The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 637
of the pure wedding bed, you brave adulterer,
you always young, fresh, loved and delicate suitor,
whose blush could thaw the holy snow
that lies in Diana's lap! You material god,
that brings incompatible things together,
and makes them kiss! You govern all speech
and all purposes! Oh you ruler of hearts!
You can see your slave, man, is rebelling, you have
set all men against each other, so beasts
will rule the world!
APEMANTUS
Would 'twere so!
But not till I am dead. I'll say thou'st gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.
I wish it would happen!
But not in my lifetime. I'll say you have gold:
you will be mobbed shortly.
TIMON
Throng'd to!
Mobbed!
APEMANTUS
Ay.
Yes.
TIMON
Thy back, I prithee.
Let me see you going, please.
APEMANTUS
Live, and love thy misery.
Live, and enjoy your misery.
TIMON
Long live so, and so die. I am quit.
Exit APEMANTUS
Moe things like men! Eat, Timon, and abhor them.
Live a long miserable life, and then die. I'm finished.
More men coming! Eat, Timon, and shun them.
Enter Banditti
First Bandit
Where should he have this gold? It is some poor
fragment, some slender sort of his remainder: the
mere want of gold, and the falling-from of his
friends, drove him into this melancholy.
Where would he have got this gold from? It'll just be
some tiny bit left over from his fortune: it was
a lack of gold, and his friends abandoning
him, which drove him into this depression.
Second Bandit
It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.
It's rumoured he has a great treasure.
Third Bandit
Let us make the assay upon him: if he care not
for't, he will supply us easily; if he covetously
reserve it, how shall's get it?
Let's put him to the test: if he doesn't care
about it, he'll gladly give it to us; if he greedily
hoards it, how shall we get it?
Second Bandit
True; for he bears it not about him, 'tis hid.
That's true, for he is not carrying it with him, it's hidden.
First Bandit
Is not this he?
Isn't this him?
Banditti
Where?
Where?
Second Bandit
'Tis his description.
He looks like his description.
Third Bandit
He; I know him.
It's him; I recognise him.
Banditti
Save thee, Timon.
God save you, Timon.
TIMON
Now, thieves?
What's this, thieves?
Banditti
Soldiers, not thieves.
Soldiers, not thieves.
TIMON
Both too; and women's sons.
You are both; and sons of women.
Banditti
We are not thieves, but men that much do want.
We are not thieves, but very much in need.
TIMON
Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots;
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;
The oaks bear mast, the briers scarlet hips;
The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want! why want?
Your greatest need is, you want plenty of meat.
Why do you need it? Look, the Earth has roots;
there are a hundred streams within a mile of here;
the oaks have acorns, the brambles red fruit;
the generous housewife of nature has laid out
her great feast in front of you. Need! Why do you need?
First Bandit
We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts and birds and fishes.
We can't live on grass, berries and water,
like animals and birds and fish.
TIMON
Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and fishes;
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves profess'd, that you work not
In holier shapes: for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape,
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
Moe than you rob: take wealth and lives together.
Do villany, do, since you protest to do't,
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery.
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea: the moon's an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun:
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen
From general excrement: each thing's a thief:
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have uncheque'd theft. Love not yourselves: away,
Rob one another. There's more gold. Cut throats:
All that you meet are thieves: to Athens go,
Break open shops; nothing can you steal,
But thieves do lose it: steal no less for this
I give you; and gold confound you howsoe'er! Amen.
You can't live on the animals themselves, the birds and fish;
you have to eat men. But I must thank you for
admitting that you are thieves, that you don't pretend
to be something better: for there is limitless thievery
in business. Rascally thieves,
take this gold. Go, guzzle wine
until your blood starts to boil,
and so escape hanging. Don't trust the doctor;
his medicines are poison, and he kills
more people than you rob: he takes their money and their lives together.
Since villainy is your profession then do it
professionally. I'll justify your thievery for you;
the sun is a thief, with his great pull
he robs the vast sea: the moon is definitely a thief,
she steals her pale light from the Sun:
the sea is a thief, stealing the power of the moon
for its tides: the Earth is a thief,
feeding and breeding with a fertiliser stolen
from dung: everything is a thief:
the law, which constrains and whips you, has the power
for unrestrained theft. Don't respect yourselves: go,
and rob each other. Here's some more gold. Cut some throats:
everyone you meet is a thief: go to Athens,
break open the shops; there's nothing you can steal,
that you're not stealing from thieves: don't steal less
just because you have what I've given you; and may
gold lead you to damnation! Amen.
Third Bandit
Has almost charmed me from my profession, by
persuading me to it.
He's almost dissuaded me from thievery, by
encouraging me to do it.
First Bandit
'Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises
&nbs
p; us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.
He's talking to us like this out of hatred for mankind,
not because he wants us to do well in our profession.
Second Bandit
I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade.
I'll do the opposite of what my enemy says, and give up my profession.
First Bandit
Let us first see peace in Athens: there is no time
so miserable but a man may be true.
Let's wait until there is peace in Athens: we don't have to
hurry about reforming when there are better things to do.
Exeunt Banditti
Enter FLAVIUS
FLAVIUS
O you gods!
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd!
What an alteration of honour
Has desperate want made!
What viler thing upon the earth than friends
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
When man was wish'd to love his enemies!
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would mischief me than those that do!
Has caught me in his eye: I will present
My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord,
Still serve him with my life. My dearest master!
Oh you gods!
Is that despicable and ruined man my lord?
Full of decay and weakness? What an example
of good deeds done for the wrong people!
What a great change
desperate poverty has made!
What is there on earth more horrible than friends
who reduce the noblest minds to such a position!
How admirably it fits with the way of the world,
that a man's enemies are the ones he loved!
If I ever love let me love those
who want to harm me, rather than those who say they love me!
He has seen me: I will tell him
how sad I am; and, as he is my lord,
I will carry on serving him with my life. My dearest master!
TIMON
Away! what art thou?
Go away! Who are you?
FLAVIUS
Have you forgot me, sir?
Have you forgotten me, sir?
TIMON
Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men;
Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee.
Why are you asking that? I have forgotten all men;
so, if you say you are a man, I have forgotten you.
FLAVIUS
An honest poor servant of yours.
I am an honest poor servant of yours.
TIMON
Then I know thee not:
I never had honest man about me, I; all
I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains.
Then I don't know you:
I never had an honest man with me; all
my servants were knaves, used to bring in food for villains.
FLAVIUS
The gods are witness,
Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.
The gods are witnesses to the fact
that no poor steward was ever so sad
for his fallen master than I am for you.
TIMON
What, dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I
love thee,
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankind; whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping:
Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping!
What, are you weeping? Come closer. Then I
love you,
because you are a woman, and aren't part of
stony hearted mankind; their eyes never shed tears
except through lust and laughter. Pity is sleeping:
these are strange times, that weep with laughter, not with sorrow!
FLAVIUS
I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
To accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts
To entertain me as your steward still.
I beg you to recognise me, my good lord,
to accept my sorrow and let me be your steward
for as long as this poor wealth lasts.
TIMON
Had I a steward
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.
Let me behold thy face. Surely, this man
Was born of woman.
Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim
One honest man--mistake me not--but one;
No more, I pray,--and he's a steward.
How fain would I have hated all mankind!
And thou redeem'st thyself: but all, save thee,
I fell with curses.
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise;
For, by oppressing and betraying me,
Thou mightst have sooner got another service:
For many so arrive at second masters,
Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true--
For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure--
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
If not a usuring kindness, and, as rich men deal gifts,
Expecting in return twenty for one?
Did I have a steward
who was so true, so just, and is now so comforting?
This almost calms my anger.
Let me see your face. Surely, this is a man
born of a woman.
Forgive my indiscriminate anger,
you always sensible gods! I announce that there is
one honest man–don't misunderstand me–there's only one;
no more, I hope–and he's a steward.
How much I wanted to hate all mankind!
You have redeemed yourself, but I strike all the rest
with curses.
I think you've got more honesty than sense now;
for, by oppressing and betraying me,
you might soon have got another job:
so many get service with their second masters
by betraying their first lords. But tell me truthfully–
for I must always doubt, however sure I am–
isn't your kindness cunning, greedy,
the kindness of a moneylender, given as rich men give gifts,
expecting twenty in return for one?
FLAVIUS
No, my most worthy master; in whose breast
Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late:
You should have fear'd false times when you did feast:
Suspect still comes where an estate is least.
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,
Care of your food and living; and, believe it,
My most honour'd lord,
For any benefit that points to me,
Either in hope or present, I'ld exchange
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
To requite me, by making rich yourself.
No, my most worthy master; in whose heart
doubt and suspicion have, alas, come too late:
you should have feared betrayal when you were feasting:
men are always suspicious when they are lowest.
What I'm showing, heaven knows, is only love,
duty and loyalty to your noble mind,
taking care of your food and your needs; and believe me,
my most honoured lord,
if there were any benefits which I could get,
either now or in th
e future, I'd exchange them
for one wish, which would be that you had the power and wealth
to repay me, because you were rich yourself.
TIMON
Look thee, 'tis so! Thou singly honest man,
Here, take: the gods out of my misery
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy;
But thus condition'd: thou shalt build from men;
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none,
But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone,
Ere thou relieve the beggar; give to dogs
What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow 'em,
Debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like
blasted woods,
And may diseases lick up their false bloods!
And so farewell and thrive.
You see, it's so! You one honest man,
here, take this: through my misery the gods
have sent you treasure. Go, live a rich and happy life;
but on this condition: that you live away from men;
hate them all, curse them all, don't give any charity to anyone,
let the starving flesh fall off the bone
before you help the beggar; give dogs
things that you won't give to men; let the prisons swallow them,
debts starve them down to nothing; let them be like
dead woods,
and may diseases consume their false blood!
And so farewell, good luck.
FLAVIUS
O, let me stay,
And comfort you, my master.
O, let me stay,
and comfort you, my master.
TIMON
If thou hatest curses,
Stay not; fly, whilst thou art blest and free:
Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.