1st Lord. Hang thyself. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend. 2nd Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass. [Exit. 1st Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in, And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes 2nd Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays All use of quittance. SCENE II.. The same. Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet My father's age, and call him to long peace. Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.— They say, my lords, “Ira furor brevis est,” But yond' man's ever angry. Go, let him have a table by himself; Apem. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon; I 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'y thee, let my meat make thee silent. Apem. I scorn thy meat! 't would 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 I wonder men dare trust themselves with men : Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been proved. notes: Great men should drink with harness on their throats. Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round. 2nd Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keep 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. 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 't is to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you. Apem. Thou weep'st to make them drink, Timon. 2nd 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. 3rd Lord. I promise you, my lord, you moved me much. As this pomp shews to a little oil and root. Who lives, that's not depravéd or depraves? 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 shew 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, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, 1st 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 Ladies. 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 shouldWhen all's spent, he'd be crossed then, an he could. "Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind; That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. [Exit, and returns with the casket. 1st Lord. Where be our men? Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness. 2nd Lord. Our horses? Tim. O, my friends, I have one word To say to you:-Look you, my good lord, I must entreat you, honour me so much As to advance this jewel; Accept, and wear it, kind my lord. 1st Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,All. So are we all. Enter a Servant. Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate Newly alighted, and come to visit you. Tim. They are fairly welcome. Be worthily entertained.-How now, what news? 3rd 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. Tim. I'll hunt with him; and let them be received, Not without fair reward. Flav. What will this come to? [Aside. 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, Happier is he that has no friend to feed, I bleed inwardly for my lord. [Exit. Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits : Here, my lord, a trifle of our love. 2nd Lord. With more than common thanks I will receive it. 3rd 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 liked it! 2nd 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. O, none so welcome. Tim. I take all and your several visitations So kind to heart, 't is 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 Alcib. Ay, defiled land, my lord. 2nd Lord. So infinitely endeared,— Tim. All to you.-Lights, more lights! 1st Lord. The best of happiness, Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon! Tim. Ready for his friends. Apem. [Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, &c. Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums! legs: Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies. Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be good to thee. No, I'll nothing: for, Арет. If I should be bribed too, there would be none left To rail upon thee; and then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me, thou Thy heaven from thee. O, that men's ears should SCENE I.-Athens. A Room in a Senator's House. He owes nine thousand), besides my former sum, Caph. Enter CAPHIS. Here, sir: what is your pleasure? Impórtune him for my monies; be not ceased 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 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 hunting. Fie, fie, fie, fie! Enter CAPHIS, and the Servants of ISIDORE and |