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.4 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 meer satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll’d,
It would unclews 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.

Mer.

Jew. We will bear, with your lordship.

He'll spare none. Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!

Apem. Till I be gentle, stay 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 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 w.
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. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generațion; What's she, if I be a dog ?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus ?
Apem. No; I eat not lords.

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6

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 Jabour.

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.

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 ?

Apam. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with

my

heart.
Tim. What, thyself?
Арет. Ау.
Tim. Wherefore ?

a

us.

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. 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.

Enter ALCIBIADES, with his Company, Most welcome, sir !

[They salute. Арет,

So, so; there! Aches contract and starve your supple joints !-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 say'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. 7 Man is degenerated; his strain or lincage is worn down into 1 monkey.

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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. (Erit. i 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, 8 but he repays Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him, But breeds the giver a return exceeding All use of quittance.' 1 Lord.

The noblest mind he carries, That ever govern'd man. & Meed here means desert. 91. 8. All the customary re

turns made in discharge of obligations.