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, whom TIMON redeemed from prison, and Attendants: 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. To your free heart, I do return those talents, Tim. O! by no means, If our betters play at that game, we must not dare Tim. Nay, my lords, Ceremony was but devis'd at first, To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes, But where there is true friendship, there needs none. Than my fortunes to me. [They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confessed it. 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. [there Tim. Fie! thou 'rt a churl: you have got a humour Does not become a man: 't is much to blame. They say, my lords, ira furor brevis est, But yond' man is ever' angry. 1 very in folio. Rowe made the change. Go, let him have a table by himself; Apem. Let me stay at thine apperil,1 Timon: 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; 't would 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 : Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes: 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 fire, Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire: Immortal gods, I crave no pelf; Rich men sin, and I eat root. 1 Peril. 2 sinner: in f. e. [Eats and drinks. 1 Much good do 't thy good heart, Apemantus! Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. 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 mightst 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 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 't is, 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. 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. 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 rise; They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Tim. They 're welcome all. Let them have kind admittance: Music, make their welcome. [Exit CUPID. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how amply y' are belov'd. Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with Lautes 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. Who lives, that's not depraved, or depraves? I should fear, those, that dance before me now, 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: 1 There taste, touch, all pleas'd : in folio. Warburton made the change. 2a: in f.e. You have added worth unto 't, and' lustre, 1 Lady. My lord, you take us ever 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 yourselves. All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord. Tim. Flavius ! Flav. My lord. [Exeunt CUPID and Ladies. 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: and 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. Enter another Servant. [Aside, 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. 1 Second folio inserts: lively. VOL. VI.-33 |