Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him

Drink the free air.

PAINTER Ay, marry, what of these?

POET

When Fortune in her shift and change of mood

Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants,

Which laboured after him to the mountain’s top

Even on their knees and hands, let him fall down,

Not one accompanying his declining foot.

PAINTER ’Tis 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.

Trumpets sound. Enter Timon [wearing a rich

jewell, with a Messenger from Ventidius; Lucilius

⌈and other Servants] attending. Timon addresses

himself courteously to every suitor, then speaks to

the Messenger

TIMON Imprisoned is he, say you?

MESSENGER

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.

TIMON 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.

MESSENGER Your lordship ever binds him.

TIMON

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.

MESSENGER All happiness to your honour. Exit

Enter an Old Athenian

OLD ATHENIAN

Lord Timon, hear me speak.

TIMON Freely, good father.

OLD ATHENIAN

Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.

TIMON I have so. What of him?

OLD ATHENIAN

Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.

TIMON

Attends he here or no? Lucilius!

LUCILIUS (coming forward) Here at your lordship’s service.

OLD ATHENIAN

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.

TIMON Well, what further?

OLD ATHENIAN

One only daughter have I, no kin else

On whom I may confer what I have got.

The maid is fair, o’th’ 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.

TIMON The man is honest.

OLD ATHENIAN Therefore he will be, Timon.

His honesty rewards him in itself;

It must not bear my daughter.

TIMON Does she love him?

OLD ATHENIAN She is young and apt.

Our own precedent passions do instruct us

What levity’s in youth.

TIMON (to Lucilius) Love you the maid?

LUCILIUS

Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.

OLD ATHENIAN

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.

TIMON How shall she be endowed

If she be mated with an equal husband?

OLD ATHENIAN

Three talents on the present; in future, all.

TIMON

This gentleman of mine hath served 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 ATHENIAN Most noble lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.

TIMON

My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.

LUCILIUS

Humbly I thank your lordship. Never may

That state or fortune fall into my keeping

Which is not owed to you.

Exeunt Lucilius and Old Athenian

POET (presenting a poem to Timon)

Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!

TIMON

I thank you. You shall hear from me anon.

Go not away. (To Painter) What have you there, my

friend?

PAINTER

A piece of painting, which I do beseech

Your lordship to accept.

TIMON Painting is welcome.

The painting is almost the natural man;

For since dishonour traffics with man’s nature,

He is but outside; these pencilled 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.

PAINTER The gods preserve ye!

TIMON

Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand.

We must needs dine together. (To Jeweller) Sir, your jewel

Hath suffered under praise.

JEWELLER What, my lord, dispraise?

TIMON

A mere satiety of commendations.

If I should pay you for’t as ’tis extolled

It would unclew me quite.

JEWELLER 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 the wearing it.

TIMON Well mocked.

MERCHANT

No, my good lord, he speaks the common tongue

Which all men speak with him.

Enter Apemantus

TIMON Look who comes here.

Will you be chid?

JEWELLER We will bear, with your lordship.

MERCHANT He’ll spare none.

TIMON

Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus.

APEMANTUS

Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow—

When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.