Our own precedent paffions do inftruct us,
What levity's in youth..

Tim. Love you the maid?

Luc. Ay, my good lord, and the accepts of it.
O. Ath. If in her marriage my confent be miffing,
I call the gods to witnefs, I will choose

Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And difpoffefs her all.

Tim. How fhall fhe be endowed,.

If fhe be mated with an equal hufband?

0. Ath. Three talents, on the prefent; in future, all.
Tim. This gentleman of mine hath ferv'd me long ;
To build his fortune I will ftrain 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.

0. Ath. Moft noble lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, the is his.

Tim. My hand to thee, mine honour on my promife. Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: never may That state or fortune fall into my keeping,

Which is not own'd to you!

[Ex. Luc. and O. Ath. Poet. Vouchfafe my labour, and long live your lordship! Tim. I thank you; you fhall hear from me anon:

Go not away.

What have you there, my friend?

Pain. A piece of painting, which I do befeech Your lordship to accept.

Tim. Painting is welcome.

The painted is almost the natural man;

For fince difhonour trafficks with man's nature

He is but outfide: pencil'd figures are

Ev'n fuch as they give out. I like your work;

And you fhall find I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear further from me.

Pain. The gods preserve ye!

Tim. Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;

We

-Sir, your jewel

We must needs dine together.
Hath fuffer'd under praise.

Jew. What, my lord? difpraise?
Tim. A mere fatiety of commendations.
If I fhould pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,
It would undo me quite.

Jew. My lord, 'tis rated

As thofe which fell would give: but you well know,
Things of like value, differing in the owners,

Are by their masters priz'd: believe't, dear lord,
You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

Tim. Well mock'd.

Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue, Which all men fpeak with him.

Tim. Look, who comes here.

few. We'll bear it with your lordship.

Mer. He'll fpare none.

Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus !

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

When I am 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.

few. You know me, Apemantus?

Apem. Thou know'ft, I do; I call'd thee by thy name.

Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus.

Apem. Of nothing fo much, as that I am not like Timon.

Tim. Whither art going?

Apem. To knock out an honeft Athenian's brains.

Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for.

B 2

Apem.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.
Tim. How likeft thou this picture, Apemantus?
Apem. The better, 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. If thou fhouldft, thou'dft anger ladies.

Apem. O, they eat lords, fo they come by great bellies.
Tim. That's a lascivious apprehenfion.

Apem. So thou apprehend'ft it: take it for thy labour.
Tim. How doft thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

Apem. Not fo well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.

Tim. What doft thou think 'tis worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking. — How now, poet?

Poet. How now, philofopher?

Apem. Thou liest.

Poet. Art thou not one?.

Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not.

Apem. Art not a poet ?

Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou lieft: look in thy laft work, where thou haft feign'd him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, he is fo.

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o'th' flatterer. Heav'ns, that I were a lord!

Tim. What wouldft do then, Apemantus?

Apem. Ev'n as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my

heart.

Tim. What, thyself ?

Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had fo hungry a wit to be a lord.

Art thou not 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 fo thy god confound thee!
Trumpets found. Enter a Messenger.

Tim. What trumpet's that?

Mer. 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse, All of companionship.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us. 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'm joyful of your fights.

Enter Alcibiades with the reft.

Most welcome, fir!

Apem. So, fol

[bowing and embracing.

Aches contract, and starve your fupple joints!

That there should be small love amongst these sweet knaves, And all this courtesy! The ftrain of man's bred out

Into baboon and monkey.

Alc. You have even fav'd my longing, and I feed Moft hungerly on your fight.

Tim. Right welcome, fir:

Ere we do part, we'll share a bounteous time

In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

[Exeunt.

Manet Apemantus. Enter Lucius, and Lucullus.

Luc. What time o' day is't, Apemantus?
Apem. Time to be honest.

Luc.

Luc. Ay, that time serves still.

Apem. The more accurfed thou that still omitt'st it.....
Lucul. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast?

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

Apem. Thou art a fool to bid me farewel twice.

Lucul. Why, Apemantus?

Apem. Thou fhouldst have kept one to thyfelf, for I mean to give thee none.

Luc. Hang thyfelf.

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

Lucul. Away, unpeaceable dog, or

---

I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o'th'afs. [Exit Apem. Luc. He's oppofite to all humanity.

Come, fhall we in, and taste lord Timon's bounty?

He, fure, outgoes the very heart of kindness.

Lucul. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,

Is but his stew'rd: no meed but he repays

Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,

But breeds the giver a return exceeding
All ufe of quittance.

Luc. The nobleft mind he carries,

That ever govern'd man.

Lucul. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?
Luc. I'll keep you company.

SCENE V.

Another Room in Timon's Houfe.

[Exeunt.

Hautboys playing, loud Mufick. A great Banquet ferv'd in; and then enter Timon, Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus difcontentedly.

Ven. Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the gods To call my father's age unto long peace.

He