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If our betters play at that game, we must not dare

To imitate them: faults that are rich are fair.

VENTIDIUS.

A noble spirit!

TIMON.

Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devis'd at first

To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,

Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;

But where there is true friendship there needs none.

Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes

Than my fortunes to me. [They sit]

FIRST LORD.

My lord, we always have confess'd it.

APEMANTUS.

Ho, ho, confess'd it! Hang'd it, have you not?

TIMON.

O, Apemantus, you are welcome.

APEMANTUS.

No;

You shall not make me welcome.

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

TIMON.

Fie, th'art a churl; ye have got a humour there

Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.

They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est; but yond man is ever

angry. Go, let him have a table by himself; for he does neither

affect company nor is he fit for't indeed.

APEMANTUS.

Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon.

I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.

TIMON.

I take no heed of thee. Th'art an Athenian, therefore

welcome. I myself would have no power; prithee let my meat make thee silent.

APEMANTUS.

I scorn thy meat; 't'would choke me, for I should ne'er

flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of men eats Timon,

and he

sees 'em not! It grieves me to see so many dip their meat in one

man's blood; and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men.

Methinks they should invite them without knives:

Good for their meat and safer for their lives.

There's much example for't; the fellow that sits next him now,

parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a divided

draught, is the readiest man to kill him. 'T has been proved.

If

I were a huge man I should fear to drink at meals.

Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:

Great men should drink with harness on their throats.

TIMON.

My lord, in heart! and let the health go round.

SECOND LORD.

Let it flow this way, my good lord.

APEMANTUS.

Flow this way! A brave fellow! He keeps his tides well.

Those healths will make thee and thy state look ill, Timon.

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, honest water, which

ne'er left man i' th' mire.

This and my food are equals; there's no odds.'

Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

APEMANTUS' Grace

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;

I pray for no man but myself.

Grant I may never prove so fond

To trust man on his oath or bond,

Or a harlot for her weeping,

Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,

Or a keeper with my freedom,

Or my friends, if I should need 'em.

Amen. So fall to't.

Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks]

Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!

TIMON.

Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.

ALCIBIADES.

My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

TIMON.

You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than dinner of friends.

ALCIBIADES.

So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat

like 'em; I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

APEMANTUS.

Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then, that

then thou mightst kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

FIRST LORD.

Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you

would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of

our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

TIMON.

O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have

provided that I shall have much help from you. How had you been

my friends else? Why have you that charitable title from

thousands, did not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told

more of you to myself than you can with modesty speak in your own

behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O you gods, think I, what

need we have any friends if we should ne'er have need of 'em?

They were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er

have use for 'em; and would most resemble sweet instruments hung

up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have

often wish'd myself poorer, that