Tim. I'll hunt with him; And let them be re

ceiv'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.
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, 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.

Tim.

[Exit.

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 is 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.

2 Lord. 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 on you.

All Lords.

None so welcome.

Tim. I take all and your several visitations

So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give; Methinks, I could deal 26 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, defiled land, my lord.

1 Lord. We are so virtuously bound, Tim.

Am I to you.

2 Lord.

So infinitely endeared,

Tim. All to you 27. -Lights, more. lights.

1 Lord.

And so

The best of happiness,

Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!

Tim. Ready for his friends.

[Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, &c. What a coil's here!

Apem. Serving of becks 28, and jutting out of bums! I doubt whether their legs 29 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 court'sies. Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I'd be good to thee.

Apem. No, I'll nothing: for, if I should be brib'd

26 i. e. could dispense them on every side with an ungrudging

distribution.

27 That is, 'all good wishes to you,' or ' all happiness attend you.'

28 A beck is a nod or salutation with the head. Steevens says that beck has four distinct significations, but they will resolve themselves into two. Beck, a rivulet, or little river; and beck a motion or sign with the head; signa capitis voluntatem ostendens. This last may be either a nod of salutation, of assent or dissent, or finally of command.

29 He plays upon the word leg, as it signifies a limb, and a

bow or act of obeisance.

VOL. VIII.

E

too, there would be none left to rail upon thee; and then thou would'st sin the faster. Thou givest so long, Timon, I fear me, thou wilt give away thyself in paper 30 shortly: What need these feasts, pomps, and vain glories?

Tim. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn, not to give regard to you. and come with better musick.

Apem. So;-thou'lt not hear me now, not then, I'll lock thy heaven 31 from thee. O, that men's ears should be

To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!

Farewell; [Exit.

thou shalt

[Exit.

:

ACT II.

SCENE I. Athens. A Room in a Senator's House.

Enter a Senator, with papers in his hand.

Sen. And late, five thousand to Varro; and to
Isidore

He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty. - Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,

And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold:

If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me1, straight,
And able horses: No porter at his gate2;
But rather one that smiles, and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason
Can sound his state in safety3. Caphis, ho!
Caphis, I say!

Caph.

Enter CAPHIS.

Here, sir; What is your pleasure? Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon;

Impórtune him for my monies; be not ceas'd

1 The commentators have made difficulties about this passage, which appears to me quite plain and intelligible without a comment. If I give my horse to Timon it immediately foals, i. e. produces me several able horses.' We have, as Malone observes, the same sentiment, differently expressed, before :

6

no meed but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
All use of quittance.'

With slight denial; nor then silenc'd, when—
Commend me to your master and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus:-but tell him, sirrah,
My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates
Have smit my credit: I love, and honour him;
But must not break my back, to heal his finger:
Immediate are my needs; and my relief
Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate aspéct,
A visage of demand; for, I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull5,
Which flashes now a phenix. Get you gone.
Caph. I go, sir.

Sen. I go, sir?-take the bonds along with you,

And have the dates in compt.

Caph.
Sen.

I will, sir.

Go.

[Exeunt.