TIMON That's a lascivious apprehension.
APEMANTUS So thou apprehendest it: take it for thy labour.
TIMON How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost a
man a doit.
TIMON What dost thou think 'tis worth?
APEMANTUS Not worth my thinking. How now, poet!
Poet How now, philosopher!
APEMANTUS Thou liest.
Poet Art not one?
APEMANTUS Yes.
Poet Then I lie not.
APEMANTUS Art not a poet?
Poet Yes.
APEMANTUS Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where thou
hast feigned him a worthy fellow.
Poet That's not feigned; he is so.
APEMANTUS Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for thy
labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o'
the flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!
TIMON What wouldst do then, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with my heart.
TIMON What, thyself?
APEMANTUS Ay.
TIMON Wherefore?
APEMANTUS That I had no angry wit to be a lord.
Art not thou a merchant?
Merchant Ay, Apemantus.
APEMANTUS Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!
Merchant If traffic do it, the gods do it.
APEMANTUS Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee!
[Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger]
TIMON What trumpet's that?
Messenger 'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship.
TIMON Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.
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