Enter certain Senators.

Pain. How this Lord is followed!
Poet. The fenators of Athens! happy men!
Pain. Look, more!

Poet. You fee this confluence, this great flood of

visitors.

I have, in this rough work, shap'd 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 fea 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.

Pain. How shall I understand you?
Poet. I'll unbolt to you.

You see how all conditions, how all minds,
As well of glib and flippery creatures, as
Of grave and austere quality, tender down
Their service to Lord Timon: his large fortune,
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendence
All forts of hearts, yea, from the glass-fac'd || flat-

terer

To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself; ev'n he drops down
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod.

Pain. I saw them fpeak together.

Poet. I have upon a high and pleasant hill Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd. The base o'th

mount

* My design does not stop at any fingle characters.

Johnson

↑ Anciently they wrote upon waxen tables with an iron stile. Hanm.

† Slipp'ry natures. Warb. Hanmer.

That shows in his own looks, as by reflection, the

looks of his patron. Johnson.

Is rank'd with all deferts *, all kind of natures
That labour on the bofom of this sphere
To propagate their states †; amongst them all,
Whose eyes are on this sov'reign Lady fix'd,
One do I personate of Timon's frame,
Whom Fortune with her iv'ry hand wafts to her,
Whose prefent grace to present slaves and servants
Translates his rivals.

Pain. 'Tis conceiv'd to scope 1.

This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
In our condition.

Poet. Nay, 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 whisprings in his ear;
Make facred even his stirrop; and through hin
Drink the free air.

Pain. Ay, marry, what of these ?

Poet. When Fortune in her shift and change of

mood

Sparns down her late belov'd, all his dependants,
(Which labour'd after to the mountain's top
Even on their knees and hands) let him flip down,
Not one accompanying his declining foot.

Pain. 'Tis common.

A thousand moral paintings I can shew,

That thall demonftrate these quick blows of fortune More pregnantly than words; yet you do well To shew Lord Timon that mean eyes || have feen The foot above the head.

• Cover'd with ranks of all kinds of men. Johnson. + To advance or improve their various conditions of life. Ib.

# Properly imagined, appofitely, to the purpofe.

That men's eyes have seen. Theobald.

Trumpets found. Enter Timon, addressing himself courteously to every fuitor.

Tim. Imprison'd is he, say you?

[To a Messenger.

Meff. Ay, my good Lord. Five talents is his

debt,

His means most short, his creditors most straight. Your honourable letter he defires

To those have shut him up, which failing periods
His comfort.

Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well
I am not of that feather to shake off

My friend when he most needs me. I do know

him

A gentleman that well deserves a help,
Which he shall have. 'I'll pay the debt and free

him.

Meff. Your Lordship ever binds him.

Tim. Commend me to him, I will send his

ranfom;

And being infranchis'd, bid him come to me.
Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to fupport him after. Fare you well.

Meff. All happiness to your Honour.

Enter an old Athenian.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me fpeak.

Tim. Freely, good father.

[Exit.

Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius.

Tim. I have fo: what of him?

Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before

thee.

Tim: Attends he here or no? Lucilius!

Enter Lucilius..

Luc. Here at your Lordship's service.

Old Ath. This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy

By night frequents my house. I am a man
That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift,
And my eftate deserves an heir more rais'd,
Than one which holds a trencher.

Tim. Well, what further?

Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin ele,

On whom I may confer what I have got;
The maid is fair, o' th' 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 pray thee, noble Lord,
Join with me to forbid him her refort;
Myself have spoke in vain.

Tim. The man is honest.

Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon.

His honesty rewards him in itself,
It must not bear my daughter.
Tim. Does she love him?

Old Ath. She is young and apt.
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.

Tim. to Lucil.] Love you the maid?

Luc. Ay, my good Lord, and she accepts of it.
Old Ath. If in her marriage my consent be

mifling,

I call the Gods to witness I will chuse
Mine heir forth from the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.

Tim. How shall the be endowed,
If she be mated with an equal husband?

Old Ath. Three talents on the present, in fu-
'ture all.

Tim. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd 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. Old Ath. Most noble Lord,

Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.

Tìm. My hand to thee; mine honour on my promife.

Lac. Humbly I thank your Lordship: never That state or fortune fall into my keeping, [may Which is not ow'd to you * !

[Exeunt Lucil. and old Ath. Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your Lordship!

Tim. I thank you, you shall 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 painting is almost the natural man;
For fince dishonour trafficks with man's nature,
He is but outside; pencil'd figures are
Ev'n such as they give out. 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 ye, gentlemen. Give me your

hand,

We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
Hath fuffer'd under praife.

Few. What, my Lord, dispraise?

Tim A mere fatiety of commendations.

If I should pay you for't as 'tis extoll'd,

It would unclue me quite.

Jew My Lord, 'tis rated

As those 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

* The meaning is, Let me never henceforth confider any thing that I poffefs, but as owed or due to you; held for your service, and at your difpofal. Johnson.

† Are rated according to the esteem in which their possessor is held. Johnson.