Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweler, and Merchant, at several
doors. POET
Good day, sir. PAINTER
I am glad you’re well. POET
I have not seen you long. How goes the world? PAINTER
It wears, sir, as it grows.
POET Ay, that’s well known. 5
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. PAINTER
I know them both. Th’ other’s a jeweler. 10 MERCHANT, to Jeweler
O, ’tis a worthy lord! JEWELER
Nay, that’s most fixed. MERCHANT
A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,
To an untirable and continuate goodness. He passes. 15 JEWELER
I have a jewel here— MERCHANT
O, pray, let’s see ’t. For the Lord Timon, sir? JEWELER
If he will touch the estimate. But for that— POET, to Painter
When we for recompense have praised the vile,
It stains the glory in that happy verse 20
Which aptly sings the good. MERCHANT, looking at the jewel
’Tis a good form. JEWELER
And rich. Here is a water, look ye. PAINTER, to Poet
You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication
To the great lord. 25 POET
A thing slipped idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum which oozes
From whence ’tis nourished. The fire i’ th’ flint
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame
Provokes itself and, like the current, flies 30
Each bound it chases. What have you there? PAINTER
A picture, sir. When comes your book forth? POET
Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.
Let’s see your piece. PAINTER ’Tis a good piece. 35 POET
So ’tis. This comes off well and excellent. PAINTER
Indifferent. POET
Admirable! How this grace
Speaks his own standing! What a mental power
This eye shoots forth! How big imagination 40
Moves in this lip! To th’ dumbness of the gesture
One might interpret. PAINTER
It is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch. Is ’t good? POET
I will say of it, 45
It tutors nature. Artificial strife
Lives in these touches livelier than life. | So, a Poet, a Painter, a Jeweler, and a Merchant walk into a bar... Okay, actually, they go to Timon's house—but it might as well be a bar, given all the people who hang around there night after night. They're all, "Hey, how's it goin'?" and "What did you bring for Timon today?" We learn that Timon (as in, of Athens) is a rich guy who is super generous with his money. All the merchants love him and think he's a good guy. Since they know Timon's wealthy, each of the men has brought something to give (translation: sell) to Timon. Sure, they're bighearted, too. They made gifts for Timon without him asking. If he happens to reimburse them, who cares? As the men are sharing what they brought, each of them marvels at the others' gifts. The jewel is so rare and expensive; the poem is so beautiful; but the painting is marvelous. It looks exactly like Timon, and all the other men ooh and ahh over it. (We'll let you guess who brought what.) |
Enter certain Senators. PAINTER
How this lord is followed. POET
The senators of Athens, happy men. PAINTER
Look, more. 50 POET
You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors.
(Indicating his poem.) I have in this rough work
shaped out a man
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug
With amplest entertainment. My free drift 55
Halts not particularly but moves itself
In a wide sea of wax. No leveled malice
Infects one comma in the course I hold,
But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,
Leaving no tract behind. 60 PAINTER
How shall I understand you? POET I will unbolt to you.
You see how all conditions, how all minds,
As well of glib and slipp’ry creatures as
Of grave and austere quality, tender down 65
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 70
Than to abhor himself; even he drops down
The knee before him and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon’s nod. PAINTER
I saw them speak together. POET
Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill 75
Feigned Fortune to be throned. The base o’ th’ mount
Is ranked with all deserts, all kind of natures
That labor on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states. Amongst them all
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fixed, 80
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. 85
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckoned from the rest below,
Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well expressed
In our condition. 90 POET
Nay, 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, 95
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him
Drink the free air. PAINTER
Ay, marry, what of these? POET
When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants, 100
Which labored 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 105
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. 110 | When some Senators and noblemen come in, the painter and poet talk about what people think of Timon. People from all around town pay tribute to Timon. Hmm…is this because he's such a great guy, or is it because they want some of his generosity to come their way? Either way, the poet and painter decide Timon must be a happy man. Who wouldn't be happy with so many friends? The Poet tells the painter a little more about his poem. He says that in it, he describes a rich and famous guy a lot like Timon. The guy in the poem gives all his gifts away, which the Painter thinks could only make someone happy. But the Poet wonders what would happen if Fortune stopped giving Timon—er, the guy in the poem—so much wealth. What would happen if Fortune spurned this dude? Yep, that's foreshadowing, all right. |
Trumpets sound. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself
courteously to every suitor. He is accompanied by a
Messenger and followed by Lucilius and other
Servants. TIMON
Imprisoned is he, say you? MESSENGER
Ay, my good lord. Five talents is his debt,
His means most short, his creditors most strait.
Your honorable letter he desires
To those have shut him up, which failing 115
Periods his comfort. TIMON
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, 120
Which he shall have. I’ll pay the debt and free him. MESSENGER
Your Lordship ever binds him. TIMON
Commend me to him. I will send his ransom;
And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me.
’Tis not enough to help the feeble up, 125
But to support him after. Fare you well. MESSENGER
All happiness to your Honor. He exits. Enter an old Athenian. OLD MAN
Lord Timon, hear me speak. TIMON
Freely, good father. OLD MAN
Thou hast a servant named Lucilius. 130 TIMON
I have so. What of him? OLD MAN
Most noble Timon, call the man before thee. TIMON
Attends he here or no?—Lucilius! LUCILIUS
Here, at your Lordship’s service. OLD MAN
This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature, 135
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. TIMON Well. What further? 140 OLD MAN
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 145
Attempts her love. I prithee, noble lord,
Join with me to forbid him her resort.
Myself have spoke in vain. TIMON The man is honest. OLD MAN
Therefore he will be, Timon. 150
His honesty rewards him in itself;
It must not bear my daughter. TIMON
Does she love him? OLD MAN
She is young and apt.
Our own precedent passions do instruct us 155
What levity’s in youth. TIMON, to Lucilius
Love you the maid? LUCILIUS
Ay, my good lord, and she accepts of it. OLD MAN
If in her marriage my consent be missing—
I call the gods to witness—I will choose 160
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world
And dispossess her all. TIMON
How shall she be endowed
If she be mated with an equal husband? OLD MAN
Three talents on the present; in future, all. 165 TIMON
This 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. 170 OLD MAN
Most noble lord,
Pawn me to this your honor, she is his. TIMON
My hand to thee; mine honor on my promise. LUCILIUS
Humbly I thank your Lordship. Never may
That state or fortune fall into my keeping 175
Which is not owed to you. He exits with the old Athenian. POET, presenting his poem to Timon
Vouchsafe my labor, and long live your Lordship. TIMON
I thank you. You shall hear from me anon.
Go not away.—What have you there, my friend? PAINTER
A piece of painting which I do beseech 180
Your Lordship to accept. TIMON
Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man,
For, since dishonor traffics with man’s nature,
He is but outside; these penciled figures are 185
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. PAINTER
The gods preserve you. TIMON
Well fare you, gentleman. Give me your hand. 190
We must needs dine together.—Sir, your jewel
Hath suffered under praise. JEWELER
What, my lord? Dispraise? TIMON
A mere satiety of commendations.
If I should pay you for ’t as ’tis extolled, 195
It would unclew me quite. JEWELER
My lord, ’tis rated
As those which sell would give. But you well know
Things of like value, differing in the owners,
Are prizèd by their masters. Believe ’t, dear lord, 200
You mend the jewel by the wearing it. TIMON
Well mocked. MERCHANT
No, my good lord. He speaks the common tongue,
Which all men speak with him. | Just then, Timon enters. He's every bit as charming and kind as the men have said. He shakes hands with each person and even poses with a few babies for the press. (Okay, he doesn't really, but he certainly has the whole do-gooder politician thing down pat.) Bring out the cake. But not so fast. Not everyone is in a celebratory mood: Ventidius and Lucilius need some dough. Ventidius is in debt, even though he's a nobleman, so Timon pays off the dude's MasterCard and Visa bills—or, you know, the ancient Roman version of those. Timon's servant Lucilius is in love, but since he's a servant and all, he's poor. His honey's dad is worried that if he lets her marry Lucilius, his grandkids will be poor. Timon takes care of that, too: he gives the couple a way-too-expensive wedding gift. Now that all that business is taken care of, it's time for the merchants to give Timon their gifts. Timon likes each one, and there's a big sigh of relief from the merchants, who know they have just made more than their fair share of money. There's cheer and laughter all around. |
Enter Apemantus. TIMON
Look who comes here. Will you be chid? 205 JEWELER
We’ll bear, with your Lordship. MERCHANT
He’ll spare none. TIMON
Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus. APEMANTUS
Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow—
When thou art Timon’s dog, and these knaves honest. 210 TIMON
Why dost thou call them knaves? Thou know’st
them not. APEMANTUS
Are they not Athenians? TIMON
Yes. APEMANTUS
Then I repent not. 215 JEWELER
You know me, Apemantus? APEMANTUS
Thou know’st I do. I called thee by thy
name. TIMON
Thou art proud, Apemantus. APEMANTUS
Of nothing so much as that I am not like 220
Timon. TIMON
Whither art going? APEMANTUS
To knock out an honest Athenian’s brains. TIMON
That’s a deed thou ’lt die for. APEMANTUS
Right, if doing nothing be death by th’ law. 225 TIMON How lik’st thou this picture, Apemantus? APEMANTUS
The best, for the innocence. TIMON
Wrought he not well that painted it? APEMANTUS
He wrought better that made the painter,
and yet he’s but a filthy piece of work. 230 PAINTER
You’re a dog. APEMANTUS
Thy mother’s of my generation. What’s
she, if I be a dog? TIMON
Wilt dine with me, Apemantus? APEMANTUS
No. I eat not lords. 235 TIMON
An thou shouldst, thou ’dst anger ladies. APEMANTUS
O, they eat lords. So they come by great
bellies. TIMON
That’s a lascivious apprehension. APEMANTUS
So thou apprehend’st it. Take it for thy 240
labor. TIMON
How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus? APEMANTUS
Not so well as plain-dealing, which will
not cost a man a doit. TIMON
What dost thou think ’tis worth? 245 APEMANTUS
Not worth my thinking.—How now, poet? POET
How now, philosopher? APEMANTUS
Thou liest. POET
Art not one? APEMANTUS Yes. 250 POET Then I lie not. APEMANTUS
Art not a poet? POET
Yes. APEMANTUS
Then thou liest. Look in thy last work,
where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow. 255 POET
That’s not feigned. He is so. APEMANTUS
Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee
for thy labor. He that loves to be flattered is worthy
o’ th’ flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord! TIMON
What wouldst do then, Apemantus? 260 APEMANTUS
E’en as Apemantus does now—hate a lord
with my heart. TIMON What? Thyself? APEMANTUS
Ay. TIMON
Wherefore? 265 APEMANTUS
That I had no angry wit to be a lord.—Art
not thou a merchant? MERCHANT
Ay, Apemantus. APEMANTUS Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not. MERCHANT If traffic do it, the gods do it. 270 APEMANTUS
Traffic’s thy god, and thy god confound
thee! | Every party has a pooper, and that's why Shakespeare invited Apemantus. He's a philosopher, which basically means he's always going around town spurting out cranky comments about how badly people treat one another. After a few jabs at the poet and painter, Apemantus makes fun of Timon's new purchases. He warns Timon that these men are just pretending to be his friends to get his money. |
Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger. TIMON
What trumpet’s that? MESSENGER
’Tis Alcibiades and some twenty horse,
All of companionship. 275 TIMON
Pray, entertain them. Give them guide to us.
Some Servants exit with Messenger.
You must needs dine with me. Go not you hence
Till I have thanked you.—When dinner’s done
Show me this piece.—I am joyful of your sights. Enter Alcibiades with the rest. Most welcome, sir. They bow to each other. 280 APEMANTUS, apart
So, so, there!
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!
That there should be small love amongst these sweet
knaves,
And all this courtesy! The strain of man’s bred out 285
Into baboon and monkey. ALCIBIADES, to Timon
Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed
Most hungerly on your sight. TIMON
Right welcome, sir.
Ere we depart, we’ll share a bounteous time 290
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in. All but Apemantus exit. Enter two Lords. FIRST LORD
What time o’ day is ’t, Apemantus? APEMANTUS Time to be honest. FIRST LORD That time serves still. APEMANTUS
The most accursèd thou, that still omit’st it. 295 SECOND LORD
Thou art going to Lord Timon’s feast? APEMANTUS
Ay, to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools. SECOND LORD
Fare thee well, fare thee well. APEMANTUS
Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice. SECOND LORD
Why, Apemantus? 300 APEMANTUS
Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give
thee none. FIRST LORD
Hang thyself. APEMANTUS
No, I will do nothing at thy bidding.
Make thy requests to thy friend. 305 SECOND LORD
Away, unpeaceable dog, or I’ll spurn thee hence. APEMANTUS
I will fly, like a dog, the heels o’ th’ ass. He exits. FIRST LORD
He’s opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in
And taste Lord Timon’s bounty? He outgoes
The very heart of kindness. 310 SECOND LORD
He 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. 315 FIRST LORD
The noblest mind he carries
That ever governed man. SECOND LORD
Long may he live in fortunes. Shall we in?
I’ll keep you company. They exit. | That's when another twenty men show up along with Timon's acquaintance Alcibiades: they're expecting to be fed and entertained, and Timon doesn't disappoint. He leaves to greet the men and get them settled. Apemantus takes the opportunity to be grumpy with another two lords before leaving. Then the lords talk about how great Timon is. He outdoes himself every time, they say: if there were a kindness competition, Timon would totally win. |