_First Sen._ Therefore, so please thee to return with us, And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks, Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name[2720] 160 Live with authority: so soon we shall drive back[2721] Of Alcibiades the approaches wild;[2722] Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up His country's peace. _Sec. Sen._ And shakes his threatening sword Against the walls of Athens. _First Sen._ Therefore, Timon,--[2723] 165 _Tim._ Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; thus:[2724] If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, Let Alcibiades know this of Timon, That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,[2725] And take our goodly aged men by the beards, 170 Giving our holy virgins to the stain Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war; Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it, In pity of our aged and our youth, I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not,[2726] 175 And let him take 't at worst; for their knives care not, While you have throats to answer: for myself, There's not a whittle in the unruly camp,[2727] But I do prize it at my love before[2728] The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you[2729] 180 To the protection of the prosperous gods,[2730] As thieves to keepers. _Flav._ Stay not; all's in vain. _Tim._ Why, I was writing of my epitaph;[2731] It will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness Of health and living now begins to mend, 185 And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still; Be Alcibiades your plague, you his, And last so long enough! _First Sen._ We speak in vain. _Tim._ But yet I love my country, and am not One that rejoices in the common wreck,[2732] 190 As common bruit doth put it.[2733] _First Sen._ That's well spoke. _Tim._ Commend me to my loving countrymen,--[2734] _First Sen._ These words become your lips as they pass thorough them.[2735] _Sec. Sen._ And enter in our ears like great triumphers In their applauding gates. _Tim._ Commend me to them; 195 And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,[2736] Their pangs of love, with other incident throes[2737] That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:[2738][2739] 200 I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.[2739][2740] _First Sen._ I like this well; he will return again.[2741]