O. Ath. Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.

Timon. I have so: what of him?

O. Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.

Timon. Attends he here, or no?-Lucilius!

Enter LUCILIUS.

Lucil. Here, at your lordship's service.

O. Ath. 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.

Well; what farther?

O. Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else, On whom I may confer what I have got. The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride, And I have bred her at my dearest cost, In qualities of the best. This man of thine Attempts her love: I pr'ythee, noble lord, Join with me to forbid him her resort; Myself have spoke in vain.

Timon.

The man is honest.

O. Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:

His honesty rewards him in itself;

It must not bear my daughter.

Timon.

Does she love him?

and apt:

O. Ath. She is young,
Our own precedent passions do instruct us

What levity's in youth.

Timon. [to Lucilius.] Love you the maid?
Lucil. Ay, my good lord; and she accepts of it.
O. Ath. If in her marriage my consent be
missing,

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 endow'd,

If she be mated with an equal husband?

O. Ath. 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,

And make him weigh with her.

O. Ath.

Most noble lord,

Pawn me to this your honor, she is his.

Timon. My hand to thee; mine honor on my promise.

Lucil. Humbly I thank your lordship. Never

may

That state or fortune fall into my keeping,

Which is not owed to you!

[Exeunt Lucilius and Old Athenian. Poet. 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? Paint. 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,
He is but outside. These pencil'd figures are
Even such as they give out.1 I like your work;
shall find, I like it: wait attendance

And you

Till you hear farther from me.

Paint.

The gods preserve you!

Timon. Well fare you, gentlemen. Give me your

hand;

We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
Hath suffer'd under praise.

Jew.

What, my lord? dispraise?

Timon. A mere satiety of commendations.

If I should pay you for 't as 'tis extoll'd,

It would unclew me quite.2

Jew.

My lord, 'tis rated

As those, which sell, would give; but you well

know,

Things of like value, differing in the owners,

Are prized by their masters: 3 believe 't, dear lord, You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

Timon. Well mock'd.

1 i. e. what they profess to be.

2 Draw out the whole of my fortunes.

3 Are rated according to the esteem in which their possessor is held.

Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the common

tongue,

Which all men speak with him.

Timon. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid?

Enter APEMANTUS.

Jew. We will bear, with your lordship.

Mer.
He'll spare none.
Timon. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!
Ape. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good

morrow;

When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.

Timon. Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.

Ape. Are they not Athenians?

Timon. Yes.

Ape. Then I repent not.

Jew. You know me, Apemantus.

Ape. Thou knowest, I do: I call'd thee by thy

name.

Timon. Thou art proud, Apemantus.

Ape. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like Timon.

Timon. Whither art going?

Ape. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains. Timon. That's a deed thou 'lt die for.

Ape. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. Timon. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus? Ape. The best, for the innocence.

Timon. Wrought he not well, that painted it? Ape. He wrought better, that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.

Paint. You are a dog.

Ape. Thy mother's of my generation. What's she, if I be a dog?

Timon. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus ?
Ape. No; I eat not lords.

Timon. An thou shouldst, thou 'dst anger ladies. Ape. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

Timon. That's a lascivious apprehension.

Ape. So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labor.

Timon. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

Ape. Not so well as plain-dealing,1 which will not cost a man a doit.

Timon. What dost thou think 'tis worth?

Ape. Not worth my thinking.-How now, poet? Poet. How now, philosopher?

Ape. Thou liest.

Poet. Art not one?

Ape. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.

Ape. Art not a poet?

Poet. Yes.

Alluding to the proverb-Plain-dealing is a jewel. but they who use it die beggars.