Shakespeare's First Folio Part 529

Ape. I, that I was no Prodigall

Tim. I, that I am one now.

Were all the wealth I haue shut vp in thee, I'ld giue thee leaue to hang it. Get thee gone: That the whole life of Athens were in this, Thus would I eate it

Ape. Heere, I will mend thy Feast

Tim. First mend thy company, take away thy selfe

Ape. So I shall mend mine owne, by'th' lacke of thine Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botcht; If not, I would it were

Ape. What would'st thou haue to Athens?

Tim. Thee thither in a whirlewind: if thou wilt, Tell them there I haue Gold, looke, so I haue

Ape. Heere is no vse for Gold

Tim. The best, and truest: For heere it sleepes, and do's no hyred harme

Ape. Where lyest a nights Timon?

Tim. Vnder that's aboue me.

Where feed'st thou a-dayes Apemantus?

Ape. Where my stomacke findes meate, or rather where I eate it

Tim. Would poyson were obedient, & knew my mind Ape. Where would'st thou send it?

Tim. To sawce thy dishes

Ape. The middle of Humanity thou neuer knewest, but the extremitie of both ends. When thou wast in thy Gilt, and thy Perfume, they mockt thee for too much Curiositie: in thy Ragges thou know'st none, but art despis'd for the contrary. There's a medler for thee, eate it

Tim. On what I hate, I feed not

Ape. Do'st hate a Medler?

Tim. I, though it looke like thee

Ape. And th'hadst hated Medlers sooner, y should'st haue loued thy selfe better now. What man didd'st thou euer know vnthrift, that was beloued after his meanes!

Tim. Who without those meanes thou talk'st of, didst thou euer know belou'd?

Ape. My selfe

Tim. I vnderstand thee: thou had'st some meanes to keepe a Dogge

Apem. What things in the world canst thou neerest compare to thy Flatterers?

Tim. Women neerest, but men: men are the things themselues. What would'st thou do with the world Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

Ape. Giue it the Beasts, to be rid of the men

Tim. Would'st thou haue thy selfe fall in the confusion of men, and remaine a Beast with the Beasts

Ape. I Timon

Tim. A beastly Ambition, which the G.o.ddes graunt thee t' attaine to. If thou wert the Lyon, the Fox would beguile thee. if thou wert the Lambe, the Foxe would eate thee: if thou wert the Fox, the Lion would suspect thee, when peraduenture thou wert accus'd by the a.s.se: If thou wert the a.s.se, thy dulnesse would torment thee; and still thou liu'dst but as a Breakefast to the Wolfe. If thou wert the Wolfe, thy greedinesse would afflict thee, & oft thou should'st hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the Vnicorne, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make thine owne selfe the conquest of thy fury.

Wert thou a Beare, thou would'st be kill'd by the Horse: wert thou a Horse, thou would'st be seaz'd by the Leopard: wert thou a Leopard, thou wert Germane to the Lion, and the spottes of thy Kindred, were Iurors on thy life. All thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence.

What Beast could'st thou bee, that were not subiect to a Beast: and what a Beast art thou already, that seest not thy losse in transformation

Ape. If thou could'st please me With speaking to me, thou might'st Haue hit vpon it heere.

The Commonwealth of Athens, is become A Forrest of Beasts

Tim. How ha's the a.s.se broke the wall, that thou art out of the Citie

Ape. Yonder comes a Poet and a Painter: The plague of Company light vpon thee: I will feare to catch it, and giue way.

When I know not what else to do, Ile see thee againe

Tim. When there is nothing liuing but thee, Thou shalt be welcome.

I had rather be a Beggers Dogge, Then Apemantus

Ape. Thou art the Cap Of all the Fooles aliue

Tim. Would thou wert cleane enough To spit vpon

Ape. A plague on thee, Thou art too bad to curse

Tim. All Villaines That do stand by thee, are pure

Ape. There is no Leprosie, But what thou speak'st

Tim. If I name thee, Ile beate thee; But I should infect my hands

Ape. I would my tongue Could rot them off

Tim. Away thou issue of a mangie dogge, Choller does kill me, That thou art aliue, I swoond to see thee

Ape. Would thou would'st burst

Tim. Away thou tedious Rogue, I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee

Ape. Beast

Tim. Slaue

Ape. Toad

Tim. Rogue, Rogue, Rogue.

I am sicke of this false world, and will loue nought But euen the meere necessities vpon't: Then Timon presently prepare thy graue: Lye where the light Fome of the Sea may beate Thy graue stone dayly, make thine Epitaph, That death in me, at others liues may laugh.

O thou sweete King-killer, and deare diuorce Twixt naturall Sunne and fire: thou bright defiler Of Himens purest bed, thou valiant Mars, Thou euer, yong, fresh, loued, and delicate wooer, Whose blush doth thawe the consecrated Snow That lyes on Dians lap.

Thou visible G.o.d, That souldrest close Impossibilities, And mak'st them kisse; that speak'st with euerie Tongue To euerie purpose: O thou touch of hearts, Thinke thy slaue-man rebels, and by thy vertue Set them into confounding oddes, that Beasts May haue the world in Empire

Ape. Would 'twere so, But not till I am dead. Ile say th'hast Gold: Thou wilt be throng'd too shortly

Tim. Throng'd too?

Ape. I

Tim. Thy backe I prythee