Timon of Athens

Timon of Athens

ACT I SCENE II	A banqueting-room in Timon's house.
	Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquetserved in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enterTIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, Senators, and VENTIDIUS.Then comes, dropping, after all, APEMANTUS,discontentedly, like himself
VENTIDIUS	Most honour'd Timon,
	It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age,
	And call him to long peace.
	He is gone happy, and has left me rich:	5
	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 derived liberty.
TIMON	O, by no means,	10
	Honest Ventidius; you mistake my love:
	I gave it freely ever; and there's none
	Can truly say he gives, if he receives:
	If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
	To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.	15
VENTIDIUS	A noble spirit!
TIMON	Nay, my lords,
	They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON
	Ceremony was but devised at first
	To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
	Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;	20
	But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
	Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes
	Than my fortunes to me.
	They sit
First Lord	My lord, we always have confess'd it.
APEMANTUS	Ho, ho, confess'd it! hang'd it, have you not?	25
TIMON	O, Apemantus, you are welcome.
APEMANTUS	No;
	You shall not make me welcome:
	I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
TIMON	Fie, thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there	30
	Does not become a man: 'tis much to blame.
	They say, my lords, 'ira furor brevis est;' but yond
	man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by
	himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is
	he fit for't, indeed.	35
APEMANTUS	Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon: I come to
	observe; I give thee warning on't.
TIMON	I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian,
	therefore welcome: I myself would have no power;
	prithee, let my meat make thee silent.	40
APEMANTUS	I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should
	ne'er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of
	men eat Timon, and he sees 'em 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 too.	45
	I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
	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	50
	breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest
	man to kill him: 't has been proved. If I were a
	huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
	Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
	Great men should drink with harness on their throats.	55
TIMON	My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.
Second Lord	Let it flow this way, my good lord.
APEMANTUS	Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keeps his tides
	well. Those healths will make thee and thy state
	look ill, Timon. Here's that which is too weak to	60
	be a sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
	This and my food are equals; there's no odds:
	Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
	Apemantus' grace.
	Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;	65
	I pray for no man but myself:
	Grant I may never prove so fond,
	To trust man on his oath or bond;
	Or a harlot, for her weeping;
	Or a dog, that seems a-sleeping:	70
	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!	75
TIMON	Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.
ALCIBIADES	My heart is ever at your service, my lord.
TIMON	You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a
	dinner of friends.
ALCIBIADES	So the were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat	80
	like 'em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.
APEMANTUS	Would all those fatterers were thine enemies then,
	that then thou mightst kill 'em and bid me to 'em!
First Lord	Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you
	would once use our hearts, whereby we might express	85
	some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves
	for ever perfect.
TIMON	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	90
	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 own behalf; and thus far I confirm
	you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any	95
	friends, if we should ne'er have need of 'em? they
	were the most needless creatures living, should we
	ne'er have use for 'em, and would most resemble
	sweet instruments hung up in cases that keep their
	sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished	100
	myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We
	are born to do benefits: and what better or
	properer can we can our own than the riches of our
	friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have
	so many, like brothers, commanding one another's	105
	fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere 't can be born!
	Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to
	forget their faults, I drink to you.
APEMANTUS	Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon.
Second Lord	Joy had the like conception in our eyes	110
	And at that instant like a babe sprung up.
APEMANTUS	Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.
Third Lord	I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.
APEMANTUS	Much!
	Tucket, within
TIMON	What means that trump?	115
	Enter a Servant
	How now?
Servant	Please you, my lord, there are certain
	ladies most desirous of admittance.
TIMON	Ladies! what are their wills?
Servant	There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which	120
	bears that office, to signify their pleasures.
TIMON	I pray, let them be admitted.
	Enter Cupid
Cupid	Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
	That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
	Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely	125
	To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th' ear,
	Taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tale rise;
	They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
TIMON	They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:
	Music, make their welcome!	130
	Exit Cupid
First Lord	You see, my lord, how ample you're beloved.
	Music. Re-enter Cupid with a mask of Ladiesas Amazons, with lutes in their hands,dancing and playing
APEMANTUS	Hoy-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.	135
	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?	140
	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: 't has been done;
	Men shut their doors against a setting sun.	145
	The Lords rise from table, with much adoring ofTIMON; and to show their loves, each singles out anAmazon, and all dance, men with women, a loftystrain or two to the hautboys, and cease
TIMON	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 lustre,
	And entertain'd me with mine own device;	150
	I am to thank you for 't.
First Lady	My lord, you take us even at the best.
APEMANTUS	'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold
	taking, I doubt me.
TIMON	Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you:	155
	Please you to dispose yourselves.
All Ladies	Most thankfully, my lord.
	Exeunt Cupid and Ladies
TIMON	Flavius.
FLAVIUS	My lord?
TIMON	The little casket bring me hither.	160
FLAVIUS	Yes, my lord. More jewels yet!
	There is no crossing him in 's humour;
	Aside
	Else I should tell him,--well, i' faith I should,
	When all's spent, he 'ld be cross'd then, an he could.
	'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,	165
	That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
	Exit
First Lord	Where be our men?
Servant	Here, my lord, in readiness.
Second Lord	Our horses!
	Re-enter FLAVIUS, with the casket
TIMON	O my friends,	170
	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.
First Lord	I am so far already in your gifts,--	175
All	So are we all.
	Enter a Servant
Servant	My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate
	Newly alighted, and come to visit you.
TIMON	They are fairly welcome.
FLAVIUS	I beseech your honour,	180
	Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
TIMON	Near! why then, another time I'll hear thee:
	I prithee, let's be provided to show them
	entertainment.
FLAVIUS	Aside
	Enter a Second Servant
Second Servant	May it please your honour, Lord Lucius,	185
	Out of his free love, hath presented to you
	Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.
TIMON	I shall accept them fairly; let the presents
	Be worthily entertain'd.
	Enter a third Servant
	How now! what news?	190
Third Servant	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.
TIMON	I'll hunt with him; and let them be received,	195
	Not without fair reward.
FLAVIUS	Aside
	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,	200
	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.	205
	Well, would I were gently put out of office
	Before I were forced out!
	Happier is he that has no friend to feed
	Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.
	I bleed inwardly for my lord.	210
	Exit
TIMON	You do yourselves
	Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits:
	Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
Second Lord	With more than common thanks I will receive it.
Third Lord	O, he's the very soul of bounty!	215
TIMON	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 liked it.
Second Lord	O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
TIMON	You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man	220
	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.
TIMON	I take all and your several visitations	225
	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	230
	Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
	Lie in a pitch'd field.
ALCIBIADES	Ay, defiled land, my lord.
First Lord	We are so virtuously bound--
TIMON	And so	235
	Am I to you.
Second Lord	So infinitely endear'd--
TIMON	All to you. Lights, more lights!
First Lord	The best of happiness,
	Honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!	240
TIMON	Ready for his friends.
	Exeunt all but APEMANTUS and TIMON
APEMANTUS	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:	245
	Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs,
	Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies.
TIMON	Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be
	good to thee.
APEMANTUS	No, I'll nothing: for if I should be bribed too,	250
	there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then
	thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long,
	Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in
	paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps and
	vain-glories?	255
TIMON	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
APEMANTUS	So:
	Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then:	260
	I'll lock thy heaven from thee.
	O, that men's ears should be
	To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
	Exit