A Room of State in Timon's House.
 Hautboys playing loud music.
 A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and other SERVANTS attending;
 and then enter LORD TIMON, the STATES, the Athenian LORDS,
 VENTIDIUS, which Timon redeemed from prison, ALCIBIADES, and LUCULLUS.
 Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself.

Ventidius	Most honoured 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.

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 noble spirit!

Timon	Nay, my lords, 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.
1st Lord	My lord, we always have confessed it.

Apemantus	Ho, ho, confessed it! Hanged it, have you not?

Timon	O, Apemantus, you are welcome.

Apemantus									No,
	You shall not make me welcome;
	I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

Timon	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 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.

Apemantus	Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon.
	I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.

Timon	I take no heed of thee: thou'rt an Athenian, therefore 
	welcome. I myself would have no power; prithee let my meat 
	make thee silent.

Apemantus	I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should ne'er 
	flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of men eats 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'as 
	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.

Timon	[Drinking a toast to a Lord.]
	My lord, in heart! And let the health go round.

2nd Lord	Let it flow this way, my good lord.

Apemantus	Flow 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'th' mire.
	This and my food are equals; there's no odds.
	Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

                            Apemantus' Grace.

		Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
		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.
	Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!

Timon	Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.

Alcibiades	My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

Timon	You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a dinner 
	of friends.

Alcibiades	So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat like 
	'em; I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Apemantus	Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then, that 
	then thou mightst kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

1st Lord	Might 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.

Timon	O, 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 keeps 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 
	call 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's e'en made away 
	ere't can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, 
	methinks. To forget their faults, I drink to you.

Apemantus	Thou weep'st to make them drink, Timon.

2nd Lord	Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
	And at that instant like a babe sprung up.

Apemantus	Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.

3rd Lord	I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.

Apemantus	Much!
													[Sound tucket.
Timon	What means that trump?

                              Enter SERVANT.

									How now!

Servant	Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous 
	of admittance.

Timon	Ladies? What are their wills?

Servant	There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears 
	that office to signify their pleasures.

Timon	I pray, let them be admitted.

                               Enter CUPID.

Cupid	Hail 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, smell, all, pleased from thy table rise;
	They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

Timon	They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance.
	Music, make their welcome!
													[Exit CUPID.
Lucullus	You see, my lord, how ample y'are beloved.

                                  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 madwomen.
	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 depravd 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'as 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 entertained me with mine own device.
	I am to thank you for't.

1st 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 crossed then, an he could.
	'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
	That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
													[Exit.
1st Lord	Where be our men?

Servant	Here, my lord, in readiness.

2nd 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.

1st Lord	I am so far already in your gifts-

All Lords	So are we all.

                            Enter 1st SERVANT.

1st Servant	My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate
	Newly alighted and come to visit you.

Timon	They are fairly welcome.
													[Exit 1st 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 2nd SERVANT.

2nd Servant	May it please your honour, Lord Lucius,
	Out of his free love, hath presented to you
	Four milk-white horses trapped in silver.

Timon	I shall accept them fairly. Let the presents
	Be worthily entertained.
													[Exit 2nd SERVANT.
                            Enter 3rd SERVANT.

								How now, what news?

3nd Servant	Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, Lord 
	Lucullus, entreats your company tomorrow to hunt with him, 
	and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds.

Timon	I'll hunt with him; and let them be received
	Not without fair reward.
													[Exit 3rd 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 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.
Timon	You do yourselves much wrong;
	You bate too much of your own merits.
	Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.

2nd Lord	With more than common thanks I will receive it.

3rd 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 
	liked it.

3rd 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 friends' 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 pitched field.

Alcibiades							Ay, defiled land, my lord.

1st Lord	We are so virtuously bound-

Timon	And so am I to you.

2nd Lord	So infinitely endeared-

Timon	All to you. Lights, more lights!

1st Lord	The best of happiness, honour, and fortunes, keep with you, 
	Lord Timon!

Timon	Ready for his friends.
							[Exeunt all but TIMON and APEMANTUS.

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.

Apemantus	No, 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 giv'st so long, Timon, I fear me thou 
	wilt give away thyself in paper shortly. What needs these 
	feasts, pomps, and vainglories?

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.
