TIMON of Athens

    LUCIUS,
           LUCULLUS,
         SEMPRONIUS flattering lords

    VENTIDIUS,
           one of Timon's false friends

    ALCIBIADES,
           an Athenian captain

    APEMANTUS,
           a churlish philosopher

    FLAVIUS,
           steward to Timon

    FLAMINIUS,
           LUCILIUS,
         SERVILIUS Timon's servants

    CAPHIS,
           PHILOTUS,
         TITUS,
           HORTENSIUS servants to Timon's creditors

   POET

   PAINTER

   JEWELLER

   MERCHANT

   MERCER

   AN OLD ATHENIAN

   THREE STRANGERS

   A PAGE

   A FOOL

    PHRYNIA,
           TIMANDRA mistresses to Alcibiades

    CUPID,
           AMAZONS in the Masque

    Lords,
           Senators,
         Officers,
           Soldiers,
         Servants,
           Thieves,
         and Attendants

   SCENE:

    Athens and the neighbouring woods
 
  ACT I. SCENE I. Athens.
       TIMON'S house

    Enter POET,
           PAINTER,
         JEWELLER,
           MERCHANT,
         and MERCER,
           at several doors

    POET.

    Good day,
           sir.

    PAINTER.

    I am glad y'are 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