1    Good day, sir.

2    I am glad you're well.

3    I have not seen you long: how goes the world?

4    It wears, sir, as it grows.

5    Ay, that's well known:
6    But what particular rarity? what strange,
7    Which manifold record not matches? See,
8    Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power
9    Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.

10   I know them both; th' other's a jeweller.

11   O, 'tis a worthy lord.

12   Nay, that's most fix'd.

13   A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
14   To an untirable and continuate goodness:
15   He passes.

16   I have a jewel here--

17   O, pray, let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir?

18   If he will touch the estimate: but, for that--

Reciting to himself
19    'When we for recompense have
20   praised the vile,
21   It stains the glory in that happy verse
22   Which aptly sings the good.'

23   'Tis a good form.

24   And rich: here is a water, look ye.

25   You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
26   To the great lord.

27   A thing slipp'd idly from me.
28   Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes
29   From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint
30   Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
31   Provokes itself and like the current flies
32   Each bound it chafes. What have you there?

33   A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?

34   Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
35   Let's see your piece.

36   'Tis a good piece.

37   So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent.

38   Indifferent.

39   Admirable: how this grace
40   Speaks his own standing! what a mental power
41   This eye shoots forth! how big imagination
42   Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture
43   One might interpret.

44   It is a pretty mocking of the life.
45   Here is a touch; is't good?

46   I will say of it,
47   It tutors nature: artificial strife
48   Lives in these touches, livelier than life.

49   How this lord is follow'd!

50   The senators of Athens: happy man!

51   Look, more!

52   You see this confluence, this great flood
53   of visitors.
54   I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
55   Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
56   With amplest entertainment: my free drift
57   Halts not particularly, but moves itself
58   In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
59   Infects one comma in the course I hold;
60   But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
61   Leaving no tract behind.

62   How shall I understand you?

63   I will unbolt to you.
64   You see how all conditions, how all minds,
65   As well of glib and slippery creatures as
66   Of grave and austere quality, tender down
67   Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune
68   Upon his good and gracious nature hanging
69   Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
70   All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
71   To Apemantus, that few things loves better
72   Than to abhor himself: even he drops down
73   The knee before him, and returns in peace
74   Most rich in Timon's nod.

75   I saw them speak together.

76   Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
77   Feign'd Fortune to be throned: the base o' the mount
78   Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
79   That labour on the bosom of this sphere
80   To propagate their states: amongst them all,
81   Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
82   One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,
83   Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;
84   Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
85   Translates his rivals.

86   'Tis conceived to scope.
87   This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
88   With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
89   Bowing his head against the sleepy mount
90   To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
91   In our condition.

92   Nay, sir, but hear me on.
93   All those which were his fellows but of late,
94   Some better than his value, on the moment
95   Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
96   Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
97   Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
98   Drink the free air.

99   Ay, marry, what of these?

100  When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
101  Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants
102  Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top
103  Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
104  Not one accompanying his declining foot.

105  'Tis common:
106  A thousand moral paintings I can show
107  That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's
108  More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
109  To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
110  The foot above the head.

111  Imprison'd is he, say you?

112  Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt,
113  His means most short, his creditors most strait:
114  Your honourable letter he desires
115  To those have shut him up; which failing,
116  Periods his comfort.

117  Noble Ventidius! Well;
118  I am not of that feather to shake off
119  My friend when he must need me. I do know him
120  A gentleman that well deserves a help:
121  Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt,
122  and free him.

123  Your lordship ever binds him.

124  Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;
125  And being enfranchised, bid him come to me.
126  'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
127  But to support him after. Fare you well.

128  All happiness to your honour!

129  Lord Timon, hear me speak.

130  Freely, good father.

131  Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.

132  I have so: what of him?

133  Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.

134  Attends he here, or no? Lucilius!

135  Here, at your lordship's service.

136  This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
137  By night frequents my house. I am a man
138  That from my first have been inclined to thrift;
139  And my estate deserves an heir more raised
140  Than one which holds a trencher.

141  Well; what further?

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

150  The man is honest.

151  Therefore he will be, Timon:
152  His honesty rewards him in itself;
153  It must not bear my daughter.

154  Does she love him?

155  She is young and apt:
156  Our own precedent passions do instruct us
157  What levity's in youth.

To LUCILIUS
158   Love you the maid?

159  Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.

160  If in her marriage my consent be missing,
161  I call the gods to witness, I will choose
162  Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
163  And dispossess her all.

164  How shall she be endow'd,
165  if she be mated with an equal husband?

166  Three talents on the present; in future, all.

167  This gentleman of mine hath served me long:
168  To build his fortune I will strain a little,
169  For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:
170  What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,
171  And make him weigh with her.

172  Most noble lord,
173  Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.

174  My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.

175  Humbly I thank your lordship: never may
176  The state or fortune fall into my keeping,
177  Which is not owed to you!

178  Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!

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

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

183  Painting is welcome.
184  The painting is almost the natural man;
185  or since dishonour traffics with man's nature,
186  He is but outside: these pencill'd figures are
187  Even such as they give out. I like your work;
188  And you shall find I like it: wait attendance
189  Till you hear further from me.

190  The gods preserve ye!

191  Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
192  We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
193  Hath suffer'd under praise.

194  What, my lord! dispraise?

195  A more satiety of commendations.
196  If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
197  It would unclew me quite.

198  My lord, 'tis rated
199  As those which sell would give: but you well know,
200  Things of like value differing in the owners
201  Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear lord,
202  You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

203  Well mock'd.

204  No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
205  Which all men speak with him.

206  Look, who comes here: will you be chid?

207  We'll bear, with your lordship.

208  He'll spare none.

209  Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!

210  Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;
211  When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.

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

213  Are they not Athenians?

214  Yes.

215  Then I repent not.

216  You know me, Apemantus?

217  Thou know'st I do: I call'd thee by thy name.

218  Thou art proud, Apemantus.

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

220  Whither art going?

221  To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.

222  That's a deed thou'lt die for.

223  Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.

224  How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?

225  The best, for the innocence.

226  Wrought he not well that painted it?

227  He wrought better that made the painter; and yet
228  he's but a filthy piece of work.

229  You're a dog.

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

231  Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

232  No; I eat not lords.

233  An thou shouldst, thou 'ldst anger ladies.

234  O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

235  That's a lascivious apprehension.

236  So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.

237  How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

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

240  What dost thou think 'tis worth?

241  Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!

242  How now, philosopher!

243  Thou liest.

244  Art not one?

245  Yes.

246  Then I lie not.

247  Art not a poet?

248  Yes.

249  Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou
250  hast feigned him a worthy fellow.

251  That's not feigned; he is so.

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

255  What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

256  E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.

257  What, thyself?

258  Ay.

259  Wherefore?

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

262  Ay, Apemantus.

263  Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!

264  If traffic do it, the gods do it.

265  Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee!

266  What trumpet's that?

267  'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
268  All of companionship.

269  Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.
Exeunt some Attendants
270  You must needs dine with me: go not you hence
271  Till I have thank'd you: when dinner's done,
272  Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.
Enter ALCIBIADES, with the rest
273  Most welcome, sir!

274  So, so, there!
275  Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
276  That there should be small love 'mongst these
277  sweet knaves,
278  And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out
279  Into baboon and monkey.

280  Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
281  Most hungerly on your sight.

282  Right welcome, sir!
283  Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
284  In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

285  What time o' day is't, Apemantus?

286  Time to be honest.

287  That time serves still.

288  The more accursed thou, that still omitt'st it.

289  Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast?

290  Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.

291  Fare thee well, fare thee well.

292  Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

293  Why, Apemantus?

294  Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to
295  give thee none.

296  Hang thyself!

297  No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy
298  requests to thy friend.

299  Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence!

300  I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' the ass.

301  He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
302  And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
303  The very heart of kindness.

304  He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
305  Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays
306  Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,
307  But breeds the giver a return exceeding
308  All use of quittance.

309  The noblest mind he carries
310  That ever govern'd man.

311  Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?

312  I'll keep you company.