Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweler, ⌜and⌝ Merchant, at several
doors.POET Good day, sir.PAINTER I am glad you’re well.POET I have not seen you long. How goes the world?PAINTER It wears, sir, as it grows.POET 5 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 conjured to attend. I know the merchant.PAINTER 10I know them both. Th’ other’s a jeweler.MERCHANT, ⌜to Jeweler⌝ O, ’tis a worthy lord!JEWELER Nay, that’s most fixed.MERCHANT A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were, To an untirable and continuate goodness.15 He passes.JEWELER I have a jewel here—MERCHANT O, pray, let’s see ’t. For the Lord Timon, sir?
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JEWELER If he will touch the estimate. But for that—POET, ⌜to Painter⌝ When we for recompense have praised the vile,20 It stains the glory in that happy verse Which aptly sings the good.MERCHANT, ⌜looking at the jewel⌝ ’Tis a good form.JEWELER And rich. Here is a water, look ye.PAINTER, ⌜to Poet⌝ You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication25 To the great lord.POET A thing slipped idly from me. Our poesy is as a ⌜gum⌝ which ⌜oozes⌝ From whence ’tis nourished. The fire i’ th’ flint Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame30 Provokes itself and, like the current, flies Each bound it chases. What have you there?PAINTER A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?POET Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. Let’s see your piece.PAINTER 35’Tis a good piece.POET So ’tis. This comes off well and excellent.PAINTER Indifferent.POET Admirable! How this grace Speaks his own standing! What a mental power40 This eye shoots forth! How big imagination Moves in this lip! To th’ dumbness of the gesture One might interpret.PAINTER It is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch. Is ’t good?
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POET 45 I will say of it, It tutors nature. Artificial strife Lives in these touches livelier than life.Enter certain Senators.PAINTER How this lord is followed.POET The senators of Athens, happy men.PAINTER 50Look, more.POET You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. (⌜Indicating his poem.⌝) I have in this rough work shaped out a man Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug55 With amplest entertainment. My free drift Halts not particularly but moves itself In a wide sea of wax. No leveled malice Infects one comma in the course I hold, But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,60 Leaving no tract behind.PAINTER How shall I understand you?POET I will unbolt to you. You see how all conditions, how all minds, As well of glib and slipp’ry creatures as65 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-faced flatterer70 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.PAINTER I saw them speak together.POET 75 Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
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Feigned Fortune to be throned. The base o’ th’ mount Is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures That labor on the bosom of this sphere To propagate their states. Amongst them all80 Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed, One do I personate of Lord Timon’s frame, Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her, Whose present grace to present slaves and servants Translates his rivals.PAINTER 85 ’Tis conceived to scope. This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks, With one man beckoned from the rest below, Bowing his head against the steepy mount To climb his happiness, would be well expressed90 In our condition.POET Nay, sir, but hear me on. All those which were his fellows but of late, Some better than his value, on the moment Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,95 Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear, Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him Drink the free air.PAINTER Ay, marry, what of these?POET When Fortune in her shift and change of mood100 Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants, Which labored after him to the mountain’s top Even on their knees and ⌜hands,⌝ let him ⌜slip⌝ down, Not one accompanying his declining foot.PAINTER ’Tis common.105 A thousand moral paintings I can show That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune’s More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen110 The foot above the head.
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Trumpets sound. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself
courteously to every suitor. ⌜He is accompanied by a
Messenger and followed by Lucilius and other
Servants.⌝TIMON Imprisoned is he, say you?MESSENGER Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt, His means most short, his creditors most strait. Your honorable letter he desires115 To those have shut him up, which failing Periods his comfort.TIMON Noble Ventidius. Well, I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need me. I do know him120 A gentleman that well deserves a help, Which he shall have. I’ll pay the debt and free him.MESSENGER Your Lordship ever binds him.TIMON Commend me to him. I will send his ransom; And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me.125 ’Tis not enough to help the feeble up, But to support him after. Fare you well.MESSENGER All happiness to your Honor.He exits.Enter an old Athenian.OLD MAN Lord Timon, hear me speak.TIMON Freely, good father.OLD MAN 130 Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.TIMON I have so. What of him?OLD MAN Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.TIMON Attends he here or no?—Lucilius!
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LUCILIUS Here, at your Lordship’s service.OLD MAN 135 This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature, By night frequents my house. I am a man That from my first have been inclined to thrift, And my estate deserves an heir more raised Than one which holds a trencher.TIMON 140 Well. What further?OLD MAN One only daughter have I, no kin else On whom I may confer what I have got. The maid is fair, o’ th’ youngest for a bride, And I have bred her at my dearest cost145 In qualities of the best. This man of thine Attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord, Join with me to forbid him her resort. Myself have spoke in vain.TIMON The man is honest.OLD MAN 150Therefore he will be, Timon. His honesty rewards him in itself; It must not bear my daughter.TIMON Does she love him?OLD MAN She is young and apt.155 Our own precedent passions do instruct us What levity’s in youth.TIMON, ⌜to Lucilius⌝ Love you the maid?LUCILIUS Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.OLD MAN If in her marriage my consent be missing—160 I call the gods to witness—I will choose Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world And dispossess her all.TIMON How shall she be endowed If she be mated with an equal husband?
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OLD MAN 165 Three talents on the present; in future, all.TIMON This gentleman of mine hath served 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,170 And make him weigh with her.OLD MAN Most noble lord, Pawn me to this your honor, she is his.TIMON My hand to thee; mine honor on my promise.LUCILIUS Humbly I thank your Lordship. Never may175 That state or fortune fall into my keeping Which is not owed to you.He exits ⌜with the old Athenian.⌝POET, ⌜presenting his poem to Timon⌝ Vouchsafe my labor, and long live your Lordship.TIMON I thank you. You shall hear from me anon. Go not away.—What have you there, my friend?PAINTER 180 A piece of painting which I do beseech Your Lordship to accept.TIMON Painting is welcome. The painting is almost the natural man, For, since dishonor traffics with man’s nature,185 He is but outside; these penciled figures are Even such as they give out. I like your work, And you shall find I like it. Wait attendance Till you hear further from me.PAINTER The gods preserve you.TIMON 190 Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand.
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We must needs dine together.—Sir, your jewel Hath suffered under praise.JEWELER What, my lord? Dispraise?TIMON A mere satiety of commendations.195 If I should pay you for ’t as ’tis extolled, It would unclew me quite.JEWELER My lord, ’tis rated As those which sell would give. But you well know Things of like value, differing in the owners,200 Are prizèd by their masters. Believe ’t, dear lord, You mend the jewel by the wearing it.TIMON Well mocked.MERCHANT No, my good lord. He speaks the common tongue, Which all men speak with him.Enter Apemantus.TIMON 205Look who comes here. Will you be chid?JEWELER We’ll bear, with your Lordship.MERCHANT He’ll spare none.TIMON Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus.APEMANTUS Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow—210 When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.TIMON Why dost thou call them knaves? Thou know’st them not.APEMANTUS Are they not Athenians?TIMON Yes.APEMANTUS 215Then I repent not.JEWELER You know me, Apemantus?APEMANTUS Thou know’st I do. I called thee by thy name.TIMON Thou art proud, Apemantus.
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APEMANTUS 220Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.TIMON Whither art going?APEMANTUS To knock out an honest Athenian’s brains.TIMON That’s a deed thou ’lt die for.APEMANTUS 225Right, if doing nothing be death by th’ law.TIMON How lik’st thou this picture, Apemantus?APEMANTUS The best, for the innocence.TIMON Wrought he not well that painted it?APEMANTUS He wrought better that made the painter,230 and yet he’s but a filthy piece of work.PAINTER You’re a dog.APEMANTUS Thy mother’s of my generation. What’s she, if I be a dog?TIMON Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?APEMANTUS 235No. I eat not lords.TIMON An thou shouldst, thou ’dst anger ladies.APEMANTUS O, they eat lords. So they come by great bellies.TIMON That’s a lascivious apprehension.APEMANTUS 240So thou apprehend’st it. Take it for thy labor.TIMON How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?APEMANTUS Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not ⌜cost⌝ a man a doit.TIMON 245What dost thou think ’tis worth?APEMANTUS Not worth my thinking.—How now, poet?POET How now, philosopher?APEMANTUS Thou liest.POET Art not one?APEMANTUS 250Yes.POET Then I lie not.APEMANTUS Art not a poet?POET Yes.APEMANTUS Then thou liest. Look in thy last work,255 where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
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POET That’s not feigned. He is so.APEMANTUS Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labor. He that loves to be flattered is worthy o’ th’ flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!TIMON 260What wouldst do then, Apemantus?APEMANTUS E’en as Apemantus does now—hate a lord with my heart.TIMON What? Thyself?APEMANTUS Ay.TIMON 265Wherefore?APEMANTUS That I had no angry wit to be a lord.—Art not thou a merchant?MERCHANT Ay, Apemantus.APEMANTUS Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not.MERCHANT 270If traffic do it, the gods do it.APEMANTUS Traffic’s thy god, and thy god confound thee!Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.TIMON What trumpet’s that?MESSENGER ’Tis Alcibiades and some twenty horse,275 All of companionship.TIMON Pray, entertain them. Give them guide to us.⌜Some Servants exit with Messenger.⌝ You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence Till I have thanked you.—When dinner’s done Show me this piece.—I am joyful of your sights.Enter Alcibiades with the rest.280 Most welcome, sir.⌜They bow to each other.⌝APEMANTUS, ⌜apart⌝ So, so, there! Aches contract and starve your supple joints! That there should be small love amongst these sweet knaves,
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285 And all this courtesy! The strain of man’s bred out Into baboon and monkey.ALCIBIADES, ⌜to Timon⌝ Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed Most hungerly on your sight.TIMON Right welcome, sir.290 Ere we depart, we’ll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.⌜All but Apemantus⌝ exit.Enter two Lords.FIRST LORD What time o’ day is ’t, Apemantus?APEMANTUS Time to be honest.FIRST LORD That time serves still.APEMANTUS 295 The most accursèd thou, that still omit’st it.SECOND LORD Thou art going to Lord Timon’s feast?APEMANTUS Ay, to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.SECOND LORD Fare thee well, fare thee well.APEMANTUS Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.SECOND LORD 300Why, Apemantus?APEMANTUS Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.FIRST LORD Hang thyself.APEMANTUS No, I will do nothing at thy bidding.305 Make thy requests to thy friend.SECOND LORD Away, unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence.APEMANTUS I will fly, like a dog, the heels o’ th’ ass.⌜He exits.⌝FIRST LORD He’s opposite to humanity. ⌜Come,⌝ shall we in
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And taste Lord Timon’s bounty? He outgoes310 The very heart of kindness.SECOND LORD He pours it out. Plutus, the god of gold, Is but his steward. No meed but he repays Sevenfold above itself. No gift to him But breeds the giver a return exceeding315 All use of quittance.FIRST LORD The noblest mind he carries That ever governed man.SECOND LORD Long may he live in fortunes. Shall we in? I’ll keep you company.They exit.
Timon of Athens: 
