1, 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 bruefits; and what better or properer can we call our own, than the riches of our friends? Oh! 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 And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. bastard. 3 Lord. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much. Apem. Much! [Tucket sounded. Tim. What means that trump ?-How now ? Enter a SERVANT. Tim. The little casket bring me hither. [Aside. Else I should tell him,-Well,-i'faith, I should When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, au he could. 'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind; † man might ne'er be wretched for his [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 Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain Advance this jewel; ladies most desirous of admittance. Tim. Ladies? what are their wills? Serv. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord which bears that oflice, to signify their pleasures. 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, They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Music, make their welcome. [Exit CUPID. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd. 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 They dance! they are mad women. As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root. that's not Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears I should fear, those that dance before me now, Men shut their doors against a setting sun. Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, Accept and wear it, kind my lord. 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 Enter a third SERVANT. Be worthily entertain'd.-How now, what news! 3 Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him; and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds. Tim. i'll hunt with him; And let them be receiv'd, Not without fair reward. Flav. [Aside.] What will this come to? Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this, Happier is he that has no friend to feed, Than such as do even enemies exceed. [Exit. bleed inwardly for my lord. Tim. You do yourselves Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits : Here, my lord, a trifle of our love. A play on the word cross: from the piece of money called a cross. To see the miseries that wil follow 1 For his generosity of mind. 2 Lord. With more than common thanks I will receive it. 3 Lord. Oh! he is the very soul of bounty! Tim. And now I remember me, my lord, you gave Good words the other day of a bay courser rode on it is yours, because you lik'd it. 2 Lord. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that. Tim. You may take my word, my lord; know, no man Can justly praise but what he does affect: All Lords. None so welcome. Tim. I take all and your several visitations So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give; Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends, And ne'er be weary.-Alcibiades, Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich, Alcib. Ay, defiled land, my lord. 1 Lord. We are so virtuously bound,T'im. And so Am 1 to you. 2 Lord. So infinitely endear'd, Tim. All to you. -Lights, more lights. 1 Lord. The best of happiness, Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, Timon! Tim. Ready for his friends. lord [Exeunt ALCIBIADES, LORDS, &c. Apem. What a coil's here! Serving of becks, + and jutting out of bums! I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs : [legs. Methinks, false hearts should never have sound Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies. Tm. Now Apemantus if thou wert not sullen, I'd be good to thee. Apem. No, I'll nothing for, [left If I should be brib'd too, there would be none To rail upon thee: and then thou wouldest sin the faster. Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me, thou SCENE I.-The same.-A Room in a Enter a SENATOR, with papers in his hand. He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum, All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say! Enter CAPHIS. Caph. Here, Sir; What is your pleasure? Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to lord Timon; Importune him for my monies; be not ceas'd ↑ My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn A visage of demand; for I do fear, Caph. I go, Sir. Get you gone. Enter CAPHIS, and the SERVANTS of ISIDORE and VARRO. Caph. Good even, Varro: What, Var. Serv. Is't not your business too? Caph. 'Would we were all discharg'd! Caph. Here comes the lord. Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and LORDS, &c. Tim. So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again, My Alcibiades.-With me? What's your will? Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off To the succession of new days this month: Tim. Mine honest friend, I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning. Tim. Contain thyself, good friend. Var. Serv. One Varro's servant, my good lord, Isid. Serv. From Isidore; He humbly prays your speedy payment, By no argument can he be proved in a solvent states + Repuised. Caph. If you did know, my lord, my master's wants, Var. Serv. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks, And past, Apem. So would 1,-as good a trick as ever hangman served thief. Fool. Are you three usurers' men ? Fool. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my servant: My mistress is one, and I am her fool. lord; And I am sent expressly to your lordship. Tim. Give me breath: I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and go away merry; but they enter my mistress' house merrily, and go away sadly The reason of this? Var. Serv. I could render one. Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave; which, notwithstandHow goes the world, that I am thus encoun-ing, thou shalt be no less esteemed. Enter APEMANTUS and a FooL. Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apem. Dost dialogue with thy shadow ? [To the FOOL. Isid. Serv. [TO VAR. SERV.] There's the fool hangs on your back already. Apem. No, thou stand'st single, thou art not on him yet. Caph. Where's the fool now? Apem. He last asked the question.--Poor rogues, and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want! All Serv. What are we, Apemantus ? All Serv. Why? Var. Serv. What is a whoremaster, fool? Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. 'Tis a spirit: sometime, it appears like a lord: sometime, like a lawyer; sometime, like a philosopher, with two stones more than his artificial one: He is very often like a knight; and, generally in all shapes, that man goes up and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, this spirit walks in. Var. Serv. Thou art not altogether a fool. Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man ; as much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest. Apem. That answer might have become Ape mantus. All Serv. Aside, aside; here comes lord Ti mon. Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS. Apem. Come with me, fool, come. Had you not fully laid my state before me; Flav. You would not hear me, Perchance, some single vantages you took Thus to excuse yourself. Apem. That you ask me what you are, and do And that unaptness made your minister, not know yourselves.-Speak to 'em, fool. Fool. How do you, gentlemen? All Serv. Gramercies, good fool: How does your mistress? Fool. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. 'Would, we could see you at Corinth. Apem. Good! gramercy. Enter PAGE. Fool. Look you, here comes my mistress' page. Page. To the FOOL.] Why, how now, captain? what do you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus? Apem. 'Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might answer thee profitably. Flav. O my good lord! At many times I brought in my accounts, And say, you found them in mine honesty. me Return so much, I have shook my head, and wept : Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you To hold your hand more close; I did endure Puge. Pr'ythee, Apemantus, read me the Apem. Canst not read? Apem. There will little learning die then, that day thou art hanged. This is to lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou'lt die a bawd. Page. Thou wast whelped a dog; and thou shalt famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone. [Exit PAGE. Apem. Even so thou out-run'st grace. Fool, I will go with you to lord Timon's. Fool. Will you leave me there? Apem. If Timon stay at home.-You three serve three usurers? All Serv. Ay, 'would they served us ! To pay your present debts. Tim. Let all my land be sold. Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone; And what remains will hardly stop the mouth Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend. Were it all your's, to give it in a breath, • I. c. a certain sum. Flav. If you suspect my husbandry, or false- Something hath been amiss-a noble nature [hood, And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me, When all our offices have been oppress'd With riotous feeders; when our vaults have wept With drunken spilth of wine; when every room I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock, t Tim. Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon? The breath is gone whereof this praise is made: These flies are couch'd one Tim. Come, sermon me no further: Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart: Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use, Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine That I account them blessings; for by these you And so intending other serious matters, With certain half-caps, and cold moving nods, Tim. You gods, reward them! I pr'ythee man, look cheerly; These old fel- Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously I speak, Buried his father by whose death, he's stepp'd I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from With those five talents :-that had,-[TO FLAV.] To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, [sink. That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can Flav. I would, I could not think it; That thought is bounty's foe; Being free itself, it thinks all others so. ACT III. House. [Exeunt. Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends. SCENE 1.-Theme.-A Room in LUCULLUS' Within there, ho!-Flaminius! Servilius! Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other SERVANTS. Serv. My lord, my lord, Tim. I will despatch you severally.-You to lord Lucius, To lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his That my occasions have found time to use them Flam. As you have said, my lord. Flav. Lord Lucius, and Lord Lucullus? humph! [Aside. Tim. Go you, Sir, [To another SERV.] to the senators, (Of whom, even to the state's best health, I Deserv'd this hearing,) bid 'em send o'the instant Flav. I have been bold, (For that I knew it the most general way,) Tim. Is't true? can it be? Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, That now they are at fall, FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a SERVANT to him. Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down to you. Flam. I thank you, Sir. Enter LUCULLUS. Lucul. [Aside.] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are yery respectively ¶ welcome, Sir.-Fill me some wine.-Exit SERVANT.] And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bouutiful good lord and master? Flam. His health is well, Sir. Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, Sir: And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius ? Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, Sir; which in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your present assistance therein. Lucul. La, la, la, la,-nothing doubting, says he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if be would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I have dined with him, and told want treasure, can-him on't: and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less; and yet he sorry-you are hon- would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and ho wish'd--they know nesty is his; I have told him on't but I could never get him from it. Re-enter SERVANT, with wine. Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sent- Luc. Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to that lord; he's ever sending: How shall I thank him, thiukest thou? and what bas he sent now? Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to sup. ply his instant use with so many talents. Luc. I know; his lordship is but merry with me; Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure. Lucul. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit,-give thee thy due,-and one that knows what belongs to reason: and caust use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee.-Get you gone, Sirrab.-[To the SERVANT, who goes out.]-Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a boun- He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. tiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my knowest well enough, although thou comest to If his occasion were not virtuous, [lord. me, that this is no time to lend money; especi-I should not urge it so half faithfully. ally upon bare friendship, without security. Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? Here's three solidares * for thee; good boy, Ser. Upou my soul, 'tis true, Sir. wink at me, and say thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well. differ; Flam. Is't possible, the world should so much [ness, And we alive, that liv'd? Fly, damned base To him that worships thee. [Throwing the money away. Lucul. Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and it for thy master. [Exit LUCULLUS. Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee! Let molten coin be thy damnation, Oh! may diseases only work upon't! Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honourable? how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honour ?-Servillius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I say :-was sending to use lord Timon myself these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no power to be kind: And tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest aflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far as to use mine own words to him? Scr. Yes, Sir, I shall. And, when he is sick to death, let not that part True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed: of nature Which my lord paid for, be of any power [Exit. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.[Exit SERVILIUS. And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed. [Exit LUCIUS. 1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius ? 2 Stran. Ay, too well. 1 Stran, Why this Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him My knowing, Timon bath been this lord's father, His friend, that digs in the same dish? for, in And kept his credit with his purse; Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks, Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money But Timon's silver treads upon his lip; And yet, (oh! see the monstrousness of man When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!) He does deny him, in respect of his, What charitable men afford to beggars. 2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, 3 Stran. Religion groans at it. not long ago, one of his men was with the lord 1 Stran. For mine own part, Lucullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urg-Nor came any of his bounties over me, I never tasted Timon in my life, ed extremely for't, and showed what necessity To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest, belonged to't, and yet was denied. Luc. How? For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue, And honourable carriage, him. Luc. Fie no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money. 2 Stran. I tell you denied, my lord. Luc. What a strange case was that? now, before the gods, I am asham'd on't. Denied that bonourable man? there was very litle honour show'd in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents. Enter SERVILIUS. would have put my wealth into donation + MON'S. Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! 'Bove all others ? Scr. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; 1 have sweat to see his bonour.-My honoured lord,[To LUCIUS. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, Sir. He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus; Fare thee well-Commend me to thy honour-And now Ventidius is wealthy too, able-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend. Whom he redeem'd from prison: All these three |