ARKCODEX
Act I, Scene 2
1A banqueting-room in Timon’s house.
2Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; Flavius and others attending; then enter Lord Timon, Alcibiades, Lords, Senators, and Ventidius. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus, discontentedly, like himself.
3VentidiusMost honour’d Timon,
It hath pleased 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 derived liberty.
4TimonO, 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.
5VentidiusA noble spirit!
6TimonNay, my lords, They all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon.
Ceremony was but devised 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.
7First LordMy lord, we always have confess’d it.
8ApemantusHo, ho, confess’d it! hang’d it, have you not?
9TimonO, Apemantus, you are welcome.
10ApemantusNo;
You shall not make me welcome:
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
11TimonFie, 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 yond man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is he fit for’t, indeed.
12ApemantusLet me stay at thine apperil, Timon: I come to observe; I give thee warning on’t.
13TimonI take no heed of thee; thou’rt an Athenian, therefore welcome: I myself would have no power; prithee, let my meat make thee silent.
14ApemantusI scorn thy meat; ’twould choke me, for I should ne’er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of men eat Timon, and he sees ’em not! It grieves me to see so many dip their meat in one man’s blood; and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.
I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
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, pledges the breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him: ’t has been proved. 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.
15TimonMy lord, in heart; and let the health go round.
16Second LordLet it flow this way, my good lord.
17ApemantusFlow 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, 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.
18Apemantus’ grace.
19
Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
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. Eats and drinks.
20TimonCaptain Alcibiades, your heart’s in the field now.
21AlcibiadesMy heart is ever at your service, my lord.
22TimonYou had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a dinner of friends.
23AlcibiadesSo they were bleeding-new, my lord, there’s no meat like ’em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.
24ApemantusWould all those fatterers were thine enemies then, that then thou mightst kill ’em and bid me to ’em!
25First LordMight 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.
26TimonO, 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 can 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.
27ApemantusThou weepest to make them drink, Timon.
28Second LordJoy had the like conception in our eyes
And at that instant like a babe sprung up.
29ApemantusHo, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.
30Third LordI promise you, my lord, you moved me much.
31ApemantusMuch! Tucket, within.
32TimonWhat means that trump?
33Enter a Servant.
34How now?
35ServantPlease you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance.
36TimonLadies! what are their wills?
37ServantThere comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures.
38TimonI pray, let them be admitted.
39Enter Cupid.
40CupidHail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th’ ear,
Taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tale rise;
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
41TimonThey’re welcome all; let ’em have kind admittance:
Music, make their welcome! Exit Cupid.
42First LordYou see, my lord, how ample you’re beloved.
43Music. Reenter Cupid with a mask of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.
44ApemantusHoy-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: ’t has been done;
Men shut their doors against a setting sun.
45The 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.
46TimonYou 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.
47First LadyMy lord, you take us even at the best.
48Apemantus’Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me.
49TimonLadies, there is an idle banquet attends you:
Please you to dispose yourselves.
50All LadiesMost thankfully, my lord. Exeunt Cupid and Ladies.
51TimonFlavius.
52FlaviusMy lord?
53TimonThe little casket bring me hither.
54FlaviusYes, my lord. More jewels yet! Aside.
There is no crossing him in’s humour;
Else I should tell him—well, i’ faith I should,
When all’s spent, he’ld 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.
55First LordWhere be our men?
56ServantHere, my lord, in readiness.
57Second LordOur horses!
58Reenter Flavius, with the casket.
59TimonO 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.
60First LordI am so far already in your gifts—
61AllSo are we all.
62Enter a Servant.
63ServantMy lord, there are certain nobles of the senate
Newly alighted, and come to visit you.
64TimonThey are fairly welcome.
65FlaviusI beseech your honour,
Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
66TimonNear! why then, another time I’ll hear thee:
I prithee, let’s be provided to show them entertainment.
67FlaviusAside. I scarce know how.
68Enter a Second Servant.
69Second ServantMay it please your honour, Lord Lucius,
Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses, trapp’d in silver.
70TimonI shall accept them fairly; let the presents
Be worthily entertain’d.
71Enter a Third Servant.
72How now! what news?
73Third ServantPlease 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.
74TimonI’ll hunt with him; and let them be received,
Not without fair reward.
75FlaviusAside. 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 forced 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.
76TimonYou do yourselves
Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits:
Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
77Second LordWith more than common thanks I will receive it.
78Third LordO, he’s the very soul of bounty!
79TimonAnd now I remember, my lord, you gave
Good words the other day of a bay courser
I rode on: it is yours, because you liked it.
80Second LordO, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
81TimonYou 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.
82All LordsO, none so welcome.
83TimonI 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.
84AlcibiadesAy, defiled land, my lord.
85First LordWe are so virtuously bound—
86TimonAnd so
Am I to you.
87Second LordSo infinitely endear’d—
88TimonAll to you. Lights, more lights!
89First LordThe best of happiness,
Honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!
90TimonReady for his friends. Exeunt all but Apemantus and Timon.
91ApemantusWhat 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 court’sies.
92TimonNow, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
I would be good to thee.
93ApemantusNo, I’ll nothing: for if I should be bribed too, there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps and vain-glories?
94TimonNay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come with better music. Exit.
95ApemantusSo:
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.