Fne. My lord, you do discomfort all the host. Let him, that will a screech-owl aye be call'd, No space of earth shall sunder our two hates; [Exeunt Eneas and Trojans. AS TROILUS is going out, enter, from the other side, PANDARUS. Pan. But hear you, hear you! Tro. Hence, broker lackey! ignomy and shame Pursue thy life, and live aye with thy name! [Exit Troilus. Pan. A goodly med'cine for my aching bones! -O world! world! world! thus is the poor agent despised! O traitors and bawds, how earnestly are you set 'a work, and how ill requited! Why should our endeavour be so loved, and the performance so loathed? what verse for it? what instance for it? Let me see : Full merrily the humble-bee doth sing, Till he hath lost his honey, and his sting: And being once subdued in armed tail, Good traders in the flesh, set this in your painted Sweet honey and sweet notes together fail. cloths. As many as be here of pander's hall, Your eyes, half out, weep out at Pandar's fall: Or, if you cannot weep, yet give some groans, Though not for me, yet for your aching bones. Brethren, and sisters, of the hold-door trade, Some two months hence my will shall here be made: It should be now, but that my fear is this,Some galled goose of Winchester would hiss: Till then I'll sweat, and seek about for eases; And, at that time, bequeath you my diseases. [Exit. SCENE I.-Athens. A hall in TIMON's house. Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and Poet. Good day, sir. Poet. I have not seen you long; How goes the world? Pain. 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. Pain. I know them both; t'other's a jeweller. VOL. II. Mer. O, 'tis a worthy lord! Mer. A most incomparable man; breath'd, as it were, To an untirable and continuate goodness: Jew. I have a jewel here. Mer. O, pray, let's see't: For the lord Timon, sir? Jew. If he will touch the estimate: But, for that Poet. When we for recompence have prais'd the vile, It stains the glory in that happy verse Mer. 'Tis a good form. [Looking at the jewel. Q Pain. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some | One do I personate of lord Timon's frame, dedication To the great lord. Poet. A thing slipp'd idly from me. From whence 'tis nourished: The fire i'the flint 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 strife Lives in these touches, livelier than life. Enter certain Senators, and pass over. I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a man, Pain. How shall I understand you? You see how all conditions, how all minds, To Apemantus, that few things loves better Pain. I saw them speak together. mount Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures, Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her; Whose present grace to present slaves and servants Translates his rivals. Pain. 'Tis conceiv'd to scope. This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks, Poet. Nay, sir, but hear me on: All those, which were his fellows but of late, Pain. Ay, marry, what of these? Poet. When Fortune, in her shift and change of mood, Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependants, A thousand moral paintings I can show, 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 Ven. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him. ransome; And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me:- Enter an Old Athenian. Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius. Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man be fore 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 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: Old Ath. She is young, and apt: Tim. To Lucilius. Love you the maid? I call the gods to witness, I will choose 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, 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 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 hand; We must needs dine together.-Sir, your jewel Hath suffer'd under praise. Jew. What, my lord? dispraise? Tim. A mere satiety of commendations. 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? Enter APEMANTUS. Jew. We will bear, with your lordship. Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus! Apem. Till I be gentle, stay for thy good morrow; 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? Apem. Then I repent not. Jew. You know me, Apemantus. Apem. Thou knowest, I do; I call 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? Tim. An thou should'st, thou'dst anger ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Ape- 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? Poet. Art not one? Apem. Yes. Poet. Then I lie not. Apem. Art not a poet? 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? Tim. Wherefore? Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord.Art not thou a merchant? Mer. Ay, Apemantus. Tim. Right welcome, sir: Enter two Lords. 1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus? 1 Lord. That time serves still. 2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast. 2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well. Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus? Apem. Should'st 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. ass. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes 2 Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays Apem. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will But breeds the giver a return exceeding not! Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done, Show me this piece.—I am joyful of your sights. Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Most welcome, sir! Aches contract and starve your supple joints! And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed 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.-The same. [Exeunt. 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 My father's age, and call him to long peace. I deriv'd liberty. |