University of Virginia Library

SCENE changes to a Street in Athens.
Lucullus
enters.
“Let the storm light upon improvident man!
“I saw it in the wind. Let Athens blaze;
“Let Alcibiades with brutal rage
“Extinguish this fair scene, and these fam'd schools,
“Towers, temples, palaces, convert to dust;
“Lucullus built not on such sandy hopes;
“But as the wary falcon hangs her nest
“Where danger cannot reach it, so did I,
“Prophetic of this hour, dispose my fortune
“Where the sun never looks, within the womb
“Of mother earth, deep hid, a mine of gold,
“A magazine to save or sack a city,
“The fruit of seven years bounty from this Timon
“With all my thrift cou'd add—Good morrow, Caphis.

Caphis enters.
Caph.
“Here's a sad change; all's lost—myself beheld
“Your palace flaming.

Lucul.
“Knowing this, good Caphis,
“I know the worst—What bring you from Lord Timon?

Caph.
“Contempt and mockery; he's too proud to curse you.

Lucul.
“Took he the gold I sent?

Caph.
“He took your gold
“And scattered it like ashes; why 'twas nothing;
“Breast high in coin he stands, I think the Gods
“Have show'r'd it on him; never did I see
“So vast a treasure.

Lucul.
“Hah! a treasure sayst thou?
“Did I hear right; hath Timon found a treasure?

Caph.
“He hath, my Lord; and such an one it seems
“As betters his lost fortune.

Lucul.
“You confound me;
“Where was this mine discover'd? Tell me, Caphis.
“Canst thou describe the spot?

Caph.
“Know you the wood
“West of the city, where Lord Timon keeps
“His wild and savage haunt?

Lucul.
“Well, Caphis, well;
“Proceed, I know it well; each brake and bramble;
“Each little path that threads its winding way
“Thro' the fantastic maze, I can unravel
“Familiar as my garden.

Caph.
“On the skirts
“Of this rude waste within a lonely dell,
“With poplars and with aspins planted round,
“Sacred to Faunus stands a Sylvan fane
“An antique structure.

Lucul.
“Did he find it there?
“I am alive again.

Caph.
“Observe me well:
“South of this fane, about an arrow's flight,
“A solitary beech, whose upmost boughs,
“Mould'ring with age, in leafless ruin hang,
“The grandsire of the forest, stands—

Lucul.
“Enough.
“It is my treasure; you've describ'd the spot—
“It is my treasure; these providings hands
“Dug the unfaithful soil and at the root
“Of that old traitor buried all my hopes.

Caph.
“Your treasure?—Fortune, how severe thou art!

Lucul.
“These are your doings, ye vindictive Gods!
“I see you rise against ingratitude,
“And push us from the earth; I have deserv'd it.
“Timon, thou art revenged—Death, be my refuge!

[Exeunt.
Lucius
enters muffled.
“Soft, who goes there? Lucullus, as I think;
“I have no heart to speak. Where shall I hide?
“What hill will cover, or what cave conceal
“A wretch like me? Wou'd I were Timon's dog
“Rather than what I am—Egregious dotard!
Various Soldiers of Alcibiades enter, carrying plate, treasure, &c.
“How now, what's here? O poison to my sight!
“These are my treasures—Lost, undone for ever.
“See, see another yet, and yet another—
“By heavens the very cup which I did worship
“More reverently than the Gods—It was the work
“Of antique Melidorus, fit to bear
“Celestial Nectar from the ministring hand
“Of Hebe to the lips of Cretan Jove.
“Swallow me, earth—Oh, the unholy villains,
“They pause for breath; they'll kill me if I speak to 'em.
[They pass over.
“But soft! this man seems of a gentler sort:
“He is a stranger of the General's train
“And knows me not. I may accost him safely.
“The good hour to you, Sir—I pray you now
“Whence are these riches?

Sold.
Do you live in Athens,
“And ask that question? Know you not one Lucius?

Luc.
“I've seen the man.

Sold.
“Then you have seen a villain,
“A most dissembling, base, unmanly villain.
“Wou'd I cou'd meet him—

Luc.
“Wou'd you slay him then?

Sold.
“No, but the sight of these his treasures wou'd:
“We've stript the knave to the skin; he did deny
“Lord Timon certain vile and sorry drachms
“In his distress; now Timon's star prevails,
“And justice wrings these treasures from the gripe
“Of that perfidious, that ingrateful Lucius.

Luc.
“Men in all ages have been found ingrateful.

Sold.
“But none like him; society bleeds for it.

Luc.
“Hath Athens then a law to try the heart?

Sold.
“The order of the General is our law.

Luc.
“But is there nothing sav'd?

Sold.
“All, all is swept
“To the last drachm; pictures, statues, coins,
“Rich hangings, couches, vestments wrought with gold,
“And robes of Tyrian dye; plate, jewels, gems—
“Is't not a pleasant jest? Why laugh you not?
“You only seem of all men to be sad.

Luc.
“I cry you mercy; I am wondrous merry—
[Feigns a laugh
“I've heard he had a ring, a most rare jewel,
“Is that gone too?

Sold.
“Behold!

[Shewing the ring
Luc.
“Ay, 'tis the same.

Sold.
“Mark, what a play! 'tis a most perfect stone.

Luc.
“Wou'd 'twere a basilisk!—must this away
“To Timon's with the rest?

Sold.
“Yes, and 'tis time
“That it were there—Good morrow, gentle Sir.

Luc.
“Curse on your courtesy!

[aside.
Sold.
“I'm glad you like
“The ring so well: If you should meet the knave,
“Tell him the prize we've got, and gird him well,
“I know 'twill give you pleasure: All men loath him.
“Be sure you wring him to the quick—remember.

[Exit
Luc.
“Remember! yes: no fear but I'll remember.
“You've giv'n me cause; the Gods, who deal in vengeance,
“Reward you for it! I could dash my brains,
“For that way only can I 'scape remembrance.
“O nature, what a luckless piece of work was man!

[Exit.