Timon of Athens | Page 8

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 another SERVANT.]
SECOND SERVANT. May it please vour 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 SERVANT. 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.
TIMON. I'll hunt with him; and let them be receiv'd, Not without fair reward.
FLAVIUS. [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 he that has no friend to feed Than such that do e'en enemies exceed. I bleed inwardly for my lord.
[Exit.]
TIMON. You do yourselves much wrong; You bate too much of your own merits; Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
SECOND LORD. With more than common thanks I will receive it.
THIRD LORD. O! he's the very soul of bounty!
TIMON. 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.
THIRD LORD. O! I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
TIMON. 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!
TIMON. 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.
ALCIBIADES. Ay, defil'd land, my lord.
FIRST LORD. We are so virtuously bound,--
TIMON. And so am I to you.
SECOND LORD. So infinitely endear'd,--
TIMON. All to you. Lights, more lights!
FIRST LORD. The best of happiness, Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!
TIMON. Ready for his friends.
[Exeunt ALCIBIADES, Lords, and etc.].]
APEMANTUS. 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.
TIMON. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be good to thee.
APEMANTUS. 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 givest so long, Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly: What needs these feasts, pomps, and vain-glories?
TIMON. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come with better music.
[Exit.]
APEMANTUS. So: Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then; I'll lock thy heaven from thee. O! that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
[Exit.]

Act II.
Scene I. Athens. A Room in a SENATOR'S House.
[Enter A SENATOR, with papers in his hand.]
SENATOR. 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 me straight, And able horses. No porter at his gate, But rather one that smiles and still invites All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho! Caphis, I say!
[Enter CAPHIS.]
CAPHIS. Here, sir; what is your pleasure?
SENATOR. Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon; Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'd With slight denial, nor then silenc'd when-- 'Commend me to your master'--and the cap Plays in the right