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

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

1 Lord. I'll keep you company.

Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

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
[Exeunt. Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous
Great men should drink with harness on their

SCENE II.-The same. A room of state in
Timon's house. Hautboys playing loud music.
A great banquet served in; Flavius and others
attending; then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lu-
cius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian
Senators, with Ventidius, and attendants.
comes, dropping after all, Apemantus, discon-
tentedly.

Then

notes:

throats.

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

round.

2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Арет. Flow this way! A brave fellow!-he keeps his tides well. Timon, Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the Those healths will make thee, and thy state look ill.

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 1 deriv'd liberty.

l'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

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.
Apem.

You shall not make me welcome:

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.
Amen. So fall to't·

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 No, such a feast.

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a hu-
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.

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

(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

tharge of obligations.

(3) 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 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 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 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.

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.

I

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.
[Tucket sounded."Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind;'

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

much.

Apem. Much !3

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.

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.

2 Serv. May it please your honour, the lord
Lucius,

Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.
Tim. I shall accept them fairly: let the presents

Enter a third Servant.

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.

Tim. I'H hunt with him; And let them be receiv'd,

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,

[Exit.

Than such as do even enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
Tim.
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.

3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty!

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:

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

that.

Tim. You may take my word, my lord; I know,

Am I to you.

2 Lord.

And so

So infinitely endear'd,-
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.
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.

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. (s) 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;

Impórtune 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. 1 go, sir.

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

Caph.
Sen.

Go. [Exeunt.

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.
(6) Stopped.

N2

180

Was to be so unwise, to be so kind

What shall be done? He will not hear, till feel:
I must be round with him now he comes from hunt-

Enter Caphis, and the Servants of Isidore and him yet.

Caph.

Varro.

Good even,' Varro: What,

You come for money?
Var. Serv.

Is't not your business too?
Caph. It is ;-And yours too, Isidore?
Isid. Serv.

Caph. 'Would we were all discharg'd!
Var. Serv.

Caph. Here comes the lord.

It is so.

I fear it.

Enter Timon, Alcibiades, and Lords, &c.
Tim. So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,
My Alcibiades.-With me? What's your will?
Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
Tim. Dues? Whence are you?
Caph.

Of Athens here, my lord.
Tim. Go to my steward.

Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awak'd by great occasion,

To call upon his own; and humbly prays you,
That with your other noble parts you'll suit,
In giving him his right.

Tim.

2

Mine honest friend,
I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning.
Caph. Nay, good my lord.
Tim.
Contain thyself, good friend.
Var. 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.

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. [Exit 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.

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; Ape-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.

(1) Good even was the usual salutation from пооп,

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.

Flav. If you suspect my husbandry, or falsehood,
Call me before the exactest auditors,
And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been oppress'd
With riotous feeders; when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine; when every room
Hath blaz'd with lights, and bray'd with min-
strelsy;

I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock,*
And set mine eyes at flow.

Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!

How many prodigal bits have slaves, and peasants,
This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?

(1) He does not mean, so great a sum, but a certain sum.

(2) i. e. As the world itself may be comprised in a word, you might give it away in a breath. (3) The apartments allotted to culinary offices, &c.

(4) A pipe with a turning stopple running to

What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is lord
Timon's?

Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon?
Ah! when the means are gone, that buy this praise,
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:
Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter-showers,
These flies are couch'd.
Come, sermon me no further:
No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart;
Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience
lack,

1