Upon his debts, and take down th' interest wrong, You do yourselves but To stir me up; let me pass quietly: Luc. Serv. Ay, but this answer will not serve. 'Tis not so base as you; for you serve knaves. [Exit. 1 Var. Serv. How! what does his cashier'd worship mutter? 2 Var. Serv. 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 rail against great buildings. Enter SERVILIUS. Tit. O, here's Servilius; now we shall know If I might beseech you, gentlemen, To repair some other hour, I should much He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber. 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, 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. Tim. What, are my doors oppos'd against my passage ? 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. Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord. Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord. Phi. All our bills. Tim. Knock me down with 'em': cleave me to the girdle. Luc. Serv. Alas! my lord, Tim. Cut my heart in sums. Tit. Mine, fifty talents. Tim. Tell out my blood. Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord. Tim. Five thousand drops pays that. 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. Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the slaves: Creditors!-devils. 7 Timon quibbles. They present their written bills; he catches at the word, and alludes to bills or battle-axes. Flav. My dear lord, Tim. What if it should be so? Tim. I'll have it so:- My steward! Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again, I'll once more feast the rascals. Flav. Tim. Be't not in thy care; go, I charge thee; invite them all: let in the tide Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide. [Exeunt. SCENE V. The Senate-House. The Senate sitting. Enter ALCIBIADES, attended. 1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die : 2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him. senate ! 1 Sen. Now, captain? Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; For pity is the virtue of the law, And none but tyrants use it cruelly. It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy He is a man, setting his fate aside, Of comely virtues : Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox, Striving to make an ugly deed look fair: Your words have took such pains, as if they labour'd The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, 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, pardon me, If I speak like a captain. Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, 8 Manage, govern. That stay at home, if bearing carry it; And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords, Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. In vain? his service done At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, Were a sufficient briber for his life. 1 Sen. What's that? Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair service, And slain in fight many of your enemies : How full of valour did he bear himself In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds? Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner: Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, Security, I'll pawn my victories, all My honour to you, upon his good returns. For aggravation. |