270 TIMON OF ATHENS. ACT i.
% LORD. Why, Apemantus ? APEM* Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none,
1 LORD. Hang thyself.
APEM. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend.
2 LORD. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee
hence.
APEM. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass.
[Exit.
1 LORD. He's opposite to humanity. Come,
shall we in,
And taste lord Timon's bounty ? he outgoes The very heart of kindness.
2 LORD. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of
gold,
Is but his steward: no meed6, but he repays Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a return exceeding All use of quittance7.
1 LORD. The noblest mind he carries^ That ever govern'd man.
2 LORD. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we
in? 1 LOUD, I'll keep you company. [Exeunt\
6 —no MEED,] Meed, which in general signifies retvardor recompense, in this place seems to mean desert. So, in Key-wood's Silver Age, 1613:
" And yet thy body meeds a better grave."
L e. deserves. Again, in a comedy called Look About You* 1600:
" Thou shalt be rich in honour, full of speed ;
** Thou shalt win foes by fear, and friends by meed."
STEEVENS.
7 All use of quittance.] i. e. all the customary returns made in discharge of obligations. WARBURTON.