Exeunt [Cupid and Ladies].

 

TIM.

Flavius!

FLAV.

My lord?

TIM.

The little casket bring me hither.

FLAV.

Yes, my lord.

 

[Aside.]

 

More jewels yet?

There is no crossing him in 's humor,

Else I should tell him well (i' faith, I should),

When all's spent, he'ld be cross'd then, and he could.

'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,

That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.

 

Exit.

 

1. LORD.

Where be our men?

SERV.

Here, my lord, in readiness.

2. LORD.

Our horses!

 

[Enter Flavius with the casket.]

 

TIM.

O my friends! I have one word

To say to you. Look you, my good lord,

I must entreat you honor me so much

As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,

Kind my lord.

1. LORD.

I am so far already in your gifts –

ALL.

So are we all.

 

Enter a Servant.

 

SERV.

My lord, there are certain nobles of the Senate

Newly alighted, and come to visit you.

TIM.

They are fairly welcome.

 

[Exit Servant.]

 

FLAV.

I beseech your honor,

Vouchsafe me a word, it does concern you near.

TIM.

Near? why then another time I'll hear thee.

I prithee let's be provided to show them entertainment.

FLAV [Aside.]

I scarce know how.

 

Enter another Servant.

 

[2.] SERV.

May it please your honor, 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

Be worthily entertain'd.

 

[Exit Servant.]

 

Enter a third Servant.

 

How now? what news?

3. SERV. Please you, my lord, that honorable gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company tomorrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honor two brace of greyhounds.

TIM.

I'll hunt with him, and let them be receiv'd,

Not without fair reward.

 

[Exit Servant.]

 

FLAV [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 ev'ry 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 forc'd 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.

 

TIM.

You do yourselves

Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits.

Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.

2. LORD.

With more than common thanks I will receive it.

3. 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. 'Tis yours, because you lik'd it.

[3.] 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

Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast

Lie in a pitch'd field.

ALCIB.

Ay, defil'd land, my lord.

1. LORD.

We are so virtuously bound –

TIM.

And so

Am I to you.

2. LORD.

So infinitely endear'd –

TIM.

All to you. Lights, more lights!

1. LORD.

The best of happiness,

Honor, and fortunes keep with you, Lord Timon!

TIM.

Ready for his friends.

 

Exeunt Lords [and others. Apemantus and Timon remain].

 

APEM.

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.

TIM.

Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,

I would be good to thee.

APEM. No, I'll nothing; for if I should be brib'd 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?

TIM. Nay, and you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give regard to you.