That shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortune
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well,
To fhew lord Timon, that mean eyes have feen
The foot above the head.

Trumpets found. Enter TIMON, addreffing himself courteously to every Suitor.

Tim. Imprifon'd is he, say you?

[To a Messenger. Mef. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt;

His means most short, his creditors moft ftrait:
Your honourable letter he defires

To thofe have shut him up; which failing him,
Periods his comfort.

Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well;

I am not of that feather, to fhake off

My friend when he must need me. I do know him
A gentleman, that well deferves a help,

Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt, and free him.
Mef. Your lordship ever binds him.

Tim. Commend me to him: I will fend his ransom;
And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me :-

'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,

But to fupport him after.-Fare you well.

Mef. All happiness to your honour!

Enter an old Athenian.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me fpeak.

Tim. Freely, good father.

Old Ath. Thou haft a fervant nam'd Lucilius:

Tim. I have fo: What of him?

[Exit.

Old Ath. Moft noble Timon, call the man before thee.
Tim. Attends he here, or no?—Lucilius !

Enter LUCILIUS.

Luc. Here, at your lordship's fervice.

Old Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy

creature,

By night frequents my houfe. I am a man

That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift,
And my eftate deferves an heir more rais'd,

Than one which holds a trencher.

Tim. Well; what further?

Old 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 refort;
Myself have spoke in vain.

Tim. The man is honest.

Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:
His honefty rewards him in itself,
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim. Does the love him?

Old Ath. She is young, and apt:
Our own precedent paffions do instruct us
What levity is in youth.

Tim. [To LUCIL.] Love you the maid ?

Luc. Ay, my good lord, and fhe accepts of it.

Old Ath. If in her marriage my confent be miffing,

I call the gods to witnefs, I will choose

Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And difpoffefs her all.

Tim. How fhall she be endow'd

If she be mated with an equal hufband?

Old Ath. Three talents on the prefent; in future, all. Tim. This gentleman of mine hath ferv'd me long; To build his fortune, I will strain a little,

For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter;

1

What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoife,

And make him weigh with her.

Old Ath. Moft noble lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, fhe 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! [Ex. LUCIL. and Old Ath.
Poet. Vouchfafe my labour, and long live your lordship!
Tim. I thank you; you fhall hear from me anon:
Go not away. What have you there, my friend?

A 4

Pain,

Pain. A piece of painting; which I do befeech Your lordship to accept.

Tim. Painting is welcome.

The painting is almost the natural man;

For fince difhonour trafficks with man's nature,
He is but outfide: These pencil'd figures are
Even fuch as they give out. I like your work;
And you shall find, I like it; wait attendance
'Till you hear further from me.

Pain. The gods preserve you!

Tim. Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand; We must needs dine together.-Sir, your jewel Hath fuffer'd under praise.

Jew. What, my lord? difpraise?

Tim. A mere fatiety of commendations. If I should pay you for't, as 'tis extoll'd, It would unclew me quite.

Few. My lord, 'tis rated

As thofe, which fell, would give: But you well know, Things of like value, differing in the owners,

Are prized by their masters: believe it, dear lord,

You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

Tim. Well mock'd.

Mer. No, my good lord; he fpeaks the common tongue,

Which all men speak with him.

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

Enter APEMANTUS.

Few. We will bear with your lordship.
Mer. He'll fpare none.

Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus !
Apem. 'Till I be gentle, ftay for thy good morrow;
When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.
Tim. Why doft thou call them knaves, thou know'ft

them not.

Apem. Are they not Athenians?

Tim. Yes.

Apem. Then I repent not.

Jew. You know me, Apemantus.

Apem. Thou know'ft, I do; I call'd thee by thy name.

Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus.

Apem. Of nothing fo much, as that I am not like

Timon.

Tim. Whither art going?

Apem. To knock out an honeft Athenian's brai s.
Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.
Tim. How lik'ft thou this picture, Apemantus?
Apem. The beft, 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.

Poet. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation; What's the, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus ?

Apem. No; I eat not lords.

Tim. And thou should'ft, thoud'ft anger ladies.
Apem. O, they eat lords; fo they come by great bellies.
Tim. That's a lafcivious apprehenfion,

Apem. So thou apprehend'ft it: Take it for thy labour.
Tim. How doft thou like this jewel, Apemantus ?

Apem. Not fo well as plain dealing, which will not coft a man a doit.

Tim. What doft thou think 'tis worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking.-How now, poet?
Poet. How now, philofopher?

Apem. Thou lieft.

Poet. Art not one?

Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not,

Apem. Art not a poet?

Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou lieft: look in thy laft work, where thou haft feign'd him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, he is fo.

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: he, that loves to be flattered, is worthy of the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!

Tim. What would't do then, Apemantus?

Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart.

Tim.

1

Tim. What, thyself?
Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art thou not a merchant?

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound thee! Trumpets found. Enter a Messenger.

Tim. What trumpet's that?

Mef: 'Tis Alcibiades, and fome twenty horse,
All of companionship.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us,
You must needs dine with me:-Go not you hence,
'Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done,
Shew me this piece,-I am joyful of your fights.
Enter ALCIBIADES, with the rest.

Moft welcome, fir!

Apem. So, fo; there!

Aches contract and ftarve your fupple joints !

That there should be fmall love 'mongst these fweet knaves,

And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out

Into baboon and monkey.

Alc. Sir, you have fav'd my longing, and I feed

Moft hungrily on your fight.

Tim. Right welcome, fir:

Ere we depart, we'll fhare a bounteous time

In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS,

Enter two Lords.

1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apementus ? Apem. Time to be honest.

1 Lord. That time ferves ftill.

Apem. The most accurfed thou, that ftill omit'ft it.

2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast ?

Apem. Ay; to fee meet fill knaves, and wine heat fools, 2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewel twice,

2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

Apem.