This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckoned from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well expressed
In our condition.

Poet.
All those which were his fellows but of late
(Some better than his value), on the moment
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
Drink the free air.

Nay, sir, but hear me on:

Pain.

Ay, marry, what of these?

Poet. When Fortune, in her shift and change of mood,

Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependents, Which laboured after him to the mountain's top, Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down, Not one accompanying his declining foot.

Pain. "Tis common:

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 shouldst, thou 'dst 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 't is 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.

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

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

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

1st Lord. Hang thyself.

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend.

2nd Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass. [Exit.

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

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.

2nd 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 quittance.

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, drop-
ping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly.
Ven. Most honoured 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.

Does not become a man; 't is much to blame.-
They say, my lords, "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 apperil, 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'y thee, 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 :
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,
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.

2nd Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way!

A brave fellow! he keep his tides well. Timon, Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill. 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.

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 them; 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.

1st 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 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 't is to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another'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 weep'st to make them drink, Timon. 2nd 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.

3rd Lord. I promise you, my lord, you moved 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 plea

sures.

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, all pleased from thy table rise; 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. 1st Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are beloved.

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 shews 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 depravéd 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. It has been done: Men shut their doors against a setting sun.

The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of TIMON; and to shew 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 fair ladies,

grace,

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't, and lively lustre,
And entertained me with mine own device:
I am to thank you for it.

1st Lady. My lord, you take us even 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 Ladies. Most thankfully, my lord. [Exeunt Cupid and Ladies.

Tim. Flavius !Flav. My lord.

Tim.

The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; [Aside. Else I should tell him-well-i' faith I should— When all's spent, he 'd be crossed 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.

1st Lord. Where be our men? Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness. 2nd 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, and wear it, kind my lord.

1st 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.