In one man's blood"; and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too.

I wonder, men dare trust themselves with mèn :
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: it has been prov'd.
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?; and let the health go round.
2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord.
Flow this way
Apem.
A brave fellow! - he keeps his tides well. Timon,
Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill.
Here's that, which is too weak to be sinner,
Honest water, which ne'er left man i'the mire:
This, and my food, are equals; there's no odds.
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

APEMANTUS'S 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;

so many dip their meat

In one man's blood;] The allusion is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit by being gratified with the blood of an animal which they kill, and the wonder is that the animal on which they are feeding cheers them to the chase. JOHNSON.

7 My lord, in heart;] That is, my lord's health with sincerity.

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 them; I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

8

Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them:

+ A corruption of dit for do it.

8

9

ing.

- for ever perfect.] Arrived at the perfection of happiness. that charitable title-] Charitable signifies, dear, endear

1 I confirm you.] I fix your characters firmly in my own mind.

and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself 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 so many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! 2 Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks; to forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon. 2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up.

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!

[Tucket sounded.

Tim. What means that trump? - How now?

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 forerunner, 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

o O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born!] Tears being the effect both of joy and grief, supplied our author with an opportunity of conceit, which he seldom fails to indulge. Timon, weeping with a kind of tender pleasure, cries out, O joy, e'en made away, destroyed, turned to tears, before it can be born, before it can be fully possessed. JOHNSON.

To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: The ear,
Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rise;
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

Tim. They are welcome all; let them have kind ad-
mittance:

Musick, make their welcome.

[Exit CUPID. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd.

Musick. Re-enter CUPID, with a Masque of Ladies as Amazons, with Lutes in their Hands, dancing, and playing.

Apem. Hey day, 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 shows 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 show their loves, each singles out 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,

• Like madness is the glory of this life,

As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root.] Apemantus means to say, that the glory of this life was just as much madness in the eye of reason, as the pomp appeared to be, when compared to the frugal repast of a philosopher.

of their friends' gift?] Given them by their friends.

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; 5

I am to thank you for it.

1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best." Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.

Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet

Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves.

All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord.

Tim. Flavius,

Flav. My lord.

[Exeunt CUPID, and Ladies.

The little casket bring me hither.

[Aside.

Tim
Flav. Yes, my lord. - More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in his humour;

Else I should tell him, - Well, i'faith, I should,

When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could.7 'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind;

That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.9

[Exit, and returns with the Casket.

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

mine own device;] The mask appears to have been designed by Timon, to surprize his guests.

of us."

7

even at the best.] i. e. "You have conceived the fairest

he'd be cross'd then, an he could.] i. e. he will then too late wish that it were possible to undo what he had done: he will in vain lament that I did not [cross or] thwart him in his career of prodigality.

8

· had not eyes behind;] To see the miseries that are following her. JOHNSON.

for his mind.] For nobleness of soul. JOHNSON.