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APEMANTUS.

Not so well as plain dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.

TIMON.

What dost thou think 'tis worth?

APEMANTUS.

Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!

POET.

How now, philosopher!

APEMANTUS.

Thou liest.

POET.

Art not one?

APEMANTUS.

Yes.

POET.

Then I lie not.

APEMANTUS.

Art not a poet?

POET.

Yes.

APEMANTUS.

Then thou liest. Look in thy last work, where thou hast

feign'd him a worthy fellow.

POET.

That's not feign'd- he is so.

APEMANTUS.

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!

TIMON.

What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS.

E'en as Apemantus does now: hate a lord with my heart.

TIMON.

What, thyself?

APEMANTUS.

Ay.

TIMON.

Wherefore?

APEMANTUS.

That I had no angry wit to be a lord.- Art not thou a merchant?

MERCHANT.

Ay, Apemantus.

APEMANTUS.

Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!

MERCHANT.

If traffic do it, the gods do it.

APEMANTUS.

Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee!

Trumpet sounds. Enter a MESSENGER

TIMON.

What trumpet's that?

MESSENGER.

'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,

All of companionship.

TIMON.

Pray entertain them; give them guide to us.

Exeunt some attendants

You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence

Till I have thank'd you. When dinner's done

Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.

Enter ALCIBIADES, with the rest

Most welcome, sir! [They salute]

APEMANTUS.

So, so, there!

Aches contract and starve your supple joints!

That there should be small love amongst these sweet knaves,

And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out

Into baboon and monkey.

ALCIBIADES.

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

Most hungerly on your sight.

TIMON.

Right welcome, sir!

Ere we depart we'll share a bounteous time

In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

Exeunt all but APEMANTUS

Enter two LORDS

FIRST LORD.

What time o' day is't, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS.

Time to be honest.

FIRST LORD.

That time serves still.

APEMANTUS.

The more accursed thou that still omit'st it.

SECOND LORD.

Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast.

APEMANTUS.

Ay; to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.

SECOND LORD.

Fare thee well, fare thee well.

APEMANTUS.

Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

SECOND LORD.

Why, Apemantus?

APEMANTUS.

Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

FIRST LORD.

Hang thyself.

APEMANTUS.

No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend.

SECOND LORD.

Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

APEMANTUS.

I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' th' ass. Exit

FIRST LORD. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in

And taste Lord Timon's bounty? He outgoes

The very heart of kindness.

SECOND LORD.

He pours it out: Plutus, the god of gold,

Is but his steward; no meed but he repays

Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him

But breeds the giver a return exceeding

All use of quittance.

FIRST LORD.

The noblest mind he carries

That ever govern'd man.

SECOND LORD.

Long may he live in fortunes! shall we in?

FIRST LORD.

I'll keep you company. Exeunt

SCENE II. A room of state in TIMON'S house

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet serv'd in; FLAVIUS and others attending; and then enter LORD TIMON, the states, the ATHENIAN LORDS, VENTIDIUS, which TIMON redeem'd from prison. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself

VENTIDIUS.

Most honoured Timon,

It hath pleas'd the gods to remember my father's age,

And call him to long peace.

He is gone happy, and has left me rich.

Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound

To your free heart, I do return those talents,

Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help

I deriv'd liberty.

TIMON.

O, by no means,

Honest Ventidius! You mistake my love;

I gave it freely ever; and there's none

Can truly say he gives, if he receives.