THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS
Page: 47

Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.

[Exeunt severally.]



Act V.

Scene I. The woods. Before TIMON's Cave.

[Enter POET and PAINTER.]

PAINTER.
As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he
abides.

POET.
What's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true that
he is so full of gold?

PAINTER.
Certain. Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra had
gold of him: he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with
great quantity. 'Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum.

POET.
Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends?

PAINTER.
Nothing else. You shall see him a palm in Athens again,
and flourish with the highest. Therefore 'tis not amiss we tender
our loves to him in this supposed distress of his; it will show
honestly in us, and is very likely to load our purposes with what
they travail for, if it be just and true report that goes of his
having.

POET.
What have you now to present unto him?

PAINTER.
Nothing at this time but my visitation; only, I will
promise him an excellent piece.

POET.
I must serve him so too, tell him of an intent that's coming
toward him.

PAINTER.
Good as the best. Promising is the very air o' the time;
it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance is ever the duller
for his act, and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people,
the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most
courtly and fashionable; performance is a kind of will or
testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that
makes it.

[Enter TIMON from his cave.]

TIMON.
[Aside.] Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad
as is thyself.

POET.
I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It
must be a personating of himself; a satire against the softness
of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that
follow youth and opulency.

TIMON.
[Aside.] Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own
work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have
gold for thee.

POET.
Nay, let's seek him;
Then do we sin against our own estate