Serv. There comes with them a forerunner, 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: The ear, Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rise; They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

Tim. They are welcome all; let them have kind

admittance:

Musick, make their welcome.

[Exit CUFID.

1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are be

lov'd.

Musick. 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

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.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Upon whose age we void it up again,
With poisonous spite, and envy. Who lives, that's not
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 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;
You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;

I am to thank you for it.

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.

[Exeunt CUPID, and Ladies.

Tim. Flavius,

Flav. My lord.

Tim.

The little casket bring me hither.

There is no crossing him in his humour;

[Aside.

Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet!

Else I should tell him,-Well, -i'faith, I should,

When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could.

Shakspeare plays on the word crossed: alluding to the

piece of silver money called a cross.

'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind;
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.9

[Exit, and returns with the casket.

1 Lord. Where be our men ?

Serv.

Here, my lord, in readiness.

2 Lord. Our horses.

Tim.

O my friends, 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, 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.

Flav.

I beseech 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 show them entertainment.
Flav.

I scarce know how.

Enter another Servant.

[Aside.

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.

1

Tim. I shall accept them fairly: let the presents

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,
And all out of an empty coffer.

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; he is so kind, that he now
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 as do even enemies exceed,

I bleed inwardly for my lord.
Tim.

[Exit.

You do yourselves

Much wrong, you bate too much of your own

merits :

Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.

2 Lord. With more than common thanks I will

receive it.

3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty!

1

Tim. And now I remember me, 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. 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 on you.

All Lords.

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.

Ay, defiled land, my lord.

1 Lord. We are so virtuously bound,Tim.

Am I to you.

2 Lord.

So infinitely endear'd,

Tim. All to you. -Lights, more lights. 1 Lord.

And so

The best of happiness,

Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon! Tim. Ready for his friends.

[Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, &c.