THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS

Act 1 Scene 2

(Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in, Flavius and Servants attending; and then enter Timon, Alcibiades, the Senators, the Athenian Lords, and Ventidius which Timon redeemed from prison. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus, discontentedly, like himself)
l1l	Ventidius	 Most honoured Timon, it hath pleased the gods to remember
l2l		My father’s age and call him to long peace.
l3l		He is gone happy, and has left me rich.
l4l		Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
l5l		To your free heart, I do return those talents,
l6l		Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
l7l		I derived liberty.
	Timon	O, by no means,
l8l		Honest Ventidius. You mistake my love.
l9l		I gave it freely ever, and there’s none
l10l		Can truly say he gives if he receives.
l11l		If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
l12l		To imitate them. Faults that are rich are fair.
l13l	Ventidius	A noble spirit!
		(The Lords stand with ceremony)
		
	Timon	 Nay, my lords,
l14l		Ceremony was but devised at first
l15l		To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
l16l		Recanting goodness, sorry ere ’tis shown#
l17l		But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
l18l		Pray sit. More welcome are ye to my fortunes
l19l		Than my fortunes to me.
		(They sit)
l20l	First Lord	 My lord, we always have confessed it.
l21l	Apemantus	Ho, ho, confessed it? Hanged it, have you not?
l22l	Timon	O, Apemantus! You are welcome.
	Apemantus	No,
l23l		You shall not make me welcome.
l24l		I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
l25l	Timon	Fie, thou’rt a churl. Ye’ve got a humour there
l26l		Does not become a man# ’tis much to blame.
l27l		They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est,
l28l		But yon man is ever angry.
l29l		Go, let him have a table by himself,
l30l		For he does neither affect company
l31l		Nor is he fit for ’t, indeed.
l32l	Apemantus	Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon.
l33l		I come to observe, I give thee warning on ’t.
l34l	Timon	I take no heed of thee# thou’rt an Athenian,
l35l		Therefore welcome. I myself would have no power:
l36l		Prithee, let my meat make thee silent.
l37l	Apemantus	 I scorn thy meat. ’Twould choke me, for I
l38l		should ne’er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number
l39l		of men eats Timon, and he sees ’em not! It grieves me
l40l		to see so many dip their meat in one man’s blood# and
l41l		all the madness is, he cheers them up, too.
l42l		I wonder men dare trust themselves with men.
l43l		Methinks they should invite them without knives:
l44l		Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
l45l		There’s much example for ’t. The fellow that sits next
l46l		him, now parts bread with him, pledges the breath of
l47l		him in a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill
l48l		him. ’T ’as been proved. If I were a huge man, I should
l49l		fear to drink at meals,
l50l		Lest they should spy my windpipe’s dangerous notes.
l51l		Great men should drink with harness on their throats.
l52l	Timon	(drinking to a Lord)
		 My lord, in heart# and let the health go round.
l53l	Second Lord	Let it flow this way, my good lord.
l54l	Apemantus	 “Flow this way”? A brave fellow# he keeps his
l55l		tides well. Those healths will make thee and thy state
l56l		look ill, Timon.
l57l		Here’s that which is too weak to be a sinner:
l58l		Honest water, which ne’er left man i’ th’ mire.
l59l		This and my food are equals# there’s no odds.
l60l		Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
		(Apemantus' grace)
l61l		Immortal gods, I crave no pelf.
l62l		I pray for no man but myself.
l63l		Grant I may never prove so fond
l64l		To trust man on his oath or bond,
l65l		Or a harlot for her weeping,
l66l		Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,
l67l		Or a keeper with my freedom,
l68l		Or my friends if I should need ’em.
l69l		Amen. So fall to ’t.
l70l		Rich men sin, and I eat root.
		(He eats)
l71l		Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus.
l72l	Timon	 Captain Alcibiades, your heart’s in the field now.
l73l	Alcibiades	My heart is ever at your service, my lord.
l74l	Timon	You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than
l75l		a dinner of friends.
l76l	Alcibiades	So they were bleeding new, my lord# there’s
l77l		no meat like ’em. I could wish my best friend at such
l78l		a feast.
l79l	Apemantus	 Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then,
l80l		That thou mightst kill ’em and bid me to ’em.
l81l	First Lord	(to Timon)
		 Might we but have that happiness,
l82l		my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby
l83l		we might express some part of our zeals, we should
l84l		think ourselves for ever perfect.
l85l	Timon	O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods
l86l		themselves have provided that I shall have much help
l87l		from you. How had you been my friends else? Why
l88l		have you that charitable title from thousands, did not
l89l		you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of
l90l		you to myself than you can with modesty speak in
l91l		your own behalf# and thus far I confirm you. “O you
l92l		gods,” think I, “what need we have any friends if we
l93l		should ne’er have need of ’em? They were the most
l94l		needless creatures living, should we ne’er have use for
l95l		’em, and would most resemble sweet instruments hung
l96l		up in cases, that keeps their sounds to themselves.”
l97l		Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might
l98l		come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits# and
l99l		what better or properer can we call our own than the
l100l		riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort ’tis
l101l		to have so many like brothers commanding one
l102l		another’s fortunes! O, joy’s e’en made away ere ’t can
l103l		be born: mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks.
l104l		To forget their faults, I drink to you.
l105l	Apemantus	Thou weep’st to make them drink, Timon.
l106l	Second Lord	(to Timon)
		 Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
l107l		And at that instant like a babe sprung up.
l108l	Apemantus	Ho, ho, I laugh to think that babe a bastard.
l109l	Third Lord	(to Timon)
		 I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.
l110l	Apemantus	Much!
		(A tucket sounds within)
l111l	Timon	 What means that trump?
		(Enter a Servant)
l112l		How now?
l113l	Servant	Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies
l114l		most desirous of admittance.
l115l	Timon	Ladies? What are their wills?
l116l	Servant	There comes with them a forerunner, my lord,
l117l		which bears that office to signify their pleasures.
l118l	Timon	I pray let them be admitted.
		(Enter one as Cupid)
l119l	Cupid	 Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
l120l		That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
l121l		Acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely
l122l		To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. Th’ ear,
l123l		Taste, touch, smell, all, pleased from thy table rise.
l124l		They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
l125l	Timon	They’re welcome all. Let ’em have kind admittance.
l126l		Music make their welcome!
		(Exit Cupid)
l127l	[First Lord]	 You see, my lord, how ample you’re beloved.
		(Music. Enter a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing)
l128l	Apemantus	 Hey-day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way!
l129l		They dance? They are madwomen.
l130l		Like madness is the glory of this life
l131l		As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
l132l		We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves,
l133l		And spend our flatteries to drink those men
l134l		Upon whose age we void it up again
l135l		With poisonous spite and envy.
l136l		Who lives that’s not depravèd or depraves?
l137l		Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves
l138l		Of their friends’ gift?
l139l		I should fear those that dance before me now
l140l		Would one day stamp upon me. ’T ’as been done.
l141l		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)
l142l	Timon	 You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
l143l		Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
l144l		Which was not half so beautiful and kind.
l145l		You have added worth unto ’t and lustre,
l146l		And entertained me with mine own device.
l147l		I am to thank you for ’t.
l148l	First [Lady]	My lord, you take us even at the best.
l149l	Apemantus	 Faith# for the worst is filthy, and would not
l150l		hold taking, I doubt me.
l151l	Timon	 Ladies, there is an idle banquet ’tends you.
l152l		Please you to dispose yourselves.
l153l	All Ladies	Most thankfully, my lord.
		(Exeunt Ladies)
l154l	Timon	 Flavius.
l155l	Flavius	My lord.
l156l	Timon	The little casket bring me hither.
l157l	Flavius	Yes, my lord.
		(Aside)
		 More jewels yet?
l158l		There is no crossing him in ’s humour,
l159l		Else I should tell him well, i’ faith I should.
l160l		When all’s spent, he’d be crossed then, an he could.
l161l		’Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
l162l		That man might ne’er be wretched for his mind.
		(Exit)
l163l	First Lord	 Where be our men?
l164l	Servant	Here, my lord, in readiness.
l165l	Second Lord	Our horses.
		(Exit Servant)
l166l		(Enter Flavius with the casket. He gives it to Timon, and exits)
		Timon	 O my friends, I have one word to say to you.
l167l		Look you, my good lord,
l168l		I must entreat you honour me so much
l169l		As to advance this jewel. Accept and wear it,
l170l		Kind my lord.
l171l	First Lord	I am so far already in your gifts.
l172l	All Lords	So are we all.
		(Timon gives them jewels.)
l173l		Enter a Servant
	First Servant	 My lord, there are certain nobles of the
l174l		senate newly alighted and come to visit you.
l175l	Timon	They are fairly welcome.
		(Exit Servant)
l176l		(Enter Flavius)
		Flavius	 I beseech your honour, vouchsafe me a word# it
l177l		does concern you near.
l178l	Timon	 Near? Why then, another time I’ll hear thee.
l179l		I prithee, let’s be provided to show them entertainment.
l180l	Flavius	I scarce know how.
		(Enter a Second Servant)
l181l	Second Servant	 May it please your honour, Lord Lucius
l182l		Out of his free love hath presented to you
l183l		Four milk-white horses trapped in silver.
l184l	Timon	I shall accept them fairly. Let the presents
l185l		Be worthily entertained.
		(Exit Servant)
		
		(Enter a Third Servant)
		 How now, what news?
l186l	Third Servant	 Please you, my lord, that honourable
l187l		gentleman Lord Lucullus entreats your company
l188l		tomorrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honour
l189l		two brace of greyhounds.
l190l	Timon	 I’ll hunt with him, and let them be received
l191l		Not without fair reward.
		(Exit Servant)
		
	Flavius	
		( 191B aside)
		 What will this come to?
l192l		He commands us to provide and give great gifts,
l193l		And all out of an empty coffer#
l194l		Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this:
l195l		To show him what a beggar his heart is,
l196l		Being of no power to make his wishes good.
l197l		His promises fly so beyond his state
l198l		That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes
l199l		For every word. He is so kind that he now
l200l		Pays interest for ’t. His land’s put to their books.
l201l		Well, would I were gently put out of office
l202l		Before I were forced out.
l203l		Happier is he that has no friend to feed
l204l		Than such that do e’en enemies exceed.
l205l		I bleed inwardly for my lord.
		(Exit)
		
	Timon	
		(to the Lords)
		 You do yourselves
l206l		Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits.
l207l		(To Second Lord)
		 Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
l208l	Second Lord	With more than common thanks I will receive it.
l209l	Third Lord	O, he’s the very soul of bounty!
l210l	Timon	(to First Lord)
		 And now I remember, my lord, you
l211l		gave good words the other day of a bay courser I rode
l212l		on. ’Tis yours, because you liked it.
l213l	First Lord	 O I beseech you pardon me, my lord, in that.
l214l	Timon	You may take my word, my lord, I know no man
l215l		Can justly praise but what he does affect.
l216l		I weigh my friends’ affection with mine own.
l217l		I’ll tell you true, I’ll call to you.
	All Lords	O, none so welcome.
l218l	Timon	I take all and your several visitations
l219l		So kind to heart, ’tis not enough to give.
l220l		Methinks I could deal kingdoms to my friends,
l221l		And ne’er be weary. Alcibiades,
l222l		Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich.
l223l		(Giving a present)
		 It comes in charity to thee, for all thy living
l224l		Is ’mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
l225l		Lie in a pitched field.
	Alcibiades	Ay, defiled land, my lord.
l226l	First Lord	We are so virtuously bound—
l227l	Timon	And so am I to you.
l228l	Second Lord	So infinitely endeared—
l229l	Timon	All to you. Lights, more lights!
l230l	First Lord	The best of happiness, honour, and fortunes
l231l		Keep with you, Lord Timon.
l232l	Timon	Ready for his friends.
		(Exeunt all but Timon and Apemantus)
l233l	Apemantus	 What a coil’s here,
l234l		Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!
l235l		I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
l236l		That are given for ’em. Friendship’s full of dregs.
l237l		Methinks false hearts should never have sound legs.
l238l		Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtseys.
l239l	Timon	Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen
l240l		I would be good to thee.
l241l	Apemantus	 No, I’ll nothing# for if I should be bribed too,
l242l		there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then
l243l		thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv’st so long, Timon,
l244l		I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly.
l245l		What needs these feasts, pomps, and vainglories?
l246l	Timon	Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am
l247l		sworn not to give regard to you.
l248l		Farewell, and come with better music.
		( 248B Exit)
		
	Apemantus	 So.
l249l		Thou wilt not hear me now, thou shalt not then.
l250l		I’ll lock thy heaven from thee. O, that men’s ears should be
l251l		To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
		(Exit)
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