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:
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, 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 my fortunes to me.
[They sit.
1 Lord.
My lord, we always have confess'd it.
-- 517 --
Apem.
Ho, ho, confess'd 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! thou'rt 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 yond' man is ever angry4 note.
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 thine apperil5 note, 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'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
of men eat Timon, and he sees them 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 the readiest man to kill
him: it has been proved. If I were a huge man, I
should fear to drink at meals;
-- 518 --
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their throats6 note.
Tim.
My lord, in heart7 note; 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. 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' the mire:
This and my food are equals, there's no odds,
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods. 11Q0949
Apemantus' 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 heart8 note, Apemantus!
Tim.
Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field
now.
-- 519 --
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 'em: I could wish my best friend at such
a feast.
Apem.
'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies
then, that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to
'em9 note.
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
for ever perfect.
Tim.
O! no doubt, my good friends; but the gods
themselves have provided that I shall have much help
from you: how had you been my friends else? why
have you that charitable title from thousands, 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 ne'er have need of 'em? they were the most
needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for
'em; 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
'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 out water, methinks:
to forget their faults, I drink to you.
Apem.
Thou weep'st to make them drink, Timon.
-- 520 --
2 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.
3 Lord.
I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much.
Apem.
Much!
[Tucket sounded.
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 forerunner, 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. The ear,
Taste, touch, smell, pleas'd from thy table rise10 note
;
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
Tim.
They are welcome all. Let them have kind admittance:
Music, make their welcome.
[Exit Cupid.
1 Lord.
You see, my lord, how ample y'are belov'd.
-- 521 --
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 this way!
They dance! they are mad women.
Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shows 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' 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 a setting sun.
The Lords rise from Table, with much adoring of Timon;
and, to show 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 lustre1 note,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for it.
1 Lady.
My lord2 note, you take us even at the best.
-- 522 --
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 Cupid, and Ladies.
Tim.
Flavius!
Flav.
My lord.
Tim.
The little casket bring me hither.
Flav.
Yes, my lord. [Aside.] More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in his humour;
Else I should tell him,—well,—i' faith, I should,
When all's spent, he'd be cross'd 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.
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 entreat you, honour me so much,
As to advance this jewel; accept it 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's be provided to show them entertainment.
Flav.
I scarce know how.
[Aside.
-- 523 --
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, trapp'd in silver.
Tim.
I shall accept them fairly: let the presents
Enter a third Servant.
Be worthily entertain'd.—How now! what news?
3 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 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 show 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 as 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's the very soul of bounty.
-- 524 --
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:
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
I'll tell you true. I'll call to you.
All Lords.
O! none so welcome.
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; for all thy living
Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
Lie in a pitch'd field.
Alcib.
Ay, defil'd land, my lord3 note.
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!
1 Lord.
The best of happiness,
Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon.
Tim.
Ready for his friends.
[Exeunt Alcibiades, Lords, &c.
Apem.
What a coil's here!
Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums!
I doubt whether their legs4 note be worth the sums
-- 525 --
That are given 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'd 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, I fear me, thou wilt give away thyself in paper
shortly: what need these feasts, pomps, and vain
glories?
Tim.
Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I
am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and
come with better music.
[Exit.
Apem.
So;—thou wilt not hear me now;—
Thou shalt not then; I'll lock thy heaven from thee.
O, that men's ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
[Exit.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
