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Than one which holds a trencher.
Tim. Well; what further?

Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got:
The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest cost,
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I pr'ythee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.

Tim. The man is honest.

Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon':

His honesty rewards him in itself,

It must not bear my daughter.

Tim, Does she love him?
Old Ath. She is young, and apt:

Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity is in youth.

Tim. [To Lucil. Love you the maid?

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Luc. Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it. 20
Old Ath. ifin her marriage inyconsent be missing,
I call the gods to witness, I will choose

Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.

Tim. How shall she be endow'd,

If she be mated with an equal husband?

[all.

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Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in future, Tim.This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long; To build his fortune, I will strain a little, For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter :30 What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise, And make him weigh with her.

Old Ath. Most noble lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.

Tim. My hand to thee; mine honour on my 35 promise.

Luc, Humbly I thank your lordship: Never

may

That state or fortune fall into my keeping,
Which is not ow'd' to you!

[Exeunt Lucil. and Old Ath. Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!

40

Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
Go not away, What have you there, my friend: 45
Pain. A piece of painting; which I do beseech
Your lordship to accept.

Tim. Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;

For since dishonour trafficks with man's nature, 50
He is but outside: These pencil'd figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work;
And you shall find, I like it: wait attendance
'Till you hear further from me.

Tim. Well fare you, gentlemen: Give me your
We must needs dine together.-Sir, your jewel

Pain. The gods preserve you!

[hand; 55

Hath suffer'd under praise.

Jew. What, my lord? dispraise?

Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,

Which all men speak with him.

Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid?
Enter Apenanius.

Jew. We will bear, with your lordship.
Mer. He'll spare none.

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

morrow;

[honest. When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves Tim. Why dost thou call thein 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 know'st I do; I call'd thee by thy

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Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law,

Tim. How lik'st thou this picture, Apemantus? Apem. The best, for the innocence. Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it? Apem. He wrought better that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work." Poel. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation; What's she, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
Apem. No; I eat not lords.

Tim. An thou should'st, thou'dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: take it for thy labour."

Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, which will

not cost a man a doit1.
Tim, What dost thou think 'tis worth?
Apem. Not worth my thinking.-

poet?

-How now,

1 Dr. Warburton explains this passage thus: "If the man be honest, my lord, for that reason he will be so in this; and not endeavour at the injustice of gaining my daughter without my consent." 2 or due. To unclew, is to unwind a ball of thread.-To unclew a man, is to draw out the whole mass of his fortunes. This alludes to the proverb: "Plain dealing is a jewel; but they that usę

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it, die beggars."

3 F 3

Poet,

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Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn 10 thee hence.

15

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass.
1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come,
shall we in,

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he out-goes
The very heart of kindness.

2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god 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 20 All use of quittance".

25

Mes. 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse, 30 All of companionship.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide

to us.

[hence, You must needs dine with me:-Go not you 35 'Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's

done,

Shew me this piece.-I am joyful of your sights.

Enter Alcibiades, with the rest.

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1 Lord. The noblest mind he carries, That ever govern'd man.

2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall

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Another Apartment in Timon's House. Hautboys playing loud musick. A great banquet serv'din; and then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus discontentedly, like himself. Ven. Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the gods 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.

Tim. O, by no means,

Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love;

[out

I

gave it freely ever; and there's none

45

Can truly say, he gives, if he receives:

And all this courtesy! the strain of man's bred
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.

Enter two Lords.

1 Lord. What time a day is 't, Apemantus ? Apem. Time to be honest.

[it.

1 Lord. That time serves still.
Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omitt'st
2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast?
Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine
heat fools.

If our betters play at that game, we must not dare To imitate them; Faults that are rich, are fair. Ven. A noble spirit.

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[They all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon. Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony

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Was but devis'd at first

To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes, Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shewn:

But where there is true friendship, there needs

none.

Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes, Than they 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?

1 The meaning may be, I should hate myself for patiently enduring to be a lord.

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Tim. O, Apemantus !-you are welcome. Apem. 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, ira furor brevis est,
But yonder man is ever angry.—

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

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10

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,
[power: 15
Therefore welcome: I myself would have no
I pr'ythee, let my neat make thee silent.

Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choak me,
for I should

Ne'er flatter thee.-O you gods! what a number 20
Of men eat Timon, and he sees them 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 too2.

I wonder, men dare trust themselves with men: 25
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: it has been prov'd.
If I were a huge man, I should fear to drink at
meals;
[notes:

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

Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends.

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

Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that thou might'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 not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your 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 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 40 so many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you.

Lest they should spy my wind-pipe's dangerous Great inen should drink with harness on their 35 throats.

Tim. My lord, in heart'; and let the health go round.

2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord.
Apem. Flow this way!

A brave fellow! he keeps his tides well. Timon,
Those healths will make thee,and thy state, look ill.
Here's that, which is too weak to be a sinner,
Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
This, and my food, are equals: there's no odds. 45
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

APEMANTUS'S GRACE.

Immortal gods, 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 bo; d;
Or a harlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that seems a sleeping;

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

♥ Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up.
Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a
bastard.
[much.
59 3 Lord. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me
Apem. Much.

Sound tucket.

Tim. What means that trump?-How now?

'Timon's meaning seems to be: I myself would have no power to make thee silent, but I wish thou would'st let my meat make thee silent. Timon, like a polite landlord, disclaims all power over the meanest or most troublesome of his guests. The allusion, says Dr. Johnson, is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit by being gratified with the blood of an animal which they kill, and the wonderis, that the animal on which they are feeding cheers them to the chace. That is, my lord's health with sincerity. That is, arrived at the perfection of happiness. i. e. that dear, endearing title. • That is, Why are you distinguished from thousands by that title of endearment, was there not a particular connexion and intercourse of tenderness between you and me? 'i. e. I fix your characters firmly my own mind. To look for babies in the eyes of another, is no uncominon expression. 3F4

Enter

Enter a Sercant.

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

Tim. Ladies? What are their wills?

Serv. There comes with them a fore-runner, 5 my lord, which bears that office, 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; [table rise;
The ear, taste, touch, smell, pleas'd from thy
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
Tim. They are welcome all; let 'em have kind
admittance:

Musick, make their welcome. [Exit Cupid.
1 Lord. You see, my lord, how amply you are
belov'd.

Musick. Re-enter Cupid, with a Masque of Ladies as Amazms, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.

Apem. Heyday! what a sweep of vanity comes this way!

Please you to dispose yourselves.
All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord. [Exeunt.
Tim. Flavius,-

Flav. My lord.

Tim. The little casket bring me hither.
Flat. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in his humour; [Aside.
Else I should tell him,—Well,-i' faith, I should,
When all's spent, he'd be cross'd 'then,an hecould.
10'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind *;
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind
[Exit, and returns with the caskets

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20

25

1 Lord. Where be our men?

Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness.

2 Lord. Our horses.

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Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the Newly alighted, and come to visit you. [senate Tim. They are fairly welcome.

Flat. I beseech your honour,

Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.

Tim. Near? why then another time I'll hear I pr'ythee, let us be provided

30 To shew them entertainment.

They dance! they are mad women.
Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shews to a little oil, and root'.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Upon whose age we void it up again, [not
With poisonous spite, and envy. Wholives, that's
Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears
Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift?
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 Lords rise from table, with much adoring of
Timon; and to shew their loves, each singles out
an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; 40
a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease.
Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace,
fair ladies,

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device.
I am to thank you for it.

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1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best2. Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and 50 would not hold

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Flav. [Aside.] I scarce know how.

Enter another Sercant.

[thee:

2 Serv. May it please your honour, lord Lucius, Out of his free love, hath presented to you Four milk-white horses, trapt in silver.

Tim. I shall accept them fairly: let the presents Be worthily entertain'd.-How now? what news? Enter a third Servant.

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 re-
Not without fair reward.

[ceiv'd,
Flav. [Aside.] What will this come to?
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer.-
Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this,
To shew him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good:
His promises fly so beyond his state,
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes
For every word; he is so kind, that he now

The meaning is, according to Dr. Johnson, "The glory of this life is very near to madness, as may be made appear from this pomp, exhibited in a place where a philosopher is feeding on oil and roots. When we see by example how few are the necessaries of life, we learn what madness there is in so much superfluity." 2i. e. you have seen the best we can do. The poet does not mean

here, that he would be cross'd in humour, but that he would have his hand cross'd with money, if he could. He is playing on the word, and alluding to our old silver penny, used before K. Edward the First's time, which had a cross, on the reverse, with a crease, that it might be more easily broke into halves and quarters, half-pence and farthings. From this penny, and other pieces, was our common expression derived, I have not a cross about me; i. e. not a piece of money. 4 To see the miseries that are following her. i. e. for his nobleness of soul. i. e. to prefer it; to raise it to 1 Pays

honour by wearing it.

Pays interest for 't; his land's put to their books.
Well, 'would I were gently put out of office,
Before I were forc'd out!

Happier is he that has no friend to feed,
Than such that do even enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.

bate too much

[Exit.

5

Tim. You do yourselves much wrong, you [our love. Of your own merits :-Here, my lord; a trifle of 2 Lord. With more than common thanks I will 10 receive it.

3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty! Tim. And now I remember, my lord, you gave Good words the other day of a bay courser I rode on it is yours, because you lik'd it. 2 Lord. O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord,

In that.

Tim. You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man

Can justly praise, but what he does affect:
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
I tell true. I'll call on you.
you

All Lords. O, 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,
It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living
Is 'mongst the dead; and all the lands thou hast,
Lie in a pitch'd field.

Alcib. In defiled land, my lord.

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Apem. What a coil's here!
Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums!
I doubt, whether their legs be worth the su
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dre
Methinks, false hearts shouldnever have sound l
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court's
15 Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sul
I would be good to thee.

20

Apem. No, I'll nothing: for,

If I should be brib'd too, there would be none To rail upon thee; and then thou would'st the faster.

4

Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me, thou
Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly:
What need these feasts, pomps, and vain-glo
Tim. Nay,

25 If you begin to rail once on society,
I am sworn, not to give regard to you.
Farewell; and come with better musick. [4
Apem. So;-

Thou wilt not hear me now,—thou shalt not t 30 I'll lock

Thy heaven' from thee. O, that men's ears sh
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!

[4

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SCENE

A publick place in the City.
Enter a Senator.

Sen. AND late, five thousand to Varro; and

to Isidore,

He owes nine thousand;-besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty.-Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold:
If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,
And able horses: No porter at his gate';
But rather one that smiles, and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason

140 Can found his state in safety".-Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say!

145

Enter Caphis.

Caph. Here, sir; What is your pleasure? Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to

cap

Timon; Importune him for my monies; be not ceas' With slight denial; nor then silenc'd, when Commend me to your master-and the Plays in the right hand, thus:-but tell him 50 My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn Out of mine own; his days and times are pa And my reliance on his fracted dates Has smit my credit; I love, and honour hir But must not break my back, to heal his fir 55 Immediate are my needs; and my relief Must not be tost and turn'd to me in words,

1i. e. all good wishes, or all happiness to you. To serve a beck, according to Johnson, offer a salutation: Mr. Steevens believes it in this place to mean, to pay a courtly obedience to a Our author plays upon the word leg, as it signifies a limb and a bow or act of obeisance. 4 i. ruined by his securities entered into. i. e. the pleasure of being flattered. i. e. If I giv

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