have from their confines calld to enact


Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment


Theres something else to do: hush, and be mute,


You nymphs, calld Naiads, of the windring brooks,


With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks,


Leave your crisp channels and on this green land


Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate


A contract of true love; be not too late.


You sunburnt sicklemen, of August weary,


Come hither from the furrow and be merry:


Make holiday; your rye-straw hats put on


And these fresh nymphs encounter every one


Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they  join with the Nymphs in a graceful dance;  towards the end whereof PROSPERO starts  suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a  strange, hollow, and confused noise, they heavily vanish


[Aside]  I had forgot that foul conspiracy


Of the beast Caliban and his confederates


Against my life: the minute of their plot


This is strange: your fathers in some passion


Saw I him touchd with anger so distemperd.


As if you were dismayd: be cheerful, sir.


Our revels now are ended. These our actors,


And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,


The cloud-cappd towers, the gorgeous palaces,


The solemn temples, the great globe itself,


And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,


Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff


As dreams are made on, and our little life


Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexd;


Bear with my weakness; my, brain is troubled:


And there repose: a turn or two Ill walk,


Come with a thought I thank thee, Ariel: come.


Thy thoughts I cleave to. Whats thy pleasure?


Ay, my commander: when I presented Ceres,


I thought to have told thee of it, but I feard


Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?


I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking;


So fun of valour that they smote the air


For breathing in their faces; beat the ground


For kissing of their feet; yet always bending


Towards their project. Then I beat my tabour;


At which, like unbackd colts, they prickd


Advanced their eyelids, lifted up their noses


As they smelt music: so I charmd their ears


That calf-like they my lowing followd through


Toothd briers, sharp furzes, pricking goss and thorns,


Which entered their frail shins: at last I left them


I the filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell,


There dancing up to the chins, that the foul lake


The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither,


Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,


Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost;


So his mind cankers. I will plague them all,


Re-enter ARIEL, loaden with glistering apparel,  and c


PROSPERO and ARIEL remain invisible. Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet


Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not


Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell.


a harmless fairy, has done little better than


So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take


Be patient, for the prize Ill bring thee to


Shall hoodwink this mischance: therefore speak softly.


Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,--


There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that,


Thats more to me than my wetting: yet this is your


I will fetch off my bottle, though I be oer ears


Prithee, my king, be quiet. Seest thou here,


This is the mouth o the cell: no noise, and enter.


Do that good mischief which may make this island


Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody thoughts.


O king Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano! look


Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.


O, ho, monster! we know what belongs to a frippery.


Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, Ill have


The dropsy drown this fool I what do you mean


To dote thus on such luggage? Lets alone


From toe to crown hell fill our skins with pinches,


is not this my jerkin? Now is the jerkin under


the line: now, jerkin, you are like to lose your


Do, do: we steal by line and level, ant like your grace.


I thank thee for that jest; heres a garment fort:


wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this


country. Steal by line and level is an excellent


pass of pate; theres another garment fort.


Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and


I will have none ont: we shall lose our time,


And all be turnd to barnacles, or to apes


Monster, lay-to your fingers: help to bear this


away where my hogshead of wine is, or Ill turn you


A noise of hunters heard. Enter divers Spirits,  in shape of dogs and hounds, and hunt them about, PROSPERO and ARIEL setting them on


Fury, Fury! there, Tyrant, there! hark! hark!


CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, are driven out


Go charge my goblins that they grind their joints


With dry convulsions, shorten up their sinews


With aged cramps, and more pinch-spotted make them


Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour


Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou


Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little


Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes, and ARIEL


My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time


Goes upright with his carriage. Hows the day?


On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord,


When first I raised the tempest. Say, my spirit,


In the same fashion as you gave in charge,


Just as you left them; all prisoners, sir,


In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell;


They cannot budge till your release. The king,


His brother and yours, abide all three distracted


Brimful of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly


Him that you termd, sir, The good old lord Gonzalo;


His tears run down his beard, like winters drops


From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works em


That if you now beheld them, your affections


Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling


Of their afflictions, and shall not myself,


One of their kind, that relish all as sharply,


Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art?


Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick,


Yet with my nobler reason gaitist my fury


In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,


The sole drift of my purpose doth extend


Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel:


My charms Ill break, their senses Ill restore,


Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves,


And ye that on the sands with printless foot


Do chase the ebbing Neptune and do fly him


When he comes back; you demi-puppets that


By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,


Whereof the ewe not bites, and you whose pastime


Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice


To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid,


Weak masters though ye be, I have bedimmd


The noontide sun, calld forth the mutinous winds,


And twixt the green sea and the azured vault


Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder


Have I given fire and rifted Joves stout oak


With his own bolt; the strong-based promontory


Have I made shake and by the spurs pluckd up


The pine and cedar: graves at my command


Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let em forth


By my so potent art. But this rough magic


I here abjure, and, when I have required


Some heavenly music, which even now I do,


This airy charm is for, Ill break my staff,


Re-enter ARIEL before: then ALONSO, with a  frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO;  SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner,  attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO   they all  enter the circle which PROSPERO had made,  and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO observing, speaks:


Now useless, boild within thy skull! There stand,


Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine,


Fall fellowly drops. The charm dissolves apace,


And as the morning steals upon the night,


Melting the darkness, so their rising senses


Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle


To him you followst! I will pay thy graces


Home both in word and deed. Most cruelly


Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:


Thou art pinchd fort now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood,


You, brother mine, that entertaind ambition,


Expelld remorse and nature; who, with Sebastian,


Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong,


Would here have killd your king; I do forgive thee,


Unnatural though thou art. Their understanding


Begins to swell, and the approaching tide


That now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them


That yet looks on me, or would know me Ariel,


As I was sometime Milan: quickly, spirit;


Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.


Why, thats my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee:


But yet thou shalt have freedom: so, so, so.


To the kings ship, invisible as thou art:


There shalt thou find the mariners asleep


Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain


Being awake, enforce them to this place,


All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement


Inhabits here: some heavenly power guide us


Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;


As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse


Beats as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,


The affliction of my mind amends, with which,


I fear, a madness held me: this must crave,


An if this be at all, a most strange story.


Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero


Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot


Some subtilties o the isle, that will not let you


Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all!


But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded,


I here could pluck his highness frown upon you


For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother


Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive


Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require


My dukedom of thee, which perforce, I know,


Give us particulars of thy preservation;


How thou hast met us here, who three hours since


Were wreckd upon this shore; where I have lost--


How sharp the point of this remembrance is!--


You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace


For the like loss I have her sovereign aid


As great to me as late; and, supportable


To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker


O heavens, that they were living both in Naples,


The king and queen there! that they were, I wish


Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?


In this last tempest. I perceive these lords


That they devour their reason and scarce think


Their eyes do offices of truth, their words


Are natural breath: but, howsoeer you have


Been justled from your senses, know for certain


Which was thrust forth of Milan, who most strangely


Upon this shore, where you were wreckd, was landed,


To be the lord ont. No more yet of this;


Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;


This cells my court: here have I few attendants


And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.


My dukedom since you have given me again,


I will requite you with as good a thing;


At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye


Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess


Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,


Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;


How many goodly creatures are there here!


How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,


What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?


Your eldst acquaintance cannot be three hours:


I chose her when I could not ask my father


For his advice, nor thought I had one. She


Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,


Received a second life; and second father


Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you god,


And on this couple drop a blessed crown!


For it is you that have chalkd forth the way


Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue


Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice


With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage


And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife


Where he himself was lost, Prospero his dukedom


[To FERDINAND and MIRANDA]  Give me your hands:


Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart


Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following


O, look, sir, look, sir! here is more of us:


I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,


This fellow could not drown. Now, blasphemy,


That swearst grace oerboard, not an oath on shore?


Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?


The best news is, that we have safely found


Our king and company; the next, our ship--


Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split--


Is tight and yare and bravely riggd as when


[Aside to PROSPERO]  Sir, all this service


These are not natural events; they strengthen


From strange to stranger. Say, how came you hither?


Ild strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,


And--how we know not--all clappd under hatches;


Where but even now with strange and several noises


Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,


And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,


We were awaked; straightway, at liberty;


Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld


Our royal, good and gallant ship, our master


Capering to eye her: on a trice, so please you,


Even in a dream, were we divided from them


[Aside to PROSPERO]          Wast well done?


[Aside to ARIEL]  Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt be free.


This is as strange a maze as eer men trod


And there is in this business more than nature


The strangeness of this business; at pickd leisure


Which shall be shortly, single Ill resolve you,


Which to you shall seem probable, of every


These happend accidents; till when, be cheerful


Some few odd lads that you remember not.


Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel


let no man take care for himself; for all is


but fortune. Coragio, bully-monster, coragio!


If these be true spies which I wear in my head,


O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!


Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.


Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,


Then say if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,


His mother was a witch, and one so strong


That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,


And deal in her command without her power.


These three have robbd me; and this demi-devil--


For hes a bastard one--had plotted with them


To take my life. Two of these fellows you


Must know and own; this thing of darkness!


Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?


And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they


Find this grand liquor that hath gilded em?


saw you last that, I fear me, will never out of


O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.


This is a strange thing as eer I lookd on.


As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;


Take with you your companions; as you look


Ay, that I will; and Ill be wise hereafter


And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass


Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.


Sir, I invite your highness and your train


To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest


For this one night; which, part of it, Ill waste


With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it


Since I came to this isle: and in the morn


Ill bring you to your ship and so to Naples,


To hear the story of your life, which must


And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales


And sail so expeditious that shall catch


That is thy charge: then to the elements


Be free, and fare thou well! Please you, draw near.


SCENE I. Athens. A hall in Timons house.


Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and others, at several doors


I have not seen you long: how goes the world?


But what particular rarity? what strange,


Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power


Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.


A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,


To an untirable and continuate goodness:


O, pray, lets seet: for the Lord Timon, sir?


Jeweller:If he will touch the estimate: but, for that--


[Reciting to himself]  When we for recompense have


You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication


From whence tis nourishd: the fire i the flint


Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame


Provokes itself and like the current flies


Each bound it chafes. What have you there?


A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?


So tis: this comes off well and excellent.


Speaks his own standing! what a mental power


This eye shoots forth! how big imagination


Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture


Lives in these touches, livelier than life.


You see this confluence, this great flood


I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,


Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug


With amplest entertainment: my free drift


Halts not particularly, but moves itself


But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,


You see how all conditions, how all minds,


As well of glib and slippery creatures as


Of grave and austere quality, tender down


Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune


Upon his good and gracious nature hanging


Subdues and properties to his love and tendance


All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced flatterer


To Apemantus, that few things loves better


Than to abhor himself: even he drops down


The knee before him, and returns in peace


Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill


Feignd Fortune to be throned: the base o the mount


Is rankd with all deserts, all kind of natures,


To propagate their states: amongst them all,


Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixd,


One do I personate of Lord Timons frame,


Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;


Whose present grace to present slaves and servants


This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,


With one man beckond from the rest below,


Bowing his head against the sleepy mount


To climb his happiness, would be well expressd


All those which were his fellows but of late,


Some better than his value, on the moment


Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,


Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,


Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him


When Fortune in her shift and change of mood


Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants


Which labourd after him to the mountains top


Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,


Not one accompanying his declining foot.


That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortunes


More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well


To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen


Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, addressing himself  courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from  VENTIDIUS talking with him; LUCILIUS and other servants following


Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt,


His means most short, his creditors most strait:


To those have shut him up; which failing,


My friend when he must need me. I do know him


Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;


And being enfranchised, bid him come to me.


But to support him after. Fare you well.


Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.


This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,


That from my first have been inclined to thrift;


And my estate deserves an heir more raised


The maid is fair, o the youngest for a bride,


In qualities of the best. This man of thine


Attempts her love: I prithee, noble lord,


Our own precedent passions do instruct us


[To LUCILIUS]           Love you the maid?


Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.


If in her marriage my consent be missing,


I call the gods to witness, I will choose


Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,


Three talents on the present; in future, all.


This gentleman of mine hath served me long:


To build his fortune I will strain a little,


For tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:


What you bestow, in him Ill counterpoise,


Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.


My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.


The state or fortune fall into my keeping,


Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!


I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:


Go not away. What have you there, my friend?


or since dishonour traffics with mans nature,


He is but outside: these pencilld figures are


Even such as they give out. I like your work;


And you shall find I like it: wait attendance


Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;


We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel


If I should pay you fort as tis extolld,


As those which sell would give: but you well know,


Things of like value differing in the owners


Are prized by their masters: believet, dear lord,


No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,


Jeweller: Well bear, with your lordship.


Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;


When thou art Timons dog, and these knaves honest.


Why dost thou call them knaves? thou knowst them not.


Thou knowst I do: I calld thee by thy name.


Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.


To knock out an honest Athenians brains.


Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.


How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?


He wrought better that made the painter; and yet


Thy mothers of my generation: whats she, if I be a dog?


An thou shouldst, thou ldst anger ladies.


O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.


So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.


How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?


Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a


Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou


Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy


labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o


the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!


Een as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.


Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!


Traffics thy god; and thy god confound thee!


Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.


You must needs dine with me: go not you hence


Till I have thankd you: when dinners done,


Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.


Aches contract and starve your supple joints!


That there should be small love mongst these


And all this courtesy! The strain of mans bred out


Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed


Ere we depart, well share a bounteous time


In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.


The more accursed thou, that still omittst it.


Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.


Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.


Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to


No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy


Away, unpeaceable dog, or Ill spurn thee hence!


I will fly, like a dog, the heels o the ass.


Hes opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,


And taste Lord Timons bounty? he outgoes


He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,


Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays


Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?


SCENE II. A banqueting-room in Timons house.


Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet  served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter  TIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, Senators, and VENTIDIUS.  Then comes, dropping, after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself


It hath pleased the gods to remember my fathers age,


To your free heart, I do return those talents,


Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help


If our betters play at that game, we must not dare


To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.


They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON


To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,


Recanting goodness, sorry ere tis shown;


But where there is true friendship, there needs none.


Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes


Ho, ho, confessd it! hangd it, have you not?


I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.


Fie, thourt a churl; yeve got a humour there


Does not become a man: tis much to blame.


They say, my lords, ira furor brevis est; but yond


man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by


himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is


Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon: I come to


I take no heed of thee; thourt an Athenian,


therefore welcome: I myself would have no power;


I scorn thy meat; twould choke me, for I should


neer flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of


men eat Timon, and he sees em not! It grieves me


to see so many dip their meat in one mans blood;


and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.


I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:


Methinks they should invite them without knives;


Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.


Theres much example fort; the fellow that sits


next him now, parts bread with him, pledges the


breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest


man to kill him: t has been proved. If I were a


huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;


Lest they should spy my windpipes dangerous notes:


Great men should drink with harness on their throats.


My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.


Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keeps his tides


well. Those healths will make thee and thy state


look ill, Timon. Heres that which is too weak to


be a sinner, honest water, which neer left man i the mire:


This and my food are equals; theres no odds:


Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.


Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!


Captain Alcibiades, your hearts in the field now.


My heart is ever at your service, my lord.


You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a


So the were bleeding-new, my lord, theres no meat


like em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.


Would all those fatterers were thine enemies then,


that then thou mightst kill em and bid me to em!


Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you


would once use our hearts, whereby we might express


some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves


O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods


themselves have provided that I shall have much help


from you: how had you been my friends else? why


have you that charitable title from thousands, did


not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told


more of you to myself than you can with modesty


speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm


you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any


friends, if we should neer have need of em? they


were the most needless creatures living, should we


neer have use for em, and would most resemble


sweet instruments hung up in cases that keep their


sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished


myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We


are born to do benefits: and what better or


properer can we can our own than the riches of our


friends? O, what a precious comfort tis, to have


so many, like brothers, commanding one anothers


fortunes! O joy, een made away ere t can be born!


Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to


And at that instant like a babe sprung up.


Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.


I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.


There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which


bears that office, to signify their pleasures.


That of his bounties taste! The five best senses


Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely


To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th ear,


Taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tale rise;


They only now come but to feast thine eyes.


Theyre welcome all; let em have kind admittance:


You see, my lord, how ample youre beloved.


Music. Re-enter Cupid with a mask of Ladies  as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing


Hoy-day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way!


As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.


We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;


And spend our flatteries, to drink those men


Who lives thats not depraved or depraves?


Who dies, that bears not one spurn to their graves


I should fear those that dance before me now


Would one day stamp upon me: t has been done;


Men shut their doors against a setting sun.


The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of  TIMON; and to show their loves, each singles out an  Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease


You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,


Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,


Which was not half so beautiful and kind;


Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold


Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you:


Else I should tell him,--well, i faith I should,


When alls spent, he ld be crossd then, an he could.


That man might neer be wretched for his mind.


I have one word to say to you: look you, my good lord,


As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,


My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate


Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.


Near! why then, another time Ill hear thee:


I prithee, lets be provided to show them


Out of his free love, hath presented to you


Four milk-white horses, trappd in silver.


I shall accept them fairly; let the presents


gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company


to-morrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honour


Ill hunt with him; and let them be received,


[Aside]                What will this come to?


He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,


Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this,


Being of no power to make his wishes good:


That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes


For every word: he is so kind that he now


Pays interest for t; his lands put to their books.


Well, would I were gently put out of office


Happier is he that has no friend to feed


Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits:


With more than common thanks I will receive it.


Good words the other day of a bay courser


I rode on: it is yours, because you liked it.


O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.


You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man


Can justly praise but what he does affect:


I weigh my friends affection with mine own;


So kind to heart, tis not enough to give;


Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends,


Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich;


It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living


Is mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast


Honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!


Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!


I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums


That are given for em. Friendships full of dregs:


Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs,


Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on courtsies.


Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be


No, Ill nothing: for if I should be bribed too,


there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then


thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long,


Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in


paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps and


Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am


sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come


Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then:


And late, five thousand: to Varro and to Isidore


He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,


Which makes it five and twenty. Still in motion


Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.


If I want gold, steal but a beggars dog,


And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.


If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more


Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,


Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,


But rather one that smiles and still invites


All that pass by. It cannot hold: no reason


Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho!


Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon;


Importune him for my moneys; be not ceased


With slight denial, nor then silenced when--


Plays in the right hand, thus: but tell him,


Out of mine own; his days and times are past


Have smit my credit: I love and honour him,


But must not break my back to heal his finger;


Must not be tossd and turnd to me in words,


But find supply immediate. Get you gone:


When every feather sticks in his own wing,


Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.


I go, sir!--Take the bonds along with you,


SCENE II. The same. A hall in Timons house.


Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand


No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,


That he will neither know how to maintain it,


Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account


How things go from him, nor resumes no care


What shall be done? he will not hear, till feel:


I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.


Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of Isidore and Varro


Varros ServantIst not your business too?


Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords,  and c


So soon as dinners done, well forth again,


My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will?


My lord, here is a note of certain dues.


Please it your lordship, he hath put me off


To the succession of new days this month:


To call upon his own, and humbly prays you


That with your other noble parts youll suit


I prithee, but repair to me next morning.


Varros ServantOne Varros servant, my good lord,--


If you did know, my lord, my masters wants--


Varros ServantTwas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks And past.


Isidores Servant         Your steward puts me off, my lord;


And I am sent expressly to your lordship.


I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;


How goes the world, that I am thus encounterd


With clamourous demands of date-broke bonds,


And the detention of long-since-due debts,


The time is unagreeable to this business:


Your importunacy cease till after dinner,


Do so, my friends. See them well entertaind.


Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus:


Isidores ServantTheres the fool hangs on your back already.


No, thou standst single, thourt not on him yet.


He last asked the question. Poor rogues, and


usurers men! bawds between gold and want!


That you ask me what you are, and do not know


Gramercies, good fool: how does your mistress?


Shes een setting on water to scald such chickens


as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!


[To the Fool]  Why, how now, captain! what do you


in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?


Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer


Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of


these letters: I know not which is which.


There will little learning die then, that day thou


art hanged. This is to Lord Timon; this to


Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thout


Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish a


Een so thou outrunnest grace. Fool, I will go with


If Timon stay at home. You three serve three usurers?


So would I,--as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.


I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant: my


mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come


to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and


go away merry; but they enter my mistress house


merrily, and go away sadly: the reason of this?


Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster


and a knave; which not-withstanding, thou shalt be


Varros ServantWhat is a whoremaster, fool?


A fool in good clothes, and something like thee.


Tis a spirit: sometimet appears like a lord;


sometime like a lawyer; sometime like a philosopher,


with two stones moe thans artificial one: he is


very often like a knight; and, generally, in all


shapes that man goes up and down in from fourscore


Varros ServantThou art not altogether a fool.


Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as


That answer might have become Apemantus.


I do not always follow lover, elder brother and


Pray you, walk near: Ill speak with you anon.


You make me marvel: wherefore ere this time


Had you not fully laid my state before me,


Perchance some single vantages you took.


Laid them before you; you would throw them off,


And say, you found them in mine honesty.


When, for some trifling present, you have bid me


Return so much, I have shook my head and wept;


Yea, gainst the authority of manners, prayd you


To hold your hand more close: I did endure


Not seldom, nor no slight cheques, when I have


And your great flow of debts. My loved lord,


Though you hear now, too late--yet nows a time--


The greatest of your having lacks a half


Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone;


And what remains will hardly stop the mouth


Of present dues: the future comes apace:


What shall defend the interim? and at length


O my good lord, the world is but a word:


Were it all yours to give it in a breath,


If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,


And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,


With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept


With drunken spilth of wine, when every room


Hath blazed with lights and brayd with minstrelsy,


Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!


How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants


This night englutted! Who is not Timons?


What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is


Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon!


Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,


The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:


Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,


No villanous bounty yet hath passd my heart;


Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack,


To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;


If I would broach the vessels of my love,


And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,


Men and mens fortunes could I frankly use


And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crownd,


That I account them blessings; for by these


Shall I try friends: you shall perceive how you


Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.


Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants


I will dispatch you severally; you to Lord Lucius;


to Lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his honour


to-day: you, to Sempronius: commend me to their


loves, and, I am proud, say, that my occasions have


found time to use em toward a supply of money: let


Of whom, even to the states best health, I have


Deserved this hearing--bid em send o the instant


For that I knew it the most general way--


To them to use your signet and your name;


But they do shake their heads, and I am here


They answer, in a joint and corporate voice,


That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot


Do what they would; are sorry--you are honourable,--


But yet they could have wishd--they know not--


Something hath been amiss--a noble nature


May catch a wrench--would all were well--tis pity;--


And so, intending other serious matters,


After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,


With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods


Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows


Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:


Their blood is caked, tis cold, it seldom flows;


Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;


And nature, as it grows again toward earth,


Is fashiond for the journey, dull and heavy.


Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak.


Buried his father; by whose death hes steppd


I cleard him with five talents: greet him from me;


Touches his friend, which craves to be rememberd


To whom tis instant due. Neer speak, or think,


That Timons fortunes mong his friends can sink.


I would I could not think it: that thought is


Being free itself, it thinks all others so.


FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him


I have told my lord of you; he is coming down to you.


[Aside]  One of Lord Timons men? a gift, I


warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver


basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest


Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.


And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted


gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord


I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and


what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?


Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my


lords behalf, I come to entreat your honour to


supply; who, having great and instant occasion to


use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to


furnish him, nothing doubting your present


La, la, la, la! nothing doubting, says he? Alas,


good lord! a noble gentleman tis, if he would not


keep so good a house. Many a time and often I ha


dined with him, and told him ont, and come again to


supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less,


and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning


by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty


is his: I ha told him ont, but I could neer get


Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Heres to thee.


I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt


spirit--give thee thy due--and one that knows what


belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if


the time use thee well: good parts in thee.


Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lords a


bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou


knowest well enough, although thou comest to me,


that this is no time to lend money, especially upon


bare friendship, without security. Heres three


solidares for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say


Ist possible the world should so much differ,


And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,


Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.


May these add to the number that may scald thee!


Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!


Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,


It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,


Unto his honour, has my lords meat in him:


Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment,


And, when hes sick to death, let not that part of nature


To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!


Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and


We know him for no less, though we are but strangers


to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and


which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timons


happy hours are done and past, and his estate


Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.


But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago,


one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow


so many talents, nay, urged extremely fort and


showed what necessity belonged tot, and yet was denied.


What a strange case was that! now, before the gods,


I am ashamed ont. Denied that honourable man!


there was very little honour showed int. For my own


part, I must needs confess, I have received some


small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels


and such-like trifles, nothing comparing to his;


yet, had he mistook him and sent to me, I should


neer have denied his occasion so many talents.


I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,--


Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:


commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very


May it please your honour, my lord hath sent--


Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to


that lord; hes ever sending: how shall I thank


him, thinkest thou? And what has he sent now?


Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;


requesting your lordship to supply his instant use


I know his lordship is but merry with me;


He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.


But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.


I should not urge it half so faithfully.


What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself


against such a good time, when I might ha shown


myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I


should purchase the day before for a little part,


and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,


before the gods, I am not able to do,--the more


beast, I say:--I was sending to use Lord Timon


myself, these gentlemen can witness! but I would


not, for the wealth of Athens, I had donet now.


Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I


hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me,


because I have no power to be kind: and tell him


this from me, I count it one of my greatest


afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an


honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you


befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?


Ill look you out a good turn, Servilius.


True as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;


And he thats once denied will hardly speed.


Why, this is the worlds soul; and just of the


Is every flatterers spirit. Who can call him


His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in


My knowing, Timon has been this lords father,


Has paid his men their wages: he neer drinks,


And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man


When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!--


To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,


For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue


I would have put my wealth into donation,


And the best half should have returnd to him,


So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,


Men must learn now with pity to dispense;


Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of TIMONs


Must he needs trouble me in t,--hum!--bove


He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;


They have all been touchd and found base metal, for


It shows but little love or judgment in him:


Must I be his last refuge! His friends, like


Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me?


Has much disgraced me int; Im angry at him,


That might have known my place: I see no sense fort,


But his occasion might have wood me first;


For, in my conscience, I was the first man


And does he think so backwardly of me now,


To the rest, and mongst lords I be thought a fool.


Ild rather than the worth of thrice the sum,


Had sent to me first, but for my minds sake;


Id such a courage to do him good. But now return,


And with their faint reply this answer join;


Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.


Excellent! Your lordships a goodly villain. The


devil knew not what he did when he made man


politic; he crossed himself by t: and I cannot


think but, in the end, the villainies of man will


set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to


appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked,


like those that under hot ardent zeal would set


whole realms on fire: Of such a nature is his


This was my lords best hope; now all are fled,


Save only the gods: now his friends are dead,


Doors, that were neer acquainted with their wards


And this is all a liberal course allows;


Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.


SCENE IV. The same. A hall in Timons house.


Enter two Servants of Varro, and the Servant of  LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants of TIMONs creditors, waiting his coming out


Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.


One business does command us all; for mine Is money.


Lucilius Servant                  Welcome, good brother.


I wonder ont; he was wont to shine at seven.


Lucilius ServantAy, but the days are waxd shorter with him:


You must consider that a prodigal course


Is like the suns; but not, like his, recoverable.


I fear tis deepest winter in Lord Timons purse;


That is one may reach deep enough, and yet


Ill show you how to observe a strange event.


Lucilius ServantMark, how strange it shows,


Timon in this should pay more than he owes:


And een as if your lord should wear rich jewels,


Im weary of this charge, the gods can witness:


I know my lord hath spent of Timons wealth,


And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.


Yes, mines three thousand crowns: whats yours?


Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,


Lucilius ServantFlaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to


We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.


I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.


Lucilius ServantHa! is not that his steward muffled so?


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


If money were as certain as your waiting,


Why then preferrd you not your sums and bills,


When your false masters eat of my lords meat?


Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts


You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;


Believe t, my lord and I have made an end;


Lucilius ServantAy, but this answer will not serve.


If twill not serve,tis not so base as you;


How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?


No matter what; hes poor, and thats revenge


enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no


house to put his head in? such may rail against


O, heres Servilius; now we shall know some answer.


If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some


other hour, I should derive much fromt; for,


taket of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to


discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook him;


hes much out of health, and keeps his chamber.


Lucilius Servant: Many do keep their chambers are not sick:


Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,


[Within]  Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!


Enter TIMON, in a rage, FLAMINIUS following


What, are my doors opposed against my passage?


Have I been ever free, and must my house


The place which I have feasted, does it now,


Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?


Knock me down with em: cleave me to the girdle.


Lucilius ServantFive thousand crowns, my lord.


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


Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps


at their money: these debts may well be called


They have een put my breath from me, the slaves.


You only speak from your distracted soul;


There is not so much left, to furnish out


I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide


Of knaves once more; my cook and Ill provide.


SCENE V. The same. The senate-house. The Senate sitting.


My lord, you have my voice to it; the faults


Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!


It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy


Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood,


Hath steppd into the law, which is past depth


To those that, without heed, do plunge into t.


Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice--


An honour in him which buys out his fault--


He did behave his anger, ere twas spent,


Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:


Your words have took such pains as if they labourd


To bring manslaughter into form and set quarrelling


Is valour misbegot and came into the world


When sects and factions were newly born:


Hes truly valiant that can wisely suffer


The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs


His outsides, to wear them like his raiment,


And neer prefer his injuries to his heart,


My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,


Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,


And not endure all threats? sleep upont,


And let the foes quietly cut their throats,


Such valour in the bearing, what make we


Abroad? why then, women are more valiant


And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon


Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?


To kill, I grant, is sins extremest gust;


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


I say, my lords, he has done fair service,


And slain in fight many of your enemies:


In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!


Hes a sworn rioter: he has a sin that often


Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner:


And cherish factions: tis inferrd to us,


His days are foul and his drink dangerous.


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:


My honours 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.


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.


Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,


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:


Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;


If, after two days shine, Athens contain thee,


Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell


Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live


Only in bone, that none may look on you!


Im 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


It comes not ill; I hate not to be banishd;


It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,


That I may strike at Athens. Ill 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.


SCENE VI. The same. A banqueting-room in Timons house.


Music. Tables set out: Servants attending.  Enter divers Lords, Senators and others, at several doors


I also wish it to you. I think this honourable 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.


It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.


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


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


I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all


Every man heres so. What would he have borrowed of


With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how fare you?


Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.


The swallow follows not summer more willing than we


[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 the


trumpets sound; we shall to t presently.


I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship


My most honourable lord, I am een sick of shame,


that, when your lordship this other day sent to me,


Let it not cumber your better remembrance.


Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield


Ill tell you more anon. Heres a noble feast toward.


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:


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 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


The dishes are uncovered and seen to be full of warm water


You knot of mouth-friends I smoke and lukewarm water


Is your perfection. This is Timons last;


Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,


Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces


Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,


Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,


You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, times flies,


Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!


Crust you quite oer! 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,


Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be


Know you the quality of Lord Timons fury?


Hes but a mad lord, and nought but humour 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?


One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.


Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall,


That girdlest 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


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 masters bed;


Thy mistress is o the 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,


And let confusion live! Plagues, incident to men,


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 the Athenian bosoms; and their crop


Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath,


at their society, as their friendship, may


merely poison! Nothing Ill bear from thee,


Take thou that too, with multiplying bans!


Timon will to the woods; where he shall find


The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.


The gods confound--hear me, you good gods all--


The 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.


SCENE II. Athens. A room in Timons house.


Enter FLAVIUS, with two or three Servants


Hear you, master steward, wheres our master?


Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?


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


Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,


So noble a master falln! All gone! and not


One friend to take his fortune by the arm,


From our companion thrown into his grave,


Slink all away, leave their false vows with him,


Like empty purses pickd; and his poor self,


Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.


That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,


Serving alike in sorrow: leakd is our bark,


And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,


Hearing the surges threat: we must all part


The latest of my wealth Ill share amongst you.


Wherever we shall meet, for Timons sake,


Lets yet be fellows; lets shake our heads, and say,


As twere a knell unto our masters fortunes,


We have seen better days. Let each take some;


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


Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.


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 mockd with glory? or to live


To have his pomp and all what state compounds


But only painted, like his varnishd friends?


Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,


Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,


When mans 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, blessd, to be most accursed,


Rich, only to be wretched, thy great fortunes


Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord!


Hes 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.


Ill ever serve his mind with my best will;


Whilst I have gold, Ill be his steward still.


SCENE III. Woods and cave, near the seashore.


O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth


Infect the air! Twinnd brothers of one womb,


Whose procreation, residence, and birth,


Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes;


The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,


To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune,


Raise me this beggar, and deny t that lord;


The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,


It is the pasture lards the rothers sides,


The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares,


And say This mans a flatterer? if one be,


So are they all; for every grise of fortune


Is smoothd by that below: the learned pate


Ducks to the golden fool: all is oblique;


Theres nothing level in our cursed natures,


But direct villany. Therefore, be abhorrd


All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!


His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:


Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots!


Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate


With thy most operant poison! What is here?


Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods,


I am no idle votarist: roots, you clear heavens!


Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair,


Wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant.


Ha, you gods! why this? what this, you gods? Why, this


Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,


Pluck stout mens pillows from below their heads:


Will knit and break religions, bless the accursed,


Make the hoar leprosy adored, place thieves


And give them title, knee and approbation


She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores


Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices


To the April day again. Come, damned earth,


Thou common whore of mankind, that putst odds


Among the route of nations, I will make thee


But yet Ill bury thee: thoult go, strong thief,


When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand.


Enter ALCIBIADES, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; PHRYNIA and TIMANDRA


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


What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee,


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


But in thy fortunes am unlearnd and strange.


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


With mans blood paint the ground, gules, gules:


Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine


Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,


I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns


How came the noble Timon to this change?


As the moon does, by wanting light to give:


But then renew I could not, like the moon;


Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou


wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art


a man! if thou dost perform, confound thee, for


I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.


I see them now; then was a blessed time.


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


Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world


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-cheeked youth


Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits


I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,


In my penurious band: I have heard, and grieved,


How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,


Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,


But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them,--


I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone.


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


How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?


When I have laid proud Athens on a heap,--


The gods confound them all in thy conquest;


And thee after, when thou hast conquerd!


Put up thy gold: go on,--heres gold,--go on;


Will oer some high-viced city hang his poison


In the sick air: let not thy sword skip one:


Pity not honourd age for his white beard;


He is an usurer: strike me the counterfeit matron;


Herselfs a bawd: let not the virgins cheek


Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps,


That through the window-bars bore at mens eyes,


But set them down horrible traitors: spare not the babe,


Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;


Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut,


And mince it sans remorse: swear against objects;


Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes;


Whose proof, nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,


Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,


Shall pierce a jot. Theres gold to pay soldiers:


Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,


Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.


Hast thou gold yet? Ill take the gold thou


Dost thou, or dost thou not, heavens curse


Give us some gold, good Timon: hast thou more?


Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,


And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,


Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable,


Although, I know, you ll swear, terribly swear


Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues


The immortal gods that hear you,--spare your oaths,


Ill trust to your conditions: be whores still;


And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,


Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up;


Let your close fire predominate his smoke,


And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,


Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofs


With burthens of the dead;--some that were hangd,


No matter:--wear them, betray with them: whore still;


Paint till a horse may mire upon your face,


Believet, that well do any thing for gold.


In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,


And mar mens spurring. Crack the lawyers voice,


That he may never more false title plead,


Nor sound his quillets shrilly: hoar the flamen,


That scolds against the quality of flesh,


And not believes himself: down with the nose,


Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away


Smells from the general weal: make curld-pate


And let the unscarrd braggarts of the war