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's worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He, that loves to be flattered, is worthy o' the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart.

Tim. What, thyself? Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.-Art not thou a merchant?

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffic 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? Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us. [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.

Enter Alcibiades, with his Company.

Most welcome, sir!

Apem.

So, so; there!

[They salute.

Aches contract and starve your supple joints !—

That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet

knaves,

And all this cour'tsy! 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 Apem.

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 omitt'st it. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast? Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.

2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well. Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

Apem. Shouldst 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, äike a dog, the heels of the ass. "[Exit.

1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes

The very heart of kindness.

2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays Seven fold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a return exceeding All 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.

SCENE II-The same. A Room of State in Timon's House. Hautboys playing loud music. A great Banquet served in; Flavius and others attending; then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lucius, Lucullus. Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius, and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus, discontentedly.

Ven. Most honour'd Timon 't hath pleas'd the 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, Doubled, with thanks, and service, from whose help I deriv'd liberty.

1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it.
Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have you not?
Tim. O, Apemantus !-you are welcome.
Apem.

You shall not make me welcome:

No,

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, that ira furor brevis est,
But yond' man's ever angry.
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: I myself 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 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 prov'd.
If I

Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their 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!

[Eats and drinks.

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 our selves forever 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 never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them: 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 a nother's fortunes! O joy, e'en made 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. 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 fore-runner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures Tim. I pray, let them be admitted.

If I should be brib'd too, there would be none left

SCENE II-The same. A Hall in Timon's House.
Enter Flavius, with many bills in his hand.
Flav. No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: Takes no account
How things go from him; nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue; Never mind
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.

What shall be done? He will not hear, till feel:

I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.

faster.

SCENE 1.-The same. A Room in a Senator's House. Enter a Senator, with Papers in his hand. Senator.

AND late, five thousand to Varro; and to Isidore He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum, Which makes it five and twenty.-Still in motion Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not. If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog, And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold: If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more Better than he, why, give my horse to Tinion, Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight, And able horses: No porter at his gate; But rather one that smiles, and still invites All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say!

Importune him for my monies; be not ceas'd
With slight denial; nor then silenc'd, when-
Commend me to your master-and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus:-but tell him, sirrah,
My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates

Have smit my credit: I love, and honour him;
But must not break my back, to heal his finger:
Immediate are my needs; and my relief
Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate aspect,
A visage of demand; for, I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked guli,
Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.
Caph. I go, sir.

Sen. I go, sir?-Take the bonds along with you, And have the dates in compt.

Caph. Here comes the lord.

Enter Timon, Alcibiades, and Lords, &c. Tim. So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again, My Alcibiades.-With me? what's your will? Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues. Tim. Dues? Whence are you? Caphe

Of Athens here, my lord.

Tim. Go to my steward. Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off To the succession of new days this month : My master is awak'd by great occasion, To call upon his own; and humbly prays you, That with your other noble parts you'll suit, In giving him his right.

Tim.

Mine honest friend,

Var. Serv. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks,

And past,

Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my And I am sent expressly to your lordship Tim. Give me breath :

lord;

I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;
[Exeunt Alcibiades and Lerds.
I'll wait upon you instantly. Come hither, pray you.
[To Flavius.

How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd
With clamorous demands of date-broke bonds,
And the detention of long-since-due debts,
Against my honour?

Flav.
Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business:
Your importunacy cease, till after dinner;
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.

Tim.

See them well entertain'd.

Flav.

Do so, my friends:
[Bait Timon.

I pray, draw near. [Exit Fla

Enter Apemantus and a Fool.

Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus; let's have some sport with 'em.

Vor. Serv. Hang him, he'll abuse us. Isid. Serv. A plague upon him, dor!

Page. No.

Apem. There will little learning die then, that day jou art hanged. This to lord Timon; this to Aleiiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou'lt ie a bawd.

Page. Thou wast whelped a dog; and thou shalt mish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone. [Exit. Apem. Even so thou out-runn'st grace. Fool, I will with you to lord Timon's.

Fool. Will you leave me there?

Apem. If Timon stay at home.-You three serve tree usurers?

All Serv. Ay; 'would they served us!

Apem. So would I,-as good a trick as ever hangan served thief.

Fool. Are you three usurers' men?

All Serv. Ay, fool.

Feel. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his servant: ly mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and go way merry; but they enter my mistress's house merily, and go away sadly: The reason of this?

Var. Serv. I could render one.

Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee a choremaster, and a knave; which notwithstanding, hou shalt be no less esteem'd.

Var. Serv. What is a whoremaster, fool?

He is very

Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. Tis a spirit: sometime, it appears like a lord; someime, like a lawyer; sometime, like a philosopher, with wo stones more than his artificial one. ften like a knight; and, generally in all shapes, that nan goes up and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, his spirit walks in.

Far. Serv. Thou art not altogether a fool.

anon.

At many leisures I propos'd.

Tim.
Go to:
Perchance, some single vantages you took,
When my indisposition put you back;
And that unaptness made your minister,
Thus to excuse yourself.

Flav.
O my good lord!
At many times I brought in my accounts,
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
And say, you found them in mine honesty.
When, for some trifling present, you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head, and wept;
Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you
To hold your hand more close: I did endure
Not seldom, nor no slight checks; when I have
Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate,
And your great flow of debts. My dear-lov'd lord,
Though you hear now, (too late!) yet now's a time,
The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts.
Tim.

Let all my land be sold. Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone; And what remains will hardly stop the mouth Of present dues: the future comes apace; What shall defend the interim? and at length How goes our reckoning?

Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend. Flav. O my good lord, the world is but a word; Were it all yours to give it in a breath, How quickly were it gone?