Tim. O, by no means, Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love; If our betters play at that game, we must not dare To imitate them; Faults, that are rich, are fair. Ven. A noble spirit. [They all stand ceremoniously looking on Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown; But where there is true friendship, there needs none. Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes, Than my fortunes to me. They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it. Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it! hang'd it, have you not? Tim. O, Apemantus !-you are welcome. You shall not make me welcome: I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. Tim. Fye, thou art a churl; you have got a humour there 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 Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Timon; come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent. Tim. My lord, in heart and let the health go round. 2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way! A brave fellow!-he keeps 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, Immortal gods, I crave no pelf: Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks. Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus! Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends. 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 bebalf; 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 resemble 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 for tunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be 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 much. Apem. Much! Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance. Tim. Ladies? What are their wills? Serv. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures. Tim. I pray, let them be admitted. Enter Cupid. Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon ;-and to all That of his bounties taste!-The five best senses Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: The ear, Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rise; They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Tim. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance: Music, make their welcome. [Exit Cupid. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd. Music. 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 this way! They dance! they are mad women. As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root. With poisonous spite and envy. Who lives, that's not Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears 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; 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. [Exeunt Cupid and Ladies. Tim. Flavius,Flav. My lord. Tim. The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; [Aside. 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; 1 Lord. Where be our men? Tim. O my friends, I have one word Accept, and wear it, kind my lord. 1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,All. So are we all. Flav. [Aside.] What will this come to? Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this, Happier is he that has no friend to feed, Tim. You do yourselves [Exit. Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits : Here, my lord, a trifle of our love. 2 Lord. With more than common thanks I will receive it. 3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty! Tim. And now I remember me, my lord, you gave Good words the other day of a bay courser I rode on it is yours, because you lik'd it. 2 Lord. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that. Tim. You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man Can justly praise, but what he does affect: All Lords. None so welcome. Tim. I take all and your several visitations So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give; Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends, And ne'er be weary.-Alcibiades, Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich, It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living Is 'mongst the dead; and all the lands thou hast Lie in a pitch'd field. Alcib. Ay, defiled land, my lord. 1 Lord. We are so virtuously bound,— Tim. And so Am I to you. 2 Lord. So infinitely endear'd,- Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon! [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 sums 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 An you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn, not to give regard to you. Thou'lt not hear me now,-thou shalt not then,— Thy heaven from thee. O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! [Exit. SCENE I.-The same. house. ACT II. A room in a Senator's | All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason Can found his state in safety.-Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say! 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, Have smit my credit: I love, and honour him; Sen. I go, sir?-take the bonds along with you, Sen. Go. I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; [Exeunt Alcibiades and Lords. I'll wait upon you instantly.-Come hither, pray [To Flavius. [Exeunt. How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd With clamorous demands of date-broke bonds, And the detention of long-since-due debts, Against my honour? SCENE II.-The same. A hall in TIMON'S house. Enter FLAVIUS, with many bills in his hand. Flav. Please you, gentlemen, The time is unagreeable to this business: Flav. No care, no stop! so senseless of ex-Your importunacy cease, till after dinner; pence, What shall be done? He will not hear, till feel: Fye, fye, fye, fye! Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of ISIDORE and Caph. Good-even, Varro: What, Var. Serv. Is't not your business too? Caph. 'Would we were all discharg'd! Var. Serv. I fear it. Caph. Here comes the lord. Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, &c. My Alcibiades.-With me? What's your will? Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off To the succession of new days this month: To call upon his own; and humbly prays you, Tim. Mine honest friend, I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning. Tim. Contain thyself, good friend. Var. Serv. One Varro's servant, my good lord,— That I may make his lordship understand Tim. Do so, my friends: [Exit Timon. [Exit Flavius. Enter APEMANTUS and a Fool. Apem. No; 'tis to thyself.-Come away. Isid. Serv. Apem. No, thou stand'st single, thou art not on him yet. Caph. Where's the fool now? Apem. He last asked the question.-Poor rogues, and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want! All Serv. What are we, Apemantus? All Serv. Why? Apem. That you ask me what you are, and do not know yourselves.-Speak to 'em, fool. Fool. How do you, gentlemen? All Serv. Gramercies, good fool: How does your mistress? Fool. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. 'Would, we could see you at Corinth. Apem. Good! gramercy. Enter Page. Fool. Look you, here comes my mistress' page. Page. To the Fool.] Why, how now, captain? what do you in this wise company?— How dost thou, Apemantus? Apem. 'Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer thee profitably. Page. Pr'ythee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters; I know not which is which. Apem. Can'st not read? Apem. There will little learning die then, that day thou art hanged. This is to lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou'lt die a bawd. gone. Page. Thou wast whelp'd a dog; and thou shalt famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am [Exit Page. Apem. Even so thou out-run'st grace. Fool, I will go with you to lord Timon's. Fool. Will you leave me there? Apem. If Timon stay at home.-You three serve three usurers? Flav. You would not hear me, Perchance, some single vantages you took, Flav. O my good lord! At many times I brought in my accounts, And say, you found them in mine honesty. All Serv. Ay; 'would they serv'd us! Fool. Are you three usurers' men? 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 artificial 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 Ape mantus. All Serv. Aside, aside: here comes lord Timon. Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS. Apem. Come with me, fool, come. Had you not fully laid my state before me ; To pay your present debts. Tim. Let all my land be sold. Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone; Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend. Tim. You tell me true. Flav. If you suspect my husbandry, or false- Call me before the exactest auditors, I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock, Tim. Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of How many prodigal bits have slaves, and peasants, lord Timon's? Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon? Tim. Come, sermon me no further: To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart; |