THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS
Page: 43

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

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

TIMON.
Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!

APEMANTUS.
A plague on thee! thou art too bad to curse!

TIMON.
All villains that do stand by thee are pure.

APEMANTUS.
There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.

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

APEMANTUS.
I would my tongue could rot them off!

TIMON.
Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
Choler does kill me that thou art alive;
I swound to see thee.

APEMANTUS.
Would thou wouldst burst!

TIMON.
Away,
Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose
A stone by thee.

[Throws a stone at him.]

APEMANTUS.
Beast!

TIMON.
Slave!

APEMANTUS.
Toad!

TIMON.
Rogue, rogue, rogue!
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon't.
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy gravestone daily: make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others' lives may laugh.

[Looking on the gold.]

O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce
'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler
Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars!
Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd, and delicate wooer,
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
That lies on Dian's lap! thou visible god,
That solder'st close impossibilities,
And mak'st them kiss! that speak'st with every tongue
To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts!
Think, thy slave man rebels, and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!

APEMANTUS.
Would 'twere so:
But not till I am dead; I'll say thou'st gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.

TIMON.
Throng'd to?

APEMANTUS.
Ay.

TIMON.
Thy back, I prithee.

APEMANTUS.
Live, and love thy misery!

TIMON.
Long live so, and so die!

[Exit APEMANTUS.]

I am quit.
More things like men! Eat, Timon, and abhor them.

[Enter BANDITTI.]

FIRST BANDIT.