TIMON OF ATHENS ACT I. SCENE I.-Athens. A Hall in TIMON's House. Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and Others, at several doors. POET. Good day, sir. PAINTER. I am glad you're well. POET. I have not seen you long. How goes the world? PAINTER. It wears, sir, as it grows. POET. Ay, that 's well known ; But what particular rarity? what strange, Which manifold record not matches? See, Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power Hath conjur'd to attend. I know the merchant. PAINTER. I know them both; th' other's a jeweller. O! 'tis a worthy lord. MERCHANT. JEWELLER. MERCHANT. it were, Nay, that's most fix'd. A most incomparable man, breath'd, as To an untirable and continuate goodness: He passes. JEWELLER. I have a jewel here MERCHANT. 12 O pray, let's see 't: for the Lord Timon, sir? JEWELLER. If he will touch the estimate: but, for that 16 POET. 'When we for recompense have prais'd the vile, It stains the glory in that happy verse Which aptly sings the good.' MERCHANT. JEWELLER. [Looking at the jewel.] 'Tis a good form. And rich: here is a water, look ye. PAINTER. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication To the great lord. POET. A thing slipp'd idly from me. forth? 20 24 When comes your book POET. Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. Let's see your piece. PAINTER. 'Tis a good piece. POET. So 'tis this comes off well and excellent. POET. Indifferent. Admirable! How this grace Speaks his own standing! what a mental power PAINTER. It is a pretty mocking of the life. POET. It tutors nature: artificial strife 28 32 36 I'll say of it, Lives in these touches, livelier than life. Enter certain Senators, who pass over the stage. PAINTER. How this lord is follow'd! 40 POET. The senators of Athens: happy man! POET. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, 44 48 Leaving no tract behind. POET. PAINTER. How shall I understand you? I will unbolt to you. You see how all conditions, how all mindsAs well of glib and slippery creatures as Of grave and austere quality-tender down Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune, Upon his good and gracious nature hanging, Subdues and properties to his love and tendance All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-fac'd flatterer To Apemantus, that few things loves better Than to abhor himself: even he drops down The knee before him and returns in peace Most rich in Timon's nod. PAINTER. 52 56 60 I saw them speak together. POET. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: the base o' the mount Is rank'd with all deserts, all kinds of natures, To propagate their states: amongst them all, PAINTER. 'Tis conceiv'd to scope. This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks, POET. Nay, sir, but hear me on. Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him PAINTER. Ay, marry, what of these ? 65 68 73 76 80 84 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. PAINTER. 'Tis common: A thousand moral paintings I can show 89 93 That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's Trumpets sound. Enter LORD TIMON, addressing himself cour teously to every suitor; a Messenger from VENTIDIUS talking with him; LUCILIUS and other servants following. TIMON. Imprison'd is he, say you? MESSENGER. 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, TIMON. Noble Ventidius! Well; I am not of that feather to shake off I do know him Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt and free him. 96 100 105 TIMON. 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. MESSENGER. 108 All happiness to your honour. [Exit. Enter an old Athenian. OLD ATHENIAN. OLD ATHENIAN. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius. TIMON. I have so what of him? 113 OLD ATHENIAN. before thee. Most noble Timon, call the man TIMON. Attends he here or no? Lucilius! LUCILIUS. Here, at your lordship's service. 116 OLD ATHENIAN. This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature, By night frequents my house. I am a man TIMON. 120 Well; what further? OLD ATHENIAN. One only daughter have I, no kin else, On whom I may confer what I have got : TIMON. OLD ATHENIAN. The man is honest. His honesty rewards him in itself; TIMON. Does she love him? OLD ATHENIAN. She is young and apt : Our own precedent passions do instruct us What levity's in youth. TIMON. [TO LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid ? 124 128 133 LUCILIUS. Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it. OLD ATHENIAN. 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. TIMON. How shall she be endow'd, If she be mated with an equal husband? 137 141 OLD ATHENIAN. Three talents on the present; in future, all. TIMON. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long: |