Tim. Right welcome, Sir. E're we do part, we'll fhare a bounteous time (6) [Exeunt. Manet Apemantus. Enter Lucius and Lucullus. Luc. That time ferves ftill. Apem. The most accurfed thou, that still omitt'ft it. Lucul. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast. Apem. Ay, to fee meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools. Apem. Thou art a fool to bid me farewel twice. Apem. Thou fhould'st have kept one to thy felf, for I mean to give thee none. Luc. Hang thy felf. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend. Lucul. Away, unpeaceable dog, or-I'll spurn thee hence. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o’th' ass. Come, fhall we in, and tafte lord Timon's bounty? Lucul. He pours it out. Plutus, the God of gold, Is but his Steward: no meed but he repays Seven-fold above it felf; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a Return exceeding Luc. The nobleft mind he carries, That ever govern'd man. Lucul. Long may he live in fortunes! fhall we in? [Exeunt. (6) E're we depart,----] Tho' the Editions concur in this Reading, it is certainly faulty. Who depart? Tho' Alcibiades was to leave Timon, Timon was not to depart from his own Houfe. Common Senfe favours my Emendation. SCENE SCENE, another Apartment in Timon's House. Hautboys playing, loud mufick. A great banquet ferv'd in; and then enter Timon, Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus dif contentedly. Ven. "OST honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the Gods To call my father's age unto long peace. "M° He is gone happy, and has left me rich. Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound To your free heart, I do return those talents, Tim. O, by no means, Honeft Ventidius: you mistake my love; Can truly fay he gives, if he receives: If our Betters play at that game, we must not dare Tim. Nay, ceremony was but devis'd at firft, But where there is true friendship, there needs none.' Luc. We always have confeft it. Apem. Ho, ho, confeft it? hang'd it, have you not! Tim. O, Apemantus! you are welcome. Apem. No; you fhall not make me welcome. I come to have thee thruft me out of doors. Tim. Fie, th'art a churle; ye have got a humour there Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame: They fay, my lords, that Ira furor brevis eft, Go, let him have a table by himself: For he does neither affect company, VOL. VI. company, Nor Nor is he fit for't, indeed. Apem. Let me ftay at thy peril, Timon; I come to obferve, I give thee warning on't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; th'art an Athenian, therefore welcome; I my felf would have no power thee, let my meat make thee filent. pr'y Apem. I fcorn thy meat, 'twould choak me: for I fhould ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number of men eat Timon, and he fees 'em not? It grieves me to fee So many dip their meat in one man's blood, And, all the madness is, he cheers them up too. Is th' readieft man to kill him. 'T has been prov'd. Left they should spy my wind-pipe's dangerous notes: Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round. Apem. Flow this way !- -a brave fellow! he keeps his tides well; thofe healths will make thee and thy ftate look ill, Timon. Here's that which is too weak to be a finner, honeft water, which ne'er left man i'th' mire: This and my food are equal, there's no odds; Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the Gods. Apemantus's grace. Immortal Gods, I crave no pelf; Or Or a keeper with my freedom; Rich men fin, and I eat root. Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus! Tim. Captain, Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. Alc. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather been at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends. Alc. So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat like 'em. I could with my friend at such a feast. Apem. Would all these flatterers were thine enemies then; that thou might'ft kill 'em, and bid me to 'em! Luc. Might we but have the happiness, my lord, that you would once ufe our hearts, whereby we might exprefs fome part of our zeals, we should think our felves for ever perfect. Tim. Oh, no doubt, my good friends, but the Gods themselves have provided that I fhall have as much help from you: how had you been my friends elfe? why have you that charitable title from thoufands, did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to my felf, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf. And thus far I confirm you. Oh you Gods, (think I,) what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of 'em? they would most refemble sweet Inftruments hung up in cafes, that keep their founds to themselves. Why, I have often wifht my felf 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 'tis to have fo many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere't can be born; mine eyes cannot hold water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you. Apem. Thou weep'it to make them drink, Timon. Lucul. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And at that inftant like a babe sprung up. F 2 Арет. 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! Sound Tucket. Tim. What means that trump? how now? Enter fervant. Ser. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies moft defirous of admittance. Tim. Ladies? what are their wills? Serv. There comes with them a fore-runner, my lord, which bears that office to fignifie their pleafures. Tim. I pray, let them be admitted. Enter Cupid with a Mafque of Ladies, as Amazons, Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all That of his bounties tafte! the five beft Senfes Acknowledge thee their patron; and do come Freely to gratulate thy plenteous bofom : Th' Ear, Tafte, Touch, Smell, pleas'd from thy Table rife, (7) These only now come but to feaft thine eyes. Tim. They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance. Let mufick make their welcome. (7) There tafte, touch, all, pleas'd from thy Table rife: They only now] The incomparable Emendation, with which the Text is here fupply'd, I owe to my ingenious Friend Mr. Warburton. The five Senfes, as he observes, are talk'd of by Cupid, but only Three of them made out; and those in a very heavy, unintelligible Manner. But now you have them all, and the Poet's Senfe, compleat, viz. The five Senfes, Timon, acknowledge thee their Patron; Four of them, the Hearing, the Touch, the Tafte, and Smell, are all regaled at your Boards and thefe Ladies come with me to entertain our Sight, in prefenting a Masque. Luc |