Apem. The best for the innocence.

Tim. Wrought he not well that painted it? Apem. He wrought better that made the Painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.

Pain. Y'are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation; what's fhe, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus ?

Apem. No, I eat not Lords.

Tim. If thou fhouldst thou'dft anger ladies.
Apem. O, they eat Lords; fo they come by great

bellies.

Tim. That's a lafcivious apprehenfion.

Apem. So, thou apprehend'st. Take it for thy la

bour.

Tim. How doft thou like this jewel, Apemantus? Apem. Not fo well as Plain-dealing, which will not coft a man a doit.

Tim. What doft thou think 'tis worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking. How now, Poet? Poet. How now, Philofopher?

Apem. Thou lieft.

Poet. Art thou not one?

Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.

Apem. Art not a Poet?

Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou lieft. Look in thy faft work, where thou haft feign'd him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feign'd, he is fo.

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour. He, that loves to be flatter'd, is worthy o'th' flatterer. Heav'ns, that I were a Lord! Tim. What would'ft do then, Apemantus?

Apem. Ev'n as Apemantus does now, hate a Lord with my heart.

Tim. What, thyself?

Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a Lord. Art thou not a Merchant.

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffick confound thee, if the Gods will not! Mer. If Traffick do it, the Gods do it.

Apem. Traffick's thy God, and thy God confound

thee!

Trumpets found. Enter a Messenger.

Tim. What trumpet's that?

Mef. 'Tis Alcibiades, and fome twenty horse All of companionship.

Tim. Pray entertain them, give them guide to us. You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence, 'Till I have thank't you; and when dinner's done, Shew me this piece.

Enter Alcibiades with the reft.

I'm joyful of your fights.

Moft welcome, Sir!

[Bowing and embracing. Apem. So, fo! Aches contract, and starve your supple joints! That there fhould be fmall love amongst thefe fweet knaves, and all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out into baboon and monkey.

Alc. You have fav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungerly on your sight.

5 That I had NO ANGRY wit, to be a lord.] This reading is abfurd, and unintelligible. But, as I have reftored the text, that I had so hungry a wit, to be a lord, it is fatirical enough of confcience, viz. I would hate myself, for having no more wit than to covet fo infignificant a title. In the fame fenfe, Shakespear ufes lan-witted in his Richard II. And thou a lunatick, lean-witted, fool.

WARB.

N 2

The meaning may be, I should hate myself for patiently enduring to be a Lord. This is ill enough expreffed. Perhaps fome happy change may fet it right. I have tried, and can do nothing, yet I cannot heartily concur with Dr. Warburton.

6 The Arain of man's bred out into baboon and monkey.] Man is exhaufted and degenerated; his firain or lineage is worn down into monkey.

Tim.

Tim. Right welcome, Sir.

7 Ere we do part, we'll fhare a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. [Exeunt.

Manet Apemantus. Enter Lucius and Lucullus.
Luc. What time a day is't, Apemantus?
Apem. Time to be honest.

Luc. That time ferves ftill.

Apem. The most accurfed thou, that ftill omit'ft it. Lucul. Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast. Apem. Ay, to fee meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.

Lucul. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Apem. Thou art a fool to bid me farewel twice.
Lucul. Why, Apemantus?

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

Luc. Hang thyfelf.

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

Lucul. Away, unpeaceable dog, or-I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o'th' afs.
Luc. He's oppofite to humanity.

Come, fhall we in, and taste Lord Timon's bounty?
He, fure, outgoes the very heart of kindness.

Lucul. He pours it out. Plutus, the God of gold, Is but his Steward. No meed but he repays Seven-fold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the Giver a Return exceeding

7 Ere que depart,-] Who depart? Tho' Alcibiades was to leave Timon, Timon was not to

depart. Common Senfe favours my Emendation. THEOBALD.

All

All ufe of quittance.

Luc. The nobleft mind he carries,

That ever govern'd mån.

Lucul. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?

Luc. I'll keep you company.

[Exeunt.

Another Apartment in Timon's Houfe.

Hautboys playing loud mufick. A great banquet ferv'd in; and then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus difcontentedly.

Ven. OST honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the

Mos

Gods

To 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 fervice, from whofe help

I deriv'd liberty.

Tim. O, by no means,

Honeft Ventidius. You miftake my love;

I gave it freely ever, and there's none

Can truly say he gives, if he receives.

If our Betters play at that game, we must not dare T'imitate them. Faults that are rich, are fair.

Ven.

9 If our Betters play at that

game, we must not dare To imitate them. Faults that

are rich are fair] Thefe two lines are abfurdly given to Timon. They should be read thus: Tim,

Ven. A noble fpirit.

[They all fand ceremoniously looking on Timon.
Tim. Nay, ceremony was but devis'd at first
To fet a glofs on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, forry ere 'tis fhown,

But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray, fit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes,
Than they to me.
[They fit down.

Luc. We always have confeft it.

Apem. Ho, ho, confeft it? hang'd it, have you not? Tim. O, Apemantus! you are welcome.

Apem. No; you fhall not make me welcome. I come to have thee thruft me out of doors.

Tim. Fy, th'art a churl; ye have got a humour there
Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame.
They fay, my Lords, that Ira furor brevis eft,
But yonder man is ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself:
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for't, indeed.

Tim. If our betters play at that game, we must not. Apem. Dare to imitate them: faults that are rich are fair. This is faid fatirically and in character. It was a fober reflection in Timon; who by our betters meant the Gods, which require to be repaid for benefits received; but it would be impiety in men to expect the fame obfervance for the trifling good they do. Apem ntus, agreeably to his cha racter, perverts this fentiment; as if Timon had spoke of earthly grandees and potentates, who expect largest returns for their favours; and therefore, ironically, replies as above. WARB.

I cannot fee that thefe lines