No Fear Shakespeare: Timon of Athens: Act 5 Scene 1

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Timon of Athens

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter POET and PAINTER.	Enter POET and PAINTER.
PAINTER As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.	PAINTER As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.
POET What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumor hold for true that he’s so full of gold?	POET What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumor hold for true that he’s so full of gold?
PAINTER 5 Certain. Alcibiades reports it. Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him. He likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. ’Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.	PAINTER Certain. Alcibiades reports it. Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him. He likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. ’Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.
POET Then this breaking of his has been but a try for 10 his friends?	POET Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends?
PAINTER Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore ’tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly 15 in us and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.	PAINTER Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore ’tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly in us and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.
Enter TIMON, behind them, from his cave.	Enter TIMON, behind them, from his cave.
POET What have you now to present unto him?	POET What have you now to present unto him?
PAINTER Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I 20 will promise him an excellent piece.	PAINTER Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I will promise him an excellent piece.
POET I must serve him so too—tell him of an intent that’s coming toward him.	POET I must serve him so too—tell him of an intent that’s coming toward him.
PAINTER Good as the best. Promising is the very air o’ th’ time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance 25 is ever the duller for his act, and but in the plainer and simpler kind of people the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his 30 judgment that makes it.	PAINTER Good as the best. Promising is the very air o’ th’ time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance is ever the duller for his act, and but in the plainer and simpler kind of people the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it.
TIMON , aside Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.	TIMON , aside Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.
POET I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself, a 35 satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.	POET I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself, a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.
TIMON , aside Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults 40 in other men? Do so. I have gold for thee.	TIMON , aside Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so. I have gold for thee.
POET Nay, let’s seek him. Then do we sin against our own estate When we may profit meet and come too late.	POET Nay, let’s seek him. Then do we sin against our own estate When we may profit meet and come too late.
PAINTER True. 45 When the day serves, before black-cornered night, Find what thou want’st by free and offered light. Come.	PAINTER True. When the day serves, before black-cornered night, Find what thou want’st by free and offered light. Come.
TIMON , aside I’ll meet you at the turn. What a god’s gold That he is worshiped in a baser temple 50 Than where swine feed! ’Tis thou that rigg’st the bark and plow’st the foam, Settlest admirèd reverence in a slave. To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey! 55 Fit I meet them.	TIMON , aside I’ll meet you at the turn. What a god’s gold That he is worshiped in a baser temple Than where swine feed! ’Tis thou that rigg’st the bark and plow’st the foam, Settlest admirèd reverence in a slave. To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey! Fit I meet them.
He comes forward.	He comes forward.
POET Hail, worthy Timon.	POET Hail, worthy Timon.
PAINTER Our late noble master.	PAINTER Our late noble master.
TIMON Have I once lived to see two honest men?	TIMON Have I once lived to see two honest men?
POET Sir, 60 Having often of your open bounty tasted, Hearing you were retired, your friends fall’n off, Whose thankless natures—O, abhorrèd spirits! Not all the whips of heaven are large enough— What, to you, 65 Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence To their whole being? I am rapt and cannot cover The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude With any size of words.	POET Sir, Having often of your open bounty tasted, Hearing you were retired, your friends fall’n off, Whose thankless natures—O, abhorrèd spirits! Not all the whips of heaven are large enough— What, to you, Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence To their whole being? I am rapt and cannot cover The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude With any size of words.
TIMON Let it go naked. Men may see ’t the better. 70 You that are honest, by being what you are Make them best seen and known.	TIMON Let it go naked. Men may see ’t the better. You that are honest, by being what you are Make them best seen and known.
PAINTER He and myself Have travailed in the great shower of your gifts And sweetly felt it.	PAINTER He and myself Have travailed in the great shower of your gifts And sweetly felt it.
TIMON 75 Ay, you are honest men.	TIMON Ay, you are honest men.
PAINTER We are hither come to offer you our service.	PAINTER We are hither come to offer you our service.
TIMON Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No?	TIMON Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No?
BOTH What we can do we’ll do to do you service.	BOTH What we can do we’ll do to do you service.
TIMON 80 You’re honest men. You’ve heard that I have gold. I am sure you have. Speak truth. You’re honest men.	TIMON You’re honest men. You’ve heard that I have gold. I am sure you have. Speak truth. You’re honest men.
PAINTER So it is said, my noble lord, but therefor Came not my friend nor I.	PAINTER So it is said, my noble lord, but therefor Came not my friend nor I.
TIMON Good honest men. ( To the PAINTER.) Thou draw’st a 85 counterfeit Best in all Athens. Thou ’rt indeed the best. Thou counterfeit’st most lively.	TIMON Good honest men. ( To the PAINTER.) Thou draw’st a counterfeit Best in all Athens. Thou ’rt indeed the best. Thou counterfeit’st most lively.
PAINTER So-so, my lord.	PAINTER So-so, my lord.
TIMON E’en so, sir, as I say. ( To the POET.) And for thy 90 fiction, Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth That thou art even natural in thine art. But for all this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault. 95 Marry, ’tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I You take much pains to mend.	TIMON E’en so, sir, as I say. ( To the POET.) And for thy fiction, Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth That thou art even natural in thine art. But for all this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault. Marry, ’tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I You take much pains to mend.
BOTH Beseech your Honor To make it known to us.	BOTH Beseech your Honor To make it known to us.
TIMON You’ll take it ill.	TIMON You’ll take it ill.
BOTH 100 Most thankfully, my lord.	BOTH Most thankfully, my lord.
TIMON Will you indeed?	TIMON Will you indeed?
BOTH Doubt it not, worthy lord.	BOTH Doubt it not, worthy lord.
TIMON There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave That mightily deceives you.	TIMON There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave That mightily deceives you.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter POET and PAINTER.	Enter POET and PAINTER.
PAINTER As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.	PAINTER As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.
POET What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumor hold for true that he’s so full of gold?	POET What’s to be thought of him? Does the rumor hold for true that he’s so full of gold?
PAINTER 5 Certain. Alcibiades reports it. Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him. He likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. ’Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.	PAINTER Certain. Alcibiades reports it. Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him. He likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity. ’Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.
POET Then this breaking of his has been but a try for 10 his friends?	POET Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends?
PAINTER Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore ’tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly 15 in us and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.	PAINTER Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore ’tis not amiss we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly in us and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.
Enter TIMON, behind them, from his cave.	Enter TIMON, behind them, from his cave.
POET What have you now to present unto him?	POET What have you now to present unto him?
PAINTER Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I 20 will promise him an excellent piece.	PAINTER Nothing at this time but my visitation. Only I will promise him an excellent piece.
POET I must serve him so too—tell him of an intent that’s coming toward him.	POET I must serve him so too—tell him of an intent that’s coming toward him.
PAINTER Good as the best. Promising is the very air o’ th’ time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance 25 is ever the duller for his act, and but in the plainer and simpler kind of people the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his 30 judgment that makes it.	PAINTER Good as the best. Promising is the very air o’ th’ time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance is ever the duller for his act, and but in the plainer and simpler kind of people the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable. Performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it.
TIMON , aside Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.	TIMON , aside Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.
POET I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself, a 35 satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.	POET I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself, a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.
TIMON , aside Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults 40 in other men? Do so. I have gold for thee.	TIMON , aside Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so. I have gold for thee.
POET Nay, let’s seek him. Then do we sin against our own estate When we may profit meet and come too late.	POET Nay, let’s seek him. Then do we sin against our own estate When we may profit meet and come too late.
PAINTER True. 45 When the day serves, before black-cornered night, Find what thou want’st by free and offered light. Come.	PAINTER True. When the day serves, before black-cornered night, Find what thou want’st by free and offered light. Come.
TIMON , aside I’ll meet you at the turn. What a god’s gold That he is worshiped in a baser temple 50 Than where swine feed! ’Tis thou that rigg’st the bark and plow’st the foam, Settlest admirèd reverence in a slave. To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey! 55 Fit I meet them.	TIMON , aside I’ll meet you at the turn. What a god’s gold That he is worshiped in a baser temple Than where swine feed! ’Tis thou that rigg’st the bark and plow’st the foam, Settlest admirèd reverence in a slave. To thee be worship, and thy saints for aye Be crowned with plagues, that thee alone obey! Fit I meet them.
He comes forward.	He comes forward.
POET Hail, worthy Timon.	POET Hail, worthy Timon.
PAINTER Our late noble master.	PAINTER Our late noble master.
TIMON Have I once lived to see two honest men?	TIMON Have I once lived to see two honest men?
POET Sir, 60 Having often of your open bounty tasted, Hearing you were retired, your friends fall’n off, Whose thankless natures—O, abhorrèd spirits! Not all the whips of heaven are large enough— What, to you, 65 Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence To their whole being? I am rapt and cannot cover The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude With any size of words.	POET Sir, Having often of your open bounty tasted, Hearing you were retired, your friends fall’n off, Whose thankless natures—O, abhorrèd spirits! Not all the whips of heaven are large enough— What, to you, Whose starlike nobleness gave life and influence To their whole being? I am rapt and cannot cover The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude With any size of words.
TIMON Let it go naked. Men may see ’t the better. 70 You that are honest, by being what you are Make them best seen and known.	TIMON Let it go naked. Men may see ’t the better. You that are honest, by being what you are Make them best seen and known.
PAINTER He and myself Have travailed in the great shower of your gifts And sweetly felt it.	PAINTER He and myself Have travailed in the great shower of your gifts And sweetly felt it.
TIMON 75 Ay, you are honest men.	TIMON Ay, you are honest men.
PAINTER We are hither come to offer you our service.	PAINTER We are hither come to offer you our service.
TIMON Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No?	TIMON Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots and drink cold water? No?
BOTH What we can do we’ll do to do you service.	BOTH What we can do we’ll do to do you service.
TIMON 80 You’re honest men. You’ve heard that I have gold. I am sure you have. Speak truth. You’re honest men.	TIMON You’re honest men. You’ve heard that I have gold. I am sure you have. Speak truth. You’re honest men.
PAINTER So it is said, my noble lord, but therefor Came not my friend nor I.	PAINTER So it is said, my noble lord, but therefor Came not my friend nor I.
TIMON Good honest men. ( To the PAINTER.) Thou draw’st a 85 counterfeit Best in all Athens. Thou ’rt indeed the best. Thou counterfeit’st most lively.	TIMON Good honest men. ( To the PAINTER.) Thou draw’st a counterfeit Best in all Athens. Thou ’rt indeed the best. Thou counterfeit’st most lively.
PAINTER So-so, my lord.	PAINTER So-so, my lord.
TIMON E’en so, sir, as I say. ( To the POET.) And for thy 90 fiction, Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth That thou art even natural in thine art. But for all this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault. 95 Marry, ’tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I You take much pains to mend.	TIMON E’en so, sir, as I say. ( To the POET.) And for thy fiction, Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth That thou art even natural in thine art. But for all this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault. Marry, ’tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I You take much pains to mend.
BOTH Beseech your Honor To make it known to us.	BOTH Beseech your Honor To make it known to us.
TIMON You’ll take it ill.	TIMON You’ll take it ill.
BOTH 100 Most thankfully, my lord.	BOTH Most thankfully, my lord.
TIMON Will you indeed?	TIMON Will you indeed?
BOTH Doubt it not, worthy lord.	BOTH Doubt it not, worthy lord.
TIMON There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave That mightily deceives you.	TIMON There’s never a one of you but trusts a knave That mightily deceives you.