K

2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

Go, let him have a table by himself;

Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I For he does neither affect company,"

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.
[Exit.
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.2

1 Lord.
The noblest mind he carries,
That ever govern'd man.

2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes!
we in?

1 Lord. I'll keep you company.

Shall

I

Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

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

notes:

Great men should drink with harness' on their

throats.

[Exeunt. Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals; SCENE II.-The same. A room of state in Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous Timon's house. Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquel served in; Flavius and others attending; then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius, and attendants. Then comes, dropping 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
riv'd liberty.

im.

O, by no means,

Honest Ventidius: you mistake 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
To imitate them; Faults that are rich, are fair.
Ven. A noble spirit.

They all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon.
Tim.
Nay, my lords, ceremony

Was but devis'd at first, to set a gloss
On faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;

But where there is true friendship, there needs

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,
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."

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 No, such a feast.

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

Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a hu- me to 'em.
mour 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.

(1) Meed here means desert.

1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby

(4) The allusion is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit, by being gratified with the blood of an animal which they kill: and the wonder is, that the

(2) i. e. All the customary returns made in dis-animal, on which they are feeding, cheers them to

charge of obligations.

(5) Anger is a short madness.

the chase.

(5) Armour. (6) With sincerity. (7) Foolish.

we might express some part of our zeals, we should Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift? think ourselves for ever perfect.' 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. 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,

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 charitable2 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 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. I 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 make 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.

much.

3 Lord. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me
Apem. Much!3
[Tucket sounded.
Tim. What means that trump ?-How now?

Enter a Servant.

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 plea

sures.

Tim. I pray, let them be admitted.

Enter Cupid.

Cupid. 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.
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

not

Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears

(1) i. e. Arrived at the perfection of happiness.

(2) Endearing.

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;
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.

[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.
When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could.
Else I should tell him,-Well,-I'faith, I should,
'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.

2 Lord. Our horses.
Tim.

Here, my lord, in readiness.

O my friends, I have one word
Entreat you, honour me so much, as to
To say to you:-Look you, my good lord, I must
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.

Be worthily entertain'd.-How now, what news?
3 Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable
gentleman, lord Lucullus, entreats your company
to-morrow to hunt with him; and has sent your
honour two brace of greyhounds.

(4) Shakspeare plays on the word crossed: allu

(3) Much, was formerly an expression of con- ding to the piece of silver money called a cross. temptuous admiration.

(5) For his nobleness of soul.

Not without fair reward.
Flav. [Aside.]

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 land's 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.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
Tim.

[Exit.

You do yourselves
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.

Thou'lt not hear me now,-thou shalt not then,
I'll lock

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

ACT II.

[Exit.

SCENE I-The same. A room in a Senator's
house. 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:

3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty!
Tim. And now I remember me, my lord, you gave If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more

Good words the other day of a bay courser
I rode on it is yours, because you lik'd it.

3 Lord. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in

Gan justly praise, but what he does affect:
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
I'll tell you true. I'll call on you.

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

Tim. All to you.2-Lights, more lights.
1 Lord.
The best of happiness,
Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon!
Tim. Ready for his friends.
[Exeunt Alcibiades, Lords, &c.
Avem.
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.

No, I'll nothing: for,

Apem.
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?

(1) i. e. Could dispense them on every side with
an ungrudging distribution, like that with which I
could deal out cards.

(2) i. e. All happiness to you.
(3) Offering salutations.

VOL. II.

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!

Caph.

Enter Caphis.

Here, sir; What is your pleasure?
Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to lord
Timon;

Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'd
With slight denial; nor then silenc'd, when-
Commend me to your master-and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus:-but, tell him, sirrah,
My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates
Have smit my credit: I love, and honour him;
But must not break my back, to heal his finger:
Immediate are my needs; and my relief
Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate aspect,
A visage of demand; for, I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.
Caph. I go, sir.

Sen. I go, sir?-Take the bonds along with you
And have the dates in compt.
I will sir.

SCENE II.-The same. A hall in Timon's
house. Enter Flavius, with many bills in his
hand.

Flav. No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: Takes no account
How things go from him; nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue; Never mind

(4) i. e. Be ruined by his securities entered into.
(5) By his heaven he means good advice; the
only thing by which he could be saved.

I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning.
Caph. Nay, good my lord.
Tun.
Contain thyself, good friend.
Ver. Serv. One Varro's servant, my good lord,—
Isid. Serv.
From Isidore;
He humbly prays your speedy payment,-
Caph. If you did know, my lord, my master's

wants,

Var. Serv. "Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks,

And past,

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?
Apem. Asses.

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 super scription of these letters; I know not which is which.

Apem. Canst not read?

Page. No.

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.

Page. Thou wast whelped a dog; and thou shalt famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone. [Eril Page.

Apem. Even so thou out-run'st grace. Fool, I

Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my lord; will go with you to lord Timon's. And I am sent expressly to your lordship.

Tim. Give me breath :

I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on ;

[Exeunt Alcibiades and Lords.
I'll wait upon you instantly.-Come hither, pray
[To Flavius.
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?

Flav.
Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business:
Your importunacy cease, till after dinner;
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.

Tim.

Sce them well entertain'd.
Flas.

Do so, my friends:
[Exit Timon.

I pray, draw near.
[Exit Flavius.

Enter Apemantus and a Fool.

Fool. Will you leave me there?

Apem. If Timon stay at home.-You three serve three usurers.

All Serv. Ay; 'would they served us! 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 & 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;

Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Ape- sometime, like a lawyer; sometime, like a philoso

mantus; let's have some sport with 'em.

Var. Serv. Hang him, he'll abuse us.

Isid. Serv. A plague upon him, dog!

Var. Serv. How dost, fool?

Apem. Dost dialogue with thy shadow?

Var. Serv. I speak not to thee.

(1) Good even was the usual salutation from hoon.

pher, 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 four-
score to thirteen, this spirit walks in.

Var. Serv. Thou art not altogether a fool.
Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much

(2) i. e. To hunting; in our author's time it was the custom to hunt as well after dinner as before.