TIMON OF ATHENS.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. TIMON, a noble Athenian,

Titus, LUCIUS,

LUCIUS, Servants to Timon's Creditors. LUCULLUS, flattering Lords.

HORTENSIUS, SEMPRONIUS,

Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant. VENTIDICS, one of Timon's false Friends.

An old Athenian. ALCIBIADES, an Athenian Captain.

Servants to Varro and Isidore, two of Timon's APEMANTUS, a churlish Philosopher.

Creditors. FLAVIUS, Steward to Timon.

Three Strangers. FLAMINIUS,

A Page. LUCILIUS, Servants to Timon.

A Fool.
SERVILIUS,

PHRYNIA,
CAPHIS,
PALLOTUS, } Serrants to Timon's Creditors. TIMANDRA

, } Mistresses to Alcibiades.
Lords, Senators, Officers, Soldiers, Thieves, and Attendants.

Cupid and Amazons in the Masque.
SCENE. - Athens, and the neighbouring Woods.

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ACT I.

Jew. And rich: here is a water, look ye.

Pain. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some SCENE I.-Athens. A Hall in TIMON'S House.

dedication Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and Others,

To the great lord.

Poet. at several doors.

A thing slipp'd idly from me.

Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes Poet. Good day, sir.

From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint Pain.

I am glad you 're well. Shows not till it be struck ; our gentle flame Poet. I have not seen you long. How goes Provokes itself, and like the current flies the world?

Each bound it chafes. What have you there? Pain. It wears, sir, as it grows.

Pain. A picture, sir. When comes your book Poet.

Ay, that's well known ; forth? But what particular rarity? what strange, Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. Which manifold record not matches? See, Let's see your piece. Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power Pain. 'Tis a good piece. Hath conjur'd to attend. I know the merchant. Poet. So'tis; this comes off well and excellent. Pain. I know them both; th' other's a Pain. Indifferent. jeweller.

Poet.

Admirable! How this grace Mer. O! 'tis a worthy lord.

Speaks his own standing ! what a mental power Jero.

Nay, that's most fix'd. This eye shoots forth! how big imagination Mer. A most incomparable man, breath'd, as Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture it were,

10 One might interpret. To an untirable and continuate goodness :

Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life. He passes

Here is a touch; is 't good ? Jew. I have a jewel here

Poet.

I 'll say of it, Mer. O ! pray, let's see't : for the Lord Timon, It tutors nature : artificial strife

40 sir?

Lives in these touches, livelier than life. Jew. If he will touch the estimate : but, for

Enter certain Senators, who pass over the stage. thatPoet. When we for recompense have prais'd the Pain. How this lord is followed ! rile,

Poet. The senators of Athens : happy man! It stains the glory in that happy verse

Pain. Look, more! Which aptly sings the good.

Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood Mer. Looking at the jewel. 'Tis a good form. of visitors.

2 Z

I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment: my free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold;
But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.

Pain. How shall I understand you?
Port.
I will unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
As well of glib and slippery creatures as
Of grave and austere quality, tender down
Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-fac'd
flatterer

To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself: even he drops down
The knee before him and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod.

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Pain.

I saw them speak together. Poet. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd: the base o' the

mount

Is rank'd with all deserts, all kinds of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states: amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,
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,
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.

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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.

Well;

Noble Ventidius !
I am not of that feather to shake off

My friend when he must need me. I do know

him

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 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,

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

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.

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Tim.

Poet.
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.

Enter an old Athenian.
Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.
Tim.
Freely, good father.
Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius.
Tim. I have so: what of him?

Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man be-
fore 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 inclin'd to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd
Than one which holds a trencher.

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The man is honest.
Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:
His honesty rewards him in itself;
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim.

Old Ath. She is young and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity 's in youth.

Tim. To LUCILIUS.

Does she love him!

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.

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

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anon :

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l'im. My hand to thee; mine honour on my Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apepromise.

mantus ? Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: never Apem. The best, for the innocence. may

T'im. Wrought he not well that painted it? That state or fortune fall into my keeping

A pem. He wrought better that made the Which is not ow'd to you!

painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of Ereunt LUCILIUS and Old Athenian. work. Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your Pain. You're a dog. lordship!

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation : Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me what's she, if I be a dog ?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? Go not away. What have you there, my friend? Apem. No; I eat not lords.

Pain. A piece of painting, which I do beseech Tim. An thou should'st, thou’dst anger ladies. Your lordship to accept.

Apem. O! they eat lords ; so they come by Tim.

Painting is welcome. great bellies. The painting is almost the natural man;

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. For since dishonour traffics with man's nature, Apem. So thou apprehendest it, take it for He is but outside : these pencill'd figures are

thy labour. Even such as they give out. I like your work ; Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, ApeAnd you shall find I like it : wait attendance mantus ? Till you hear further from me.

Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, which Pain.

The gods preserve you! will not cost a man a doit. Tim. Well fare you, gentleman : give me your Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth? hand;

A pem. Not worth my thinking. How now, We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel poet! Hath suffer'd under praise.

Poet. How now, philosopher! Jeu.

What, my lord ! dispraise ? A pem. Thou liest. Tim. A mere satiety of commendations.

Poet. Art not one ? If I should pay you for 't as 'tis extoll'd,

Apem. Yes. It would unclew me quite.

Poet. Then I lie not. Jero.

My lord, 'tis rated A pem. Art not a poet ? As those which sell would give: but you well Poet. Yes. know,

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, Things of like value, differing in the owners, where thon hast feigned him a worthy fellow. Are prized by their masters. Believe't, dear Poet. That's not feigned; he is so. lord,

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

thee for thy labour: he that loves to be Tim. Well mock'd.

flattered is worthy o' the flatterer. Heavens, Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the that I were a lord! common tongue,

Tim. What would'st do then, Apemantus ? Which all men speak with him.

Apem. E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a Tim. Look, who comes here. Will you be lord with my heart. chid ?

Tim. What, thyself?
Enter APEMANTUS.

Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore? Jew. We'll bear, with your lordship.

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Mer.

He'll spare none. 180 Art not thou a merchant ? Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Ape- Mer. Ay, Apemantus. mantus !

A pem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will Apem. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good not ! morrow;

Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it. When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves Apem. Traffic 's thy god, and thy god conhonest.

found thee! T'im. Why dost thou call them knaves ? thou know'st them not.

Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant. A pem. Are they not Athenians ?

Tim. What trumpet's that ? Tim. Yes.

Serr. 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse, Apem. Then I repent not.

All of companionship. Jew. You know me, Apemantus ?

l'im. Pray, entertain them ; give them guide Apem. Thou know'st I do; I call'd thee by to us.

Exeunt some Attendants. thy name.

You must needs dine with me.

Go not you Tim. Thou art prond, Apemantus.

hence A pem. Of nothing so much as that I am not Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's like Timon.

done, Tim. Whither art going ?

Show me this piece. I am joyful of your Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's sights. brains.

Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company. Tim. That's a deed thou 'lt die for.

A pem. Right, if doing nothing be death by Most welcome, sir ! the law.

Арет.

So, so; there!

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Aches contract and starve your supple joints! That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves,

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And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out

O! by no means,
Honest Ventidius; you mistake my love;

Into baboon and monkey.

Aleib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and II gave it freely ever; and there's none feed Can truly say he gives, if he receives: Most hungerly on your sight. If our betters play at that game, we must not dare To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair. Ven. A noble spirit!

They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devis'd at first

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.

First Lord. What time o' day is 't, Ape

mantus?

SCENE II.-The Same. A Room of State in
TIMON'S House.

To your free heart, I do return those talents, Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help

I deriv'd liberty.

Tim.

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Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; FLAVIUS and Others attending: then enter Lord TIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, Senators, and VENTIDIUS. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself.

10

To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs

twice.

Second Lord. Why, Apemantus?

You shall not make me welcome :

Apem. Should'st have kept one to thyself, for I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. I mean to give thee none.

Tim. Fie! thou 'rt a churl; ye 've got a humour there

First Lord. Hang thyself!

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.

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Second Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog! or I'll spurn thee hence.

Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.
They say, my lords, Ira furor brevis est,
But yond man is ever angry.
Go, let him have a table by himself,
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

ass.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' the
Exit.
First Lord. He's opposite to humanity.
Come, shall we in

And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.

Second Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the
god of gold,

Is but his steward: no meed but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him
But breeds the giver a return exceeding
All use of quittance.
First Lord. The noblest mind he carries
That ever govern'd man.
Second Lord. Long may he live in fortunes!
Shall we in?

First Lord. I'll keep you company.

Exeunt.

none.

Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes
Than my fortunes to me.
They sit.
First Lord. My lord, we always have con-
fess'd it.

Apem. Ho, ho! confess'd it; hang'd it, have

you not?

Tim. O! Apemantus, you are welcome.
Apem.

No:

Apem. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon: come to observe; I give thee warning on 't.

Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian; therefore welcome. I myself would have no power; prithee, let my meat make thee silent.

Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me. for I should

Ne'er flatter thee. O you gods! what a number
Of men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not.
It grieves me to see so many dip their meat
In one man's blood; and all the madness is,
He cheers them up too.

I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks they should invite them without
knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
There's much example for 't; the fellow that
Sits next him now, parts bread with him, and
pledges

The breath of him in a divided draught,

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Apem. Flow this way! A brave fellow! hel

Enter a Serrant. keeps his tides well. Those healths will make

How now! 120 thee and thy state look ill, Timon.

Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner, 60 ladies most desirous of admittance. Honest water which ne'er left man i' the mire : Tim. Ladies! What are their wills? This and my food are equals, there's no odds. Serr. There comes with them a forerunner, Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods. my lord, which bears that office to signify their Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;

pleasures.
I pray for no man but myself :

Tim. I pray, let them be admitted.
Grant I may never prove so fond.

Enter CUPID.
To trust man on his oath or bond ;
Or a harlot for her weeping;

Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon; and to all
Or a dog that seems a-sleeping ;

That of his bounties taste! The five best senses Or a keeper with my freedom;

Acknowledge thee their patron ; and come Or my friends, if I should need 'em.

freely Amen. So fall to't :

To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. Th' ear, Rich men sin, and I eat root.

Taste, touch, and smell, pleas'd from thy table

rise : Eats and drinks.

They only now come but to feast thine eyes. Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus ! Tim. They're welcome all ; let 'em have kind

Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the acimittance : field now.

Music, make their welcome! Exit CUPID. Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my First Lord. You see, my lord, how ample lord.

you 're belov'd. Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of Music. Re-enter Cupid, with a masque of Ladies enemies than a dinner of friends. Alcib. So they were bleeding-new, my lord,

as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing there's no meat like 'em : I could wish my best

and playing. friend at such a feast.

Apem. Hoy-day! what a sweep of vanity Apem. Would all those flatterers were thine comes this way : enemies then, that then thou might'st kill 'em They dance! they are mad women. and bid me to 'em.

Like madness is the glory of this life, First Lord. Might we but have that happiness, As this pomp shows to a little oil and root. my lord, that you would once use our hearts, We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves ; whereby we might express some part of our zeals, And spend our flatteries to drink those men we should think ourselves for ever perfect. 90 Upon whose age we void it up again,

Tim. 0! no doubt, my good friends, but the With poisonous spite and envy. gods themselves have provided that I shall have who lives that's not depraved or depraves ? much help from you : how had you been my Who dies that bears not one spurn to their friends else? why have you that charitable title graves from thousands, did not you chiefly belong to Of their friends' gift ? my heart? I have told more of you to myself I should fear those that dance before me now than you can with modesty speak in your own Would one day stamp upon me: 't has been behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O you gods !

done ; think I, what need we have any friends, if we Men shut their doors against a setting sun. should ne'er have need of 'em ? they were the most needless creatures living should we ne'er The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of have use for 'em, and would most resemble

TIMON ; and to show their loves each singles out sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep

an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often

lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease. wished myself poorer that I might come nearer Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, to you. We are born to do benefits; and what fair ladies, better or properer can we call our own than the Set a fair fashion on our entertainment, riches of our friends ? 0! what a precious com- Which was not half so beautiful and kind; fort 'tis, to have so many, like brothers, com- You have added worth unto 't and lustre, manding one another's fortunes. O joy! e'en ! And entertain’d me with mine own device; made away ere't can be born. Mine eyes can- ' I am to thank you for 't. not hold out water, methinks: to forget their First Lady. My lord, you take us even at the faults, I drink to you.

best. Apem. Thou weepest to make them drink, Apem. Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would Timon.

not hold taking, I doubt me. Second Lord. Joy had the like conception in Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet

Attends you: please you to dispose yourselves. And, at that instant, like a babe, sprung up.

AU Ladies. Most thankfully, my lord. A pem. Ho, ho ! I laugh to think that babe a

Exeuni CUPID and Ladies. bastard.

Tim. Flavius! Third Lord. I promise you, my lord, you Plav. My lord ! mov'd me much.

Tim. The little casket bring me hither. Apem. Much!

Tucket sounded. Flav. Yes, my lord. A side. More jewels yet! Tim. What means that trump?

i There is no crossing him in's humour ;

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our eyes,