a

he Vouch

lords

2. I thank

:

and apt:

... Well fa

hand; stat needs

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,

Page disho
It must not bear my daughter.
Tim.

Does she love him ?
Old Ath. She is young
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.
Tim. [TO Lucilius.] Love you the maid ?

To
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, itdunclen
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 melong;
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.
T'im. 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 !

A mere

those, whic

know, any of likes

pued by 1 send the i

b. No, my

tongu

Galmen

Lookin

Go not away:

Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your

lordship!
Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
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 trafficks 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 further from me.
Pain.

The gods preserve you. Tim. Well fare you, gentlemen : Give me your

nest.

him?

d?

hand;

of it. ent be

rld,

ndow'

future,

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.
Jew.

My lord, 'tis rated
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 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 ?

nelong

ghter:

e lord.

On my

er man

Enter APEMANTUS.
Jew. We will bear, with your lordship.
Mer.

He'll spare none. . Ruin.

heniar

name.

Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus !
Apem. Till I be gentle, stay 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 knowest, I do; I call’d thee by thy
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. 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.

7

Alluding to the proverb : Plain-dealing is a jewel, but they who use it beggars.

Apem. Then thou liest : look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned 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 would'st do then, Apemantus ? Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart.

Tim. What, thyself?
Apem. Ay.
Tim. Wherefore?

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

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.
Apem. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will

not! Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound

thee!

Trumpets sound.

Enter a Servant.

a

Tim. What trumpet's that?
Serv.

'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to

[Exeunt some Attendants. You must needs dine with me :

- Go not you hence, Till I have thank'd you ; and when dinner's done, Show me this piece. - I am joyful of your sights.

us. -

Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Most welcome, sir !

[They salute. Apem.

So, so: there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints !

That there should be small love ʼmongst 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 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.

a

Enter two Lords.

1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus ? Apem. Time to be honest. 1 Lord. That time serves still. Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omit'st

it. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lor

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 of the

[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,

ass.