If I would broach the vessels of my love, Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine That I account them blessings; for by these Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Serv. My lord, my lord,— 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 And so, intending other serious matters, Tim. You gods, reward them!— I pr'ythee, man, look cheerly: These old fellows Tim. I will despatch you severally.-You, to 'Tis lack of kindly warmth, they are not kind; lord Lucius, To lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his Flam. As you have said, my lord. (Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have 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, cannot And nature, as it grows again toward earth, Thou art true, and honest; ingeniously I speak, Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd With those five talents:-that had,-[To Flav.] 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. [Exit Serv. And how does that honourable, SCENE I.-The same. A room in LUCULLUS's complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master? 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 him on't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have him spend less : and yet he would embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every man has his fault, and honesty is his; I have told him on't, but I could never get him from it. Re-enter Servant, with wine. Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lacul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee. 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; And we alive, that liv'd? Fly, damned baseness, To 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, O, may diseases only work upon't! Which my lord paid for, be of any power [Exit. SCENE II.-The same. A public place. Enter LUCIUS, with three Strangers. 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 him. Luc. Fye no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money. 2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the lord Lucullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urged extremely for't, and showed what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied. Luc. How? 2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord. Luc. What a strange case was that? now, before the gods, I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man? there was very little honour showed 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. Ser. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see his honour.-My honoured lord,— [To Lucius. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:-Commend me to thy honourablevirtuous lord, my very exquisite friend. 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, think'st thou? And what has he sent now? Ser. He has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents. Luc. I know, his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous, I should not urge it half so faithfully. Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? Ser. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir. 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!-Servilius, now before the gods, I am not able to do't; the more beast, I say:-I was sending to use lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it 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, 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. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.[Exit Servilius. True, as you said, Timon is shrunk, indeed; And he, that's once denied, will hardly speed. [Exit Lucius. 1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius? Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece Had his necessity made use of me, I would have put my wealth into donation, And the best half should have return'd to him, So much I love his heart: But, I perceive, Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits above conscience. SCENE III.-The same. [Exeunt. A room in SEMPRONIUS's house. Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of TIMON's. Sem. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! And does he think so backwardly of me now, And with their faint reply this answer join; Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politic; he crossed himself by't: and I cannot think, but, in the end, the villainies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord strives to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked; like those, that, under hot ardent zeal, would set whole realms on fire. Of such a nature is his politic love. This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled, Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd And this is all a liberal course allows; [Exit. SCENE IV.-The same. A hall in TIMON'S house. 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. What, do we meet together? Luc. Serv. Ay, and, I think, One business does command us all; for mine Is money. Tit. So is theirs and ours. Enter PHILOTUS. Luc. Serv. And sir Philotus too! Phi. Good-day at once. Luc. Serv. Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour? Phi. Labouring for nine. Luc. Serv. So much? Phi. Is not my lord seen yet? Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven. Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him: You must consider, that a prodigal course I fear, purse: 'Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's Phi. I am of your fear for that. 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? Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange such may rail against great buildings. event. Enter SERVILIUS. Tit. O, here's Servilius: now we shall know Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, Some answer. 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 your's? Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine. 1 Ver. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it should Your master's confidence was above mine; Enter FLAMINIUS. Tit. One of lord Timon's men. Ser. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, Luc. Serv. Many do keep their chambers, are And, if it be so far beyond his health, 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? Luc. Serv. Flaminius! sir, a word: 'Pray, is Have I been ever free, and must my house 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 muf- He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him. 1 Var. Serv. By your leave, sir,— If money were as certain as your waiting, not Your sums and bills, when your false masters eat Upon his debts, and take down th' interest 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. Be my retentive enemy, my gaol? The place, which I have feasted, does it now, Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord. Phi. All our bills. Tim. What if it should be so? Flav. My lord, Tim. I'll have it so :-My steward! Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again, 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. SCENE V.-The same. The Senate-house. The Senate sitting. Enter ALCIBIADES, attended. 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, Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge, Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? 1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to't; the To be in anger, is impiety; Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die : 2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him. 1 Sen. Now, captain? Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues; It pleases time, and fortune, to lie heavy Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox, To bring manslaughter into form, set quarrel- Upon the head of valour; which, indeed, His outsides; wear them like his raiment, care- And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. Alcib. In vain? his service done Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair ser- And slain in fight many of your enemies : Is a sworn rioter: h'as a sin that often Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. And be in debt to none,) yet, more to move you, My honour to you, upon his good returns. 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no On height of our displeasure: Friend, or bro- He forfeits his own blood, that spills another. 2 Sen. How? |
