I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not thou a merchant?
Ay, Apemantus.
Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
If traffic do it, the gods do it.
Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee!
[Trumpet sounds. Enter a MESSENGER.]
What trumpet's that?
'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship.
Pray entertain them; give them guide to us.
[Exeunt some attendants.]
You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence
Till I have thank'd you; when dinner's done,
Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.
[Enter ALCIBIADES, with the his Company.]
Most welcome, sir!
[They salute.]
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.
Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly on your sight.
Right welcome, sir!
Ere we depart we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.]
[Enter two LORDS.]
What time o' day is't, Apemantus?
Time to be honest.
That time serves still.
The more accursed thou that still omitt'st it.
Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast.
Ay; to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.
Fare thee well, fare thee well.
Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
Why, Apemantus?
Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.
Hang thyself!
APEMANTUS. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.
Away, unpeaceable dog! or I'll spurn thee hence.
I will fly, like a dog, the heels of an ass.
[Exit.]
He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.
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.
The noblest mind he carries
That ever govern'd man.
Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?
I'll keep you company.
[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 LORD TIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, and Senators, VENTIDIUS and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself.]
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.
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.
A noble spirit.
[They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON.]
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.]
My lord, we always have confess'd it.
Ho, ho! confess'd it; hang'd it, have you not?
O! Apemantus, you are welcome.
No,
You shall not make me welcome:
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
Fie! thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there
Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.
They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est;
But