ARKCODEX
Act I, Scene 1
1Athens. A hall in Timon’s house.
2Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and others, at several doors.
3PoetGood day, sir.
4PainterI am glad you’re well.
5PoetI have not seen you long: how goes the world?
6PainterIt wears, sir, as it grows.
7PoetAy, 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.
8PainterI know them both; th’ other’s a jeweller.
9MerchantO, ’tis a worthy lord.
10JewellerNay, that’s most fix’d.
11MerchantA most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
To an untirable and continuate goodness:
He passes.
12JewellerI have a jewel here—
13MerchantO, pray, let’s see’t: for the Lord Timon, sir?
14JewellerIf he will touch the estimate: but, for that—
15PoetReciting to himself. “When we for recompense have praised the vile,
It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.”
16Merchant’Tis a good form. Looking at the jewel.
17JewellerAnd rich: here is a water, look ye.
18PainterYou are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
To the great lord.
19PoetA thing slipp’d idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes
From whence ’tis nourish’d: the fire i’ the flint
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
Provokes itself and like the current flies
Each bound it chafes. What have you there?
20PainterA picture, sir. When comes your book forth?
21PoetUpon the heels of my presentment, sir.
Let’s see your piece.
22Painter’Tis a good piece.
23PoetSo ’tis: this comes off well and excellent.
24PainterIndifferent.
25PoetAdmirable: how this grace
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.
26PainterIt is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch; is’t good?
27PoetI will say of it,
It tutors nature: artificial strife
Lives in these touches, livelier than life.
28Enter certain Senators, and pass over.
29PainterHow this lord is follow’d!
30PoetThe senators of Athens: happy man!
31PainterLook, more!
32PoetYou see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
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;
But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind.
33PainterHow shall I understand you?
34PoetI will unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
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
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.
35PainterI saw them speak together.
36PoetSir, 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
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
Translates his rivals.
37Painter’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
To climb his happiness, would be well express’d
In our condition.
38PoetNay, sir, but hear me on.
All those which were his fellows but of late,
Some better than his value, on the moment
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.
39PainterAy, marry, what of these?
40PoetWhen 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.
41Painter’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.
42Trumpets sound. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from Ventidius talking with him; Lucilius and other Servants following.
43TimonImprison’d is he, say you?
44MessengerAy, 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.
45TimonNoble 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.
46MessengerYour lordship ever binds him.
47TimonCommend 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.
48MessengerAll happiness to your honour! Exit.
49Enter an Old Athenian.
50Old AthenianLord Timon, hear me speak.
51TimonFreely, good father.
52Old AthenianThou hast a servant named Lucilius.
53TimonI have so: what of him?
54Old AthenianMost noble Timon, call the man before thee.
55TimonAttends he here, or no? Lucilius!
56LuciliusHere, at your lordship’s service.
57Old AthenianThis 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.
58TimonWell; what further?
59Old AthenianOne 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,
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.
60TimonThe man is honest.
61Old AthenianTherefore he will be, Timon:
His honesty rewards him in itself;
It must not bear my daughter.
62TimonDoes she love him?
63Old AthenianShe is young and apt:
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity’s in youth.
64TimonTo Lucilius. Love you the maid?
65LuciliusAy, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
66Old AthenianIf 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.
67TimonHow shall she be endow’d,
If she be mated with an equal husband?
68Old AthenianThree talents on the present; in future, all.
69TimonThis 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.
70Old AthenianMost noble lord,
Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.
71TimonMy hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.
72LuciliusHumbly 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.
73PoetVouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!
74TimonI thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
Go not away. What have you there, my friend?
75PainterA piece of painting, which I do beseech
Your lordship to accept.
76TimonPainting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;
For 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.
77PainterThe gods preserve ye!
78TimonWell fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;
We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
Hath suffer’d under praise.
79JewellerWhat, my lord! dispraise?
80TimonA more satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for’t as ’tis extoll’d,
It would unclew me quite.
81JewellerMy 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.
82TimonWell mock’d.
83MerchantNo, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
Which all men speak with him.
84TimonLook, who comes here: will you be chid?
85Enter Apemantus.
86JewellerWe’ll bear, with your lordship.
87MerchantHe’ll spare none.
88TimonGood morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!
89ApemantusTill I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;
When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.
90TimonWhy dost thou call them knaves? thou know’st them not.
91ApemantusAre they not Athenians?
92TimonYes.
93ApemantusThen I repent not.
94JewellerYou know me, Apemantus?
95ApemantusThou know’st I do: I call’d thee by thy name.
96TimonThou art proud, Apemantus.
97ApemantusOf nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.
98TimonWhither art going?
99ApemantusTo knock out an honest Athenian’s brains.
100TimonThat’s a deed thou’lt die for.
101ApemantusRight, if doing nothing be death by the law.
102TimonHow likest thou this picture, Apemantus?
103ApemantusThe best, for the innocence.
104TimonWrought he not well that painted it?
105ApemantusHe wrought better that made the painter; and yet he’s but a filthy piece of work.
106PainterYou’re a dog.
107ApemantusThy mother’s of my generation: what’s she, if I be a dog?
108TimonWilt dine with me, Apemantus?
109ApemantusNo; I eat not lords.
110TimonAn thou shouldst, thou’ldst anger ladies.
111ApemantusO, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.
112TimonThat’s a lascivious apprehension.
113ApemantusSo thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.
114TimonHow dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
115ApemantusNot so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.
116TimonWhat dost thou think ’tis worth?
117ApemantusNot worth my thinking. How now, poet!
118PoetHow now, philosopher!
119ApemantusThou liest.
120PoetArt not one?
121ApemantusYes.
122PoetThen I lie not.
123ApemantusArt not a poet?
124PoetYes.
125ApemantusThen thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
126PoetThat’s not feigned; he is so.
127ApemantusYes, 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!
128TimonWhat wouldst do then, Apemantus?
129ApemantusE’en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.
130TimonWhat, thyself?
131ApemantusAy.
132TimonWherefore?
133ApemantusThat I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not thou a merchant?
134MerchantAy, Apemantus.
135ApemantusTraffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
136MerchantIf traffic do it, the gods do it.
137ApemantusTraffic’s thy god; and thy god confound thee!
138Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.
139TimonWhat trumpet’s that?
140Messenger’Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship.
141TimonPray, entertain them; give them guide to us. Exeunt some Attendants.
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.
142Enter Alcibiades, with the rest.
143Most welcome, sir!
144ApemantusSo, so, there!
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.
145AlcibiadesSir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly on your sight.
146TimonRight welcome, sir!
Ere we depart, we’ll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. Exeunt all except Apemantus.
147Enter two Lords.
148First LordWhat time o’ day is’t, Apemantus?
149ApemantusTime to be honest.
150First LordThat time serves still.
151ApemantusThe more accursed thou, that still omitt’st it.
152Second LordThou art going to Lord Timon’s feast?
153ApemantusAy, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.
154Second LordFare thee well, fare thee well.
155ApemantusThou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.
156Second LordWhy, Apemantus?
157ApemantusShouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.
158First LordHang thyself!
159ApemantusNo, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.
160Second LordAway, unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence!
161ApemantusI will fly, like a dog, the heels o’ the ass. Exit.
162First LordHe’s opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
And taste Lord Timon’s bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.
163Second LordHe 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.
164First LordThe noblest mind he carries
That ever govern’d man.
165Second LordLong may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?
166First LordI’ll keep you company. Exeunt.