1
Athens. A hall in Timon’s house.
2
[Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and] [p]others, at several doors]
8
I have not seen you long: how goes the world?
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It wears, sir, as it grows.
12
Ay, that's well known:
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But what particular rarity? what strange,
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Which manifold record not matches? See,
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Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power
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Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.
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I know them both; th' other's a jeweller.
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O, 'tis a worthy lord.
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Nay, that's most fix'd.
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A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
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To an untirable and continuate goodness:
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O, pray, let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir?
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[Reciting to himself]'When we for recompense have
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It stains the glory in that happy verse
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Which aptly sings the good.'
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[Looking at the jewel]
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And rich: here is a water, look ye.
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You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
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A thing slipp'd idly from me.
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Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes
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From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint
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Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
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Provokes itself and like the current flies
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Each bound it chafes. What have you there?
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A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?
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Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
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So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent.
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Admirable: how this grace
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Speaks his own standing! what a mental power
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This eye shoots forth! how big imagination
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Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture
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It is a pretty mocking of the life.
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Here is a touch; is't good?
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It tutors nature: artificial strife
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Lives in these touches, livelier than life.
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[Enter certain Senators, and pass over]
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How this lord is follow'd!
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The senators of Athens: happy man!
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You see this confluence, this great flood
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I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
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Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
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With amplest entertainment: my free drift
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Halts not particularly, but moves itself
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In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice
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Infects one comma in the course I hold;
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But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
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Leaving no tract behind.
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How shall I understand you?
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You see how all conditions, how all minds,
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As well of glib and slippery creatures as
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Of grave and austere quality, tender down
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Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune
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Upon his good and gracious nature hanging
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Subdues and properties to his love and tendance
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All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
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To Apemantus, that few things loves better
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Than to abhor himself: even he drops down
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The knee before him, and returns in peace
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Most rich in Timon's nod.
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I saw them speak together.
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Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
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Feign'd Fortune to be throned: the base o' the mount
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Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
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That labour on the bosom of this sphere
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To propagate their states: amongst them all,
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Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
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One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,
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Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;
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Whose present grace to present slaves and servants
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Translates his rivals.
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'Tis conceived to scope.
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This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
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With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
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Bowing his head against the sleepy mount
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To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
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Nay, sir, but hear me on.
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All those which were his fellows but of late,
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Some better than his value, on the moment
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Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
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Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,
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Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
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Ay, marry, what of these?
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When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
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Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants
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Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top
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Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,
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Not one accompanying his declining foot.
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A thousand moral paintings I can show
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That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's
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More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
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To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen
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The foot above the head.
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[Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, addressing himself]
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courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from
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VENTIDIUS talking with him; LUCILIUS and other
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Imprison'd is he, say you?
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Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt,
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His means most short, his creditors most strait:
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Your honourable letter he desires
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To those have shut him up; which failing,
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Noble Ventidius! Well;
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I am not of that feather to shake off
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My friend when he must need me. I do know him
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A gentleman that well deserves a help:
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Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt,
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Your lordship ever binds him.
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Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;
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And being enfranchised, bid him come to me.
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'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
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But to support him after. Fare you well.
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All happiness to your honour!
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[Enter an old Athenian]
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Lord Timon, hear me speak.
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Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.
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I have so: what of him?
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Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.
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Attends he here, or no? Lucilius!
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Here, at your lordship's service.
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This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,
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By night frequents my house. I am a man
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That from my first have been inclined to thrift;
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And my estate deserves an heir more raised
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Than one which holds a trencher.
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One only daughter have I, no kin else,
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On whom I may confer what I have got:
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The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,
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And I have bred her at my dearest cost
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In qualities of the best. This man of thine
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Attempts her love: I prithee, noble lord,
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Join with me to forbid him her resort;
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Myself have spoke in vain.
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Therefore he will be, Timon:
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His honesty rewards him in itself;
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It must not bear my daughter.
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She is young and apt:
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Our own precedent passions do instruct us
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What levity's in youth.
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[To LUCILIUS]Love you the maid?
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Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
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If in her marriage my consent be missing,
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I call the gods to witness, I will choose
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Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
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And dispossess her all.
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How shall she be endow'd,
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if she be mated with an equal husband?
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Three talents on the present; in future, all.
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This gentleman of mine hath served me long:
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To build his fortune I will strain a little,
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For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:
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What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,
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And make him weigh with her.
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Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.
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My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.
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Humbly I thank your lordship: never may
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The state or fortune fall into my keeping,
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Which is not owed to you!
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[Exeunt LUCILIUS and Old Athenian]
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Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!
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I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
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Go not away. What have you there, my friend?
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A piece of painting, which I do beseech
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Your lordship to accept.
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The painting is almost the natural man;
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or since dishonour traffics with man's nature,
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He is but outside: these pencill'd figures are
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Even such as they give out. I like your work;
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And you shall find I like it: wait attendance
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Till you hear further from me.
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The gods preserve ye!
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Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
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We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
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Hath suffer'd under praise.
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What, my lord! dispraise?
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A more satiety of commendations.
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If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
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It would unclew me quite.
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As those which sell would give: but you well know,
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Things of like value differing in the owners
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Are prized by their masters: believe't, dear lord,
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You mend the jewel by the wearing it.
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No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
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Which all men speak with him.
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Look, who comes here: will you be chid?
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Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!
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Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;
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When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.
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Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.
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Are they not Athenians?
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Thou know'st I do: I call'd thee by thy name.
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Thou art proud, Apemantus.
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Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.
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To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.
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That's a deed thou'lt die for.
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Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.
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How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?
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The best, for the innocence.
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Wrought he not well that painted it?
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He wrought better that made the painter; and yet
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he's but a filthy piece of work.
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Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog?
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Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
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An thou shouldst, thou 'ldst anger ladies.
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O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.
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That's a lascivious apprehension.
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So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.
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How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
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Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a
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What dost thou think 'tis worth?
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Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!
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How now, philosopher!
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Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou
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hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
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That's not feigned; he is so.
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Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy
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labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o'
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the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!
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What wouldst do then, Apemantus?
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E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.
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That I had no angry wit to be a lord.
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Art not thou a merchant?
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Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
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If traffic do it, the gods do it.
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Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee!
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[Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger]
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'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
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All of companionship.
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Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.
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[Exeunt some Attendants]
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You must needs dine with me: go not you hence
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Till I have thank'd you: when dinner's done,
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Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.
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[Enter ALCIBIADES, with the rest]
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Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
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That there should be small love 'mongst these
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And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out
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Into baboon and monkey.
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Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
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Most hungerly on your sight.
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Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
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In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
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[Exeunt all except APEMANTUS]
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What time o' day is't, Apemantus?
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That time serves still.
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The more accursed thou, that still omitt'st it.
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Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast?
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Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.
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Fare thee well, fare thee well.
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Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
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Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to
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No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy
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requests to thy friend.
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Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence!
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I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' the ass.
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He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
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And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
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The very heart of kindness.
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He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
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Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays
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Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,
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But breeds the giver a return exceeding
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All use of quittance.
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The noblest mind he carries
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That ever govern'd man.
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Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?
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I'll keep you company.
1
A banqueting-room in Timon’s house.
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[Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet] [p]served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter [p]TIMON, ALCIBIADES, Lords, Senators, and VENTIDIUS. [p]Then comes, dropping, after all, APEMANTUS, [p]discontentedly, like himself]
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It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age,
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And call him to long peace.
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He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
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Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
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To your free heart, I do return those talents,
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Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
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Honest Ventidius; you mistake my love:
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I gave it freely ever; and there's none
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Can truly say he gives, if he receives:
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If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
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To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.
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[They all stand ceremoniously looking on TIMON]
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Ceremony was but devised at first
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To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
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Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
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But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
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Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes
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Than my fortunes to me.
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My lord, we always have confess'd it.
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Ho, ho, confess'd it! hang'd it, have you not?
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O, Apemantus, you are welcome.
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You shall not make me welcome:
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I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.
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Fie, thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there
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Does not become a man: 'tis much to blame.
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They say, my lords, 'ira furor brevis est;' but yond
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man is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by
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himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is
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Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon: I come to
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observe; I give thee warning on't.
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I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian,
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therefore welcome: I myself would have no power;
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prithee, let my meat make thee silent.
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I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I should
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ne'er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of
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men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me
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to see so many dip their meat in one man's blood;
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and all the madness is, he cheers them up too.
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I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
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Methinks they should invite them without knives;
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Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.
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There's much example for't; the fellow that sits
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next him now, parts bread with him, pledges the
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breath of him in a divided draught, is the readiest
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man to kill him: 't has been proved. If I were a
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huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
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Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:
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Great men should drink with harness on their throats.
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My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.
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Let it flow this way, my good lord.
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Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keeps his tides
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well. Those healths will make thee and thy state
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look ill, Timon. Here's that which is too weak to
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be a sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
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This and my food are equals; there's no odds:
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Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.
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Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
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I pray for no man but myself:
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Grant I may never prove so fond,
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To trust man on his oath or bond;
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Or a harlot, for her weeping;
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Or a dog, that seems a-sleeping:
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Or a keeper with my freedom;
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Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
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Rich men sin, and I eat root.
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Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!
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Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.
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My heart is ever at your service, my lord.
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You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a
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So the were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no meat
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like 'em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.
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Would all those fatterers were thine enemies then,
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that then thou mightst kill 'em and bid me to 'em!
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Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you
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would once use our hearts, whereby we might express
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some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves
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O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods
115
themselves have provided that I shall have much help
116
from you: how had you been my friends else? why
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have you that charitable title from thousands, did
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not you chiefly belong to my heart? I have told
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more of you to myself than you can with modesty
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speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm
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you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any
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friends, if we should ne'er have need of 'em? they
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were the most needless creatures living, should we
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ne'er have use for 'em, and would most resemble
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sweet instruments hung up in cases that keep their
126
sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wished
127
myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We
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are born to do benefits: and what better or
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properer can we can our own than the riches of our
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friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have
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so many, like brothers, commanding one another's
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fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere 't can be born!
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Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to
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forget their faults, I drink to you.
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Thou weepest to make them drink, Timon.
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Joy had the like conception in our eyes
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And at that instant like a babe sprung up.
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Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.
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I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.
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What means that trump?
152
Please you, my lord, there are certain
153
ladies most desirous of admittance.
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Ladies! what are their wills?
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There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, which
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bears that office, to signify their pleasures.
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I pray, let them be admitted.
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Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
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That of his bounties taste! The five best senses
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Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
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To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th' ear,
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Taste, touch and smell, pleased from thy tale rise;
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They only now come but to feast thine eyes.
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They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:
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Music, make their welcome!
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You see, my lord, how ample you're beloved.
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[Music. Re-enter Cupid with a mask of Ladies]
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as Amazons, with lutes in their hands,
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Hoy-day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way!
180
They dance! they are mad women.
181
Like madness is the glory of this life.
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As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.
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We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
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And spend our flatteries, to drink those men
185
Upon whose age we void it up again,
186
With poisonous spite and envy.
187
Who lives that's not depraved or depraves?
188
Who dies, that bears not one spurn to their graves
189
Of their friends' gift?
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I should fear those that dance before me now
191
Would one day stamp upon me: 't has been done;
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Men shut their doors against a setting sun.
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[The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of]
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TIMON; and to show their loves, each singles out an
195
Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty
196
strain or two to the hautboys, and cease]
198
You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
199
Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
200
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
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You have added worth unto 't and lustre,
202
And entertain'd me with mine own device;
203
I am to thank you for 't.
205
My lord, you take us even at the best.
207
'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold
210
Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you:
211
Please you to dispose yourselves.
213
Most thankfully, my lord.
214
[Exeunt Cupid and Ladies]
220
The little casket bring me hither.
222
Yes, my lord. More jewels yet!
223
There is no crossing him in 's humour;
225
Else I should tell him,—well, i' faith I should,
226
When all's spent, he 'ld be cross'd then, an he could.
227
'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,
228
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.
233
Here, my lord, in readiness.
236
[Re-enter FLAVIUS, with the casket]
239
I have one word to say to you: look you, my good lord,
240
I must entreat you, honour me so much
241
As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,
244
I am so far already in your gifts,—
249
My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate
250
Newly alighted, and come to visit you.
252
They are fairly welcome.
254
I beseech your honour,
255
Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.
257
Near! why then, another time I'll hear thee:
258
I prithee, let's be provided to show them
261
[Aside]I scarce know how.
262
[Enter a Second Servant]
264
May it please your honour, Lord Lucius,
265
Out of his free love, hath presented to you
266
Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.
268
I shall accept them fairly; let the presents
269
Be worthily entertain'd.
270
[Enter a third Servant]
273
Please you, my lord, that honourable
274
gentleman, Lord Lucullus, entreats your company
275
to-morrow to hunt with him, and has sent your honour
276
two brace of greyhounds.
278
I'll hunt with him; and let them be received,
279
Not without fair reward.
281
[Aside]What will this come to?
282
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
283
And all out of an empty coffer:
284
Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this,
285
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
286
Being of no power to make his wishes good:
287
His promises fly so beyond his state
288
That what he speaks is all in debt; he owes
289
For every word: he is so kind that he now
290
Pays interest for 't; his land's put to their books.
291
Well, would I were gently put out of office
292
Before I were forced out!
293
Happier is he that has no friend to feed
294
Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.
295
I bleed inwardly for my lord.
299
Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits:
300
Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.
302
With more than common thanks I will receive it.
304
O, he's the very soul of bounty!
306
And now I remember, my lord, you gave
307
Good words the other day of a bay courser
308
I rode on: it is yours, because you liked it.
310
O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in that.
312
You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man
313
Can justly praise but what he does affect:
314
I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
315
I'll tell you true. I'll call to you.
319
I take all and your several visitations
320
So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give;
321
Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends,
322
And ne'er be weary. Alcibiades,
323
Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich;
324
It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living
325
Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast
326
Lie in a pitch'd field.
328
Ay, defiled land, my lord.
330
We are so virtuously bound—
335
So infinitely endear'd—
337
All to you. Lights, more lights!
339
The best of happiness,
340
Honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon!
342
Ready for his friends.
343
[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS and TIMON]
346
Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums!
347
I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums
348
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:
349
Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs,
350
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies.
352
Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, I would be
355
No, I'll nothing: for if I should be bribed too,
356
there would be none left to rail upon thee, and then
357
thou wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long,
358
Timon, I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in
359
paper shortly: what need these feasts, pomps and
362
Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am
363
sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come
368
Thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not then:
369
I'll lock thy heaven from thee.
370
O, that men's ears should be
371
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
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