The Thieving Sun and Moon and Sea

I forget not the Shakespeare, and on this I sign off for the weekend. May your apoclyptic evening be as memorable and worthy as you wish. Wish me sleep, for I will not get it. Oh the subtle blood o' the grape. If you could have dinner with three people, past and present, who would they be, runs an interview question currently in vogue. Shakespeare, I would say. And when asked who else, I might respond that I wouldn't want others to take up the alloted time. If pushed, I suppose I could also nominate Marlowe and Burbage, as it would probably would be fun to invite a few people to mock the old Bard along the way. Time to get going.

Banditti

We are not thieves, but men that much do want.

TIMON
Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots;
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;
The oaks bear mast, the briers scarlet hips;
The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want! why want?

First Bandit

We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts and birds and fishes.

TIMON
Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and fishes;
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves profess'd, that you work not
In holier shapes: for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape,
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
Moe than you rob: take wealth and lives together;
Do villany, do, since you protest to do't,
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery.
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea: the moon's an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun:
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen
From general excrement: each thing's a thief:
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have uncheque'd theft. Love not yourselves: away,
Rob one another. There's more gold. Cut throats:
All that you meet are thieves: to Athens go,
Break open shops; nothing can you steal,
But thieves do lose it: steal no less for this
I give you; and gold confound you howsoe'er!
Amen.

Third Bandit
Has almost charmed
me from my profession, by
persuading me to it.

First Bandit
'Tis in the malice
of mankind that he thus advises
us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.

Second Bandit
I'll believe him as
an enemy, and give over my trade.

First Bandit
Let us first see
peace in Athens: there is no time
so miserable but a man may be true.

Exeunt Banditti

-Timon of Athens, Act IV iii