Taste, touch, smell, pleas'd from thy table rise; Tim. They are welcome all. Let them have kind ad mittance: Music, make their welcome. [Exit CUPID. First Lord. You see, my lord, how amply y' are belov'd. Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing, and playing. Apem. Hey 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. Who lives, that's not depraved, or depraves? I should fear, those, that dance before me now, [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.1 Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies, 1-hautboys and cease.] The old descriptive stage-direction, here as well as above. Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, Which was not half so beautiful and kind : You have added worth unto 't, and lively lustre, I am to thank you for it. First Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best. Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me. Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you please you to dispose yourselves. All Ladies. Most thankfully, my lord. Tim. Flavius ! Flav. My lord. Tim. [Exeunt CUPID and Ladies. The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord. [Aside]. More jewels yet! Else I should tell him,-well,-i' faith, I should, 'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind, That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind. [Exit, and returns with the casket. First Lord. Where be our men? Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness. [As if departing. Tim. 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 and wear it, Kind my lord. First Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,- Enter a Servant. Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate newly alighted, and come to visit you. I beseech your honour, Tim. They are fairly welcome. Tim. Near? why then another time I'll hear thee: I pr'ythee, let's be provided to show them entertainment. Flav. I scarce know how. Enter another Servant. [Aside. Second Serv. May it please your honour, lord Lucius, Out of his free love, hath presented to you Four milk-white horses trapp'd in silver. Tim. I shall accept them fairly let the presents Enter a third Servant. Be worthily entertain'd.-How now! what news? Third Serv. 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. Tim. I'll hunt with him; and let them be receiv'd, Not without fair reward. Flav. [Aside.] What will this come to? He commands us to provide, and give great gifts, And all out of an empty coffer :2 Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this, 2 * And all out of an empty coffer.] The verse throughout this play is often so defective and corrupt, that modern editors have utterly failed to piece and patch it: it has defied all finger-counting. To show him what a beggar his heart is, Pays interest for 't; his land's put to their books. Before I were forc'd out! Happier is he that has no friend to feed. Than such as do even enemies exceed. I bleed inwardly for my lord. You do yourselves Much wrong; you bate too much of your own merits. [Exit. Second Lord. With more than common thanks I will receive it. Third Lord. O! he's the very soul of bounty. Tim. And now I remember, my lord, you gave Good words the other day of a bay courser I rode on it is yours, because you lik'd it. Second Lord. O! I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that. Tim. 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. Tim. 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 Alcib. Ay, defil'd land, my lord.3 First Lord. We are so virtuously bound,- Am I to you. Second Lord. So infinitely endear'd, Tim. All to you.-Lights! more lights! And so The best of happiness, Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon. Tim. Ready for his friends. [Exeunt ALCIB. Lords, etc. What a coil's here! Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums! I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums Apem. 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 need these feasts, pomps, and vain glories? Tim. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am 3 Ay, DEFIL'D land, my lord.] Alcibiades poorly plays upon the word pitch'd used by Timon. I doubt whether their LEGS-] i.e., Their bows: to make a leg was formerly, as it still is, to make a bow. |