PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. TIMON, a noble Athenian. LUCIUS, LUCULLUS, SEMPRONIUS, Lords, and Flatterers of TIMON. VENTIDIUS, one of TIMON's false friends. APEMANTUS, a churlish philosopher. ALCIBIADES, an Athenian general. FLAVIUS, steward to TIMON. HORTENSIUS, Two servants of Varro, and the servant of Isidore; two of Cupid and Maskers. Three Strangers. PHRYNIA, TIMANDRA, Mistresses to ALCIBIADES. Other Lords, Senators, Officers, Soldiers, Thieves, and Attendants. SCENE, Athens; and the woods adjoining. TIMON OF ATHENS. ACT I. Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and others, at several doors. Poet. Good day, sir. Pain. I am glad you are well. Poet. I have not seen you long; How goes the world? Pain. It wears, sir, as it grows. VOL. XVI. Poet. Ay, that's well known: But what particular rarity? what strange, Jew. Nay, that's most fix'd. Mer. A most incomparable man; breath'd, as it were, To an untirable and continuate goodness: Mer. O, pray, let's see't: For the lord Timon, sir? Jew. If he will touch the estimate: But, for thatPoet. When we for recompense have prais'd the vile, It stains the glory in that happy verse Which aptly sings the good. Mer. 'Tis a good form. [Looking at the jewel. Jew. And rich: here is a water, look you. Pain. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedica tion 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 Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment, sir. |