РОЕТ.

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 stirrup, 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 beloved, all his dependants
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. "T is common:

A thousand moral paintings I can show,

That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well

To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen

The foot above the head.

83 with tendance] with attendance, with waiting on him.

84 Rain ear] Pour whispers as if to a god to whom they are making sacrificial offerings.

85-86 through him Drink the free air] They inhale air which is free to all, as if it were his gift to them.

90 slip] Rowe's emendation of the Folio reading sit.

95 pregnantly] aptly.

96-97 mean eyes . . . head] imen of mean and ordinary capacity have noticed Fortune's tendency to reverse her favourites' luck, to turn them upside down.

80

90

Trumpets sound. Enter LORD TIMON, addressing himself courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from VENTIDIUS talking with him; LUCILIUS and other servants following

TIM.

Imprison'd is he, say you?
MESS. 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,
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:

Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt and free him.
MESS. Your lordship ever binds him.

TIM. Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;

And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me:
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,

But to support him after. Fare you well.
MESS. All happiness to your honour!

Enter an old Athenian

OLD ATH. Lord Timon, hear me speak.

[Exit.

98 talents] Among the Greeks the "talent" was a weight of money equivalent to 6000 drachmae or some £200 sterling (or 1000 dollars); "five talents" would be worth more than £1000 or 5000 dollars. Elsewhere (cf. III, i, 19, infra) Shakespeare loosely makes a talent the equivalent of an English pound.

101-102 which failing... comfort] failure of which puts a period or end

to his comfort.

104 he must need me] he cannot but want my assistance.

100

110

TIM.

Freely, good father.

OLD ATH. Thou hast a servant named 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!

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 inclined to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir more raised
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 prithee, 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.

TIM.

Does she love him?

123 one which holds a trencher] a serving man who waits at table. 132-134 Therefore . . . daughter] Therefore he will continue to be honest; his honesty ought to be its own reward; it should not carry off my daughter in addition.

120

130

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 served me long: To build his fortune I will strain a little,

For 't is 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. Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: never may That state or fortune fall into my keeping,

Which is not owed to you!

135 apt] susceptible.

136 precedent] former, earlier.

[Exeunt Lucilius and old Athenian.

143 an equal husband] a husband of equal fortune.

147 a bond in men] a bounden duty of masters to servants.

152-154 never may . . . owed to you] whatever may be the position that fortune appoints for me I shall hold it altogether due to you (and wholly at your service).

140

150

POET. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!

TIM. I thank thee; 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 traffics with man's nature,
He is but outside: these pencill'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 ye!
TIM. Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel

Hath suffer'd under praise.

160

What, my lord! dispraise?

170

JEW.
TIM. A mere satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for 't as 't is extoll'd,
It would unclew me quite.

JEW.

My lord, 't is rated

162-163 He is but outside give out] He is but an empty semblance (a whited sepulchre); pictures have no hypocrisy; they are just what they profess to be.

167-168 Sir, your jewel . . . dispraise] Your jewel has suffered owing to the high praise bestowed on it. The jeweller misunderstands Timon's words "under praise," and wrongly interprets them "dispraise," i. e., depreciation.

171 unclew] undo; the figure is from unwinding a ball of

yarn

thread.