The Life Of Timon Of Athens

1 Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller and Merchant at several doors.
2 POET.
3 Good day, sir.
4 PAINTER.
5 I am glad you’re well.
6 POET.
7 I have not seen you long. How goes the world?
8 PAINTER.
9 It wears, sir, as it grows.
10 POET.
11 Ay, that’s well known.
12 But what particular rarity? What strange,
13 Which manifold record not matches? See,
14 Magic of bounty, all these spirits thy power
15 Hath conjured to attend! I know the merchant.
16 PAINTER.
17 I know them both. Th’ other’s a jeweller.
18 MERCHANT.
19 O, ’tis a worthy lord!
20 JEWELLER.
21 Nay, that’s most fixed.
22 MERCHANT.
23 A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
24 To an untirable and continuate goodness.
25 He passes.
26 JEWELLER.
27 I have a jewel here—
28 MERCHANT.
29 O, pray let’s see’t. For the Lord Timon, sir?
30 JEWELLER.
31 If he will touch the estimate. But for that—
32 POET.
33 When we for recompense have praised the vile,
34 It stains the glory in that happy verse
35 Which aptly sings the good.
36 MERCHANT.
37 [_Looking at the jewel_.]
38 ’Tis a good form.
39 JEWELLER.
40 And rich. Here is a water, look ye.
41 PAINTER.
42 You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
43 To the great lord.
44 POET.
45 A thing slipped idly from me.
46 Our poesy is as a gum which oozes
47 From whence ’tis nourished. The fire i’ th’ flint
48 Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
49 Provokes itself and, like the current, flies
50 Each bound it chases. What have you there?
51 PAINTER.
52 A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?
53 POET.
54 Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
55 Let’s see your piece.
56 PAINTER.
57 ’Tis a good piece.
58 POET.
59 So ’tis. This comes off well and excellent.
60 PAINTER.
61 Indifferent.
62 POET.
63 Admirable! How this grace
64 Speaks his own standing! What a mental power
65 This eye shoots forth! How big imagination
66 Moves in this lip! To th’ dumbness of the gesture
67 One might interpret.
68 PAINTER.
69 It is a pretty mocking of the life.
70 Here is a touch. Is’t good?
71 POET.
72 I’ll say of it,
73 It tutors nature. Artificial strife
74 Lives in these touches livelier than life.
75 Enter certain Senators, who pass over the stage.
76 PAINTER.
77 How this lord is followed!
78 POET.
79 The senators of Athens, happy men!
80 PAINTER.
81 Look, more!
82 POET.
83 You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
84 I have in this rough work shaped out a man
85 Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
86 With amplest entertainment. My free drift
87 Halts not particularly, but moves itself
88 In a wide sea of wax. No levelled malice
89 Infects one comma in the course I hold,
90 But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
91 Leaving no tract behind.
92 PAINTER.
93 How shall I understand you?
94 POET.
95 I will unbolt to you.
96 You see how all conditions, how all minds,
97 As well of glib and slipp’ry creatures as
98 Of grave and austere quality, tender down
99 Their services to Lord Timon. His large fortune,
100 Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
101 Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
102 All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
103 To Apemantus, that few things loves better
104 Than to abhor himself; even he drops down
105 The knee before him and returns in peace
106 Most rich in Timon’s nod.
107 PAINTER.
108 I saw them speak together.
109 POET.
110 Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
111 Feigned Fortune to be throned. The base o’ th’ mount
112 Is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures
113 That labour on the bosom of this sphere
114 To propagate their states. Amongst them all
115 Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed,
116 One do I personate of Lord Timon’s frame,
117 Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her,
118 Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
119 Translates his rivals.
120 PAINTER.
121 ’Tis conceived to scope.
122 This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
123 With one man beckoned from the rest below,
124 Bowing his head against the steepy mount
125 To climb his happiness, would be well expressed
126 In our condition.
127 POET.
128 Nay, sir, but hear me on.
129 All those which were his fellows but of late,
130 Some better than his value, on the moment
131 Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
132 Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
133 Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
134 Drink the free air.
135 PAINTER.
136 Ay, marry, what of these?
137 POET.
138 When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
139 Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants,
140 Which laboured after him to the mountain’s top
141 Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
142 Not one accompanying his declining foot.
143 PAINTER.
144 ’Tis common.
145 A thousand moral paintings I can show
146 That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune’s
147 More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
148 To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
149 The foot above the head.
150 Trumpets sound. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself courteously to
151 every suitor. He is accompanied by a Messenger; Lucilius and other
152 servants follow.
153 TIMON.
154 Imprisoned is he, say you?
155 MESSENGER.
156 Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt,
157 His means most short, his creditors most strait.
158 Your honourable letter he desires
159 To those have shut him up, which, failing,
160 Periods his comfort.
161 TIMON.
162 Noble Ventidius. Well,
163 I am not of that feather to shake off
164 My friend when he must need me. I do know him
165 A gentleman that well deserves a help,
166 Which he shall have. I’ll pay the debt and free him.
167 MESSENGER.
168 Your lordship ever binds him.
169 TIMON.
170 Commend me to him, I will send his ransom;
171 And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me.
172 ’Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
173 But to support him after. Fare you well.
174 MESSENGER.
175 All happiness to your honour.
176 [_Exit._]
177 Enter an Old Athenian.
178 OLD ATHENIAN.
179 Lord Timon, hear me speak.
180 TIMON.
181 Freely, good father.
182 OLD ATHENIAN.
183 Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.
184 TIMON.
185 I have so. What of him?
186 OLD ATHENIAN.
187 Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.
188 TIMON.
189 Attends he here or no? Lucilius!
190 LUCILIUS.
191 Here, at your lordship’s service.
192 OLD ATHENIAN.
193 This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
194 By night frequents my house. I am a man
195 That from my first have been inclined to thrift,
196 And my estate deserves an heir more raised
197 Than one which holds a trencher.
198 TIMON.
199 Well, what further?
200 OLD ATHENIAN.
201 One only daughter have I, no kin else,
202 On whom I may confer what I have got.
203 The maid is fair, o’ th’ youngest for a bride,
204 And I have bred her at my dearest cost
205 In qualities of the best. This man of thine
206 Attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord,
207 Join with me to forbid him her resort;
208 Myself have spoke in vain.
209 TIMON.
210 The man is honest.
211 OLD ATHENIAN.
212 Therefore he will be, Timon.
213 His honesty rewards him in itself;
214 It must not bear my daughter.
215 TIMON.
216 Does she love him?
217 OLD ATHENIAN.
218 She is young and apt.
219 Our own precedent passions do instruct us
220 What levity’s in youth.
221 TIMON.
222 [_To Lucilius_.] Love you the maid?
223 LUCILIUS.
224 Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
225 OLD ATHENIAN.
226 If in her marriage my consent be missing,
227 I call the gods to witness, I will choose
228 Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world
229 And dispossess her all.
230 TIMON.
231 How shall she be endowed,
232 If she be mated with an equal husband?
233 OLD ATHENIAN.
234 Three talents on the present; in future, all.
235 TIMON.
236 This gentleman of mine hath served me long.
237 To build his fortune I will strain a little,
238 For ’tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter.
239 What you bestow, in him I’ll counterpoise,
240 And make him weigh with her.
241 OLD ATHENIAN.
242 Most noble lord,
243 Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.
244 TIMON.
245 My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.
246 LUCILIUS.
247 Humbly I thank your lordship. Never may
248 That state or fortune fall into my keeping
249 Which is not owed to you.
250 [_Exeunt Lucilius and Old Athenian._]
251 POET.
252 [_Presenting his poem_.]
253 Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship.
254 TIMON.
255 I thank you, you shall hear from me anon.
256 Go not away.—What have you there, my friend?
257 PAINTER.
258 A piece of painting, which I do beseech
259 Your lordship to accept.
260 TIMON.
261 Painting is welcome.
262 The painting is almost the natural man,
263 For since dishonour traffics with man’s nature,
264 He is but outside; these pencilled figures are
265 Even such as they give out. I like your work,
266 And you shall find I like it. Wait attendance
267 Till you hear further from me.
268 PAINTER.
269 The gods preserve you.
270 TIMON.
271 Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand.
272 We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
273 Hath suffered under praise.
274 JEWELLER.
275 What, my lord, dispraise?
276 TIMON.
277 A mere satiety of commendations.
278 If I should pay you for ’t as ’tis extolled,
279 It would unclew me quite.
280 JEWELLER.
281 My lord, ’tis rated
282 As those which sell would give. But you well know
283 Things of like value, differing in the owners,
284 Are prized by their masters. Believe’t, dear lord,
285 You mend the jewel by the wearing it.
286 TIMON.
287 Well mocked.
288 MERCHANT.
289 No, my good lord, he speaks the common tongue,
290 Which all men speak with him.
291 Enter Apemantus.
292 TIMON.
293 Look who comes here. Will you be chid?
294 JEWELLER.
295 We’ll bear, with your lordship.
296 MERCHANT.
297 He’ll spare none.
298 TIMON.
299 Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus.
300 APEMANTUS.
301 Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow—
302 When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.
303 TIMON.
304 Why dost thou call them knaves? Thou know’st them not.
305 APEMANTUS.
306 Are they not Athenians?
307 TIMON.
308 Yes.
309 APEMANTUS.
310 Then I repent not.
311 JEWELLER.
312 You know me, Apemantus?
313 APEMANTUS.
314 Thou know’st I do, I called thee by thy name.
315 TIMON.
316 Thou art proud, Apemantus.
317 APEMANTUS.
318 Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.
319 TIMON.
320 Whither art going?
321 APEMANTUS.
322 To knock out an honest Athenian’s brains.
323 TIMON.
324 That’s a deed thou’lt die for.
325 APEMANTUS.
326 Right, if doing nothing be death by th’ law.
327 TIMON.
328 How lik’st thou this picture, Apemantus?
329 APEMANTUS.
330 The best, for the innocence.
331 TIMON.
332 Wrought he not well that painted it?
333 APEMANTUS.
334 He wrought better that made the painter, and yet he’s but a filthy
335 piece of work.
336 PAINTER.
337 You’re a dog.
338 APEMANTUS.
339 Thy mother’s of my generation. What’s she, if I be a dog?
340 TIMON.
341 Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
342 APEMANTUS.
343 No, I eat not lords.
344 TIMON.
345 An thou shouldst, thou’dst anger ladies.
346 APEMANTUS.
347 O, they eat lords. So they come by great bellies.
348 TIMON.
349 That’s a lascivious apprehension.
350 APEMANTUS.
351 So thou apprehend’st it, take it for thy labour.
352 TIMON.
353 How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
354 APEMANTUS.
355 Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.
356 TIMON.
357 What dost thou think ’tis worth?
358 APEMANTUS.
359 Not worth my thinking. How now, poet?
360 POET.
361 How now, philosopher?
362 APEMANTUS.
363 Thou liest.
364 POET.
365 Art not one?
366 APEMANTUS.
367 Yes.
368 POET.
369 Then I lie not.
370 APEMANTUS.
371 Art not a poet?
372 POET.
373 Yes.
374 APEMANTUS.
375 Then thou liest. Look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a
376 worthy fellow.
377 POET.
378 That’s not feigned, he is so.
379 APEMANTUS.
380 Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour. He that
381 loves to be flattered is worthy o’ th’ flatterer. Heavens, that I were
382 a lord!
383 TIMON.
384 What wouldst do then, Apemantus?
385 APEMANTUS.
386 E’en as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart.
387 TIMON.
388 What, thyself?
389 APEMANTUS.
390 Ay.
391 TIMON.
392 Wherefore?
393 APEMANTUS.
394 That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not thou a merchant?
395 MERCHANT.
396 Ay, Apemantus.
397 APEMANTUS.
398 Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not.
399 MERCHANT.
400 If traffic do it, the gods do it.
401 APEMANTUS.
402 Traffic’s thy god, and thy god confound thee!
403 Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.
404 TIMON.
405 What trumpet’s that?
406 MESSENGER.
407 ’Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
408 All of companionship.
409 TIMON.
410 Pray entertain them, give them guide to us.
411 [_Exeunt some Attendants._]
412 You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence
413 Till I have thanked you; when dinner’s done,
414 Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.
415 Enter Alcibiades with his company.
416 Most welcome, sir.
417 [_They bow to each other._]
418 APEMANTUS.
419 [_Aside_.] So, so, there!
420 Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
421 That there should be small love amongst these sweet knaves,
422 And all this courtesy! The strain of man’s bred out
423 Into baboon and monkey.
424 ALCIBIADES.
425 Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
426 Most hungerly on your sight.
427 TIMON.
428 Right welcome, sir!
429 Ere we depart we’ll share a bounteous time
430 In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
431 [_Exeunt all but Apemantus._]
432 Enter two Lords.
433 FIRST LORD.
434 What time o’ day is’t, Apemantus?
435 APEMANTUS.
436 Time to be honest.
437 FIRST LORD.
438 That time serves still.
439 APEMANTUS.
440 The more accursed thou, that still omitt’st it.
441 SECOND LORD.
442 Thou art going to Lord Timon’s feast?
443 APEMANTUS.
444 Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.
445 SECOND LORD.
446 Fare thee well, fare thee well.
447 APEMANTUS.
448 Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
449 SECOND LORD.
450 Why, Apemantus?
451 APEMANTUS.
452 Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.
453 FIRST LORD.
454 Hang thyself!
455 APEMANTUS.
456 No, I will do nothing at thy bidding. Make thy requests to thy friend.
457 SECOND LORD.
458 Away, unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence.
459 APEMANTUS.
460 I will fly, like a dog, the heels o’ th’ ass.
461 [_Exit._]
462 FIRST LORD.
463 He’s opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in
464 And taste Lord Timon’s bounty? He outgoes
465 The very heart of kindness.
466 SECOND LORD.
467 He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
468 Is but his steward. No meed but he repays
469 Sevenfold above itself, no gift to him
470 But breeds the giver a return exceeding
471 All use of quittance.
472 FIRST LORD.
473 The noblest mind he carries
474 That ever governed man.
475 SECOND LORD.
476 Long may he live in fortunes. Shall we in?
477 FIRST LORD.
478 I’ll keep you company.
479 [_Exeunt._]