The Plays & Poems of Shakespeare Volume 10

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857 Excerpt: ...Of present dues: the future comes apace. What shall defend the interim? and at length How goes our reckoning? Timon. To Lacedaemon did my land extend. Flav. O my good lord, the world is but a word: Were it all yours, to give it in a breath, How quickly were it gone! Timon. You tell me true. Flav. If you suspect my husbandry or falshood. Call me before the exactest auditors. And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me, When all our offices 1 have been oppress'd With riotous feeders; when our vaults have, wept With drunken spilth of wine; when every room Hath blazed with lights, and bray'd with minstrelsy; 1 Apartments allotted to culinary purposes, &c. I have retired me to a wasteful cock,1 And set mine eyes at flow. Timon. Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord! How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants This night englutted! Who is not Timon's? What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is lord Timon's? Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon! Ah! when the means are gone, that buy this praise, The breath is gone whereof this praise is made: Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers, These flies are couch'd. Timon. Come, sermon me no farther; No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart; Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given. Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack, To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart; If I would broach the vessels of my love, And try the argument2 of hearts by borrowing, Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use, As I can bid thee speak. Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Timon. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd,3 1'i.e. a cockloft, or garret lying in waste.'--Warburton. 1 Contents. 3 Dignified. That I account them blessings; for by these Shall I tr...