_Tim._ A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t' attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee:[2529] if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee: if thou 325 wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass: if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would torment thee, and still thou livedst but[2530] as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy 330 life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse: wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the 335 lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life: all thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence.[2531] What beast couldst thou be that were not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not[2532] thy loss in transformation! 340 _Apem._ If thou couldst please me with speaking to me,[2533] thou mightst have hit upon it here: the commonwealth of[2533] Athens is become a forest of beasts.[2533] _Tim._ How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?[2534] 345 _Apem._ Yonder comes a poet and a painter: the plague[2535][2536] of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and[2535] give way: when I know not what else to do, I'll see thee[2535] again.[2535] _Tim._ When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt[2535] 350 be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.[2535] _Apem._ Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.[2537] _Tim._ Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon![2537] _Apem._ A plague on thee! thou art too bad to curse.[2537][2538] 355 _Tim._ All villains that do stand by thee are pure.[2537] _Apem._ There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.[2537] _Tim._ If I name thee.[2539][2540] I'll beat thee; but I should infect my hands.[2539][2541] _Apem._ I would my tongue could rot them off![2542] 360 _Tim._ Away, thou issue of a mangy dog![2543] Choler does kill me that thou art alive; I swoon to see thee.[2543][2544] _Apem._ Would thou wouldst burst![2545][2546] _Tim._ Away, thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall[2546] 365 lose a stone by thee.[2546] [_Throws a stone at him._[2547] _Apem._ Beast![2546] _Tim._ Slave![2546] _Apem._ Toad![2546]