Imatges de pàgina
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POET. You see this confluence, this great flood of vifitors.

I have, in this rough work, fhap'd out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With ampleft entertainment: My free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide fea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the courfe I hold;

But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.

PAIN. How fhall I understand

POET. I'll unbolt to you.

you

?

You fee how all conditions, how all minds,

(As well of glib and slippery creatures, as

Of

grave and auftere quality,) tender down. Their fervices to lord Timon: his large fortune, Upon his good and gracious nature hanging, Subdues and properties to his love and tendance All forts of hearts; yea, from the glafs-fac'd flatterer To Apemantus, that few things loves better Than to abhor himfelf: even he drops down The knee before him, and returns in peace Moft rich in Timon's nod.

PAIN. I faw them speak together,

POET. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill, Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: The bafe o'the mount Is rank'd with all deferts, all kind of natures,

That labour on the bofom of this sphere

To

propagate their ftates: amongst them all, Whose eyes are on this fovereign lady fix'd, One do I perfonate of lord Timon's frame,

Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;

Whose present grace to present flaves and servants
Tranflates his rivals.

PAIN. 'Tis conceiv'd to fcope.

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.

POET. Nay, fir, but hear me on:

All those which were his fellows but of late,
(Some better than his value,) on the moment
Follow his ftrides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
Rain facrificial whifperings in his ear,

Make facred even his ftirrop, 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 dependants, Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top, Even on their knees and hands, let him flip down, Not one accompanying his declining foot.

PAIN. 'Tis common :

A thousand moral paintings I can show,

That shall demonftrate 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 found. Enter TIMON, attended; the SERVANT of
VENTIDIUS talking with him.

TIM. Imprifon'd is he, fay you?

VEN. SERV. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt; His means moft fhort, his creditors moft ftrait :

Your honourable letter he defires

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 deferves a help,

Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt, and free him.

VEN. SERV. Your lordship ever binds him.

TIM. Commend me to him: I will fend his ransom; And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me :— 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,

But to fupport him after.-Fare you well.

VEN. SERV. All happiness to your honour!
Enter an OLD ATHENIAN.

[Exit.

OLD ATH. Lord Timon, hear me speak.

TIM. Freely, good father.

OLD ATH. Thou haft a fervant nam'd Lucilius.

TIM. I have fo: What of him?

[thee.

OLD ATH. Moft noble Timon, call the man before

TIM. Attends he here, or no?-Lucilius!

Enter LUCILIUS.

Luc. Here, at your lordship's fervice.

[ture,

OLD ATH. This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy crea

By night frequents my houfe. 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 refort;

Myself have spoke in vain.

TIM. The man is honeft.

OLD ATH. Therefore he will be, Timon: His honesty rewards him in itself,

It must not bear my daughter.

TIM. Does she love him?

OLD ATH. She is

young, and apt:

Our own precedent paffions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.

TIM. [to LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid?
Luc. Ay, my good lord, and fhe accepts

of it.

OLD ATH. If in her marriage my confent be miffing,

I call the gods to witness, I will choose

Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And difpoffefs 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 ferv'd me long; To build his fortune, I will ftrain 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. Moft noble lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, fhe 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. Vouchfafe my labour, and long live your

ship!

TIM. I thank you; you fhall hear from me anon:

lord

Go not away. What have you there, my friend?

PAIN. A piece of painting; which I do befeech Your lordship to accept.

TIM. Painting is welcome.

The painting is almoft the natural man;
For fince difhonour trafficks with man's nature,
He is but outfide: Thefe pencil'd figures are
Even fuch as they give out. I like your work;
you fhall find, I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear further from me.

And

PAIN, The gods preferve you!

TIM. Well fare you, gentlemen: Give me your We must needs dine together.-Sir, your jewel Hath fuffer'd under praise,

JEW. What, my lord? difpraife?

TIM. A meer fatiety of commendations,
If I fhould pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
It would unclew me quite.

JEW. My lord, 'tis rated

hand;

well know,

As thofe, which fell, would give: But you
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 fpeak with him.

TIM. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid?
Enter APEMANTUS.

JEW. We will bear, with your lordship.

MER. He'll fpare none.

TIM. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus! APEM. Till I be gentle, ftay for thy good morrow; When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honeft.

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