Apemantus discontentedly.
Ven.
Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the Gods
To call my father's age unto 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
I deriv'd liberty.
Tim.
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.
Tim.
Nay, 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 none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes,
Than they to me.
[They sit down.
Luc.
We always have confest it.
Apem.
Ho, ho, confest it? hang'd it, have you not?
Tim.
O Apemantus, you are welcome.
Apem.
No; you shall not make me welcome. I come
to have thee thrust me out of doors.
Tim.
Fie, th'art a churle; ye have got a humour there
Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame:
They say, my lords, that Ira furor brevis est,
But yonder man is ever angry.
Go, let him have a table by himself:
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for't, indeed.
-- 234 --
Apem.
Let me stay at thy peril, Timon; I come to
observe, I give thee warning on't.
Tim.
I take no heed of thee; th'art an Athenian, therefore
welcome; I my self would have no Power—pr'ythee
let my meat make thee silent.
Apem.
I scorn thy meat, 'twould choak me: for I
should ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number of
men eat Timon, and he sees 'em 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 th' readiest man to kill him. 'Thas been prov'd.
Were I a Great man, I should fear, to drink,
Lest they should spy my wind-pipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness 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
sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i'th' mire:
This and my food are equal, 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 my self;
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.
-- 235 --
Amen, Amen; So fall to't:
Rich men sin, and I eat root.
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 wish my friend at such a feast.
Apem.
Would all these flatterers were thine enemies
then; that thou might'st 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 express
some part of our zeals, we should think our selves
for ever perfect.
Tim.
Oh, no doubt, my good friends, but the Gods
themselves have provided that I shall have as much help
from you: how had you been my friends else? why have
you that charitable title from thousands, did not you
chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to
my self, than you can with modesty speak in your own
behalf. And thus far I confirm you. Oh you Gods,
(think I,) what need we have any friends, if we should
never have need of 'em? they would most resemble sweet
Instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to
themselves. Why I have often wisht my self 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 made away ere't can be born;
mine eyes cannot hold water, methinks: to forget their
faults, I drink to you.
Apem.
Thou weep'st to make them drink, Timon.
Lucul.
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.
3 Lord.
I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much.
Apem.
Much!
-- 236 --
Sound Tucket.
Tim.
What means that trump? how now?
Enter servant.
Ser.
Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most
desirous of admittance.
Tim.
Ladies? what are their wills?
Serv.
There comes with them a fore-runner, my lord,
which bears that office to signifie their pleasures.
Tim.
I pray, let them be admitted.
Enter Cupid with a Masque of ladies, as Amazons.
Cup.
Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
That of his bounties taste! The five best Senses
Acknowledge thee their patron; and do come
Freely to gratulate thy plenteous bosom:
Th' Ear, Taste, Touch, Smell, pleas'd from thy Table rise,(7) note
These only now come but to feast thine eyes.
Tim.
They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance.
Let musick make their welcome.
Luc.
You see, my lord, how amply you're belov'd.
Apem.
Hoyday! 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 shews to a little oyl and root.
We make our selves fools, to disport our selves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Upon whose age we void it up again,
With poisonous spight and envy—
-- 237 --
Who lives, that's not depraved, or depraves?
Who dies, that bears not one Spurn to their graves
Of their friends gift?—
I should fear, those, that dance before me now,
Would one day stamp upon me: 'T has been done;
Men shut their doors against the setting sun.
The lords rise from table, with much adoring of Timon;
each singling 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,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind:
You've added worth unto't, and lively lustre,
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 worst is filthy, and would not hold
taking, I doubt me.
Tim.
Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you.
Please you to dispose your selves.
All La.
Most thankfully, my lord.
[Exeunt.
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's humour,
Else I should tell him—well—i'faith, I should,
When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then if he could:(8) note
'Tis pity, Bounty has not eyes behind;
-- 238 --
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
Luc.
Where be our men?
Ser.
Here, my lord, in readiness.
Lucul.
Our horses.
Tim.
O my good friends!
I have one word to say to you; look, my lord,
I must entreat you, honour me so much
As to advance this jewel, accept, and wear it,
Kind my lord!
Luc.
I am so far already in your gifts,—
All.
So are we all.
[Ex. Lucius and Lucullus.
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.
Re-enter Flavius.
Fla.
I beseech your Honour, vouchsafe me a word; it
does concern you near.
Tim.
Near! why then another time I'll hear thee.
I pr'ythee, let's be provided to shew them entertainment.
Flav.
I scarce know how.
Enter another servant.
2 Serv.
May it please your Honour, lord Lucius, out
of his free love, hath presented to you four milk-white
horses trapt in silver.
-- 239 --
Tim.
I shall accept them fairly: let the Presents
Be worthily entertain'd.
Enter a third servant.
How now? what news?
3 Ser.
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? 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 shew 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 ev'ry word:
He is so kind, that he pays interest for't:
His land's put to their books. Well, would I were
Gently put out of office, ere I were forc'd.
Happier is he that has no friend to feed,
Than Such that do e'en enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
[Exit.
Tim.
You do your selves much wrong, you bate too
much of your own merits. Here, my lord, a trifle of
our love.
1 Lord.
With more than common thanks I will receive
it.
3 Lord.
He has the very soul of bounty.
Tim.
And now I remember, my lord, you gave good
words the other day of a bay Courser I rode on.
'Tis yours, because you lik'd it.
2 Lord.
Oh, 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. I weigh
my friends affection with my own; I'll tell you true. I'll
call on you.
All Lords.
O, none so welcome.
-- 240 --
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; thy living
Is 'mongst the dead; and all the lands thou hast
Lye in a pitcht field.
Alc.
I defie land, my lord.
1 Lord.
We are so virtuously bound—
Tim.
And so am I to you.
2 Lord.
So infinitely endear'd—
Tim.
All to you. Lights! more lights, more lights.
3 Lord.
The best of happiness, honour and fortunes,
Keep with you, lord Timon—
Tim.
Ready for his friends.
[Exeunt lords.
Apem.
What a coil's here,
Serving of becks and jutting out of bums!(9) note
I doubt, whether their legs be worth the sums
That are giv'n 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 would be good to thee.
Apem.
No, I'll nothing; for if I should be brib'd
too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and
then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv'st so long,
-- 241 --
Timon, (10) note
I fear me, thou wilt give away thy self in paper
shortly. What need these feasts, pomps, and vain-glories?
Tim.
Nay, if you begin to rail on society once, I am
sworn not to give regard to you. Farewel, and come
with better musick.
[Exit.
Apem.
So—(11) note
thou wilt not hear me now, thou shalt not then.
I'll lock thy heaven from thee:
Oh, that mens ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
[Exit.
-- 242 --
Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
