Nor is he fit for't, indeed.

Apem. Let me stay at thy peril, Timon; I come to obferve, I give thee warning on't.

Tim. I take no heed of thee: th'art an Athenian, therefore welcome; I myfelf would have no power-pr'ythee, let my meat make thee filent.

Apem. I fcorn thy meat, 'twould choak me: for I fhould ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number of men eat Timon, and he fees 'em not? It grieves me to fee So many dip their meat in one man's blood,

And, all the madness is, he cheers them up too.
I wonder, men dare truft themselves with men !
Methinks, they fhould invite them without knives ;
Good for their meat, and fafer 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 th' readiest man to kill him. 'T has been prov'd.
Were I a Great man, I should fear to drink,

Left they should fpy my wind-pipe's dangerous notes: Great men fhould drink with harnefs on their throats. Tim. My Lord, in heart; and let the health go round. Lucul. Let it flow this way, my good Lord.

Apem. Flow this way!-a brave fellow ! he keeps his tides well; those healths will make thee and thy state look ill, Timon. Here's that which is too weak to be a finner, honeft water, which ne'er left man i'th' mire : This and my food are equal, there's no odds; Feafts are too proud to give thanks to the Gods. Apemantus's grace.

Immortal God's, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself;
Grant, I may never prove jo fond
To trust man on his oath, or bond;
Or a harlot for her weeping;
Or a dog, that jeems a fleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I should need'em.
Amea, Amen; So fall to't:
Rich men fin, and I eat root.

Much

Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
Tim. Captain, Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.
Alc. My heart is ever at your service, my Lord.

Tim. You had rather been at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends.

Alc. So they were bleeding new, my Lord, there's no meat like 'em. I could with my friend at fuch a feast. Apem. Would all these flatterers were thine enemies then; that thou might'ft kill 'em, and bid me to 'em! Luc. Might we but have the happiness, my Lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might exprefs fome part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

Tim. Oh, no doubt, my good friends, but the Gods themselves have provided that I fhall have as much help from how had you: been my you friends elfe? why have you that charitable title from thousands, did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myfelf, than you can with modefty speak in your own behalf. And thus far I confirm you. Oh you Gods, (think I,) what need we have any friends, if we fhould never have need of 'em? they would most resemble sweet Inftruments hung up in cafes, that keep their founds to themselves. Why, I have often wifht myfelf 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 fo many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere't can be born; mine eyes cannot hold water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apem. Thou weep'ft to make them drink, Timon. Lucul. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And at that inftant like a babe fprung up.

Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a baftard. 3 Lord. I promife you, my Lord, you mov'd me much. Apem. Much!

Sound Tucket.

Tim. What means that trump? how now?

Enter

Enter fervant.

Serv. Please you, my Lord, there are certain ladies moft defirous of admittance.

Tim. Ladies? what are their wills?

Serv. There comes with them a fore-runner, my Lord, which bears that office to fignify their pleafues. Tim. I pray, let them be admitted.

Enter Cupid with a Mafque of Ladies, as Amazons.
Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
That of his bounties tafte! the five beft fenfes
Acknowledge thee their patron; and do come
Freely to gratulate thy plenteous bofom:

Th' Ear, Tafte, Touch, Smell, pleas'd from thy table rife, (7)

Thefe only now come but to feast thine eyes.

Tim. They're welcome all; let 'em have kind ad

mittance.

Let mufick make their welcome.

Lic. You fee, my Lord, how amply you're belov'd. Apem. Hoyday! what a fweep of vanity comes this way! They dance, they are mad women.

Like madness is the glory of this life;

As this pomp fhews to a little oil and root.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Upon whofe age we void it up again,
With poisonous fpite and envy-

Who lives, that's not depraved, or depraves?
Who dies, that bears not one spurn to their

(7) There tafte, touch, all, pleas'd from thy Table rife:

graves

They only now-] The incomparable Emendation, with which the Text is here fupplied, I owe to my ingenious Friend Mr. Warburton. The five Senfes, as he obferves, are talked of by Cupid, but only three of them made out; and thofe in a very heavy, unintelligible Manner. But now you have them all, and the Poet's Senfe, compleat, viz. The five Senfes, Timon, acknowledge thee their Patron; Four of them, the Hearing, the Touch, the Tafte, and Smell, are all regaled at your Board; and thefe Ladies come with me to entertain your Sight, in presenting the Mafque.

of

Of their friends' gift?

I should fear, thofe, that dance before me now,
Would one day ftamp upon me: 'T has been done;
Men fhut their doors against the fetting fun.

The Lords rife from table, with much adoring of Timon ; each fingling out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; a lofty ftrain or two to the hautboys, and ceafe.

Ti. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,

Which was not half fo beautiful and kind:
You've added worth unto't, and lively luftre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device.
I am to thank you for it.

Luc. My Lord, you take us even at the best. Apem. 'Faith, for the worft 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 La. Moft thankfully, my Lord.

Tim. Flavius,"

Flav. My Lord.

Tim. The little casket bring me hither.

[Exeunt.

Flav. Yes, my Lord. More jewels yet? there is no croffing him in's humour,

Elfe I fhould tell him-well-i'faith, I should,

When all's spent, he'd be crofs'd then if he could: (8) 'Tis pity, bounty has not eyes behind;

(8) —he'd be cross'd then if he could:] The Poet does not mean here, that he would be cross d, or thwarted in Humour; but that he would have his Hand crofs'd, as we fay, with Money, if he could.. He is playing on the Word, and alluding to our old Silver-penny, ufed before King Edward the firft his Time, which had a Crofs on the Reverse with a Crease, that it might be more easily broke into Halves and Quarters, Half-pence and Farthings. From this Penny, and other fubfequent Pieces that bore the like Imprefs, was our common expreffion derived, I have not a Crofs about me; i. e. not a Piece of Money. I thought, this Note might not be unneceffary because it ferves to explain ferveral other Paffages, where the Poet has punn'd on this Term.

F 2

"Tis

That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
Lucul. Where be our men?

Serv. Here, my Lord, in readiness.
Luc. Our horfes.

Tim. O my good friends!

I have one word to fay to you; look, my Lord,
I must entreat you, honour me fo much

As to advance this jewel, accept and wear it,
Kind my Lord!

Luc. Í am so far already in your gifts

All. So are we all.

[Exeunt Lucius, Lucullus, &c.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. My Lord, there are certain Nobles of the Senate newly alighted, and come to vifit you.

Tim. They are fairly welcome.

Re-enter Flavius.

Flav. I befeech your Honour, vouchsafe me a word ; It does concern you near.

Tim. Near! Why then another time I'll hear thee. Ipr'ythee, let's be provided to fhew them entertainment. Flav. I fcarce know how.

Enter another Servant.

2 Serv. May it please your Honour, Lord Lucius, out of his free love, hath prefented to you four milk-white horfes trapt in filver.

Tim. I fhall accept them fairly let the prefents Be worthily entertain'd.

Enter a third Servant,

How now? what news?

3 Serv. Pleafe you, my Lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him, and has fent your Honour two brace of grey-hounds.

Tim. I'll hunt with him; and let them be received, not without fair reward.

Flav., What will this come to? he commands us to

provide,