The Life of Timon of Athens: ACT I , SCENE II. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.

The Life of Timon of Athens: ACT I


	Introduction

	ACT I

		SCENE I. Athens. A hall in Timon's house.

		SCENE II. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.

	ACT II

	ACT III

	ACT IV

	ACT V

	About the Play

	Feedback



	Search:
	for:

SCENE II. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, Senators, and VENTIDIUS. Then comes, dropping, after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself

VENTIDIUS

      Most honour'd Timon,
      It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age,
      And call him to long peace.
      He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
5     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 derived liberty.

TIMON

      O, by no means,
10    Honest Ventidius; you mistake my love:
      I gave it freely ever; and there's none
      Can truly say he gives, if he receives:
      If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
      To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.

VENTIDIUS

15 A noble spirit!

TIMON

Nay, my lords,

They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON

      Ceremony was but devised at first
      To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
      Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
20    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

25 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, thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there
30    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

35 Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon: I come to
observe; I give thee warning on't.

TIMON

      I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian,
      therefore welcome: I myself would have no power;
      prithee, let my meat make thee silent.

APEMANTUS

40    I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should
      ne'er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of
      men eat 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.
45    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
50    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

55 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
60    be a sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' the 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;
65    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:
70    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

75 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 a
dinner of friends.

ALCIBIADES

So the were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat
80 like 'em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

APEMANTUS

Would all those fatterers 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
85    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
90    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
95    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 wished
100   myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We
      are born to do benefits: and what better or
      properer can we can our own than the riches of our
      friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have
      so many, like brothers, commanding one another's
105   fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere 't can be born!
      Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to
      forget their faults, I drink to you.

APEMANTUS

Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon.

Second Lord

Joy had the like conception in our eyes
110 And at that instant like a babe sprung up.

APEMANTUS

Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.

Third Lord

I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.

APEMANTUS

Much!

Tucket, within

TIMON

What means that trump?

Enter a Servant

115 How now?

Servant

Please you, my lord, there are certain
ladies most desirous of admittance.

TIMON

Ladies! what are their wills?

Servant

There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which
120 bears that office, to signify their pleasures.

TIMON

I pray, let them be admitted.

Enter Cupid

Cupid

      Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
      That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
      Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
125   To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th' ear,
      Taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tale rise;
      They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

TIMON

They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:
Music, make their welcome!

Exit Cupid

First Lord

130 You see, my lord, how ample you're beloved.

Music. Re-enter Cupid with a mask of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing

APEMANTUS

      Hoy-day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way!
      They dance! they are mad women.
      Like madness is the glory of this life.
      As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
135   We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
      And spend our flatteries, to drink those men
      Upon whose age we void it up again,
      With poisonous spite and envy.
      Who lives that's not depraved or depraves?
140   Who dies, that bears 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: 't 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

TIMON

145   You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
      Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
      Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
      You have added worth unto 't and lustre,
      And entertain'd me with mine own device;
150   I am to thank you for 't.

First Lady

My lord, you take us even at the best.

APEMANTUS

'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold
taking, I doubt me.

TIMON

Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you:
155 Please you to dispose yourselves.

All Ladies

Most thankfully, my lord.

Exeunt Cupid and Ladies

TIMON

Flavius.

FLAVIUS

My lord?

TIMON

The little casket bring me hither.

FLAVIUS

160 Yes, my lord. More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in 's humour;

Aside

      Else I should tell him,--well, i' faith I should,
      When all's spent, he 'ld be cross'd then, an he could.
      'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
165   That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.

Exit

First Lord

Where be our men?

Servant

Here, my lord, in readiness.

Second Lord

Our horses!

Re-enter FLAVIUS, with the casket

TIMON

      O my friends,
170   I have one word to say to you: look you, my good lord,
      I must entreat you, honour me so much
      As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,
      Kind my lord.

First Lord

I am so far already in your gifts,--

All

175 So are we all.

Enter a Servant

Servant

My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate
Newly alighted, and come to visit you.

TIMON

They are fairly welcome.

FLAVIUS

I beseech your honour,
180 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 a Second Servant

Second Servant

185   May it please your 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

190 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

195 I'll hunt with him; and let them be received,
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:
200   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
205   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 forced out!
      Happier is he that has no friend to feed
210   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

215 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 liked it.

Second Lord

220 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

225 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,
230   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, defiled land, my lord.

First Lord

235 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

240 The best of happiness,
Honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!

TIMON

Ready for his friends.

Exeunt all but APEMANTUS and TIMON

APEMANTUS

      What a coil's here!
      Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!
245   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 court'sies.

TIMON

Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be
250 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
255   paper shortly: what need 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

260   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

Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene