That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves,

And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred cut Into baboon and monkey.

Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight.

Tim

Ven. A noble spirit.

Tim.

[They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON.

Nay, my lords, ceremony

Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. [Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.

Enter Two Lords.

1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? Apem. Time to be honest.

1 Lord. That time serves still.

Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast. Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine

heat fools.

2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

1 Lord. Hang thyself.

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass. [Erit.

1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall
we in,

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.

2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,
But breeds the giver a return exceeding

All use of quittance.

1 Lord.

The noblest mind he carries,

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

The same. A Room of State in
Timon's House.

Hautboys playing loud musick. A great banquet
served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then
enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS.
SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with
VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, drop-
ping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly.
Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the
gods remember

My father's age, and call him to long peace.
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound

To your free heart. I do return those talents,
Doubled, with thanks, and service, from whose help
I deriv'd liberty.

Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame :·
They say, my lords, that ira furor brevis est,
But yond' man's ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.
Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Timon;

Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athe-
nian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no
power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.
Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for
I should
Ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number
Of men eat Timon, and he sees them not!
It grieves me to see so many dip their meat
In one man's blood; and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men :
Methinks, they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There's much example for't; the fellow, that
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, and pledges
The breath of him in a divided draught,

Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been prov'd.
If I

Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals; Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous

notes:

Great men should drink with harness on their throats.

Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.

2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Flow this way! Apem. A brave fellow! — he keep his tides well. Timon, Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill. Here's that, which is too weak to be a sinner, Honest water, which ne'er left man i'the mire : This, and my food, are equals; there's no odds. Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods. APEMANTUS'S GRACE. Immortal gods, I crave no pelf; I pray for no man, but myself: Grant I may never prove so fond, To trust man on his oath or bond, Or a harlot, for her weeping; Or a dog, that seems a sleeping; Or a keeper with my freedom; Or my friends, if I should need 'em.

Alcib. So they were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat like them; I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them: and would most resem

ble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits: and what better or properer can we call our own than the riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have so many like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks; to forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon.

2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.

3 Lord. I promise you my lord, you mov'd me

1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd.

Musick. Re-enter Cupid, with a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing, and playing.

Apem. Hey day, what a sweep of vanity comes They dance! they are mad women. this way! Like madness is the glory of this life, As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root. We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves; And spend our flatteries, to drink those men, Upon whose age we void it up again, With poisonous spite, and envy. Who lives, that's Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift? I should fear, those, that dance before me now, Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done: Men shut their doors against a setting sun.

not

The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of
TIMON; and, to show their loves, each singles out
an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a
lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease.
Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace,
fair ladies,

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for it.

1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best. Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.

Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves. All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord.

Tim. Flavius, Flav. My lord. Tim.

[Exeunt Cupid, and Ladies.

The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord. - More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; [Asude. Else I should tell him, - Well, -i'faith, I should, When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could. 'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind; That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. [Exit, and returns with the casket.

1 Lord. Where be our men?

Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness.

2 Lord. Our horses. Tim.

O my friends, I have one word To say to you; Look you, my good lord, I must Entreat you, honour me so much, as to Advance this jewel;

Accept, and wear it, kind my lord.

-

1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts, — All. So are we all.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the

senate

Newly alighted, and come to visit you.
Tim. They are fairly welcome.

Flav.
I beseech your honour,
Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
Tim. Near; why then another time I'll hear
thee:

What will this come to? He commands us to provide, and give great gifts, And all out of an empty coffer.

Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this,
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good;
His promises fly so beyond his state,
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes
For every word; he is so kind, that he now
Pays interest for't; his lands put to their books.
Well, 'would I were gently put out of office,
Before I were forc'd out!

Happier is he that has no friend to feed,
Than such as do even enemies exceed.

Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon! Tim. Ready for his friends.

[Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, &c. Apem. What a coil's here! Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums! I doubt whether their legs be worth the cums That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs: Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs. Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies. Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I'd be good to thee.

:

Apem. No, I'll nothing for If I should be brib'd too, there would be none left To rail upon thee; and then thou would'st sin the

faster.

Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me, thou
Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly:
What need these feasts, pomps, and vain glories?
Tim.

An you begin to rail on society once,

Nay,

[Exit.

I am sworn, not to give regard to you.
Farewell; and come with better musick.
Apem.
Thou'lt not hear me now, - thou shalt not then, I'll

lock

So ;

Thy heaven from thee. O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! [Exit.

no man

Enter a Senator, with papers in his hand.
Sen. And late, five thousand to Varro; and to
Isidore

He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty. — Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold:
If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,
And able horses: No porter at his gate;
But rather one that smiles, and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason

Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say!

Apem. So would I, -as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.

Fool. Are you three usurers' men?

All Serv. Ay, fool.

Fool. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his servant My mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and go away merry; but they enter my mistress' house merrily, and go away sadly: The reason of this?

Var. Serv. I could render one.

Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster, and a knave; which notwithstanding. thou shalt be no less esteemed.

Var. Serv. What is a whoremaster, fool?

Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. 'Tis a spirit: sometime, it appears like a lord; sometime, like a lawyer; sometime, like a philosopher, with two stones more than his artificia one: He is very often like a knight; and, generally, in all shapes, that man goes up and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, this spirit walks in.

Var. Serv. Thou art not altogether a fool. Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man : as much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest.

Apem. That answer might have become Apeman

Go to: Perchance, some single vantages you took, When my indisposition put you back; And that unaptness made your minister, Thus to excuse yourself.

Flav.

O my good lord! At many times I brought in my accounts, Laid them before you; you would throw them off, And say, you found them in mine honesty. When, for some trifling present, you have bid me Return so much, I have shook my head, and wept ; Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you To hold your hand more close: I did endure Not seldom, nor no slight checks; when I have Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate, And your great flow of debts. My dear-lov'd lord, Though you hear now, (too late!) yet now's a time, The greatest of your having lacks a half To pay your present debts.

Tim.
Let all my land be sold.
Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone;
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues: the future comes apace :
What shall defend the interim? and at length
How goes our reckoning?

Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend.
Flav. O my good lord, the world is but a word;

Tim.

Come, sermon me no further: No villainous 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 argument of hearts by borrowing,
Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use,
As I can bid thee speak.

Flav.
Assurance bless your thoughts!
Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are
crown'd,

That I account them blessings; for by these
Shall I try friends: You shall perceive, how you
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there, ho! - Flaminius! Servilius!

Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants.
Serv. My lord, my lord,