The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 502

FIRST LORD. What time o' day is't, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS. Time to be honest.

FIRST LORD. That time serves still.

APEMANTUS. The more accursed thou that still omit'st it.

SECOND LORD. Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast.

APEMANTUS. Ay; to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.

SECOND LORD. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

APEMANTUS. Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

SECOND LORD. Why, Apemantus?

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

FIRST LORD. Hang thyself.

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

SECOND LORD. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

APEMANTUS. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' th' a.s.s. Exit FIRST LORD. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in And taste Lord Timon's bounty? He outgoes The very heart of kindness.

SECOND LORD. He pours it out: Plutus, the G.o.d 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.

FIRST LORD. The n.o.blest mind he carries That ever govern'd man.

SECOND LORD. Long may he live in fortunes! shall we in?

FIRST LORD. I'll keep you company. Exeunt

SCENE II.

A room of state in TIMON'S house

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet serv'd in; FLAVIUS and others attending; and then enter LORD TIMON, the states, the ATHENIAN LORDS, VENTIDIUS, which TIMON redeem'd from prison.

Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself

VENTIDIUS. Most honoured Timon, It hath pleas'd the G.o.ds 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 deriv'd liberty.

TIMON. 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.

VENTIDIUS. A n.o.ble spirit!

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 friends.h.i.+p there needs none.

Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes Than my fortunes to me. [They sit]

FIRST LORD. My lord, we always have confess'd it.

APEMANTUS. Ho, ho, confess'd it! Hang'd it, have you not?

TIMON. O, Apemantus, you are welcome.

APEMANTUS. No; You shall not make me welcome.

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

TIMON. Fie, th'art a churl; ye have got a humour there Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.

They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est; but yond man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by himself; for he does neither affect company nor is he fit for't indeed.

APEMANTUS. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon.

I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.

TIMON. I take no heed of thee. Th'art an Athenian, therefore welcome. I myself would have no power; prithee let my meat make thee silent.

APEMANTUS. I scorn thy meat; 't'would choke me, for I should ne'er flatter thee. O you G.o.ds, what a number of men eats Timon, and he sees 'em 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, pledges the breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him. 'T 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.

TIMON. My lord, in heart! and let the health go round.

SECOND LORD. Let it flow this way, my good lord.

APEMANTUS. Flow this way! A brave fellow! He keeps his tides well.

Those healths will make thee and thy state look ill, Timon.

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' th' mire.

This and my food are equals; there's no odds.'

Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the G.o.ds.

APEMANTUS' Grace

Immortal G.o.ds, I crave no pelf; I pray for no man but myself.

Grant I may never prove so fond To trust man on his oath or bond, Or a harlot for her weeping, Or a dog that seems a-sleeping, Or a keeper with my freedom, Or my friends, if I should need 'em.

Amen. So fall to't.

Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks]

Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!

TIMON. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.

ALCIBIADES. My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

TIMON. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than dinner of friends.

ALCIBIADES. So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat like 'em; I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

APEMANTUS. Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then, that then thou mightst kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

FIRST 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.

TIMON. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the G.o.ds themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you. How had you been my friends else? Why have you that charitable t.i.tle from thousands, did not you 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 G.o.ds, think I, what need we have any friends if we should ne'er have need of 'em?

They were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for 'em; and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wish'd 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's e'en made away ere't can be born!

Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks. To forget their faults, I drink to you.

APEMANTUS. Thou weep'st to make them drink, Timon.

SECOND LORD. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And at that instant like a babe sprung up.

APEMANTUS. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

THIRD LORD. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much.

APEMANTUS. Much! [Sound tucket]

TIMON. What means that trump?

Enter a SERVANT

How now?

SERVANT. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance.

TIMON. Ladies! What are their wills?

SERVANT. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office to signify their pleasures.

TIMON. I pray let them be admitted.

Enter CUPID CUPID. 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. Th' Ear, Taste, Touch, Smell, pleas'd from thy table rise; They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

TIMON. They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance.

Music, make their welcome. Exit CUPID FIRST LORD. You see, my lord, how ample y'are belov'd.

Music. Re-enter CUPID, witb a Masque of LADIES as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing

APEMANTUS. Hoy-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 shows to a little oil and root.