Part 2 (1/2)

TIMON. 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 rest

Most welcome, sir! [They salute]

APEMANTUS. So, so, there!

Aches contract and starve your supple joints!

That there should be small love amongst these sweet knaves, And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey.

ALCIBIADES. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungerly on your sight.

TIMON. 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

FIRST LORD. What time o' day is't, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS. Time to be honest.

FIRST LORD. That time serves still.

APEMANTUS. The more accursed thou that still omit'st it.

SECOND LORD. Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast.

APEMANTUS. Ay; to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.

SECOND LORD. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

APEMANTUS. Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

SECOND LORD. Why, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

FIRST LORD. Hang thyself.

APEMANTUS. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend.

SECOND LORD. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

APEMANTUS. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' th' a.s.s. Exit FIRST LORD. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in And taste Lord Timon's bounty? He outgoes The very heart of kindness.

SECOND LORD. He pours it out: Plutus, the G.o.d 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.

FIRST LORD. The n.o.blest mind he carries That ever govern'd man.

SECOND LORD. Long may he live in fortunes! shall we in?

FIRST LORD. I'll keep you company. Exeunt

SCENE II.

A room of state in TIMON'S house

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet serv'd in; FLAVIUS and others attending; and then enter LORD TIMON, the states, the ATHENIAN LORDS, VENTIDIUS, which TIMON redeem'd from prison.

Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself

VENTIDIUS. Most honoured Timon, It hath pleas'd the G.o.ds 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.

TIMON. 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.

VENTIDIUS. A n.o.ble spirit!

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 friends.h.i.+p there needs none.

Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes Than my fortunes to me. [They sit]

FIRST LORD. My lord, we always have confess'd it.

APEMANTUS. Ho, ho, confess'd it! Hang'd it, have you not?