To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: The ear, Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rise; Tim. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance: Musick, make their welcome. [Exit CUPID. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov❜d. Musick. Re-enter CUPID, with a Masque of Ladies as Amazons, with Lutes in their Hands, dancing, and playing. Apem. Heyday, 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. With poisonous spite, and envy. Who lives, that's not 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, 3 Like madness is the glory of this life, As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root.] Apemantus means to say, that the glory of this life was just as much madness in the eye of reason, as the pomp appeared to be, when compared to the frugal repast of a philosopher. of their friends' gift?] Given them by their friends. Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, Which was not half so beautiful and kind; You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre, 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. [A side. Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; Else I should 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 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 5 mine own device ;] The mask appears to have been designed by Timon, to surprize his guests. 6 us." 7 even at the best.] i. e. "You have conceived the fairest of he'd be cross'd then, an he could.] i. e. he will then too late wish that it were possible to undo what he had done: he will in vain lament that I did not [cross or] thwart him in his career of prodigality. 8 had not eyes behind ;] To see the miseries that are following her. JOHNSON. 9 - for his mind.] For nobleness of soul. JOHNSON. Entreat you, honour me so much, as to 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. To show them entertainment. Flav. I scarce know how. [Aside. Enter another Servant. 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. 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. Advance this jewel;] To prefer it; to raise it to honour by wearing it. JOHNSON. Flav. [aside.] What will this come to? He commands us to provide, and give great gifts, Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this, 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 re ceive it. 3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty! 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; All Lords. None so welcome. Tim. I take all and your several visitations Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends, Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich, ↑ "O, I beseech you,"-MALONE. 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 And so Tim. All to you'.-Lights, more lights. 1 Lord. The best of happiness, Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon! Tim. Ready for his friends. [Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, &c. What a coil's here! Apem. A pem. No, I'll nothing: for, If I should be brib'd too, there would be none left To rail upon thee; and then thou would'st sin the faster. Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me, thou Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly': What need these feasts, pomps, and vain glories? Tim. An you begin to rail on society once, Nay, I am sworn, not to give regard to you. [Exit. Арет. So; Thou'lt not hear me now,-thou shalt not then, I'll lock 2 All to you.] i. e. all good wishes, or all happiness to you. 3 Serving of becks,] Beck means a salutation made with the To serve a beck is to offer a salutation. head. Wilt give away thyself in paper shortly:] i. e. be ruined by his securities entered into. |