Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant.

Tim. What trumpet's that?

Servant.

'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,

All of companionship.

us.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to [Exeunt some Attendants. You must needs dine with them. Go not you hence, Till I have thank'd you; [and] when dinner's done Shew me this piece. I am joyful of your sights. —

Enter ALCIBIADES, with his company.

Most welcome, sir!

Apem.

So, so, there.

Aches contract and starve your supple joints!

That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet

knaves,

And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey.

Alcibiades. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I

feed

Most hungerly on your sight.

Right welcome, sir:

Tim.
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.

Enter two Lords.

1 Lord. What time o' day is't, Apemantus? Apem. Time to be honest.

Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it. 2 Lord. Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast. Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.

2 Lord. Fare thee well; fare thee well.

Apem. Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

Apem. Should'st have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

1 Lord. Hang thyself.

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog! or I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' th' ass.

[Exit.

1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall

we in,

And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes

The very heart of kindness.

2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays

Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,

But breeds the giver a return exceeding

All use of quittance.

1 Lord.

That ever govern'd man.

The noblest mind he carries,

2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall

we in?

1 Lord. I'll keep you company.

N 2

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Same. A Room of State in TIMON'S House.

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending: then, enter T1MON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, and other Senators, with VENTIDIUS, which TIMON redeemed from prison, and Attendants: then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself.

Ventidius. Most honour'd Timon,

It hath pleas'd the gods to remember my father's age, And call him to long peace.

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, Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help I deriv'd liberty.

Tim.

O, by no means,

Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love.
I gave it freely ever; and there's none
Can truly say, he gives, if he receives:

If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them: faults that are rich are fair.
Ven. A noble spirit!

Tim.

[They stand ceremoniously waiting for TIMON

to sit.

Nay, my lords,

Ceremony was but devis'd at first,

To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,

Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;

But where there is true friendship, there needs none.

Pray, sit more welcome are ye to my fortunes,

Than my fortunes to me.

[They sit.

1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it. Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have you

not?

Tim. O, Apemantus !

you are welcome.

Apem. No, you shall not make me welcome:

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

Tim. Fie! thou'rt a churl: you've got a humour

there

Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame.

They say, my lords, ira furor brevis est,

But yond' man is ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,

Nor is he fit for't, indeed.

Apem. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon:

I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.

Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian, therefore, welcome. I myself would have no power; pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.

Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number of men eats Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me, to see so many dip their meat in one man's blood; and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.

I wonder, men dare trust themselves with men : Methinks, they should invite them without knives; Good for their meat, and safer for their lives. There's much example for't; the fellow, that sits next him now, parts bread with him, and pledges the breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him: 't 'as been proved. If I were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;

Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes : Great men should drink with harness on their throats.

Tim. My lord, — in heart

round.

in heart; and let the health go

2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Apem. Flow this way? A brave fellow! — he keeps Those healths will make thee and thy

his tides well.

state look ill, Timon.

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner,
Honest water, which ne'er left man i' th' mire:
This and my food are equals, there's no odds,
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

APEMANTUS' GRACE.

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man, but myself.
Grant I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his oath or bond;
Or a harlot for her weeping;
Or a dog that seems a sleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom ;

Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:

Rich men sin, and I eat root.

[Eats and drinks.

Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
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 ene