Mer.
Ay, Apemantus.

Apem.
Traffick confound thee, if the gods will not!

Mer.
If traffick do it, the gods do it.

Apem.
Traffick's thy god, and thy god confound thee! Trumpets sound. Enter a Messenger.

Tim.
What trumpet's that?

Mes.
'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship^{2 note}.

Tim.
Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.
You must needs dine with me:—Go not you hence,
'Till I have thank'd you; and, when dinner's done,
Shew me this piece.—I am joyful of your sights.—

Enter Alcibiades, with the rest.
Most welcome, sir!

Apem.
So, so; there!—
Aches contract and starve your supple joints!—
That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves,
And all this courtesy! ^{3 note}
The strain of man's bred out
Into baboon and monkey.

Alc.
Sir, you have sav'd my longing, and I feed
Most hungrily on your sight.

Tim.
Right welcome, sir:
^{4 note}

1 Lord.

What time a day is't, Apemantus?

Apem.

Time to be honest.

1 Lord.

That time serves still.

Apem.

The most accursed thou, that still omit'st it.

2 Lord.

Thou art going to lord Timon's feast?

Apem.
Ay; to see meat fill knaves, and wine heat fools.

2 Lord.

Fare thee well, fare thee well.

Apem.
Thou art a fool, to bid me farewel twice.

2 Lord.

Why, Apemantus?

Apem.

Should'st have kept one to thyself, for I mean to give thee none.

1 Lord.

Hang thyself.

Apem.

No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy requests to thy friend.

2 Lord.

Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee hence.

Apem.
I will fly, like a dog, the heels of the ass.

1 Lord.
He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,
And taste lord Timon's bounty? he out-goes
The very heart of kindness.

2 Lord.
He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward: no meed^{5 note}

1 Lord.
The noblest mind he carries,
That ever govern'd man.

2 Lord.
Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?

1 Lord.
I'll keep you company. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. Another apartment in Timon's house. Hautboys playing loud musick. A great banquet serv'd in; and then enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius, and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus discontentedly, like himself.

Ven.
Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the gods to remember
My father's age, and call him to long peace.
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound
To your free heart, I do return those talents,
Doubled, with thanks, and service, from whose help
I deriv'd liberty.

Tim.
O, by no means,
Honest Ventidius: you mistake my love;
I gave it freely ever; and there's none
Can truly say, he gives, if he receives:
^{7 note}

Ven.
A noble spirit. [They all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon.

Tim.
Nay, my lords, ceremony
Was but devis'd at first
To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes,
Than they to me. [They sit.

1 Lord.
My lord, we always have confest it.

Apem.
Ho, ho, confest it? hang'd it, have you not?

Tim.
O, Apemantus!—you are welcome.

Apem.
No; you shall not make me welcome:
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors.

Tim.
Fye, thou art a churl; you have got a humour there
Does not become a man, 'tis much to blame:—
They say, my lords, ira furor brevis est,
But yonder man is ever angry 9Q0979.—
Go, let him have a table by himself;
For he does neither affect company,
Nor is he fit for it, indeed.

Apem.
Let me stay at thine own peril, Timon;
I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.

Tim.
I take no heed of thee; thou art an Athenian,
Therefore welcome: ^{8 note}

I pr'ythee, let my meat make thee silent.

Apem.
^{9 note}

Sits next him now, parts bread with him, pledges
The breath of him in a divided draught,
Is the readiest man to kill him: it has been prov'd.
If I were a huge man, I should fear to drink at meals;
Lest they should spy my ^{2 note}

Tim.
^{3 note}

2 Lord.
Let it flow this way, my good lord.

Apem.
Flow this way!
A brave fellow!—he keeps his tides well. Timon,
Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill.
Here's that, which is too weak to be a sinner,
Honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:
This, and my food, are equals; there's no odds.
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.

Apemantus's Grace.
Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his oath, or bond;
Or a harlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that seems a sleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:
Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks.
Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus!

Tim.

Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.

Alc.

My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

Tim.

You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies, than a dinner of friends.

Alc.

So they were bleeding new, my lord, there's no meat like 'em; I could wish my best friend at such a feast.

Apem.

'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then; that thou might'st kill 'em, and bid me to 'em.

1 Lord.

Might we but have that happiness, my lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we might express some part of our zeals, we should think ourselves ^{4 note}for ever perfect.

Tim.

O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: ^{5 note}

why have you that charitable title from thousands, ^{6 note}

2 Lord.
Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
And, at that instant, ^{3 note}

Apem.

Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.

3 Lord.
I promise you, my lord, you mov'd me much.

Apem.

Much.

Tim.

What means that trump?—How now?

Serv.

Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance.

Tim.

Ladies? What are their wills?

Serv.

There comes with them a fore-runner, my lord, which bears that office, to signify their pleasures.

Tim.

I pray, let them be admitted.

Cup.
Hail to thee, worthy Timon;—and to all
That of his bounties taste!—The five best senses
Acknowledge thee their patron; and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom:
^{3 note}

They only now come but to feast thine eyes.

Tim.
They are welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:—
Musick, make their welcome. [Exit Cupid.

1 Lord.
You see, my lord, how ample you are belov'd. Musick. Re-enter Cupid, with a masque of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing, and playing.

Apem.
Heyday! what a sweep of vanity comes this way!
^{5 note}

Like madness is the glory of this life,
As this pomp shews to a little oil, and root.
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves;
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men,
Upon whose age we void it up again,
With poisonous spite, and envy. Who lives, that's not
Depraved, or depraves? who dies, that bears
Not one spurn to their graves of their friends' gift^{7 note}?
I should fear, those, that dance before me now,
Would one day stamp upon me: It has been done;
Men shut their doors against a setting sun. The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of Timon; and, to shew their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women; a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease.

Tim.
You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,
Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto't, and lively lustre,
And entertain'd me with ^{8 note}mine own device;
I am to thank you for it.

1 Lady.
^{8 note}

Apem.
'Faith, for the worst is filthy; and would not hold
Taking, I doubt me.

Tim.
Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you.
Please you to dispose yourselves.

All Lad.
Most thankfully, my lord. [Exeunt.

Tim.
Flavius,—

Flav.
My lord.

Tim.
The little casket bring me hither.

Flav.
Yes, my lord.—More jewels yet!
There is no crossing him in his humour; [Aside.
Else I should tell him,—Well,—i'faith, I should,
When all's spent, ^{1 note}he'd be cross'd then, an he could.
'Tis pity, bounty had not ^{2 note}eyes behind;

That man might ne'er be wretched ^{3 note}for his mind. [Exit, and returns with the casket.

1 Lord.
Where be our men?

Serv.
Here, my lord, in readiness.

2 Lord.
Our horses.

Tim.
O my friends, I have one word
To say to you:—Look you, my good lord, I must
Intreat you, honour me so much, as ^{4 note}
to
Advance this jewel; accept, and wear it, kind my lord.

1 Lord.
I am so far already in your gifts,—

All.
So are we all. Enter a Servant.

Serv.
My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate
Newly alighted, and come to visit you.

Tim.
They are fairly welcome.

Flav.
I beseech your honour,
Vouchsafe me a word; it does concern you near.

Tim.
Near? why then another time I'll hear thee;
I pr'ythee, let us be provided
To shew them entertainment.

Flav. [Aside.]
I scarce know how. Enter another Servant.

2 Serv.
May it please your honour, lord Lucius,
Out of his free love, hath presented to you
Four milk-white horses, trapt in silver.

Tim.
I shall accept them fairly: let the presents
Be worthily entertain'd.—How now? what news?

Enter a third Servant.

3 Serv.

Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman, lord Lucullus, entreats your company tomorrow to hunt with him; and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds.

Tim.
I'll hunt with him; And let them be receiv'd,
Not without fair reward.

Flav. [Aside.]
What will this come to?
He commands us to provide, and give great gifts,
And all out of an empty coffer.—
Nor will he know his purse; or yield me this,
To shew him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good:
His promises fly so beyond his state,
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes
For every word; he is so kind, that he now
Pays interest for't; his land's put to their books.
Well, 'would I were gently put out of office,
Before I were forc'd out!
Happier is he that has no friend to feed,
Than such that do even enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord. [Exit.

Tim.
You do yourselves much wrong, you bate too much
Of your own merits:—Here, my lord; a trifle of our love.

2 Lord.

With more than common thanks I will receive it.

3 Lord.
O, he is the very soul of bounty!

Tim.
And now I remember, my lord, you gave
Good words the other day of a bay courser
I rode on: it is yours, because you lik'd it.

2 Lord.
O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord,
In that.

Tim.
You may take my word, my lord; I know, no man
Can justly praise, but what he does affect:

I weigh my friend's affection with mine own;
^{9 note}
I tell you true. I'll call on you.

All Lords.
O, none so welcome.

Tim.
I take all and your several visitations
So kind to heart, ^{1 note}

Alc.
^{2 note}
In defiled land, my lord.

1 Lord.
We are so virtuously bound,—

Tim.
And so am I to you.

2 Lord.
So infinite endear'd,—

Tim.
All to you^{3 note}
.—Lights! more lights.

1 Lord.
The best of happiness,
Honour, and fortunes, keep with you, lord Timon!—

Tim.
Ready for his friends. [Exeunt Alcibiades, Lords, &c.

Apem.
What a coil's here!
^{4 note}

Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies.

Tim.
Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen,
I would be good to thee.

Apem.
No, I'll nothing: for,
If I should be brib'd too, there would be none left
To rail upon thee; and then thou would'st sin the faster.
Thou giv'st so long, Timon, ^{6 note}

Tim.
Nay,
If you begin to rail once on society,
I am sworn, not to give regard to you.
Farewel; and come with better musick. [Exit.

Apem.
So;—
Thou wilt not hear me now,—thou shalt not then, I'll lock
^{7 note}Thy heaven from thee. O, that men's ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! [Exit.

ACT II. SCENE I. A publick place in the city. Enter a Senator.

Sen.
And late, five thousand to Varro; and to Isidore,
He owes nine thousand;—besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty.—Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog,
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold:
If I would sell my horse, and buy twenty more
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon,
^{8 note}

But rather one that smiles, and still invites
All that pass by. It cannot hold; ^{1 note}

Caph.
Here, sir; What is your pleasure?

Sen.
Get on your cloak, and haste you to lord Timon;
Importune him for my monies; be not ceas'd^{2 note}

My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates
Has smit my credit: I love, and honour him;
But must not break my back, to heal his finger:
Immediate are my needs; and my relief
Must not be tost and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate aspect,
A visage of demand; for, I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing,
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull^{4 note},
^{5 note}Which flashes now a phœnix. Get you gone.

Caph.
I go, sir.

Sen.
I go, sir?—^{6 note}

Caph.
I will, sir.

Sen.
Go. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. Timon's hall. Enter Flavius, with many bills in his hand.

Flav.
No care, no stop! so senseless of expence,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot; Takes no account
How things go from him; nor resumes no care
Of what is to continue; ^{7 note}

Caph.
^{8 note}

You come for money?

Var.
Is't not your business too?

Caph.
It is;—And your's too, Isidore?

Isid.
It is so.

Caph.
'Would we were all discharg'd!

Var.
I fear it.

Caph.
Here comes the lord. Enter Timon, Alcibiades, &c.

Tim.
So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,
My Alcibiades.—With me? What is your will? [They present their bills.

Caph.
My lord, here is a note of certain dues.

Tim.
Dues? Whence are you?

Caph.
Of Athens here, my lord.

Tim.
Go to my steward.

Caph.
Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awak'd by great occasion,
To call upon his own; and humbly prays you,

That with your other noble parts you'll suit^{9 note},
In giving him his right.

Tim.
Mine honest friend,
I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning.

Caph.
Nay, good my lord,—

Tim.
Contain thyself, good friend.

Var.
One Varro's servant, my good lord,—

Isid.
From Isidore;
He humbly prays your speedy payment,—

Caph.
If you did know, my lord, my master's wants,—

Var.
'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks,
And past.—

Isid.
Your steward puts me off, my lord; and I
Am sent expressly to your lordship.

Tim.
Give me breath:—
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; [Exeunt Alcibiades, &c.
I'll wait upon you instantly.—Come hither, pray you. [To Flavius.
How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd,
With clamorous demands of broken bonds¹, ^note
,
And the detention of long-since-due debts,
Against my honour?

Flav.
Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business:
Your importunacy cease, 'till after dinner;
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.

Tim.
Do so, my friends: See them well entertain'd. [Exit Timon.

Flav.
Pray draw near. [Exit Flavius.

^{2 note}Enter Apemantus, and a Fool.

Caph.
Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus;
Let's have some sport with 'em.

Var.

Hang him, he'll abuse us.

Isid.

A plague upon him, dog!

Var.

How dost, fool?

Apem.

Dost dialogue with thy shadow?

Var.

I speak not to thee.

Apem.

No, 'tis to thyself.—Come away.

Isid. [To Var.]

There's the fool hangs on your back already.

Apem.

No, thou stand'st single, thou art not on him yet.

Caph.

Where's the fool now?

Apem.

He last ask'd the question. ^{3 note}

All.

What are we, Apemantus?

Apem.

Asses.

All.

Why?

Apem.

That you ask me, what you are, and do not know yourselves.—Speak to 'em, fool.

Fool.

How do you, gentlemen?

All.

Gramercies, good fool: How does your mistress?

Fool.

^{4 note}

Apem.

Good! gramercy.

Fool.

Look you, here comes my master's page^{6 note}


.

Page. [To the Fool.]

Why, how now, captain? what do you in this wise company?—How dost thou, Apemantus?

Apem.

'Would I had a rod in my mouth that I might answer thee profitably.

Page.

Pr'ythee, Apemantus, read me the superscription of these letters; I know not which is which.

Apem.

Can'st not read?

Page.

No.

Apem.

There will little learning die then, that day thou art hang'd. This is to lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou'lt die a bawd.

Page.

Thou wast whelp'd a dog; and thou shalt famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone.

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.

Ay; 'would they serv'd us!

Apem.

So would I,—as good a trick as ever hangman serv'd thief.

Fool.

Are you three usurers' men?

All.

Ay, fool.

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 master's house merrily, and go away sadly: The reason of this?

Var.

I could render one.

Apem.

Do it then, that we may account thee a whore-master, and a knave; which notwithstanding, thou shalt be no less esteemed.

Var.

What is a whore-master, 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's ^{7 note}

Var.

Thou art not altogether a fool.

Fool.

Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery as I have, so much wit thou lack'st.

Apem.

That answer might have become Apemantus.

All.

Aside, aside; here comes lord Timon.

Apem.

Come with me, fool, come.

Fool.

I do not always follow lover, elder brother, and woman; sometime, the philosopher.

Flav.

Pray you, walk near; I'll speak with you anon.

Tim.
You make me marvel: Wherefore, ere this time,
Had you not fully laid my state before me;
That I might so have rated my expence,
As I had leave of means?

Flav.
You would not hear me,
At many leisures I propos'd.

Tim.
Go to:
Perchance, some single vantages you took,
When my indisposition put you back;

And that unaptness ^{8 note}

Flav.
O my good lord!
At many times I brought in my accounts,
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,
And say, you found them in mine honesty.
When, for some trifling present, you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head, and wept;
Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners, pray'd you
To hold your hand more close: I did endure
Not seldom, nor no slight checks; when I have
Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate,
And your great flow of debts. My dear-lov'd lord,
^{9 note}

Tim.
Let all my land be sold.

Flav.
'Tis all engag'd, some forfeited and gone;
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues: the future comes apace:
What shall defend the interim? ^{1 note}

Tim.
To Lacedæmon did my land extend.

Flav.
^{2 note}

Tim.
You tell me true.

Flav.
If you suspect my husbandry, or falshood,
Call me before the exactest auditors,
And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been opprest
With riotous feeders^{3 note}

; when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine; when every room
Hath blaz'd with lights, and bray'd with minstrelsy;
I have retir'd me to ^{4 note}

And set mine eyes at flow.

Tim.
Pr'ythee, no more.

Flav.
Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!
How many prodigal bits have slaves, and peasants,
This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?
What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is lord Timon's?
Great Timon's, noble, worthy, royal Timon's?
Ah! when the means are gone, that buy this praise,
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made:
Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,
These flies are couch'd.

Tim.
Come, sermon me no further:
No villainous bounty yet hath past my heart^{5 note}
;
Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
Why dost thou weep? Can'st thou the conscience lack,
To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love,

^{6 note}

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
Shall I try friends: You shall perceive, how you
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.
Within there,—Flaminius! Servilius! Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants.

Serv.
My lord, my lord,—

Tim.
I will dispatch you severally,—You, to lord Lucius,—
To lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his
Honour to-day,—You, to Sempronius,—
Commend me to their loves; and, I am proud, say,
That my occasions have found time to use them
Toward a supply of money: let the request
Be fifty talents.

Flam.
As you have said, my lord.

Flav.
Lord Lucius, and Lucullus? hum!—

Tim.
Go you, sir, to the senators, [To Flavius.
(Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have
Deserv'd this hearing) bid 'em send o' the instant
A thousand talents to me.

Flav.
I have been bold,
(For that ^{7 note}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't be?

Flav.
They answer, in a joint and corporate voice,
That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot
Do what they would; are sorry—you are honourable,—
But yet they could have wish'd—they know not—
Something hath been amiss—a noble nature
May catch a wrench—would all were well—'tis pity—
And so, ^{8 note}

Tim.
You gods reward them!—
I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly: These old fellows
^{3 note}Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:
Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it seldom flows;
'Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion'd for the journey, dull, and heavy^{4 note}



.—
Go to Ventidius,—Pr'ythee, be not sad,
Thou art true, and honest; ingenuously I speak,
No blame belongs to thee:—Ventidius lately
Bury'd his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd
Into a great estate: when he was poor,
Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,
I clear'd him with five talents: Greet him from me;
Bid him suppose, some good necessity
Touches his friend, 9Q0981 which craves to be remember'd
With those five talents:—that had, give it these fellows
To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think,
That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink.

Flav.
^{5 note}

ACT III. SCENE I. Lucullus's house in Athens. 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.

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 bason and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively^{7 note}
welcome, sir. —Fill me some wine.—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 ha' din'd 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 honesty is his; I ha' told him on't, but I could never get him from't.

Serv.

Please your lordship, here is the wine.

Lucul.

Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.

Flam.

Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

Lucul.

I have observ'd thee always for a towardly prompt spirit,—give thee thy due,—and 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 bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise; and thou know'st well enough, although thou com'st to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares^{1 note} for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well.

Flam.
Is't possible, the world should so much differ;
^{2 note}And we alive, that liv'd? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee. [Throwing the money away.

Lucul.

Ha! Now I see, thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.

Flam.
May these add to the number that may scald thee!

Let molten coin be thy damnation^{3 note},
Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
^{4 note}It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel my master's passion! This slave,
Unto his honour^{5 note}, has my lord's meat in him:
Why should it thrive, and turn to nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poison?
O, may diseases only work upon't!
And, when he's sick to death, let not that part of^{6 note}