Page 3157 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

From our companion thrown into his grave,
So his familiars to his buried fortunes [10]
Slink all away, leave their false vows with him,
Like empty purses pick’d; and his poor self,

A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all-shunn’d poverty,
Walks like contempt, alone. More of our fellows. [15]

Enter other Servants.

STEWARD
All broken implements of a ruin’d house.

THIRD SERVANT
Yet do our hearts wear Timon’s livery,

That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,
Serving alike in sorrow. Leak’d is our bark,
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck, [20]

Hearing the surges threat; we must all part
Into this sea of air.

STEWARD
Good fellows all,
The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon’s sake

Let’s yet be fellows. Let’s shake our heads, and say, [25]
As ’twere a knell unto our master’s fortunes,
“We have seen better days”. Let each take some;
[Giving them money]

Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more;
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
[Embrace, and part several ways]
O the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! [30]

Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Who would be so mock’d with glory, or to live
But in a dream of friendship,

To have his pomp and all what state compounds [35]