FLAVIUS.
Oh, you Gods!
Is yon despis'd and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? oh, monument
And wonder of good deeds, evilly bestow'd!

^{1 note}
What change of humour desp'rate want has made?
What viler thing upon the earth, than friends,
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends?
^{2 note}How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
^{3 note}When man was will'd to love his enemies:
^{4 note}

Tim.
Away! what art thou?

Flav.
Have you forgot me, Sir?

Tim.
Why dost thou ask That? I have forgot all men.
Then, if thou grantest that thou art a man,
I have forgot thee.

Flav.
An honest servant,—

Tim.
Then I know thee not:

I ne'er had honest man about me, all
I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains.

Flav.
The Gods are witness,
Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord, than mine eyes for you.

Tim.
What, dost thou weep? come nearer, then I love thee,
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankind; whose eyes do never give
But or through lust, or laughter. Pity's sleeping;
Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping!

Flav.
I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
T'accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts
To entertain me as your steward still.

Tim.
Had I a steward
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
^{5 note}

&wlquo;For many so arrive at second masters,
&wlquo;Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true,
&wlquo;(For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure)
&wlquo;Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,
&wlquo;A usuring kindness, as rich men deal gifts,&wrquo;
Expecting in return twenty for one?

Flav.
No, my most worthy master, (in whose breast
Doubt and Suspect, alas, are plac'd too late,)
You should have fear'd false times, when you did feast;
Suspect still comes, where an estate is least.
That which I shew, heav'n knows, is meerly love,
Duty, and Zeal, to your unmatched mind,
Care of your food and living: and, believe it,
For any benefit that points to me
Either in hope, or present, I'd exchange
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth
To require me by making rich yourself.

Tim.
Look thee, 'tis so; thou singly honest man,
Here, take; the Gods out of my misery
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy:
But thus condition'd; Thou shalt build from men:
Hate all, curse all, shew charity to none;
But let the famisht flesh slide from the bone,
Ere thou relieve the beggar. Give to dogs
What thou deny'st to men. Let prisons swallow 'em,
Debts wither 'em; be men like blasted woods,
And may diseases lick up their false bloods!
And so farewel, and thrive.

Flav.
O, let me stay, and comfort you, my master.

Tim.
If thou hat'st curses,
Stay not, but fly, whilst thou art blest and free;
Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee. [Exeunt severally.

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