Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? Apem. No; I eat not lords. Tim. An thou should'st, thou❜dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies. Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy la bour. Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing 3, which will not cost a man a doit. Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth? Apem. Not worth my thinking. Poet. Art not one? Apem. Yes. Poet. Then I lie not. Apem. Art not a poet? Poet. Yes. -How now, poet? Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so. Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He that loves to be flattered, is worthy o'the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What would'st do then, Apemantus? Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart. Tim. What, thyself? Apem. Ay. Tim. Wherefore? Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.- Art not thou a merchant? Mer. Ay, Apemantus. Not so well as plain-dealing,] Alluding to the proverb: "Plain dealing is a jewel, but they that use it die beggars." Apem. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound thee! Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant. Tim. What trumpet's that? Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. 9 Tim. Pray entertain them; give them guide to us. — You must needs dine with me: [Exeunt some Attendants. Go not you hence, Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done, Show me this piece. — I am joyful of your sights. — Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Most welcome, sir! Арет. So, so; there! – [They salute. Aches contract and starve your supple joints! — That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out 1 Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight. Tim. Right welcome, sir; Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. 9 [Exeunt all but APEMANTUS. all of companionship.] This expression does not mean barely that they all belong to one company, but that they are all such as Alcibiades honours with his acquaintance, and sets on à level with himself. 1 The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey.] Man is exhausted and degenerated; his strain or lineage is worn down into a monkey. JOHNSON. Enter Two Lords. 1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? Apem. Time to be honest. 1 Lord. That time serves still. 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 of the 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 meed2, but he repays Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a return exceeding All use of quittance. 1 Lord. 3 That ever govern'd man. 2 The noblest mind he carries, —no meed,] Meed, which in general signifies reward or recompense, in this place seems to mean desert. 3 All use of quittance.] i. e. all the customary returns made in discharge of obligations. 2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Room of State in Timon's House. Hautboys playing loud Musick. A great Banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMAntus, discontentedly. Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the gods remember+ My father's age, and call him to long peace. Doubled, with thanks, and service, from whose help Tim. O, by no means, Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love; Can truly say, he gives, if he receives: If our betters play at that game, we must not dare + [They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON. "it hath pleas'd the gods to remember" - MALONE. 41 Faults that are rich, are fair.] The faults of rich persons, and which contribute to the increase of riches, wear a plausible appearance, and as the world goes are thought fair, but they are faults notwithstanding. Tim. 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. [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. You shall not make me welcome : I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. No Tim. Fye, thou art a churl; you have got a humour there Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame: They say, my lords, that ira furor brevis est,+ Go, let him have a table by himself; For he does neither affect company, Nor is he fit for it, indeed. Apem. Let me stay at thine own perilį, Timon; I come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art 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 It grieves me, to see so many dip their meat + Mr. Malone omits that. "thine apperil," - MALONE. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should Ne'er flatter thee.] The meaning is, I could not swallow thy meat, for I could not pay for it with flattery; and what was given me with an ill-will would stick in my throat. JOHNSON. |