TITUS,

LUCIUS,

HORTENSIUS,

Timon's Servants.

Two Servants of Varro.
The Servant of Isidore.
Two of Timon's Creditors.
CUPID and Maskers.
Three Strangers.
Poet.

Painter.

Jeweller.

Merchant.

An old Athenian,

A Page.

A Fool.

Act First.

SCENE I.

Nay, that's most fix'd. Mer. A most incomparable man; breathed,1 as it were,

[sir?

To an untirable and continuate2 goodness:
He passes.
Jew. I have a jewel here.
Mer. O, pray, let's see't: For the lord Timon,
J.If he will touch the estimate; But, for that-
Poet. Whenue for recompense have prais'd the
It stains the glory in that happy verse [vile,
Which aptly sings the good.

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
To the great lord.
[dedication
Poet.
A thing slipp'd idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes
From whence 'tis nourish'd: The fire i' the flint
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame

1 Inured. 2 Continual. 3 Exceeds the common.

Provokes itself, and, like the current, flies Each bound it chafes. What have you there? 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 ges-
One might interpret.

[ture 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 strifel
Lives in these touches, livelier than life.

Enter certain Senators, and pass over.
Pain. How this lord's follow'd!

Poet. The senators of Athens:-Happy men! Pain. Look, more!

Poet. You see this confluence, this great

flood of visitors.

I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment: My free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold;
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.

Pain. How shall I understand you?
Poct.
I'll unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
(As well of glib and slippery creatures, as

1 The contest of art with nature.
2 At any particular character.

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
flatterer1

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.

Pain.
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 kind of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states2; amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed,
One do I personate of lord Timon's frame,
Whom Fortune with her ivory hands wafts to her;
Whose present grace to present slaves and ser-
Translates his rivals.
[vants

Pain.
"Tis conceiv'd to scope.
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
In our condition.
Port.
Nay, sir, but hear me on:
All those which were his fellows but of late,
(Some better than his value,) on the moment,
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
Make sacred even his stirrop, and through him
Drink the free air.

Pain.
Ay, marry, what of these?
Poet. When Fortune in her shift and change
of mood,

Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependents,
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

More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well,
To show lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
The foot above the head.

Trumpets sound. Enter Timon, attended; the
Servant of Ventidius talking with him.
Tim.
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:
Your honourable letter he desires

To those have shut him up; which failing to him, Periods his comfort.

Tim.

Noble Ventidius! Well;

I am not of that feather, to shake off
My friend when he must need me. I do know him,
A gentleman, that well deserves a help, [him.
Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt, and free
Ven. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him.
Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his
ransome;

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.
Ven. S. All happiness to your honour. [Exit.
Enter an old Athenian.

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!

Enter 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
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd,
Than one which holds a trencher.
Tim.
Well; what further?
Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got:
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,
It must not bear my daughter.

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

Tim. [To Lucilius.] Love you the maid?
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, If she be mated with an equal husband? Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in future, all.

T.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. Tim. My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.

Lu. Humbly I thank your lordship: Nevermay 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!

T. I thank you; you shall hear from me

anon:

Apem. Then I repent not.

Jew. You know me, Apemantus.

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

A. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it.

Ap. Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound thee?

Trumpets sound. 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; and when dinner's done, sights.--Show me this piece.-I am joyful of your

Enter Alcibiades, with his Company.

thy name.

Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus.

like Timon.

sweet knaves,

And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred
Into baboon and monkey.
[out
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 Apemanius.
Enter two Lords.

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

1 Lord. That time serves still.

A. The most accursed thou, that still omit'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. Ap. 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 ass. [Exit. Come,

1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. 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,1 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.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

A ROOM OF STATE IN TIMON'S HOUSE. Hautboys playing loud Musick. 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 pleased the gods remember

My father's age, and call him to long peace.
Ile 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
I deriv'd liberty.
[help

O, by no means,

Tim.
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 T'imon.

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, that ira furor brevis est,1
But yond' man's ever angry.

Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
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
Of men eat Timon, and he sees them 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, and
pledges
The breath of him in a divided draught,
Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been
If I
[prov'd.
Were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous

notes:

Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner,
Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
This, and my food, are equals; there's no odds,
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
APEMANTUS' Grace.

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond,4
To trust man on his oath or bond;
Or a wanton for her weeping;
Or a dog that seems a sleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if i should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:

Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks. Much good dich 5 thy good heart, Apemantus! Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.

Alcib. My heart is ever at your service.mylord. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends.

1 Anger is a short madness.
8 With sincerity. 4 Foolish.

2 Armour.

5 Do it.

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 migh'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 we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves for ever perfect.

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 charitable 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. 3 L. I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much. Apem. Much! [Tucket sounded. Tim. What means that trump?-How now? Enter a Servant.

Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance.

Tim. Ladies? what are their wills?

Serv. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures.

Tim. I pray, let them be admitted.
Enter Cupid.

Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon;-and to all

That of his bounties taste!-The five best senses Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: The ear, Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd from thy table rise;

They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Tim. They are welcome all; let them have kind admittance:

Musick, make their welcome.

[Exit Cupid. 1 Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd.

Musick. Re-enter Cupid, with a Masque of Ladies as Amazons, with Lutes in their Hands, dancing, and playing.

Apem. Hey day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way! They dance! they are mad women.

Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shows to a little oil, and root.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries with poisonous spite and
Who lives, that's not
[envy.
Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears
Not one spurn to their graves of their friends'
gift?

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.

T. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,

Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
I am to thank you for it.

1 Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best.
Apem. Faith for the worst is filthy.
Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet
Attends you: Please you to dispose yourselves.
All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord.

[Exeunt Cupid, and Ladies.

Tim. Flavius,Flav. My lord. Tim. The little casket bring me hither. There is no crossing him in his humour; Flav. Yes, mylord.-[Aside.] More jewels yet!

Else I should tell him,-Well,-i'faith, I should. When all's spent, he'd be cross'd then, an he

could.

Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the Newly alighted, and come to visit you. [senate Tim. They are fairly welcome.

Flav. I beseech your honour, Vouchsafe me a word: it does concern you near. Tim. Near? why then another time I'll hear I pr'ythee, let us be provided [thee: To show them entertainment.

Flav. [Aside.] I scarce know how.

Enter another Servant.

2.S. May it please your honour, the Lord Lucius, 1 Have his hand crossed with money.

2 To see the ruin he leaves in his wake.

3 Following his inclinations,