There's much example for 't; the fellow that sits next him, now parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him: it has been proved. If I were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals; go round. Flow this way! Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes: Immortal gods, I crave no pelf; Rich men sin, and I eat root. Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus! [Eats and drinks. TIM. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. ALCIB. My heart is ever at your service, 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 ^em; I could wish my best friend at such a feast. APEM. Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then, that then thou mightst 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 some part of our zcals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect. TIM. 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 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 Timon,-] In the old text, Timon is printed at the end of the following line. Capell made the transposition. Here's that, which is too weak to be a sinner,-] For sinner, Mr. Collier's annotator reads fire. any 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 ;a and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished 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 't is, to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another's 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. APEM. Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon. 2 LORD. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that instant, 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!b TIM. What means that trump?— Enter a Servant. How now? [Tucket sounded. SERV. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance. TIM. Ladies! what are their wills? 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 TIM. They are welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance: 1 LORD. You see, my lord, how ample you 're belov❜d. [Exit CUPID. Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing. APEM. Hoy day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way! They dance! they are mad women. (*) Old text, ioyes. ■ Should we ne'er have use for 'em.] Either this or the previous clause,-"if we should ne'er have need of 'em," was probably intended to be cancelled. Much!] This contemptuous expression, or epithet, occurs again in the "Second Part of Henry IV.” Act II. Sc. 4. The ear, Taste, touch, smell, pleas'd from thy table rise;] Corruptly given in the old text "There tast, touch all, pleas'd from thy Table rise: " arburton made the happy emendation now universally accepted. 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, Would one day stamp upon me: 't 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; 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 's humour; Else I should tell him well, i' faith, I should:b When all 's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could. (*) Old text, 1 Lord. [Aside. As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.] A line so inexplicable and obtrusive as part of the speech, that we could almost believe it to have been originally a stage direction: b "They dance! they are mad women: [As this pomp shows, take a little oil and root. We make ourselves fools," &c. There is no crossing him in 's humour; Else I should tell him well, i' faith, I should: When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could.] In the second line we adopt the punctuation of the old copy, which, from not perceiving the sense of tell, that is, rate, or call to account, modern editors have oddly altered to,— "Else I should tell him,-well,--i' faith, I should." The word crossing induced the irresistible paragram on tell, and a still further quibble on cross'd, which is to be understood, both in the sense of thwarted and have crosses, or money. For examples of a similar equivoque, see note (c), p. 78, Vol. I., and note (c), p. 108, Vol. III. 'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind, That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. [Fetches the casket. 1 LORD. Where be our men? SERV. Here, my lord, in readiness. 2 LORD. TIM. O my friends, Our horses! 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. 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's be provided to show them entertainment. Enter another Servant. 2 SERV. May it please your honour, 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 Be worthily entertain'd.- How now! what news? Enter a third Servant. 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 Gently put out of office, before I were forc'd out! word; [Exit TIM. 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's 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: 't is yours, because you liked 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. 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, 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! O, none so welcome. And so I LORD. The best of happiness, honour, and fortunes, Keep with you, lord Timon! TIM. Ready for his friends. [Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, &c. Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums! APEM. No, I'll nothing: for, if I should be bribed too, 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? 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 wilt not hear me now,d 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! Becks,-] Becks here means bows. [Exit. I doubt whether their legs, &c.] To make a leg, meant formerly to make an obeisance. Apemantus, perhaps, intends a play upon the word. In paper-] In paper is supposed to mean in securities. |