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 ovly 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. oid 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 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. Tim. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long; 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 lionour on my pro

mise,

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. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your

lordship! Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon: Go not away.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

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.
If I should pay you for't as 'tis extollid,
It would unclewt 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.

Pictures have no hypocrisy; they are what they profess to be.

+ To unclew a man, is to draw out the whole mass of his fortunes.

Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be chid ?

Enter Apemantus.

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

He'll spare none.
Tiin. 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?
Tim. Yes.
Apem. Then I repent not.
Jew. You know me, Apemantus.
Apem. Thou koowest, I do; I call'd 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 ?
Apem. No; I eat not lords.
Tim. Ad thou should'st, thou'dst anger ladies.

Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension.

Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: Take it for thy labour.

; 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.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feigu'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

Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound thee!

Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant.
Tim. What trumpet's that?

Alluding to the proverb: Plain dealiug is a jew. el, but they who use it beggars.

Sero.

'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, Show me this piece.-I am joyful of your sights.

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 'mongst 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.

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 more 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. Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice, 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus?

* Man is degenerated; his strain or lineage is worn down into a monkey.