TIM. Why doft thou call them knaves? thou know'st APEM. Are they not Athenians? TIM. Yes. APEM. Then I repent not. JEW. You know me, Apemantus. [them not. APEM. Thou know'it, I do; I call'd thee by thy name. TIM. Thou art proud, Apemantus. APEM. Of nothing fo 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 likeft thou this picture, Apemantus? APEM. The beft, 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, thou'dft anger ladies. APEM. O, they eat lords; fo they come by great bellies. TIM. That's a lafcivious apprehenfion. APEM. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour. TIM. How doft thou like this jewel, Apemantus? APEM. Not fo well as plain-dealing, which will not coft a man a doit. TIM. What doft thou think 'tis worth? APEM. Thou lieft. POET. Art not one? APEM. Yes. POET. Then I lie not. APEM. Art not a poet? POET. Yes. APEM. Then thou lieft: look in thy laft work, where thou haft feign'd him a worthy fellow. POET. That's not feign'd, he is fo. APEM. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He, that loves to be flatter'd, is worthy o'the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! TIM. What would'ft 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 found. 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.- You must needs dine with me :-Go not you hence, Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Moft welcome, fir! APEM. So, fo; there!— [They falute. Aches contract and starve your fupple joints !— That there fhould be fmall love 'mongst these fweet knaves, And all this court'fy! The ftrain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey. ALCIB. Sir, you have fav'd my longing, and I feed Moft hungrily on your fight. TIM. Right welcome, fir: Ere we depart, we'll fhare a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in, [Exeunt all but APEMANTUS. Enter two LORDS. I LORD. What time a day is't, Apemantus? I LORD. That time serves ftill. APEM. The most accurfed thou, that ftill 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. Shouldft have kept one to thyfelf, for I mean to give thee none. I 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 fpurn thee hence. APEM. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the afs. [Exit, I LORD. He's oppofite to humanity. Come, fhall 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 fteward: no meed, but he repays Sevenfold above itfelf; no gift to him, I LORD. The nobleft mind he carries, 2 LORD. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? I LORD. I'll keep you company. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The fame. A Room of State in TIMON's House. Hautboys playing loud mufick. A great banquet ferved 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, difcontentedly. VEN. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleased the gods My father's age, and call him to long peace. [remember He is gone happy, and has left me rich: Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound Το your free heart, I do return those talents, TIM. O, by no means, Honest Ventidius; you mistake my I love; gave it freely ever; and there's none Can truly fay, he gives, if he receives : If our betters play at that game, we must not dare [They all ftand ceremoniously looking on TIMON. TIM. Nay, my lords, ceremony Was but devis'd at firft, to fet a glofs Recanting goodness, forry ere 'tis shown; But where there is true friendship, there needs none. [They fit. APEM. NO, You fhall not make me welcome : I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. TIM. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a humour there Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame :— They fay, my lords, that ira furor brevis eft, 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 ftay at thine own peril, Timon; I come to obferve; I give thee warning on't. TIM. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myfelf would have no power: 'pr'ythee, let my meat make thee filent. APEM. I fcorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I fhould It grieves me, to fee fo many dip their meat I wonder, men dare truft themselves with men : Methinks, they should invite them without knives; |