THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS
Page: 48

When we may profit meet, and come too late.

PAINTER.
True;
When the day serves, before black--corner'd night,
Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light.
Come.

TIMON.
[Aside.] I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold,
That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple
Than where swine feed!
'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plough'st the foam,
Settlest admired reverence in a slave.
To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye
Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey!
Fit I meet them.

[Advancing from his cave.]

POET.
Hail, worthy Timon!

PAINTER.
Our late noble master!

TIMON.
Have I once liv'd to see two honest men?

POET.
Sir,
Having often of your open bounty tasted,
Hearing you were retir'd, your friends fall'n off,
Whose thankless natures--O abhorred spirits!
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough--
What! to you,
Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence
To their whole being! I am rapt, and cannot cover
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude
With any size of words.

TIMON.
Let it go naked: men may see't the better.
You, that are honest, by being what you are,
Make them best seen and known.

PAINTER.
He and myself
Have travail'd in the great shower of your gifts,
And sweetly felt it.

TIMON.
Ay, you are honest men.

PAINTER.
We are hither come to offer you our service.

TIMON.
Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you?
Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? No?

BOTH.
What we can do, we'll do, to do you service.

TIMON.
Ye're honest men! Ye've heard that I have gold;
I am sure you have. Speak truth; ye're honest men.

PAINTER.
So it is said, my noble lord; but therefore
Came not my friend nor I.

TIMON.
Good honest men! Thou draw'st a counterfeit
Best in all Athens. Thou'rt, indeed, the best;
Thou counterfeit'st most lively.

PAINTER.
So, so, my lord.

TIMON.
E'en so, sir, as I say.

[To the POET.]

And for thy fiction,
Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth
That thou art even natural in thine art.
But for all this, my honest-natur'd friends,