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 lordship! 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 pencill'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 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 suffer'd under praise.

Jew.

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

It would unclew me quite.

Jew.

What, my lord! dispraise?

My lord, 'tis rated

As those which sell would give. But you well know,

Things of light value, differing in the owners,

Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear lord,

You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

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

Tim. Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st Apem. Are they not Athenians? [them not.

Tim. Yes.

Apem. Then I repent not.

Jew. You know me, Apemantus?

Apem. Thou knowest 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. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I

be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

Apem. No; I eat not lords.

Tim. An thou shouldst, thou'dst anger ladies.

Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies. Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension.

Apem. So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour. Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

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

Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking.-How now, poet!
Poet. How now, philosopher!

Apem. Thou liest.

Poet. Art not one?

Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.
Apem. Art not a poet?
Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, -he is so.

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

Tim. What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

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

Tim. What, thyself?

Арет. Ау.

Tim. Wherefore?

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

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Traffic's thy god, and thy god confound thee!

Trumpet sounds. Enter a Servant.

Tim. What trumpet's that?

Serv. "Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse, All of companionship.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.

[Exeunt some Attendants.

You must needs dine with me:-go not you hence
Till I have thank'd you:-when dinner's done
Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.

Enter ALCIBIADES, with his company.

Most welcome, sir!
Арет.

So, so, there!

[They salute..

Aches contract and starve your supple joints!

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.

Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly 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.

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

1 Lord. That time serves still.

Apem. The more accursed thou, that still omitt'st it. 2 Lord. Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast.

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

Apem. Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

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

1 Lord. Hang thyself.

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make 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 o' 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.

2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold, 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.

1 Lord.

The noblest mind he carries

That ever govern'd man.

2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-ATHENS. 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,

It hath pleas'd the gods to remember my father's age,
And call him to long peace.

He is gone happy, and has left me rich:

Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound

To your free heart, I do return those talents,
Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
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.
Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devis'd at first
To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;

But where there is true friendship there needs none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes
Than my fortunes to me.

[They sit.

1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it.
Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it! hang'd it, have you not?
Tim. O, Apemantus!—you are welcome.
Арет.

You shall not make me welcome.

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

No;

Tim. Fie, thou art a churl; you have got a humour there Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.

They say, my lords, ira furor brevis est;

But yond man is ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;

For he does neither affect company

Nor is he fit for't, indeed.

Apem. Let me stay at thine apparel, 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.-Ö you gods, what a number of men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not! it grieves me to see So many dip their meat in one man's blood; And all the madness is, he cheers them up too. I wonder men dare trust themselves with men : Methinks they should invite them without knives; Good for their meat and safer for their lives.

There's much example for't; the fellow that sits next him now, parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him: 't has been prov'd. If I were a huge man I should fear to drink at meals,

Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
Great men should drink with harness on their throats.
Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.
2 Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord.