The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (1039 page)

We stand for the law: he shall die; stop arguing,

or you will suffer our greatest displeasure: friend or brother,

if you spill another's blood you lose your own.

ALCIBIADES

Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,

I do beseech you, know me.

Does it have to be this way? It mustn't be. My lords,

I beg you, remember who I am.

Second Senator

How!

What!

ALCIBIADES

Call me to your remembrances.

Remember me.

Third Senator

What!

What!

ALCIBIADES

I cannot think but your age has forgot me;

It could not else be, I should prove so base,

To sue, and be denied such common grace:

My wounds ache at you.

I can only imagine that you have forgotten me in your old age;

that's the only explanation for me being so disrespected

that I can ask, and be refused what any man should be given:

my wounds ache to think of it.

First Senator

Do you dare our anger?

'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;

We banish thee for ever.

Do you dare to risk our anger?

I'll give you a few little words, but they'll have a big effect;

we banish you for ever.

ALCIBIADES

Banish me!

Banish your dotage; banish usury,

That makes the senate ugly.

Banish me!

Banish your senility, banish moneylending,

that makes the Senate ugly!

First Senator

If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee,

Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell

our spirit,

He shall be executed presently.

If you are still in Athens in two days from now

prepare to get a worse sentence. And, in order not to

increase our anger,

he shall be executed shortly.

Exeunt Senators

ALCIBIADES

Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live

Only in bone, that none may look on you!

I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,

While they have told their money and let out

Their coin upon large interest, I myself

Rich only in large hurts. All those for this?

Is this the balsam that the usuring senate

Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment!

It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;

It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,

That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up

My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.

'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds;

Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.

Exit

Now may the gods make you live so long that you become

like skeletons, and nobody looks at you!

I'm worse than mad: I kept back their enemies,

while they counted their money, and lent out

their cash at high interest; I myself

am only rich with great wounds. All of those, for this?

Is this the medicine that the moneylending Senate

applies to the wounds of captains? Banishment!

It's no bad thing. I don't hate being banished;

it gives me a cause to be angry

and attack Athens. I'll rally

my discontented troops, and win over people's hearts.

One's honour is counted by the number of countries one has fought;

soldiers should endure wrongs no more than gods should.

Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, Senators and others, at several doors

First Lord

The good time of day to you, sir.

A very good day to you, sir.

Second Lord

I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord

did but try us this other day.

And the same to you. I think this honourable lord

put this before us just the other day.

First Lord

Upon that were my thoughts tiring, when we

encountered: I hope it is not so low with him as

he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

I was just musing on that, when we

met: I hope he hasn't sunk so low as

he made it appear in the trial of some of his friends.

Second Lord

It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

He shouldn’t have, on the evidence of the feasts he's been giving.

First Lord

I should think so: he hath sent me an earnest

inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me

to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and

I must needs appear.

I should imagine so: he sent me an earnest

invitation, which my many important engagements

made me want to decline; but he begged me so much

that I have to go.

Second Lord

In like manner was I in debt to my importunate

business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am

sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my

provision was out.

In the same way my business was taking up all

my time, but he wouldn't listen to my excuse. I am

sorry that when he asked to borrow money from me that I

had none to lend him.

First Lord

I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all

things go.

That made me sad too, especially now I understand

his position.

Second Lord

Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of

you?

Every man here thinks the same. What did he want to borrow from

you?

First Lord

A thousand pieces.

A thousand gold pieces.

Second Lord

A thousand pieces!

A thousand pieces!

First Lord

What of you?

What about you?

Second Lord

He sent to me, sir,--Here he comes.

He sent to me, sir–here he comes.

Enter TIMON and Attendants

TIMON

With all my heart, gentlemen both; and how fare you?

Welcome with all my heart, good gentlemen; and how are you

you?

First Lord

Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

Always well when we hear your lordship is well.

Second Lord

The swallow follows not summer more willing than we

your lordship.

The swallow doesn't follow the summer more willingly than we

follow you.

TIMON

[Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such

summer-birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not

recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the

music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' the

trumpet's sound; we shall to 't presently.

Nor is more willing to leave in winter; men are

summer birds. Gentlemen, our dinner will not

be long: feed your ears with the

music for a while, if they can enjoy anything as harsh

as the trumpet; we'll sit down to dinner shortly.

First Lord

I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship

that I returned you an empty messenger.

I hope your lordship wasn't offended

that I returned your messenger empty-handed.

TIMON

O, sir, let it not trouble you.

Oh, sir, don't let it bother you.

Second Lord

My noble lord,--

My noble lord–

TIMON

Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

Ah, my good friend, how are you?

Second Lord

My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame,

that, when your lordship this other day sent to me,

I was so unfortunate a beggar.

My most honourable lord, I am sick with shame

that, when your lordship sent me a request the other day,

I was so poor.

TIMON

Think not on 't, sir.

Don't think about it, sir.

Second Lord

If you had sent but two hours before,--

If you had only sent someone two hours before–

TIMON

Let it not cumber your better remembrance.

Don't let it weigh on your mind.

The banquet brought in

Come, bring in all together.

Come on, everyone come in together.

Second Lord

All covered dishes!

All covered dishes!

First Lord

Royal cheer, I warrant you.

Wonderful food, I'll bet.

Third Lord

Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield

it.

You shouldn't doubt it, if money and the season can provide

it.

First Lord

How do you? What's the news?

How are you? What's the news?

Third Lord

Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?

Alcibiades is banished: did you hear about it?

First Lord Second Lord

Alcibiades banished!

Alcibiades banished!

Third Lord

'Tis so, be sure of it.

Yes, it's definite.

First Lord

How! how!

What! What!

Second Lord

I pray you, upon what?

Tell me, what was the reason?

TIMON

My worthy friends, will you draw near?