Timon of Athens | Page 3

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THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS
by William Shakespeare

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
TIMON, a noble Athenian LUCIUS LUCULLUS flattering Lords. SEMPRONIUS
VENTIDIUS, one of Timon's false Friends. APEMANTUS, a churlish Philosopher. ALCIBIADES, an Athenian Captain. FLAVIUS, Steward to Timon. FLAMINIUS LUCILIUS Servants to Timon. SERVILIUS
CAPHIS PHILOTUS Servants to Timon's Creditors. TITUS HORTENSIUS
Servants of Ventidius, and of Varro and Isidore (two of Timon's Creditor's).
THREE STRANGERS. AN OLD ATHENIAN. A PAGE. A FOOL. Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant.
PHRYNIA Mistresses to Alcibiades. TIMANDRA
Lords, Senators, Officers, Soldiers, Servants, Thieves, and Attendants
CUPID and Amazons in the Masque.
Scene.--Athens, and the neighbouring Woods.

Act I. Scene I.--Athens. A Hall in TIMON'S House
[Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and Others, 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; But what particular rarity? what strange, Which manifold record not matches? See, Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power Hath conjur'd to attend! I know the merchant.
PAINTER. I know them both; th' other's a jeweller.
MERCHANT. O, 'tis a worthy lord!
JEWELLER. Nay, that's most fix'd.
MERCHANT. A most incomparable man; breath'd, as it were, To an untirable and continuate goodness. He passes.
JEWELLER. I have a jewel here--
MERCHANT. O, pray let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir?
JEWELLER. If he will touch the estimate: but for that--
POET. When we for recompense have prais'd the vile, It stains the glory in that happy verse Which aptly sings the good.
MERCHANT. [Looking at the jewel.] 'Tis a good form.
JEWELLER. And rich: here is a water, look ye.
PAINTER. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication To the great lord.
POET. A 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?
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.
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 Moves in this lip! to the 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'll say of it, It tutors nature: artificial strife Lives in these touches, livelier than life.
[Enter certain SENATORS, who pass over the stage.]
PAINTER. How this lord is followed!
POET. The senators of Athens: happy man!
PAINTER. Look, more!
POET. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. I have, in this rough work, shap'd 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.
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