Servants to Timon's Creditors. Other Lords, Senators, Officers, Soldiers, Thieves, SERVILIUS, CAPHIS, PHILOTUS, TITUS, LUCIUS, HORTENSIUS, Act First. and Attendants. SCENE.-Athens; and the Woods adjoining. Provokes itself, and, like the current, flies SCENE I. Each bound it chafes. What have you there? Pain. A picture, sir. And when comes your book forth? It tutors nature: artificial strifel Enter certain Senators, and pass over. Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, Pain. How shall I understand you? I'll unbolt to you. You see how all conditions, how all minds, (As well of glib and slippery creatures, as 1 The contest of art with nature. 2 At any particular character. A thousand moral paintings I can show That shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortune More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well, To show lord Timon that mean eyes have seen The foot above the head. Trumpets sound. Enter Timon, attended; the Servant of Ventidius talking with him. Tim. Imprison'd is he, say you? Ven. Serv. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt; His means most short, his creditors most strait: Your honourable letter he desires To those have shut him up; which failing to him, Periods his comfort, And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me:'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, But to support him after.-Fare you well. Ven. S. All happiness to your honour. [Exit. Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak. Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man be- Tim. Attends he here, or no?-Lucilius! Luc. Here, at your lordship's service. Old Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy creature, By night frequents my house. I am a man Well; what further? Pawn me to this your honour, she is his. Tim. My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise. Lu. Humbly I thank your lordship: Nevermay That state or fortune fall into my keeping, Which is not ow'd to you! [Exeunt Lucilius and old Athenian. Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship! T. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon: 1 Reflecting his patron's looks. 2 Conditions of life. Go not away. - What have you there, my friend? Jew. You know me, Apemantus. Apem. Thou knowest, I do; I call'd thee by Most welcome, sir! thy name. Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus. Till I have thank'd you; and when dinner's [They salute. So, so; there! Apem. Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not That there should be small love 'mongst these like Timon. Tim. Whither art going? A. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. A. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. sweet knaves, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Right welcome, sir: Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it? In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. Ap. 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. Tim. An thou shouldst, thou'dst anger ladies; [Exeunt all but Apemantus. Enter two Lords. 1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? Apem. Time to be honest. 1 Lord. That time serves still. A. The most accursed thou, that still omit'stit. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast. Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools. 1 Ruin. 2 Alluding to the proverb: Plain-dealing is a jewel, but they who use it beggars. 2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well. Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I 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. [Exit. Come, 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes 2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus the god of gold All use of quittance. 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. SCENE II. Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame: Go, let him have a table by himself; Apem. Let me stay, at thine own peril, 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; 'twould choke me, Ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number [Exeunt. I wonder men dare trust themselves with men: Methinks they should invite them without knives; Good for their meat, and safer for their lives. 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, Lucul- Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been lus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, If I [prov'd. with Ventidius, and Attendants. Then comes, Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals; dropping after all, Apemantus, discontent Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes: edly. O, by no means, Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love; If our betters play at that game, we must not dare Pray sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes, 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confessed it. Tim. O, Apemantus! you are welcome. No. I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. 2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. look ill. Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, Immortal gods, I crave no pelf; Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks. Much good dich 5 thy good heart, Apemantus! Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, mylord. enemies, than a dinner of friends. 1 Desert. 1 Anger is a short madness. 8 With sincerity. 4 Foolish. 2 Armour. 5 Do it. 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 migh'st 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 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 'tis, 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 weepest to make them drink, Timon. 2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes. Apem. Much! Tim. What means that trump? How now? Enter a Servant. Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of adınittance. 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. Like madness is the glory of this life, 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 Lordsrise from Table with much adoring of Timon; and to show their Loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, Men with Women, a lofty Strain or two to the Hautboys, and cease. T. You have done our pleasures much grace, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, 1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best. Apem. Faith for the worst is filthy. Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves. All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord. [Exeunt Cupid, and Ladies. Tim. Flavius, Flav. My lord. Tim. The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, mylord.-[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, an he could. 'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind2; That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.3 [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; Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon;--and to all Accept, and wear it, kind my lord. That of his bounties taste!-The five best senses rise; They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Tim. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance: Musick, make their welcome. [Exit Cupid. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd. Musick. 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. 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 Flav. [Aside.] I scarce know how. 2.S. May it please your honour, the Lord Lucius, 1 Have his hand crossed with money. 2 To see the ruin he leaves in his wake. 3 Following his inclinations, |