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Tim. Ay, that I am not thee.

Apem.

Tim.

No prodigal.

I, that I was

I, that I am one now :

Were all the wealth I have, fhut up in thee,

I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.—
That the whole life of Athens were in this!

Thus would I eat it.

Apem.

Here ; I will mend thy feast.

[Eating a root.

[Offering him fomething.

Tim. First mend my company, take away thyself.
Apem. So I fhall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.
Tim. 'Tis not well mended fo, it is but botch'd;

If not, I would it were.

Apem. What would'ft thou have to Athens.
Tim. Thee thither in a whirlwind.

If thou wilt,

Tell them there I have gold; look, fo I have.

Apem. Here is no ufe for gold.

Tim.

The best and trueft:

For here it fleeps, and does no hired harm.

Apem. Where ly'ft o'nights, Timon ?
Tim.

Under that's above me.

Where feed'st thou o'days, Apemantus?

Apem. Where my ftomach finds meat; or rather, where I eat it.

Tim. 'Would poifon were obedient, and knew my mind!

Apem. Where would'ft thou fend it?

Tim. To fauce thy dishes.

Apem. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends: When thou waft in thy gilt, and thy perfume, they mock'd thee for too much curiofity; in thy rags thou knoweft none, but art despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee, eat it..

Apem. Myself.

Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst f keep a dog.

Apem. What things in the world can compare to thy flatterers?

Tim. Women nearest; but men, men themselves. What would't thou do wi Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

Apem. Give it the beafts, to be rid of the Tim. Would't thou have thy felf fall in of men, and remain a beast with the beafts Apem. Ay, Timon.

Tim. A beastly ambition, which the god attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox thee if thou wert the lamb, the fox wou thou wert the fox, the lion would fufpect th adventure, thou wert accus'd by the afs the afs, thy dulnefs would torment thee; livedft but as a breakfast to the wolf: if wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner : unicorn, pride and wrath would confou make thine own felf the conqueft of thy fu a bear, thou would'st be kill'd by the horse horfe, thou would'st be feiz'd by the leopa F

1

a leopard, thou wert german to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life; all thy fafety were remotion; and thy defence, abfence. What beast could'st thou be, that were not fubject to a beaft? and what a beast art thou already, that seeft not thy lofs in transformation ?

Apem. If thou could'st please me with speaking to me, thou might'ft have hit upon it here: The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.

Tim. How has the afs broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?

Apem. Yonder comes a poet, and a painter: The plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way: When I know not what else to do, I'll fee thee again.

Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog, than Ape

mantus.

Apem. Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.

Tim. 'Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon.
Apem. A plague on thee, thou art too bad to curse.
Tim. All villains, that do ftand by thee, are pure.
Apem. There is no leprofy, but what thou speak'ft.
Tim. If I name thee.-

I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.

Apem. I would, my tongue could rot them off!
Tim. Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!

Choler does kill me, that thou art alive;

I fwoon to see thee.

Apem.

Tim.

'Would thou would'st burft!

Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry, I shall lose

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Away,

[Throws a ftone at him.

That death in me at others' lives may laug O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorc [La

'Twixt natural fon and fire! thou bright Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mar Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd, and delicat Whofe blush doth thaw the confecrated fn That lies on Dian's lap! thou visible god, That folder'st close impoffibilities,

And mak'st them kiss! that speak'st with To every purpose ! O thou touch of heart Think, thy flave man rebels; and by thy Set them into confounding odds, that bea May have the world in empire!

Apem.

'Would 't But not till I am dead!-I'll fay thou haft

Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.

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Tim. Long live so, and fo die !-I am q

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More things like men ?-Eat, Timon, and

Enter Thieves.

Thief. Where should he have this gold? It is fome poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder: The mere want of gold, and the falling-from of his friends, drove him into this melancholy.

2 Thief. It is nois'd, he hath a mass of treasure.

3 Thief. Let us make the assay upon him; if he care not for't, he will fupply us eafily; If he covetously reserve it, how fhall's get it?

2 Thief. True; for he bears it not about him, 'tis hid. 1 Thief. Is not this he?

Thieves. Where?

2 Thief. 'Tis his description. 3 Thief. He; I know him. Thieves. Save thee, Timon. Tim. Now, thieves?

Thieves. Soldiers, not thieves.

Tim. Both too; and women's fons.

Thieves. We are not thieves, but men that much do

want.

Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat. Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots; Within this mile break forth a hundred springs : The oaks bear maft, the briars fcarlet hips; The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush Lays her full mefs before you. Want? why want? 1 Thief. We cannot live on grafs, on berries, water, As beafts, and birds, and fifhes.

Tim. Nor on the beafts themselves, the birds, and fishes ; You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con,

That you are thieves profefs'd; that you work not
In holier shapes: for there is boundless theft

In

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