Good for their meat, and fafer for their lives.
There's much example for't; the fellow, that

Sits next him now, parts bread with him, and 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 fhould fear to drink at meals;
Left they should spy my wind pipe's dangerous notes:
Great men fhould drink with harness on their 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 ftate, look ill.
Here's that, which is too weak to be a finner,
Honest water, which ne'er left man i'the mire :
This, and my food, are equals; there's no odds.
Feafts 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 fo fond,
To truft man on his oath or bond;
Or a barlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that feems a fleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I fhould need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:

Rich men fin, 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 fervice, 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 them; I could with my best friend at fuch a feast.

APEM. 'Would all thofe flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou might'ft 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 fome part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

TIM. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themfelves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends elfe? why have you that charitable title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modefty fpeak in your own 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 needlefs creatures living, fhould we ne'er have use for them: and would most refemble sweet inftruments hung up in cafes, that keep their founds to themfelves. 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 fo many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks to forget their faults, I drink to you.

APEM. Thou weep'ft to make them drink, Timon. 2 LORD. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that inftant, like a babe sprung up.

APEM. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard. 3 LORD. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much. APEM. Much! [Tucket founded. TIM. What means that trump? How now?

Enter a SERVANT.

SERV. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies moft defirous of admittance.

TIM. Ladies! What are their wills?

SERV. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office, to fignify their pleasures. TIM. I pray, let them be admitted.

Enter CUPID.

CUP. Hail to thee, worthy Timon ;—and to all
That of his bounties tafte!The five beft fenfes
Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bofom: The ear,
Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rife;
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

TIM. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance :

Mufick, make their welcome.

[Exit CUPID.

I LORD. You fee, my lord, how ample you are belov❜d. Mufick. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of LADIES as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing, and playing. APEM. Hey day! what a sweep of vanity comes this They dance! they are mad women.

Like madness is the glory of this life,

As this pomp fhows to a little oil, and root.
We make ourselves fools, to difport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink thofe men,
Upon whofe age we void it up again,

[way!

With poisonous fpite, and envy. Who lives, that's not Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears

VOL. V.

B

Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift?
I fhould fear, thofe, that dance before me now,
Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done';
Men fhut their doors against a setting fun.

The Lords rife from table, with much adoring of TIMON; and, to how their loves, each fingles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty ftrain or two to the hautboys, and cease.

TIM. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,

Which was not half fo beautiful and kind ;

You have added worth unto't, and lively luftre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for it.

[ladies,

I LADY. My lord, you take us even at the best. APEM. 'Faith, for the worft is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.

TIM. Ladies, there is an idle banquet

Attends you: Please you to difpofe yourselves.

ALL LAD. Moft thankfully, my lord.

TIM. Flavius,

[Exeunt CUPID and LADIES.

FLAV. My lord.

TIM. The little casket bring me hither.
FLAV. Yes, my lord. More jewels yet!

There is no croffing him in his humour;

[Afide.

Elfe I fhould 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.

[Exit, and returns, with the cafket.

I LORD. Where be our men?

SERV. Here, my lord, in readiness.

2 LORD. Our horfes.

TIM. O my friends, I have one word

To fay to you:-Look you, my good lord, I must
Entreat you, honour me fo much, as to

Advance this jewel;

Accept, and wear it, kind my lord.

I 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 fenate Newly alighted, and come to vifit you.

TIM. They are fairly welcome.

FLAV. I befeech your honour,

Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
TIM. Near? why then another time I'll hear thee:
I pr'ythee, let us be provided

To fhow them entertainment.
FLAV. I fcarce know how.

Enter another SERVANT.

[Afide.

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 filver.

TIM. I fhall accept them fairly: let the prefents
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 fent your honour two brace of greyhounds.

TIM. I'll hunt with him; And let them be receiv'd, Not without fair reward.

FLAV. [Afide.] What will this come to?

He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,