Mer. O, pray, let's see't: For the lord Timon, sir? vile, Mer. 'Tis a good form. [Looking at the jewel. Jew. And rich: here is a water, look you. Pain. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedi cation To the great lord. Poet. A thing slipp'd idly from me. (1) Inured by constant practice. (2) For continual. Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes Pain. A picture, sir. And when comes your book forth? Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. Let's see your piece. Pain. 'Tis a good piece. Poet. So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent. Pain. Indifferent. Poet. Admirable: How this grace Speaks his own standing! what a mental power This eye shoots forth! how big imagination Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture One might interpret. Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch; Is't good? Poet. I'll say of it, It tutors nature: artificial strifes Enter certain Senators, and pass over. Pain. How this lord's follow'd! Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, (4) As soon as my book has been presented to Timon. (5) i. e. The contest of art with nature. (6) My design does not stop at any particular Leaving no track behind. 13) i. c. Exceeds, goes beyond common bounds. || character. Pain. How shall I understand you? Poet. Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his ran som; I'll unbolt1 to you. And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me : You see how all conditions, how all minds Subdues and properties to his love and tendance 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 Trumpets sound. Enter Timon, attended; the 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: To those have shut him up; which failing to him, 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, Ven. Serv. All happiness to your honour! [Ex. 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! Luc. Here, at your lordship's service. Old Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy creature, By night frequents my house. I am a man Well; what further? I call the gods to witness, I will choose 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 served me long; To build his fortune, I will strain a little, 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. Vouchsaíe my labour, and long live your lordship! Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon = Go not away. What have you there, my friend? (3) To advance their conditions of life. (4) Whisperings of officious servility. (5) Inhale. (6) i. c. Inferior spectators Apem. Then I repent not. Jew. You know me, Apemantus. Apem. Thou knowest, I do; I call'd thee by thy name. Tim. Thou are proud, Apemantus. So, so; there! [They salute. Most welcome, sir! Apem. Apem. Of nothing so much, as that I am not Aches contract and starve your supple joints!like Timon. That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves, And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey.4 Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed Most hungrily on your sight. Tim. Right welcome, sir: Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. [Exeunt all but Apemantus. Enter two Lords. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus? Go, let him have a table by himself; Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I For he does neither affect company, mean to give thee none. 1 Lord. Hang thyself. Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; nake thy requests to thy friend. 2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass. [Exit. 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in, And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes The very heart of kindness. Nor is he fit for it, indeed. Apem. Let me stay at thine own peril, Timon; I come to observe; I give thee warning on't. Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian; therefore welcome: I myself would have no power: pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent. Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should Ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number 2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, He cheers them up too.4 Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a return exceeding All use of quittance.2 1 Lord. The noblest mind he carries, That ever govern'd man. 2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall [Exeunt. SCENE II. -The same. A room of state in Timon's house. Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; Flavius and others attending; then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius, and attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus, discontentedly. Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the My father's age, and call him to long peace. To your free heart, I do return those talents, I deriv'd liberty. Tim. O, by no means, Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love; I gave it freely ever; and there's none Can truly say, he gives, if he receives: If our betters play at that game, we must not dare To imitate them; Faults that are rich, are fair. Ven. A noble spirit. [They all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon. Nay, my lords, ceremony Tim. Was but devis'd at first, to set a gloss Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a hu- Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame: (1) Meed her means desert. Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go 2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord. Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends. Alcib. So they were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat like them; I could wish my best friend at such a feast. Apem. 'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that then thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em. 1 Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby (4) The allusion is to a pack of hounds trained to pursuit, by being gratified with the blood of an animal which they kill; and the wonder is, that the the chase. (5) Armour. (6) With sincerity. (7) Foolish. (2) i. e. All the customary returns made in dis-animal, on which they are feeding, cheers them to (3) Anger is a short madness. charge of obligations. we might express some part of our zeals, we should || Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift ? think ourselves for ever perfect.1 Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable2 title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O, you gods, think I, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them: and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits: and what better or properer can we call our own, than the riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort'tis, to have so many, like brothers, commanding one another's Fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you. Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon. 2 Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes, And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up. Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard. I should fear, those that dance before me now Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done; Men shut their doors against a setting sun. The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of Timon; and, to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease. Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies, Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, 1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best. Apem. 'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold taking, I doubt me. Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves. All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord. Tim. Flavius, Flav. My lord. Tim. [Exeunt Cupid, and Ladies. The little casket bring me hither. Flav. Yes, my lord. - More jewels yet! There is no crossing him in his humour; [Aside. Else I should tell him,-Well, I'faith, I should, When all's spent, he'd be cross'd4 then, an he could. 'Tis pity, bounty had not eyes behind; That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.5 [Exit, and returns with the casket. 1 Lord. Where be our men? Serv. 2 Lord. Our horses. Tim. Here, my lord, in readiness. O my friends, I have one word To say to you:-Look you, my good lord, I must Entreat you, honour me so much, as to Advance this jewel; Accept, and wear it, kind my lord. 1 Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,All. So are we all. |