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SCENE VI

A banqueting-room in Timon's house.

Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, Senators and others, at several doors.

First Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. Sec. Lord. I also wish it to you. I think this honorable lord did but try us this other day. First Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encountered: I hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

Sec. Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

First Lord. I should think so: he hath sent me 10 an earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs

appear.

my excuse.

Sec. Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my
importunate business, but he would not hear
I am sorry, when he sent to bor-
row of me, that my provision was out.
First Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I
understand how all things go.

Sec. Lord. Every man here's SO. What
would he have borrowed of you?

2

4. “tiring”; to tire is to peck at or feed upon, as a bird of prey on its victim.-H. N. H.

First Lord. A thousand pieces.
Sec. Lord. A thousand pieces!
First Lord. What of you?

Sec. Lord. He sent to me, sir,-Here he comes.

Enter Timon and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both: and how fare you?

First Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

30

Sec. Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing than we your lordship. Tim. [Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men.-Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the music awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' the trumpet's sound; we shall to 't presently. First Lord. I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an 40 empty messenger.

Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you.

Sec. Lord. My noble lord,—

Tim. Aye, my good friend, what cheer?

Sec. Lord. My most honorable lord, I am e'en sick of shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar.

Tim. Think not on 't, sir.

37-38. "harshly o' the trumpet's"; Rowe, "harshly as o' the Trumpets"; Steevens (1793), “harshly on the trumpet's"; Grant White conj. "harshly. O, the trumpets," etc.-I. G.

Ser. Lord. If you had sent but two hours be- 50 fore

Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. [The banquet brought in.] Come, bring in all together.

Sec. Lord. All covered dishes!

First Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you.
Third Lord. Doubt not that, if money and the

season can yield it.

First Lord. How do you? What's the news?
Third Lord. Alcibiades is banished: hear

of it?

First and Sec. Lords. Alcibiades banished!
Third Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it.

First Lord. How? how?

Sec. Lord. I pray you, upon what?

you

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near?
Third Lord. I'll tell you more anon.

a noble feast toward.

Sec. Lord. This is the old man still.

Here's

60

Third Lord. Will 't hold? will 't hold?

70

Sec. Lord. It does: but time will-and so-
Third Lord. I do conceive.

Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: sit, sit. The gods require our thanks.

73. "each man to his stool"; this alludes to the mode in which guests were formerly placed at table according to rank.-H. N. H.

You great benefactors, sprinkle our soci-
ety with thankfulness. For your own gifts, 80
make yourselves praised: but reserve still to
give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to
each man enough, that one need not lend to
another; for, were your godheads to borrow
of men, men would forsake the gods.
Make the meat be beloved more than the man
that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty
be without a score of villains: if there sit
twelve women at the table, let a dozen of
them be as they are. The rest of your
fees, O gods, the senators of Athens, to-
gether with the common lag of people,-
what is amiss in them, you gods, make suit-
able for destruction. For these my present
friends, as they are to me nothing, so in
nothing bless them, and to nothing are they
welcome.

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

90

[The dishes are uncovered and seen to
be full of warm water.

Some speak. What does his lordship mean?
Some other. I know not.

Tim. May you a better feast never behold,

100

You knot of mouth-friends! smoke and luke

warm water

Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;
Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries,

104. "you with flatteries"; SO Ff.; Warburton, "with your flatteries"; Keightley, "by you with flatteries"; F. 2 reads "flatreries"; S. Walker conj. “flattery.”—I. G.

Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces
Your reeking villainy.

[Throwing the water in their faces.
Live loathed, and long,

Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek
bears,

You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's
flies,
Cap-and-knee slaves, vapors, and minute-jacks!
Of man and beast the infinite malady

111

Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?
Soft! take thy physic first-thou too-and
thou:-

Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.
[Throws the dishes at them, and drives them out.
What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,
Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be
Of Timon, man, and all humanity!

Re-enter the Lords, Senators, &c.

First Lord. How now, my lords!

[Exit.

Sec. Lord. Know you the quality of Lord Ti

mon's fury?

Third Lord. Push! did you see my cap?

Fourth Lord. I have lost my gown.

First Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humor sways him. He gave me a jewel

120

119. This and the next speech are spoken by the newly arrived lords.-H. N. H.

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