I am glad you are well. Poet. A thing slipp'd idly from me. Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes From whence 'tis nourished: The fire i'the flint Shows not, till it be struck; our gentle flame Provokes itself, and, like the current, flies Each bound it chafes. 6) What have you there? Pain. A picture, sir. And when comes your book forth? Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. Poet. I have not seen you long; How goes the Let's see your piece. world? Pain. It wears, sir, as it grows. Poet. Ay, that's well known: But what particular rarity? what strange, Which manifold record not matches? See, Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power Hath conjur'd to attend. I know the merchant. Pain. I know them both; t'other's a jeweller. Mer. O, 'tis a worthy lord! Jew. Nay, that's most fix'd. Mer. A most incomparable man; breath'd, as it were, 2) To an untirable and continuate goodness: Jew. I have a jewel here. Mer. O, pray, let's see't: For the lord Timon, sir? Jew. If he will touch the estimate: 4) But, for that "Tis a good piece. Pain. Poet. So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent. Pain. Indifferent. Poet. Admirable: How this grace Speaks his own standing! what a mental power This eye shoots forth! how big imagination Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture One might interpret. Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch; is't good? Poet. I'll say of it, Enter certain Senators, and pass over. visitors. Happy men! I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, Pain. How shall I understand you? Poet. I'll unbolt 2) to you. You see how all conditions, how all minds, (As well of glib and slippery creatures, as Of grave and austere quality,) tender down Their services to lord Timon: his large fortune, Upon his good and gracious nature hanging, Subdues and properties to his love and tendance All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-fac'd flatterer 13) To Apemantus, that few things loves better Than to abhor himself: even he drops down The knee before him, and returns in peace Most rich in Timon's nod. Pain. Pain. Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependants, Pain. "Tis common: A thousand moral paintings I can show, 20) Luc. Here at your lordship's service. Old Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy creature, By night frequents my house. I am a man Tim. Tim. Does she love him? Old Ath. She is young, and apt: Tim. [To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid? How shall she be endow'd, If she be mated with an equal husband? Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in future, all. Tim. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long; To build his fortune, I will strain a little, For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter: What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise, And make him weigh with her. Old Ath. Most noble lord, Pawn me to this your honour, she is his. Tim. My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise. Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: Never may That state or fortune fall into my keeping, Which is not ow'd to you! 26) [Exeunt LUCILIUS and old Athenian. Pain. Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his ransome; And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me; 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, But to support him after. Fare you well. Ven. Serv. All happiness to your honour! 2 24) We must needs dine together. [Exit. Hath suffer'd under praise. Sir, your jewel Tim. Yes. Apem. Then I repent not. Most welcome, sir! Apem. [They salute. So, so; there! Aches contract and starve your supple joints! Apem. Thou knowest, I do; I call'd thee by thy That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet Jew. You know me, Apemantus? name. Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus. knaves, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Into baboon and monkey. 34) Timon. Tim. Whither art going? Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for. Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus? Apem. The best, for the innocence. Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it? Apem. He wrought better, that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work. Pain. You are a dog. Apem. Thy mother's of my generation; What's she, if I be a dog? Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? Apem. No; I eat not lords. Tim. An thou should'st, thou'dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies. Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour. Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, 32) which will not cost a man a doit. Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth? Poet. How now, philosopher? Apem. Thou liest. Poet. Art not one? Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight. Tim. Right welcome, sir; Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. [Exeunt all but APEMANTUS. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend. How now, poet? hence. Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so. Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: He that loves to be flattered, is worthy o'the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What would'st do then, Apemantus? 2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee 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 2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, Is but his steward: no meed, 35) but he repays Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a return exceeding All use of quittance. 36) 1 Lord. The noblest mind he carries, That ever govern'd man. 2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Room of State in Timon's House. Hautboys playing loud Music. A great Banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with VBNTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly. Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the My father's age, and call him to long peace. To your free heart, I do return those talents, Tim. If our betters play at that game, we must not dare [They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON. [They sit. 1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it. Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it, have you not? 2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Here's that, which is too weak to be sinner, Immortal gods, I crave no pelf; Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks. Much good dich 44) thy good heart, Apemantus! now. Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends. Alcib. So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat like them; I could wish my best friend at such a feast. Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies, then; that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em. 1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect. 45) Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much Tim. Fye, thou art a churl; you have got a hu- help from you: How had you been my friends else? mour there why have you that charitable title 46) from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I They say, my lords, that ira furor brevis est, 39) have told more of you to myself, than you can with But yond' man's ever angry. Go, let him have a table by himself; modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. 47) O, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them: and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits: and what better Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for Ior properer can we call our own, than the riches Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, 40) Timon; I come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent. should Ne'er flatter thee.—41) O you gods! what a number I wonder men dare trust themselves with men: Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been prov'd. Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals; of our friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to Apem. Much! Enter a Servant. Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance. Tim. Ladies? What are their wills? Apem. Heyday, what a sweep of vanity comes Be worthily entertain'd. this way! They dance! they are mad women. Like madness is the glory of this life, As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root. 49) The Lords rise from Table, with much adoring of TIMON; and, to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, Men with Women, a lofty strain or two to the Hautboys, and cease. How now, what news? 3 Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him; and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds. Tim. I'll hunt with him; and let them be receiv'd, Not without fair reward. Flav. [Aside.] What will this come to? He commands us to provide, and give great gifts, And all out of an empty coffer. Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this, To shew him what a beggar his heart is, Being of no power to make his wishes good; His promises fly so beyond his state, That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes For every word; he is so kind, that he now Pays interest for't: his land's put to their books. Well, 'would I were gently put out of office, Before I were forc'd out! Happier is he that has no friend to feed, Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, Than such as do even enemies exceed. fair ladies, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, I am to thank you for it. 1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best. 52) Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me. Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet [Exeunt CUPID, and Ladies. Tim. Flavius, 1 Lord. Where be our men? Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness. 2 Lord. Our horses. Tim. O my friends, I have one word To say to you: Look you, my good lord, I must Entreat you, honour me so much, as to Advance this jewel; 56) Accept it, and wear it, kind my lord. [Exit. I bleed inwardly for my lord. 2 Lord. With more than common thanks I will re ceive it. 3 Lord. O, he is the very soul of bounty! Tim. And now I remember me, my lord, you gave Good words the other day of a bay courser I rode on: it is yours, because you lik'd it! 57) 2 Lord. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that. Tim. You may take my word, my lord; I know no man Can justly praise, but what he does affect: Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich, And so |