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 vifiters.

I have, in this rough work fhap'd out a Man,

Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug

With ampleft entertainment. My free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves it self
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 fhall I understand you?
Poet. I'll unbolt to you.

You see how all conditions, how all minds,
As well of glib and flipp'ry creatures, as
Of grave and auftere 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 tendance
All forts of hearts; yea, from the glass-fac❜d flatterer
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 faw them speak together.

Poet. I have upon a high and pleasant hill
Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd. The base o'th' mount
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 fov'reign lady fixt,

One

One do I personate of Timon's frame,

Whom Fortune with her iv'ry hand wafts to her,
Whose present grace to prefent flaves and fervants
Tranflates his rivals.

Pain. 'Tis conceiv'd, to scope

This throne, this fortune, and this hill, methinks
With one man becken'd from the rest below
Bowing his head against the steepy mount,

To climb his happiness; would be well exprest
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 ftrides, his lobbies fill with tendance,
Rain facrificial whisp'rings in his ear,

Make facred even his stirrop, and through him
Drink the free air.

Pain. Ay marry, what of these?

Poet. When Fortune in her fhift and change of mood
Spurns down her late belov'd, all his dependants
(Which labour'd after to the mountain's top,
Ev'n on their knees and hands,) let him flip down,
Not one accompanying his declining foot.
Pain. 'Tis common:

A thousand moral paintings I can fhew,

That shall demonftrate thefe quick blows of fortune
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well
To fhew lord Timon, that mean eyes have seen
The foot above the head.

SCENE

Trumpets found. Enter Timon addreffing himself courteously to every fuitor.

Tim. Imprifon'd is he, say you?'

[To a messenger.

Mef. 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 to him
Periods his comfort.

Tim. Noble Ventidius! well

I am not of that feather, to fhake off
My friend when he most needs me.

I know him
A gentleman that well deferves a help,

Which he fhall have. I'll pay the debt, and free him.
Mef. Your lordship ever binds him.

Tim. Commend me to him, I will fend his ranfom,
And being enfranchiz'd, bid him come to me;

'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,

But to support him after. Fare you well.
Mef. All happiness to your honour.

Enter an old Athenian.

0. Ath. Lord Timon, hear me fpeak.

Tim. Freely, good father.

0. Ath. Thou haft a fervant nam'd Lucilius.

Tim. I have fo: what of him?

0. Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before thee,

Tim. Attends he here or no? Lucilius.

[Exit.

Enter Lucilius

Luc. Here, at your lordship's service.

VOL V.

B

To

0. Ath. This fellow here, lord Timon, this thy creature
By night frequents my houfe. I am a man
That from my first have been inclin❜d to thrift,
And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd,
Than one which holds a trencher.

Tim. Well: what further?

0. Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else,
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;
My felf have spoke in vain.

Tim. The man is honeft.

0. Ath. Therefore he will be,lour sda !

His honefty rewards him in it felf,
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim. Does the love him?

0. Ath. She is young, and apt: Our own precedent paffions do instruct us, What levity's in youth.

Tim. Love you the maid?

Luc. Ay, my good lord, and the accepts of it.

0. Ath. If in her marriage my confent be miffing,

I call the gods to witness, I will chufe

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 husband?

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

For

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

Which is not ow'd to you.

[Exit Luc.

Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship.
Tim. I thank you, you shall hear from me anon: 10
Go not away. What have you there, my friend?).
Pain. A piece of painting, which I do beseech
Your lordship to accept.

Tim. Painting is welcome.

The painting is almost the natural man: stood f
For fince difhonour trafficks with man's naturewav

He is but out-fide: penfil'd figures are furb ym

Ev'n fuch as they give out.

I like your work,plor

And you shall 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 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 undo 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,

B 2

You