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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 you hear further from me.
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.'
Jew.

My 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 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, Apeinantus.

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.

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law.

Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?
Apem. The best, for the innocence.
Tim. Wrought he not well, that painted it?

Apem. He wrought better, that made the painter; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work.

Pain. You are a dog.

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation; What's she, if I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?
Apem. No; I eat not lords.
Tim. An thou should'st, thou’dst anger

ladies. Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great bellies.

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension. Apem. So thou apprehend’st it: Take it for thy labour.

Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a man a doit.

Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking.--How now, poet?

Poet. How now, philosopher ?
Apem. Thou liest.
Poet. Art not one?
Apem. Yes.
Poet. Then I lie not.
Apem. Art not a poet?
Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou hast feign’d him a worthy fellow.

Poet. That's not feign'd, he is so. Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay • Not so well as plain-dealing,] Alluding to the proverb: “ Plain-dealing is a jewel, but they that use it die beggars."

thee for thy labour: He, that loves to be flattered, is worthy o’the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! Tim. What would'st do then, Apemantus ?

Apem. Even as Apemantus does now, hate a lord with my heart. Tim. What, thyself? Apem. Ay. Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not thou a merchant ? Mer. Ay, Apemantus. Apem. Traffick confound thee, if the gods will not! Mer. If traffick do it, the gods do it. Apem. Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound

thee!

Trumpets sound. Enter a Servant.
Tim. What trumpet's that?
Serv.

'Tis Alcibiades, and Some twenty horse, all of companionship. Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to

[Exeunt some Attendants. You must needs dine with me:-Go not you hence, Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done, Show me this piece. I am joyful of your fights.

us.

Enter Alcibiades, with his Company. Most welcome, sir !

[They salute. Арет. .

So, so; there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints !-

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all of companionship.) This expression does not mean barely that they all belong to one company, but that they are all such as Alcibiades honours with his acquaintance, and sets on a level

That there should be small love.'mongst these sweet

knaves,
And all this court'sy! The strain of man's bred out
Into baboon and monkey.'

Alcib. Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed
Most hungrily on your sight.
Tim.

Right welcome, sir:
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.

Enter Two Lords.

i Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus ?
Apem. Time to be honest.
i Lord. That time serves still.
Apem. The most accursed thou, that still onnit’st.

it.
2 Lord. Thou art going to lord Timon's feast.
Apem. Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine

heat fools. 2 Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Apem. Thou art a fool, to bid me farewell twice. 2 Lord. Why, Apemantus ?

Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

i Lord. Hang thyself.

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding; make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence. Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass.

[Exit.

The strain of man's bred out Into baboon and monkey.) Man is exhausted and degenerated; his strain or lineage is worn down into a monkey. Jouxson.