And past, Apem. So would I,-as good a trick as ever hangman served thief. Fool. Are you three usurers' men ? Fool. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my servant: My mistress is one, and I am her fool. lord; And I am sent expressly to your lordship. Tim. Give me breath :- I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on; [Exeunt ALCIBIADES and LORDS. I'll wait upon you instantly.-Come hither, pray you. [To FLAVIUS. 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, notwithstandHow goes the world, that I am thus encoun-ing, thou shalt be no less esteemed. Enter APEMANTUS and a FooL. Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus; let's have some sport with 'em. Var. Serv. Hang him, he'll abuse us. Isid. Serv. A plague upon him, dog! Var. Serv. How dost, fool? Apem. Dost dialogue with thy shadow? Var. Serv. I speak not to thee. Apem. No; 'tis to thyself,-Come away [To the FOOL. Isid. Serv. [To VAR. SERV.] 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 asked the question.-Poor rogues, and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want! All Serv. What are we, Apemantus ? All Serv. Why? 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 bis 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 Ape mantus. All Serv. Aside, aside; here comes lord Ti mon. Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS. Apem. Come with me, fool, come. Fool. I do not always follow lover, elder bro ther, and woman; sometime, the philosopher. [Exeunt APEMANTUS and FooL. Flav. 'Pray you, walk near; I'll speak with you anon. [Exeunt SERY, Tim. You make me marvel: Wherefore, ere this time, Had you not fully laid my state before me; Flav. You would not hear me, Tim. Go to: Perchance, some single vantages you took When my indisposition put you back; Apem. That you ask me what you are, and do And that unaptness made your minister, not know yourselves.-Speak to 'em, fool. Fool. How do you, gentlemen? All Serv. Gramercies, good fool: How does your mistress? Fool. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. 'Would, we could see at Corinth. Apem. Good! gramercy. Enter PAGE. you Fool. Look you, here comes my mistress' page. 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. Canst not read? Page. No. Apem. There will little learning die then, that day thou art hanged. This is to lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born 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 ! Thus to excuse yourself. 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 The greatest of your having lacks a half 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? and at length How goes our reckoning? Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend. Flav. O my good lord, the world is but word; Were it all your's, to give it in a breath, L. e. a certain sum. Flav. If you suspect my husbandry, or false- With drunken spilth of wine; when every room I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock, t Tim. Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon? The breath is gone whereof this praise is made: These flies are couch'd Tm. Come, sermon me no further: Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart: Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use, Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine That I account them blessings; for by these you Something hath been amiss-a noble nature And so intending other serious matters, With certain half-caps, and cold moving nods, Tim. You gods, reward them! 1 pr'ythee man, look cheerly; These old fel- Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously I speak, Buried his father by whose death, he's stepp'd I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from With those five talents :-that had,-[To FLAV.] To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, [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. ACT III. [Exeunt. Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends. SCENE 1.-The ame.-A Room in LUCULLUS' Within there, ho!-Flaminius! Servilius ! To lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his That my occasions have found time to use them Flam. As you have said, my lord. Flav. Lord Lucius, and Lord Lucullus? humph! [Aside. Tim. Go you, Sir, [To another SERV.] to the senators, (Of whom, even to the state's best health, I Deserv'd this hearing,) bid 'em send o'the instant Flav. I have been bold, (For that I knew it the most general way,) Tim. Is't true? can it be? Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, That now they are at fall, want treasure, not Do what they would; are sorry-you are ourable, House. Serv. Here's my lord. Lucul. [Aside.] Oue 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 can-him on't: and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less; and yet he hon- would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and ho nesty is his; I have told him on't but I could never get him from it. But yet they could have wish'd-they know not-but • The apartments allotted to culinary offices, &c. A pipe with a turning stopple running to waste. If would, (says Timon,) by borrowing, try of what men's hearts are composed, what they have in them,&c. Dignified At an ebb. Re-enter SERVANT, with wine. Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure. Lucul. I have observed 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 knowest well enough, although thou comest to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares 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; [uess, And we alive, that liv'd?+ Fly, damned basefo him that worships thee. [Throwing the money away. Lucul. Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master. [Exit LUCULLUS. Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee! Let molten coin be thy damnation, Oh! may diseases only work upon't! Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sent-- Luc. Ha! what has he sent ? I am so much endeared to that lord; he's ever sending: How shall I thank him, thinkest thou? and what has he sent now? Ser. He has only sent his present occasion He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. If I should not urge it so half faithfully. 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 ?-Servillius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I say :was sending to use lord Timon myself these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope wealth of Athens, I had done it now. Commend 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. And, when he is sick to death, let not that part True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed: of nature SCENE II.-The same.-A public place. Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman. 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 done ¶ and past, and his estate shrinks from biin. Luc. Fie no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.[Exit SERVILIUS. And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed. [Exit LUCIUS. 1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius? 2 Stran. Ay, too well. 1 Stran, Why this Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece 2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, Luc. How? 2 Stran. I tell you denied, my lord. Luc. What a strange case was that? now, before the gods, I am asham'd on't. Denied that honourable man? there was very litle honour show'd 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. Enter SERVILIUS. To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest, I would have put my wealth into donation + [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in SEM- Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a SERVANT of TI- Sem. Must be needs trouble me in't? Humph! Ser. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; 1 have sweat to see his honour.-My honoured lord,[To LUCIUS. Fare thee well :-Commend me to thy honour-Whom he redeem'd from prison: All these three Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, Sir. able-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend. He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus ; Owe their estates unto him. "If he did not want it for a good use." T Sem. How! have they denied him? Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? And does he send to me? Three ? humph!It shows but little love or judgment in him. Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians, Thrive, give him over; Must 1 take the cure But his occasions might have woo'd me first; And does he think so backwardly of me now, And with their faint reply this answer join; Of such a nature is his politic love. This was my lord's best hope; now all are fied, Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd 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. Your lord sends now for money. Hor. Most true, he doeɛ. Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift For which I wait for money. Hor. It is against my heart. 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 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 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; Enter FLAMINIUS. Tit. One of lord Timon's men. Luc. Serv. Flaminius! Sir, a word: 'Pray, is my lord ready to come forth? Flam. No, indeed, he is not, Tit. We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much. Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent. [Exit FLAMINIUS. Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled. Luc. Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffiled so ? He goes away in a cloud: wall him, call him. 1 Var. Serv. By your leave, Sir,—— not If money were as certain as your waiting, 'Twere sure enough. Why then preferr'd you [eat Your sums and bills, when your false masters Of my lord's meat? Then they could smile, and fawn Upon nis debts, and take down the interest Into their gluttonous maws. You do yourselves but wrong, Tit. Oh! here's Servilius; now we shall know Some answer. Ser. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, To repair some other hour, I should much Derive from it: for, take it on my soul, My lord leans wond'rously to discontent. His comfortable temper has forsook him; 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, And make a clear way to the gods. • Commission. Phi. All our bills. Seeing his reputation touch'e to death, And with such sober and unnoted passion ⚫ 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox, To bring manslaughter into form, set quarelling His outsides; wear them like his raiment, care- Tim. Knock me down with 'em: cleave me To bring it into danger. 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. 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 [Exeunt. 'em. Re-enter TIMON and FLAVIUS. If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, Alcib. My lord. 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, Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? the slaves: Creditors!-devils. Flav. My dear lord, Tim. What if it should be so? 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 [Exeunt. To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust ;|| But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. 1 Sen. What's that? Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair service, And slain in fight many of your enemies: In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds? Is a sworn rioter: h'as a sin that often SCENE V.-The same.-The Senate-House. Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner : If there were no foes, that were enough alone The Senate sitting. Enter ALCIBIADES, at-To overcome him: in that beastly fury tended. He has been known to commit outrages, 1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the And cherish factions: 'Tis inferr'd to us, fault's His days are foul, and his drink dangerous. 1 Sen. He dies. Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My lords, if not for any parts in him, (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move you, Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; Take my deserts to his, and join them both: For pity is the virtue of the law, And none but tyrants use it cruelly. It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy Of comely virtues : Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And, for I know, your reverend ages love Passion so moderated that no one could note its operation. + Manage. You undertake a Why do we take the field? Rashness. T1 call mercy to witness, that defensive violence is just. A bill was also a battle-axe--Timon, therefore, paradox too hard. plays upon the word. With the exception of this ons set. |