_Apem._ If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on[2495] To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou Dost it enforcedly; thou'ldst courtier be again,[2496] Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery 240 Outlives incertain pomp, is crown'd before:[2497] The one is filling still, never complete, The other at high wish: best state, contentless,[2498] Hath a distracted and most wretched being,[2498] Worse than the worst, content. 245 Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable. _Tim._ Not by his breath that is more miserable. Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm With favour never clasp'd, but bred a dog.[2499] Hadst thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded 250 The sweet degrees that this brief world affords[2500] To such as may the passive drugs of it[2501] Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself[2502] In general riot, melted down thy youth In different beds of lust, and never learn'd 255 The icy precepts of respect, but follow'd[2503] The sugar'd game before thee. But myself, Who had the world as my confectionary, The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men[2504] At duty, more than I could frame employment;[2505] 260 That numberless upon me stuck, as leaves[2506] Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush[2507] Fell from their boughs, and left me open, bare[2507][2508] For every storm that blows: I, to bear this, That never knew but better, is some burthen:[2509] 265 Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time Hath made thee hard in 't. Why shouldst thou hate men?[2491] They never flatter'd thee: what hast thou given? If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,[2510] Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff 270 To some she beggar and compounded thee Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, be gone![2511] If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.[2512] _Apem._ Art thou proud yet? _Tim._ Ay, that I am not thee. _Apem._ I, that I was[2513] 275 No prodigal.[2513] _Tim._ I, that I am one now: Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee, I'ld give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone. That the whole life of Athens were in this![2491] Thus would I eat it.[2514] [_Eating a root._ _Apem._ Here; I will mend thy feast.[2515][2516] 280 [_Offering him a root._ _Tim._ First mend my company; take away thyself.[2515][2517] _Apem._ So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.[2515][2518] _Tim._ 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd;[2515] If not, I would it were.[2515]