Ser.

I have told my lord of you, he's coming down to you.

Fla.

I thank you, sir.

Ser.

Here's my lord.

&clquo;Luc.

&clquo;One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant.

Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver bason and ewre to-night.&crquo;—Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.—Fill me some wine.— [Exit Servant.] And how does that honourable, compleat, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

Fla.

His health is well, sir.

Luc.

I am right glad, that his health is well, sir: And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

Fla.

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.

Luc.

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 ne'er get him from't.

Ser.

Please your lordship, here is the wine.

Luc.

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

Fla.

Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

Luc.

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.—[Exit Servant.] 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 &dagger2; solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well.

Fla.
Is't possible, the world should so much differ;
And we alive, that liv'd?14Q1153 Fly, damned baseness, [throwing back the Money.
To him that worships thee.

Luc.

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

Fla.
May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let molten coin be thy damnation,
Thou disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel my master's passion! This slave
Unto this hour ^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 nature ^note,
Which my lord pay'd for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong ^note his hour! [Exit. SCENE II. The same. A publick Place. Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.

Luc.

Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend,

and an honourable gentleman.

1. S.

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 ^note lord Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

Luc.

Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot ^note want for money.

2. S.

But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the lord Lucullus, to borrow fifty talents ^note; nay, urg'd extreamly for't, and shew'd what necessity belong'd to't, and yet was deny'd.

Luc.

How?

2. S.

I tell you, deny'd, my lord.

Luc.

What a strange case was that? now, before the gods, I am asham'd on't. Deny'd that honourable man? there was very little honour shew'd in't. ^note For my own part, I must needs confess, I have receiv'd some small kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mistook ^note him, and sent to me,14Q1154 I should ne'er have deny'd his occasion so many talents.

Ser.

See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see his honour.—My honour'd lord,—

Luc.

Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well; Commend me to thy honourable, virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Ser.

May it please your honour, my lord hath sent—

Luc.

Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endear'd to that lord; he's ever sending; How shall I thank him, think'st thou? And what has he sent now?

Ser.

H'as only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with fifty talents.

Luc.
I know, his lordship is but merry with ^note me;
He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents.

Ser.
But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.

Luc.

Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Ser.

Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir.

Luc.

What a wicked beast was I, to diffurnish myself against such a good time, when I might have shewn myself honourable? how unluckily it happen'd, that I should purchase the day before for a little dirt, and ^note undo a great deal of honour?—Servilius, now, before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I 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't now. Commend me bountifully to his good lordship; and, I hope, his honour will conceive the fairest 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 cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?

Ser.

Yes, sir, I shall.

Luc.
I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.— [Exit Servilius.
True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed;
And he, that's once deny'd, will hardly speed. [Exit Lucius.

1. S.
Do you observe this, Hostilius?

2. S.
Ay, too well.

1. S.
Why ^note this is the world's soul; And just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit ^note. Who can call him
His friend, that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse;
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid ^note his men their wages: He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet, (o, see the monstrousness of man,
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.

3. S.
Religion groans at it.

1. S.
For mine own part,
I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor e'er came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right-noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation, ^note
And the best half should have return'd ^note to him,
So much I love his heart: But, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Room in Sempronius' House. Enter Sempronius, and Servant of Timon's.

Sem.
Must he needs trouble me in't, 'bove all others?
He might have try'd lord Lucius, or Lucullus;

And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison: All these three
Owe ^note their estates unto him.

Ser.
O my lord,
They have all been touch'd, and found ^note base metal; for
They have all deny'd him?

Sem.
How! have they deny'd him?
Has Lucius, and Ventidius, and Lucullus,
Deny'd him, say you? and does he send to me?
Three? hum!
It shews but little love, or judgment, in him.
Must I be his last refuge then? His friends, ^note14Q1155
Like thriv'd physicians ^note, ^note give him over; Must
I take the cure upon me?
H'as much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him,
That might have known my place: I see no sense for't,
But his occasions might have woo'd me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man,
That e'er receiv'd gift from him:
And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No: so it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,
And among'st lords I ^note shall be thought a fool.
I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
H'ad sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;
I had such a courage to have done him ^note good.
But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour, shall not know my coin. [Exit Sempronius.

Ser.
Excellent! Your lordship's
A goodly villain. The devil knew not what

He did, when he made man so politick;
He cross'd 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 by; like those, that, under hot
And ardent zeal, would set whole realms on fire:
Of such a nature is his politick love.
This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,
Save the gods only ^note: Now his friends are dead,
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows;
Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house. [Exit. SCENE IV. The same, Hall in Timon's House. Enter two Servants of Varro's, meeting Titus, Lucius, Hortensius, and Others, Servants to Timon's Creditors, waiting his coming out.

1. V.
Well met; good morrow, Titus, and Hortensius.

Tit.
The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor.
Lucius,
What, do we meet together?

Luc.
Ay, and, I think,
One business does command us all; for mine
Is money.

Tit.
So is † theirs, and ours. Enter Philotus.

Luc.
And sir
Philotus too!

Phi.
Good day at once.

Luc.
Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?

Phi.
Labouring for nine.

Luc.
So much?

Phi.
Is not my lord seen yet?

Luc.
Not yet.

Phi.
I wonder on't; he was won't ^note to shine at seven.

Luc.
Ay, but the days are waxt shorter with him:
You must consider, that a prodigal's course
Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear,
'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.

Tit.
I'll shew you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money:

Hor.
Most true, he does.

Tit.
And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
For which I wait for money.

Hor.
It is against my heart.

Luc.
Mark you, how strange it shows,
Timon in this should pay more than he owes:
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for 'em.

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. V.
Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: What's yours?

Luc.
Five thousand mine.

1. V.
'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sum,
Your master's confidence was above mine;

Else, surely, his had equal'd. Enter Flaminius.

Tit.
One of lord Timon's men.

Luc.
Flaminius?—Sir, a word; Pray, is my lord
Ready to come forth?

Fla.
No, indeed, he is not.

Tit.
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.

Fla.
I need not tell him that; he knows, you are too diligent. Enter Steward in a Cloke, muffl'd.

Luc.
Ha! is not that his steward muffl'd so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.

Tit.
Do you hear, sir? [Exit Flaminius.

2. V.
By your leave, sir,—

Ste.
What do you ask of me, my friend?

Tit.
We wait for certain money here, sir.

Ste.
Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twere sure enough. Why then prefer'd you not
Your sums, and bills, when your false masters eat
Of my lord's meat? Then they would smile, and fawn
Upon his debts, and take down th' interest
Into their gluttonous maws. You do yourselves but wrong,
To stir me up; let me pass quietly:
Believe't, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

Luc.
Ay, but this answer will not serve.

Ste.
If 'twill not serve, 'tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves. [Exit Steward.

1. V.
How's that? what says he? what does
His cashier'd worship mutter?

2. V.
No matter what; he's poor,
And that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader,

Than he that has no house to put his head in?
Such may have leave to rail against great buildings. Enter Servilius.

Tit.
O, here's Servilius; now we shall know
Some answer.

Ser.
If I might beseech you, gentlemen,
But to repair some other hour, I should
Derive much from't: for, take it o'my soul,
My lord leans wondrously to discontent:
His comfortable temper has forsook him;
He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber.

Luc.
Many do keep their chambers, are not sick:
And, if it be ^note so far beyond his health,
Methinks, he should the sooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.

Ser.
Good gods!

Tit.
We can't take this for answer, sir.

Fla. [within.]
Servilius, help! my lord, my lord,— Enter Timon, Flaminius following.

Tim.
What, are my doors oppos'd against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my jail?
The place, which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, shew me an iron heart?

Luc.
Put in now, Titus.

Tit.
My lord, here is my † bill.

Luc.
Here's † mine.

Hor.
And † mine, my lord.14Q1156

Var^s.
And † ours, my lord.

Phi.
All our † bills.

Tim.
Knock me down with 'em,
Cleave me to the girdle.

Luc.
Alas, my lord,—

Tim.
Cut out
My heart in sums.

Tit.
Mine, fifty talents.

Tim.
Tell out
My blood.

Luc.
Five thousand crowns, my lord.

Tim.
Five thousand drops
Pays that: ^note—What yours?—and yours?

1. V.
My lord—

2. V.
My lord,—

Tim.
Here tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you! [Exit Timon.

Hor.

Faith, I perceive, our masters may throw their caps at their money; these debts may well be call'd desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.