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.

Old 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 honour on my promise.

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 extoll'd,

It would unclew 9 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.

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

Enter APEMANTUS.

Jew. We will bear, with your lordship.

Mer.

He'll spare none.

Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus ! Apem. Till I be gentle, stay for thy good mor

row;

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 knowest, 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. 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.

Alluding to the proverb: Plain-dealing is a jewel, but they who use it beggars.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow. Poet. That's not feign'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 not!

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?

Serv.

'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship.

us.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to [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.

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 most 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?

Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

1 Lord. Hang thyself.

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

2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn

thee hence.

Apem. I will fly like a dog, the heels of the

ass.

[Exit. 1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall

we in,

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes heart of kindness.

The

very

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

gold,