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The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare
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Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso
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36
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03_06
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1991-04-10
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184 lines
A Room in Timon's House.
Music. Tables set out.
Enter divers FRIENDS of Timon at several doors.
1st Friend The good time of day to you, sir.
2nd Friend I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord did but
try us this other day.
1st Friend 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.
2nd Friend It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.
1st Friend I should think so. He hath sent me an earnest inviting,
which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he
hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear.
2nd Friend In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business,
but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent
to borrow of me, that my provision was out.
1st Friend I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things
go.
2nd Friend Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you?
1st Friend A thousand pieces.
2nd Friend A thousand pieces!
1st Friend What of you?
2nd Friend He sent to me, sir - Here he comes.
Enter TIMON and ATTENDANTS.
Timon With all my heart, gentlemen both! And how fare you?
1st Friend Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.
2nd Friend The swallow follows not summer more willing than we your
lordship.
Timon [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter, such summer
birds are men. [Aloud.] Gentlemen, our dinner will not
recompense this long stay. Feast your ears with the music a
while, if they will fare so harshly o'th' trumpet's sound;
we shall to't presently.
1st Friend I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that I
returned you an empty messenger.
Timon O sir, let it not trouble you.
2nd Friend My noble lord-
Timon Ah, my good friend, what cheer?
2nd Friend My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame that when
your lordship this other day sent to me I was so
unfortunate a beggar.
Timon Think not on't, sir.
2nd Friend If you had sent but two hours before.
Timon Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
[The banquet brought in.
Come, bring in all together.
2nd Friend All covered dishes.
1st Friend Royal cheer, I warrant you.
3rd Friend Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it.
1st Friend How do you? What's the news?
3rd Friend Alcibiades is banished; hear you of it?
1st &
2nd Friends Alcibiades banished!
3rd Friend 'Tis so, be sure of it.
1st Friend How? How?
2nd Friend I pray you, upon what?
Timon My worthy friends, will you draw near?
3rd Friend I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.
2nd Friend This is the old man still.
3rd Friend Will't hold? Will't hold?
2nd Friend It does; but time will - and so-
3rd Friend I do conceive.
Timon Each man to his stool with that spur as he would to the lip
of his mistress. Your diet shall be in all places alike.
Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we
can agree upon the first place. Sit, sit. The gods require
our thanks.
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 leg of
people - what is amiss in them, you gods make suitable for
destruction. For these my present friends, as they are to
me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to nothing are
they welcome.
Uncover, dogs, and lap.
[The dishes are uncovered, and seen to be
full of warm water and stones.
Some Friends What does his lordship mean?
Other Friends I know not.
Timon May you a better feast never behold,
You knot of mouth-friends! Smoke and lukewarm water
Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
Who, stuck and spangled with your flatteries,
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces
Your reeking villainy.
[Throws the water in their faces.
Live loathed and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,
Cap-and-knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!
Of man and beast the infinite malady
Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?
[Throwing stones at them.
Soft, take thy physic first - thou too - and thou.
[Driving them out.
Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.
What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast
Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
Burn, house! Sink, Athens! Henceforth hated be
Of Timon man and all humanity!
[Exit.
Re-enter the FRIENDS.
1st Friend How now, my lords!
2nd Friend Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?
3rd Friend Push! - did you see my cap?
4th Friend I have lost my gown.
1st Friend He's but a mad lord, and nought but humours sways him. He
gave me a jewel th'other day, and now he has beat it out of
my hat. Did you see my jewel?
3rd Friend Did you see my cap?
2nd Friend Here 'tis.
4th Friend Here lies my gown.
1st Friend Let's make no stay.
2nd Friend Lord Timon's mad.
3rd Friend I feel't upon my bones.
4th Friend One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones.
[Exeunt.