. Lacul Flaminius, I have noted thee always wife. Here's to thee. Flam. Your Lordship speaks your pleasure. the Servant, who goes out.] Lucul. I have obferved thee always for a towardly prompt fpirit, give thee thy due: and one that knows what belongs to reafon; and canft use the time well, if the time use thee well. Good parts in thee Get you gone, firrah. [To Draw nearer, honeft Fla minius; thy Lord's a bountiful gentleman, but thou art wife, and thou knoweft well enough (although thou comeft to me) that this is no time to lend mony, efpecially upon bare friendship without fecurity. Here's three Solidares for thee, good boy, wink at me, and say, thou faw'st me not. Fare thee well. ilam. Is't poffible the world should fo much differ.nŤ And we alive that liv'd? fly, damned baseness, To him that worship's thee, vad [Throwing the mony away. Lucul, Ha! now I fee thou art a fool, and fit for thy mafter. [Exit Lucullus. Flam. May thefe add to the number that may fcald thee! Let molten coin be thy damnation, Thou difeafe of a friend, and not himself! Unto this hour has my Lord's meat in him: of To expel fickness, or prolong his hoor! aid we [Exit. Luc. Who, the Lord Timon ? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman. A 1 Stran. We know him for no lefs, tho' we are but ftrangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my Lord, and which I hear from common rumours; now Lord Timon's happy happy hours are done and paft, and his eftate fhrinks from him. Luc. Fye, no, do not believe it: he cannot want for mony. 2 Stran. But believe you this, my Lord, that not long ago one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus, to borrow fo many talents, nay, urg'd extremely for't, and fhewed what neceffity belong'd to't, and yet was deny'd. Luc. How! 2 Stran. I tell you, deny'd, my Lord. Luc. What a ftrange cafe was that! now before the Gods I am afham'd on't. Deny'd that honourable man? there was very little honour fhew'd in that. For my own part, I must needs confefs I have received fome fmall kindneffes from him, as mony, plate, jewels, and fuch like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet had he o'er-look'd him, and fent to me, I fhould ne'er have deny'd his occasion so many talents. Enter Servilius. Ser. See, by good hap yonder's my Lord, I have fweat to fee his Honour.-My honour'd Lord. [To Lucius. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, Sir. Fare thee well, commend me to thy honourable virtuous Lord, my very exquifite friend. Ser. May it pleafe your Honour, my Lord hath fent-Luc. Ha! what hath he fent? I am fo much endear'd to that Lord; he's ever fending: how shall I thank him, think'ft thou? and what has he fent now? Ser. H'as only fent his prefent occafion now, my Lord; requesting your Lordship to fupply is inftant use, with fifty talents. Luc. I know his Lordship is but merry with me, He can't want fifty times five hundred talents. Ser. But in the mean time he wants lefs, my Lord. If his occafion were not virtuous, I fhould not urge it half fo fervently. Luc. Doft thou fpeak seriously, Servilius ? Ser. Upon my foul 'tis true, Sir. Luc. What a wicked beaft was I, to disfurnish my felf against such a good time, when I might ha' fhewn my self honourable! honourable! how unluckily it happen'd, that I should purchafe the day before a little dirt, and undo a great deal of henour! Servilius, now before the Gods, I am not able to do-(the more beaft I, fay)—I was fending to use Lord Timon my felf, these gentlemen can witnefs; but I would not, for the wealth of Atbens, 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, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you be friend me fo far, as to use my own words to him? Ser. Yes, Sir, I fhall. [Exit Servilius. Luc. I'll look you out as good a turn, Servilius. True, as you faid, Timon is fhrunk indeed, And he that's once deny'd will hardly fpeed. 1 Stran. Do you obferve this now, Hoftilius ? 2 Stran. Ay, ay, too well. 1 Stran. Why, this is the world's foul; 1 Stran. For mine own part I would have put my wealth into partition, [Exit. So much I love his heart: but I perceive, SCENE III. Enter a third Servant with Sempronius. [Exeunt Sem. Muft he needs trouble me in't? 'bove all others? He might have tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus; And now Ventidius is wealthy too, Whom he redeem'd from prifon. Owe their estates unto him. Ser. Oh my Lord, All these three They've all been touch'd, and all are found bafe metal, Sem. How? deny'd him? Have Lucius and Ventidius and Lucullus And with their faint reply this anfwer join; [Exita Ser. Excellent! your Lordship's a goodly villain, The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politick he cross'd himself by't; and I cannot think, but in the end the policy of man will fet him clear. How fairly this Lord Arives not to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked? like like thofe that under hot ardent zeal, would set whole realms on fire. Of fuch a nature is his politick love. This was my Lord's beft hope; now all are fled, Save the Gods only. Now his friends are dead, Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards Many a bounteous year, muft be employ'd Now to guard fure their mafter. And this is all a liberal course allows; Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house. [Exit. Enter Varro, Titus, Hortenfius, Lucius, and other Servants Hor. Lucius, why do we meet together? Luc. I think one bufinefs does command us all. Luc. And Sir Philotas's too. Pbi. Good day at once. Luc. Welcome, good brother. What d'you think the hour? Phi, Labouring for nine. Luc. So much? Phi. Is not my Lord feen yet? Luc. Not yet. Phi. I wonder : he was wont To fhine at feven. Luc. Ay, but now the days Are waxed fhorter with him: you must confider But not like his recoverable, I fear : 'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse; That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet Phi. I am of your fear for that. Tit. I'll fhew you how t' obferve a strange event: Your Lord fends now for mony. Hor. True, he does. Tit. |