TIMON OF ATHENS.

Enter a Servant.

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 fore-runner, 5 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,
That of his bounties taste!-The five best senses
Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom; [table rise;
The ear, taste, touch, smell, pleas'd from thy
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
Tim. They are welcome all; let 'em have kind
admittance:

Musick, make their welcome.

1 Lord. You see, my lord, how amply you are
[Exit Cupid.
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 shews to a little oil, and root'.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Upon whose age we void it up again,
With poisonous spite, and envy. Who lives, that's
[not
Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears
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 shew their loves, each singles ou
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;
You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device.
I am to thank you for it.

[Act 1. Scene.

Tim. The little casket bring me hither.
Flav. Yes, my lord.-More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in his humour; [Aside.
Else I should tell him,-Well,-i' faith, I should,
10'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind *;
When all's spent, he'd be cross'd'then,an hecould.
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind'.
[Exit, and returns with the casket.

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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
Intreat you, honour me so much, as to
Advance' this jewel: accept, and wear it, kind my
[lord.
1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,—
All. So are we all.

Enter a Servant.

Serc. My lord, there are certain nobles of the Newly alighted, and come to visit you. [senate Tim. They are fairly welcome.

Flac. I beseech your honour,

Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.

Tim. Near? why then another time I'll hear pr'ythee, let us be provided

30

To shew them entertainment.

Flav. [Aside.] I scarce know how.

Enter another Servant.

[thee:

2 Serc. May it please your honour, lord Lucius, Out of his free love, hath presented to you 35 Four milk-white horses, trapt in silver.

40

Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends [you.

Tim. I shall accept them fairly: let the presents Be worthily entertain'd.-How now? what news?

Enter a third Servant.

gentleman, lord Lucullus, entreats your company
3 Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable
to-morrow to hunt with him; and has sent your
honour two brace of
Tim. I'll hunt with hiin; and let them be re-
greyhounds.
Not without fair reward.

[ceiv'd,

Flav. [iside.] 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,
Being of no power to make his wishes good:
To shew him what a beggar his heart is,
His promises fly so beyond his state,
For every word; he is so kind, that he now
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes

The meaning is, according to Dr. Johnson, "The glory of this life is very near to madness, as may be made appear from this pomp, exhibited in a place where a philosopher is feeding on oil and roots. When we see by example how few are the necessaries of life, we learn what madness there is in so much superfluity." 2 i. e. here, that he would be cross'd in humour, but that he would have his hand cross'd with money, if he you have seen the best we can do. could. He is playing on the word, and alluding to our old silver penny, used before K. Edward the The poet does not mean First's time, which had a cross on the reverse, with a crease, that it might be more easily broke into halves and quarters, half-pence and farthings. From this penny, and other pieces, was our common expression derived, I have not a cross about me; i. e. not a piece of money. ries that are following her. honour by wearing it. 'i. e. for his nobleness of soul. 4.To see the mise1 i. c. to prefer it; to raise it to Pays

Of your own merits :--Here, my lord; a trifle of
2 Lord. With more than cominon thanks I will 10
receive it.

3 Lord. O, he is 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 it is yours, because you lik'd 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 tell you true. I'll call on you.

All Lords. O, none so welcome.

Tim. I take all and your several visitations
So kind to heart, 'tis 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

Is 'mongst the dead; and all the lands thou hast,
Lie in a pitch'd field.

Alcib. In defiled land, my lord.

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20

I

1 Lord. We are so virtuously bound,-
Tim. And so am I to you.

2 Lord. So infinite endear'd,

Tim. All 1 to you.-Lights! more lights.
1 Lord. The best of happiness,

[mon!

Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, "lord Ti-
Tim. Ready for his friends.

[Exeunt Alcibiades, Lords, &c.

Apem. What a coil's here!
Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums!
doubt, whether their legs be worth the sums
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:
Methinks, false hearts shouldnever have sound legs.
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies.
Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
I would be good to thee.

Apem. 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.

4

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. Nay,

25 If you begin to rail once on society,

I am sworn, not to give regard to you.

Farewell; and come with better musick. [Exit.
Apem. So;-

Thou wilt not hear me now,-thou shalt not then,

30 I'll lock

[be

Sen.

AND

A publick place in the City.

Enter a Senator.

ND late, five thousand to Varro; and
to Isidore,

He owes nine thousand;-besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty.-Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold;
If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me, straight,
And able horses: No porter at his gate';
But rather one that smiles, and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason

II. .

140 Can found his state in safety.-Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say!

1451

Enter Caphis.

Cuph. Here, sir; What is your pleasure?
Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to lord
Timon;

Importune him for my monies; be not ceas'd'
With slight denial; nor then silenc'd, when-
Commend me to your master-and the cap [ralı,
Plays in the right hand, thus:-but tell him, sir-
50 My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliance on his fracted dates
Has smit my credit: I love, and honour him;
But must not break my back, to heal his finger:
55 Immediate are my needs; and my
relief
Must not be tost and turn'd to me in words,

i. e. all good wishes, or all happiness to you. 2 To serve a beck, according to Johnson, is o offer a salutation: Mr. Steevens believes it in this place to mean, to pay a courtly obedience to a nod. Our author plays upon the word leg, as it signifies a limb and a bow or act of obeisance. 4 i. c. be ruined by his securities entered into. i. e. the pleasure of being flattered. i. e. If I give my horse to Timon, it immediately foals, and not only produces more, but able horses. ? Our author here alludes to that sternness which was in his days the general characteristic of a porter. ' i. e. Reason cannot find his for une to have any safe or solid foundation. i, e. stopp'd.

But

I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; [Exeunt Alcibiades, &c. 10Pllwait uponyou instantly.--Come hither,prayyou. [To Flavius How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd With clamorous demands of broken bonds, And the detention of long-since-due debts, 15 Against my honour?

Flav. Please you, gentlemen,

The time is unagreeable to this business: Your importunacy cease, 'till after dinner; That I may make his lordship understand 20 Wherefore you are not paid.

Enter Caphis, with the servants of Isidore and Varro. 25
Fye, fye, fye, fye!

Caph. Good even^, Varro: What,

Tim. Do so, my friends: See them well entertain'd.

Flav. Pray draw near.

[Exit Timon. [Exit Flavius. Enter Apemantus, and a Fool. Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus;

Let's have some sport with 'em.

Var. Hang him, he'll abuse us.

Isid. A plague upon him, dog!

Apem. Dost dialogue with thy shadow?
Var. I speak not to thee.

Apem. No, 'tis to thyself.-Come away.

You come for money?

Var. Is't not your business too?

Caph. It is;-And yours too, Isidore?
Isid. It is so.

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J'ar. How dost, fool?

Tim.So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again, My Alcibiades. With me? What is your will?

Apem. No, thou stand'st single, thou art not on him yet.

[To the Fool.

Isid. [To Var.] There's the fool hangs on your back already.

[They present their bills.

Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
Tim. Dues? Whence are you?
Caph. Of Athens here, my lord.
Tim. Go to my steward.

Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awak'd by great occasion,
To call upon his own; and humbly prays you,
That with your other noble parts you'll suit,
In giving him his right.

Tim. Mine honest friend,

I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning.
Caph. Nay, good my lord,-

-

Tim. Contain thyself, good friend.

Var. One Varro's servant, my good lord,—
Isid. From Isidore;

He humbly prays your speedy payment,—

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Caph. Where's the fool now?

Apem. He last ask'd the question. Poor rogues,

and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want! All. What are we, Apeiantus?

Apem. Asses.

Áll. Why?

Apem. That you ask me, what you are, and do not know yourselves.-Speak to 'em, fool.Fool. How do you, gentlemen?

All. Gramercies, good fool: How does your mistress?

50 Fool. She's e'en setting on water to scald' such
chickens as you are. 'Would, we could see you
at Corinth.

Apem. Good! gramercy.
Enter Page.

Fool. Look you, here comes my master's page.

1 A gull is a bird as remarkable for the poverty of its feathers, as a phoenix is supposed to be for the richness of its plumage. 2 Which is here used for who, and refers to Timon. Warburton supplies the sense of this passage thus: Never mind was [made] to be so unwise, [in order] to be so kind: i. e. Nature, in order to make a profusé mind, never before endowed any man with so large a share of folly. Good even, or, as it is sometimes less accurately written, Good den, was the usual salutation from noon, the moment that Good morrow becaine improper. The old name for a certain disease was the brenning, and a sense of scalding is one of its first symptoms. A cant name for a bawdy-house, probably from the dissoluteness of that ancient Greek city.

Page.

Page. [To the Fool.] Why, how now, captain? what do you in this wise company?-How dost thou, Apemantus?

Apem. 'Wold I had a rod in my mouth that I might answer thee profitably.

Page. Pr'ythee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters; I know not which is which.

Apem. Can'st not read?
Page. No.

Apem. There will little learning die then, that day thou art hang'd. This is to lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou 'lt die a bawd.

anon.

Flac. Pray you, walk near; I'll speak with you
[Exeunt Apemantus and Fool.,
Tim. You make me marvel: Wherefore, ere
this tune,

5 Had you not fully laid my state before me;
That I might so have rated my expence,
As I had leave of means?

10

Page. Thou wast whelp'd a dog; and thou 15 shalt famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am [Exit.

gone.

Apem. Even so, thou out-runn'st grace. Fool, I will go with you to lord Timon's. Fool. Will you leave me there?

Apem. If Timon stay at home.-You three

serve three usurers?

All. Ay; 'would they serv'd us!

Apem. So would I,-as good a trick as ever hanginan serv'd thief.

Fool. Are you three usurers' men?

All. Ay, fool.

Flav. You would not hear me,
At many leisures I propos'd.
Tim. Go to:

Perchance, some single vantages you took
When
back;
indisposition put you
my
And that unaptness made your minister,
Thus to excuse yourself.

Flao. O my good lord!

At many times I brought in my accounts,
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
And say, you found them in mine honesty.
When, for some trifling present, you have bid me
20 Return so much, I have shook my head, and wept;
Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you
To hold your hand more close: I did endure
Not seldom, nor no slight checks; when I have
Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate,
25 And your great flow of debts. My dear-lov'd lord,
Though you hear now, yet now's too late a time;
The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts.

Fool. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his servant: My mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they 20 approach sadly, and go away merry; but they enter my master's house merrily, and go away sadly: The reason of this?

Var. I could render one.

Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee 35 a whore-master, and a knave; which notwithstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed.

Var. What is a whore-master, fool?

Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. "Tis a spirit: sometime, it appears 40 like a lord; sometime, like a lawyer; sometime, like a philosopher, with two stones more than 's artificial one: He is very often like a knight; and, generally, in all shapes, that man goes up and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, this spi-45 rit walks in.

Var. Thou art not altogether a fool.

Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man; as much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lack'st. Apem. That answer might have become Ape- 50

mantus.

All. Aside, aside; here comes lord Timon.
Re-enter Timon, and Flavius.

Apem. Come with me, fool, come.

Fool. I do not always follow lover, elder bro-5 ther, and woman; sometime, the philosopher.

1

Tim. Let all my land be sold.

Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone;
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth.
Of present dues: the future comes apace:
What shall defend the interim? and at length
How goes our reckoning?

Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend.
Flav. O my good lord, the world is but a word2;
Were it all yours, to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone?

Tim. You tell me true.

2 The

Meaning the celebrated philosopher's stone, which was in those times much talked of. meaning is, As the world itself may be comprised in a word, you might give it away in a breath. *Feeders are servants, whose low debaucheries are practised in the offices of a house.-It appears, that what we now call offices, were anciently called houses of office. * A wasteful cock is what we now call a waste pipe; a pipe which is continually running, and thereby prevents the overflow of cisterns and other reservoirs, by carrying off their superfluous water. This circumstance served to keep the idea of Timon's unceasing prodigality in the mind of the steward, while its remoteness from the scenes of luxury within the house, was favourable to meditation,

The

The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:|
Feast won, fast lost; one cloud of winter showers,
These flies are couch'd.

Tim. Come, sermon me no further:
No villainous bounty yet hath past my heart;
Unwisely, not ignobly have I given. [lack,
Why dost thou weep? Can'st thou the conscience
To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love,
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use,
As I can bid thee speak.

Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts!

Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine
are crown'd,

That I account them blessings; for by these
Shall I try friends: You shall perceive, how you
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there!-Flaminius! Servilius!

Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants.
Serv. My lord, my lord,-

Tim. I will dispatch you severally,-You, to
lord Lucius,-

To lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his
Honour to-day,-You, to Sempronius ;—
Commend me to their loves; and, I am proud, say,
That my occasions have found time to use them
Toward a supply of money: let the request
Be fifty talents.

Flam. As you have said, my lord.

Flav. Lord Lucius, and Lucullus? hum!Tim. Co you, sir, to the senators, [To Flavius. (Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have Deserv'd this hearing) bid 'em send o' the instant A thousand talents to me.

Flav. I have been bold,

5

But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return.

Tim. Is't true? can't be?

Flac.They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot Do what they would; are sorry you are honourable,

But yet they could have wish'd-they know notSomething hath been amiss-a noble nature 10 May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis pity

And so, intending' other serious matters,

After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions*, With certain half-caps, and cold-moving nods, 15 They froze me into silence.

Tim. You gods, reward them!-

I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly: These old fellows
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:
Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it seldom flows;
20'Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion'd for the journey, dull, and heavy.-
Go to Ventidius,-Pr'ythee, be not sad,
Thou art true, and honest; ingenuously I speak,
No blame belongs to thee:-Ventidius lately
Bury'd his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd
Into a great estate: when he was poor,
Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,

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[me;

I clear'd him with five talents: Greet him from
Bid him suppose, some good necessity
Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd
With those five talents:-That had, give it these
fellows

To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think,
That Timon's fortunes'mong his friends can sink.
Flav. I would, I could not think it; That
thought is bounty's foe;

Being free itself, it thinks all others so. [Excunt,

1 Argument may here be put for contents, as the arguments of a book; or for evidences and proofs. * i. e. compendious way. To intend and to attend had anciently the same meaning.

4 Fractions

here mean broken hints, interrupted sentences, abrupt remarks." A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off. ⚫ i. e. liberal. ? i. e. respectfully.

occasion