SCENE I.
Athens.
A Hall in Timon's House.
Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant, 2 noteat several doors.
Poet.
Good day, sir3 note
.
Pain.
I am glad you are well.
-- 318 --
Poet.
I have not seen you long; How goes the world?
Pain.
It wears, sir, as it grows.
Poet.
Ay, that's well known:
? note
But what particular rarity? what strange,
-- 319 --
Which manifold record not matches? See,
Magick of bounty! all these spirits thy power
Hath conjur'd to attend. I know the merchant.
Pain.
I know them both; the other's a jeweller.
Mer.
O, 'tis a worthy lord!
Jew.
Nay, that's most fix'd.
Mer.
A most incomparable man; 5 note
breath'd; as it were
To an untirable and continuate goodness:
He passes6 note
.
Jew.
I have a jewel here.
Mer.
O, pray, let's see't: For the lord Timon, sir?
-- 320 --
Jew.
If he will 7 notetouch the estimate: But, for that—
Poet.
8 noteWhen we for recompence have prais'd the vile,
It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.
Mer.
'Tis a good form.
[Looking on the jewel.
Jew.
And rich: here is a water, look you.
Pain.
You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
To the great lord.
Poet.
A thing slipt idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum, 9 note
which oozes
From whence 'tis nourished: The fire i'the flint
Shews not, 'till it be struck; our gentle flame
Provokes itself, 1 note
and, like the current, flies
-- 321 --
Each bound it chafes. What have you there?
Pain.
A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?
Poet.
2 noteUpon the heels of my presentment3 note
, sir.
Let's see your piece.
Pain.
'Tis a good piece.
Poet.
So 'tis: 4 note
this comes off well and excellent.
Pain.
Indifferent.
Poet.
Admirable: 5 note
How this grace
-- 322 --
Speaks his own standing? what a mental power
This eye shoots forth? how big imagination
Moves in this lip? to the dumbness of the gesture
One might interpret. 9Q0975
Pain.
It is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch; Is't good?
Poet.
I'll say of it,
It tutors nature: 6 note
artificial strife
-- 323 --
Lives in these touches, livelier than life. 9Q0976
Enter certain Senators.
Pain.
How this lord is follow'd!
Poet.
The senators of Athens;—Happy men7 note!
Pain.
Look, more!
Poet.
You see 8 note
this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment: My free drift
9 noteHalts not particularly, but moves itself
1 noteIn a wide sea of wax: 2 note
no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold;
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.
-- 324 --
Pain.
How shall I understand you?
Poet.
3 noteI'll unbolt to you.
You see, how all conditions, how all minds,
(As well of 4 noteglib and slippery creatures, as
Of grave and austere quality) tender down
Their services to lord Timon: his large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the 5 noteglass-fac'd flatterer
To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself; 6 noteeven he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod.
Pain.
I saw them speak together.
Poet.
Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: The base o' the mount
Is 7 noterank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
8 note
To propagate their states: amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
One do I personate of Timon's frame,
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;
-- 325 --
Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
Translates his rivals.
Pain.
'Tis 9 noteconceiv'd to scope.
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
1 noteIn our condition.
Poet.
Nay, sir, but hear me on:
All those which were his fellows but of late,
(Some better than his value) on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
2 noteRain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
Make sacred even his stirrop, and 3 note
through him
Drink the free air.
Pain.
Ay, marry, what of these?
Poet
When Fortune, in her shift and change of mood,
Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependants,
Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top,
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down4 note
,
Not one accompanying his declining foot.
-- 326 --
Pain.
'Tis common:
A thousand moral paintings I can shew5 note,
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortune
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well,
To shew lord Timon, that mean eyes6 note have seen
The foot above the head.
Trumpets sound. Enter Timon, addressing himself courteously to every suitor.
Tim.
Imprison'd is he, say you?
[To a messenger.
Mes.
Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt;
His means most short, his creditors most strait:
Your honourable letter he desires
To those have shut him up; which failing him,
7 note
Periods his comfort.
Tim.
Noble Ventidius! Well;
I am not of that feather, to shake off
My friend when he must need me. 9Q0977 I do know him
A gentleman, that well deserves a help,
Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt, and free him.
Mes.
Your lordship ever binds him.
Tim.
Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;
-- 327 --
And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me:—
8 note
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to support him after.—Fare you well.
Mes.
All happiness to your honour9 note!
[Exit.
Enter an old Athenian.
Old Ath.
Lord Timon, hear me speak.
Tim.
Freely, good father,
Old Ath.
Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius.
Tim.
I have so: What of him?
Old Ath.
Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.
Tim.
Attends he here, or no?—Lucilius!
Enter Lucilius.
Luc.
Here, at your lordship's service.
Old Ath.
This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy creature,
By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift;
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd,
Than one which holds a trencher.
Tim.
Well; what further?
Old Ath.
One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got:
The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest cost,
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I pr'ythee, noble lord,
-- 328 --
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.
Tim.
The man is honest.
Old Ath.
1 note
Therefore he will be, Timon:
His honesty rewards him in itself,
It must not bear my daughter.
Tim.
Does she love him?
Old Ath.
She is young, and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity is in youth.
Tim. [To Lucil.]
Love you the maid?
Luc.
Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
Old Ath.
If in her marriage my consent be missing,
I call the gods to witness, I will choose
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.
Tim.
How shall she be endow'd
If she be mated with an equal husband?
Old Ath.
Three talents, on the present; in future, all.
Tim.
This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long;
To build his fortune, I will strain a little,
For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:
-- 329 --
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,
And make him weigh with her.
Old Ath.
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: 2 note
Never may
That state or fortune fall into my keeping,
Which is not ow'd to you!
[Exit. Lucil. and old Ath.
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?
Pain.
A piece of painting; which I do beseech
Your lordship to accept.
Tim.
Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;
For since dishonour trafficks with man's nature,
He is but outside: These 3 note
pencil'd figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work;
And you shall find, I like it: wait attendance
'Till you hear further from me.
Pain.
The gods preserve you!
Tim.
Well fare you, gentleman: Give me your hand;
-- 330 --
We must needs dine together.—Sir, your jewel
Hath suffer'd under praise.
Jew.
What, my lord? dispraise?
Tim.
A meer satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
It would 4 noteunclew me quite.
Jew.
My lord, 'tis rated
As those, which sell, would give: But you well know,
Things of like value, differing in the owners,
5 noteAre prized by their masters: believe it, dear lord,
You mend the jewel by the wearing it.
Tim.
Well mock'd.
Mer.
No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
Which all men speak with him.
Tim.
Look, who comes here. Will you be chid?
6 noteEnter Apemantus.
Jew.
We will bear, with your lordship.
Mer.
He'll spare none.
7 note
Tim.
Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!
Apem.
'Till I be gentle, stay for thy good morrow;
-- 331 --
When thou art Timon's dog,8 note
and these knaves honest.
Tim.
Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.
Apem.
Are they not Athenians?
Tim.
Yes.
Apem.
Then I repent not.
Jew.
You know me, Apemantus.
Apem.
Thou know'st, I do; I call'd thee by thy name.
Tim.
Thou art proud, Apemantus.
Apem.
Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Timon.
Tim.
Whither art going?
Apem.
To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.
Tim.
That's a deed thou'lt die for.
Apem.
Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.
Tim.
How lik'st thou this picture, Apemantus?
Apem.
The best, for the innocence.
Tim.
Wrought he not well, that painted it?
Apem.
He wrought better, that made the painter;
and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.
Poet.
You are a dog.
Apem.
Thy mother's of my generation; What's she,
if I be a dog?
-- 332 --
Tim.
Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
Apem.
No; I eat not lords.
Tim.
An thou should'st, thou'dst anger ladies.
Apem.
O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.
Tim.
That's a lascivious apprehension.
Apem.
So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour.
Tim.
How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
Apem.
Not so well as plain-dealing9 note, which will not
cost a man a doit.
Tim.
What dost thou think 'tis worth?
Apem.
Not worth my thinking.—How now,
poet?
Poet.
How now, philosopher?
Apem.
Thou liest.
Poet.
Art not one?
Apem.
Yes.
Poet.
Then I lie not.
Apem.
Art not a poet?
Poet.
Yes.
Apem.
Then thou liest: look in thy last work,
where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow.
Poet.
That's not feign'd, he is so.
Apem.
Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee
for thy labour: He, that loves to be flatter'd, is worthy
o' the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!
Tim.
What would'st do then, Apemantus?
Apem.
Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord
with my heart.
Tim.
What, thyself?
Apem.
Ay.
Tim.
Wherefore?
-- 333 --
Apem.
1 note
That I had no angry wit 9Q0978 to be a lord.—
Art thou not a merchant?
Mer.
Ay, Apemantus.
Apem.
Traffick confound thee, if the gods will not!
Mer.
If traffick do it, the gods do it.
Apem.
Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound thee!
Trumpets sound. Enter a Messenger.
Tim.
What trumpet's that?
Mes.
'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship2 note.
Tim.
Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.
You must needs dine with me:—Go not you hence,
'Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done,
Shew me this piece.—I am joyful of your sights.—
-- 334 --
Enter Alcibiades, with the rest.
Most welcome, sir!
Apem.
So, so; there!—
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!—
That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves,
And all this courtesy! 3 note
The strain of man's bred out
Into baboon and monkey.
Alc.
Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed
Most hungrily on your sight.
Tim.
Right welcome, sir:
4 note
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
[Exeunt all but Apemantus.
Enter two Lords.
1 Lord.
What time a day is't, Apemantus?
Apem.
Time to be honest.
1 Lord.
That time serves still.
Apem.
The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it.
2 Lord.
Thou art going to lord Timon's feast?
Apem.
Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.
-- 335 --
2 Lord.
Fare thee well, fare thee well.
Apem.
Thou art a fool, to bid me farewel twice.
2 Lord.
Why, Apemantus?
Apem.
Should'st have kept one to thyself, for I
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.
1 Lord.
He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
And taste lord Timon's bounty? he out-goes
The very heart of kindness.
2 Lord.
He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward: no meed5 note
, but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
6 noteAll 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.
[Exeunt.
-- 336 --
SCENE II.
Another apartment in Timon's house.
Hautboys playing loud musick. A great banquet serv'd in;
and then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lucius, Lucullus,
Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius.
Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus discontentedly,
like himself.
Ven.
Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the gods to 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
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:
7 note
If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them; Faults that are rich, are fair.
-- 337 --
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 none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes,
Than they to me.
[They sit.
1 Lord.
My lord, 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.
Fye, thou art a churl; you have got a humour there
Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame:—
They say, my lords, ira furor brevis est,
But yonder man is ever angry 9Q0979.—
Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.
Apem.
Let me stay at thine own peril, Timon;
I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.
Tim.
I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian,
Therefore welcome: 8 note
I myself would have no power:
-- 338 --
I pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.
Apem.
9 note
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 them not!
It grieves me, to see 1 note
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
-- 339 --
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, pledges
The breath of him in a divided draught,
Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been prov'd.
If I were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my 2 note
wind-pipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their throats.
Tim.
3 note
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,
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.
-- 340 --
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.
Alc.
My heart is ever at your service, my lord.
Tim.
You had rather be 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 best friend at
such a feast.
Apem.
'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies
then; that 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 we might
express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves
4 notefor ever perfect.
Tim.
O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods
themselves have provided that I shall have much
help from you: 5 note
How had you been my friends else?
-- 341 --
why have you that charitable title from thousands,
6 note
did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have
told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty
speak in your behalf; and thus far 7 noteI 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: and8 note would most resemble
sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep
their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often
-- 342 --
wish'd 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! 9 noteO joy, e'en made away ere it
can be born! 1 noteMine eyes cannot hold water, methinks:
to forget their faults, I drink to you.
Apem.
Thou weep'st 2 note
to make them drink, Timon.
2 Lord.
Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
And, at that instant, 3 note
like a babe sprung up.
-- 343 --
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.
Sound Tucket.
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 fore-runner, my
lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures.
Tim.
I pray, let them be admitted.
Enter Cupid.
Cup.
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:
3 note
The ear, taste, touch, smell, pleas'd from thy table rise;
-- 344 --
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
Tim.
They are welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:—
Musick, make their welcome.
[Exit Cupid.
1 Lord.
You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd.
Musick. Re-enter Cupid, with a masque of Ladies as
Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing, and playing.
Apem.
Heyday! what a sweep of vanity comes this way!
5 note
They dance!6 note
they are mad women.
-- 345 --
Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shews 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
Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift7 note?
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,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with 8 notemine own device;
I am to thank you for it.
-- 346 --
1 Lady.
8 note
My lord, you take us even at the best9 note
.
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.
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, 1 notehe'd be cross'd then, an he could.
'Tis pity, bounty had not 2 noteeyes behind;
-- 347 --
That man might ne'er be wretched 3 notefor his mind.
[Exit, and returns with the casket.
1 Lord.
Where be our men?
Serv.
Here, my lord, in readiness.
2 Lord.
Our horses.
Tim.
O my friends, I have one word
To say to you:—Look you, my good lord, I must
Intreat you, honour me so much, as 4 note
to
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.
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.
Flav.
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 us be provided
To shew them entertainment.
Flav. [Aside.]
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.
Tim.
I shall accept them fairly: let the presents
Be worthily entertain'd.—How now? what news?
-- 348 --
Enter a third Servant.
3 Serv.
Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman,
lord Lucullus, entreats your company tomorrow
to hunt with him; and has sent your honour
two brace of greyhounds.
Tim.
I'll 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 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 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,
Than such that do even enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
[Exit.
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!
Tim.
And now I remember, my lord, you gave
Good words the other day of a bay courser
I rode on: it is yours, because you lik'd it.
2 Lord.
O, 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:
-- 349 --
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
9 note
I tell you true. I'll call on you.
All Lords.
O, none so welcome.
Tim.
I take all and your several visitations
So kind to heart, 1 note
'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: for all thy living
Is 'mongst the dead; and all the lands thou hast
Lie in a pitch'd field.
Alc.
2 note
In defiled land, my lord.
1 Lord.
We are so virtuously bound,—
Tim.
And so am I to you.
2 Lord.
So infinite endear'd,—
Tim.
All to you3 note
.—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.
-- 350 --
Apem.
What a coil's here!
4 note
Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums!
5 noteI 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.
-- 351 --
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 would'st sin the faster.
Thou giv'st so long, Timon, 6 note
I fear me, thou
Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly:
What need these feasts, pomps, and vain-glories?
Tim.
Nay,
If you begin to rail once on society,
I am sworn, not to give regard to you.
Farewel; and come with better musick.
[Exit.
Apem.
So;—
Thou wilt not hear me now,—thou shalt not then, I'll lock
7 noteThy heaven from thee. O, that men's ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
[Exit.
-- 352 --
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
