Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus. Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Timon.

Tim. Whither art going?

Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.

Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus ? Apem. The best, for the innocence.

Tim. Wrought he not well that painted it? Apem. He wrought better, that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.

Pain. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation; What's she, if I be a dog ?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

Apem. No; I eat not, lords.

Tim. An thou should'st, thoud'st anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension.

Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour.

Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? Apem. Not so well as plain dealing*, which will not cost a man a doit.

Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth?
Apem. Not worth my thinking.--How now, poet?
Poet. How now, philosopher?

Apem. Thou liest.

Poet. Art not one?

Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.

Apem. Art not a poet?

Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so. Apem. Yes, he is 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 would'st 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. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will

not!

Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Traffick'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 [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.

us.

Enter Alcibiades, with his coтрапу.

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 court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey*.

Alcib. Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed most hungrily on your sight.

Right welcome, sir:

Tim.
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 i'st, Apemantus?

Apem. Time to be honest.

1 Lord. That time serves still.

Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omit'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 1

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, like a dog, the heels of the ass.

[Fxit.

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
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,

But breeds the giver a return exceeding

All use of quittancet.

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 musick. 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 pleased 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.

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.

[They all stand ceremoniously looking on

Timon.

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.

VOL. VIII.

C

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. 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:

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

No,

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 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 prov'd.

* Anger is a short madness.

+ The allusion is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit, by being gratified with the blood of an animal which they kill, and the wonder is, that the animal on which they are feeding, cheers them to the chase.