Great men should drink with harness 10 on their throats. S Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round. I 2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Immortal gods, I crave no pelf; Or a dog, that seems a sleeping; tre Or my friends, if I should need 'em. Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks. Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus! Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now. Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends. Alcib. So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat like them; I could wish my best friend at such a feast. Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou mightst kill 'em, and bid me e to 'em. 1 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 perfect14. awn think Tim. 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 charitable15 title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your and thus far I confirm you. O, you I, what need we i, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them; and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer and what better or properer can we call our own, than the riches of our friends? ? O, what a precious comfort 'tis to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made a away ere it can be born 16! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you. to you. We are born to do ben 14 i. e. arrived at the perfection of happiness 15 Why are you distinguished from thousands by that title of endearment, was there not a particular connection and intercourse of tenderness between you and me ? Thus Milton: Relations dear, and all the charities fest Of father, son, and brother.' 160 joy! e'en made away [i. e. destroyed, turned to tears] ere it can be born." So in Romeo and Juliet: Apem. Tkou weepest to make them drink, Timon. 2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard. 3 Lord. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much. 5-Apem. Much17! [Tucket sounded. Tim. What means that trump?-How now? Enter a Servant. Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance. Tim. Ladies? what are their wills? Serv. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures. Tim. I pray, let them be admitted. Enter CUPID. Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon;-and to all That of his bounties taste!-The five best senses Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: The ear, Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rise; They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Tim. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance: Music, make their welcome. [Exit CUPID. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd. Music. Re-enter CUPID, with a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing. Apem. Hey day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way! These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumphs die.' 17 Much! was a common ironical expression of doubt or suspicion. See vol. iii. p. 178, note 18. They dance! they are mad women18. As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root19. With poisonous spite, and envy. Who lives, that's not. Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift? I should fear, those, that dance before me now, Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done; Men shut their doors against a setting sun. The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of TIMON; and, to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease. Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies, Set a fashion on our entertainment, Which was not half so beautiful and kind; 1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best20. Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me. again, 18 Shakspeare probably borrowed this idea from the puritanical writers of his time. Thus Stubbes, in his Anatomie of Abuses, 8vo. 1583, Dauncers thought to be madmen.' And as in all feasts and pastimes dauncing is the last, so it is the extream of is the extream all other vice. from far countries There were (saith Ludovicus Vives) o our parts of the world, who when they saw men daunce, ran away marvellously affraid, crying out and thinking them mad, &c. Perhaps the thought originated from the following passage in Cicero, Pro Murena 6, Nemo enim ferè saltat sobrius, nisi fortè insanit. Andain men brought into 19 The glory of this life is like [or just such] madness, in the eye of reason, as this pomp appears when opposed to the frugal repast of a philosopher feeding on oil and roots. 20 i. e. 6 you have conceived the fairest of us, or you think favourably of our performance, and make the best of it.' VOL. VIII. 2 Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet21 Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves. Tim. Flavius, Flav. My lord. Tim. [Exeunt CUPID, and Ladies. The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord. More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; [Aside. Else I should tell him,-Well,-i'faith, I should, When all's spent, he'd be cross'd22 then, an he could. "Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind; That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind 23. [Exit, and returns with the casket. 1 Lord. Where be our men? Serv. 2 Lord. Our horses. Tim. Here, my lord, in readiness. O, my friends, I have one word to say to you: Look, my good lord, As to advance24 this jewel; accept and wear it, 1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,- Enter a Servant. Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate Newly alighted, and come to visit you. Tim. They are fairly welcome. 22 An equivoque is here intended, in which cross'd means have. his hand crossed with money, or have money in his possession, and to be cross'd or thwarted. So in As You Like It, Yet I should bear ar no cross, if I did bear you. Many coins being marked with a cross on the reverse. See vol. ii. p. 299, note 3. 23Tis pity bounty [i. e. profusion] has not eyes behind [to see the miseries that follow it]. That man might not become wretched for his uobleness of soul.' 24 i. e. prefer it, raise it to honour by wearing it. The Jeweller says to Timon in the preceding scene, You mend the jewel |