TPTT The Life of Timon of Athens: ACT I
Introduction
ACT I
SCENE I. Athens. A hall in Timon's house.
SCENE II. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE I. Athens. A hall in Timon's house.
Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and others, at several doors
Poet
      Good day, sir.
Painter
      I am glad you're well.
Poet
      I have not seen you long: how goes the world?
Painter
      It wears, sir, as it grows.
Poet
5     Ay, that's well known:
      But what particular rarity? what strange,
      Which manifold record not matches? See,
      Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power
      Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.
Painter
10    I know them both; th' other's a jeweller.
Merchant
      O, 'tis a worthy lord.
Jeweller
      Nay, that's most fix'd.
Merchant
      A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
      To an untirable and continuate goodness:
15    He passes.
Jeweller:
      I have a jewel here--
Merchant
      O, pray, let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir?
Jeweller:
      If he will touch the estimate: but, for that--
Poet
      (Reciting to himself) 'When we for recompense have
20    praised the vile,
      It stains the glory in that happy verse
      Which aptly sings the good.'
Merchant
      'Tis a good form.
Looking at the jewel
Jeweller
      And rich: here is a water, look ye.
Painter
25    You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
      To the great lord.
Poet
      A thing slipp'd idly from me.
      Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes
      From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint
30    Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
      Provokes itself and like the current flies
      Each bound it chafes. What have you there?
Painter
      A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?
Poet
      Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
35    Let's see your piece.
Painter
      'Tis a good piece.
Poet
      So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent.
Painter
      Indifferent.
Poet
      Admirable: how this grace
40    Speaks his own standing! what a mental power
      This eye shoots forth! how big imagination
      Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture
      One might interpret.
Painter
      It is a pretty mocking of the life.
45    Here is a touch; is't good?
Poet
      I will say of it,
      It tutors nature: artificial strife
      Lives in these touches, livelier than life.
Enter certain Senators, and pass over
Painter
      How this lord is follow'd!
Poet
50    The senators of Athens: happy man!
Painter
      Look, more!
Poet
      You see this confluence, this great flood
      of visitors.
      I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
55    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;
60    But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
      Leaving no tract behind.
Painter
      How shall I understand you?
Poet
      I will unbolt to you.
      You see how all conditions, how all minds,
65    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
70    All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced 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.
Painter
75    I saw them speak together.
Poet
      Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill
      Feign'd Fortune to be throned: the base o' the mount
      Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
      That labour on the bosom of this sphere
80    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
85    Translates his rivals.
Painter
      'Tis conceived to scope.
      This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
      With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
      Bowing his head against the sleepy mount
90    To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
      In our condition.
Poet
      Nay, sir, but hear me on.
      All those which were his fellows but of late,
      Some better than his value, on the moment
95    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.
Painter
      Ay, marry, what of these?
Poet
100   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.
Painter
105   '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
110   The foot above the head.
Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, addressing himself courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from VENTIDIUS talking with him; LUCILIUS and other servants following
TIMON
      Imprison'd 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
115   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
120   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;
125   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
130   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
135   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
140   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' the youngest for a bride,
145   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
150   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
155   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
160   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 endow'd,
165   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:
170   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
175   Humbly I thank your lordship: never may
      The state or fortune fall into my keeping,
      Which is not owed to you!
Exeunt LUCILIUS and Old Athenian
Poet
      Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!
TIMON
      I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
180   Go not away. 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;
185   or 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.
Painter
190   The gods preserve ye!
TIMON
      Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
      We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
      Hath suffer'd under praise.
Jeweller
      What, my lord! dispraise?
TIMON
195   A more satiety of commendations.
      If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
      It would unclew me quite.
Jeweller
      My lord, 'tis rated
      As those which sell would give: but you well know,
200   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 mock'd.
Merchant
      No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
205   Which all men speak with him.
TIMON
      Look, who comes here: will you be chid?
Enter APEMANTUS
Jeweller
      We'll bear, with your lordship.
Merchant
      He'll spare none.
TIMON
      Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!
APEMANTUS
210   Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;
      When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.
TIMON
      Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.
APEMANTUS
      Are they not Athenians?
TIMON
      Yes.
APEMANTUS
215   Then I repent not.
Jeweller
      You know me, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
      Thou know'st I do: I call'd thee by thy name.
TIMON
      Thou art proud, Apemantus.
APEMANTUS
      Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.
TIMON
220   Whither art going?
APEMANTUS
      To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.
TIMON
      That's a deed thou'lt die for.
APEMANTUS
      Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.
TIMON
      How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
225   The best, for the innocence.
TIMON
      Wrought he not well that painted it?
APEMANTUS
      He wrought better that made the painter; and yet
      he's but a filthy piece of work.
Painter
      You're a dog.
APEMANTUS
230   Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog?
TIMON
      Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
      No; I eat not lords.
TIMON
      An thou shouldst, thou 'ldst anger ladies.
APEMANTUS
      O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.
TIMON
235   That's a lascivious apprehension.
APEMANTUS
      So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.
TIMON
      How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
      Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a
      man a doit.
TIMON
240   What dost thou think 'tis worth?
APEMANTUS
      Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!
Poet
      How now, philosopher!
APEMANTUS
      Thou liest.
Poet
      Art not one?
APEMANTUS
245   Yes.
Poet
      Then I lie not.
APEMANTUS
      Art not a poet?
Poet
      Yes.
APEMANTUS
      Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou
250   hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
Poet
      That's not feigned; he is so.
APEMANTUS
      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!
TIMON
255   What wouldst do then, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
      E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.
TIMON
      What, thyself?
APEMANTUS
      Ay.
TIMON
      Wherefore?
APEMANTUS
260   That I had no angry wit to be a lord.
      Art not thou a merchant?
Merchant
      Ay, Apemantus.
APEMANTUS
      Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
Merchant
      If traffic do it, the gods do it.
APEMANTUS
265   Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee!
Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger
TIMON
      What trumpet's that?
Messenger
      'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
      All of companionship.
TIMON
      Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.

Exeunt some Attendants

270   You must needs dine with me: go not you hence
      Till I have thank'd you: when dinner's done,
      Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.

Enter ALCIBIADES, with the rest

      Most welcome, sir!
APEMANTUS
      So, so, there!
275   Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
      That there should be small love 'mongst these
      sweet knaves,
      And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out
      Into baboon and monkey.
ALCIBIADES
280   Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
      Most hungerly on your sight.
TIMON
      Right welcome, sir!
      Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
      In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.
Exeunt all except APEMANTUS
Enter two Lords
First Lord
285   What time o' day is't, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
      Time to be honest.
First Lord
      That time serves still.
APEMANTUS
      The more accursed thou, that still omitt'st it.
Second Lord
      Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast?
APEMANTUS
290   Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.
Second Lord
      Fare thee well, fare thee well.
APEMANTUS
      Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
Second Lord
      Why, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
      Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to
295   give thee none.
First Lord
      Hang thyself!
APEMANTUS
      No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy
      requests to thy friend.
Second Lord
      Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence!
APEMANTUS
300   I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' the ass.
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,
305   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
310   That ever govern'd man.
Second Lord
      Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?
First Lord
      I'll keep you company.
Exeunt
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