Luc. Here, at your lordship's service. By night frequents my house. I am a man Well; what further? The man is honest. Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon: His honesty rewards him in itself, It must not bear my daughter. Does she love him? Old Ath. She is young, and apt: Tim. [To Lucilius.] Love you the maid? Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world, How shall she be endow'd, Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in fuIf she be mated with an equal husband? Tim. This gentleman of mine hath served me To build his fortune, I will strain a little, For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter; Most noble lord, Pawn me to this your honour, she is his. Tim. My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise. Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: Never may That state of fortune fall into my keeping, Which is not ow'd to you! [Exeunt Lucilius and old Athenian, Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship! Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon Go not away.-What have you there, my friend? (3) To advance their conditions of life. Apem. Trafic confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee! Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant. Tim. What trumpet's that? us. 'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to [Exeunt some attendants You must needs dine with me :-Go not you hence Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done, Show me this piece.-I am joyful of your sights.Most welcome, sir! Enter Alcibiades, with his company. [They salute. Apem. So, so; there!-Aches contract and starve your supple joints !That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey.* Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight. Tim. Right welcome, sir: Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. [Exeunt all but Apemantus. 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. And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes 2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, 1 Lord. 2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company. Nor is he fit for it, indeed. I Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Timon; caine 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. Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number I wonder, men dare trust themselves with men: Shall Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been prov'd. [Exeunt. Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals; notes: SCENE II-The same. A room of state in Then attending; then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lu- throats. 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, Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the Those healths will make thee, and the 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, 'im. O, by no means, Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love; I gave it freely ever; and there's none If our betters play at that game, we must not dare [They all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon. Was but devis'd at first, to set a gloss But where there is true friendship, there needs none. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it. Tim. O, Apemantus !-you are welcome. You shall not make me welcome: 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! 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. Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame: 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 gratiffed 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 (1) Meed here means desert. (3) Anger is a short madness. charge of obligations. 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 Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done; themselves have provided that I shall have much Men shut their doors against a setting sun. help from you: How had you been my friends else? The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of why have you that charitable title from thousands, Timon; and, to show their loves, each singles did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; more of you to myself, than you can with modesty a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease. speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm. Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, you. O, you gods, think I, what need we have any fair ladies, friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, ne'er have use for them: and would most resemble Which was not half so beautiful and kind; sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre, sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished And entertain'd me with mine own device; myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you.— I am to thank you for it. 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. bastard. 3 Lord. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much. Apem. Much! Cupid. Hail to thee, worthy Timon;-and to all 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 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 Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears (1) i. e. Arrived at the perfection of happiness. (2) Endearing. (3) Much, was formerly an expression of contemptuous admiration. 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. Tim. Flavius, [Exeunt Cupid, and Ladies. The little casket bring me hither. 1 Lord. Where be our men? 2 Lord. Our horses. Here, my lord, in readiness. O my friends, I have one word Accept, and wear it, kind my lord. 1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,- Scene II. Tim. I'll hunt with him; And let them be re- Not without fair reward. What will this come to? Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this, Happier is he that has no friend to feed, Than such as do even enemies exceed. [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. 3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty! Sen. And late, five thousand to Varro; and to He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum, 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 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,- No, I'll nothing: for, Apem. Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me, thou (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. VOL. II. Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon, Caph. Enter Caphis. Here, sir; What is your pleasure? Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'd Sen. I go, sir?-Take the bonds along with you, Go. [Exeunt. A hall in Timon's SCENE II.-The same. Flav. No care, no stop! so senseless of expense, (4) i. e. Be ruined by his securities entered into. N 2 |