I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment: my free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold;
But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.

Pain. How shall I understand you?
Port.

50

100

His means most short, his creditors most strait :
Your honourable letter he desires
To those have shut him up; which failing,
Periods his comfort.
Tim.

Noble Ventidius! Well;
I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he must need me. I do know
him

A gentleman that well deserves a help,

I will unbolt to you. Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt and free

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.
Tim.
Freely, good father.
Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilins.
Tim. I have so what of him?

Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man be-
fore thee.

Tim. Attends he here or no? Lucilius!
Luc. Here, at your lordship's service.

Old Ath. This fellow here, Lord Timon, this
thy creature,

By night frequents my house. I am a man 199
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd
Than one which holds a trencher.
Tim.

Well; what further

Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got:
The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,
And I have bred her at my dearest cost
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I prithee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.
Tim.

130

The man is honest.

I call the gods to witness, I will choose
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world.
And dispossess her all.

Tim.

How shall she be endow'd

If she be mated with an equal husband?
Old Ath. Three talents on the present; in
future, all.

Tim. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me
long:

To build his fortune I will strain a little,
For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,
And make him weigh with her.
Old Ath.

19

Most noble lord, Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.

:

where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
Poet. That's not feigned; 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,

Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the that I were a lord! common tongue,

Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be lord with my heart. chid?

Tim. What trumpet 's that?
Serv. 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide
Exeunt some Attendants.

You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence

Apem. Of nothing so much as that I am not Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's

Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by Most welcome, sir! the law.

Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I I gave it freely ever; and there's none

Apem. Should'st have kept one to thyself, for I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

Second Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the have no power; prithee, let my meat make thee god of gold,

It hath pleas'd the gods to remember my father's Great men should drink with harness on their

::

7

Apem. Flow this way! A brave fellow! he |
keeps his tides well. Those healths will make
thee and thy state look ill, Timon.
Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, 60
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.

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.

70

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 enemies then, that then thou might'st kill 'em and bid me to 'em.

First 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.

90

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 not you 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 ne'er have need of 'em? they were the most needless creatures living should we ne'er have use for 'em, 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't can be born. Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink,
Timon.

Second Lord. Joy had the like conception in

Enter a Servant.

How now! 120 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 Acknowledg thee their patron; and come

freely

130

To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. Th' ear,
Taste, touch, and smell, pleas'd from thy table
rise;
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
Tim. They're welcome all; let 'em have kind
admittance:

Music, make their welcome!

Exit CUPID.

First Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you 're belov'd.

Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.

Apem. Hoy-day! what a sweep of vanity comes this way:

140

They dancel 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

Men shut their doors against a setting sun. 150 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,

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't and lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for 't.

First 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.

160

Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet
Attends you: please you to dispose yourselves.
All Ladies. Most thankfully, my lord.

Tim. Flavius!
Flav. My lord!
Tim.

Exeunt CUPID and Ladies,

The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord. Aside. More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in 's humour;