[Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of LADIES as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.]
APEMANTUS
Hoy-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 friend's 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.]
TIMON
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.
APEMANTUS. Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.
TIMON
Ladies, there is an idle banquet
Attends you; please you to dispose yourselves.
ALL LADIES
Most thankfully, my lord.
[Exeunt CUPID and LADIES.]
TIMON
FLAVIUS
TIMON
The little casket bring me hither.
FLAVIUS
Yes, my lord. [Aside.] More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in 's humour;
Else I should tell him well, i' faith, I should,
When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he could.
'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
[Exit.]
FIRST LORD
SERVANT
Here, my lord, in readiness.
SECOND LORD
[Re-enter FLAVIUS, with the casket.]
TIMON
O, my friends! I have one word to say to you;
Look you, my good lord,
I must entreat you, honour me so much
As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,
Kind my lord.
FIRST LORD
I am so far already in your gifts —
ALL
[Enter a SERVANT.]
SERVANT
My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate
Newly alighted and come to visit you.
TIMON
FLAVIUS
I beseech your honour,
Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
TIMON
Near! why then, another time I'll hear thee.
I prithee let's be provided to show them entertainment.
FLAVIUS
[Aside.]
[Enter another SERVANT.]
SECOND SERVANT
May it please vour honour, Lord Lucius,
Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.
TIMON
I shall accept them fairly; let the presents
Be worthily entertain'd.
[Enter a third SERVANT.]
THIRD SERVANT. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds.
TIMON
I'll hunt with him; and let them be receiv'd,
Not without fair reward.
FLAVIUS
[Aside.] 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,
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good.
His promises fly so beyond his state
That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
For every word: he is so kind that he now
Pays interest for 't; his land's put to their books.
Well, would I were gently put out of office
Before I were forc'd out!
Happier he that has no friend to feed
Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
[Exit.]
TIMON
You do yourselves much wrong;
You bate too much of your own merits;
Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
SECOND LORD
With more than common thanks I will receive it.
THIRD LORD
O! he's the very soul of bounty!
TIMON
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.
THIRD LORD
O! I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
TIMON
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'll tell you true; I'll call to you.
ALL LORDS
TIMON
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.
ALCIBIADES
Ay, defil'd land, my lord.
FIRST LORD
We are so virtuously bound, —
TIMON
SECOND LORD
So infinitely endear'd, —
TIMON
All to you. Lights, more lights!
FIRST LORD
The best of happiness,
Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!
TIMON
[Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, and etc.].]
APEMANTUS
What a coil's here!
Serving of becks and jutting out of bums!
I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:
Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs.
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsies.
TIMON
Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
I would be good to thee.
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