Good day , sir . I have not seen you long ; how goes the world ? 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 . When we for recompense have prais 'd the vile , It stains the glory in that happy verse Which aptly sings the good . A thing slipp 'd idly from me . Our poesy is as a gum , which oozes From whence ‘ tis nourish 'd . The fire i ’ th ’ flint Shows not till it be struck : our gentle flame Provokes itself , and like the current flies Each bound it chafes . What have you there ? Upon the heels of my presentment , sir . Let 's see your piece . So ‘ tis ; this comes off well and excellent . Admirable . How this grace Speaks his own standing ! What a mental power This eye shoots forth ! How big imagination Moves in this lip ! To th ’ dumbness of the gesture One might interpret . I will say of it It tutors nature . Artificial strife Lives in these touches , livelier than life . The senators of Athens - happy man ! You see this confluence , this great flood of visitors . I have in this rough work shap 'd out a man Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug With amplest entertainment . My free drift Halts not particularly , but moves itself In a wide sea of tax . No levell 'd malice Infects one comma in the course I hold , But flies an eagle flight , bold and forth on , Leaving no tract behind . I will unbolt to you . You see how all conditions , how all minds- As well of glib and slipp'ry creatures as Of grave and austere quality , tender down Their services to Lord Timon . His large fortune , Upon his good and gracious nature hanging , Subdues and properties to his love and tendance All sorts of hearts ; yea , from the glass-fac 'd flatterer To Apemantus , that few things loves better Than to abhor himself ; even he drops down The knee before him , and returns in peace Most rich in Timon 's nod . Sir , I have upon a high and pleasant hill Feign 'd Fortune to be thron 'd . The base o ’ th ’ mount Is rank 'd with all deserts , all kind of natures That labour on the bosom of this sphere To propagate their states . Amongst them all Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix 'd One do I personate of Lord Timon 's frame , Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her ; Whose present grace to present slaves and servants Translates his rivals . Nay , sir , but hear me on . All those which were his fellows but of late- Some better than his value - on the moment Follow his strides , his lobbies fill with tendance , Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear , Make sacred even his stirrup , and through him Drink the free air . When Fortune in her shift and change of mood Spurns down her late beloved , all his dependants , Which labour 'd after him to the mountain 's top Even on their knees and hands , let him slip down , Not one accompanying his declining foot . Vouchsafe my labour , and long live your lordship ! How now , philosopher ! Art not one ? Then I lie not . Yes . That 's not feign'dhYpppHeN he is so . to be thought of him ? Does the rumour hold for true that he 's so full of gold ? Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends ? What have you now to present unto him ? I must serve him so too , tell him of an intent that 's coming toward him . 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 . Nay , let 's seek him ; Then do we sin against our own estate When we may profit meet and come too late . Hail , worthy Timon ! 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 . Nor I .