Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
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.

Pain.

"Tis conceiv'd to scope.

This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount

To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
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,
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,

Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
Drink the free air".

Pain.

Ay, marry, what of these?

Poet. When Fortune, in her shift and change of

mood,

Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependants,

Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top,
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
Not one accompanying his declining foot.

Pain. "Tis common:

A thousand moral paintings I can show,

That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's
More pregnantly than words. Yet
Yet you do well,

To show lord Timon, that mean eyes have seen
The foot above the head.

5 Drink the free air.] "To drink the air, (says Wakefield,) like the haustos atherios of Virgil, is merely a poetical phrase for draw the air, or breathe. To "drink the free air," therefore, through another, is to breathe freely at his will only."

6 Even on their knees and HANDS, let him SLIP down,] The folio reads hand, and sit for "slip." The emendation was made by Rowe.

Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, attended; the Servant of VENTIDIUS talking with him'.

Tim.

Imprison'd is he, say you?

Ven. Serv. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his

debt;

His means most short, his creditors most strait:

Your honourable letter he desires

To those have shut him up; which failing,

Periods his comfort.

Tim.

Noble Ventidius! Well;

I am not of that feather, to shake off

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

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

Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his ransom; 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!

[Exit.

7

Enter an old Athenian.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.

Tim.

Freely, good father.

Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius.

Tim. I have so: what of him?

Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before

thee.

Tim. Attends he here, or no?—Lucilius!

Enter LUCILIUS.

Luc. Here, at your lordship's service.

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

talking with him.] The old stage-direction is," Trumpets sound. Enter lord Timon, addressing himself courteously to every suitor."

By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir, more rais'd
Than one which holds a trencher.

Tim.

Well; what farther?

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 resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.

Tim.

The man is honest.

Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:

His honesty rewards him in itself;

It must not bear my daughter.

Tim.

Does she love him?

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

Tim. [To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid?
Luc. Ay, my good lord; and she accepts of it.
Old 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.

Tim.

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!

[Exeunt LUCILIUS and old Athenian. Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lord

ship!

Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon: Go not away. What have you there, my friend?

Pain. A piece of painting, which I do beseech Your lordship to accept.

Tim.

Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;

For since dishonour traffics with man's nature,
He is but outside: these pencil'd figures are
Even such as they give out. I like your work,
And you shall find, I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear farther 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 suffer'd under praise.

Jew.

What, my lord! dispraise?

Tim. A mere satiety of commendations. If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,

It would unclew me quite.

My lord, 'tis rated

Jew.
As those which sell would give: but you well know,
Things of like value, differing in the owners,

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

Well fare you, GENTLEMAN :[ Timon is addressing the Painter, and, taking leave of him for the present, he says, "Well fare you, gentleman," and not gentlemen, as it is usually printed, abandoning the old copy.

Tim.

Well mock'd.

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

tongue,

Which all men speak with him.

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

Enter APEMANTUS.

Jew. We'll bear, with your lordship.

Mer.

He'll spare none.

Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus. Apem. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good mor

row;

When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest. Tim. Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st

them not.

Apem. Are they not Athenians?

Tim. Yes.

Apem. Then I repent not.

Jew. You know me, Apemantus.

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

name.

Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus.

Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not like 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. Y'are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?