 | Timon of Athens |  |
SCENE changes to the Walls of Athens.
Enter two other Senators, with a Messenger.
1 Sen.
Thou hast painfully discover'd: are his files
As full as thy report?
Mes.
I have spoke the least,
Besides his expedition promises
Present approach.
2 Sen.
Enter the other Senators.
1 Sen.
Here come our brothers.
3 Sen.
No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect—
The enemies drum is heard, and fearful scowring
Doth choak the air with dust. In and prepare;
Our's is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare.
[Exeunt in the Gate.
Trumpet sound. Enter Alcibiades with his powers.
Alc.
Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach.
[Sound a parley. Senators appear upon the walls.
“Oh! have I rouz'd you?
“Your banish'd soldier is return'd, my Lords,
“And vengeance now must work.
1 Sen.
“Speak your desires.
Alc.
“Bring forth Evanthe, noble Timon's daughter,
“Set her before me. By the Gods, rash men,
“If ye have dar'd to touch her sacred life,
“I'll tread your cursed city into dust
“And bury you in the ruins.
2 Sen.
“Noble Sir,
“Here is the Lady ready to come forth;
“(Give her safe conduct there!) and we do hope
“She'll prove a gentle advocate with thee
“To stir thy noble heart unto forgiveness:”
We sent to thee to give thy rages balm
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above its quantity.
1 Sen.
So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love,
By humble message and by promis'd meads:
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.
3 Sen.
Set but thy foot
Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before
To say thou'lt enter friendly.
(Evanthe enters.)
Alc.
“Hah, she comes,—
“Hail, loveliest, dearest maid;
“Oh, grant thy soldier to repay his toils
“With this one fond embrace.
Evan.
“Thus, on my knees,
“I thank the Gods and thee, and thus beseech thee,
“O spare thy country, spare the reverend Senate,
“Spare this repentant city.” These our walls
Were not erected by their hands, from whom
We have received our griefs; nor are they such,
That these great tow'rs, trophies, and schools shou'd fall
For private faults in them.
Alc.
“Sweet pleader, rise!
“Hear ye this, Sirs?”
1 Sen.
March on, dear countryman,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle; like a shepherd
Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth,
But kill not all together.
2 Sen.
Throw thy glove,
Or any token of thine honour else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion; all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.
Alc.
Then there's my glove;
Descend and open your uncharged ports,
Those enemies of Timon, and mine own,
Whom ye yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more; and to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning, not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be remedied by public laws
At heaviest answer.
Both.
'Tis most nobly spoken.
Alc.
Descend, and keep your words.
Evan.
“—'Tis done! my country can demand no more;
“Now, nature, I am thine.
Alc.
“What means Evanthe?
Evan.
“I've sav'd a city; grant me now, kind Gods,
“To save a father. Give me instant convoy
“To the lone wilds where wretched Timon haunts,
“And with the howling savages consorts
“The exile of mankind.
Alc.
“See, where the senate
“Expect us at their gates: enter with me,
“And all due terms of reconcilement ended,
“Myself will be your guide.
Evan.
“Forbid it, Heaven!
“Too much already have I given to Athens:
“My heart is gone before to Timon's cave;
“And I must follow it.
Alc.
“Yet e're we part,
“The hope, to which your looks, your words, gave life,
“Bid it grow up and multiply within me:
“Oh, take from piety a moment's truce,
“And once again with soft consenting smiles
“Tell me Evanthe will be only mine.
Evan.
“O covetous in love; possessing all
“Which my fond heart can give, dost thou require
“That I shou'd tell it to thee o'er and o'er,
“While with a miser's transport thou enjoy'st
“The contemplation of thy own success?
“Yield to the time; a father claims me now;
“Sacred to him let me preserve this hour,
“Nor take from nature what I give to thee.
[Exit.
Alc.
“Pausanias, take thy guard; follow Evanthe,
“And spread with care thy troop around the wood
“Where Timon harbours; give the word for Athens.
(Alcibiades enters the city with his army.)
Enter two other Senators, with a Messenger.
1 Sen.
Thou hast painfully discover'd: are his files
As full as thy report?
Mes.
I have spoke the least,
Besides his expedition promises
Present approach.
2 Sen.
We stand much hazard, if they bring not
Timon.
Enter the other Senators.
1 Sen.
Here come our brothers.
3 Sen.
No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect—
The enemies drum is heard, and fearful scowring
Doth choak the air with dust. In and prepare;
Our's is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare.
[Exeunt in the Gate.
Trumpet sound. Enter Alcibiades with his powers.
Alc.
Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach.
[Sound a parley. Senators appear upon the walls.
“Oh! have I rouz'd you?
“Your banish'd soldier is return'd, my Lords,
“And vengeance now must work.
49
“Speak your desires.
Alc.
“Bring forth Evanthe, noble Timon's daughter,
“Set her before me. By the Gods, rash men,
“If ye have dar'd to touch her sacred life,
“I'll tread your cursed city into dust
“And bury you in the ruins.
2 Sen.
“Noble Sir,
“Here is the Lady ready to come forth;
“(Give her safe conduct there!) and we do hope
“She'll prove a gentle advocate with thee
“To stir thy noble heart unto forgiveness:”
We sent to thee to give thy rages balm
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above its quantity.
1 Sen.
So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love,
By humble message and by promis'd meads:
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.
3 Sen.
Set but thy foot
Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before
To say thou'lt enter friendly.
(Evanthe enters.)
Alc.
“Hah, she comes,—
“Hail, loveliest, dearest maid;
“Oh, grant thy soldier to repay his toils
“With this one fond embrace.
Evan.
“Thus, on my knees,
“I thank the Gods and thee, and thus beseech thee,
“O spare thy country, spare the reverend Senate,
“Spare this repentant city.” These our walls
Were not erected by their hands, from whom
We have received our griefs; nor are they such,
50
For private faults in them.
Alc.
“Sweet pleader, rise!
“Hear ye this, Sirs?”
1 Sen.
March on, dear countryman,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle; like a shepherd
Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth,
But kill not all together.
2 Sen.
Throw thy glove,
Or any token of thine honour else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion; all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.
Alc.
Then there's my glove;
Descend and open your uncharged ports,
Those enemies of Timon, and mine own,
Whom ye yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more; and to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning, not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be remedied by public laws
At heaviest answer.
Both.
'Tis most nobly spoken.
Alc.
Descend, and keep your words.
Evan.
“—'Tis done! my country can demand no more;
“Now, nature, I am thine.
Alc.
“What means Evanthe?
Evan.
“I've sav'd a city; grant me now, kind Gods,
“To save a father. Give me instant convoy
“To the lone wilds where wretched Timon haunts,
“And with the howling savages consorts
“The exile of mankind.
Alc.
“See, where the senate
51
“And all due terms of reconcilement ended,
“Myself will be your guide.
Evan.
“Forbid it, Heaven!
“Too much already have I given to Athens:
“My heart is gone before to Timon's cave;
“And I must follow it.
Alc.
“Yet e're we part,
“The hope, to which your looks, your words, gave life,
“Bid it grow up and multiply within me:
“Oh, take from piety a moment's truce,
“And once again with soft consenting smiles
“Tell me Evanthe will be only mine.
Evan.
“O covetous in love; possessing all
“Which my fond heart can give, dost thou require
“That I shou'd tell it to thee o'er and o'er,
“While with a miser's transport thou enjoy'st
“The contemplation of thy own success?
“Yield to the time; a father claims me now;
“Sacred to him let me preserve this hour,
“Nor take from nature what I give to thee.
[Exit.
Alc.
“Pausanias, take thy guard; follow Evanthe,
“And spread with care thy troop around the wood
“Where Timon harbours; give the word for Athens.
(Alcibiades enters the city with his army.)
| Timon of Athens | |