Ape. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feigned; he is so.

Ape. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labor: he, that loves to be flattered, is worthy o' the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!

Timon. What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

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

Timon. What, thyself?
Ape. Ay.

Timon. Wherefore?

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

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Ape. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it.

Ape. Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee!

Trumpets sound.

Enter SERVANT.

"Tis Alcibiades, and

Timon. What trumpet's that?

Ser.

Some twenty horse, all of companionship.

Timon. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to [Exeunt some Attendants.

us.

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!

[they salute.

Aches contract and starve your supple joints!

That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet

knaves,

And all this courtesy! The strain 1 of man's bred

out

Into baboon and monkey.

Alc. Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight.

Timon.
Right welcome, sir:
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? Ape. Time to be honest.

1 Lord. That time serves still.

Ape. The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast. Ape. Ay, to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.

2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Ape. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

1 Race.

Ape. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

1 Lord Hang thyself.

Ape. 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.

Ape. I will fly, like 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

2 Lord. He pours it out: Plutus, the god of gold, Is but his steward: no meed,1 but he repays Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,

But breeds the giver a return exceeding

All use of quittance.2

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.

1 Desert.

All the customary returns made in discharge of obligations.

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 honor'd Timon, it hath pleased 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 derived liberty.

Timon.

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!

[they all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon.
Timon.
Nay, my lords, ceremony
Was but devised 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. Ape. Ho, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have you

not?

Timon. O, Apemantus! you are welcome.
Ape.

You shall not make me welcome :

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

No,

Timon. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a humor there

Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.

They say, my lords, ira furor brevis est,1
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.

Ape. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon;
I come to observe; I give thee warning on 't.

Timon. 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.

Ape. I scorn thy meat: 'twould choke me; for I should

Ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number

1 Anger is a short madness.