Ape. Then thou lyest :

9

Looke in thy last worke, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy
Fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so.

Ape. Yes he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour. He that loves to be flattered, is worthy o'th flatterer. Heavens, that I were a Lord.

Tim. What wouldst do then Apemantus ?

Ape. E'ne as Apemantus does now, hate a Lord with my heart.

Tim. What thy selfe ?

Ape. I.

Tim. Wherefore?

Ape. That I had no angry wit to be a Lord.

Art not thou a Merchant?

Mer. I Apemantus.

Ape. Traffick confound thee, if the Gods will not.

Mer. If Trafficke do it, the Gods do it.

Ape. Traffickes thy God, & thy God confound thee.

Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.

Tim. What Trumpets that?

Mes. 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty Horse

All of Companionship.

Tim. Pray entertaine them, give them guide to us.
You must needs dine with me: go not you hence
Till I have thankt you: when dinners done

Shew me this peece, I am joyfull of your sights.
Enter Alcibiades with the rest.

Most welcome Sir.

Ape. So, so; their Aches contract, and sterve your supple joynts: that there should bee small love amongest these sweet Knaves, and all this Curtesie, The straine of mans bred out into Baboon and Monkey.

Alc. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed

:

Ape. Should'st have kept one to thy selfe, for I meane t

2 Long may he live in Fortunes. Shall we in? Ile keepe you Company.

Hoboyes Playing lowd Musicke.

Exeunt.

A great Banquet serv'd in: and then, Enter Lord Timon, the States, the Athenian Lords, Ventigius which Timon redeem'd from prison. Then comes dropping after all Apemantus discontentedly like himselfe.

Ventig. Most honoured Timon,

It hath pleas'd the Gods to remember my Fathers age,
And call him to long peace :

He is gone happy, and has left me rich :

Then, as in gratefull Vertue I am bound

To your free heart, I do returne those Talents

Doubled with thankes and service, from whose helpe

I deriv'd libertie.

Tim.

O by no meanes,

Honest Ventigius: You mistake my love,

I gave it freely ever, and ther's none

Can truely 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 faire.

Vint. A Noble spirit.

Tim. Nay my Lords, Ceremony was but devis'd at first

To set a glosse on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,

Recanting goodnesse, sorry ere 'tis showne :

But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray sit, more welcome are ye to my Fortunes,
Then my Fortunes to me.

1. Lord. My Lord, we alwaies have confest it.
Aper. Ho ho, confest it? Handg'd it? Have you not?
Timo. O Apermantus, you are welcome.

Aper. No: You shall not make me welcome :

I come to have thee thrust me out of doores.

Tim. Fie, th'art a churle, ye have got a humour there

Does not become a man, 'tis much too blame :
They say my Lords, Irafuror brevis est,

But yond man is verie angrie.

Go, let him have a Table by himselfe :
For he does neither affect companie,
Nor is he fit for't indeed.

Aper. Let me stay at thine apperill Timon,
I come to observe, I give thee warning on't.

Tim. I take no heede of thee : Th'art an Athenian, welcome: I my selfe would have no power, prythee let m make thee silent.

Aper. I scorne thy meate, 'twould choake me: for I nere flatter thee. Oh you Gods! What a number of m Timon, and he sees 'em not? It greeves me to see so m there meate in one mans blood, and all the madnesse is, he them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men. Me thinks they should envite them without knives, Good for there meate, and safer for their lives. There's much example for't, the fellow that sits next hin parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a d draught: is the readiest man to kill him. 'Tas beene pro I were a huge man I should feare to drinke at meales, least should spie my wind-pipes dangerous noates, great men s drinke with harnesse on their throates.

Tim. My Lord in heart : and let the health go round. 2. Lord. Let it flow this way my good Lord.

Aper. Flow this way? A brave fellow. He keepe tides well, those healths will make thee and thy state look Timon.

Heere's that which is too weake to be a sinner,
Honest water, which nere left man i'th'mire:
This and my food are equals, there's no ods,
Feasts are to proud to give thanks to the Gods.

Apermantus Grace.

Immortall Gods, I crave no pelfe,
I pray for no man but my selfe,
Graunt I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his Oath or Bond.

Or a Harlot for her weeping,
Or a Dogge that seemes asleeping,
Or a keeper with my freedome,
Or my friends if I should need'em,
Amen. So fall too't :

Rich men sin, and I eat root.

Much good dich thy good heart, Apermantus.
Tim. Captaine.

Alcibiades, your hearts in the field now.

Alci. My heart is ever at your service, my Lord.

dinner of Friends.

Alc. So they were Bleeding new my Lord there's no meat like 'em, I could wish my best friend at such a Feast.

Aper. Would all those Flatterers were thine Enemies then, that then thou might'st kill 'em : & bid me to 'em.

1. Lord. Might we but have that happinesse my Lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might expresse some part of our zeales, we should thinke our selves for ever perfect.

Timon. Oh no doubt my good Friends, but the Gods themselves have provided that I shall have much helpe from you: how had you beene my Friends else. Why have you that charitable title from thousands? Did not you chiefely belong to my heart? I have told more of you to my selfe, then you can with modestie speake in your owne behalfe. And thus farre I confirme you. Oh you Gods (thinke I,) what need we have any Friends; if we should nere have need of 'em? They were the most needlesse Creatures living; should we nere have use for 'em? And would most resemble sweete Instruments hung up in