Timon of Athens - William Shakespeare [books to read romance txt] 📗

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 fatterers were thine enemies then, that then thou mightst kill ’em and bid me to ’em! First 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 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. Apemantus Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon. Second 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. Third Lord I promise you, my lord, you moved me much. Apemantus Much! Tucket, within. Timon What means that trump? Enter a 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 and smell, pleased from thy tale 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.

First Lord You see, my lord, how ample you’re beloved. Music. Re-enter Cupid with a mask 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 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 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. Flavius My lord? Timon The little casket bring me hither. Flavius

Yes, 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.

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 nobles of the senate
Newly alighted, and come to visit you.

Timon They are fairly welcome. 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 a Second Servant. Second Servant

May it please your 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. How now! what news? Third