that under hot, ardent, zeal would fet whole Realms on fire.

Of fuch a nature is his politick love.

This was my Lord's best hope; now all are fled,
Save only the Gods. Now his friends are dead;
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard fure their master.

And this is all a liberal courfe allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth, muft* keep his house.

S CE
ENE

IV.

[Exit.

Changes to TIMON's Hall.

Enter Varro, Titus, Hortenfius, † Lucius, and other fervants of Timon's creditors, who wait for his coming out.

Var. WELL met, good morrow, Titus and Hor

tenfius.

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor. Lucius? What do we meet together? Luc. And, I think, one business does command us all.

Luc. And Sir Philotus too.

Phi. Good day at once.

Luc. Welcome, good brother. What d'you think

the hour?

Phi. Labouring for nine. fire. So Sempronius pretended to that warm affection and generous jealoufy of friendship, that is af fronted, if any other be applied to before it. At beft the fimilitude is an aukward one: but it

fitted the audience, tho' not the Speaker. WARBURTON.

• keep his house. ] That is, keep within doors for fear of duns.

+ Lucius is here again for the fervant of Lucius.

P 4

Luc.

Phi. I wonder: he was wont to fhine at seven.

Luc. Ay, but the days are waxed fhorter with him, You must confider that a Prodigal's Courfe

Is ke the fun's, but not like his recoverable.
I fear

'Tis deepeft winter in Lord Timen's purfe;
That is,

One may reach deep enough, and yet find little,
Phi. I'm of your fear for that.

Tit. I'll fhew you how t' obferve a ftrange event.
Your Lord fends now for money.

Hor. True, he does.

Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, For which I wait for money.

Hor. Against my heart,

Luc. How ftrange it fhows,

Timon in this fhould pay more than he owes!
And e'en as if your Lord fhould wear rich jewels,
And fend for money for 'em.

Hor.* I'm weary of this charge, the Gods can witness,
I know, my Lord hath spent of Timon's wealth;
And now ingratitude makes it worfe than ftealth.
Var. Yes, mine's three thoufand crowns; what's
yours?

Luc. Five thousand.

Var. 'Tis too much deep, and it fhould feem by th' fum,

Your mafter's confidence was above mine

Elfe, furely, his had equall'd.

3 a Prodigal's courfe Is like the fun's, That is, like him in blaze and fplendour. Soles occidere et redire poffunt.

CATUL. * I'm weary of this charge,]

That is, of this commiffion, of this employment.

+ Elfe, jurely, his had equall'd.] Should it not be, Elfe, furely, mine bad equall'd.

Enter

Enter Flaminius.

Tit. One of Lord Timon's men.

Luc. Flaminius! Sir, a word. Pray, is my Lord ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed, he is not.

Tit. We attend his Lordship, pray fignify so much. Flam. I need not tell him that, he knows you are too diligent.

Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled.

Luc. Ha! is not that his Steward muffled fo? He goes away in a cloud. Call him, call him. Tit. Do you hear, Sir

Var. By your leave, Sir.

Flav. What do you afk of me, my friend?
Tit. We wait for certain money here, Sir.
Flav. If money were as certain as your waiting,
Twere fure enough.

Why then preferr'd you not your fums and bills,
When your false masters eat of my Lord's meat?
Then they would fmile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down th' intereft in their glutt'nous maws;
You do yourselves but wrong to ftir me up,
Let me pafs quietly.

Believe't, my Lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
Luc. Ay, but this anfwer will not serve.

Flav. If 'twill not ferve, 'tis not fo base as you;
For you serve knaves.

[Exit. Var. How! what does his cafhier'd worship mutter? Tit. No matter, what. He's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can fpeak broader than he that has no houfe to put his head in? Such may rail against great buildings.

Enter

4 Enter Servilius.

Tit. Oh, here's Servilius; now we fhall have fome anfwer.

Serv. If I might befeech you, gentlemen, to repair fome other hour, I fhould derive much from it. For take it of my foul,

My Lord leans wond'roufly to discontent,

His comfortable temper has forfook him,

He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
Luc. Many do keep their chambers, are not fick;
And if he be fo far beyond his health,
Methinks, he should the fooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the Gods.

Ser. Good Gods!

Tit. We cannot take this for an anfwer.
Flam. [within.] Servilius, help-my Lord! my Lord.

SCENE E V.

Enter Timon, in à rage.

Tim. What, are my doors oppos'd against my paffage?

Have I been ever free, and must my houfe
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?

The place, which I have feafted, does it now,
Like all mankind, fhew me an iron-heart?
Luc. Put in now, Titus.

Tit. My Lord, here's my bill.

Luc. Here's mine.

Var. And mine, my Lord.
Caph. And ours, my Lord.
Phi. And our bills.

4 Enter Servilius.] It may be obferved that Shakespeare has un.

fkilfully filled his Greek flory with
Roman names.
7.

Tim.

Tim. Knock me down with 'em. Cleave me to the

girdle.

Luc. Alas! my Lord.

Tim. Cut out my heart in fums.

Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Five thoufand crowns, my Lord. ..Tim.. Five thousand drops pay that.

What yours and yours?

Var. My Lord

Caph. My Lord--------

Tim. Here tear me, take me, and the Gods fall on

you.

[Exit. Hor. 'Faith, I perceive, our Mafters may throw their caps at their money. Thefe debts may be well cail'd defperate ones, for a mad man owes 'em. [Exeunt.

Re-enter Timon and Flavius.

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the flaves. Creditors! devils."

Flav. My dear Lord,

Tim. What if it should be so ?—

Flav. My dear Lord,

Tim. I'll have it fo

-My steward!

Flav. Here, my Lord.

Tim. So fitly!-Go, bid all my friends again, Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius. All.

I'll once more feaft the rafcals.

Flav. O my Lord!

You only speak from your distracted foul;
There's not fo much left as to furnish out
A moderate table.

Tim. Be it not thy care.

Go, and invite them all, let in the tide

Of knaves once more; my Cook and I'll provide.

[Exeunt.

SCENE