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When all our offices have been oppress'd
With riotous feeders; when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine; when every room
Hath blaz'd with lights, and bray'd with min-
strelsy;

I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock,

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, noble, worthy, royal Timon?

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 pass'd my heart; Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.

Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack,

To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love,
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,
Men, and men's fortunes, could I frankly use,
As I can bid thee speak.

Flav.

1

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, ho!-Flaminius! Servilius!

Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants.

Serv. My lord, my lord,

Tim. I will despatch 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 lord Lucullus? humph!

[Aside. Tim. Go you, sir, [To another Serv.] to the se

nators,

(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 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 it 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

but

Something hath been amiss-a noble nature

May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis

pity

And so, intending other serious matters,

After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions, With certain half-caps, and cold-moving nods, They froze me into silence.

Tim.

You gods, reward them!I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly: These old fellows 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.Go to Ventidius,-[To a Serv.] 'Pr'ythee, [To Flavius,] be not sad,

Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously I speak, No blame belongs to thee:-[To Serv.] 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, which craves to be remem

ber'd

With those five talents:-that had,-[To Flavius,] give it these fellows

To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think, That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink. Flav. I would, I could not think it; That thought is bounty's foe;

Being free itself, it thinks all others so. [Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

THE SAME. A ROOM IN LUCULLUS'S HOUSE.

Flaminius waiting. Enter a Servant to him. Sero. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down to you.

Flam. I thank you, sir.

Enter Lucullus.

Sero. 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 welcome, sir.-Fill me some wine.-[Exit Servant.] And how does that honourable, complete, freehearted 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

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