Even such as they give out. I like your work,
And you shall find, I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear farther from me.

Pain.

The gods preserve you!

--

Sir, your jewel

Tim. Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
We must needs dine together.
Hath suffer'd under praise.

Jew.

What, my lord! dispraise?

Tim. A mere satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for 't as 't is extoll'd,
It would unclew me quite.

Jew.

My lord, 't is 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.

Well mock'd.

Tim.
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'll bear, with your lordship.

Mer.

He'll spare none.

Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus.

Apem. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;

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 know'st, 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 'It 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. Wrought he not well that painted it?

Apem. He wrought better that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.

Pain. Y' are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

Apem. No; I eat not lords.

Tim. An thou should'st, thou 'dst anger ladies.

Apem. O! they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.
Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension.

Apem. So thou apprehend'st it. Take it for thy labour.
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 't is worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking.

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.

How now, poet!

Apem. Then, thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign'd 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 docs 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. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee!

Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant.

Tim. What trumpet's that?

Serv.

'T is Alcibiades, and

Some twenty horse, all of companionship.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us. —

You must needs dine with me.

[Exeunt some Attendants.

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 courtesy! The strain of man's bred out

Into baboon and monkey.

Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly 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 o' day is 't, Apemantus?

Apem. Time to be honest,

1 Lord. That time serves still.

Apem.

2 Lord.

The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it.
Thou art going to lord Timon's feast.

Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.
Fare thee well; fare thee well.

2 Lord.

Apem. 2 Lord.

Apem.

thee none.

Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
Why, Apemantus?

Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give

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

The very heart of kindness.

2 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.

1 Lord.

That ever govern'd man.

The noblest mind he carries,

2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in? 1 Lord. I'll keep you company.

SCENE II.

The Same. A Room of State in TIMON's House.

[Exeunt.

Hautboys playing loud Music. A great banquet served in;
FLAVIUS and others attending: then, enter TIMON, ALCIBI-
ADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian
Senators, with VENTIDIUS, whom TIMON redeemed from
prison, and Attendants: then comes, dropping after all,
APEMANTUS, discontentedly, like himself.
Ven. Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the gods to
remember -

My father's age, and call him to long peace.
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound

To your free heart, I do return those talents,
Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help
I deriv'd liberty.

Tim.

O! by no means,

Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love.
I gave it freely ever; and there's none
Can truly say, he gives, if he receives:

If our betters play at that game, we must not dare
To imitate them: faults that are rich are fair.
Ven. A noble spirit!

Tim.

Nay, my lords, Ceremony was but devis'd at first,

To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,

Recanting goodness, sorry ere 't is shown;

But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray, sit: more welcome are ye to my fortunes,

Than my fortunes to me.

1 Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it. Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it? hang'd it,

Tim. O, Apemantus!

you are welcome.

have

Apem. No, you shall not make me welcome:

I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

Tim. Fie! thou 'rt a churl: you have got a humour there Does not become a man, 't is 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 't, indeed.

Apem. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon:

I come to observe; I give thee warning on 't.

Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian,

there

fore, welcome. I myself would have no power; pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.