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Is this the balsam that the usuring Senate

Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment!

It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;

It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,

That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up

My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.

'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds;

Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods. Exit

SCENE VI. A banqueting hall in TIMON'S house

Music. Tables set out; servants attending. Enter divers LORDS, friends of TIMON, at several doors

FIRST LORD.

The good time of day to you, sir.

SECOND LORD.

I also wish it to you. I think this honourable lord

did but try us this other day.

FIRST LORD.

Upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encount'red.

I hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trial

of his several friends.

SECOND LORD.

It should not be, by the persuasion of his new feasting.

FIRST LORD.

I should think so. He hath sent me an earnest inviting,

which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath

conjur'd me beyond them, and I must needs appear.

SECOND LORD.

In like manner was I in debt to my importunate

business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he

sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out.

FIRST LORD.

I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go.

SECOND LORD.

Every man here's so. What would he have borrowed of you?

FIRST LORD.

A thousand pieces.

SECOND LORD.

A thousand pieces!

FIRST LORD.

What of you?

SECOND LORD.

He sent to me, sir- here he comes.

Enter TIMON and attendants

TIMON.

With all my heart, gentlemen both! And how fare you?

FIRST LORD.

Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship.

SECOND LORD.

The swallow follows not summer more willing than we your lordship.

TIMON.

[Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such

summer-birds

are men- Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long

stay; feast your ears with the music awhile, if they will fare so

harshly o' th' trumpet's sound; we shall to't presently.

FIRST LORD.

I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that

I return'd you an empty messenger.

TIMON.

O sir, let it not trouble you.

SECOND LORD.

My noble lord-

TIMON.

Ah, my good friend, what cheer?

SECOND LORD.

My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame that,

when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so

unfortunate a beggar.

TIMON.

Think not on't, sir.

SECOND LORD.

If you had sent but two hours before-

TIMON.

Let it not cumber your better remembrance. [The banquet

brought in] Come, bring in all together.

SECOND LORD.

All cover'd dishes!

FIRST LORD.

Royal cheer, I warrant you.

THIRD LORD.

Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it.

FIRST LORD.

How do you? What's the news?

THIRD LORD.

Alcibiades is banish'd. Hear you of it?

FIRST AND SECOND LORDS.

Alcibiades banish'd!

THIRD LORD.

'Tis so, be sure of it.

FIRST LORD.

How? how?

SECOND LORD.

I pray you, upon what?

TIMON.

My worthy friends, will you draw near?

THIRD LORD.

I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward.

SECOND LORD.

This is the old man still.

THIRD LORD.

Will't hold? Will't hold?

SECOND LORD.

It does; but time will- and so-

THIRD LORD.

I do conceive.

TIMON.

Each man to his stool with that spur as he would to the lip

of his mistress; your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not

a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon

the first place. Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks:

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness.

For your own gifts make yourselves prais'd; but reserve still to

give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough,

that one need not lend to another; for were your god-heads to

borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meat be

beloved more than the man that gives it. Let no assembly of

twenty be without a score of villains. If there sit twelve women

at the table, let a dozen