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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.

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

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.

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.

8

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

8 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.
Apem.
So, so; there !—
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!—

9 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 with himself.

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 Most hungrily on your sight.

my longing, and I feed

Right welcome, sir:

Tim.
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.

[Exeunt all but APEMANTUS.

Enter Two Lords.

1 Lord. What time a day is't, Apemantus?
Apem. Time to be honest.

1 Lord. That time serves still.

Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omit'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.

1 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. JOHNSON.

1 Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,

And taste lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes
The very heart of kindness.

2 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."

1 Lord.

The noblest mind he carries,

That ever govern'd man.

2 Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we

in?

1 Lord. I'll keep you company.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same. A Room of State in Timon's House.

Hautboys playing loud Musick. A great Banquet served in; FLAVIUS and others attending; then enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, LUCIUS, LUCULLUS. SEMPRONIUS, and other Athenian Senators, with VENTIDIUS, and Attendants. Then comes, dropping after all, APEMANTUS, discontentedly.

Ven. Most honour'd Timon, 't hath pleas'd the
gods remember

My father's age, and call him to long peace.
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound

To

your free heart. I do return those talents,

1—no meed,] Meed, which in general signifies reward or recompense, in this place seems to mean desert.

3 All use of quittance.] i. e. all the customary returns made in discharge of obligations.

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