Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born | Not seldom, nor no slight checks; when I a bastard, and thou'lt die a bawd. Page. Thou wast whelped a dog; and thou shalt famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone. [Exit PAGE. Apem. Even so thou out-run'st grace. Fool, I will go with you to lord Timon's. Fool. Will you leave me there? Apem. If Timon stay at home.-You three serve three usurers? All Serv. Ay, 'would they served us ! Fool. Are you three usurers' men? Fool. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his servant: My mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to borrow of your masters, they approach sadly, and go away merry; but they enter my mistress' house merrily, and go away sadly: The reason of this? Var. Serv. I could render one. Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster, and a knave; which, notwithstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed. Var. Serv. What is a whoremaster, fool? Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee. "Tis a spirit: sometime, it appears like a lord: sometime, like a lawyer; sometime, like a philosopher, with two stones more than his artificial one: He is very often like a knight; and, generally in all shapes, that man goes up and down in, from fourscore to thirteen, this spirit walks in. Var. Serv. Thou art not altogether a fool. Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest. Apem. That answer might have become Apemantus. All Serv. Aside, aside; here comes lord Ti have Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate, Tim. Let all my land be sold. Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone; And what remains will hardly stop the mouth Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend. Were it all yours to give it in a breath, Tim. You tell me true. Flav. If you suspect my husbandry, or false me, When all our officest have been oppress'd With drunken spilth of wine; when every room I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock,# Tim. Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of [sants, lord Timon's? Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon? The breath is gone whereof this praise is made: Tim. Come, sermon me no further: To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart; ing, Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use, Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd,|| That I account them blessings; for by these you Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Serv. My lord, my lord,— * I. e. As the world itself may be comprised in a word, + The apartments allotted to culinary offices, &c. senators, have I (Of whom, even to the state's best health, [stant Deserv'd this hearing,) bid 'em send o'the inA thousand talents to me. Flav. I have been bold, (For that I knew it the most general way,) To them to use your signet, and your name; But they do shake their heads, and I am here No richer in return. Tim. Is't true? can it be? Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, That now they are at fall, want treasure, can not Do what they would; are sorry-you are honourable, But yet they could have wish'd-they know not-but Something hath been amiss-a noble nature May catch a wrench-would all were well'tis pity And so, intendingt other serious matters, After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions,+ With certain half-caps, and cold- moving nods, They froze me into silence. Tim. You gods, reward them! I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly; These old fellows ACT III. SCENE I.-The same.-A Room in LUCULLUS' House. FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a SERVANT to him. Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down to you. Flam. I thank you, Sir. Enter LUCULLUS. Serv. Here's my lord. Lucul. [Aside. One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, Sir.-Fill me some wine.[Exit SERVANT.] And how does that honourable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master? Flam. His health is well, Sir. Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, Sir: And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius? Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, Sir; which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your present assistance therein. Lucul. La, la, la, la,-nothing doubting, says he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I have dined with him, and told him on't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less; and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honestyt is his; I have told him on't, but I could never get him from it. Re-enter SERVANT, with wine. Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. wise. Here's to thee. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always Have their ingratitude in them hereditary : FLAVIUS,] be not sad, Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously|| I Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd With those five talents :-that had,-[TO FLAV.] give it these fellows To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, Flum. Your lordship speaks your pleasure. Lucul. I have observed thee always for a toand one that knows what belongs to reason: and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee.-Get you gone, Sirrah. [To the SERVANT,who goes out.]-Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. Thy lord's a bounknowest well enough, although thou comest tiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou to me, that this is no time to lend money; escially upon bare friendship, without security. at me, and say thou saw'st me not. Fare thee Here's three solidares for thee; good boy, wink well. Flam. Is't possible, the world should so much differ; [ness, And we alive, that liv'd? Fly, damned base To him that worships thee. [sink. That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can Flav. I would, I could not think it; That thought is bounty's foe; Being free¶ itself, it thinks all others so. * I. e. At an ebb. [Exeunt. + Intending, had anciently the same meaning as attend ing. Broken hints, abrupt remarks. A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off. For ingenuously. Liberal, not parsimonious, [Throwing the money away. fit for thy master. Lucul. Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and [Exit LUCULLUS. Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee! Let molten coin be thy damnation, *For respectfully. Honesty here means liberality. I. e. And we who were alive then, alive now, 1 feel my master's passion!* This slave O, may diseases only work upon't! Which my lord paid for, be of any power And That And I ha say-I was sending to use lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope, his honour will conceive the fair. thatest of me, because I have no power to be kind: And tell him this from me, I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannet plessure such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as ta use mine own words to him? [Exit. SCENE II.-The same.-A public place. 1 Stran. We know him for no less, though we are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumours; now lord Timon's happy hours are dones and past, and his estate shrinks from him. Luc. Fie no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money. Ser. Yes, Sir, I shall. lius. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servi- Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece 2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the lord Lucullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urged extremely for't, and showed what cessity belonged to't, and yet was denied. Luc. How? 2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord. Luc. What a strange case was that? now. before the gods, I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man? there was very little honour showed in't. For my own part, I must needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mistook him, and sent to me, I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents. He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. [lord. Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shown myself honourable? how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honour?-Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I * Suffering; “By his bloody cross and passion." LiConsumed. turgy. +1. e. His life. + Acknowledge. And yet, (0, see the monstrousness of man 1 Stran. For mine own part, Had his necessity made use of me, [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in SEN- Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a SERVAnt of Timon's. Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! [three Serv. O my lord, They have all denied him? Sem. How! have they denied him? Thrive, give him over; Must I take the cure He has much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at But his occasions might have woo'd me first; This means, to put his wealth down in account as a And does he think so backwardly of me now, I had such a courage to do him good. now return, coin. But And with their faint reply this answer join; Who bates mine honour, shall not know my [Exit. Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politic; he crossed himself by't: and I cannot think, but, in the end, the villanies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked; like those that, under hot ardent zeal, would set whole realms on fire. Of such a nature is his politic love. This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled, Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd [Exit. Enter two Servants of VARRO, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TiMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out. Var. Serv. Well met; good-morrow, Titus and Hortensius. Tit. The like to you, kind Varro. What, do we meet together? Luc. Serv. Ay, and, I think, One business does command us all; for mine Is money. Tit. So is theirs and ours. Enter PHILOtus. Luc. Serv. And Sir Philotus too! Phi. Good day at once. Luc. Serv. Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour? Phi. Labouring for nine. Luc, Serv. So much? Phi. Is not my lord seen yet? Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven. Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him: You must consider, that a prodigal course "Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse; That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet Find little. Phi. I am of your fear for that. Your lord sends now for money. Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's [gift, Luc, Serv. Mark, how strange it shows, Timon in this should pay more than he owes: And e'en as if your lord should wear rich And send for money for 'em. [jewels, Hor. I am weary of this charge,* the gods can witness: I know, my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth, And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth. 1 Var. Serv, Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: What's yours? Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine. 1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sum, Your master's confidence was above mine; Luc. Serv. Many do keep their chambers, are not sick : And, if it be so far beyond his health, Methinks, he should the sooner pay his debts, And make a clear way to the gods. Commission, employment. Ser. Good gods! Tit. We cannot take this for an answer, Sir. Flam. [Within.] Servilius, help!—my lord! my lord! Enter TIMON, in a rage; FLAMINIUS following. Have I been ever free, and must my house The place which I have feasted, does it now, Tit. My lord, here is my bill. Luc. Serv. Here's mine. Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord. Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord. Phi. All our bills. He is a man, setting his fate aside, Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And with such sober and unnoted passiont 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox, [ling Tim. Knock me down with 'em :* cleave me He's truly valiant, that can wisely suffer to the girdle. Luc. Serv. Alas! my lord, Tim. Cut my heart in sums. Tim. Tell out my blood. Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord. What yours?-and yours? 1 Var. Serv. My lord, 2 Var. Serv. My lord, Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you! [Exit. Hor. 'Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money; these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em. [Exeunt. Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS. The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs [lessly; If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, 1 Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear, To revenge is no valour, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardes Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, That stay at home, if bearing carry it; [lon, the slaves: Creditors!-devils. Flav. My dear lord, Tim. What if it should be so? Flav. My lord, Tim. I'll have it so:-My steward! Flav. Here, my lord. Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again, Flav. O my lord, You only speak from your distracted soul; Tim. Be't not in thy care; go. I charge thee; invite them all: let in the tide 2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him. And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the fe But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. H M |