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 stirrop, and through him
Drink the free air.R

Pain.

Ay, marry, what of these? Poet. When Fortune, in her shift and change of

mood,

Spurns down her late belov'd, 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.
Pain. 'Tis common:

A thousand moral paintings I can show,

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

Trumpets sound. Enter TIMON, attended; the Servant of VENTIDIUS talking with him.

Tim.

Imprison'd is he, say you? Ven. Serv. Ay, 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 to him,

7 Rain sacrificial whisperings-] i. e. whisperings of officious servility, the incense of the worshipping parasite to the patron as to a god.

8 through him

Drink the free air.] That is, breathe only with his permission. 9 A thousand moral paintings I can show,] Shakspeare seems to intend in this dialogue to express some competition between the two great arts of imitation. Whatever the poet declares himself to have shown, the painter thinks he could have shown better.

1

· mean eyes—] i. e. inferior spectators.

Periods his comfort.

Tim.

Noble 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. Ven. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him.

Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his ran

some;

And, being enfranchis'd, bid him come to me:'Tis not enough to help the feeble up,

But to support him after.-Fare you well.

Ven. Serv. All happiness to your honour! [Exit,

Enter an old Athenian.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.

Tim.

Freely, good father. Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius.

Tim. I havo oo. What of him?

Uld 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

creature,

By night frequents my house. 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? Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else,

2 - your honour!] The common address to a lord in our author's time, was your honour, which was indifferently used with your lordship.

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 pr'ythee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort;
Myself have spoke in vain.

Tim.

The man is honest.

Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:3

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 LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid?
Luc. Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it.
Old Ath. If 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.

Tim.

How shall she be endow'd,

If she be mated with an equal husband?

Old Ath. Three talents, on the present; in future,

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.

Therefore he will be, Timon:] The thought is closely expressed, and obscure: but this seems the meaning: "If the man be honest, my lord, for that reason he will be so in this; and not endeavour at the injustice of gaining my daughter without my consent." WARBURTON.

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!"

[Exeunt LUCILIUS and old Athenian. 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 beseech Your lordship to accept.

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. I like your work;
And you shall find, I like it: wait attendance
Till hear further from me.
you

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 unclew me quite.5

My lord, 'tis rated

Jew. As those, which sell, would give: But you well know, Things of like value, differing in the owners,

Never may

That state or fortune fall into my keeping,

Which is not ow'd to you!] The meaning is, let me never henceforth consider any thing that I possess, but as owed or due to you; held for your service, and at your disposal. JOHNSON. unclew me quite.] To unclew is to unwind a ball of thread. To unclew a man, is to draw out the whole mass of his fortunes.

5

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.

Jew. We will bear, with your lordship.

Mer. 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.

6 Are prized by their masters:] Are rated according to the esteem in which their possessor is held. JOHNSON.

7 When thou art Timon's dog,] Apemantus means to say, that Timon is not to receive a gentle good morrow from him till that shall happen which never will happen; till Timon is transformed to the shape of his dog, and his knavish followers become honest men. Stay for thy good morrow, says he, till I be gentle, which will happen at the same time when thou art Timon's dog, &c. i. e. never.