William Shakespeare Timon Of Athens Act I

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• William Shakespeare: Timon of Athens, Act I

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Act IScene IAthens. A hall in Timon’s houseEnter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and others, at several doorsPoetGood day, sir.PainterI am glad you’re well.PoetI have not seen you long: how goes the world?PainterIt wears, sir, as it grows.PoetAy, 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.PainterI know them both; th’ other’s a jeweller.MerchantO, ’tis a worthy lord.JewellerNay, that’s most fix’d.MerchantA most incomparable man, breathed, as it were, To an untirable and continuate goodness: He passes.Jeweller:I have a jewel here—MerchantO, pray, let’s see’t: for the Lord Timon, sir?Jeweller:If he will touch the estimate: but, for that—PoetReciting to himself’When we for recompense have praised the vile, It stains the glory in that happy verse Which aptly sings the good.‘Merchant’Tis a good form.Looking at the jewelJewellerAnd rich: here is a water, look ye.PainterYou are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication To the great lord.PoetA 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?PainterA picture, sir. When comes your book forth?PoetUpon the heels of my presentment, sir. Let’s see your piece.Painter’Tis a good piece.PoetSo ’tis: this comes off well and excellent.PainterIndifferent.PoetAdmirable: 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.PainterIt is a pretty mocking of the life. Here is a touch; is’t good?PoetI will say of it, It tutors nature: artificial strife Lives in these touches, livelier than life.Enter certain Senators, and pass overPainterHow this lord is follow’d!PoetThe senators of Athens: happy man!PainterLook, more!PoetYou 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.PainterHow shall I understand you?PoetI 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.PainterI saw them speak together.PoetSir, 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.Painter’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.PoetNay, 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.PainterAy, marry, what of these?PoetWhen 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.Painter’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.Trumpets sound. Enter Timon, addressing himself courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from Ventidius talking with him; Lucilius and other servants followingTimonImprison’d is he, say you?MessengerAy, 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.TimonNoble 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.MessengerYour lordship ever binds him.TimonCommend 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.MessengerAll happiness to your honour! [Exit]Enter an old AthenianOld AthenianLord Timon, hear me speak.TimonFreely, good father.Old AthenianThou hast a servant named Lucilius.TimonI have so: what of him?Old AthenianMost noble Timon, call the man before thee.TimonAttends he here, or no? Lucilius!LuciliusHere, at your lordship’s service.Old 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.TimonWell; what further?Old 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.TimonThe man is honest.Old AthenianTherefore he will be, Timon: His honesty rewards him in itself; It must not bear my daughter.TimonDoes she love him?Old AthenianShe is young and apt: Our own precedent passions do instruct us What levity’s in youth.TimonTo LuciliusLove you the maid?LuciliusAy, my good lord, and she accepts of it.Old 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.TimonHow shall she be endow’d, If she be mated with an equal husband?Old AthenianThree talents on the present; in future, all.TimonThis 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.Old AthenianMost noble lord, Pawn me to this your honour, she is his.TimonMy hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.LuciliusHumbly I thank your lordship: never may The state or fortune fall into my keeping, Which is not owed to you!Exeunt Lucilius and Old AthenianPoetVouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship!TimonI thank you; you shall hear from me anon: Go not away. What have you there, my friend?PainterA piece of painting, which I do beseech Your lordship to accept.TimonPainting is welcome. The painting is almost the natural man; For since dishonour traffics 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 you hear further from me.PainterThe gods preserve ye!TimonWell fare you, gentleman: give me your hand; We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel Hath suffer’d under praise.JewellerWhat, my lord! dispraise?TimonA more satiety of commendations. If I should pay you for’t as ’tis extoll’d, It would unclew me quite.JewellerMy 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.TimonWell mock’d.MerchantNo, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue, Which all men speak with him.TimonLook, who comes here: will you be chid?Enter ApemantusJewellerWe’ll bear, with your lordship.MerchantHe’ll spare none.TimonGood morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus!ApemantusTill I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow; When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest.TimonWhy dost thou call them knaves? thou know’st them not.ApemantusAre they not Athenians?TimonYes.ApemantusThen I repent not.JewellerYou know me, Apemantus?ApemantusThou know’st I do: I call’d thee by thy name.TimonThou art proud, Apemantus.ApemantusOf nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.TimonWhither art going?ApemantusTo knock out an honest Athenian’s brains.TimonThat’s a deed thou’lt die for.ApemantusRight, if doing nothing be death by the law.TimonHow likest thou this picture, Apemantus?ApemantusThe best, for the innocence.TimonWrought he not well that painted it?ApemantusHe wrought better that made the painter; and yet he’s but a filthy piece of work.PainterYou’re a dog.ApemantusThy mother’s of my generation: what’s she, if I be a dog?TimonWilt dine with me, Apemantus?ApemantusNo; I eat not lords.TimonAn thou shouldst, thou ’ldst anger ladies.ApemantusO, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.TimonThat’s a lascivious apprehension.ApemantusSo thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.TimonHow dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?ApemantusNot so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.TimonWhat dost thou think ’tis worth?ApemantusNot worth my thinking. How now, poet!PoetHow now, philosopher!ApemantusThou liest.PoetArt not one?ApemantusYes.PoetThen I lie not.ApemantusArt not a poet?PoetYes.ApemantusThen thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.PoetThat’s not feigned; he is so.ApemantusYes, 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!TimonWhat wouldst do then, Apemantus?ApemantusE’en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.TimonWhat, thyself?ApemantusAy.TimonWherefore?ApemantusThat I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not thou a merchant?MerchantAy, Apemantus.ApemantusTraffic confound thee, if the gods will not!MerchantIf traffic do it, the gods do it.ApemantusTraffic’s thy god; and thy god confound thee!Trumpet sounds. Enter a MessengerTimonWhat trumpet’s that?Messenger’Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse, All of companionship.TimonPray, entertain them; give them guide to us.Exeunt some AttendantsYou 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.Enter Alcibiades, with the restMost welcome, sir!ApemantusSo, 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.AlcibiadesSir, you have saved my longing, and I feed Most hungerly on your sight.TimonRight welcome, sir! Ere we depart, we’ll share a bounteous time In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.Exeunt all except ApemantusEnter two LordsFirst LordWhat time o’ day is’t, Apemantus?ApemantusTime to be honest.First LordThat time serves still.ApemantusThe more accursed thou, that still omitt’st it.Second LordThou art going to Lord Timon’s feast?ApemantusAy, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.Second LordFare thee well, fare thee well.ApemantusThou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.Second LordWhy, Apemantus?ApemantusShouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.First LordHang thyself!ApemantusNo, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.Second LordAway, unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence!ApemantusI will fly, like a dog, the heels o’ the ass.ExitFirst LordHe’s opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in, And taste Lord Timon’s bounty? he outgoes The very heart of kindness.Second 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.First LordThe noblest mind he carries That ever govern’d man.Second LordLong may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?First LordI’ll keep you company.Exeunt

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William Shakespeare: Timon of Athens, Act I, Scene II

• William Shakespeare: Timon of Athens, Act I, Scene II

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• Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
• The Twelve Dancing Princesses
• Current Events This Week: January 2023
• African Americans by the Numbers
• Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
• The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales