That of his bounties taste!-the five best senses The ear, taste, touch, smell, pleas'd from thy table rise; TIM. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance. Music, make their welcome. [Exit CUPID. 1 LORD. You see, my lord, how ample y' are belov'd. Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a mask of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing. APEM. Hey 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. Who lives that's not depraved, or depraves? I should fear those that dance before me now, The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of TIMON; and, to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, 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; 1 LADY. My lord, you take us even at the best. APEM. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me. TIM. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you: please you to dispose yourselves. ALL LAD. Most thankfully, my lord. TIM. Flavius! FLAV. My lord. TIM. [Exeunt CUPID and Ladies. The little casket bring me hither. FLAV. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; Else I should tell him,-Well,-i' faith, I should, When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could. 'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind; That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. [Aside. [Exit, and returns with the casket. I have one word to say to you;—Look you, my good lord, I must entreat you, honour me so much, As to advance this jewel; accept it, 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 senate Newly alighted, and come to visit you. TIM. They are fairly welcome. I beseech your honour, FLAV. TIM. Near? why then another time I'll hear thee: Enter another Servant. 2 SERV. May it please your honour, the lord Lucius, Out of his free love, hath presented to you Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver. TIM. I shall accept them fairly: let the presents [Aside. 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? He commands us to provide, and give great gifts, Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this, To show 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; His lands put to their books. Well, 'would I were Than such that do even enemies exceed. I bleed inwardly for my lord. TIM. You do yourselves Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits: [Exit. 2 LORD. With more than common thanks I will 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'll tell you true. I'll call to you. ALL LORDS. O, none so welcome. TIM. I take all and your several visitations So kind to heart, 't is 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 ALCIB. Ay, defil'd land, my lord. 1 LORD. We are so virtuously bound,— Honour and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon! АРЕМ. TIM. Ready for his friends. [Exeunt ALCIB., Lords, &c. 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: Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs. Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies. TIM. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be good to thee. APEM. No, I'll nothing: for if I should be brib'd too, there would be none left to rail upon thee; and then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly: What need these feasts, pomps, and vain glories? ་ TIM. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come with better music. [Exit. APEM. So;-Thou 'lt not hear me now,-thou shalt not then. I'll lock thy heaven from thee. O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! [Exit ACT II. SCENE I-Athens. A Room in a Senator's House. Enter a Senator, with papers in his hand. 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 Can sound his state in safety. Caphis, hoa! Caphis, I say! CAPH. Enter CAPHIS. Here, sir: What is your pleasure? Have smit my credit: I love, and honour him; A visage of demand; for, I do fear, |