Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus! Apem. Till I be gentle, stay for thy good mor

row; When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves

honest. Tim. Why dost thou call them knaves ? thou

know'st them not. Apem. Are they not Athenians ? Tim. Yes. Apem. Then I repent not. Jew. You know me, Apemantus. Apem. Thou knowest, I do; I call'd thee by thy

name.

Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus.

Apem. Of nothing so 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 likest thou this picture, Apemantus ?
Apem. The best, for the innocence.
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 'tis 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.

1 Alluding to the proverb: Plain-dealing is a jewel, but they who use it beggars.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so.

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour : He, that loves to be flattered, is worthy o' the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord !

Tim. What would'st 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. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will

not! Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound

thee!

а

Trumpets sound. 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

[Exeunt some Attendants. You must needs dine with me:

-Go .not you hence, Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done, Show me this piece. -I am joyful of your sights.

us.

Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Most welcome, sir !

[They salute. Apem.

So, so; there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints !

That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet

knaves, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey.

Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight. Tim.

Right welcome, sir: Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.

a

Enter two Lords. 1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus ? Apem. Time to be honest. 1 Lord. That time serves still. Apem. The most accursed thou, thạt still 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. 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

[Erit. 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall

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,

ass.

2

3

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. :
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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

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, LUCULLUS,
SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with
VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, drop-
ping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly.
Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the

gods 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.
Tim.

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.
Ven. A noble spirit.

[They all stand ceremoniously looking on

Timon.
Tim.

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 friendship, there needs

none. Pray, sit ; more welcome are ye to my fortunes, Than my fortunes to me.

[They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it. Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it ? hang’d it, have you

not? Tim. O, Apemantus ! — you are welcome. Арет.

No,
You shall not make me welcome :
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
Tim. Fye, thou art a churl; you have got a

humour there
Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame:
They say, my lords, that 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 own peril, 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’ythee, let my meat make thee silent. Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for

I should Ne'er flatter thee. — you gods!' what a number Of men eat Timon, and he sees them not ! It grieves me, to see so many dip their meat

a

4 Anger is a short madness.