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. 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.
-- 17 --
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.
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-pipes 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
-- 18 --
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.
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 be at a breakfast of enemies, then 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 then 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?
-- 19 --
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!
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?
Ser.
There comes with them a fore-runner, my lord, which
bears that office to signifie their pleasures.
Tim.
I pray let them be admitted.
-- 20 --
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
