The Life Of Timon Of Athens

1 Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in, Flavius and
2 others attending; and then enter Lord Timon, the Senators, the
3 Athenian Lords, Alcibiades, and Ventidius, which Timon redeemded from
4 prison. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus, discontentedly, like
5 himself.
6 VENTIDIUS.
7 Most honoured Timon,
8 It hath pleased the gods to remember my father’s age
9 And call him to long peace.
10 He is gone happy and has left me rich.
11 Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
12 To your free heart, I do return those talents,
13 Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
14 I derived liberty.
15 TIMON.
16 O, by no means,
17 Honest Ventidius. You mistake my love.
18 I gave it freely ever, and there’s none
19 Can truly say he gives if he receives.
20 If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
21 To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.
22 VENTIDIUS.
23 A noble spirit!
24 TIMON.
25 Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devised at first
26 To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
27 Recanting goodness, sorry ere ’tis shown;
28 But where there is true friendship there needs none.
29 Pray, sit, more welcome are ye to my fortunes
30 Than my fortunes to me.
31 [_They sit._]
32 FIRST LORD.
33 My lord, we always have confessed it.
34 APEMANTUS.
35 Ho, ho, confessed it? Hanged it, have you not?
36 TIMON.
37 O Apemantus, you are welcome.
38 APEMANTUS.
39 No,
40 You shall not make me welcome.
41 I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
42 TIMON.
43 Fie, thou’rt a churl, ye’ve got a humour there
44 Does not become a man; ’tis much to blame.
45 They say, my lords, _ira furor brevis est_,
46 But yond man is ever angry.
47 Go, let him have a table by himself,
48 For he does neither affect company,
49 Nor is he fit for it indeed.
50 APEMANTUS.
51 Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon.
52 I come to observe; I give thee warning on’t.
53 TIMON.
54 I take no heed of thee. Thou’rt an Athenian, therefore, welcome. I
55 myself would have no power; prithee; let my meat make thee silent.
56 APEMANTUS.
57 I scorn thy meat, ’twould choke me, for I should ne’er flatter thee. O
58 you gods, what a number of men eats Timon, and he sees ’em not! It
59 grieves me to see so many dip their meat in one man’s blood; and all
60 the madness is, he cheers them up too.
61 I wonder men dare trust themselves with men.
62 Methinks they should invite them without knives.
63 Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
64 There’s much example for ’t. The fellow that sits next him, now parts
65 bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a divided draft, is the
66 readiest man to kill him. ’T has been proved. If I were a huge man, I
67 should fear to drink at meals,
68 Lest they should spy my wind-pipe’s dangerous notes.
69 Great men should drink with harness on their throats.
70 TIMON.
71 My lord, in heart, and let the health go round.
72 SECOND LORD.
73 Let it flow this way, my good lord.
74 APEMANTUS.
75 Flow this way? A brave fellow! He keeps his tides well. Those healths
76 will make thee and thy state look ill, Timon.
77 Here’s that which is too weak to be a sinner,
78 Honest water, which ne’er left man i’ the mire.
79 This and my food are equals, there’s no odds.
80 Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
81 _Apemantus’ grace_
82 Immortal gods, I crave no pelf,
83 I pray for no man but myself.
84 Grant I may never prove so fond
85 To trust man on his oath or bond,
86 Or a harlot for her weeping,
87 Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,
88 Or a keeper with my freedom,
89 Or my friends if I should need ’em.
90 Amen. So fall to’t.
91 Rich men sin, and I eat root.
92 [_He eats and drinks._]
93 Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
94 TIMON.
95 Captain Alcibiades, your heart’s in the field now.
96 ALCIBIADES.
97 My heart is ever at your service, my lord.
98 TIMON.
99 You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a dinner of friends.
100 ALCIBIADES.
101 So they were bleeding new, my lord, there’s no meat like ’em. I could
102 wish my best friend at such a feast.
103 APEMANTUS.
104 Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then, that then thou
105 mightst kill ’em, and bid me to ’em.
106 FIRST LORD.
107 Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our
108 hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should
109 think ourselves for ever perfect.
110 TIMON.
111 O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided
112 that I shall have much help from you. How had you been my friends else?
113 Why have you that charitable title from thousands, did not you chiefly
114 belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself than you can with
115 modesty speak in your own behalf. And thus far I confirm you. O you
116 gods, think I, what need we have any friends if we should ne’er have
117 need of ’em? They were the most needless creatures living, should we
118 ne’er have use for ’em, and would most resemble sweet instruments hung
119 up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often
120 wished myself poorer that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do
121 benefits, and what better or properer can we call our own than the
122 riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort ’tis to have so many,
123 like brothers, commanding one another’s fortunes. O joy’s e’en made
124 away ere’t can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks. To
125 forget their faults, I drink to you.
126 APEMANTUS.
127 Thou weep’st to make them drink, Timon.
128 SECOND LORD.
129 Joy had the like conception in our eyes
130 And, at that instant like a babe sprung up.
131 APEMANTUS.
132 Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.
133 THIRD LORD.
134 I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.
135 APEMANTUS.
136 Much!
137 [_A tucket sounds._]
138 TIMON.
139 What means that trump?
140 Enter a Servant.
141 How now?
142 SERVANT.
143 Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of
144 admittance.
145 TIMON.
146 Ladies? What are their wills?
147 SERVANT.
148 There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office,
149 to signify their pleasures.
150 TIMON.
151 I pray, let them be admitted.
152 [_Exit Servant._]
153 Enter Cupid.
154 CUPID.
155 Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
156 That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
157 Acknowledge thee their patron and come freely
158 To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. There
159 Taste, touch, all, pleased from thy table rise;
160 They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
161 TIMON.
162 They’re welcome all, let ’em have kind admittance.
163 Music, make their welcome!
164 FIRST LORD.
165 You see, my lord, how ample you’re beloved.
166 Music. Enter a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands,
167 dancing and playing.
168 APEMANTUS.
169 Hoy-day!
170 What a sweep of vanity comes this way.
171 They dance? They are madwomen.
172 Like madness is the glory of this life,
173 As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
174 We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves,
175 And spend our flatteries to drink those men
176 Upon whose age we void it up again
177 With poisonous spite and envy.
178 Who lives that’s not depraved or depraves?
179 Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves
180 Of their friend’s gift?
181 I should fear those that dance before me now
182 Would one day stamp upon me. ’T has been done.
183 Men shut their doors against a setting sun.
184 [_The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of Timon, and to show
185 their loves each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women,
186 a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease._]
187 TIMON.
188 You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
189 Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
190 Which was not half so beautiful and kind.
191 You have added worth unto ’t and lustre,
192 And entertained me with mine own device.
193 I am to thank you for ’t.
194 FIRST LADY.
195 My lord, you take us even at the best.
196 APEMANTUS.
197 Faith, for the worst is filthy and would not hold taking, I doubt me.
198 TIMON.
199 Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you,
200 Please you to dispose yourselves.
201 ALL LADIES.
202 Most thankfully, my lord.
203 [_Exeunt Cupid and Ladies._]
204 TIMON.
205 Flavius!
206 FLAVIUS.
207 My lord?
208 TIMON.
209 The little casket bring me hither.
210 FLAVIUS.
211 Yes, my lord. [_Aside_.] More jewels yet?
212 There is no crossing him in ’s humour;
213 Else I should tell him well, i’ faith, I should,
214 When all’s spent, he’d be crossed then, an he could.
215 ’Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
216 That man might ne’er be wretched for his mind.
217 [_Exit._]
218 FIRST LORD.
219 Where be our men?
220 SERVANT.
221 Here, my lord, in readiness.
222 SECOND LORD.
223 Our horses!
224 Enter Flavius with the casket.
225 TIMON.
226 O, my friends, I have one word
227 To say to you. Look you, my good lord,
228 I must entreat you, honour me so much
229 As to advance this jewel. Accept it and wear it,
230 Kind my lord.
231 FIRST LORD.
232 I am so far already in your gifts—
233 ALL.
234 So are we all.
235 Enter a Servant.
236 SERVANT.
237 My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate
238 Newly alighted and come to visit you.
239 TIMON.
240 They are fairly welcome.
241 [_Exit Servant._]
242 FLAVIUS.
243 I beseech your honour,
244 Vouchsafe me a word. It does concern you near.
245 TIMON.
246 Near? Why then, another time I’ll hear thee.
247 I prithee let’s be provided to show them entertainment.
248 FLAVIUS.
249 [_Aside_.] I scarce know how.
250 Enter another Servant.
251 SECOND SERVANT.
252 May it please your honour, Lord Lucius,
253 Out of his free love, hath presented to you
254 Four milk-white horses, trapped in silver.
255 TIMON.
256 I shall accept them fairly; let the presents
257 Be worthily entertained.
258 [_Exit Servant._]
259 Enter a third Servant.
260 How now? What news?
261 THIRD SERVANT.
262 Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats
263 your company tomorrow to hunt with him and has sent your honour two
264 brace of greyhounds.
265 TIMON.
266 I’ll hunt with him; and let them be received,
267 Not without fair reward.
268 [_Exit Servant._]
269 FLAVIUS.
270 [_Aside_.] What will this come to?
271 He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
272 And all out of an empty coffer;
273 Nor will he know his purse or yield me this:
274 To show him what a beggar his heart is,
275 Being of no power to make his wishes good.
276 His promises fly so beyond his state
277 That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
278 For every word. He is so kind that he now
279 Pays interest for ’t; his land’s put to their books.
280 Well, would I were gently put out of office
281 Before I were forced out.
282 Happier is he that has no friend to feed
283 Than such that do e’en enemies exceed.
284 I bleed inwardly for my lord.
285 [_Exit._]
286 TIMON.
287 You do yourselves much wrong,
288 You bate too much of your own merits.
289 Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
290 SECOND LORD.
291 With more than common thanks I will receive it.
292 THIRD LORD.
293 O, he’s the very soul of bounty!
294 TIMON.
295 And now I remember, my lord, you gave good words the other day of a bay
296 courser I rode on. ’Tis yours because you liked it.
297 THIRD LORD.
298 O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
299 TIMON.
300 You may take my word, my lord. I know no man
301 Can justly praise but what he does affect.
302 I weigh my friend’s affection with mine own.
303 I’ll tell you true, I’ll call to you.
304 ALL LORDS.
305 O, none so welcome!
306 TIMON.
307 I take all and your several visitations
308 So kind to heart, ’tis not enough to give;
309 Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends,
310 And ne’er be weary. Alcibiades,
311 Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich.
312 It comes in charity to thee, for all thy living
313 Is ’mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
314 Lie in a pitched field.
315 ALCIBIADES.
316 Ay, defiled land, my lord.
317 FIRST LORD.
318 We are so virtuously bound—
319 TIMON.
320 And so am I to you.
321 SECOND LORD.
322 So infinitely endeared—
323 TIMON.
324 All to you. Lights, more lights!
325 FIRST LORD.
326 The best of happiness, honour, and fortunes keep with you, Lord Timon.
327 TIMON.
328 Ready for his friends.
329 [_Exeunt all but Apemantus and Timon._]
330 APEMANTUS.
331 What a coil’s here!
332 Serving of becks and jutting out of bums!
333 I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
334 That are given for ’em. Friendship’s full of dregs.
335 Methinks false hearts should never have sound legs.
336 Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsies.
337 TIMON.
338 Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
339 I would be good to thee.
340 APEMANTUS.
341 No, I’ll nothing, for if I should be bribed too, there would be none
342 left to rail upon thee, and then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou
343 giv’st so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper
344 shortly. What needs these feasts, pomps, and vainglories?
345 TIMON.
346 Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give
347 regard to you. Farewell, and come with better music.
348 [_Exit._]
349 APEMANTUS.
350 So. Thou wilt not hear me now, thou shalt not then.
351 I’ll lock thy heaven from thee.
352 O, that men’s ears should be
353 To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
354 [_Exit._]