The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 503

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. 'T 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 single out an Amazon, and all dance, men witb 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 l.u.s.tre, 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!

FLAVIUS. My lord?

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. Where be our men?

SERVANT. Here, my lord, in readiness.

SECOND LORD. Our horses!

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. So are we all.

Enter a SERVANT

SERVANT. My lord, there are certain n.o.bles of the Senate newly alighted and come to visit you.

TIMON. They are fairly welcome. Exit SERVANT 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] I scarce know how.

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. Exit SERVANT

Enter a third SERVANT

How now! What news?

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. Exit SERVANT 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 ev'ry 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 is 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. 'Tis 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. O, none so welcome!

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. And so am I to you.

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. Ready for his friends.

Exeunt all but APEMANTUS and TIMON APEMANTUS. What a coil's here!

Serving of becks and jutting-out of b.u.ms!

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.

APEMANTUS. No, I'll nothing; for if I should be brib'd too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly. What needs these feasts, pomps, and vain-glories?

TIMON. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come with better music.

Exit APEMANTUS. So. Thou wilt not hear me now: thou shalt not then. I'll lock thy heaven from thee.

O that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! Exit

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ACT II. SCENE I.

A SENATOR'S house

Enter A SENATOR, with papers in his hand

SENATOR. And late, five thousand. To Varro and to Isidore He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum, Which makes it five and twenty. Still in motion Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.

If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold.

If I would sell my horse and buy twenty moe Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon, Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me straight, And able horses. No porter at his gate, But rather one that smiles and still invites All that pa.s.s by. It cannot hold; no reason Can sound his state in safety. Caphis, ho!

Caphis, I say!

Enter CAPHIS

CAPHIS. Here, sir; what is your pleasure?

SENATOR. Get on your cloak and haste you to Lord Timon; Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'd With slight denial, nor then silenc'd when 'Commend me to your master' and the cap Plays in the right hand, thus; but tell him My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn Out of mine own; his days and times are past, And my reliances on his fracted dates Have smit my credit. I love and honour him, But must not break my back to heal his finger.

Immediate are my needs, and my relief Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words, But find supply immediate. Get you gone; Put on a most importunate aspect, A visage of demand; for I do fear, When every feather sticks in his own wing, Lord Timon will be left a naked gull, Which flashes now a phoenix. Get you gone.

CAPHIS. I go, sir.

SENATOR. Take the bonds along with you, And have the dates in compt.

CAPHIS. I will, sir.

SENATOR. Go. Exeunt